Chapter Eight
"Red Record!"
Eric, who had been napping on his office couch, book he had been reading placed on his chest flew off when he bolted up right, quickly searching the room before eyes ended in a glare on the three younger reapers that decided to wake him. "Bloody hell." He muttered covering his face. "Give me a bloody heart attack, why don't ya?" he let his hands fall into his lap, still glaring. "The hell ya'd wake me up fer?"
"The Red Record." Thea said.
"…Red…Record? That a pub Grell opened or somethin'?"
"Nope. It's the name of the Record."
"Record?"
Alan sighed. "Remember? Thea came to us about it."
"…oh, ah, yeah. So, found the name?"
"Well, kinda." Thea said. "I remembered the demons talking about it before Ron and I were attacked."
"Demons know about it?"
"Apparently."
Eric picked the book up from the floor as he stood. "That ain't good then." He set the book on his desk, looking to Alan. "Shouldn't you be restin'?"
"I was."
"A little more? I know how drainin' those attacks are."
"I'm fine Eric. Really."
"Did they wake ya?"
Ronald rubbed the back of his neck. "Maybe."
"But for a good reason." Alan said. "Now that we know the full name of this record, we have more to go on."
Eric scratched his head. "Why are we so concerned 'bout this thing anyway?"
"Because Mister Spears isn't supposed to tell anyone about it and demons want it." Thea said. "That makes it our business to see why it's so special."
"Well if it's so special, doubt yer gonna find somethin' about it." He stretched.
Alan thought. "Well, maybe there is a place to look for information about it, but we'll need a key. A key only Mister Spears has."
"Where's the key go to?" Ronald asked.
"The filing room, I suppose. It has information on all of us, maybe it'll have something about the Record as well."
"What info do they have?"
"Our weakness, strengths, past lives, that sort of thing."
"Then great! But, ah, how do we get the key?" Thea asked. "Mister Spears normally has everything important on his person and I don't think anyone here is a pickpocket, or good enough to actually take the keys without him noticing."
Eric smirked. "Oh, I've gotten a lot of things from Spears."
Alan cocked his head. "Such as?"
"Well, ah…I can probably get those keys."
Alan crossed his arms. "What have you stolen from him?"
"I didn't steal anythin'. Just kinda kept takin' the key to his office every now and then ta hand in late paperwork."
"There's more, yes?"
"Maybe."
"Regardless, Eric, that's your job." Thea said. "Get the key from Mister Spears."
"Do I get a reward?"
"Not getting me to hound you for everything you've taken from senpai." Alan said.
"Great." He walked past the three. "I'll get the key."
"Then meet us in Al's office." Ronald said. "We'll be hangin' around there."
"Right." He saluted and left his office.
Judging from the way the skies outside looked, he could tell it was probably around seven or eight in the morning meaning William would be doing his normal morning routine of finding reapers that missed the deadline from the night before. Meaning Grell would be his first visit. "Ow, Will~!"Grell complained as the dark haired reaper brought his scythe down onto his head. "Alright! I promise. I won't bring Sebby into the realm anymore."
"Wonderful. I'm glad we've seen eye to eye on the situation and you're lucky that's all the punishment I'm giving you for allowing a demon into our realm."
Grell crossed his arms, pouting. "Why are you so sadistic?"
"I am not sadistic Grell. I just find physical punishment works quite well on you then verbal."
Grell smiled, slithering up against William's form. "Mm, darling, oral works just as well."
"Honestly." He said as he shoved Grell back.
"I was just giving you what I prefer. No need to take it so perver-Eric!" he greeted seeing the blonde approaching behind William.
The blonde cursed under his breath. He was hoping Grell would focus more on William then him. "Mornin' Red, Spears." Eric greeted.
"Slingby." William nodded to him.
"What's Red done now?"
"Nothing."
Grell sighed. "He's forbid me from bringing Sebby here."
Eric nearly scowled at the name. "…Sebby? Ya mean that demon ya fawned over?"
"Yes, him."
Though he knew the answer, he played along. "'E's back?"
"He is! And he came to me with open arms and passion that not even Will could manage." He shivered pleasantly. "I will never forget such lips."
