I am not dead. I am not alive. I am everything and I am nothing. I am a simple human and I am a god. No… I am Maka Albarn. And that's all I need right now.
I felt better after my talk with the prince. It's still weird of thinking of him that way. It's even weirder when I remember he's not just a prince but a death god on top of that. After he left the fox came out for a bit to warm me up. The tears eventually dried up and the demon fell asleep in my hand. Not really sure what to do, I had put him back in the oven before grabbing Morphus's stone from the table and exiting the kitchen.
I am now passing through the halls of the massive manor growing more captivated by the amazing atmosphere. The old paintings and furniture is nostalgic of the Victorian age however I think I may see a few things remaining from ancient Egypt. I am careful not to touch anything because I'm sure they're very old, and very real.
As I wander through the halls I realize that having woke up around sundown I am not tired in the least bit. I can feel the lateness of the night but servants still scurry around through the hall. They all stop what they are doing and bow as I pass. I try to tell them they don't have to but they vanish before I can say anything. It's almost as if they are afraid of me. It's pretty funny, what can I do to a demon?
I am giggling to myself as I round a corner too quickly. There is a flash of red and black before I feel something solid crash into my chest and the servants around me all gasp, covering their mouths with their hands.
I fall to the ground, landing ungracefully on my back. My eyes had shut out of instinct and now open as I sit up. Lying in front of me on the floor is one of the castle higher servant's. Unlike the rest he is dressed in nice clothes depicting the colors of the land, a skull with pointed teeth emblazoned on his chest.
"Watch where you're going servant! I have an important message from Lord Death to deliver." He is sitting up rubbing the back of his neck. Out of habit I rush over to help him, ignoring the startled gasps of the servants in the background.
"I-I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention and I'm new here and-" When I started to speak his opened his eyes and unadulterated fear flash across them. He immediately jumps up and away from my touch bowing deeply to my crouched figure.
"I am terribly sorry Miss I was not aware that it was you. I have spoken harshly. Please punish me however you see fit." Drops of sweat form on his brow and he keeps his head declined down. I look around awkwardly as the servants advert their eyes as if I am going to hit him or something.
"Um no it's quite alright. It was my fault too." I rest my hand on his shoulder and he stiffens. Instantly I pull away. "You can stand up. Are you hurt at all?"
"No Miss." He cracks open an eye to peak at me. There is still fear as if he is expecting a blow anytime. "I would rather not stand and sully your greatness with my presence. Please just punish me and I will be on my way."
"Don't be silly. I'm not going to punish you it was an accident. Why would I punish you at all?" The man stands at the direct question but says nothing. "Is that how the King and Prince treat you, please answer."
He shifts his eyes around the room searching for a way out. "I-is that a direct order to answer?"
"Uh, sure I guess?" I don't understand why he would even be listening to me. I am just a human after all they must deal with us on a daily basis.
"The Masters treat us very kindly here. Better than most other kingdoms Miss. I am very lucky to be under their care." He is shifting again on his feet as he stands in a stiff posture.
"It's okay relax, it's not in my nature to hurt…well unless you are Soul." I chuckle a little as he visibly relaxes.
"Soul?"
"Oh an old, friend. But never mind that, why are you afraid of me, it seems everyone in this place is?" He stiffens again but I simply smile.
"I will educate you as you are new to this world. Demons work of a ranking of power. Those who are stronger than the weak hold more power and thus have more authority. They are perfectly in their rights to punish us how they see fit." It sounds as if he is reciting something straight out of a textbook and I can't help but shutter thinking about it.
"That's awful, can't you do anything about it?" He shakes his head.
"The King's court is not always as kind as the king and his son. And we cannot disobey a direct order from them. While the King highly disapproves of physical punishment he cannot keep his eyes on everything Miss." I shake my head back and forth slowly, wondering if I could talk to the Prince about it.
"That's so terribly sad." I feel empathy for them and my body bends in on itself with the thought of it. When I open my eye all the demons have moved a few steps closer and were watching me with awe. When I notice them they shoot back to their work trying to be invisible.
"It's fine. We all live a great life, better than we would in another castle. We are all very grateful to Lord Death and his son."
"Yes I haven't met Lord Death yet but-" I was going to say the prince is nice but I realize I do not know his name. "Um, what exactly is the prince's name?"
