Thanatos
I really messed up by bringing Paimon along. Don't get me wrong, I love the kid. But if he ends up returning to hell, he'll rat me out. Which is why I needed advice on what I should do from the big man.
"Name and number please." A perky blonde slid a form towards me, not bothering to look up. Usually Heaven wasn't backed up. But today the waiting room with packed with what looked to be families. I wonder what kind of accident had happened? I wasn't called for it which meant it must've been bad enough for my sisters to have been called.
"Sir, name and number please." The blonde finally looked up and her jaw dropped.
"I think you're in the wrong place." Her wings flew open, it was a defense mechanism. You'd think Heaven didn't have a need for those, but they did a lot more then Earth did.
Demons and Devils often fooled the gate keepers into letting them in. Once inside they often stole souls and abused the Angels. It was awful and I hated having to come collect the beasts and escort them to Hell.
"Grim Reaper, Thanatos. Number 666." I smiled and held out my ID card. The big man gave it to me after the first few times of trying to get in.
"My bad Sir." She bowed and unlocked the big rose gold doors.
"Thank you love." I waved and pushed my way into Heaven.
I loved being up here. It was always sunny and warm. The houses resembled what were called 'White Neighborhoods' on Earth. I didn't understand that but It was how I described Heaven after Ivy taught me it.
I heard a small gasp from my left and turned to find a little boy staring at me with wide eyes.
His name was Jeffery Barns. He passed away due to Cancer at the age of 5. He looked to be 9 or 10 now. I was grateful Heaven allowed people to grow older, but only till they were 80. Then they had the choice to be reincarnated or have their souls live on here, never ageing.
"Hello Jeffery. You've gotten bigger. Hows heaven treating you?" I smiled and leaned my scythe on the ground.
"Its amazing. I had ice cream last night for dinner because it was my birthday." He smiled brightly and it would have warmed my heart if i had one.
"Your birthday? How old are you now?" I nodded so we could walk and talk. He followed.
"12. I got to go down and watch my parents again. They have another baby. Her name is Lily." I could tell he was sad. I was for him. This little boy was taken to soon.
"Next time I come up, How about I take you to talk to Lily? She's a baby so she won't remember you being there." I smiled.
"You'd do that? You're awesome!" Jeffery had a smile stretching ear to ear. He suddenly wrapped his arms around my gold robe. I chuckled and returned the hug.
"I have to go visit Grandpa up there." I rolled my eyes and pointed towards the white mansion. Jefferey laughed.
"Till next time Jeffery." I waved a good bye and entered the mansion's gates.
I always admired God's property. It was beautiful. Pink roses lined the white cement sidewalk, the grass was green and maintained. Marble top tables were on either side.
Lucifer had a stone path to his Castle. Dead grass and bodies lined the path up till the iron gates. His castle lacked any color except black and that was a shade. It killed my whole mood whenever I was forced to visit or when Paimon needed something.
I reached the doors and knocked, my hands hurting in the process. Only a few more months till all of my flesh would be gone. I dreaded that day, I did every time it happened. I would need to harvest around 2,000 souls in order to grow new flesh. And the process for growing was so long, I often considered just staying bony.
"Thanatos! What a lovely surprise." My white haired friend opened the door with a warm smile.
"Good evening, my man." I returned the smile and pulled him into a hug.
"What are you doing up here? We don't have anything planned till Sunday, which I'm still going to kick your ass in darts by the way." God winked.
"I need advice. And unfortunately you're the only old bastard I know who can give me some wise advice." I nodded to his house and he opened the door, allowing me to walk inside.
"I'm just as old as you are. But I'm happy you thought of me." God led me to his marvelous den. He had gold couches and white rugs.
"Of course." I sat on one of the gold couches and leaned back, which caused all of my bones to crack.
"Well, on with it." My friend took the seat in front of me.
"Paimon is on Earth." I mumbled.