"So, 'e was here? In our realm?"
William adjusted his glasses. "Yes. Sutcliffe bought the devil to our realm."
"Ya don't think that's what caused Al's attack last night, do ya? I mean, Al never had attacks while thinkin' too hard. Might of saw the demon." He carefully moved his hand to William's pocket.
"Perhaps. Humphries's answer was even suspicious to I."
"…I might have caused little Alan's attack?"
"Aye, ya might of."
"Oh! Oh, where is the darling? I must apologize."
"I'm sure Humphries is still in the infirmary, but he doesn't need you to coddle him Sutcliffe."
"I wasn't going to coddle him! I just wanted to make sure he was okay."
"Either way, leave Humphries-Slingby why are you touching me?"
Eric paused. He had the keys around his finger, but apparently he accidently brushed William's side. "Just, ah, ya know." He quickly pulled his hand out, shoving his hands into his pockets, keys with them. "Would ya look at the time? I gotta get ta work." He saluted the two. "Boss, Red." He was gone in a flash, shaking his head. "Too close." He muttered but was swung around when someone grabbed his arm in a tight grip, forcing him to stop and turn. "The hell…oh, ah, Costa."
Her eyes darted to his pocket then back to him. "I saw you remove Mister Spears's keys from his pocket."
"Wha? Why'd I do that? Got no use fer 'im."
"Give them here." She said, holding out her hand.
"I got nothin'!"
"You are acting like a child. Give them here."
"Don't 'ave 'em." He turned out his pockets, no keys falling from them. "Told ya." However in a series of movements, Eric merely blinked before he was on his stomach with his side throbbing and arm bent unnaturally where she held it.
"Slingby."
"Fuck, alright. Damn." He shook out his free arm, letting the keys drop from inside his sleeve.
"Good boy." She said, letting him go.
Eric winced as he moved his arm. "Yer quick."
"Thank you."
"Miss Costa? Slingby? What's-"
"He took these from you, Mister Spears." She said, returning him his keys.
William took the silver items. "Why have you taken these?"
Eric rolled to his back. "Just wanted ta get in some late paperwork."
"Then you received proper punishment." He thanked Eliza before they left.
"Good at pickpocketing, hm?" Alan asked standing at Eric's head, looking down at him.
"Hey, I am." He stood, reaching up his dress shirts sleeve, pulling out a key. "Gave her the ones we didn't need."
Alan blinked. "…how'd…?"
"Told ya I was good." He took Alan's hand, placing it in his palm, ruffling brown hair. "Now let's give it to Thea and Ron." He put his arm around Alan's shoulders, leading him back to Alan's office.
"I…I'm not sure whether to be impressed or ashamed."
"Impressed mate."
"…I'm going to go with both."
Ronald searched through Alan's desk for something he knew the brunette kept as his own little secret that he wasn't too proud of. "What are you doing?" Thea asked. "I'm sure Alan wouldn't like anyone going through his desk."
"Just lookin' for something."
"Like?"
He looked at Thea over the desk. "He's got a small flask of whiskey hidden somewhere in here."
"He drinks?"
"Like, once in a blue moon even if he thinks drinking and smoking is a nasty habit."
"I'd agree with him." She crossed her arms. "Why are you looking for it?"
"Just, kinda wanted a sip."
"Why?"
"I need somethin' to calm my nerves. We gonna be breakin' in to a place that if we're caught in, will be bad news."
She bit her lip. "Extremely bad consequences will definitely be given, right?"
"Yep."
"Are you two ready?" Alan asked as he opened the door to his office.
"Yep!" Ronald vaulted over Alan's desk.
Alan eyed Ronald for a moment before turning to Eric. "Alright, let's…break in."
"Scared this is gonna break yer perfect rep?" Eric asked as he led them to the filing room.
"It's not the reputation I'm afraid of breaking."
"Come on Al." Ronald put his hand on Alan's shoulder, his other holding Thea's hand. "What's life if a few rules aren't broken now and then, right?"
"…I…suppose…" though he couldn't help shaking slightly when Eric unlocked the door to the room. He hesitated before Ronald pushed him in, the other three quickly following as Eric closed the door behind him. "I'm really regretting this idea." He said looking around the room with many, old, dusty and forgotten files.
