Chapter 9

Eliza rubbed over his back. "You are, aren't you?"

William felt at a loss for words. He supposed he should tell her as she already knew, but would that mean she'd use his words against him to turn him in to the Council? "I…" he took a deep breath, knowing someone was going to find out soon enough, might as well own up to it now. "Yes. I've been forced into a contract by the demon, Sebastian Michealis…how did you know?"

"Well, you kept asking me about the Record and I did see a demon leave your office. I just put two and two together."

"I see." He stood straight, back still to her. "Well, yes. He wants the Record to rid himself of the child he's been bound to forever."

"Well, William." She took his shoulders, turning him around. "Tell me what happened. How this came to be." So he explained his situation as well as pulling off his glove to show her the mark. "…wow." She took his hand, placing hers over the mark. "William."

"And if I do not get the Record to him, I will be contracted to him for eternity until I'm executed for making a contract with a demon."

"You were forced."

William scoffed. "We both know the Council wouldn't believe that." Eliza had to agree. The Council was often inclined to their own opinion unless there were hard facts against what they thought. "Shouldn't you be reporting me?"

Eliza entered his personal bubble as she reached up to cup his cheek. "No."

"Why?"

"Because not only are you a competent supervisor unlike others I've seen, you do not deserve the punishment they will give you. This is not your fault." She took his hand. "This is a forced contract. Very rare but real. I would feel more then guilty if you were killed for this."

"…you aren't reporting me?"

"No."

William felt a bit of weight lift from his shoulders as he took both her hands between his own, bringing them to his lips. "Thank you, Miss Costa. Truly. I…how can I repay you?"

She smiled up at him. "One way you can repay me, is to help me steal the Record."

William's face blanked as he stared at her. Was the woman the Council trusted most suggesting to steal the Record and hand it off to a demon? "Eliza. You aren't serious, are you?"

"I am."

"Isn't that breaking the rules?"

"Yes."

"…but…for me?"

"Yes." She took one hand from the hold to rub over his arm. "William, do you really want to die? Or be contracted to this Sebastian forever?"

"No."

"Then we're going to have to break a few rules." She pulled from him, going to the door. "Now, we're also going to need the help of five other reapers."

"Five other-Eliza. They won't help me."

She paused, glancing over her shoulder. "Why not?"

"I'm their strict, cold, heartless boss. They'd rather me die."

"…I'm sure you're wrong. From the time I've spent with you, you haven't displayed much in term of your reputation."

"Because I respect you being in a higher position."

Eliza sighed. "William. We can't do it with just the two of us."

"They won't agree."

"I'm sure they will. Now come."

He quickly put his hand over hers. "I don't want to drag you into this mess."

She gave a smirk. "You're not dragging me into anything. I'm choosing." With that she opened the door, William not able to do anything but follow.

Finding the five wasn't difficult as they were at the same table they normally were, the other three informing Grell on what had happened, Eric draped over Alan, seeming to be ready to fall asleep. "Speak of the devils." Grell giggled seeing the two approach.

Eric eyes trailed from dazing at the wall to the two. "Ah great. What do ya want?"

William gave Eliza a 'told you' sort of look, but she ignored it. "We came here requesting assistance."

"Ha! Spears askin' fer help. That's good."

"Slingby. This is no laughing matter…is he heavy?" Eliza asked Alan.

Alan shrugged. "I'm used often as his pillow." He shifted under Eric's weight. "But what's the problem?"

Eliza nodded to William; the supervisor almost visibly shaking as he lifted his hand, showing them the mark, not surprised at the gaping stares he received, even from Eric. "What the fuck boss?" Eric asked leaning off Alan.

William lowered his eyes, explaining again his predicament. "And…to steal the Record I would need the help of all of you."

Eric leaned against the table, crossing his arms. "So, the cold hearted Mister Spears is askin' fer help to save his ass?"

"Yes."

Alan stood. "I'll help."

Eric crossed his leg over the other. "Really Al? Yer gonna get caught up in this?"

Alan glanced at Eric. "Yes. Mister Spears is asking for our help. I'm not going to give him the cold shoulder."