"Pardon my old ears but did you say Paimon, as in the King of Death, is on Earth?" God cocked an eyebrow at me.
"Yes sir." I answered with a nod.
"Are you crazy! He's going to send thousands of Souls up here. Not to mention possibly compromise Heaven and Hell. Oh my, and the destruction! What were you thinking Thanatos?" God jumped up and stared down at me.
"Well when you say it that way, it sounds awful." I sat up and he returned to his seat.
"It is! You better have good reasoning." He narrowed his eyes at me.
"Well, not really. But He's been down there for about," I looked at the clock on the wall,"6 hours now and I haven't had a single death come from the area he is located." I smiled proudly. My boy was behaving. Let's hope he continues to do so.
"Well, I don't care as long as it stays that way. And as long as he is in human form." The bearded man relaxed.
"So I shouldn't report him to Lucifer?" I attempted to cock my eyebrow, but when I felt nothing move, I realized my muscles and skin on my forehead must have dissolved.
"Absolutely not! He will banish you for helping his brother into Earth. Well that's if he doesn't lock you up and torture your bony ass first." He chuckled. This was apparently funny.
"I'll will personally bring his ass up here the moment he begins to cause trouble." God checked his watch.
"Alright. Well thank you, my friend. I'll be going."
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Ivy
"Destructive or a fallen angel?" Paimon followed me onto my front porch.
"Either?" I answered unsure of what to pick.
"Well, Thanatos is as harmless as a baby. Well until you piss that baby off. Then that baby becomes an annoying living nightmare." He looked over and smiled at me. I felt heat rising up my neck. He was very handsome for a demon. I expected a tail and horns. Long yellow nails and sharp teeth.
He was normal, but I wouldn't say average. He was tall, with curly brown hair. His teeth the same color as snow and his eyes were a icy blue. He was gorgeous overall. I felt out of place being next to him.
"So he's not destructive?" I raised an eyebrow and unlocked my front door.
"Nope. He couldn't be if he tried. His sisters on the other hand, well they craved violence. They are also the ones who attend to the souls who have been murdered or killed in a gruesome manner." Paimon shook his head.
"So he doesn't kill people? Does he have any other siblings? How does he harvest souls?" I fired off questions thoughtlessly. I stopped after the third one feeling a little embarrassed.
Paimon chuckled,"Grim reapers usually don't kill people unless it is necessary. Thanatos actually has a rather large family. He has two sisters, The Keres. His brother is the god of sleep, Hypnos. They actually work together most of the time. " Paimon smiled as he taught me about Thanatos'a family.
"Oh, Is that why most people pass away peacefully or while they're asleep?" I questioned him more as We entered my kitchen. I pointed to the counter and Paimon placed the box down.
"They prefer easy passing than the violent passing. So yes."
I dug through the box as Paimon told me more about Thanatos. Who apparently was married and had children. I couldn't picture him having any. His wife was the first mortal he allowed to return to the land of living. It was apparently a sweet but long story that ended in her dying for him and their daughter.
Thanato's daughter was Erinys, a messenger in Hell. But she had removed herself from her father's life after he refused to allow her to visit Earth.
I hated asking so many questions, but it was just so interesting and there was so much tea.
"So yeah. That's all I can share. You'll need to ask Thanatos the rest." Paimon smiled again.
"That's alright. Would you like coffee or tea?" I asked as I reached for a mug.
Paimon's face scrunched up, which caused me to laugh.
"You don't drink mortal drinks?" I looked at him from the corner of my eye as I filled my kettle with water.
"Absolutely not. Blood or energy from tampered souls." It was his turn to laugh as my face scrunched up.
"So, what do you plan to eat?"
"I could show you." Paimon stood and walked over to me. My face was definitely red, and heat filled my core. I wouldn't mind if he did show me.
Ivy! Stop that! He is literally a demon from Hell.
Well a ridiculously hot one, but besides the point.
Paimon lowered his head and whispered something in to my ear.