"His full title is Prince Shinigami Death the Kid, Heir to the throne of death kingdom and the status of Grim Reaper. Long live the prince." Cries of 'Hear hear' can be hear from the servants before they returned to work. The most amazing thing about it is probably the sincerity behind the words.
"Ah, thank you. Um where exactly where you going before I so rudely ran into you?"
"Oh I am a messenger from Lord Death I was delivering a summons to- Oh you, that's right." He unrolls the paper and clears his voice. "Our great Lord Shinigami hereby requests an informal meeting with a Miss Maka Albarn of the human world at the earliest convenience dictated by her." He holds out a feathered pen and indicated I should sign it sowing I have indeed received the message.
"Wow, what a fancy way to ask to see someone. It sounded as more of an invitation than a summons." I smile lightly and he laughs in a jovial manner. It seems that he has begun to relax around me.
"Yes, he is very kind. However, I would probably best for you to see him as soon as possible." I nod my head.
"Well I am not doing anything now, as long as it's not too late. I wouldn't want him to lose any sleep."
"Now would be excellent Miss. Shinigami never sleep so there is no reason to fear that. Please allow me to escort you there and explain some of the manors art and décor." The man begins to babble away about the history of the large Persian hall runner we walk on but I only half listen. If the prince wasn't going to bed, where exactly was he going?
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It is a good thing that I do not sleep or I would have been sorely disappointed tonight. Palti and Lilitu continuously bothered me tonight concerning the outfits they would be wearing to the ball.
"No way Patti. I am wearing the blue." Lilitu has her hands resting on her hips and she is leaning over her much shorter kid sister who is spinning around in a light blue ball gown.
"But can't we both wear it? It's so poofy and fluffy! Just like a bunny!" She giggles childishly and Lilitu is nearly pulling her hair out.
"Lilitu, Palti. Could you two do this somewhere else I have work to do." Again I am rubbing my temples to fend off a head ache. I idly wonder if there is any tea left that the girl had made in the kitchen. I mental note that I should go down and check later.
"Hey Kid, aren't you supposed to be on vacation? What's with all the work?" Lilitu questions in a mothering tone. There is a half frown on her face and she regards me closely.
"It is hardly considered work. They are just travel documents that are required to be filled out before we leave." I sigh giving up on the rubbing and just hoping that there is some left and I can send someone to get it.
"LIZZZZZ! I wanna wear pink now! Quick let's go get my other dresses and leave Kid alone. You know how he gets if he messes up a paper." Palti is pulling on her older sister's long hair trying to drag her out of the room. It works pretty well, only giving the older girl time to grab the dresses before the door slams behind them.
I crack my fingers and press down on Deumos's stone. It is set in a gold band with each of the stones spaced evenly with corresponding colors. Hers is a deep sapphire blue and I admire its symmetry while I wait for her to pick up.
"What is it you brat? You better be dying or else!" The grumpy image of her lying in bed is a startling one. Not that she isn't an unattractive demon but more so that she has her fangs out from being woken up.
"Oh, terribly sorry of me Deumos, I forgot how late it was. I just had a headache is all." She is still on the other line for a moment before answering.
"And you actually called me?" I nod and her fangs retract showing a beautiful smile. "Very well, I suppose I must come and fix you up. But so help me if I find you working…"
"No, no, just some travel papers for tomorrow. But when you pass by the parlor would you bring up a cup of the tea that's on the table? I can heat it up, up here."
"Sure, sure. I'll be up in a minute. See you soon Kiddo." Her figure blinks out of existence and I return to rubbing my forehead. It seems there is more damage than originally thought. Damn, Deumos.
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I stare at the huge Red columns in front of me. My guide has since wandered away to continue doing his job. I turn to glance down the hall he had disappeared down. I hope he doesn't get in trouble because of me.
Focusing my attention back on the massive dark green oak door in front of me I wonder how I am supposed to enter. Knocking seems appropriate but also could be interrupting whatever work he's doing this late at night.
I argue with myself a little longer before clearing my throat and raising my hand to knock. The door opens with a swing and I nearly fall backwards in surprise. Standing in the open crack was Morphus with an amused smile on his face.