"Ah, we'll be fine." Ronald said then he and Thea began the search.
"Alan." Alan turned to Eric. "Ya don't have ta been in here, if ya don't want ta be. Don't need anything to cause another attack."
Alan shook his head. "No. If you three are caught then I'd feel so guilty since I suggested this idea. I'm staying. I may not like it, but I'm staying."
"Alright." He gave Alan a reassuring smile. "Now let's find somethin' and get outta here."
"Right."
They joined the other two in the search, starting from the bottom shelves and working their way up until Eric was used to lift the other three up, being the tallest of them. "Anythin'?" he asked as he currently held up Thea, keeping his eyes down.
"Um, not yet." She answered shuffling through files, dusting away a few cobwebs. "I thought this place would be visited more often."
"No one's been in here for a few years." Alan answered.
"I see that. Why?"
"No need to apparently."
"Hm." Eric sighed, shifting slightly. He was glad she left her heels on the ground so he didn't feel them dig into his shoulders. "Are you alright holding me up?"
"Yep. Yer lighter than a feather. Just get sore standin' fer awhile, but keep lookin'."
"Alright."
Ronald stretched his arms above his head. "Did we check over there?" he asked Alan gesturing to further back in the room.
"I don't think so."
"Right, I'll be lookin' over there. Don't drop her Eric."
"I won't."
"Good." Thea said.
Alan crossed his arms, keeping his hearing focused on the Library on the other side of the door. He knew someone would eventually come looking for them or William would realize the filing room key was missing. He dreaded thinking of the punishment that would happen if/when they were caught.
Just as Eric readjusted himself in the slightest again, the room suddenly shook causing Eric to stumble and Thea to fall from his shoulders. Thankfully, Alan was quick and caught her before she hit the floor. "…whoa." She said shaking slightly.
"Are you alright?"
"Yep. Yep. I think so." She said, smiling at him. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." He smiled a little in return as he set her back on the ground.
"What was that?" she asked straightened out her attire then slipped on her heels.
"No bloody clue." Eric said. "Where's Ron?"
"Um, here." Ronald said coming from the other side of a shelf. "Found somethin'." They came to Ronald, finding a shelf had opened, dropping all files it held onto the floor. "I, touched something I guess."
Alan stepped forward first, smacking away cobwebs, a few spiders scrambling from the cracks in the wall. "Mm, lovely." He sighed. "Well, is anyone willing to go down this hall?"
Eric stepped forward. "I'll lead the way fer ya young ones."
He went, Alan following close behind. "Are you sure it's safe to go down there?" Thea asked.
"Yeah, why not?"
"Well, there's already going to be major consequences if we're caught in here. What'll happen if we're caught in there?"
Ronald shrugged. "Dunno, but we can't just let Al and Eric go on ahead and take the fall alone."
"You're right…" she took Ronald's hands. "Let's go in."
It was quick catchup for them, but when they stood beside the two, they found they could only stare as well.
They had found themselves in a circular room with torches aligning the walls, three black gold urns on pedestals around the room and in the center was a black file pulsating a strange aura. "The fuck is this?" Eric asked. "Outta everythin' I was expectin', this wasn't it."
"I don't think anyone was." Alan said, stepping into the room, going to the first urn on his right. "Abaddon?"
"What kinda names that?" Ronald asked.
"Abaddon was the King of Demons." Alan answered. He went to the second urn. "Eae, the Angel that Thwarted Demons." He moved to the last urn. "Azrael, Archangel of Death. Why would these urns have those names?"
"Why do you know that?"
"I read." He looked to the file in the center of the room. "Unless, these are the ashes of whose name is engraved on them."
"Why would such important beings be here in ash?" Thea asked.
"I'm not sure." He examined the file. "Should I…pick it up?"
"I wouldn't. Look at the thing. It's not givin' me any good vibes." Eric said with a shake of his head. "Leave it there Al."
Ronald stepped into the room, going to an urn and lifting the lid, peering inside. "Yep, ashes."
"Ronald! Put the lid on." Thea said. "We shouldn't anger these spirits if they're still here."
