Chapter 219

[ 1,080 words ]

Do What You Must, Reaper.

Elliot

I hadn’t been expecting her. Noah had called that morning, voice casual, asking me to meet him near the riverbanks to “go over a few things.” I thought it was just another rotation of tasks, some reaping overflow, maybe an adjustment to the systems. Nothing unusual. And then she’d stepped through the portal behind him. I swear, for a second, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. The Underworld’s light hit her in that soft amber way that made everything look too real and too far away at the same time. Hair pulled back, expression cautious, like she knew she didn’t belong here. Because she didn’t. Not really.

We used to spend a lot of time here together as kids, when our parents needed to keep a close eye on us. But as we got older, she stopped coming as much. She stopped having a reason to. And it wasn’t because anyone didn’t want her here; it was because she didn’t fit here. The Quads had the Royal bloodline, that pulsing link to Mum’s divinity, and I had ties to the Vale, but Macey… Macey was mortal blood. No threads. No ties. No pull or responsibility to this realm. She used to joke about it, how the Underworld never really liked her, how her presence made the air colder, how the shadows never followed her the way they did me. I’d always told her that was a good thing…. That she belonged somewhere lighter. And yet here she was. Apparently, this was punishment. Noah’s idea of teaching her “responsibility.” Which, knowing him, probably translated to make her sweat a little and see what she’s made of.

I wasn’t sure whether to thank him or strangle him for it. Because having her here, seeing her here, it was throwing everything out of balance. She didn’t walk like she used to. She didn’t laugh the same way. She kept her distance, like she was scared of breaking something. Maybe me. Maybe herself. And I hated that. I hated that I wanted to keep her close and far away all at once. Noah hadn’t said much before he left, just gave me that knowing smile and clapped my shoulder. “She’s your responsibility for the day. Teach her something useful.” Great. Perfect. No pressure at all. So here I was, leading her through the pathways of a realm she used to think was magical and now probably thought was punishment.

She hadn’t said much since arriving. Just asked what we were doing, tried to sound casual, failed spectacularly. I’d told her I couldn’t just leave her alone here. And it was true. Without a tie to the Vale, the Underworld didn’t recognise her as one of its own. Too much exposure to raw energy, and the realm would chew her up from the inside. That thought alone was enough to keep her within arm’s reach. Even now, as she followed me down the obsidian steps toward the pods, her presence felt… wrong and right at the same time. She didn’t belong here, but somehow, the shadows still shifted when she passed. Maybe Noah was right. Maybe she needed this. And maybe, just maybe, I needed it too. Because for the first time since that night, the night she kissed me and told me we couldn’t, I had her here, with me. Not as the Luna’s daughter. Not as the girl tied to a pack and a name that didn’t fit her. Just Macey. My Macey.

I led her down the long corridor that split from the main passage.

“The pods are this way,” I told her, glancing back as her footsteps echoed behind me.

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “I know where they are. It’s in one of those doors that was always off limits to me p>

We stepped through the archway into the chamber. Rows of obsidian pods curved along the room. The air shimmered faintly as energy moved through them with souls waiting to be assessed, waiting to know where they’d go next.

Macey stopped just inside the doorway. “Whoa,” she breathed. “It’s… beautiful p>

I smiled faintly. Most people would say it was eerie. “They’re between,” I said, stepping toward the first pod. “Not quite gone, not quite

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9:27 Fri, Sep 4

Do What You Must, Reaper.

here. The pods keep them stable and secure until they’re ready to be weighed p>

She followed me, her gaze flicking to one of the pods closest to her. “Weighed p>

“Judged, if you want the old term,” I said. “Or assessed. We look at what they did, what they gave, what they took.” I reached out and placed my hand on the nearest pod. “Some of them are ready to move on to the Divine. Some aren’t worthy of that p>

Macey edged cluriosity shining through her hesitation. “How do you know the difference p>

“Come on

oving to the next section of the chamber. “I’ll show you p>

We

of the sealed pods, its surface flickering with faint blue light. Inside was the misty outline of a woman, tall, elegant features pale beneath the spectral glow. With a small flick of my wrist, I called the control panel to life. The pod Now hiss, mist curling outward as the soul stepped forward, translucent and still shimmering with traces of her old self.

ning, Sera Valen,” I said evenly. Her name appeared on the tablet in my hand as I spoke. “You died in Duskport three nights two hundred and twenty-seven p>

leaned closer, peering over my arm at the screen. “She’s a vampire p>

nodded. “She was. Old bloodline. Ran an estate that doubled as a feeding sanctuary. Claimed to only take from the willing p>

Sera’s eyes flicked to me, cold but steady. “I did,” she said simply. “No one was harmed p>

I met her gaze, giving a small nod. “We’ll see p>

Turning slightly toward Macey, I explained, “This is the assessment stage. We make sure they understand what’s next, that their life is about to be weighed, and what that means p>

I faced the vampire again. “Sera, I’m going to assess your soul now, to determine whether you’re ready for the Divine or to be sent to the Pits for cleansing p>

She gave a faint, resigned nod. “Do what you must, Reaper p>

Her voice w

fragile underneath it. That was always the hardest part, the waiting, the not knowing.

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Juliet Zvayi

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