Dusk flooded the desert as Izrail neared Yucca Falls. He'd been watching the lights of the town for a few miles now, the road growing harder and more worn with every step he took.
Just outside of the city, Izrail stopped to prepare himself. He spared just enough of his power to disguise his golden eyes, a definite sign of his godhood. He shoved Phil's horrible boots on his feet and winced as they pinched his toes. But, he'd rather face blistered feet than the wrath of Yucca Falls.
"Ain't no one gonna believe yer story if you don't got proper boots on," Phil had said. "You gotta look the part."
And now that Izrail looked the part, he had to play it. He ran the story through his head again, repeating it to memory.
My name is Iz. I've come from the gold rush out west in search of a necromancer to bring my dead brother back to life.
With nowhere else to go but onward, Izrail took a deep breath and marched towards Yucca Falls.
Yucca Falls wasn't a city by any definition of the word, but it was a decent settlement. Wooden buildings clustered around the main street like a herd of nosy cattle. The street itself was wide and dusty, pounded down to near oblivion by boots and hooves. Lantern posts and lights inside homes lit the walkways and horses pawed the ground next to their posts. A few men and women meandered up the street, saying their goodbyes before heading home for the night.
Izrail kept his head down as he walked, desperately trying not to draw attention to himself. The thought of interacting with more humans than necessary made his skin crawl.
Though he hated the creatures, Izrail had been forced to learn about humans during his missions in the Overworld over the past hundred years. A lesson he'd been taught over and over again was that local bars and taverns were the best places to gather information.
And this one seemed as good as any.
Izrail stopped in front of a two-storied building, the sign out front screaming Yucca Falls Hotel and Saloon. Bubbling laughter and music paraded out of the open door, golden light spilled into the streets, and the heat from dozens of bodies wafted over him.
Gritting his teeth, Izrail stepped into the saloon and stopped to catch his breath.
The place was swarming with humans. Tables filled the front of the room where they sat and drank and ate and sang along to the out-of-tune piano. In the back corner, a space was cleared for dancing and the floorboards shook from so many boots. The place was fit to burst with sweat and must and it took all of Izrail's concentration to stop the disgust from showing on his face.
Trying not to think about it, Izrail made his way through the crowded room to the bar at the back. The smell of horse and tobacco and smoke made him want to rip off his own nose.
Izrail sat at the bar, his back to the chaos. Not many sat here away from the action and Izrail reveled in his isolation.
The bartender, a girl with hair the color of a desert rose, slid over to Izrail. "What can I get for ya?" she squinted at Izrail. "I ain't seen you around here before."
"I'm from out west," Izrail said, sticking to his rehearsed lines.
"What brings ya to Yucca Falls? If ya don't mind my askin'."
Izrail shrugged, feigning indifference. "Heard there was a necromancer 'round these parts. Thought I'd go lookin' for him."
The bartender stepped back, her eyes looking anywhere but at Izrail. "Yer lookin' for trouble, more like it."
"My brother died in the mines." Izrail tried to put that sad, pitiful look the humans always wore on his face. "I need to bring him back."
The bartender blew out a slow breath. "Look, I'm just a hotel manager. I don't know much about the dead. But, what I do know is…." She glanced around again, making sure she and Izrail were alone. "Last time someone went around askin' about the necromancer, they wound up dead."
"Killed?"
The bartender nodded. "Strangled."
Izrail shuddered.
The bartender let that little nugget of wisdom sink in and asked, "Now, is there anything else I can get ya?"
Izrail ordered his drink and the bartender busied herself behind the counter, becoming more at ease every second.
"Here ya go!" The bartender was all smiles as she slid the glass to Izrail. "Well, stranger, if yer gonna be in town for a while, would you like a room to stay? They're just upstairs."
Thinking about staying so close to all these humans made Izrail want to hurl.
Noticing Izrail's hesitation, the bartender said, "There ain't nowhere else to stay in Yucca Falls. And after our conversation…." She flashed Izrail a look, "I'd suggest you book with us."
Izrail nodded. "Alright then. I'll take a room."
"Perfect. What's yer name anyhow?"
"Call me Iz."
"Nice to meet ya, Iz. I'm Niki." The bartender ducked down and pulled out a giant hotel ledger. She dropped on the counter, rattling Izrail's cup and spilling his drink. Niki either didn't notice or didn't care. "You sign this and I'll go get yer key." She grinned at Izrail. "Welcome to Yucca Falls."
It was well past midnight when the sounds of the bar below subsided and Izrail finally found peace and quiet. He lay on top of the old fourposter bed, watching the moon outside his window. Beyond the buildings of Yucca Falls, Izrail could make out a distant mountain range that cut up the sky. And the stars….
There sure were a lot of them.
Another day gone and only a little bit closer to finding this necromancer. Izrail's power faded even more and he debated whether or not to keep using it on his eyes. Recalling his conversation with Niki settled that. No one could know who he was.
Izrail wondered how much information about the necromancer he'd be able to wheedle out of people. Niki definitely knew more than she was letting on, probably keeping her mouth shut to avoid being killed. Understandable, but frustrating. Izrail would have to do some serious poking and prying to find this necromancer.
Izrail rolled over and sighed. Nothing to do about it now. He listened to the power pulsing in his chest. Besides returning home, nothing in the world felt better than the power that sang in his blood. He drifted into as close to sleep as an angel can get, and prepared for whatever trouble awaited him in the morning.
...
Izrail slid his biscuit around his plate and sighed. The saloon was quiet this afternoon, only a few settlers sprawling at their tables, finishing up lunch finishing up their lunch. A crow cawed outside the open door and dust floated lazily in the air. The sun hadn't reached its peak and Izrail was already sweltering.
