his bony knee hit the ground. Turning around, I found him down and heaving, his skin still burnt black and crusty. He’d kept a reasonable distance from Death, along with the other ghouls. They all looked fearful, barely moving as they waited for her attention.
“What will you do with the ghouls?” I asked. “They did help.”
“They eat souls,” Kelara declared. “They don’t belong in this world.”
“I remember you found their dietary habits rather useful when they were ridding us of specters,” Nightmare pointed out, his lips pursed.
“It doesn’t change what they are or what they do!” Kelara replied.
Death demanded everyone’s attention, and she didn’t even have to make a sound. The air turned to lead around us, putting pressure on our heads, forcing us to look at her. I felt her presence in the pit of my stomach, like a dark omen. She could not be ignored.
“The ghouls are a complicated issue,” Death said. “Yesterday, I probably would’ve agreed with Kelara. I’ve thought them wild, mindless animals. Today, however, has proven otherwise. Most of these creatures are not beyond redemption.” She set her sights on Herbert. “You, in particular, are an interesting specimen, Herbert. I’m willing to find a solution for your kind… one that does not require extermination. Contrary to what people might think, I’m not a fan of killing creatures of any kind.”
Herbert whispered in his ghoulish language, prompting Varga to translate for the rest of us. “He says he’s deeply sorry for the choice that led him down this path. They all are.”
The ghouls were former Reapers. While most had turned to savage beasts, there were clearly plenty out there who retained a conscience. Feeding had been instinctual for them, something that had to be done in order to survive. Whether it was flesh or souls, the ghouls here didn’t exactly take pleasure in consuming them. The more they went without souls, the more they decayed. Those present were at the bottom of the ghoulish food chain and had grown accustomed to flesh, rather than souls. Chances were the specters they’d eaten until now would reverse some of the damage that time had done to them, but that would not be forever. They’d need to feed on souls again in order to bring themselves closer to the Nevertide-type ghouls.
“I am considering forgiveness,” Death said. “But they must accept their condition. I cannot reverse a Reaper-turned-ghoul. I cannot fix such corruption, not even when I get Thieron back in my hands. But I can spare them from execution. One rule, only: they can no longer eat souls. If they’re caught eating souls, they will be obliterated. Do you understand me, Herbert?”
The ghoul nodded. Varga listened carefully. “He says they only ate specters to help. They’ve long been used to flesh. They’ll stick to cemeteries and war zones across the universe, where they can feed off the bodies. Herbert will personally make sure the ghouls don’t cross the line. If they do, he’ll turn them in himself.”
“What, so they’re staying together? The whole six dozen of them?” I asked, quite surprised, remembering that ghouls were solitary creatures, by nature.
“I suppose Herbert thinks he can control them better if they stick together,” Death mused, her black gaze fixed on him. “He has good intentions. I appreciate that. Herbert, so be it. Find yourselves a world where conflict is common, and spread out, so you don’t have territorial issues. Mind yourselves, and never eat a soul again. That is my condition. If any of you break it, the Reapers will come for you all. One of you is enough to go against me, and I will make sure you’re all wiped out of existence.”
Herbert nodded again and growled at the others. One by one, they shimmered and vanished, off to find their own place in the world. Personally, I was a little worried, but Death’s condition sounded rather good. By holding them all accountable in that group, they would make sure no one touched a soul again, purely for self-preservation. Of course, the other ghouls out there would not be so lucky.
“I will deal with the others when I’m free,” Death continued. “I need my Thieron to take the rest of them out in one snap of the fingers. The Reapers are too busy to hunt their fallen brethren.”
“At least Herbert gets another shot at things, in a way. No more running and hiding,” Taeral said, smiling. “I honestly think he’s earned it.”
“Oh, Taeral, ever the merciful and kind,” Death cooed.
“You’ve