Asher takes me to the training hall, the reflective surface of the walls showing me just how disheveled of a creature I've become since I died. My black hair is barely clinging to the remnants of the braid I wore on the last day of 'life', my clothes are clean enough, a few splotches of smeared blood here and there, but mostly clean. It's then I realize I haven't even showered since I woke up in the infirmary.
"What is it?" Asher snaps at me when I make a face. His reflection's watching me, studying me like I'm about to combust or something.
"Reapers," I start slowly, my guts churning now that I'm trying to compute this. "We still need to do human things like eat, but do we also still have to use the bathroom and shower?" I ask the question I have no idea if he's got the answers to. He wasn't even human himself before this. What if it's different for demons than humans?
By the way my mentor's staring at me, I know my mental question is leaning towards the 'they don't' answer.
"You haven't complained about needing a bathroom break before now."
"Because I only just thought about it. Do you even know the answer?" I ask, even though now I'm starting to miraculously feel the urge to pee. My guts make a groaning sound that fills the silence and Asher's eyebrows shoot up.
"I suppose I could take you to the lavatories." Asher's raspy voice nearly chokes over the words, though his face is still now. Expressionless.
"Could I get some clean clothes, too?" I speak up while he's in a giving mood. I hadn't explored my room, but didn't see any furniture to indicate that I get multiple sets of clothing aside from the ruined one I'm wearing.
"You require a shower?" Asher turns towards me, his whole foot-taller-than-me height-difference bullshit like a flyswatter to my face. And, oddly, a few mental images of gutter-thoughts chase his last words.
"Uh, yeah." I reply with as much control as I can. I gesture to my clothes. "Kinda been wearing the same thing for more than a whole day now."
"It's only been twelve hours since you were brought back as a Reaper." Asher informs me, his eyes languidly tracing down my body and even more slowly back up to my face. His eyes are back to softly glowing red embers. "I don't see much wrong with your current attire."
"It's ripped. And bloody." I snap back, narrowing my eyes at him, even as my cheeks heat by the way he's looking at me. Again, like he's getting ready to devour me. Hot and cold tingles slide over my skin in rolling patches of gooseflesh. I fight the first wave of prickles, then give into the urge to roll my shoulders as they
"And if I told you all we have here are sponge-baths?" Asher asks softly, his eyes locking with mine as the dry rasp of his voice goes a little smoother, lacing with honey. That response conjures a fresh set of gutter-thoughts, even more lascivious than the first, all of them featuring my mentor and me and sponges with a basin of soapy water... My mentor takes a slow step towards me, our eyes still locked as I try to get that picture out of my head.
"Then I'd tell you to go fu-" I clear my throat and manage the first half of that before Asher's hand clamps over my mouth. His eyes are fully red now, bright like mini-suns and burning right through me. He's got one hand at the back of my neck, the other firmly pressing against my still-opened mouth. My whole body jerks at the initial contact, just the like last time he touched me, as every thought in my head zips out and pleasure takes over.
My back arches, pressing our bodies against each other as if he's my last tether to reality. One of my hands locks around the wrist of his hand at my mouth, my other arm is limp spaghetti by my side. Another wild pulse of lust thrums over me, through me, hot and sure, it rides along every inch of me through the rushing roar of my heartbeat in my ears. I want to touch him, trace the tattoos along his spine, but I keep my free arm still and unmoving at my side.
"I'm going to advise you to use that phrase rather sparingly around me," My mentor growls softly, but where the tone of his words are rougher, his voice wraps around me with it's undeniably melodic and sweetness. "I may just take it as an invitation." He breathes in my ear, the barest brush of his bottom lip against my earlobe has my eyes fluttering shut.
A soft sound escapes from my mouth, muffled by his hand, but I know he hears it by the way his grip tightens on the back of my neck. I think I catch the sound of him breathing sharply through his mouth, feel the rush of air as it breezes along my skin. Something tugs on the center of my chest, deep within, and the fresh runes on my legs start to warm.
Suddenly, Asher releases me, his whole body shaking as he glares at me. His eyes are bright red, the iris bleeding past the normal width as his pupils seem to dilate. His skin pales under his tan, that same inky pattern shimmering into place one almost every inch of his skin. It's not like any of the Reaper symbols I've seen, but more tribal. The swirling lines solidify into an endless black pattern, then just ask quickly fade, the tan shade returning to my mentor's skin. He's breathing hard, his eyes almost back to normal as he continues to glare at me. The look of hunger is back in his eyes though, the same that makes me wonder about the conversation I'd had with Tegan and Dante.
I swallow, fighting the initial urge that flutters through me to go over to him and give him something to pant over. But I ignore it. And the other impulse to back-hand him for touching me a second ago. Anger and lust do their funky dance in me, bringing every hot cell of my body to a fever-pitch. It's all I can do to just hold still and stare back at Asher.
Keep it together, Nia. I think to myself.
"You're a demon." I break the tense silence first, tipping my chin up defiantly as his eyes darken even further.
"That sure didn't take long for you to find out." Asher deadpans, finally seeming calm enough to speak. "And I prefer ex-demon. I'm a Reaper now, first and foremost."
"You saying that makes things different for you?" I snap back in annoyance, thinking about the flaring of his eyes only a moment ago. The ink that only comes up when he seems to slide back into what I assume is his demonic form.
"It makes me stable." Asher replies slowly before dropping his eyes. "For the most part." He adds and leans back, putting his weight precariously on his heels so his whole body tips dangerously. But he doesn't fall back, even if I think a strong wind would send him toppling. My mentor seems to gather himself as he slowly rolls back to the balls of his feet and then back to a more 'normal' stance. "Let's get you to that shower. I can get you fresh clothes while you bathe." He grits out in his usual rasp. "Even if I think you're going to ruin the new clothes once we start your training." He adds with an evil smirk.
"Bring it," I huff back, letting my annoyance at him come to the surface and color my words. Asher's eyes light with my challenge and his cruel lips twist even more.
"'Mon then," Asher gestures for me to follow as he begins walking back out of the training hall and back towards the hallway. Asher seems to lead me back towards the sleeping area, but takes a different path right before we hit the warren-like paths that mean we're by the sleeping rooms. This hall is longer, not broken by alternate routes or other rooms. We walk for what feels like ten minutes before Asher takes a sudden right and pauses. The hall 'T's off - left and right.
"This is the bathing area, the other side is the pool. Both are communal, so mind your manners." Asher warns. I roll my eyes.
"I'm not the one who gets handsy." I retort, pushing past him and walking into the tiled room. Asher's voice stops me the second I clear a foot between us.
"That wasn't handsy. Not even close." Asher chuckles darkly. "I'll be back in fifteen with your clothes. Towels are in the lockers. Take a key from whatever lock on the door you choose." He tells me quietly. I turn to glance at him, my mouth opening to fire back something I hope comes out rude. But my mentor's already gone.
YOU ARE READING
Reaper Society
FantasyYou've probably heard of Grim Reapers before, but even I never thought there was more to the typical 'harvesters of souls' until a week ago...
