(13 years later)
More than a decade passed since Harry, or Thanatos, met Salem and so far, they were maintaining a good relationship. The Queen of Grimm was keeping her words and hadn't tried once to outsmart him.
Harry hoped that it would last as he grew to appreciate the woman.
Over the years, Salem managed to get her hands on another Relic ! The Relic of Destruction no less ! Unlike the Relic of Choice, this one wasn't a crown… but an ornate Sword.
They were halfway to their goal !
Salem, to find and take the Relics, managed to recruit some people to her cause… People he had yet to meet but had heard off regardless.
The first one was a man named Hazel Rainart. He was a tall and muscular middle-aged man with short dark brown hair, a beard and hazel eyes. His hairy arms had large scars running up them.
The second one was a former Atlesian Scientist by the name of Arthur Watts. He was a tall middle-aged man with a slim build and slightly tanned skin. He had short black and gray hair as well as a thick mustache and eyebrows, and green eyes.
The third one was also a man… but not a Human but a Faunus. It was pale young man with gold eyes and a brown ponytail braided to resemble a scorpion's tail. His name was Tyrian Callows and he was a serial Killer… and one who LOVED ending the life of others.
Thanatos knew that the day his soul would join the Underworld, that he would send him straight to the Inferno. He also learned from Salem that he was the one who retrieved the Relic of Destruction.
The fourth one was not a man but a fair-skinned young woman with ashen-black hair that covers her left eye. Speaking of which, she had bright amber eyes and was absolutely stunning. However, Thanatos could feel the greed for power in her and instantly knew that if she didn't stop, it would be her downfall.
And her soul would reside in the Inferno as well…
Then she recently recruited two other people : too young to his liking.
The first one was a young woman with medium-brown skin and dark-red eyes. Her hair was a light, mint-green with a straight fringe and bangs as well as two long locks on each side in the back. Her name was Emerald Sustrai…
Harry/Thanatos had nothing against her even if she was a Thief. Sometimes, you have to do everything possible to survive. Thievery was not something he judged badly… except if it was for greedy reasons.
The second youngster was a pale, young man with gray eyes and gray hair, partially slicked back while unkempt at the front. His name was Mercury Black and he was an Assassin.
Thanatos decided to keep an eye on this one…
Why ?
Because this young man seemed to enjoy causing pain and didn't to regret his actions.
The embodiment of Death also learned that Salem got more followers : such as the White Fang, a Faunus Organization founded by someone named Ghira Belladonna following the Faunus Rights Revolution.
At first, it was a peaceful organization but since they changed leader (whose name was Sienna Khan), they became 'terrorists'. But Sienna wasn't the one allied with Salem… but a certain Adam Taurus who led a group of extremists in Vale.
Thanatos/Harry felt again sympathy for the Faunus and how they were treaty by a large part of Humanity. However, this didn't justify their actions. Especially Adam's and his group's. Targeting innocents was something he condemned… especially if the victims were children.
Another ally was a criminal named Roman Torchwick who was helping the White Fang and some of Salem's recruits in stealing Dusts from SDC (Schnee Dust Company) resources.
Thanatos, thanks to Salem and the souls he judged, learned of the use of Dusts and the Schnee Dusts Company. He had no love for the actual CEO of the Company : a man named Jacques Shnee. He was everything he hated in someone : callous, snide, arrogant, vindictive, power-hungry and petty. In addition, he was a Faunus Racist.
Thanatos's eyes turned cold each time he thought of Jacques Schnee. He had seen how he treated his Faunus Workes and he grew a strong hatred toward the Man. To make him suffer, Harry/Thanatos used his power to curse the man.
What was the curse ? Jacques will see his body slowly becoming weaker and weaker and each time he dares to insult a Faunus, he will feel pain… as if he was pierced by a sword.
Harry smirked evilly at the thought of Jacques Schnee in pain… Oh and he cannot wait to have his soul in his grasp.
He had met the soul of Nicholas Schnee some time ago… Nicholas had been a hard working, determined, intelligent, courageous, fearless and ambitious man but kind and fair. Because of this, he had been allowed in Elysium.
Back to present, Harry was sitting on a chair in another part of his palace he created a long time ago. Today, he was lucky because no souls had entered his domain. Which was rare but not unwelcome. He was in his palace's Library and was currently reading one of his favorite books, enjoying the peace and quiet of the moment.
