Endings and beginnings

"Now…Reaper take my child far from here!" Merrick smiled.

"But I want to stay!" Lian shouted.

"This is no place for you, Lian…"

Merrick turned to Tremain holding out the scorching blade. Moving slowly towards his dear friend Tremain became startled being wrapped around the neck with the large tool in hand.

A chain darted out whipping around from Tremains palms clutching tight around Lian's waist. Reaper grabbed for Lian before he was sprung from his position into Tremains arms glancing back at Merrick.

"You wouldn't!" Merrick shouted.

"Drag me to hell and I will take your beloved child with you!" Tremain grinned.

He was silent but unmoving the whole time. His son was one of the living worlds still and didn't want to risk the next reaper in his family dying.

"What are your demands?" He asked.

"You can walk the halls of your own home because it is where you died, but I can bring you back into eternity."

"Tremain…I," Merrick whispered.

"You what? Or do you not value your blood?" Tremain questioned.

"It's not that, but have you forgotten who I truly used to be too it seems." Merrick grinned.

He pushed swiftly pushed Tremain with a quickness making Lian tumble from his arms slicing Tremain in half and falling to the ground dismembered in two parts without hardly a blink staring down at the waxy blue man from above.

"Why…"

"I was meant for hell's grace, but at least now I will have a friend!" Merrick laughed.

"You…knew…I…wasn't going to kill him…" Tremain said.

"Of course not! I have been watching!" Merrick cackled.

Everything around them started to fade. Lian watched in horror as his father set fire to the curtains of his room.

"Get out here now Reaper!" Merrick warned.

He swooped down to snatch Lian out of the burning building. Graham on his feet again helped take the boy to safety inching several feet away from the home that Merrick built from scratch himself.

"Aylin is still in there!" Lian shouted.

"There is nothing you can do about it now." Reaper scolded.

"But…" Lian answered.

"For now we should go home." Graham spouted.

"The twins?!"

"Lian, you will understand soon enough!" Reaper scolded.

One final gaze at the blazing building he turned walking slowly away he thought he saw something staring back at him through the flames before fully vanishing into the darkness of a snap crackle pop of the inferno continued.

"We will have the doctor dismantle that thing on your back." Graham laughed.

"Right…" Lian answered.

He felt empty walking away. There was no big fight. It was a pitiful old man relieving his days through a kid who knew no better. There was no explaining it otherwise just sometimes things fizzle out.

"Welcome home, Lain!"

Two voices said in unison. Nour and Nina stood in front of him with happy faces. He double took in case. He thought he was imagining things. Their presence was real and in front of him.

"I thought you were in the fire!" Lian cried.

"Like we would be caught dead in that shack!" Nina scoffed.

"We were faking it," Nour explained.

"What?!" Lian shouted.

"You think you can trick people like us?" Nour laughed.

"That old man was easy to hustle, but we knew your dad's spirit still was pushed into that house. Tremain was merely going insane slowly otherwise harmless." Nina stated.

"You were using me?!" Lain shouted.

The door opened catching Lian off guard. Reaper holding Aylin in his hands and a smile covered in ash. Lian ran to take the weapon from the palm of his hands swinging her out as she morphed back into a girl.

"Aylin…you are okay."

"Of course, but I would never leave you alone." She grinned.

"The others got away…" Reaper explained.

There was no shock on their faces. They seemed to know this would happen. Lian could gauge this might have been what they were going for.

Rat-a-tat-tat

A knock on the door soon after to a tall person dressed in a plague doctor outfit handing a telegram to Reaper.

"You are being called."

The man said muffled through his mask. He gawked over at Lian momentarily before leaving. Everyone gathered around looking at the paper in the tall man's hands.

"Prince Jeffery requests your team's presence." Reaper read.

"He still a pretty man!" Nour yelled.

The women became animated and excited. Lian didn't understand what was going on, but everyone was instantly happy. He didn't know what to make of it all other than it was important when crawling fingers could be felt around the waist.

"Brother!"

"Lily!" Lian shouted.

"What is this?" She asked.

Poking her hands around the device attached to his back. He reddened not knowing what to say. She lifted his shirt to view the machine placed attempt to weld into his skin.

"He is going to be getting it removed. Do not play with it." Reaper chided.

"What happened?" Lily asked.

"Long story…" Lian mumbled.

"Get some rest you two!" Aylin scolded.

"Aylin?" Lian inquired.

"Yes?"

"Did Effie also escape?" Lian asked.

She looked down in guilt. The words looked like they were on the end of her tongue. She took his hand leading back outside whilst everyone just stared.

"We do not where she went. I looked everywhere in case." Aylin explained.

"I see…so this will not be the last time," Lian answered.

"Let's work together, Lian."

"Who is this prince?"

"Prince Jeffery is a good man, but also known for taking in new reapers." She announced.

"Is that why we are called?!"

"You must meet him to continue, Lian."

Reaper pulled open the window to gaze at that from the porch. In his hand the invitation in tow.

"We learned it isn't till next week!" Reaper yelled.

"I see so we must be ready before then," Aylin said.

"I think we all need rest." Reaper laughed.

"Agreed…"

He slammed the window making Lian only shrug. He didn't know what was going on, but eventually, he assume some sense would be made.