Alright guys we're almost done! One more chapter (and perhaps an epilogue) and I'll bring this story to a close. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me and given me encouragement throughout all of this!
The girl was waiting for him, panting and grimacing with discomfort from her rapid limp from the top of the Spire. Despair stood beside her, an almost bored expression on the horse's half-rotted face.
"H-hey," she panted hands on her knees as she regained her breath, "you made it back."
"And the Archon is no more," Death said. The Angel Key sat proudly in his hand. "You're still alright, I see."
"Yeah, well, I'm no worse off than usual," she replied. "That angel didn't even get close thanks to your giant monster horse."
Despair whickered, sounding almost offended.
"What about you? I mean, I was watching and it seemed like he was beating down on you pretty hard…" she trailed off as the Horseman stared coolly down at her as though daring her to finish her thought. She rubbed awkwardly at the back of her neck. "You know what, never mind. You're obviously fine. Sorry I said anything."
"The Archon was more of a challenge than I anticipated, it's true," he admitted, "The Corruption had already eaten away at him, twisted him into a its puppet. But, you already knew that, didn't you?"
"'Corruption?'" she repeated, "Is that what I…" she felt a shiver trickle down her spine at the memory of the dark tide of hatred that rolled off the angel, the festering anger that whispered to her in her dream. She swallowed. "Yeah, I think I… felt it or something? I dunno, but whenever the angel got close, it was like something was trying to suffocate me."
Death nodded. "Its as I thought. You are human, after all; a creature of emotion unlike angel or demons. The Corruption was born of rage and betrayal," he added bitterly, "Its no wonder you could feel it."
"It was trying to get to me, I think…"
"And it is something you must resist at all cost," he told her, "it won't do to have you lost to the darkness."
"Why? 'Cus then you can't you use my 'testimony'?" her fingers moved in little air quotes. "I was there when you said that remember? What exactly are you planning to do with me now that I'm here?"
"You'll see soon, Little One. In the mean time we must be going. There's someone I want you to meet." Death pulled himself up into Despair's saddle and held down a hand to help the girl up. Her lips thinned as she sized up the rider's massive mount.
"Uuh, are you sure?" she said uncertainly.
"This is the fastest way. Unless you really want to walk."
She shifted uncomfortably on her wounded leg, her eyes flickering back and forth from the snorting horse to Death's outstretched hand. Eventually she gave a little dissatisfied whine and grabbed the Horseman's hand with both of hers. He lifted her easily into the saddle and let her sit in front of him. He spurred Despair into a steady trot and saw her hands turn to a white-knuckled grip on the saddle horn. He chuckled.
"Nervous, are we?" she snorted in reply.
"I'm a city girl, born and raised. The most I ever saw of wildlife was pigeons and the fat squirrels in Central Park."
"This should be good for you then."
"I beg to differ," she grumbled under her breath as she tried futilely to make herself more comfortable. The way the beast rocked and jolted beneath her made the wounds in her leg twinge and she had to clench her jaw to keep her teeth from clacking together. She knew she probably owed the undead horse her life (that was a weird thing to admit) but she felt like she wasn't going to be asking for another ride anytime soon.
"Where are we going anyway?" she asked, hoping to keep herself distracted from her discomfort.
"Look to the horizon. What do you see?"
She squinted into the distance, peering through the dust kicked up by Despair's hooves. An enormous shape stretched into the sky, so tall it pierced the clouds; but it didn't look like a mountain. "What is… Is that a tree?" she couldn't quite believe it, but with the way the shape spread as it reached higher it could only be the branches of a monumental tree.
"It is the Tree of Life. It connects all realms throughout Creation. That is where we're going."
"Holy shit," the girl slumped in the saddle, running a hand through her hair. Washed of dirt and sweat the short brown locks had begun to curl as they dried. "This is crazy" she sighed, her head lowered, "I mean, I just shot an angel for God's sake." She rubbed her face, her next words muffled by her fingers, "Ugh, I feel like I'm going insane."