"I agree with Alan." Thea said standing as well, smiling over to Alan then to William.

Ronald stood beside his lover. "Me too."

Eliza took William's marked hand. "Then we just need two more." She eyed the silent ones.

Eric gave a heavy sigh before shifting to stand, hands in his pockets. "Ah, what the hell. I'll help too."

William focused his eyes to Grell. "You, Sutcliffe?"

The red head held out his hand, wiggling his fingers. "Only if you get on your knee and ask."

"I will do no such thing!"

"Fine. Then you don't have my help." He pouted throwing his nose in the air.

Eliza tugged William's hand, getting him to lean down a bit so she could whisper in his ear, "you need his help as well. Throw away your pride for a minute."

Knowing she was right, William approached Grell, kneeling before the red head. "Grell…will you-"

"Take my hand." He demanded, holding it out.

Sighing, William did. "Will you help me?"

"What's the magic word?"

William's eye twitched. "Will you help me please?"

"Ooh! Yes Will!" he threw himself at William, nearly strangling the man. "I'll throw my life on the line for you!"

"Grell." William scolded, pushing the red head away.

"I was just showing how loyal I was. Don't worry. I won't do anything in front of your lover."

"My…lover?"

Grell used his hand to gesture to Eliza. "Eric dear told me you two were something."

Eric looked up, scanning the roof, feeling the stares of both William and Eliza. "We are no such thing." Eliza said.

Grell blinked then tackled William again. "Yay! More for me!"

"Sutcliffe!" he shoved Grell back with greater force this time. "Honestly." He muttered, standing.

"Are you sure you can trust the demon?" Alan asked, changing the subject. "What makes you think he won't run off with it?"

William shrugged. "I'm going to have to put my trust in him no matter how preposterous it sounds."

Thea moved to sit again. "Then, we're going to have to have a plan, right?"

The others joined her at the table, Eric once again using Alan as his pillow. "I have one in mind." Eliza said. "As I often am in the Council's realm, I know the layout quite well. The Red Record is guarded by two doors, one of which is lock with a grand lock with four guards standing before it. Not only that, the Council has an attachment to it in the sense they know when someone not authorized touches the Record."

"Great. So what's your plan?" Ronald asked.

"Well, the sense is dulled when they are in full conversation with someone, thus I'll take Alan," she planed her hand on Alan's shoulder, "and distract them with getting Alan a reward for his wonderful working ethics which he deserves regardless of distraction or not."

Alan's cheeks turned a bit pink. "T-Thank you Miss."

"You're welcome." She focused back on the group. "Then Grell, you'll charm the guards."

"Easy with my feminine charm." He flicked his long red hair over his shoulder.

"…right." She moved her eyes to Eric. "You will picklock the doors as I've read in your file you were a skilled lock picker."

Alan turned his head to Eric. "And you stole senpai's key?"

Eric shrugged. "More fun that way…oh!" he fished around in his pocket then slid the key across the table to William. "There ya are Spears."

William took the key. "Slingby. I'll be sure to keep a closer eye on these." He said, attaching the key back with the others.

"Yep." He rested his chin on Alan's shoulder, rather than his head, eyes drooping.

"Eric." Alan smacked his head. "Stay awake. This is important."

"But 'im tired." He complained.

"It'll only be another minute." Eliza assured. "Now, Ronald. You'll have the job of look out, Eric joining you once he's unlocked both doors."

"Right!"

"And Thea, you and William will retrieve the Record but only you, I repeat, only you can touch it."

"Oh, um, alright."

"Why?" William asked folding his arms. "Why can't I take it?"

"Because of that." She pointed to his mark. "The Record will sense when an entity not of reaper touches it sending off a warning to the Council that will sense it no matter what and yea. Even a demonic mark on a reapers hand will send off the same warning." William glared at the mark, cursing under his breath. "But that's our plan. Does everyone agree?" Various nods and yes's were given. "Good. Then let's rest up for tomorrow."

Eric pulled off Alan, stretching. "Good." He stood.

With goodnights, all went their separate ways though Alan followed Eric. "Eric."