"I'm sorry Miss. Did I scare you?" I have the urge to Maka Chop him through the wall but instead just roll my eyes.
"Well what else am I supposed to do when someone opens the door randomly?" Crossing my arms over my chest, I pout.
"That is a good point. You're here to see Lord Death correct?" I nod and so does he. Stepping aside to allow me in Morphus watches my every move carefully, almost like he doesn't trust me. I understand that.
"You may have to wait a moment," he says as we walk down a long corridor filled with guillotines. There is a brownish substance on one that is most likely rust but I still back away just in case. "Lord Death is in the death room in the middle of judgments right now. He cannot be interrupted but has a break in a few moments. We can watch until then."
I nod not really following for I am far more concerned with the instruments of death I am passing under. I never wondered what Marie Antoinette felt like before she died but now I know.
Suddenly a bright light rushes forward into view and we step through it into a new room. It's a room lit only by a few glowing candles. Chairs are bolted to the floor in a terrifyingly torturous looking way. Morphus sits in his indicating I should sit in the other. I calmly sit wondering what exactly we will be watching.
As soon as I connect with the chair if feels like I am being pulled forward at a rapid speed. My hands clutch the wooden arm rest, desperately trying to hold on for dear life.
When my eyes open we are sitting in a domed room with clouds floating across a gray sky. The round platform we are sitting on is surrounded by broken and rotting crosses that have been stabbed into the ground in haphazard angles. But, most terrifying of all is the massive 10 story throne made of skulls and other bones connected together by a melted metal that pours from the empty eyes of it's base. Sitting atop this throne of death is a giant in a tattered black cloak that seems to take no real shape. A white mask covers his face, it is cracked from the forehead to the bridge of the right eye socket and three square teeth form a humanoid skull. Behind his a large set of scales rest on the ground. The metal is smooth with no design to it.
"Wh-what is this place?" I stutter it out not caring about how scared I sound. This is a bad place, an awful one, one that wreaks of evil and hatred. Morphus seems unaffected by the change in venue and calmly explains.
"This is the death room. All judgments are carried out here by Lord Shinigami. The deeds of their lives are put on the scale and then judged to determine where they end up. This is where all evils are purged from the world." He quiets as a man appears on the platform in front of the throne. He panics and look around, thankfully he doesn't notice us. He looks very sick and like he hasn't shaved in a while, with a belly extended, like he's drank too much beer.
"Simon Craft, 48 Caucasian male. Born in Wilmington, Virginia and married to Maria Craft, with two children Anna and Kyle. Is this correct?" The death god looks down at the small man, his face is impassive but his mere size and mask are enough to terrify anyone.
"What the hell? Where am I and who the fuck are you?" He shouts in a slightly raspy tone. I flinch at the words which seem much more violent than necessary.
"I am the grim reaper and I am here to judge your fate. Now ANSWER!" his voice shakes the room and the platform cracks with his anger. The man jumps away from the crack eager to get on solid ground.
"Y-yes that's me. What do you want?" His voice is fully of terror, completely devoid of the anger from just a minute ago.
Lord Death turns his head and the scales begin to move. Heavy metal coins drop from the sky landing on either side on the scale. When all has setteled three are on the right and many more on the left. It is no contest.
"The scales have judged you Simon. By the order of the fates, you are condemned to spend 5,000 years in The Fall for the evils you have committed in your life." The scales clear and the crack splits into an elongated eye with a blood red iris and a grey cat eye pupil. A black dot rest in the dead center as the eyes jerks back in forth. Finally it lands on the shaking man. White pieces of cloth shoot forward as he tries to run. They grab his legs and drag him on the ground toward the eye as the black dot grows wider. Soon filling the whole eye and disappearing into a pool of nothingness.
The man tries to fight as her is dragged down into the thick oozing blackness. "What did I do? Can I really deserve this?"
Lord death raises his hand and the bandages pause. His voice is filled with anger and rings in the empty room. "You chose a life of rape and violence. You tortured your wife and children and now that they are freed from you, you shall suffer the same fate!"
He lowers his gloved hand and the man sinks lower, the black rising to his neck. "I'm sorry! Please make it stop, I'm sor-" The ooze cuts him off, covering his mouth but his eyes still plead for help.