"If its any consolation, your aim isn't that bad."
She laughed a short breathy laugh. "I was aiming for his head actually. My hands were shaking." She shook her head.
"I don't think I've ever been more terrified."
Death looked down at her. Her hands were quivering on the saddle horn. "You do realize that you've left the Earth behind right? Nothing will happen to you."
"I don't really think you're getting it," she said, "This all feels like some sort of twisted nightmare. Demons? Angels? Giant rotting horses and mountain sized trees? Nothing on Earth could have prepared me for this." Her voice was on the edge of hysteria now. "I'm scared and hurt and in way over my head."
Death almost sighed. "You're probably right little one," he told her, "You are a long way from home and things will only become stranger from here, so you might as well get used to it. It might be a while before you will see the Earth again, and it's more than likely that it will not be the same. But, I will not allow you to come to any harm. You said that you trusted me and that trust will not go unfounded. You have my word that I will protect you as I would my own kin." He even meant it to which was strange; such a promise was not one he would ever give lightly.
The girl sniffed, scrubbed at her eyes briefly before her head tilted back and she looked up at him. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
"Oh, I believe you. I believe you for some stupid goddamn reason. I just," she dropped her head back and sighed, "I just feel like I'm lost."
"I know the feeling all too well," he said softly, "it is easy to feel lost when you've no home to go to. But I will return you to yours one day, I promise you that."
She didn't answer as her shoulders began to gently shake with the force of stifled sobs. Droplets fell from her face onto her clenched hands below. Death said nothing, figuring that it was better letting her believe that her efforts to stay silent amounted to something. She would figure things out in her own time.
Eventually her sniffles petered out and she scrubbed at her face with an arm, taking deep, even breaths. For a while all she did was breath, measured and slow. He'd seen her do this before, when she was recovering from her nightmares. A grounding tactic perhaps, to remind herself of when and where she was.
Her relative calm restored, the girl tilted her head back until the top of it brushed against his chest, getting an upside-down view of his face. "Hey Big Guy," she said, and he spared her a look down the end of his nose.
"Thank you."
Death scoffed and looked away from the earnest look in her blotchy face. "Don't thank me quite yet," he warned her, "this is far from over." She simply rolled her eyes at him and looked forward once more.
Death couldn't quite get his head around her gratitude. She baffled him in ways that no one ever had before; innocent in spite of the blood on her hands, hopeful even though she despaired, and thankful when he had perhaps only dragged her into more danger. Humans, he thought to himself, such a strange race. Perhaps it is why they are so important to the Balance. In all of Creation, I've never met a creature quite like one.
The rest of the journey passed by in silence. The girl sought to distract herself from her thoughts with the passing scenery; after all, it wasn't everyday that she got to go sightseeing in another world. Though honestly there wasn't much to see. Outside of Lostlight this world was barren, suffused with soft light as the sunshine filtered through a layer of dust. Sometimes the shadow of an unnamed creature darted through the canyon rocks, but none dared to approach the rider's ethereal steed. Beyond that the Tree dominated the view, growing impossibly tall, sprouting straight from the stone with roots as thick around as any building. It loomed over the pair, so huge that trying to look up at it made the girl dizzy with vertigo.
Death steered his mount beneath the shade of the great tree, making for a wide clearing set beneath the roots. He was waiting there, just like the Horseman had expected.
The spirit of the Crowfather watched with sharp eyes as Death approached. He had seen the girl sat before the Horseman and couldn't say that he was surprised; of course few things were ever a surprise to the Keeper of Secrets.
"Hello Crowfather," Death called casually as he reined in Despair before the Old One.
"Yes, yes, welcome back Horseman. And hello, Little One. I was wondering if you were going to make an appearance." The girl started, her mouth dropping open.
"H-how did you-?"
"I know many things. Though I was unsure if what Death would do if he should find you," the old man chuckled dryly, "I suppose this answers my question. Honestly Death, I wasn't quite sure what would happen given your… track record with first impressions."
