the Night Bringer, as well.”
“And Unending?”
Death shrugged. “Maybe. Sincerely, I doubt it. She is strong. Stronger than the Spirit Bender ever was.”
“You’re stronger than the Spirit Bender, too, and here you are, chained to the bottom of a frozen lake,” I retorted. She glowered at me, but her expression softened as she came to terms with the harsh truth.
“You have a point.” Death sighed. “Nevertheless, until Kelara and the others find Night and Unending, we won’t know for sure. My issue is with Visio.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think the Spirit Bender was on Visio, a long time ago. I don’t know what he did there, exactly, but it has to have been devious and dangerous, since there is a faction of Aeternae using death magic and ghouls, now,” Death replied. “I had no idea about this until you mentioned it. Of course, I had some suspicions, since Visio seemed to be lacking spirits and Reapers. Said suspicions became engorged when Seeley went missing, then Rudolph and his team.”
“So, you think the Darklings got death magic from Spirit?” I concluded, the thought alone enough to send shivers down my spine. Spirit had done some truly awful things, including his association with the Hermessi, just so he could see our worlds burn to spite Death. I could only imagine what else he might’ve been up to, prior to his demise. None of it was good, that much I knew.
Death nodded slowly. “I think he taught them death magic. I think he found a way for them to use it. I think he taught them how to trap Reapers. How to capture and train ghouls. Right now, I fear we’re barely getting a clue about what’s been happening there. The problem may be much bigger, much more complicated than what you and I know.”
Indeed, it seemed like quite the conundrum, and GASP was poorly prepared for anything related to Reapers and Death. This really wasn’t something we could solve.
“Why don’t you send more Reapers, then? An army, in fact. I’m sure they could take down the Darklings,” I said.
“Don’t be so sure. If they could take down Seeley, and Rudolph’s crew… if they’ve been getting away with this for so long… I doubt an army of Reapers would do much good,” Death replied. “I’m worried I’d be sending them to their end, Taeral.”
“That’s why you haven’t sent anyone else there, huh?”
Death nodded again. “I might be the only one who can fix whatever is wrong with Visio. And I’m unable to do anything right now. Our best option, going forward, is a thorough and discreet investigation. The more data we have on the issue, the better prepared I’ll be when the time comes.”
Lumi and Sidyan came to mind. They were already there, incognito and making excellent progress. But how could I bring them up with Death, given Sidyan’s Maya issue?
Death smiled. “Fortunately, I have you to trust. I presume Sidyan and Lumi told you about the ghouls. Esme couldn’t have seen them herself, otherwise it would be all over the GASP channels.”
She shocked me. She literally shocked me. My brain ceased to function. My breath got caught in my throat. Minutes went by as I tried to reclaim my grip on reality, as I tried to ascertain how Death had already learned about Sidyan and Lumi. We’d been so careful! It didn’t make sense!
“I… What?” I managed, my voice barely a whisper.
“I suppose now is a good time to make another confession. I’m not as cut off from the world anymore, Taeral. Not since the first five seals were broken,” Death said. “I’m able to listen in, though not as far as Visio yet, I’m afraid. I know and feel what my Reapers know and feel, however.”
“Wha… What?” My words refused to come out in any coherent form. I felt so bloody stupid. I worried for Sidyan, as well. I’d promised him absolute discretion. What a fool I had been, to think that Death wouldn’t find out, one way or another.
“I know there is death magic stopping me from sensing my Reapers on Visio. I get the occasional sliver of fear and rage, but they vanish as quickly as they emerge. Given my current condition, I’m unable to override death magic, especially as far away as Visio, but I’m certain that Seeley, Rudolph and the other Reapers are in some kind of trouble.”
“That can’t be good,” I mumbled.
“It’s not. It’s tragic, and there is nothing I can do about it for now. I