#--loss

The building was small, clean and the staff greeted him with a friendly smile as Reaper walked in. His usual exploits carried him into worlds still struggling to grasp the concept of electricity but today the world he traveled to was more modern. The receptionist at the counter had offered him a freshly printed out lament badge with ‘visitor’ typed on it neatly. 

A different staff member had ushered him to the room he was seeking and quietly left as the individual inside waved her off. 

The small chubby elderly latina woman sat in her arm rest chair and smiled kindly at Reaper.

“I knew you’d come today.” her voice was still strong and carried her thick accent proudly. 

“You look thin mi hijo.” the elder woman commented. Shakingly she got to her legs and hurried to her small kitchenette to grab the grim some snacks. 

Reaper took a seat at the small table she had in her room and awaited to be served. Scythe leapt from his shoulder and sat on the table eager for a treat he knew was coming. 

A pile of thumbprint cookies was set down in front of the duo along with a glass of milk. 

“There you are, eat eat!” the elderly woman petted Reaper’s head, leaning down she gave his temple a gentle kiss before waddling over to her own seat across from him. 

“How long has it been…” She hummed thoughtfully. 

“32 years.” Reaper quickly answered. 

She nodded thoughtfully. Letting the information settle in her mind before she chuckled. 

“Back when I wasn’t so grey…oh mi hijo you look so concerned que te pasa? What troubles you?” 

Reaper was never able to express emotions outwardly as mortals did. His being a grim, meant it never came naturally even after obtaining his soul. Despite it having been thousands of years he still was uncertain he’d ever truly master the art of ‘expressing oneself’ but regardless of how neutral his appearance. Aurora would always be able to read him. 

He enjoyed that about her. She made it easier to converse because she could assist in him understanding his own thoughts. It was the reason for his visit today.

With his bandaged hand he collected a cookie and handed it to his avian companion who eagerly accepted it. He watched the excited creature for a moment before finally answering. 

“I am….uncertain of that path I should take.” Aurora stared at him intently for a moment before sighing. 

“What has she done now?” The human was one of very few who’d learned of Reaper’s origins. The reason he was made, the path laid before him by La Muerte, their history and the reason behind his refusal to reap souls. She had a sinking feeling this situation was clearly related. 

“Your descendant has been chosen.” the woman’s eyes widened, fear blooming in her eyes. Her hands shook as she nearly sprang to her feet to attempt to reach the landline next to her bed. But Reaper’s hand gently rested over hers to stop her actions. 

“Not…her.” 

“Aye mi lado…” she sighed with mild relief but confusion was present on her face.

“I’m..uncertain of the details. To be fair I doubt she’s aware of it herself. But a copy of your granddaughter’s soul resides in and shares a body with the soul of a demon. It’s become so… entangled so different they’re no longer either one or the other. She’s something new.” 

This would be difficult for anyone to understand but likely even harder for the aging elder who shook her head in disbelief. 

“Is my Vicky ok?” She gripped Reaper’s hand, clearly distressed and requiring the assurance her granddaughter was fine. 

Reaper nodded, giving her hand a light squeeze. 

“She’s fine. She’s with her family now and this doesn’t concern her.” 

Aurora sighed with relief and nodded. “Ok..thank you mi hijo you know she’s the last one I have…” 

“...but how…” she shook her head. “Nevermind…what, what does..Aye no entiendo mi hijo, how does this…copy..aye dios….” It was clear she was still shaken as dark brown eyes started up at Reaper’s red goggles trying desperately to make sense of what he was telling her. 

“She calls herself Vertebrae. La Muerte wishes to utilize her in her desires, as she once seeked to use me. I have..attempted to stop the activity but that is why I am here. I am faced with…two paths neither of which I am certain I wish to take part in.” 

“...what do you mean?”

“No path chosen would lead to the results I desire. Both end up with the fruits of the tree of life in shambles. I do not wish to accept either fate. I wish to alter the course but….I fear I am unable…” 

Reaper fell silent. Aurora watched him carefully allowing her own fears to subside as she recognized the sorrow emitting from her long time friend. He’d already dealt with so much yet it seemed the universe would continue to send more his way. 

The only sound for a long breath was Scythe happily consuming his fill of the cookies she’s laid out. His chipped and cracked beak is a reminder of Reaper’s own mortality. Aurora stared at the marred corvid before finally speaking. 

