binding them. Perhaps the thought of living longer than the people they all loved would’ve made them more effective.”
“You’re digressing, sister,” the Word said. “And you are not telling us everything we need to know.”
“What else do you want?!” Death snapped. “Brendel took my Thieron and dismantled it into three pieces, which she hid somewhere in the universe, across dimensions! They need to find them and bring them back to me—oh.” She paused, then giggled. “You’re right. I did forget something. Getting the pieces back won’t be easy.”
“What do you mean?” Taeral asked.
“I’ve fused my three most trusted lieutenants to the pieces of Thieron. The first three Reapers I ever created, beings almost as old and as timeless as I am,” Death replied. “They will test you before they even let you take the pieces back.”
“Way to bury the lead,” Taeral grumbled, crossing his arms. “How come they didn’t stop Brendel from taking Thieron in the first place, then?”
“It’s a bit more complicated than that. They were awakened only when Thieron was dismantled. Brendel was quick to toss them away afterward, I presume,” Death said. “But, once the pieces were dropped, the Reapers I tasked with protecting them would have refused to allow anyone to touch them.”
Taeral sighed. “What are we looking at, exactly?”
“Well, that should be part of the fun, shouldn’t it?” Death grinned.
“This isn’t fun for us. We’re trying to save our worlds,” I cut in, increasingly aggravated. She was still messing with us, and, while I understood the caprices of a godlike entity, it didn’t mean any of us had the time or the energy to put up with it.
“Sister, please,” the Word added.
Death nodded once, seemingly surrendering to her brother’s request. “The Widow Maker lives inside Eirexis. The Soul Crusher resides in Zetos. The Phantom is in Phyla. Each of them has been tasked with using their most precious assets and abilities to challenge anyone who would dare touch the three pieces of Thieron. I cannot tell you what they will do, exactly, because I don’t know. I’ve left it to them. I trusted them to be creative and perseverant enough to protect my scythe until the end of time, in the event that I might lose possession of it… regardless of the reason.”
“So that’s it? Good luck and farewell?” Taeral mumbled. I could almost feel the anger coursing through his veins as his grip on my hand tightened.
Death shrugged. “I know you’re used to being told everything prior to a mission, Taeral, but I’m afraid it won’t be like this with me. You either adapt or you die.”
“You don’t know where Thieron’s pieces are, and you don’t know what your three most loyal and powerful Reapers will do once the pieces are found,” the Word said. “Perhaps, in exchange for these monumental gaps in information, sister, you might at least be able to tell Taeral the truth about the weapon in his possession. I believe it’s your duty to lay out the truth about it, since it’s the only tool he has that may yield better results than those you’ve sent after Thieron before.”
Taeral and I exchanged confused glances, before questioningly looking back at Death and the Word. “What am I missing here?” Taeral asked, raising Yamani’s scythe. “Are you talking about this?”
Lumi nodded, wearing a soft and glowing smile. Death, by contrast, was almost black and white, with nothing but her red lips to give her color. She was also quite sullen, but still a wonder to look at. Part of me wanted to slap her silly for her moodiness, but the rest of me wanted to worship her.
“Look down, Taeral,” Death said.
He did. His eyes widened with shock. I followed his gaze and noticed how different his reflection was. I looked like myself, mirrored in the black marble, but Taeral… He didn’t have his GASP suit on, but a black leather tunic with a white collar and decorative details embroidered across his chest. In his hand, he carried a scythe, but it didn’t look like Yamani’s. Its handle was made from obsidian, encrusted with fiery gemstones, and the blade was much longer and wider. We were seeing another version of Taeral in that reflection, but none of us knew why.
“What is this?” Taeral murmured, unable to look up.
“That is you, once you die,” Death replied. “You see, Taeral, I have a system in place, and the truth of it is always revealed in my presence. My Reapers are selected from the moment they