something to me. My mind was weaving a theory, and even though it sounded crazy to me, I figured I could at least share it with him. He could always shake his head for me to know that I was off the mark.
“Are you trying to tell me that you can lift a scythe off a black guard?” I asked, and Rudolph nodded once more. “And that you can then give it to me so I can use it?” Another nod. “Holy crap. That sounds like a good plan… I mean, what would I do with it then? Just scratch the runes off?”
“S… Seel… Seeley… h… help… you,” he whispered, his tongue struggling against the fangs. His voice was low and raspy, as if the inside of his throat had been burned. But I got the message.
“You, my dear Rudolph, are a hero,” I said to him, drawing another ghoulish grin. “We’ve got a plan then… sort of. It’s a little weird that I can’t touch a scythe right now, that I need you to take it first, but… I guess it’s got something to do with material transference, maybe? Because it’s on a living being?”
He nodded, making me smile.
“Heh… I’m not that daft, then. So, a scythe is a tool that belongs to both the world of the living and the world of the dead. If a living guy holds it, I, a mere spirit, wouldn’t be able to touch it, because it’s stuck in the material plane. But if a ghoul or a Reaper takes it, which means you… either way, the scythe becomes a more ethereal object, and I can touch it again. Am I getting that right?”
Rudolph exhaled sharply. “Smart.”
“Thank you. But our mission won’t be easy. Especially for you,” I said, giving him a sympathetic half-smile. “You’re going to have to suck up to Zoltan when he comes around. Real hard, until he thinks you’re his favorite pet.”
A low growl escaped his throat.
“I know. I don’t like it either. But it’s the only way to get you enough freedom to then snatch a scythe from a black guard,” I replied.
Hours later, the door finally opened, and Zoltan Shatal came in, a heavy ring of keys hanging on his belt. He seemed quite satisfied with himself, grinning at the sight of Rudolph becoming more and more of a ghoul.
Behind him, in the hallway, stood two guards. A terrified old Nalorean male was between them, his hands bound and a gag over his mouth. He was crying and trying to beg for mercy, but his words were muffled, drool seeping into the fabric and trickling from the corners of his mouth.
“Oh, Lord…” I murmured, standing back in my corner.
“You’re looking good,” Zoltan said to Rudolph.
The ghoul got up, towering over the Aeternae almost menacingly. I figured Rudolph was still itching for some bloody revenge on the one who’d made him like this, but, as sickening as the entire situation was, I needed him to play nice.
“Rudolph, remember. We need Zoltan to trust you,” I said, thankful that the others couldn’t hear me. I’d reached the ghoul, for sure, because he lowered himself on all fours, letting a deep sigh roll out of his crooked chest.
“That’s an obedient little ghoul,” Zoltan said, glancing over his shoulder. “See, boys? It gets easier when they’re malleable like this. The weak-natured ones are a pleasure to work with. Our master did say this once… that not all Reapers were made to be Reapers. That some of them are weak.”
His master. New information right there, I thought. Was that master still around? Who was he? Or was it a she? I went over all the Aeternae we’d met so far, and I wondered if any of them were devious and knowledgeable enough to be Zoltan’s superior. It didn’t explain the death magic, though. So… maybe Zoltan’s master was a… Reaper. A rogue and powerful Reaper. Capable enough to teach him all this. The thought frightened me, but the sooner I got to the truth of it, the better for everyone—myself included.
“The others are wild,” one of the guards said. “Shall we use the shock sticks on them?”
Zoltan nodded. “Yes. They’re angry. They seek vengeance through violence, and they will need violence to understand that this is their existence now. Rudolph here… he’s a breath of fresh air, to be honest. Look at him sitting down, so nice and obedient. You’re a good boy, Rudolph.”
I would’ve loved to just rip this guy’s throat