Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
The sun is high, a cool breeze flows around us, and birds sing and chirp in the trees.
I’ve never really just appreciated life, always too busy taking it, or living in my little bubble.
Gray walks by my side for hours, taking me to the forest and through it, to a certain spot he seems to have in mind.
It’s close to where I killed the first man a while back, where I’d first heard about this witch madness. My thoughts get taken to Richard and I instantly go into high alert. I stop and scan around me and my breathing quickens. Gray notices and gets closer to me.
“He isn’t nearby, Evelyn. I wouldn't come all the way out here and do that to you.” I calm at his words. He’s right. He wouldn't do that to me.
Would he?
“Come, we are nearly there.” I watch his hand reach for mine before he pulls away, remembering. He sighs and turns back around, continuing onward. I follow.
A little while later, Gray stops in his tracks and turns to look at me.
“Be quiet, move slowly and watch.” I nod and don't make a sound.
Gray goes over to a tree and slowly gets onto his knees.
I stay still, observing. I hear little noises coming from him and so I move slowly towards him.
Gray moves some leaves and twigs around, revealing a small rabbit.
It's squealing and sounds like it’s in pain. I crouch down to see better.
“This little girl, she got bitten a little over an hour ago and is slowly dying from blood loss and pain.” Gray tells me and I think about it for a minute.
“An hour ago? We've been walking here for a couple of hours. How did…?” I stumble at the last words.
“Death date,” Gray whispers in confirmation. I nod.
Gray reaches down to the rabbit, and it sniffs his hands.
The rabbit instantly calms and quietens.
Gray looks at me, gives a soft smile and then looks at the rabbit.
He goes to place both hands around the little thing to pick it up, but his hands go through it.
He lifts both his hands and a small blue ball of light floats his palms. He brings it closer to me.
“I am a vessel of every soul that dies. I am everywhere and nowhere, whenever and wherever, anyone or anything’s time comes to an end.
I am their light in a sea of storms, showing them the way to the shores of the afterlife.
To the… Beyond. Death doesn't end with me. Think of me as…a boatman.” Gray then guides the blue ball of light to his chest and it breaks apart, wafting like smoke into his rune, which now glows a bright icy white blue.
The body of the rabbit is still, at peace.
“I do not go around taking souls like this all the time. Usually, they find their way to me. My rune only glows blue when I collect a soul nearby me.”
I really am lost for words as I stare at this rabbit's body.
“Come,” Gray says, breaking me out of my trance.
We both stand and he looks at me. “Death doesn't have to be violent, aggressive, torturous or cruel.
Some deaths are natural and some even peaceful.
Some welcome their ends with joy, even if they do not take their own lives.
I do enjoy killing the ones that are destined to die on the day I visit them, and they put up a fight.
Others, I go and hold their hand till they're ready, or I listen to their stories before they pass. Some find me a calming presence while others fear me. Only those who are to die, can see me.” I think back to yesterday, how he was helping me with Jacob.
“Yesterday, you were a guard. You helped me. How did Richard see you? Bernie?” I fold my arms under my chest. Gray flicks his eyes down to my chest and then back up.
“That, my love, was for you. It drained me quite a bit, but I thought we could do that kill together. With Richard around and you losing your job, I thought I'd come into the real world and help you.”
“Are you in the real world with me now? I can see you but not touch. You can touch everything else but me?”
“My goddess, it is hard to explain.”
“But it doesn't make any sense. You said only those who are to die can see you, does that mean I am going to die?”
“One day, yes you will. Like everyone else,” Gray says, his tone solemn. I start to argue more but his rune glows blue, stopping my words.
“It is time to go help someone pass now, Evelyn.”
I nod and follow Gray’s lead. It takes a little while to get to where Gray stops, deafening silence between us. He’s avoiding my questions and I feel like I'm overthinking things, but I just feel I don't know him.
“You will know me well enough soon. We have all the time in the world, my love.” Damn I forgot he can hear me sometimes. Gray chuckles at that too.
“Stop listening to my thoughts.”
“Never, my queen. The more our bond strengthens, the more of your thoughts I can hear.” He motions me to come closer to him, and I feel the pull and walk up to him.
“What do you mean ‘our bond’?”
“When I gave you your necklace, did you feel something? Like…a warmth, perhaps? That was part of the magic of that pendant bonding us together, by our very souls. It’s not exactly weak right now, but it is not strong enough for us to be together fully, yet.
For that, souls are needed. But they have to be collected properly, my love. ”
He puts a finger to his lips and I clamp mine shut.
We’ve ended up at the other side of the forest where someone is sitting against a tree.
Their head lolls down against their chest, barely moving.
Gray walks towards this person and I follow him closely.
As we get closer, the old man raises his head and looks at us.
“Thank god, my prayers have been answered. I’m ready, Death. I’m ready,” the man says to Gray. I gasp and my eyes grow wide.
“You have been here a while, George. I think it’s time for you to go see your wife. Don’t you, old friend?” Gray says, crouching down next to the man.
“Why are you out here?” I couldn't help but ask. The old man laughs but starts to cough up blood.
“I buried my wife out here many years ago and I came to visit. Just this time, I'm sick and only getting sicker. Ready to join her.” He laughs again, but it trails into a wheezing, bloody cough.
“Evelyn, come take his hand.” I look at Gray and he nods encouragingly. I take his place and go to hold the man’s hand. George smiles at me.
“You’re a beauty, aren’t ya?” He manages to smile and say before coughing up more blood. I smile at him and hold his hand a little harder.
“You are ready? Aren't you?” I ask him. He nods to me and looks up to Gray.
“Let me go see my dear sweet Susan, I’ve waited so many years for this.” His coughing is getting worse now.
“He’s ready, Evelyn,” Gray tells me. I look at him with panicked eyes, but he nods at me, letting me know I can do this.
I look back at George, who smiles at me one last time and closes his eyes, waiting for me, for us.
I look at his hand and grab it with both hands.
My hands start to go through the old man’s and I feel the cold, a living cold that seems happy to snuggle in my cupped palms. I clasp my hands together gently and raise them from George, standing up and turning to Gray.
I hear one final breath as I turn from George and that’s it.
It’s over. I open my hand and a little blue ball of light floats happily.
I lean forward a bit, looking closer at it and feeling like I can almost feel or hear something of the old man’s voice and life in the small mote of living light.
“How did you know I was able to do that? I’m not a god.”
“No, but you have half my pendant. Put the soul close to it.” I listen to Gray and do as I’m told. My half crow pendant’s eye glows with all the glitter of a diamond in the sunlight as it absorbs the soul and I feel a strange sensation wash over me; I feel stronger, more alert.
I like this.
The pendant glows all over now, the same cool icy blue of his rune.
“Now, when you next take lives, by killing or by something like this, you will absorb the soul and feel the power. Do not abuse this, Evelyn. That is important. It will come with time. Now, let’s head home.”
Home.
I lift my half crow from my chest and look at it; there’s still a slight blue glow around it but it’s fading slowly.
I walk side by side with Gray towards my cottage, asking him more questions and not really getting many answers in return.
There is a lot he can't tell me and there is a lot I don’t understand.
But as he said, and keeps saying, answers will come with time.