Chapter 2: My Lady Death
So, there I was face to face with Death herself in the most literal sense.
As she gazed down from her throne of Bones she spoke "now listen little soul I need a favor. And it seems it's something only you can do."
A small smile upturned her black colored lips.
"Do you accept?"
"What is it someone as powerful as Death needs with me, I'm just a regular dead guy right?"
I stood looking up into deaths mirthful black eyes.
"So, what, I didn't do what the book said. I mean you said others had such an ability."
She summoned a coal black stone chair from the ground Infront of the throne and beckoned me to sit. I nodded in gratitude and did so.
"You my child are quite unique in your universe and several hundred others. There was once a time when I walked one of my personal earths, long before setting up my little Multiversal Soul Management Department. I was simply wandering around claiming souls for my realm. When I came to reap three brothers that were fated to die. They came upon a deadly river. that claimed many a soul. But they were 3 of the kind known as wizards, they went on to become legends of their time. They made a simple bridge to cross the water and with that changed their strand of fate."
"I offered to each of the brothers a boon, for it was the first time I had seen Fate defied by mortals. I also refused to be cheated out of my due, after I had already graciously come to collect." her smile turned predatory as she remembered the tale.
'A wand a stone and a cloak?' I thought remembering the story from some books from my youth.
"Strange for you to know of a meeting like that from across the multiverse." she said her features showing amusement at yet again reading my mind.
"It was a story from my childhood told in some books about a boy wizard." She looked intrigued.
"Death . . . I mean you gave them the three items but they each came with a caveat" she chuckled
"Yes, I cursed all the items even the last. The first a wand, would betray its wielder whenever someone of a greater destiny came along. the second a stone drove its user to constantly seek the presence of their lost ones until they gave up their mortal ties. And the last a cloak given to the shrewdest brother one that simply compels its wearer to seek me when their time is up." She sighed
"I was a fool to bestow those fate breakers with items of such power and I do so wish I could retrieve my essence from them. That's where you come in." she rose and gestured for me to follow as she descended her skull steps.
"I cannot act physically to return my items, or my relatives would be free to act as well. Most importantly I don't want the living tribunal coming down on me for overstepping my bounds and affecting mortals not about to die. However, I can elect a champion. . . a herald if you will to be my presence on the earthly plane. And being that you are mortal you can interact as much as you want." We walked through her throne room, a door appeared toward the east side. the door swung open without a sound as we approached. A standard room of stone awaited us and, In the center, a large pool of swirling cosmos looking like galaxies upon galaxies of stars and nebulas all vying for supremacy as they swirled in the water below.
"The Infinity Well" she said gesturing me closer "it will allow me to illustrate the rest of my needs for you"
Then she began again "if you are willing, I will make you my champion, you reacquire my items. I will regain my essence, and you will be immune to the forcible removal of your soul from your body until either you will its removal or break our contract. as well as a few other boons I think you may enjoy. "The well began to show a world the earth I realized, and though not speaking the knowledge of this earth began to fill my mind from the well. The subtle differences, and most importantly the major ones.
A magical world hidden in plain sight, a community of magic user all over the world with distinctive styles and techniques. A World War Two fought with not just wizards and non-magicals but super soldiers and mutants too. As the well began to show me the wealth of opportunities this earth will hold. for a herald of death, the ability to take another's essence and send their souls to Death herself was the primary offensive were the peak physical traits a herald's body would hold due to the soul's influence. The fortification of a herald's mind to be closed to all but Death herself. And lastly the strengthening of all the soul's attributes. All rolled into having the best way to bring my foes to Death. The well showed me countless possibilities for what I could become. Before being abruptly cut off.
With a gesture from Death, The Well swirled ominously before displaying several figures. some I recognized some I did not
" There are a number of beings who claim to be immortal on the earth I plan to send you to. many have overstepped their bounds and seek to spite me. I require their souls as well. At least 3 though there are more. If you do these tasks for me and I will grant you the agency and freedom you require to enjoy your new life. As well as a few tools to help you along" she said
Slowly disseminating the information from the well I began to realize I saw a man with 3 bone claws coming out of each hand fighting in World War two alongside a man dressed like the American flag something I also recognized from my youth. Before I could actually conceptualize the thought death spoke
"I see your earth had records of these mortals as well how interesting. None on your plane possess any extrinsic abilities. Yet, they have somehow penetrated the gaps in the multiverse to gaze upon and record its wonders." She seemed almost excited.
The Well changed its scene again to a thin black-haired boy with a lightning shaped scar and glasses covering his bright green eyes. The boy was in a dark place that would be uncomfortably small if he weren't so tiny. He wept, as he starved in the cold dank cupboard that was his bedroom. alone and weak curled into a ball shivering and suffering from what must have been hypothermia as his extremities and face had begun to turn blue.