He was wearing his armor but black robes. Similar to those he worse during his life as a Wizard so many years ago. His forehead showed the familiar mark of the Deathly Hallows.
However, a few moments later, he felt a new soul entering his kingdom. Sighing, Harry putted the book away from apparating in the Hall. As he sat on his throne, the robes he wore disappeared and his armor took their places… helmet included.
He waited for a moment before someone opened the wooden doors and he saw a young woman, younger than Summer entered the hall. This woman had a light brown complexion, with shoulder-length, straight brown hair with a beauty mark below her left eye.
She was wearing a long, green hooded cloak on top of an off-white blouse with frill detailing on the shoulders, pleated lower half with a central split, alongside a brown vest that had three straps and golden lining around the collar. She also had a dark brown corset with matching pants, as well as a pair of brown thigh-high boots with large cuffs and golden armour plating covering the boots up to her knees.
In addition, she also possessed an amber pendant on her vest, a gold bracer on her left arm, and two gold bracelets on her right wrist. Finally, she had a golden spaulder on her right shoulder as well as a brown shoulder strap with some pouches slung diagonally across her body.
However, Harry noticed something strange about her. Unlike the countless of souls he faced before, this one wasn't as transparent as it should be. Narrowing his eyes, he then quickly calmed down when the young woman turned her head to look at him.
"Approach mortal..." he demanded her gently but still sternly with a gesture of his right hand.
He watched as she approached him with some fear and to calm her nerves, he shot her a soft smile… which seemed to do the trick… Until she stopped in front of him.
"Excuse me but can you tell me where I am ?" she asked him shyly as she eyed the area around her with apprehension.
Harry internally growled : without a doubt, something happened before she end up here… something unpleasant if the fear in her eyes wasn't proof enough.
"You are in my domain : the Underworld..." Harry responded to her casually.
"You mean I'm in Hell ?!" the woman cried out in shock, horror and fright.
"If you mean the place where souls are tortured for eternity then no… you are not in Hell…" Harry explained to her with a chuckle and the young woman seemed to calm down at his words.
"Then where I am ?" she asked him a few seconds later, still wanting answers.
"As I said, you are in my domain… Here, in this very Hall, I judge the souls… "
Her eyes widened at those words "But this mean you are..."
"Yes… I am DEATH !"
She looked terrified for a moment but then she blinked when he started to chuckle
"Calm down ! I'm not gonna hurt you ! In fact I'm curious about you… You are not like the other souls..."
The young woman blinked at his words before frowning as she asked "How so ?"
"Normally, souls are transparent when they arrives before me… but you my dear… You are not..."
Looking down at herself, she noticed that her body WAS in fact a bit transparent which shocked her greatly.
Harry couldn't help but chuckling in amusement at her face. It never get old to see Souls freaking out because of the fact they were transparent !
"Now my dear… Hold still..." he said to he after a moment in a serious tone.
She looked back at him questioningly, wondering what he wanted, only to froze when his neon green eyes locked with her own brown eyes and she felt like he was looking THROUGH her.
For a few seconds nothing happened, until he hummed loudly, breaking the trance.
"Really interesting… well, my dear Amber, it is a great honor to meet you, the Fall Maiden..."
The young woman, Amber, blinked at his words as she looked at him with wide eyes
"You know who I am ?!"
"Of course ! I'm Death remember ? Beside, you are not the first Maiden I come across you know, being millennium old and all that..." Harry responded with a shrug and a grin.
"…" Amber didn't know how to answer to that and so staid silent.
"What is wrong my dear ? Cat got your tongue ?" Harry asked her with amusement clear in his tone.
Amber sent him a glare and a pout which caused him to chuckle softly to himself.
"Its not funny !" she hissed at him, still pouting
"It is for me ! Anyway, back to business, its seem you are not entirely dead..." Harry's words caused her to stop glaring at him as the amusement on his face disappeared to turn into seriousness.
"What do you mean ?" Amber asked him with slight confusion on her face.
"I mean just what I stated : a part of your soul is still inside your body but the other part is… well here..." Harry explained while looking at her.
"But how is it possible ?" she asked him with disbelief and shock.
"Because a part of you had been stolen from you..." Harry's dark tone caused her to shiver.
