So Shall I Reap Read Free Page A

aren’t running on your time, Tevin. Take her now.” Razor’s voice was as sharp as his name.
    Shock continued running through my body, paralyzing me. Each thought seemed to run on an endless loop. She had just spoken to me. How did she know my name? What the blazes of hell’s fire is going on here? Not only were my thoughts in disarray… but something dissimilar stirred within me, something I had never felt before. As I drowned in a sea of endless questions, my judgment became clouded, unable to comprehend what it was like to feel needed, wanted. And I certainly could not actually understand the L word these Vessels threw around so often. Could an Ashen even be allowed to feel an emotion other than the ones attached to death? Was a daemon allowed the ability to…? I shivered… care? Who is this creature and what is she doing to me?
    When the lead surgeon grabbed a scalpel from a nurse, my hands dropped, releasing the soul. Hoisting the scythe into the air, I spun the blade around and popped all the overhead lights. The triage room plunged into darkness, which added to the human chaos, causing them to dive for cover or scramble over one another. Both the mother and a nurse lunged across the small child, shielding her from the raining glass and debris. In the midst of the commotion, I heard the mother pleading for the small child to stay with her. While the masses were distracted, I figured it would be an advantage putting the Vessels to sleep until I could piece together my reality.
    I commanded my minion to spin, casting the mist of slumber. Sometimes a job requires us to get close to our prey or in the middle of a crowd before reaping.  This spell keeps the living ones from accidentally detecting us if we lose our ability to remain tethered to the Unseen realm. That is one of the benefits of being able to work between the two realms. Besides, it is best for both parties. The less they know, the easier harvesting is on us.
    Following the inky path of the dark purple cloud as it sped its way through the room, it swirled over and around each face, forcing them to breathe in the spin’s magic. Some beings held an expression of confusion and dropped in shock while others fell forward over one another. The two Vessels protecting the child slid to the floor and for a brief moment the mother caught my attention when I spotted a hint of a smile on her face before she curled in on herself. The hesitation I felt toward the mother was odd. Concern, maybe? But I did not have time to check the spin’s effect on her. I needed answers. The soul’s escort was going to enlighten me.
    With the room contained, I commanded my minion to make us solid, and I swung the scythe toward Razor. He pulled his wings back in time, but the tip barely missed his neck, saving him from a sudden change to his existence. In certain circumstances, we might cease to exist. Angels, daemons, and elementals can be copied and changed when the Creator finds favor with us. Think photocopy or facsimile. Every time one is done, the resolution or quality is reduced. If an entity is so careless to have their existence ended by another, they will not come back as they once were. It’s the price one must pay to the River Styx for abusing our immortality. The River always takes it personally if we mishandle our existence, and, therefore, it uses less power when recreating, as a form of punishment.
    With a low snarl, Razor jumped onto a chair, descending into my space. He sent me flying into the medical cabinet doors with a loud crash, scattering bits of shattered glass and medicinal supplies to the floor. Instantly regaining a defensive position, I willed my cloak to blend with the shadows. Razor tucked his wings in as he ran toward the empty gurney on his left, obviously having the same thought.
    Confusion had blindsided me. Defiance controlled my emotions as I flipped my tool of trade around overhead and replaced it in its harness. I needed a new plan for this