"Just lookin'." He replied, putting the lid back on the urn. "So, now what? If we can't lift the file, then how do we learn 'bout the Red Record."
"You shouldn't have even heard that name."
The four of them jumped at the cold voice, all of them turning to William and Eliza who stood there looking none too pleased. "What on earth are the four of you doing in here? This area has always been off limits." Eliza said.
"And to steal my key to enter here, you two especially, Thea, Alan."
"We just wanted to know about the Red Record." Ronald muttered.
William turned his head to Eliza, whispered something, Eliza gave a nod then he said, "Come with us to my office where we will speak in private."
"Before I say anything about the subject, I must find a punishment suitable enough for all of you." William said standing before the four of them, though Eric didn't look too phased as the other three.
"Mister Spears, Miss Costa." Alan spoke up. "It-It was my fault really. I suggested we sneak into the filing room."
"An even bigger shock Mister Humphries." Eliza said. "You're accomplishments had reached high on Council ears."
"Look, it's not just Al's fault. I stole the key, I, being the oldest, shoulda said somethin' but went along with it anyway." Eric stood. "I should be gettin' the punishment, not them."
William pushed up his glasses. "As noble as that is of you Slingby, the four of you will receive punishment."
"Well, what are ya gonna do? Overtime?"
William looked to Eliza. "What do you propose?"
"I propose we let them off."
"What?!" the found turned to the woman.
"Let them off, Miss Costa?" William asked. "Why do such a thing when they-?"
"They did not know what they would find and it is our fault to begin with for talking about the Red Record in such an open place." She answered. "They did only act out of curiosity."
William nodded. "I suppose you are correct."
"So, we're free?" Ronald asked.
"Yes."
"Awesome!" he looked to Eliza. "Thanks."
"Mm hm." She walked to William, touching his shoulder. "Now, explain to them what it is that we've been speaking of."
"Yes." He eyed the four. "The Red Record is an artifact created by three high powers of Hell, Heaven and our realm. I'm sure you've read the names of the urns."
"Al did, yeah." Eric said.
"Then you know of who's souls are there guarding the file that not even I have been told what it does, but I do know it is crucial that it, as well as the Record, stays out of the hands of evil."
"So, what is the Record?" Thea asked.
"The Red Record was created during a time when everyone was at war. It was created to make peace with the three realms."
"Whose Record is it?" Alan asked.
"The Record was of a man made from the three realms. Half angel, half demon, half reaper. He was meant to keep peace, but he was slowly corrupted by his demonic side and eventually just caused chaos as he knew how to destroy every realm. Upon agreeing, the three higher powers, Abaddon, Eae and Azrael, killed the creature, forcing his records into a book created by them as well. The record holds the power to destroy everything or to cure sickness or grant eternal life. It's extremely powerful and it's why we reapers have it. As we are the grey between the light and dark, we have no 'corruption' to want to destroy the other realms." William said.
"However if the record does get into the wrong hands of either angel or demon, then we can assume everything we know will die." Eliza continued. "But as we got the record, the creature's powers were split into three other artifacts. Two of which reside in the hands of Hell and Heaven, the other was cast away to an unknown place. When the three artifacts reunite with the record, the creature will return, stronger then he was. Though we are not sure what he would do, we believe he would likely destroy our realms and create one of his own to rule over everything that moves and breathes."
"…no, ah, no wonder it's important." Ronald said.
"Yes and we assume the artifact the demons have is the cause of their scent being masked to us." William said to Ronald, Thea and Alan. "Why it works sometimes and not others is beyond us, but that is the cause."
"Oh. That's good to know it's not us." Thea said.
"And now that you know what it is, you won't go after it?" William asked.
"No sir." The three shook their heads, Eric just giving a shrug. "Eric."
"What?"
"You won't, will you?"
He sighed. "No."
"Good. Then, the four of you are dismissed." Eliza said.
They thanked their superiors again before leaving the two alone. "I'm glad that's over with." William said turning to his desk.
"Yes…Mister Spears?"
"Yes?"
"Why have you asked about the Record so much? You seem to bring it up whenever you can."
William paused, trying to think through the sudden fear he had. "I, well…it's just…I'm-"
"Contracted to a demon?"