Amber then seemed to remember something as her eyes suddenly widened
"My attackers…Three people attacked me… They wanted to steal my Maiden power !"
"And they succeeded… well not entirely..." Harry concluded with a growl.
"How can I return in my body ?!" Amber asked to herself with despair
"There is only one way… the one who stole your power MUST die..." Harry answered in a really somber tone… one that sent shivers down her spine.
"Or I can forcibly pull it out of her or him..." he added with a shrug.
"You can do that ?!" Amber asked him with wide eyes and in response, he shot her a 'Are you serious ?' look.
"Oh right… God of Death..." she muttered to herself and he smirked at her.
"Now then… Can you describe me the people who attacked you ?" Harry asked her calmly but in a really stern tone.
It was an hidden order.
Amber nodded at him before giving a brief description of the three assailants. Once she finished, Harry internally wanted to groan as he recognized them almost instantly : Cinder Fall, Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai, three of Salem's recruits !
"Thank you Amber… I will personally make sure your attackers are punished..."
The young woman nodded at him before asking softly "What should I do now ?"
"Honestly I don't know… You are the first one to come here with a half-soul…" Harry revealed with a sigh
"Oh..."
"But if you want you can make yourself comfortable in my Library… There is a nice sofa there…" Harry added with a soft smile.
"Really ?"
"Of course… Make yourself at home !" Harry retorted with a grin.
"Thank you !" Amber said to him with a small bow and he shook his head with amusement as he then pointed a finger toward a part of his palace's
"The Library is over there if you wanna know..."
"Thank you again Lord Death !" Amber thanked him and he grimaced at the title.
"Please call me Thanatos..." He almost whined with slight annoyance.
"Alright… Lord Thanatos...But before I leave can I ask what are behind those doors ? " Amber said to him while pointing at the four doors behind the white throne.
Harry smiled, amused by her curiosity but answered regardless.
"Each of those words represent a part of my Kingdom… The red one is called Inferno… or Hell if you prefer..." Harry began to say while pointing at the Red door.
The young woman nodded her head with understanding while shivering slightly.
"The White Door led to Elysium… think of it as… huh… Paradise ?"
Once again, she nodded but her eyes shined a bit in interest at the information.
"And the last two ?" she asked him with clear curiosity.
"The Blue Door is the Limbo… a place where souls deemed worthy of redemption are kept until they re-judged..."
"I see and this one ?" Amber asked him while pointing at the remaining door.
"The Black Door led to Oblivion… I'm sure you have a little idea of what happen if a soul enter it..."
The young woman nodded her head with a shiver. It didn't take a genius to understand that Oblivion meant 'Total Destruction of the Soul'.
"Did I satisfied your curiosity ?" Harry/Thanatos asked her with a raise-brow.
"Yes thank you… Good day !" Amber answered before dashing away under the amused eyes of the embodiment of Death.
Once she disappeared, his amused face turned colder and a few seconds later, he disappeared in thin air. He needed to have a talk with a certain someone.
00/(Elsewhere)/00
At the same time, sitting on her throne, Salem was a bit angry. She had received reports from Cinder not long ago about her attack on the actual Fall Maiden. Apparently, she almost succeeded in stealing her powers… only for a Huntsman to step in. His intervention stopped the process and Cinder only managed to gain half of the Maiden Power.
Cinder had described the Huntsman and Salem recognized him as one of her ex-husband's followers, Qrow Branwen ! Now Ozpin was without a doubt on his guard and guarding the Maiden somewhere unreachable to her !
It wasn't a part of the plan but at least something good came out of it…
A smirk grew on Salem's face as happier thoughts entered her mind. A few months ago, she managed to gain a new ally : the Headmaster of Haven Academy, Leonardo Lionheart. With his help, she will be able to locate another Relic : the Relic of Knowledge.
Apart of this, things were pretty good for her. Salem felt like everything was right in the world : she had followers, two out of the Four Relics of the God of Light and for a few years now, Hope. The last part was thanks to her own Dark God, the embodiment of Death itself no less, the very being she worshiped now.
At first she merely wanted to use him to obtain vengeance but now, she could loudly call him a friend and her Lord. The human part of her was also greatly attracted to him as he was a really handsome man. She would be a fool to say the contrary.
"You look really happy today..."
