Chapter three

the night had been dark and cold, and April Summers was bundled up in a blanket beside the roaring hearth, her dad was reading on his big dad-chair, her mom was reading from a book, the biding was so worn you could barely make out the title "The Forsaken Manuel by Dr. Jackson Helvint" she didn't know what the book was about, but her mother seemed to like it. suddenly there peace was shattered when a man crashed trough the door. the man stood up and announced himself as the Kraken, then he shot April's mother, he then took out a knife and began to cut up her father, after awhile he stopped, and then turned to leave, that's when he saw April. he began to walk towards the trembling figure when there was a blood-curdling shriek, he hadn't killed April's mother, but what happened next did. She placed her hand on a symbol on in the book and chanted "O lord of the damned I call upon ye, now take the flesh for thine own, LORD OF THE DAMNED I SUMMON YE, PROTECT MY DAUGHTER!" The man look around for a moment, then attempted to shoot her again, but the bullet hit an invisible barrier, suddenly a voice called up from the depths below "the lord of the damned will heed your call, o ye of noble heart, infernal contract ye has signed to save your daughter's soul, so the realm of the wanderers now awaits you, the depths of hell you shall not know." suddenly there was a flash of light, and the woman's bones collapsed. "who are you?" the killer shouted at a man who had appeared during the flash, "You gaze upon the ruler of darkness, now, BOW BEFORE ME" the figure produced a gleaming scythe from the depths of his black trench coat, "Not gonna happen bud" the Kraken lunged at the morbid figure, only to find himself engulfed in darkness "Jackson Halberd, Antony Mathews, Police Chief Paul Johnson, Andrew Wilkins, Jonathan Taylor, Amanda Halberd, Joan Taylor" A voice came from the darkness, spouting a seemingly endless list of names, "Oh, and let's not forget Jenson Hindrickson, quite the resumé Mr. Kraken." The man look around "how did you know about Hindrickson? No one knew, he was my first kill" white outlines begin to fill the darkness, ominous laughter surrounded the man, "you look like you've seen a ghost leviathan, well, judging by your line of work, Im sure you have a few enraged spirits who want your head." The white outlines drew closer, he could hear their voices now, muttering regrets, prayers, but more than anything, they cursed his name, their hatred for him, their malevolent intentions. Suddenly a figure appeared, his face hidden within a black cloak, his arms where only bones, and he radiated fear, "now in the underworld we have a very strict policy for return to the world of the living, there are only three things spirits can return for, to say goodby, to compleat their life goal, and revenge." The Kraken looked around, his eyes wide with fear, "now for the revenge, they are not allowed to take the live of the person that they wish to haunt, but this time, I think I'll allow an exception."

"You must be April," She quivered as black entity kneeled down, but there was something in those ancient eyes, a kindness, a loneliness deep inside his soul, or whatever took its place. A soft warmth enveloped her as he helped her to her feat, "my name is Grim, you'll be staying with me for awhile, is that okay with you?" The choice didn't take long, she had nothing here, her parents where dead, she had no friends, the black specter's invitation was really the best thing that had happened to her, so she accepted, and she never looked back.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Grim embraced her "I want to be with you" "very well," Grim removed Falcatae from the black depths of his coat. "April Summers" his morbid voice rang through out the stone room "Do you accept the calling of the reaper?" "Yes, I swear upon my soul to follow the orders of lord Grim, and fulfill my duties as a member of house reaper." "Then by the power of death, and the powers of Falcatae quoque finis, I bind you" Grim cut his hand, and let his black blood flow upon the blade, April did the same, her red blood slowly turning black.

It was black, nothingness. Then he appeared, his tattered cloak flapping in the non-existent wind. "So you have taken up my calling have you?" His voice was deep, ancient. "But the question is why?, why have you abandon your humanity for the way of my blade?" April tried to answer, but her voice failed her, and she remained silent. "Was it for fun?" He resumed "no, your not the kind your abandon everything for a thrill are you?" a cold laugh floated from the darkness under his hood, followed by a brief moment of silence. "was it love?, no, well maybe part of it, but it wasn't him who caused this desire that caused you to fall from heaven's gate was it?" more silence, broken when the black figure snapped his boney fingers. "You were tired of being weak weren't you?, that's it" he chuckled "you were so tired of drowning in your fears, and the now you have the power to overcome them" April tried to reply again, in vain. "I see" the figure chuckled "well I suppose I should let you get back to reality, after all, your not a human anymore, and you need to experience you new lif-" he caught himself and chuckled again "I mean your new un-life." he laughed and snapped his fingers once more, then she woke up.

"Morning sleepy" Grim's voice rang clear through the room. April sat up and rubbed her head, everything was blurry, she was cold, her skin had turned grey, she felt... powerful, so this was how it felt to be Grim. she was suddenly swept upon a loving embrace, her newly-greyed cheeks flushed pink as Grim stole a kiss from her lips, "I was worried" he whispered in her ear as his lips moved away from her's.

Her shadowflame blade struck with godlike speed, Grim blocking every strike effortlessly "focus less on the number of attacks, and more on the power behind each attack!" Her pace slowed slightly, but her sword struck the scythe with more power, "Good!" Grim shouted, struggling to be heard over the clashing of metal. Grim seeped his leg under April, she lost her balance and fell into his arms, his scythe pressed lightly against her exposed neck, "Your doing better" he kissed her cheek and released her, "but if I was a real non-human opponent, you'd be dead many times over by now, and I haven't even used my powers yet." April looked down, embarrassed "I'm sorry Grim" Grim smiled "About what?, you've been a reaper for what?, a Week? Of corse you're not going to be on my level, Ive got a good ten billion years on you!" April smiled, "I'll keep at it then." "Atta girl." He smiled "time for lunch!"

Reviews

[M.R Steiner]

I read your edits of chapter two and this one,

on a level of grammar I need to point out that a break- needs another at the interrupting action or speech "-like that" apart from that your really picking up the pace and learning to blend your scenes well, just my amateur opinion as a reader mind you. (As you know I'm still learning myself)

but on that level I was really happy to know some about the origin. and your use of dialogue for the spirit entity that gets summoned up was awesome, really grand and godlike.

my only advice would be to scale back the description a little, adjective are my biggest weakness as well, I get swept up in vivid descriptions and attach it precise as possible. I try editing it out but it still falls into place :) American gods is a good read to learn where to add it and take it away (its free online). I'm also reading a book recommended to me by a reviewer on writing standard fiction narrative so if you want a copy of that, message and I'll send it.

again I'm no expert :)

your hook at the end of chapter two was a great addition, it kept me reading and the whole piece in general is a leap forward from when I read it last.

the world is building up, your character's intentions and motivations established. part of me feels like this origin been placed at the beginning may give the story real punch. either way I'll keep my eye on how this progresses :)

[Wayward Soul]

Thanks man, i really appreciate the reviews

[Amber]

Would love to know the title. Loved the story, would like to read more.

[Wayward Soul]

Well, Glad you enjoyed, im far from done on this series, state tuned