Short Stories

Hate. Love. Sorrow. Joy. Bitterness. Pride. Envy. Gratitude. Disgust. Bravery. Fear. Contentment. Resentment.

The emotions captured in a single soul extend beyond these words.

I’ve seen it all. I cannot tell you every tragedy of the souls I’ve reaped—or the ones eaten by demons. I wait on the dark roof of a brothel, silent and emotionless. I watch the foolish humans as they enjoy dark delights.

If only they knew the wretched truth about their lives. They might think thrice about squandering them.

But alas, things are not so.

Where would we be then? I wonder.

“I see you’re here to ruin such a lovely evening,” the most annoying voice I’ve ever heard ruins the peace.

“You only hate that I’m here for one of your prey,” I face the demon with dead eyes, “Asmodeus, Demon of Lust.” I stand to my full height with a black scythe in hand. I hold my hood down against a sudden wind.

Demons hate when you mess with their toys and food.

But a reaper must complete their task swiftly and discreetly.

“I’m wounded,” Asmodeus feigns hurt, “I would never dream of getting in your way. I’m not even here for her.”

I roll my eyes as I turn away. I jump to a lower part of the roof. I look carefully, searching the crowds for the wretched woman. I don’t flinch when the demon lands beside me. “Get out of my way,” I order.

“Come now, I’m here to offer my services.”

“I am not having sex with you. I’ll have nothing to do with such a vile creature.” I point the blade of my weapon at his exposed neck. I’m the only one possessing the skills necessary for resisting such temptations. I’ll not lower myself to where I started. I am far from who I was before this life. I refuse to go back.

The demon frowns. “But I wore my best clothes just for you.” He preens like a peacock. Asmodeus wears a thin robe over the most revealing skirt—if you can call it that—I’ve ever seen; it’s like a thong with sheer fabric covering only the front and back. A gold necklace with jewels covers his chest while long golden hair hangs down his back. Asmodeus bats his lilac eyes like a child.

I don’t even give him the smallest glance. I leap down as soon as no humans are milling about.

The demon stops me before I get inside. “What are you doing?”

“My job. She went in there and I must follow her.” I sidestep the exposed creature.

“Not like that. Let me help.”

I’m losing my patience. “Why should I work with the likes of you?” I swear, demons are always ruining our work.

“Humans are weak when it comes to desire. They chase it constantly,” he begins circling me slowly, “You will need someone to lure her someplace private if you wish to catch her. Since we are at a brothel, allow me to bait her.”

Desire. A word of strong meaning that can encompass many wants; the most popular of these being related to the demon in front of me.

“I don’t have time for games. If you want to help, your only job is to lure her. Do nothing else.” I change my scythe into an obsidian dagger. I hide the blade underneath my cloak before entering the brothel.

Sin slinks out of every nook and cranny. There isn’t a single spot untouched. It leaks through every crack of each heart present, save my own.

I no longer have a right to feel. I left all of my human nature behind when I became a reaper. I’m often blamed for the taking of a life, but that is not entirely what I do. It’s my job to separate the soul from its dying body. I do so without showing any attachment or emotion.

It’s true that a mortal is dead once their soul is removed, but a soul cannot remain trapped in a broken body.

I silently walk through the sea of sinful desire. I recognize a few other reapers lurking in the shadows.

It seems there are many targets tonight.

“There will be a bloody dawn tomorrow,” Asmodeus whispers in my ear.

“What of it? When time is up, it is up,” I reply coldly.

That’s another concept humans can’t understand. They think death is far from them, but in reality it’s always lurking.

I ignore Asmodeus’ moans as we pass by occupied rooms and look straight ahead. I suddenly stop in front of the only empty room. I step inside as I open the door.

Silk and satin create a web of false pleasure. Pillows lie scattered upon the many rugs used to cushion the floor. It all creates a world of lustful desire.

I quickly fashion a few pieces of silk into a curtain. “Go and get her. I will await the assigned time of her death.”

Asmodeus looks serious for the first time this evening. “Be aware that this little venture will satisfy both of us. I’m sure you’ll know the signal.” He ruins the seriousness with a wink before slipping back out the door.

I sneak into the shadows behind the newly made shade. I shut off my sight to listen to my surroundings.

Glasses clink while liquid sloshes round. Laughter slices the air after leaving drowned lips. Oiled bodies slip, smack, and slap one another. Screams and moans declare fits of passion. Somewhere deeper inside this pretty trap, whips slay silence and red wraps women. More screams permeate the air.