"Eh?"

"You won't try to take the Record for yourself, will you?"

Eric cocked an eyebrow at him. "No, why?"

"Well, it's just…the Record can…you know."

"Know what?"

"…it can…yeah?"

Eric cocked his head, stared at his partner for a second then entered his bedroom, Alan still following. "I have no idea what yer talkin' 'bout." He said, slipping off his already loosened tie.

Alan bit his lip. He didn't know if Eric was playing dumb or really didn't know. If he told Eric what he meant, he might get the idea in his head and that wouldn't be good. "Just…it cures, yeah?"

"Cures what?" he pulled off his shirt.

"Things."

Eric sat on his bed, eying Alan with that eyebrow still arched. "Look, mate, I dunno what yer tryin' ta tell me, but 'm ready ta pass out. So, unless ya wanna watch me undress, I suggest ya get goin'."

Alan sighed. "Alright…just…" he shook his head. "Never mind. Goodnight."

"G'night." He watched Alan walk out, closing the door behind him. After he heard the click, he sighed. "Al. I know exactly what ya mean and if I can get me hands on that Record, you'd be free of the thorns."


The next morning, they had met Eliza where they sat the previous night and followed her down a hall she summoned near the back if Library to a door that only appeared when the Council came for whatever important reason. "Alright. Do all of you remember the plan?" she asked. They nodded. "Good." She took Alan's hand. "We'll all meet at this door after and please, everyone, be careful." She gave soft eyes to William and Thea. "You two especially."

"We shall." William said.

With a confirmed nod from Thea, they entered; Eliza gave the others quick directions in which way to go before taking Alan to the Council room, Alan's eyes widening at the sight of reapers he only heard of when they entered. They were large, a lot taller than him for sure. Their eyes were a piercing green with no pupil or sclera, just a pure green iris; the rest of their faces shrouded in the black cloak mortals always depicted death with. They were Council Reapers, reapers that had no emotion, that did as the Council said, no questions asked. They were trouble if they were sent for you. "Mr. Macoy, sirs." She greeted leading Alan further in.

"Miss Costa." The middle man on the Council's chairs spoke. He was thin, silver hair with old but still a bit of youth sparking in his reaper eyes. The suits the Council wore were more a black silver, giving off sheen from the light above them. "Have you finished your evaluation already?"

"No sirs." She pushed Alan forward gently. "I came to introduce Mister Humphries. The Honor Roll student of the academy."

Alan bowed politely. "It's a pleasure to be in the presence of such old and wise reapers."

"His grades from the academy do not do him justice. In fact, I think he's earned a sort of reward.

Mr. Macoy stood, moving to Alan. "What kind of reward do you suggest?"

As they spoke, Grell was busy distracting the guards with seductive gestures far enough to cause the guards to wander from the post and to keep his true gender hidden as Eric tried to hurry in pick locking. "Scythe, I'm nervous." Thea said.

Ronald hugged her. "It's gonna be okay. Mister Spears will be with ya and he'll protect ya, right sir?"

William nodded. "I'll defend her best I can. Even so, I'm sure she could defend herself if I disappear somehow."

"Still. I wanna make sure she's safe 's all."

"I'll be fine. I'm just nervous. I mean, think of what they'll do to us if they find out we did this."

"Death." Eric said from his kneeling position. "Most likely anyway. I can't see 'im handin' out go to jail cards for somethin' like this."

"You're not helpin' her or me, Eric." Ronald said. "I'm scared of the punishment too, Thea. But we agreed to help Mister Spears."

William nodded to them. "And I must thank you. I truly was not expecting any of you to help."

"Hey, we may be asses ta ya sometimes Spears, but we'll help ya if yer in a spot of trouble."

"Thank you Slingby."

"Yep." He stood; putting the small tools he used into his pockets then pushed the door open. "Right, be back to unlock the other one." He ran off.

William took a calming breath of his own, not once thinking he'd be stealing from the Council. "Hey, uh, sir?" William looked at Ronald. "Can Thea and I have a private moment?"

"Why?"

"Please?"

