Page 74 of Jackal's Pride

How could someone be so hateful and so sweet? More importantly, how was it that she was the only one who made me feel like I had a heart?

My smile soon turned into a frown. The hearts pounded loudly again. Thanks to Maureen, I now understood what they wanted. They worried for the humans and would not let me rest. I got up from the bed and stood with my hand on my hip while I watched her. The one hundred and thirty-seven had their reasons, and I had mine when it came to protecting the human world.

“I will not lose you,” I whispered.

Although I wouldn’t wake her to go with me, I had no idea where I was needed next. I scratched my stomach absentmindedly before materializing some clothes, finding my portal chip on the living room floor, and porting to Grim’s castle.

The brother called Barron stood outside the door with a dragon. With a loud shriek, the dragon announced my arrival and flew away.

“What do you want?” I sensed no anger, but this Reaper definitely wasn’t friendly.

I wasn’t here to make friends. “I’m heading to the human world.”

I waited. He frowned while crossing his arms. “And?”

“I can reverse the effects of the diseases affecting the humans, but I don’t know where I need to go next.”

The double doors to the castle burst open, and Maureen’s other brothers stepped out. The one called Sebastian grinned. Something he seemed to do a lot. Enthusiastically, he said, “We’ll go with you.”

“Shit, Sebastian,” groaned the other dark-headed brother named August.

Sebastian cocked his head. “He’s helping us out of the kindness of his heart. It won’t hurt us to go with him. You’ve already done your quota for the day, and there’s been no activity from the anti-Reaper group.”

August scoffed. “He’s only helping us since he’s getting a little too friendly with our sister.” He rubbed his jaw irritably. “How do you not see that? FuckingSloth.”

“I could probably use an energy tap from Izzie right now,” Sebastian mumbled randomly, a slight hazy expression seeping across his face.

“August you’re coming. Sloth you’re staying,” Barron grunted out as he glared at Sebastian like he was a nuisance. “Go find Izzie.”

“I will after we get to know Jackal.” Sebastian shrugged, eyes slightly crinkled in satisfaction. He wasn’t bothered by his brothers treating him like they did. He almost seemed to enjoy getting on their nerves.

“Jack,” I corrected him.

“Oh,” Sebastian’s lips stretched wide until he was smiling ear to ear. “Jack.”

“I’m leaving you in the human world if you pass out,” Barron warned him. “Let’s go to Africa first? Feels like that area might be the worst right now.”

“Agreed,” August chimed in as he lifted his wrist and peered down at something on it. “Let’s hurry. I’ve got things to do.”

Barron grunted and faded first. I ported next following his scent trail. August and Sebastian were already there by the time I popped into a place reminiscent of somewhere I’d been in the past. I wasn’t aware some places in the human world still struggled with such basic things like shelter.

The makeshift buildings could hardly be called homes. They were more like sheds. A wave of sweat broke over me, and it had nothing to do with the smoldering heat. It resembled the village of one hundred and thirty-seven hearts. The similarity made me nauseous as guilt swirled in my gut. Why would the Devil create me to do so much killing when living was hard enough for humans? None of the kids were playing, and if I didn’tfeeland see their sick bodies lying around everywhere, you’d think there were no children here. This is what villages were like after I’d done my job.

I used to come to villages like this one every single day. Tiny little huts for shelter. Kids laughing and playing. Mothers hanging clothes to dry on a line. Fathers hunting. Or if it was winter, the families would be gathered in their huts. By the time I was finished with their village, they’d be exactly like what I saw before me now. The memories of what I’d done filled me with disgust.

My little monster wasn’t a monster at all. I was. And now I hated myself for even calling her that name.

Past and present collided as I staggered back and took it all in again. My chest caved like my ribs were crushing my insides. I sucked in a breath, but it didn’t ease the suffocation. I scratched my stomach relentlessly trying to ease the pressure.

Coughing. Whimpering. Crying. Silence. There was so many humans and so much sickness.

“You okay?” Sebastian clasped his hand on my shoulder. For once, there wasn’t any amusement on his face.

Slowly, I snapped out of my remorse. Seeing the Reaper was a reminder of why I was here. This wasn’t the past. It was the present, and a chance for me to become something more. Maybe Maureen did more than captivate me, maybe shechangedme for the better. “Yeah. This won’t take long, then we can go on to the next place,” I told him while rubbing at my stomach again. Was that a slight raise on my skin where I kept scratching?

“Well, shit,” August muttered. When I stared his way, he pointed at me. “Look at his stomach.”

“Maureen found her soulmate.” Sebastian shoved me slightly with a punch to my arm.

---