Sin hidden under the guise of delightful pleasure.

Reapers care not for what their targets are doing at the time their soul is to be taken. They rush through the night, giving humans their due.

In my mortal life, I used to be steeped in sin. I made terrible decisions that led to my death. I was offered a choice in which I could either remain a trapped soul or do what I am tasked with now. I decided on the path of punishment.

Giggling interrupts the so-called silence.

I look out with my one eye.

My target approaches clad in near to nothing. Her skin is fair in contrast to her ebony locks. Red paints her lips. Gold adorns her neck. She’s beautiful, but her eyes show a hidden ugliness that only I can see. “So, what do you wish to do?” she purrs.

“What is your darkest desire? Whatever it is, I shall fulfill it,” Asmodeus replies.

Her eyes light up before clouding over with darkness. “Anything?”

“Yes,” the demon says in a husky voice, “just tell me what your little heart desires.” He boops her nose playfully.

Both soon lose themselves in an act of false love. One aware whilst the other is lost.

Something transfers from her to Asmodeus. It carries a faint pink color.

So this was his plan.

Feeding off what drives their sin is another way demons feed. They act stronger the more you indulge them.

The tables soon turn and I understand how this woman was scheduled to die.

She will die at the hands of her greatest sin. Slowly, the color is leached from her body. Ebony fades and fair becomes ashen. But she does not notice. Her sole point of focus is the one before her. She has been lost for years, only to pay the price of her contract with the ultimate form of payment.

Asmodeus’ genuine moans of satisfaction fill the space, drowning out all other sounds. His beauty increases with every bite he takes. The demon lets the woman’s body fall limply on the carpet like a dead fish once he has had his fill. Asmodeus smiles as he towers over the human. “My work here is done. She’s all yours.”

I step out and circle my prey. I remove my hood for her sake more than mine.

The woman forces herself to sit up. She looks upon me with terror-stricken eyes. “You!” the woman shrieks.

“So, you do remember me...Sister. Tell me. Did you really think you could escape me?” I remove the scythe from my cloak, revealing its true form.

The young woman cries black tears as she turns to her nightly plaything. “Please help me. I can’t die like this.”

Asmodeus shrugs. “Should’ve thought about the consequence, Snowflake.” He shoves her down on her knees before me.

I ready my blade. I lost my beauty to death. Burns mar the left side of my face, rendering an eye useless. A permanent sting radiates across seared flesh. Flames are forever locked in my eye. “Your time is up.” I slash the air in a perfect horizontal line.

The woman falls to the floor, unable to even get a last breath. Her torso is completely separated from the rest of her body while crimson embraces both. A light escapes the woman’s chest and finds a home in the blade of my scythe.

For a moment, I stare at the lifeless body. Envy burns in my heart even though I have won. I received the worst death a human could be dealt.

And yet, she who dealt it to me passed on from the living world swiftly.

“I know what you are thinking,” Asmodeus comments, “but that is far from the truth.” He leads me back to the main room.

Fellow reapers stand scattered around the bloodstained tables. Chairs are overturned, glasses are shattered, and food is untouched. The sweet smell of death lingers on once foul air.

“My Lord, all targets have been taken care of,” a reaper says with a bow.

I nod without expression before looking at the faces of my subordinates. I note the once beautiful faces of the many youths.

We have all lost our lives in the same way—Flame’s chokehold.

“Prepare for our return to the palace. I shall be along soon,” I order.

Asmodeus whistles. “So, you are their new master? How can a child of love carry such a burden?”

“What of it? I wasn't given much choice,” I begin admiring victims and furnishings alike, “I could have remained a wandering soul or deal punishment to those who deserve it. Their former master was no longer able to dish out proper punishment. He saw the potential in me and I have delivered.”

“Amadeus, I know why you hate me so. I interfered with your life. I am the reason you believe all delights are sinful. I’m not saying they aren’t, but the fault is all mine.”

I stop at the bar to look upon the handiwork of a frenzied reaper. I gaze at the dismembered barkeep with the slightest hint of pride. “You know as well as I that sin hides in delight. And that humans refuse to be cautious. Tis how they are unaware of Death’s toll.” I saunter out of the brothel after pulling my hood over my head. I leap onto the roof once more.

The other reapers remain on the roofs of other buildings. Each one stares blankly at the commotion below, their partially burnt faces empty.

None of us are attached to this world any longer. So we watch as policemen ambush and flood the Den of Sinful Death. The sky will indeed cry crimson tears in the morning.

THE END