Death of a Reaper 4
"I don't think Lydia realizes how difficult it is to find a job these days." Jacob huffs as he stumbles out of his latest rejection. He'd tried everywhere. The baker, the polisher, the dressmaker. But nobody was looking for a run of the mill author in need of cash. "Hmm. Where had I worked before? Do I dare go back there after my accident?" The place in question was the local blacksmith. Apparently he had worked there since his youth and had become quite good at it judging by the calluses that had graced his hands when he'd awoken from his coma. Since then, his hands had become soft save the places were he regularly clutched his quill. "No. I don't think going back there would be good for my health." He mutters, stepping back into the foot traffic of London.
Meanwhile across town, Lydia Furnet was busy cleaning her already spotless kitchen. She wasn't known to be messy and loved to awe guests with her cleanliness. The only room she wasn't allowed to touch was the one she shared with Jacob. The one that was constantly scattered with enough paper and ink to make her head spin.
"Maybe just a little touch up. He won't notice." She mutters. "He doesn't notice very much these days anyways."
With her jaw set, she begins her climb up the stairs, each step creaking beneath her weight. She'd have to get that fixed. She pauses briefly outside the door, her hand frozen on the handle. Would Jacob return and accuse her of snooping? She chuckles. More like drag her into another description of his story, convinced that she really was interested. Slowly she opens the door and slips inside, letting it fall shut behind her with a quiet click.
"And he wonders why I prefer the guest room." She huffs, her burgundy eyes scanning the room. "Nothing but useless notes and empty inkwells. Might as well start at the beginning." She says, reaching down to pick up a few scattered quills. She didn't understand her fiancés need to be so scatterbrained. He was even too blind to notice that they were so far in debt that she had had to pick up an occupation of her own. She shudders slightly as she remembers the feeling of callused hands running over her skin. Her customers weren't as kind as they had promised.
"But no matter. Once Jacob finds a suitable job, our financial problems will be gone." She stops. "Maybe he'll go back to the smith shop. Yes... That made us lots of money." The freak accident that had nearly killed him was due to a careless intern. The newcomer had swung his hammer as Jacob had walked by and nearly cracked his skull in half. She remembered the call, the blood, and his pale, lifeless face as she had sat by his bedside for two years. "And then he wakes up and refuses to go back to work!" She growls, throwing and empty ink pot across the room. It hits the wall hard and shatters to the floor in multiple pieces.
"My my. What temper you have." A cool voice remarks.
Lydia spins around, eyes wide, as she gazes at the figure sitting on the window sill. The stranger was clearly male, dressed in a long black wool coat and grey slacks. He inclines his head politely and pushes up his glasses.
Lydia was shocked. "H-how did you get in here?" She stutters.
"That is of no concern to you, Miss Furnet." The figure states, sliding from the window sill and walking towards her. When Lydia doesn't retreat, he extends his hand as greeting. "My name is Alan. Alan Humphries. It's come to my attention that your having a bit of financial difficulties."
Lydia gazes at his hand cautiously. "Well perhaps a bit.. May I ask why you couldn't have knocked on my door Mr. Humphries?" She questions, shaking his hand quickly.
Alan chuckles. "Oh but I did. But since no one answered I decided to check your room. But only because I have an incredibly efficient way to get you back on your feet. That is... If you'll listen." He purrs, motioning for her to sit on the bed.
She obliges and he continues. "You see Miss Furnet, it does not pay to be unhappy." He states, motioning around the room. "A woman like yourself deserves a man that can love and care for her, correct?"
Lydia nods slowly. "Yes I would say so. Now what does this have to do with money?"
"Everything. For doesn't the world run on it?" The young reaper laughs. "I have a proposition for you, Lydia. You see, I work for an underground organization that sets out to help distressed women like yourself. I've come to inform you of a little policy that is spreading through England like wildfire." He waits a moment for her to take it in, then says. "An accidental death policy."
Lydia raises an eyebrow. "Accidental death? But that's absurd. Jacob isn't going to die. He's perfectly healthy."