Death grumbled as he slid from the saddle. "Save it, Crowfather. I have a request to make of you."
The Crowfather's eyes narrowed. "Oh? And what you have of me Horseman? I'm afraid there's not much I can do in my… current state." There was frost around the last two words. Death almost felt guilty. Almost. But he had thought this through long and hard as he wandered through the labyrinthine ruins of the Ivory Citadel and this was the best solution he could think of.
"The girl can accompany me no further. She must be looked after and at the moment you are the only one I can rely on to keep her safe."
"Woah, woah. What?" the girl interjected from where she still sat on Despair's back, "What happened to you promising to protect me?"
"That's what I'm trying to do," he growled. "Where I am going it is far too dangerous for you to follow, and it's important for you to stay alive. Or are you really all that eager to face demons again?" she jerked back, flushing red to the ears. Her lip curled in a brief sneer but she said nothing.
"That's what I thought," he turned away. The Crowfather had watched the exchange with an amused glint to his eye. Death didn't like it. "Well Crowfather? Will you take her back to the City of the Dead? Or do I need to handcuff her to you?"
A heated "Hey!" came from behind him, but he ignored it, keeping his full attention to stare down the Old One. The Crowfather seemed rather unimpressed, but he nodded his head in a slight bow.
"Yes Death, I will take her," he said impatiently. "I can tell that you believe this is the only way and I must agree that it would do no good for her to continue with you. I will do my best to keep her from harm's way."
Death simply nodded in agreement, too proud to voice his thanks to the Old One.
"What, don't I get a say in this?" the girl demanded, stubbornly refusing the hand that Death offered to help her down from the horse. Her leg threatened to buckle when she dropped to the ground, but she clenched her teeth and stayed standing. Death leaned down and gave her his most obstinate glare.
"No," he said shortly, waving a hand to dismiss Despair, who vanished into the mist with a ghostly whinny.
"That's it?! Not gonna give me a reason?"
"I already gave you my reasons girl. If you stay with me for too much longer you will get yourself killed. I'm fairly certain that neither of us want that."
Her jaw twitched. She was angry about being left behind, but she knew the Horseman was probably right. She was only human after all. It was a miracle she's gotten this far in the first place with a flesh wound and most of her sanity still intact. But damn if she didn't feel like fighting after all that.
"So, what, you're just gonna ditch me after everything that's happened? How can I be sure that you're not going to just leave me to rot?" she snapped, meeting his glare with one of her own.
Death gritted his teeth, thankful for once for the mask that hid his features. His patience was running thin. So very thin. He was so very close to his goal and there was nothing more than a stubborn little girl standing in his way. "You said that you trusted me, but I don't quite think you know what it means," he said sharply. "I could have just left you on Earth, but I didn't. I could have let that demon choke the life out of you, but I didn't. I could have let the Swarm pick the meat from your bones, but I didn't. I'm trying to keep you safe, but you and your stubborn pride are not letting me!"
The girl flinched at the razor edge of his voice, her sneer faltering and her eyes flashing briefly in fear. Death didn't even care: if fear would get her to do as he said than so be it. She backed down, properly admonished.
Death breathed. "Are we done with this pointless conversation now?" she nodded once, stiffly, refusing to meet his gaze. "Then come with me. We still have a ways to go."
She followed, limping still on a pain-stiffened leg. The Crowfather watched them go with great interest before he vanished, going back to await them within the City of the Dead.
"Another portal, huh?" the girl asked with quiet skepticism, eyeing up the giant frame that contained one of the Tree's numerous gateways to other worlds.
"I'm afraid so," Death answered her.
She made a little disgruntled noise and stepped next to him. She looked far from enthused.
"It gets easier, believe me," he said, but she didn't seem convinced. She simply snorted and gestured for him to go ahead. She held her breath as the weightlessness of teleportation drew her back into its depths.