With a roll of his eyes, William followed Eric to the next door, leaning on the wall beside it, watching Eric work his magic. "What are ya doin' down 'ere? Thought you'd be calmin' the kids down."

"Ronald wanted a private moment."

Eric smirked. "Kids plantin' one then, hey?"

"Pardon?"

Eric sighed. "Right. Yer Spears 'm talkin' too. I meant, kissin'. Ya know, since 'e wanted it ta be private, probably their first one."

"I see no problem with someone being there."

Eric looked at him as he stood. "Spears. It's their first kiss. Means somethin' ta a lot of people. Me included."

"Well unlike most, I've never had a kiss before."

Eric smirked. "Not surprised." He patted William's shoulder. "Sure Grell will plant one on ya."

"Tch." He smacked Eric's hand away. "Fetch me Thea so we can get this over with."

"I am." He jogged back down the hall to the first door where he caught the end of their kiss, both their faces beet red, shy smiles on them both. "Ain't that sweet." He said.

"Eric-senpai!" Ronald jumped then clamped his hands over his mouth, hoping that wasn't too loud.

"Keep it down Ron. Dun wanna wake the dead or get our arses cooked. Now get goin' Thea. Spears is waitin'."

"Alright." She pecked Ronald's cheek then ran to meet up with William. "I'm ready."

"Enjoy your kiss?"

She flushed redder. "…sir…can we…go?"

William nodded and ran with her down the hall the other door opened and when they came to a third that wasn't locked, William throwing the doors open, they didn't expect to see what they did. They saw the Red Record, floating above the pedestal it was meant to sit on, black Cinematic Records spiraling about the room, but ignoring them, the book itself was bigger than any Record with an aura of pure red pulsating around it. "…my." William said just as in awe as Thea was.

"I…have to touch that?"

William nodded. "Yes. You have to take it." He said as they approached the pedestal.

William allowed Thea to go ahead as she reached for the Record, but the moment her fingers touched the aura, a shock went through her body causing her to jerk her hand back. "Sir, I can't touch it. The aura won't let me."

William cursed; clenching his hands, then came to realize something. The women in the division didn't wear gloves as all the rest, even the Council, did. He looked at his hands then slipped his gloves off. "Thea. Wear these." He said, putting them in her hands

"Why?"

"Trust me. I have feeling this might work."

A bit skeptical, she followed William's orders in sliding on his gloves, having to push them down a little more as his hands were bigger than hers. Then she turned to the pedestal and tried again, this time being allowed through the aura to pick up the Record. "It's a little heavier than others."

"Are you able to hold it?"

"Yes. It's not that heavy. It's just heavy then other records."

"I see, then let's get out of here before we're caught."

She nodded, eagerly following him to the door when the Cinematic Record's that were ignoring them, shot down, spider webbing the exit closed. "…s-sir?"

William put his arm before Thea, materializing his scythe in the other hand as he walked backwards, pushing Thea gently back as well. "This isn't good. These are the same Cinematic Record's that gave Alan his illness."

"What do we do?"

"I'm not sure." They continued to back up, the Cinematic Record's coming for them, waving around them trying to encircle then in their grasps, wanting them to feel their pain. "This isn't good." And it didn't get much better as their backs hit the pedestal where the Record once floated.

Unannounced to them, the pedestal suddenly began breaking away from itself, splitting into three pieces as it parted. Thea, who stood on the edge of the deep hole the pedestal revealed, lost her balance at the sudden loss of support and wobbled, grabbing anything for support which happened to be William's jacket, the sudden yank a surprise causing William's balance to fail then both to fall down the hole. William thinking quick, used his scythe as a sort of pick to stab into the wall, getting lucky and hitting a soft spot between the stones to stop his fall, stopping Thea's as well as he grabbed her wrist. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"…maybe." She gripped the Record tight, feeling the aura pulse against her chest. "What do we do?"

"I…just hang on." He looked up; glad he had a tight grip on his scythe. He really didn't want to know how long it would take to recover from the injuries that the fall would give them, let alone the thought of the Council finding them at the bottom of the hole.

"Can you hang on sir?"

