Chapter 12

"Come on, Andy. You can do this. The animal is near death. You can grant him peace."

I looked from Thanatos to the rabbit lying prone on the side of the road. The poor thing had been hit by a car but didn't die quickly. I took a deep breath, knelt beside the creature, and placed a gentle hand on its body. I spoke softly to the rabbit, letting it know that it was okay to let go.

Feeling the ties that tethered the rabbit's soul to the land of the living snap one by one, I let out a choked sob and felt the tears I'd been holding back roll down my cheeks. "It's don," I said when the last tether snapped. Getting up, I walked over to Thanatos with my head lowered so he couldn't see the tears.

"I know this is hard for you, Andy, but all Reapers must know how to do this. Even if they decide to work in the office. To be honest, I'd be concerned if it didn't hurt you at least a little to sever those ties."

I nodded and wiped at my eyes before looking up at the man before me. "Does it ever get easier?"

"No. You get used to it, but it still hurts to have to take someone from their mortal life. However, it does hurt less when it's someone that is suffering that you take. They've asked for this release. You've taken them from their pain. It hurts to take a life, but it hurts less knowing that you've helped to stop their pain."

"What about in practice? It gets easier, right? It doesn't take as long?"

"It depends on the person or animal dying. I knew a Reaper who was supposed to take a man on D-day in Normandy. The man was so adamant about not dying there that he lived several years longer than he should have."

I nodded again, then blushed when my stomach growled. Thanatos chuckled and suggested we call it a day and go get some dinner. I gave him a small, tired smile and nodded in agreement.

It had been six months since I moved into Thanatos' house. It was a decision we both made for my safety and so I could start my training without interruptions. I had protested at first, not wanting to be a burden. After some reassurance that I wouldn't be, I found myself terminating my lease and moving into my new boss' house.

My training started a week after I had moved in, with the history and mythos of Reapers. It was a lot to take in and took up most of the six months I lived with Thanatos. There were days when I would work in the tech department, helping out where I could. Those were days that Thanatos had meetings to attend to. Other days I would go with him while he reaped souls. I watched as he severed the ties to the mortal realm and them as Sharon processed the souls. I learned that as long as his scythe was activated and I was in physical contact with Thanatos, neither of us could be seen by anyone other than the person dying.

Now I was learning to sever the ties myself. A task that Thanatos informed me would be easier with experience and a scythe. Since I had neither, it was a difficult task. So far, I had only been allowed to work with animals as their souls were stronger than those of humans. Thanatos explained that I never harmed animals with my voice or touch because their ties are stronger than those of humans. Yet they weakened quicker when it was time for them to pass over. They accepted their end more readily.