Tasteful Darkness

Chapter 43

Balendin - Now

Souls are naturally curious creatures. As we pass by the crowds, all of them turn their gaze towards us. Two Guards with a recently departed human trailing behind them.

"What are they?" Peter asks.

"Other souls," Adrian answers. "Some are older than others." They add that last part just as we pass by a soul that has to be older than a few hundred years. Their form has been reduced to a dark gray, their skin so thin it's practically sticking to their bones.

Peter looks away. "How far away is this gate?" he asks.

I explained what it was as we went through the tunnels in hopes of appeasing his weariness.

"There is only one gate per faction that leads from the Underworld into the Overworld," I said. "Souls cannot pass through alone. If that were true, there would be endless amounts of souls wandering in the land of the living. We Guards exist to prevent any interference between the two worlds."

"I see," Peter replied. "But your kind can go through?"

I nodded. "Though we never do, it is possible."

I left out the part where our creators are alerted the moment we leave the Underworld. I didn't think I needed to worry Peter any further, and explaining what Creators are seems like an annoyance I have no desire to partake in.

Adrian is growing uneasy. They continue to glance around us to make sure we aren't being followed. If a soul dares stray too close, Adrian's claws tighten into fists and I almost think they'll risk laying a hand on the soul to shove them away.

They're unease only subsides once the gate comes into sight.

It lies on the very far side of the faction. Its opening is the size of a doorway, dark magic swirling to life inside its border of black rock. To my surprise, no souls seem to want to go near it.

Just as I'm about to take a step forward, something lurches in my chest. I glance at Adrian. Their entire stance has changed. Their arms are hanging by their sides, their claws curled into deadly weapons. They look at me, their gaze unreadable.

"They're here," Adrian says.

"What—" Peter starts, but I cut him off and step in front of him, shielding him from the darkness that materializes in front of us.

My creator forms a blockade between us and the gate. Their eyes are narrowed at us, their hands resting by their sides, as if they don't have a care in the world.

"Guards," they say. Their voice sends shocks over my body, as if that word alone is a command that my form begs to obey. "What are you doing with that soul?"

I thank the Night that Peter remains silent.

"We are returning him to the Overworld," I say, not bothering to lie. "It was not his time, and you know it."

They tilt their head at me. "It had always been his time," they say plainly. "You simply failed to retrieve his soul before you watched him die."

Peter shifts behind me. "What?" he says, and I curse under my breath.

My creator steps forward. "You did not know?" they ask, then shake their head. "Of course not. Humans are too blind to see what is right in front of them." They raise their finger and point to me. "That, dear Peter, is Vincent."

I swivel around to look at Peter, who takes a step away from me.

"What?" he repeats. "No—you can't be him."

"Pay close attention," my creator says, raising their hand towards me.

"No!" I call out when I realize what they're doing.

Before I can stop them, my voice leaves me. I look down and see my Guard form being replaced by human skin and clothes. By the time I meet Peter's gaze, it's Vincent's eyes that find him.

Peter freezes in shock. "Vincent?" he says, his voice barely a whisper.

I shoot a glance at my creator. "Stop this," I spit, my voice Vincent's once again.

Peter can't look away from me.

My creator stays silent for a moment longer before lowering their hand. My form returns to my own immediately.

"Is this true?" Peter asks. "You... you're Vincent? And the entire time you've been this thing?"

I wince. "None of it was fake, I swear to you."

The Creator laughs, a cruel, cold sound. "Of course it was fake," they say. "I gave Balendin twelve days for you to fall in love with them. Then they were to take your soul and give it to me."

"You're lying—" Peter starts.

"They're not," I interrupt. "It's true. But by the end of it, I couldn't. Then... then you died."

"Enough of this," my creator snaps. "Balendin. Give this soul to me and leave us. I will not ask you again." They turn their gaze towards Adrian. "As for you. You have stepped out of line too many times for your own existence."

When they raise their hand, I move on instinct. I rush forward and tackle them, only for their dark form to dissipate underneath me and reappear in front of me. They look at me, their eyes narrowed in an evil smile.

"You care about this Guard?" they ask. "What a shame."

"No!"

Just as the Creator is about to snap their fingers, Adrian grabs their hand and twists it.

"Go!" Adrian shouts. The Creator disappears and reappears once again. Adrian continues chasing them, wasting time as the Creator continues to dart around us.

I grab Peter's hand and rush us towards the gate.

Then a snap fills the air.

I glance behind me and catch the sight of Adrian's form turning into nothing but a dark cloud that sinks to the ground. The pain seizes my chest, but all I can do is run towards the gate.

"Nothing awaits you there!" my creator shouts from behind us. "You will return here the moment you leave!"

"Think of your flat," I tell Peter in the fleeting moments we have.

My creator's voice fades into nothingness as I pull Peter through the gate. Just as we leave the Underworld behind us, I feel Peter pulling me into an embrace.

"I won't leave you again," his voice says, then disappears into the darkness.