"This boy I know him" I whispered to death.
"Oh, do you" she spoke "would he happen to be the boy wizard from your childhood tales."
"Harry" I choked.
"His name is Harry Potter. And you are correct Ma'am" I said uneasy at such a scene, the boy couldn't have been older than nine.
The boy curled up into an even smaller form to try and preserve his warmth I could see the blue on his face begin to the surrounding darkness started to meld with the boy blocking him slowly from view as it crept around his body. I glanced at death her face was a stony mask of indifference as she gazed at the boy the dark seemingly providing the boy with some comfort as his sobbing began to wane. Knowledge of his life began to fill me, so similar yet so different from the books truly a good spirit in a bad place.
"He is destined to make my acquaintance shortly after this" she said after a moment
"His relatives abandoned him while they went on holiday and left the poor soul to fall into my embrace. You can change his path just as you changed yours. You can become someone more than john Anderson and he more than Harry Potter. But the choice is yours I have laid out my wants and given you time some entities would kill for. what say you little soul would you like to become my herald, would you like to upend this boy's fate?"
"I would love to help him, but what can I do I'm a non-corporeal entity correct? a spirit given form? does being your herald Bring me to life? Restore me physically that is"
"Revival isn't quite what it is, but you will be able to enjoy life again this I promise you. for you to return to the land of the living, on this personal earth of mine. You and young Harry must be one. It's the only way for him to continue from this moment and for you to move universes to complete my objectives for you.
"What happens if I don't go? "
"The boy will die and without you his fate is to suffer and then perish. His soul eventually winding up in my realm in his ideal after life and you too will enjoy the same benefits as your soul is technically mine. With you there however, even I cannot see all that the future will hold only that the false immortals will fall at my feet, and many dark souls will I reap."
I finally understood what she needed me for. a soul in the right place, to change young Harry's fate, my soul with the ability to alter Fate's strands was needed. I could become something better; I could help a world in need of salvation and most importantly I can do some good. I glanced at the well and noticed the boy was no longer making any noises and without further indecision I said
"Lady Death, I agree to your accord."
"Splendid" she smiled beatifically "take my hand little soul and know that this universe is much larger than you think."
Puzzled by her last words I grasped Death's hand and noticed her grip to be much warmer than I was expecting.
As soon as our fingers interlaced, I could feel myself getting squeezed through a tube that was much too tight for any human being to go through. Then spun through a washing machines rinse cycle on hot until I was thoroughly clean. Dizzy, uncomfortable, but thoroughly clean. I'm not proud to say I fell before death but when you think about it who hasn't in some way.
I didn't just hit a knee I full out collapsed at deaths feet face first. She let go of my hand as I fell, and the sensation stopped. I gagged both at the loss of the feeling but also the loss of contact.
"My, How Impressive. I knew you were special but to take more of my essence than any other being is something at first you handled a trickle so well. I thought what's a fraction more, now rise." She full out laughed as she gestured me up.
I could feel something was different in me like I was something more. more robust. more whole? I stood.
"Now I must ask that you try to keep our connection private there are many who would hunt you just to find me. Even though I'm not hard to find at all." She placed her hand on my chest and at the moment of contact I fell towards the infinity well towards the dark space that was harry potter's cupboard I fell to an earth of new and interesting possibilities.
With a jolt I jumped up, promptly banging my head on the lowermost stair of the dark frigid room I found myself in. I cursed as I grabbed my forehead. My limbs numb the cold and reality of the situation settled in. I felt around for the doorknob. found it. of course it was locked.
'Well at how do I get out of this one' I thought with exasperation.
'I might have an idea' came deaths cool voice almost a whisper in my mind.
'You are now a wizard little soul; u can command the forces of the universe, and they will obey. a locked door is simply an inconvenience for you, now when reality can be rewritten at your whim.'
'Right' I thought let's see here I don't have a wand, but wandless magic is somewhat done in the books but 'how does one use magic at all'
'Stop thinking and start willing' came deaths short reply.
Ok I grasped the door handle and remembering the spell from the book "alohomora"
I spoke and absolutely nothing happened. I could feel my shivering grow worse the pain in my stomach being almost too much to bear I felt desperation.
'Open damn you' with all my will, all my thoughts set on having this door open before me. I spoke once more with certainty
"Alohomora." and with a click the door was flung open and light flooded my dark freezer.
I walked on shaking legs to the houses heating unit and turned it on. I went to the fridge and took out the materials to make a meal. I truly began my new life as a boy wizard who just so happens to work for death.
Welp, chapter 2 is in the books, love to hear what you think.
I've been debating on the pairing for this story and I'm leaning towards Hela, Darcy, America Chavez, Carol or Sif. Would love some feedback on the pairings might put up a poll down the line to decide. anyway enjoy.