"It is too late for that, you must suffer the consequences." The man's head sinks with a sickly pop and Lord Death returns to his chair. I wasn't aware of it but suddenly my lungs scream desperately for air.
I breath in and my body shakes up in down while my eyes stare openly at the ground. I feel a hand on my back and I follow it to Morphus. "What the FUCK was that? Where did he go?!"
Morphus sighs but not in a sad way as one should at the death of a human. More in a tired and bored way. "He's going to The Fall. Humans who have sinned more than they gave to the world are condemned to spend a set amount of time there to atone for their sins before they may be reborn as demons. I believe you humans call it Hell."
"Hell?! But why?"
"Did you not hear the verdict? The Scales never lie, they see the truth unbiasly and pass their judgment. That man raped his wife and abused his own children, can you really say he was undeserving?" I hate to admit it but it does make sense. So many humans do evil and get away with it. The world would not be fair if they didn't pay for it somehow.
"The last ones beginning." I look up and somehow the room has changed. The throne has shrunk to a regular sized high backed chair and the sky is now blue with puffy white clouds floating slowly by. Even Lord Death's mask has been changed to a smoother more rounded shape with three spikes for the teeth.
A woman leads in a small child with light brown hair; he's young and clinging to her leg as a child will often do to his mother. When he pulls away I jump. It's the boy from that day. The one who started it all. He is sucking on his thumb as the woman leaves smiling. I can't watch this happen, not to him. I try to move but find my body frozen in place.
"Tommy Lita? Do you like trains and have a dog named Sparks?" The boy looks at the man and nods. He takes his thumb out of his mouth before responding.
"I had a dog named Sparks but mommy said he went to live on a farm."
"Do you miss him a lot?" Again the boy nods, his eyes well up, threatening tears. "Well good, because he's missed you. And he's been waiting for you all this time." A little brown mutt comes running up from behind the Reaper barking. He jumps into the boy's arms and licks his face happily.
"SPARKS! Buddy you looks so happy! Mommy said you got sick but you look okay to me!" The dog yips in agreement and Lord Death smiles.
"Well, it's time for you two to go." The boy looks up in confusion.
"Where are we going?" Oh god no!
"See those scales up there?" I turn my eyes to the scale and watch them heavily lean to the right side only one disc weighing down the left. The little boy's eyes sparkle in wonder. "Well because you have been such a good boy you get to go live in a place full of life. Where everything is green and the two of you can play in the grass forever."
"Thank you mister. I would very much like that. Oh and Sparky would too, right Sparks?" The dog yips again and Lord deaths eyes morph into upward tilting crescent moons.
"Okey-dokey. Here I want you to walk into that gate over there." He points a gloved finger at a shimmering white gate with plants spilling past the bars. The kid smiles and nods before skipping over there. After crossing the short distance the boy looks back.
"Just open them and you will be free." The boy waves goodbye before throwing open the gates and then they both disappear in a flash of light. Lord Death waves until the light fades and we are transferred back into the candle lit room. I smile a bit in relief and turn to Morphus who is offering me his hand.
"Did he go to heaven?" I ask feeling like a naïve child. When he shakes his head I fear what he will say next.
"But close. He went to the kingdom of Life, where nothing ever dies and it's always bright and alive. He will stay there until it is his turn to be reborn and gain a second chance at life. It will be a few hundred years but with only one sin it won't be so bad."
"What sin could he have? He's only a child."
"All humans are born with original sin, if they have more sin than the good they gave back to the world they end up like the man. If they give more good they go the way of the boy, into paradise." I take his hand and stand as he leads me to the door.
"So why would they want to be reborn out of paradise? Shouldn't it be perfect there?" Morphus nods before pausing.
"But is has one thing missing that even the immortals can create. It is missing their humanity and in the end they are just souls, desperate in the need to give back to the world what the Kingdom of Life had given to them." I smile at him and my eyes water slightly. He smiles softly back and turns to the door. "Come, Lord Death is done and will see you now."
Hi guys. So I decide that I was going to post every Friday but I lost track of the ays..oops so I'll start it next week.
Note: Life stones are green stones that look like light emerald and pluse with light matching the heart beat of a person who they are bonded to. When the light goes out that person has died.
Let me know if you have any more questions.