"Oh yes. But accidents do happen. And if Jacob were to become subject to an accident that permanently took his life, you would continue to get his payments from the job that he most recently had."
At this, a small spark lights in Lydia's eyes, eliciting a small smirk from Alan. "You're saying that if Jacob has another accident, I'll keep getting his pay?"
"Exactly."
Then the woman frowns. "But that means Jacob will have to die. That's quite extreme don't you think?"
"No not at all. He's caused you such strife since his awakening. And that head injury will only get worse over the years until he's no use to you at all. It's best to be gone with him in the early stages of his condition." He says boredly, pulling a satin cloth from his packet and cleaning his glasses. "Of course you can't plan an accident, Miss Furnet. I'm sure you're aware of that. Therefore, I'll need your cooperation if our little bet is to work out accordingly."
"Bet?" She questions.
Alan pauses briefly, thinking about his bet with the superior. Then he clears his throat and continues. "Yes bet. That's how I refer to these deals. Anyways, what I need you to do is administer his death to him, Lydia."
Lydia gasps. "You want me to kill my fiancé?! But... Won't I be put away for that?"
Alan shakes his head as he repositions his glasses. "No no no. Not if if looks like an accident~" He says, flashing her a bright smile. "I've already planned out his unfortunate end. You just need to make sure it happens." He states, strolling over to the floor length mirror. Without hesitation, he raises his cane and smashes his reflection, watching as deadly pieces rain onto the floor around his feet. He smirks at the woman's gasp of shock. "Behind every mirror is a secret." He says softly as he breaks a piece of the backing off and holds it up. "Mercury. A fine slow death when given in small doses. All I need you to do is put some in his tea whenever he drinks it. And because you'll be by his side in his final hours, weeping by his bedside like you did once before, they won't suspect you. And even if they do... You could always blame it on the tea maker. There have been several cases of drugs being smuggled in amongst London's tea trade."
Lydia ponders this. Could she really do away with her fiancé for money? She chuckles. Of course she could. Besides, if Alan was right, Jacob would become useless to her if his head injury got worse. The spark that had made her fall for him had vanished when he'd woken years before. This was the cure she'd been thinking about herself recently, brought to her by an angel in black. No. She wouldn't pass up on this.
"Yes of course Mr. Humphries. I would be delighted to help." She says quickly. "A few pieces of mercury a d-"
"No! You mustn't kill him outright." Alan scolds. "Grind up the metal into a powder and only administer a dash a cup. A max of three cups a day Miss Furnet. No more no less, do you understand?"
"Yes of course sir. I will follow as you say." She says rather dejectedly. Then she perks up. "Does this mean ill get pay from his blacksmithing occupation? The one that nearly killed him the first time?"
"Yes."
This is the last thing she hears as the figure in black climbs back out the window and disappears, his work clearly done here. Lydia sighs as she gazes at the shattered mirror.
"Goodbye, Jacob."
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Alan knew that interfering in another reapers soul collection was punishable by suspension, but he couldn't let William win. If The mortal woman followed his directions correctly, Mr. McGarth would die before his expected date. Which would be quite the accident indeed~ he chuckles to himself as he walks along the rooftops. This would hopefully take William off by surprise, leaving him with barely enough time to collect his soul before the mortal died.
"Yes. And then new recruits will be in short order. A marvellous plan really." He hums as he makes his way back to the institute. Not aware of the green eyes following his every move, a pink pen clutched delicately in the strangers hand.
A/N
No flash back in this chapter... But maybe I'll start the next one with an exciting Grell scene? Who knows. And who in the world expected Alan to be behind Grells- I mean Jacobs death?! Tune in next time to find out just WHO was watching Alan leave Miss Furnets presence!
Oh and while you're at it, would you care to check out our new one shot collection? Courtesy of myself (Pepkie) and my wonderful co-writer Dark Marie~! -fanfare- she's also writing a fanfic including an AlicexHatter pairing if anyone's interested~
Pepkie out~