Page 57 of Guarded By the Reaper

I stepped into Death’s office. The room was vast, its boundaries shifting and unclear, much like Death themselves. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I noticed we weren’t alone. The Fates, the three sisters who controlled the threads of life, were here, too. They stood in a semicircle around Death’s desk, their ageless faces turned towards me as I entered. Great. Just what I needed – an audience for whatever was about to happen.

Death sat behind their imposing desk, their form constantly shifting like smoke in a breeze. When they spoke, their voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.

“Ah, Ansel. Thank you for coming so promptly.”

I nodded, trying to keep my face neutral. “Not like I had much choice in the matter.”

The First Sister, the one who spun the threads of life, stepped forward. Her movements were fluid, almost dance-like, and herlong silver hair swayed with each step. Her eyes were bright, almost mischievous, as she regarded me.

“We’ve been waiting for you, reaper. Or should I say, hero?”

I would’ve raised an eyebrow had I still had them. Instead, I tilted my head slightly, my eye sockets narrowing.

“Hero? That’s a new one. Usually, I’m the villain in people’s stories.”

She laughed. “Oh, but you are! You and that lovely girlfriend of yours. You’ve done something truly remarkable.”

I shifted my weight, feeling uncomfortable under her piercing gaze. My cloak rustled softly with the movement.

“Care to elaborate?” I asked.

The First Sister’s smile widened, revealing teeth that were just a bit too sharp. She clasped her hands together in front of her, practically vibrating with excitement.

“You’ve fulfilled a prophecy, my dear! One we’ve been waiting on for quite some time. Ma-Vasha finally got what she deserved, and it’s all thanks to you two. Well, and that cat, of course. She did a marvelous job.”

“I... We didn’t know,” I said, feeling a bit off-balance. “We were just trying to survive.”

The Breathless cleared their throat. “Be that as it may, Ansel, it’s time for you to return to your reaping duties. Your work with Monster Security Agency, while admirable, is not necessary in the slightest. You don’t need the money, after all.”

“It was never about the money,” I said. “I donate every cent. It’s not like I have expenses. No food, no fancy clothes, not even a house to call my own, since I travel all the time, all over the world.”

“Then why?”

I sighed, feeling the weight of centuries on my shoulders. My cloak seemed to grow heavier, pulling me down. I looked aroundthe room, at the timeless faces watching me, and felt suddenly very old and very tired.

“Because I needed something else. Something that wasn’t just about ending lives. Don’t get me wrong, I know death is natural. But it’s a heavy burden to bear, day in and day out. It was wearing me down, making me lose faith in... well, everything.”

The Second Sister, who measured the threads of life, nodded sympathetically. She stepped forward. In her hands, she held a golden measuring rod, which she tapped thoughtfully against her palm.

“We understand, Ansel. Truly, we do. But we need you back. Your skills are invaluable.”

I looked at each of them in turn, these beings who held so much power over life and death. They needed me. It was a strange feeling, being needed by such cosmic forces. I shifted my weight again, considering my options. I guessed it was easier to get me back on their side than making a new reaper and training them to do my job.

“I can do both,” I said. “I can reap and still work for the MSA. It’s not like I need sleep, after all.”

Death’s form rippled. The movement sent shadows dancing across the walls of the office. When they spoke, their voice was softer than before, almost gentle.

“Can you, though? Now that you have a family?”

A family. The thought filled me with warmth, but also with a deep, primal fear. I could feel the eyes of the Fates on me, watching my reaction.

“Am I... Am I allowed to have a family?” I asked, hating how vulnerable I sounded. My voice cracked on the word ‘family’, betraying my emotions.

To my surprise, it was the Third Sister, the one who cut the threads of life, who answered.

“Of course you are, Ansel. You’ve earned this chance. You should take it.”

I was stunned. My scythe slipped from my grasp, clattering loudly on the floor. The sound echoed through the room, but I barely noticed. A family. Things I’d never dared to dream of, suddenly within my grasp, and I had the blessing of the Fates and the Breathless themselves.

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