Chapter 22

I arrived at the meeting place at noon the next day. I had to admit I was a little nervous, but I knew I had to get Thanatos back at any cost. Walking into the building, I went over to the information desk and asked which floor I could find Azrael's office on. I hoped he was the only one in the building since he didn't give me a last name to inquire about. As the woman gave me instructions, I was able to sense that she was a human and not a Reaper. I guessed that it was safe to assume that he shared this building with humans, and it wasn't filled with REapers like the Ferrymen's building. I thanked the woman for the instructions and then made my way to the elevators and up to the third floor.

She had said the office was located in suite 305, and that's exactly where I headed. Part of me hoped I'd find Thanatos there, and he would be unharmed. Part of me felt that that would be asking for too much.

I walked into the office and was met with another receptionist. "I'm Kifo," even after six months, I was still getting used to my new name, "I'm here to see Azrael."

"Who?"

"Andy Darwin," I said in an exasperated tone.

"Azrael will be out in a moment. Please have a seat," the woman said stiffly.

I took a seat in one of the waiting room chairs and waited for the man to come out. I found it kind of rude that he told me to be there at noon, and he was running late for our meeting. I was on time, if not a couple of minutes early. But he kept me waiting until ten minutes past our appointed meeting time. I'm sure if he could, he would've kept me waiting for an entire hour.

"Andy. Please come in." The man who came to the office door to the receptionist's left was about my height with a slender build. His jet black hair was shoulder length and looked shinier than mine. His black eyes were cold and sent a shiver down my spine.

Getting up from my seat, I walked over to the man and looked him over, examining him. I figured that if it came down to it, I could take him in a fight. I'd been training with Thanatos and had a few moves up my sleeve.

"It's so nice to finally meet you in person. I'm Azrael," the man said, closing the door after I walked into the office. "Please take a seat. I ordered pizza. I hope that's okay. I figured it would be good even if it were slightly chilly. Just in case one of us was running late."

"I'm not hungry." That was a lie. I was starving. I'd been so nervous that I left the house without having breakfast. I wouldn't let him know that, though. I didn't want to appear like I needed or wanted anything in front of him.

"Very well. Let's get down to business. Shall we?"

"Where's Thanatos?" I demanded. "I'm not playing any games with you. This kidnapping thing was totally cliche."

"So, you mentioned over the phone."

"Yeah, and I'm going to keep mentioning it. Because it is. I'm here. Return Thanatos."

"It's not that simple, I'm afraid. You see, I need your word that you'll work with us and not those pathetic Ferrymen."

"No chance. You can reap me if you want. But I'm not working with you."

"I wouldn't reap you, Andy. Thanatos, on the other hand…"

I knew he was bluffing. I knew for a fact, thanks to Anubis, that he couldn't reap either of us. Not without our permission anyway. I was giving him consent, so he could reap my soul right this instant if he had a scythe. Thanatos would never give permission. "You can't reap his soul without his permission. I'm giving you permission to reap mine."

"No. You're attempting to trade your life for that man's. Who's the cliche one now?"

I wanted to slap the smug look off of his face, but I kept my composure. "The Ferrymen need him. They don't need me."

"Exactly. So, join s and be where you're needed."

"You don't need me either. You just want me."

"On the contrary. We need you to help bring about the end of humans. Reapers are the superior race and should rule the planet."

"If we're so superior, why is it we need humans to birth us? If you think we're so superior, why are you killing Reapers and humans alike?"

"We only kill those who choose not to join us. And why bother with new Reapers when we can be immortal?"

"I'm not joining you."

Azrael sat down behind his desk and smirked at me. "Don't be so difficult, Andy."

"Stop calling me that," I growled. "My name is Kifo."

"You don't have to take on the name inscribed on your scythe, Andy." He pressed a few keys on his keyboard and then turned the monitor to face me. On the screen was video footage of Thanatos fighting against restraints. Two men were standing over him.

Both men wore masks; one carried a baseball bat and the other a dagger. They both hovered over Thanatos, looking ready to pounce. I had no doubt in my mind that if he weren't tied up and outnumbered, Thanatos would have been able to defend himself. I'd trained with him and watched him in the early morning practicing what he'd learned in his martial arts classes, the moves he never used on me. Surely something he learned would help him in a situation like this.

"They can't kill him. They need his permission to do that,' I said, looking from the monitor to Azrael.

"True, but they can hurt him to the point that he begs for death. My friend, with the bat, loves to break bones. Just ask Mrs. Gordon," he chuckled coldly as he spoke.

I was livid. The bastard with the bat was the one who killed Mrs. Gordon. Thanatos thought it might have been the Memitim but wasn't sure. This bastard just confirmed it for me. There was no way I was going to let him get away with this.

I was tempted to activate my scythe and reap him right then and there. To rid the world of his existence. But I refrained. "I'm going to make you pay for what you did to Mrs. Gordon."

"You don't have it in you. If you did, you would've joined us by now."

"You'll see what I'm capable of soon enough. I will get Thanatos back. And I will make you beg for death." I turned and left the office, not waiting for a retort from Azrael. If I stayed in the room a moment longer…

I could already see it. Me activating my scythe. Azrael calling my bluff. My scythe slicing through the air and through him. His body lying cold and lifeless at his desk.

I was glad I left when I did. Even though it would mean that it would take longer to find Thanatos, it was better than losing myself like that.