Niki was weaving between the tables, asking her customers how their food was, and chatting. She kept glancing back at Izrail, making sure he wasn't causing any trouble or asking about a certain necromancer.
Speaking of the necromancer, Izrail had spent the better part of the morning asking about where he might be. At the mention of a necromancer, every citizen of Yucca Falls shut their mouths, changed the subject, and walked away.
Izrail hated these espionage-type missions. He was never good at being secretive and subtle. He'd much rather whip out his power, show his true form, and terrify these people to talk to him. It would be fast and easy, but also dumb. The scar on Phil's leg was still fresh in Izrail's mind. He didn't like the thought of pain.
Though he hadn't gotten any information, Izrail was proud that he'd avoided the mayor. Izrail was sure that the man hadn't seen head nor tail of him, and he intended to keep it that way. If he kept poking and prodding without causing a scene, maybe the mayor would never—
"'Mornin', Niki!" A man with a black hat and a scar running from his lip up to his eye burst into the saloon.
Niki looked up at smiled. "'Mornin' Mayor Quackity! How's yer day been?"
Izrail cursed and ducked his head. Why'd he have to go and jinx himself?
The mayor sauntered into the saloon, his spurs clicking together. He passed by Izrail and a shiver went up his spine. Something was off about that man. Izrail prayed that Death wouldn't send him after the mayor next.
The mayor spoke to Niki, laughing and smiling. From a distance, he seemed like a nice man. Izrail had dealt with his fair share of nice-looking men to take appearances with a grain of salt. Izrail focused intently on his biscuit and tried not to draw attention to himself. Maybe he could go outside, explore the town a bit, get away from—
"Howdy there!" The mayor stood over Izrail, beaming. Gods, that scar was ugly up close. "I don't believe we've met, stranger!"
Izrail forced a smile on his face. "No, we haven't."
"Mind if I sit?" Before Izrail could answer, the mayor sat across from him. His lips still smiled but his eyes were hard, calculating. Those were the eyes of a man not to be underestimated.
"Niki told me that you arrived in Yucca Falls last night." The mayor propped his chin in his hands. "That right?"
Izrail nodded, trying not to fidget in his seat. "I'm from out west." When the mayor didn't respond, Izrail continued, "I'm lookin' for my brother."
The mayor said nothing, just stared at Izrail with his hard eyes. Then, "Didn't catch your name." The mayor's friendly facade had completely fallen. He studied Izrail like a cougar his prey.
Izrail swallowed. "Call me Iz."
"I think yer lyin' to me, Iz." The mayor leaned in closer and Izrail couldn't help flinching away. "And I don't like bein' lied to."
Izrail gritted his teeth. He hated how this human made him feel weak and afraid. "It's the truth. I ain't got nothin' else to offer."
"Is that so…." The mayor studied Izrail a while longer. Satisfied, he stood and turned to leave. "Guess I'll be on my way."
Izrail allowed himself to relax, his shoulders slumping forward. He'd just dodged a bullet—
SMACK
Red-hot pain smashed into Izrail's face. His neck whipped back from the blow and he shouted in surprise.
Izrail clutched his throbbing cheek. The mayor stood next to him, guilty hand raised, watching him intently.
"What in the blazes was that for?" Izrail shouted.
A slow smile spread on the mayor's face, tugging on his scar. "I knew you smelled like death, golden eyes."
Izrail's stomach dropped down to his feet. The shock from the mayor's slap had caused his power to stop for less than a second. But in that less than a second, the mayor had seen Izrail's golden eyes.
"So." The mayor sat back in his seat and steepled his fingers. "What brings an Angel of Death to Yucca Falls? And no lies this time."
Izrail sighed as his plan crumbled in front of him. Sick and tired of the lies himself, Izrail told the mayor the truth.
"I'm looking for a necromancer."
The mayor's eyes quickly glanced down then back up to Izrail. "A necromancer? You mean the same necromancer that my sheriff and I have been tracking down for weeks?"
"I would think so."
"Well, why didn'tcha say something?" The mayor smiled. "I've got all the information you need."
"Do you now?"
"Uh-huh. My sheriff and I have been huntin' this guy down for weeks. He's wanted in five different counties for crimes from robbin' to murderin' and now necromancin'." The mayor paused to see Izrail's reaction, which he didn't give. "We lost him out by Clearcreek four days ago and no one's seen him since," he continued. "I can take ya out there if ya want."
Izrail shook his head. "I can find it on my own. Is there anything else you know about him? His name or what he looks like?"
The mayor nodded and leaned in close, motioning for Izrail to do the same. The mayor glanced around to make sure no one else was listening and said in a low voice, "He wears a dirty white bandana 'round his nose and mouth, ain't no one ever seen his face. He rides a horse as black as night and says his revolver was a gift from Death herself."
Izrail snorted. Death doesn't give anything to anyone, especially revolvers.
The mayor ignored Izrail. "I only found out his name by talking to a Native tribe he stayed with. They all call him Dream."
Dream.
Izrail's target had a name.
"Mayor Quackity!" Another man stood in the saloon doorway, holding out a telegram. "It's from the sheriff."
"I'm sorry, Iz, but I need ta answer that." The mayor stood, looked Iz up and down. "Now, I don't normally allow angels and gods to stay in my town, but I'll make an exception for you." He narrowed his eyes. "You stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours. Deal?"
"Deal."
The mayor gave Izrail one last look and left.
Izrail had to admit, the mayor was a good liar. But he could never hope to trick an Angel of Death, especially when plotting murder. Izrail could smell it on his breath. The mayor wanted to kill him.
