Passed the broad gates of the Castle of the Fates lied the underworld. River Styx was behind us, our destination sitting before our eyes. As dismally grey as it was, the renaissance style city was lively with people, pets, and fantastical sentient creatures all underneath an open sky colored in the cosmos; greens and blues and purples and yellows and pinks. All I could do was stare up in awe.
"Good evening, Taehyung." Greeted a spirit to the reaper as she walked by.
"Evening to you, too, Ms. Breckshire." The reaper returned the salute. "Any news of late?"
"Besides the ruckus outside which I reckon was you and the Three Fates, nothing, good sir."
"That would indeed be us, Ms. Breckshire. My apologies for unsettling you."
"All is forgiven. I hope all went alright."
"'Tis nothing to worry about, madam. Now, if you will excuse me, I have this soul to deliver to Hades. You take care now."
"'Twas good seeing you, Taehyung." And she wandered on.
"Who was that?" My curiosity asked for me. They seemed pretty acquainted.
"Margaret Breckshire of England. Died in 1682 of horrible food poisoning." He said as if he was the one that reaped and guided her—which he probably did.
"Awful way to go out."
"Quite so."
As we continued forward, a very tall and dark figure in a wisping cloak covering head to toe stood in our way. It looked down at us. It was just a skeleton with a pale, thin sheet of decomposing skin on its face and gaping, black eye sockets. I couldn't even tell where it was looking or at whom. The top teeth were long and pointed. Staring up at the structure of bones, I was petrified while Taehyung was subtly unsettled. How could an agent of death show tidbits of fear to something... well... deathly?
"Hm. New reaper I see." The animated corpse spoke perfectly with no tongue, its voice menacingly deep as if from a horror movie, like a monster.
And here I thought Taehyung's was deep...
"Yes, sir. By courtesy of Isis." Taehyung reported as if to a superior.
"Hmm," It hummed. "Acceptable." A skeleton hand extended out to me, my body illuminating in my soul's colors.
Taehyung's firm hand gripped the bony wrist, stopping the creature from extracting my soul. "You may own this domain, but this is my soul to care for. I am going to see Hades first, for whom you appointed in charge. You mustn't frighten our recruit away, Death."
"Affirmative. I apologize, reaper Taehyung. Carry on."
Taehyung's head bounced a single nod, and he took my hand and pulled me passed the black cloaked skeleton.
"Who was that?" It was like that was my only question I had for him after asking it twice.
"Death."
"Death? Doesn't it have a name?"
"No. He is the embodiment of death, so Death is his name."
"Is it the same word in every language?"
"Yes. He is, in your terms, our "boss." Though Hades is the king—that much is true, but Death is the true master of these parts of the spirit realm. The land of the dead, as given, is his domain alone."
"Aha... I know now why you don't like to be called 'Death.' It's literally somebody else's name."
"Precisely."
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Dressed in Feathers | K.TH FF
Fanfiction"Who knew Death was beautiful?" "Death is a beautiful thing. It is a natural part of life. Death does not mean the end. With every end comes a new beginning. Your new beginning has just begun, and I am merely your guide." "What is your name? Or do y...
