Assassin Reaper by Jessaca Willis

Author:Jessaca Willis [Willis, Jessaca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

4

Summoned

The Pit of Judgement, Veltuur, The Underrealm

Stones. Shadows. Surrounded.

As the black smoke disintegrates, returning to the ever-present shadows of Veltuur, I find myself standing on a dais in a circular chamber. I’ve never been here before, but it’s not difficult to guess where I am. If the Councilspirits summoned me, it can only mean I’m in the Pit of Judgement.

“Reaper Aulow,” a rough voice echoes down the chamber walls.

My guilty eyes peer up, following the voice to the hooded Councilspirits above me. There are seven of them in total, each of them seated in a throne made of slate and ash, decorated only by cobwebs and the melted wax from the hundreds of candles placed throughout the room.

But only one of them speaks.

“Reaper Nerul,” the voice calls again, and I snap my gaze to the presence that suddenly appears beside me.

“Thank you for summoning me to testify, Councilspirits,” Nerul says, bowing deeply at the waist. “I vow to speak the truths I know.”

The Councilspirit nods his head before lowering his crimson hood. A man of death resides inside it. He is nothing more than bone wrapped in a thin layer of translucent flesh, but when he speaks, his power is clear.

“Reaper Aulow, you have been brought before the Council because of a failed contract of death. Your weekly pillage at Newhaven has gone unfulfilled. How do you respond?”

Tucking a curl of my red behind my ear, I clear my throat. “My apologies, Councilspirits. It was unintentional. The fishermen became rough with me and—”

“Rough?” he asks, forehead creasing in a way that looks like he might be trying to raise one of his non-existent eyebrows.

“Yes. They hit me with one of their oars and said I was moving too slowly for them.”

Nerul scoffs. “You should’ve killed them then for their insolence.”

“It is not her place to decide the mortals’ fates, nor is it yours!” the Councilspirit yells. The chamber walls tremble in the wake of his booming voice.

“Of course,” Nerul says, averting his gaze to the cold, stone floor.

“Continue,” the Councilspirit demands.

“I was about to climb into the boat, when a woman appeared and intervened on my behalf. She shoved one of them men into the ocean, and I fled the scene in fear, out of stupidity.”

The Councilspirits turn to one another, hushed whispers poisoning the air like death sentences. My heart begins to race. I don’t want them focused too much on Belsante. I’m not sure what they would do to someone who interfered with Reaper business.

“I beg of you,” I continue, trying to pull their attention back to me. “Let me return to Newhaven. Let me complete my task. There is nothing more important to me than fulfilling my duties to Veltuur.”

The Councilspirit stares down his nose at me, drawing my silence as he considers.

But beside me, Nerul lips curl in a wicked grin. “This wouldn’t by chance be the same woman you were talking about last Doveday, would it?”

My eyes widen when I look to him.

“The woman you said who knew you.

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