Chapter Eleven

"Oh, I'm definitely making him taller."It had been three hours since Banks had appeared. Cole had yet to show up, but Aster promised me he was aware we were waiting on him and was doing his best to finish up the job he was on. I said it was fine, I wasn't going anywhere, and Aster once again looked surprised by my commitment to this.We had all sat around in the main room for a while, me asking Banks and Jaskier about their work, them asking me if I had thought of a name yet, or if I had anything I personally wanted to change about myself. I told them I still hadn't thought of one, and if it was up to me, I wouldn't change anything. That made them chuckle, and Banks told me once I was healed from the surgery, I would be glad it happened. I'm sure none of them missed the dissatisfied tone I used when I was talking about this particular subject. They were clearly trying to get me to feel better about having to get my body parts ripped off and reassembled.Banks said I would be glad afterwards, but I just couldn't imagine it.Eventually, I think Aster started getting a little impatient and brought me and Banks to the operating room, which was down the right hall where I was told the body parts were kept, but in a different doorway. There were four doors down that way, and I couldn't help but want to know what was behind them.The room was made of dark looking metal, the walls and floor were all lined with it. There was a large, bolted down table in the middle of the room, with straps for arms and legs. I could see a padded bar going across the head shaped area, and assumed it was for my forehead. Long rolling carts were pushed against the walls, each lined with blades and scissors.Aster made me take off everything except my underwear, and I was currently standing in the middle of the room while a giant lumberjack wanna-be and the grim reaper ogled me."He's already quite tall." Aster says. I glanced between the two. I was six three, definitely not short, but these two men made me feel like a child. Weirdly enough, I was more intimidated by Aster. He was three thousand years old and looked like he ate puppies for breakfast. I would never tell him, but he was definitely fucking creepy looking."Yeaaah but we don't want him to be too handsome. And right now, he's too handsome. He needs to look less human."

"Why?" I furrow my brow and glare at him a little. I liked the way I looked. I had drawn the winning ticket being born aesthetically pleasing. I've never been rejected by a woman, I've never been bullied for my appearance. People always want to be my friend, just because I'm attractive. It's weird, but I won't deny my life has been twenty percent easier because I wasn't born with a hunchback or one leg shorter than the other. Pretty privilege is real, and anyone who says it isn't, is just fishing for compliments.

I had just gotten lucky. I could have just as easily been born with a conjoined twin."Because you are not a human. There needs to be as little temptation as possible to actual humans." I raise a brow."So, I'm not allowed to get laid as a Reaper?" Aster shakes his head and buries his face in his hands."It is strongly discouraged, but there is no actual punishment for doing so." Bank says hesitantly."Why is it discouraged?" This definitely had me curious."You just had to bring it up." Aster sighs like he's dealing with a dumb husband. He shakes his head and finally looks up, but only to glare at Banks."What? He was going to be told anyway." Banks shrugs like he's done nothing wrong, and I'm still left with a million questions."Hello? Why?" I prod, waving my hand around a little. Aster finally looks back at me."The truth is, it's very dangerous for us to interact with humans in a... romantic sense. In a weird way, death is alluring to humans. They are curiously drawn to us." I roll my eyes. Great. Now I'd have even more weirdos to deal with."And never. Never. Tell a living human your name." Banks points a finger at me to try and emphasize how important this was."Why not?"

"It deepens the obsession." Aster sighs. "I literally have no idea why; I've tried to find out before. It's the same with Guardians. Maybe to try and keep us from intermingling with them at all. It is certainly a headache to deal with." I tilt my head a little at Aster. I didn't want to say it out loud but...

"Has it happened to you, Aster?" Banks throws his head back then and roars with laughter.

"Ole Bone Daddy over here had a whole fan club at one point." I crack a grin at the embarrassed look on Aster's face.

"Humans have very bizarre tastes." He mutters, turning away and walking towards a rolling table."What do you think about giving him ears, too?" Banks asks suddenly, returning to eyeing me up and down. He steps closer, tilting my head to the side with a finger to the jaw so he can look at my ears."I have ears." I say stubbornly. "They're fine ears.""You don't think it would just cater to the fetish more?" Aster asks. He's walking back over now with two giant black markers in his hand. Great, they're going to start drawing on me."Eh. I think that, combined with the black eyes like you suggested, plus the height, it will all be pretty domineering put together. I mean we all get attention, it's just a fact. But unless you want to take a lemon zester to his face, he's still going to be handsome." Banks backs away, taking the offered marker from Aster."I suppose you're right." Aster sighs."Sorry." I shrug. I look the way I look."Please. There's a good chance it will come in handy when you are trying to persuade young souls to move on to their next life." Aster waves his hand and uncaps his marker. "Now, let's start marking his knees and elbows. We know for sure those will be done. And I'll start bringing the parts over. I can even begin replacing his blood so when Cole does show up, we'll be ready." Banks nods and uncaps his marker too.I chew on the inside of my cheek a little as the felt tips glide over my skin. I was very nervous. I hope I pass out quickly.