"Of course." He used his strength to lift her up enough to grab his scythe, now face to face, a rather awkward position for both. Their breath mingled, their bodies' accidentally rubbing together when one would adjust. "This is terribly awkward. I apologizes Miss Windfalls."

"It's alright sir." She tried to give a smile. "…how do we get out of this?"

"I'm not sure." He looked around, finding nothing to help them out.

"Spears!"

"Thea!"

Their heads shot up, William never having been so glad to see Eric's and Ronald's faces before. "Thank bloody scythe, you two are here. We're stuck!" he called up.

"Can see that!" Eric called down. "The hell this happen?!"

"Can we talk when we're safe?!" Thea called.

"Yeah!" Eric took Ronald's hand. "I'll hold ya and you can try and grab yer girl and Spears."

"Alright. You won't drop me?"

"'Course not!" he shoved Ronald down, keeping a tight grip on the blondes hand and a curse from the blonde as he had been unexpectedly pushed. "I got ya Ron."

"Coulda warned me first!" he sighed then focused on trying to reach for Thea. "C'mon. Almost there."

William could see this might be a little troublesome, then saw a few stones that protruded from the wall. "Thea. Put your feet on those." He said with a head gesture. She found the stones he pointed out and with William's help, stepped on the stones, William helping her keep up as she reached for Ronald.

Just as their hands touched, the Record touched a bit of skin that William's glove wasn't able to hide. She yelped and dropped the Record then realized what she'd done. "Sir!"

William instantly reached out, then instantly regretted the idea as he felt his hand burn seconds later realizing it was his marked hand that grabbed it. "Hurry!" he demanded, the burning intensifying every second.

Ronald reached as far as he could until finally he clasped Thea's hand in his and pulled her up, Eric pulling them both up. "Now fer Spears." Eric said taking Ronald's hand again.

"What is going on here?!"

The three spun around, facing Mister Macoy, Grell handcuffed with a pout, Eliza and Alan chained together, the Council Reapers surrounding the room in seconds. "This isn't what it looks like!" Ronald tried to defend.

"Which one of you is part demon?!" Macoy demanded, ignoring Ronald.

Eliza rushed forward, yanking Alan behind her. "Mister Macoy, please, this isn't what it looks like."

"Now what it looks like? We have intruders and a betrayer! I should have your glasses for this Miss Costa." Then Macoy realized something. "Where's the Record?"

Eric pointed to the hole. "Fell."

"What?!" though the man was old, he rushed to the hole, staring down into it. "How could this of happened?!"

The others stared down as well, William and his scythe gone. "What's down there?" Thea asked.

"Awful." Macoy ignored her. He whipped to Eliza. "We put so much trust in you and this is how you repay us?"

"I know how this looks sir, but this is just a big misunderstanding."

"How so? The Records gone, Costa. Gone! I don't see how this is a misunderstanding." His eyes burned with anger. "Do you know the danger if the Record-"

"Alan!"

Eric's outburst caused their attention to drift to Alan who was now being surrounded by the Cinematic Records. "What…what are these?" he asked, almost feeling like they somehow came from his own soul.

Macoy's eyes widened. "You have the Thorns of Death, don't you?"

"Y-Yes."

"Then they are attracted to your pain. The pain they feel every day is the pain you experience when you have an attack."

"They're alive?"

"Yes. They are the souls the Creature devoured before it was locked away."

Eric thought now was the time to confirm his suspicions. "The Record can cure the Thorns, yeah?"

"Yes."

The smirk Eric hid showed in his eyes. He stood, staring down into the hole. "Where does this lead?"

"To the mortal realm. The place where the Record would be harder to track with the constant presences of mortal souls."

"Great." With that, he jumped into the hole.

"Eric!" Alan called too late.

Macoy sent a glare to Alan. "He will not open the Record, will he?"

Alan swallowed. "T-To save me, he might."

Macoy slammed his fist against the wall. "He's an idiot! Does he realize what will happen if he opens the Record?"

"What will happen?"

"He will die."

"No!" Alan shouted. "No, he can't die! I'm the dying one! I'm the one that's meant to suffer, not Eric!"