Speaking of the devil
Smiling pleasantly, the pale woman rose out from her throne before bowing when Lord Thanatos appeared in front of her, wearing his armor. For a few years now, he had allowed her to call him by his true name (Harry) but only when they were alone.
"Why shouldn't I ? Everything is going perfectly..." Salem responded to him with a smile.
"And its all thanks to you Harry !" she added with sincerity.
The embodiment of Death smiled at her before asking "Where are your followers ?"
"There are all out right now…"
"Have you recently ordered this girl, Cinder, to attack the Fall Maiden by any chance ?" Harry asked her seriously with narrowed eyes.
Taken aback by the sudden tone, Salem however quickly answered with confusion.
"I did yes… why this question ?"
"Because half of her soul is currently in my domain !" Thanatos roared in fury.
The Queen of Grimm was shocked by the sudden out-burst but also by the revelation.
"W-What ?"
"You heard me ! Your little girl, while stealing half of the Maiden's power, had also taken half of her soul !" Harry/Thanatos answered in a calmer tone but was still clearly frustrated.
Salem, only stood there, stunned by what she was hearing. Ignoring her state, Harry kept ranting in anger.
"And because of this, I cannot send her in any part of my Kingdom !"
Once he finished, he took deep breathes to calm himself. Salem, her, was still looking at him with wide eyes, unsure of what to say now.
"If you wanna know Harry, It wasn't young Cinder's fault… a Huntsman stopped her before she could absorb the Maiden's entire power..."
Harry looked at the pale woman with a calm expression on his face as he listened to her words.
"Okay I can accept that… Where is the girl now ?"
"In Vale… and probably protected by Ozpin as we speak..." Salem answered with frustration.
Ozpin was actually Ozma in this time. Even worse, he was the Headmaster of one of the most prestigious school of Remnant : Beacon Academy.
"I see… Anything new about the relics ?"
"So far no… My informant is still looking for it…" Salem answered, happy to change the subject.
Harry nodded at her in understanding. The Relics were well-hidden but they managed to find two out of four so… Sooner or later, the last two will reveal themselves. However, his mind quickly went back to something.
"Why did you send Cinder to attack the Maiden ?"
He was still curious of what his dear friend had promised the young woman to have her in her inner-circle.
"I promised her in a quest of gaining the power of the Four Maidens..."
"You did WHAT ?!" Thanatos/Harry roared in anger as he looked at the Queen of Grimm with narrowed eyes, accidentally releasing his full aura.
Outside the castle, the few Creatures of Grimm laying around instantly fled the area in fear at the cold aura they were feeling. Back inside, Salem was looking at him with terror clear on her face.
"DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE ?! YOU PROMISED A POWER-HUNGRY GIRL TO HAVE MORE POWER !" Thanatos/Harry snarled at her in anger as his neon green eyes shining brightly.
"I know bu-" Salem began to say but was interrupted by a furious embodiment of Death.
"DID YOU NOT THINK FOR A MOMENT THAT SHE MIGHT BETRAY YOU THE SECOND SHE GETS WHAT SHE WANTS ?!"
The Queen of Grimm froze at that : of course, she had thought of such a possibility but had dismissed it because Cinder was not powerful enough to actually be a threat to her. Her silence seemed answer enough for Harry as he looked at her in a much calmer way.
"Sorry about that…" Thanatos/Harry whispered to her with a bit of embarrassment on his face.
"You shouldn't be… You…You are right… I should keep a closer eye on her…"
"Good..." Harry nodded to her with acceptance.
However, a mischievous grin soon grew on her face as she looked at him
"Are you actually worried about me ?~"
Harry froze and actually looked away, trying to not look at her as he said those words
"Of course not ! I'm merely warning a friend !"
"Are you sure of that ~? Because I'm seeing a bit of pink on your cheeks~" Salem cooed with the smirk still plastered on her face.
"No… I'm not !" Harry denied by indeed he WAS blushing.
"Sure you aren't !" Salem laughed when he shot her a small glare but then she asked him gently
"What should I do about Cinder ?"
"Leave that to me… I will take care of this…" Harry answered, happy for the change of subject.
"How ?" she asked him
A smirk grew on his face and Salem couldn't help but shivering at it. This smirk was filled with glee, malice and mischief… It was a smirk that announced nothing good…
"I think it is time for me to walk once again in the world of the Livings..."
(To be continued…)