Page 133 of Reaper's Ruin
“An unusual approach,” Lord Vexus said, leaning forward on his throne, his blue-green eyes prodding mine. “And one that seems to have failed, given that she still exists.”
“On the contrary,” I countered smoothly. “It was working exactly as planned. She trusted me completely. She believed I abandoned my duty to help her find her door. Though, it is odd this soul hadn’t been dead more than a day before we were sent for her. Not enough time to process her death and move on. So it did make it believable that I was planning on helping her.”
The Veil Lords shifted uncomfortably. Enough so I noticed their unease. Part of me wanted to press them, but the other part knew Soraya was in danger and I had to continue the pretense I was still dutiful Death.
“She cannot find out this was a ruse. We are at high risk of her disappearing again. I suggest you let me go to her, say that you realized there was a mistake, and she didn’t get time to find her door. She’ll be suspicious down here, so let me go with her back to the living veil, win back her trust, and then, with her guard down completely, I can find the perfect time to reap her. I’ll only get one chance to swipe her. If I miss, she’ll never let any of us near her again. The timing has to be perfect. Now that she trusts me, thinksI’m her lover, I planned to do it while she slept. Then there is no way she could evade me.”
The Veil Lords exchanged looks, communicating in that silent way they had. The shadow beasts at their feet grew more agitated, as if sensing the tension in the air.
“You’ve had ample time to complete your assignment already,” Lord Noctis whispered, his voice somehow carrying through the chamber despite its softness.
“She is an anomaly,” I repeated. “She requires an anomalous approach. Let me go to her. Tell her she’s safe. When her guard is down, when she’s completely vulnerable... I’ll complete my assignment.”
Lord Azrith studied me for a long moment, his eyes swirling with colors I couldn’t name. “Have you realized something about the Umbral Keep, Death?”
The question caught me off guard, but I didn’t let it show. “My Lord?”
“Have you ever tried to slice through to inside the Umbral Keep?” he pressed.
“Of course not,” I answered. “It’s impossible. Everyone knows that.”
“And why is it impossible?” Lord Vexus asked, a strange smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Because...” I paused, suddenly understanding where this was leading, a cold dread settling in my stomach. “Because the Keep is spelled to prevent any surprise arrivals.”
“Indeed,” Lady Maerys said, satisfaction evident in her voice. “No one can Realm Walk into here. No one can slice into here.”
“And no one,” Lord Kairos added, “can Realm Walk out.”
The full implications hit me like a physical blow. They were right. Even if Soraya wanted to Realm Walk away, she couldn’t. Not while inside the Umbral Keep. And even if I wanted to use mywings to slice us to safety, to anywhere else in Faelora, I couldn’t. Not until we were outside the gates.
She was trapped. We both were.
But I couldn’t let them see my despair. I forced a smile, trying to make it look like relief rather than the grimace it wanted to be.
“Well,” I said, inclining my head. “Then our problem is solved. Now that she’s contained, I can complete my assignment without fear of her escaping.”
“You’ll reap her? Now?” Lord Azrith demanded.
“Immediately,” I lied smoothly. “I’ll go to her now, maintain the pretense until the last moment, and then...” I made a slicing motion with my hand. “It will be done.”
The Veil Lords exchanged glances again, suspicion still evident in their swirling eyes, but also a reluctant acceptance. They wanted to believe me. After eight centuries of faithful service, of being their most effective Reaper, they wanted to believe this was just another method to accomplish my task.
As they deliberated, I chanced another glance at Jade. She was watching me intently, her silver eyes never leaving my face. When our gazes met, I expected her to look away, but she held my stare for a long moment. Something passed between us—not understanding, exactly, but a kind of recognition. Then she blinked, her face resuming its mask of indifference.
A cold realization washed over me.
She knows. I may have fooled the Veil Lords, but somehow she sees through the lie.
Those silver eyes had pierced my carefully constructed facade, reading the truth beneath my words. The question was: what would she do with that knowledge? Would she expose me, seizing this opportunity to bring down Death himself? Or would she keep my secret, and if so, why? I couldn’t read her intentions behind thatimpassive face, and that uncertainty unsettled me more than the Veil Lords’ suspicion.
“Very well,” Lord Azrith said finally. “Go. Complete your assignment. But know that we will be watching, Death. Do not disappoint us.”
“I won’t, my Lords,” I said, bowing low to hide the rage and fear warring in my eyes. “You have my word.”
I backed away from their thrones, keeping my head bowed until I reached the massive doors. As they swung open, I caught one last glimpse of Jade. Her expression hadn’t changed, but there was something in her stance, in the slight tilt of her head, that made me wonder.
Only when the doors closed behind me did I allow my mask to slip, a silent snarl twisting my features as I strode through the corridors of the Umbral Keep.