"If he opens the Record, then there's nothing I can do!" Macoy took one breath before giving out an order. "I want Mister Slingby and the demonic reaper that stole the Record to be found and brought to me. For a reward, I'll cure you, Mister Humphries, of your sickness." He spun to Eliza. "And you keep your glasses."

"What will you do with them?" Thea asked, holding to Ronald's arm, keeping the burn on her wrist covered.

"I will think of a punishment when they are caught. Now go!"


William groaned once he hit the ground. His head and hand in the same state, throbbing, though his hand had a more burning throb then a smacked throb in his head.

For a minute, he just laid there, gaining his bearings before slowly moving to his knees, wincing as he did so. He cracked his back and neck, before looking at the damage done to his hand. It was burned, quite badly and would need medical attention once returning to the Library. After sizing up his wound, he turned a scowl to the Record that lay beside him. "Damn thing." Now he just needed a way to get it to Sebastian without causing more pain.

He searched through his pockets for a tissue or extra gloves, just about to give up when he heard a soft thud behind him. He turned around, looking up to Eric. "What are you doing here?"

"Takin' this." He said lifting the Record into his hands. "This is gonna save Al." Just as he began opening it, William slammed it shut with his scythe. "The hell?"

"You cannot open it."

"Why not?"

"It will cause pain." He showed Eric the burns on his hand. "This is what it did to me."

"To you." He began opening it again when William knocked it from his hands. "Spears."

"I told you not to open it. Listen to me Slingby. You being dead will not save Alan."

Eric growled. "You bein' dead will help me save Alan."

Without warning, Eric attacked him, quickly knocking William's scythe away, Eric throwing punches every place he could, the few hits William not managing to block causing bruises to form on his chest and chin.

Blocking another attack, he flipped backwards, taking his scythe into his hand as he did so, holding it protectively before him. "Slingby, please. Fighting will not solve anything."

Eric summoned his own scythe. "It will if ya won't let me save Al."

"I'm doing you a favor." William said. "Please, listen to me."

Eric ignored William's plea and ran at him full force, bringing his scythe down in an attack that had William's arms shake as he used his own scythe to block it. Grunting, he shoved Eric back, taking his chance to clamp his scythe on Eric's wrist.

Hissing with the pain, the blonde took a moment to try and pull his wrist from the clamp of William's scythe, giving William time to get in three hard punches to the blonde's chest, sending Eric back as he released the grip on his scythe. "I don't want to kill you." William said. "But if you continue to disobey, I will."

Eric sneered. He got up, scythe being summoned again into his hand, running to William with anger blocking his senses. With a quick swipe of his foot and punch to his back, Eric fell to the ground again, rolling over only to have William's scythe clamp around his neck. "Fuck off Spears. I bet if that broad was dyin' you'd do the same thing."

"What 'broad' are you speaking of?"

"That Council broad. Costa."

"I wouldn't waste the time."

Eric blinked. "You wouldn't save the woman that was willin' ta help ya even if it meant losin' her job, hell, her life?"

"…no."

"Ya are a cold hearted bastard."

"I'm practical. I wouldn't waste time on someone who can't be saved."

"But Alan can be! The fuckin' answers right there!"

"So is the end of everything! You know nothing of the Record, Eric, nothing! What you are trying to do is noble, yes, I'll give you that, but stupid! In trying to save Alan, you'll kill everyone then what's the point of saving him, hm? Nothing!"
Eric continued to glare. "I'm not fuckin' stupid, but I'd die fer Al."

"You don't understand. You'll be killing yourself and Alan!"

"Is this the Record then?"

They lost attention on each other to be brought to a demon that wasn't Sebastian. They were burly, with four arms instead of two, sharp claws, horns on either side of their head, piercing reddish black eyes. He knew these demons. He hated these demons most. "Do not touch it." He demanded quickly flipping to his feet, forgetting Eric. "You have no right to have it."

"I take as I wish or would you want my fellow to explain that in a way you'll understand?"

"Fellow?"

Before William could turn around, he was knocked hard on the head and sent into a world of black.