The Grim Reaper Days: The Four Courts

Study Group

Math sucks.

There is no question about it. There are too many ways to solve a single problem and only one answer. Mess up one variable and it screws you over in the end. And there are so many ways to state the same question, it's ridiculous. 

History on the hand was as simple. No algorithms, equations, or questioning of intelligence. But things had changed since the last time Lucius had visited a school or even picked up a textbook. There were so many more events to memorize. He of course knew the significant developments and incidents; how could he forget reaping all those souls. How could he simply dismiss those frightened cries and miserable screams of the souls left in purgatory. That was the only way he kept track of time; reaping the souls that were supposed to collected.

But he never paid attention to the small bills passed or which leaders were in power. Since the leaders of the Courts live longer than the human ones, everyone associated events of the Earth with leaders or with other close events in the Courts.

And by close they mean several centuries.

"The Revolutionary War was not close to the Civil War!" Trey objected. Lucius looked at him slightly confused; the Revolution had marked the end of the Four Courts War and the Civil War had marked the beginning of the 'Era of Peace'.

A name full of lies; some things never seem to change. Peace was just a line delivered to the people to assure the war was over. Not that it ever ended. The war will be a forever blood stain on whatever 'constitution' they made.

"Right," Lucius replied with a slight tone of doubt and confusion, "of course...um, so that goes there then." He pointed at the screen which showed a half blank timeline of the American History. Trey had forgotten to do it last week and now was making it up. Lucius on the other hand finished it the day it was given...well actually one of the Death Court's Apprentices finished it for him-but it was done either way.

"Are you sure you know you what you're doing?" Zaden wondered from his room.

"Yes," Lucius replied, I was there after all. I should know what happened, he thought to himself.  "I'm not an idiot party goer like Trey."

"At least I'm not the one who said the Revolutionary war and the Civil war were close together!" Reminded the dark blonde haired man. "I'm not that stupid."

"What's the difference really?" Muttered Lucius, "You all were separated then and separated now." He sat down in his chair and sighed as he looked at Trey, "Humanity will never get past the barriers of difference." And neither will we, thought the Grim Reaper.

"That's not our fault"-

Lucius cut him off, "But are you doing anything about it?" His tone lost its uncertainty and gained anger and judgement. People starve and die. They murder each other without a second thought. Many start meaningless wars for what-things that originally belong to them? Be honest money has ruined humanity; not that it wasn't corrupt before. Before it was food, women, and animals and not much has changed. Now there is oil, precious jewels, and dirt. What will it be when even those run out?

"What can I do about it?" Wondered Trey angered, "I can't! How can prevent people from destroying themselves?"

"By trying," Lucius informed simply, "And even if you lose at least you can say you didn't just stand and watch the world burn." The Reaper knew what it felt like to be the voice shouting underwater and have no one hear his pleas. The Courts were much like humanities politics-most only heard what they wanted to hear.

"You say that like the world is ending." Trey pointed out.

"In some ways," Lucius said as out the afternoon lit window, "It already has."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door; both of the men looked at each other with confused looks on their faces. "Did you invite someone else?" Trey asked as the once again looked towards the windowless door.

"Not my knowledge," replied Lucius. He raised his voice slightly to call to his roommate in the bedroom, "Zaden,"

"Yeah," called back Zaden, but he did not bother walking out of his room, "do you need help?"

"Did you invite someone over without telling me?" The Reaper questioned as he cautiously walked over to the door. He readied himself to summon his scythe. The knocking sounded repeated itself but the thing producing the sound did not utter a word.

"No, why," Zaden shouted back.

Lucius opened the door slowly as the air around him thickened. Even Trey could feel the difference; there was an energy pulsing around them, but it didn't feel threatening. It felt certainly dangerous but there was a faint protective tinge to it also.

The person or thing behind the door was obviously the energy's target. As the door opened the room darkened; all of the lights flickered as they tried desperately to stay on, even Trey's laptop threatened to shut down, and whatever Zaden was doing he also voiced his complaint.

When the door was finally opened the dark energy dissipated and the room was once more a neutral state. Standing there was a vaguely familiar face was at the door. They had met before; that long dark hair and equally dark eyes; except the night they crossed paths they were fogged by the haze of alcohol. Her cloths were littered with stains, her hair tussled and it wasn't a fashion choice. Now she was much more presentable and hopefully a bit more clear headed. "Hello," Lucius greeted but more as a question instead of a statement.

"Hi," she replied, "I'm Macy,"

"Luci-"

"I know," she interrupted, "I heard there was a study group for history today." Her tone tried to be reasonable and nice but it came out with a tinge of annoyance.

"For certain individuals," informed Lucius, but however Trey was quick to intervene when there was a women involved. Figures the only time he pays attention was when there is a girl he hasn't kissed yet, thought the Reaper to himself.

"But we're willing to accept guests," said Trey as he walked in a quick pace to the door. He slung his arm in a playful manner as he displayed a coy smile, "hello Macy."

"Don't bother," said Luciano as he rolled his eyes but didn't take the man's arm off of his shoulders, "she's engaged."

"I'm wasn't going to flirt with her," assured the blond man, "I was simply saying hi." Not believing his friend's lie he finally removed Trey's arm and opened the door more to let her in. He was rather reluctant about it too, considering her roommate had slapped him for no provoked reason.

"Who's at the door?" Wondered Zaden as he appeared from the cave of his room. As soon as he saw the face of the not-so-welcomed visitor he said, "Macy,"

"Hey Zaden," she waved with an small awkward smile on her face, "how's it going?"

Zaden, usually calm and collected, was now gritting his teeth, taking deep breaths to check his temper, and crossing his arms in displeasure, "Fine," he snapped, "how is Mark?" The name made Lucius stiffen with anger and unease.

"He's fine." Macy replied.

Lucius chuckled as he went to grab a drink from the mini-fridge in the small kitchen. Mark wasn't fine. He was either dead and his soul was trapped in his corpse with a demon of hell parading around in his empty body or he is losing a battle to a possession-either way he is dead or in the process of dying.

"What's so funny, shrub boy?" Demanded Macy.

"Inside joke," replied Lucius, "so shall we begin this study group?"