The Reaper's Curse

Bodies Possessed By Light

"I saw a child at the village."

The reaper glances up from her food, her mouth paused midbite. Even from across the dining table, the gaze that settles on Lilith is sharp and piercing. "Didn't you say the village was deserted?"

Lilith plays with the fork on the table, her plate of food cold and untouched. "He was the only one alive. He was no older than five."

"He had the sinner's mark." It wasn't a question. 

Lilith nods regardless. "He's just a child who's too young to even know right from wrong. He shouldn't have to be punished like this." 

The reaper rests her chin on her hand that's propped up on the table. "Do you know what his sin is?"

"No," Lilith begins as she stares vacantly at the food in front of her. Her hands clench into fists in her lap. "But I think it's for theft." She recalls the chunk of flesh missing from his arm. "He ate his own arm because of how hungry he was. He probably stole food too."

"Hmm. The eighth circle then." 

Lilith's eyes flick up to meet the reaper's, her lips curling as acid crawls up her throat. "Why do you sound so unconcerned?"

The reaper laughs flatly. "Children with the sinner's mark is of no news to me. I've seen too many. The truth is I've reaped too many as well." 

"You killed⎯⎯⎯⎯"

"This is the bleakness of our reality brought upon by the greed of men and of those in power." The reaper leans back in her seat, her slender fingers playing with the silver ring looped through the chain around her throat. "Who else is there to pay the price for the actions of the royals?"

Lilith's heart squeezes. 

The reaper tilts her head up to look down at Lilith. "Why don't you ask yourself who the one responsible for all this is? Who is the one ordering the execution of these innocents? Who is the one determined to conquer other nations at the cost of the lives of his people? The youth of Erimere are starving and resorting to sin because of the actions of selfish adults. The women of Erimere are sold and forced into prostitution and sin because of the actions of greedy men. And at the very end of the strings tied to these sinful mortals is one man. You wish to protest about the unfairness of this world yet you refuse to open your eyes and look towards the one who's causing all this suffering. You're nothing but a hypocrite and a coward⎯⎯⎯⎯"

"This is my father you're telling me to condemn!" Lilith shouts. The reaper goes silent, her eyes strangely solemn. Lilith cannot suppress the tremble in her voice when she continues. "My whole life I've regarded him as a man worthy to kneel at the feet of God and smile." Moisture pools in her eyes and she wipes at it furiously with the back of her hand. "But if all of what I've seen and heard are true, then I'd have to acknowledge the fact that my father is a murderer. A murderer just like me." Her fingers creep to her throat, her nails digging into her branded yet smooth skin. The bitterness of contempt creeps into her mouth. "What will my people say if they realise my father and I are so black and tainted?"

The reaper makes a noise of discontent. She pours herself a glass of wine, slowly turning the bottle, with the thoroughness of nursing. "Do not think so highly of your ancestors and the kings and queens from centuries before. Your father is not the only one who has personally sent his people to the gates of Hell. He does not even come close to the greediest of men I have met." The reaper scoffs. "But to think you thought of him worthy enough to be in the presence of God. It's amusing."

Lilith presses her hand to her mouth.

I wish to trust him. I wish to hear his side of the story.