“You can only do what you can mi hijo.” She squeezed his hand still held in her own to get him to look her in the eye. “We have to settle with what’s the best that can happen, maybe it doesn’t seem right for now but…in time..it can change.” Her words were not as encouraging as Reaper had been seeking but he listened all the same. 

“I’m uncertain if that’s possible.” 

“You’re not one to give up. Don’t do so now mi hijo, keep fighting, keep going.” Reaper pulled his hand free of hers and moved to remove his hood. Running his hand along his head as he contemplated the advice. 

“Is she that bad?” Aurora knew her granddaughter to be a bit…odd. She could only make a guess on how this Vertebrae, whatever she was, would act. Given how the grim reaper was acting it must be bad if not worse than she could imagine which greatly concerned her. 

“She’s…a challenge.” Reaper attempted to explain. “Fixated on resurrecting the dead.” 

Aurora shivered at the thought, clearly upset by the concept. But she paused and mulled it over for a moment. 

“...the dead should stay dead. But..the fruit. Maybe she can give that a home?” She suggested softly. To which Reaper nodded. 

“That was my intention but…I have a sinking feeling She will prevent any attempts.” 

A quiet lingered between the friends before the elderly woman again spoke up. 

“Could La Muerte truly say no to Life?” 

—-

Soon the sun was kissing the horizon, the blue clear spring sky shifting to a soft pink and yellow sunset. Reaper slowly rose to his feet, his visit coming to an end. 

Aurora hummed contently as she shakingly got up to walk Reaper to the door. 

“Believe in your goals mi hijo, you know I will. And take care of both those granddaughters of mine.” She smiled, although she couldn’t make heads or tails of the situation she had already quickly accepted Vertebrae as her own; it was simply a part of her nature. 

She looked back at her room before turning to watch as Scythe shifted to his blade form.  Reaper released Aurora’s hand as he moved to hold him. His free hand reached for the door. 

“I will attempt to do so.” The grim reassured his friend. 

“Will you be carrying me with you? Or perhaps put me in central park. You know how I loved it there. Oh or the garden where we first met! I believe it’s still there.” Aurora smiled tho her smile slowly faltered as Reaper opened the door. 

A dark cloaked figure stared back at them, Reaper gripped his scythe tightly upon seeing them and sighed softly. Looking down at his friend he gently shook his head. 

“...I’m sorry Aurora…” a hand waved at him off as she shook her head. 

“No..no mi hijo…shameful of me thinking you’d be the one to do this, you’re retired after all.” Despite her words, tears rolled down her eyes as she turned and slowly waddled back to her favorite chair. Quickly making peace with the situation at hand.

The other grim glared at Reaper before slowly following the elderly woman. The two clearly displeased with the other’s presence but Reaper had to respect this was not his territory and the other grim aged enough to accept the respect and not attack unprompted.

Stepping out of the room, Reaper quietly closed the door behind him. 

Her Shade had been instructed to bring her one of her creations, it had hesitated but eventually followed the order. The amalgamation of bones crafted to mimic a beast was set among the pillows. Vertebrae was quickly to claim it in her arms. A quick bite to her lips sprung a droplet of her golden blood. She planted a kiss onto the forehead of the creature the blood seeping into the pores of the feline like skull. Golden pupils flaring to life in the empty sockets. The creature's bones creaked and clicked as it tilted its head to stare up at the being before it. Lower jaw snapping against its upper jaw as it quietly observed her. But quick as the beast woke to life the golden light in its eyes began to fad, the bones returning to their stiff state and already beginning to already crumble away to dust. Vertebra smiled softly at the beast as it struggle to reach a paw to her face. Her voice soft as she sang it a lullaby in her native tongue. "Recuérdame Hoy me tengo que ir mi amor Recuérdame No llores por favor Te llevo en mi corazón y cerca me tendrás A solas yo te cantaré soñando en regresar"

The light in its eye faded entirely. Body freezing in place as all life exited its body. Silent tears flowed down the jester's pale cheeks as she continued to sing, hoping it could still hear her. "Recuérdame Aunque tenga que emigrar Recuérdame Si mi guitarra oyes llorar Ella con su triste canto te acompañará Hasta que en mis brazos estés.." As the creature fully dissolved to dust Vertebrae couldn't handle the pain any longer and rested her head against the pile of dust. Her tears mixing with the material as she sobbed quietly.

"Recuérdame..."