Royalty (Afterdeath)

[Chapter 2]

Geno stared in awe as the man's expression changed from menacing to terrified. He gazed at the scythe's head in front of him.

"U-Uh-" The man stuttered.

"Hah.." The person holding the scythe chuckled. His grip on the weapon tightened, and the blade loomed closer towards the guy's neck. "What do you say~?"

"Uuh.." The man's face turned a very white pale, "I-I um.. Like your scythe-"

"Idiot." The scythe sliced into the man's throat, causing blood to gush out everywhere, then the man falls to the ground and vanishes, turning to dust. Geno looked at the figure who held the scythe, fear running through him.

"Anyone else this dumb?" The person, who Geno thought was a skeleton, said, giving a smile and lowering his face.

The men in the alleyway dropped everything they had, including their weapons, and put their hands up, and slowly backed out of the alley.

Geno bent down and picked up his scarf that the man had dropped. He brushed it off, and looked back up to see the skeleton holding the scythe was facing him. Geno could feel chills going down his spine as the skeleton reached his hand out. Geno stood there, not knowing to take it or not. Geno looked at the skeleton up and down, studying his features. He grabbed his hand and the other skeleton shook it.

"I'm Reaper, and you are?"

Geno couldn't speak, he was dazed, a little. "Are you okay?" The skeleton waved his hand in front of Geno's face.  Geno shook his head, blinking. 

His hand was warm- Geno thought. "Hello?" Reaper chuckled a little. Geno had been lost in thoughts again. He looked back up at Reaper. "I'm Geno.." Geno said, his words shaking a little. He found his hands trembling a little, maybe out of fear, or out of excitement.

"You lost?" "N-No.. Just.. A man stole my scarf.." Geno whispered. 

"Are you hurt at all?" Reaper asked. 

"No.. I don't think so.." Geno says.

"But.. You're bleeding?"

"Uhh.. Well.. It's been there for as long as I can remember.. And I only feel a little bit of pain now and then, but nothing too serious.. I guess," Geno explained, quietly. Geno clutched his pendant in his hand, still trembling.

"Umm.. Do you need help putting that on?" Reaper chuckled a little, gesturing at Geno's scarf. Geno jumped at his words, and shook his head.

"N-No! I'm okay.." Geno put his scarf on, quickly and covers his pendant with the scarf. 

"Hey.. What was that?" Reaper asked, quietly, trying not to frighten Geno.

"O-Oh.. Umm.. Just.. Some jewelry.." Geno muttered. I still haven't actually seen his face. Geno thought.

"Do you mind if I see it?" Reaper asked, stepping forward a little bit.

"Uhh.." Geno looked down at his scarf, and the silver chain hanging down from his neck. 

"I'm sorry.." Reaper said, "I haven't allowed you to see my face yet," Reaper chuckled, and steps into the light.

Geno studied his face. Clearly a skeleton, but no pupils in his eye sockets. He wore a dark cloak that fell down to his feet, the hood covering almost all of his skull. He still held the scythe in his right hand, and when Geno had shaken his left hand, he felt holes in the palms. Geno looked beneath Reaper's neck, and saw a gold chain. The chain was underneath the cloak, so he could not see what was at the end of it.

"A-As long as you show me yours.." Geno mumbled, glancing back up at Reaper. Reaper looked down at his chain, then back up at Geno.

"Um.." Reaper looks down at the chain he wears. "Okay.." He took the chain out to reveal a pendant that looked exactly like his but it was blue. Geno stared at it, surprised. 

"Heh.. Are you gonna show me yours, now?" Reaper put the necklace back under his cloak. Geno looked down at the silver chain, and his scarf. He reached into the scarf, and pulled out his pendant, hesitantly. Geno held the pendant close to his chest, his hand still trembling. 

Reaper looked at it, slightly in awe.  He shook it off, and smiled at Geno. "That's very pretty," Reaper said. Geno stuffed the pendant back into his scarf, and looked back up. Reaper had disappeared. Geno looked around, but couldn't find him anywhere. He started trembling again, because he felt a dark aura around him.

Geno rushed back out to his cart, hoping that none of the crops were stolen. But when we looked into the cart, no crops were to be found. All was left was a bag, but with no coins. Someone robbed that too. 

Geno leaned against his cart, covering his face. He couldn't stop shaking. He soon felt tears streaming down his face, and he slumped down into a crouch. His parents would kill him if he came home with no money. 

After a long time of sitting there with his face covered, he heard footsteps, and then the sound of coins. Then the footsteps faded away. Geno looked up, wiping his tears, into the cart. A medium bag full of what looked like coins lay in his cart. He had no idea who had left it there just now, but he was thankful. He grabbed the bag of coins and stuffed them in his pocket before anyone could take it from him. He grabbed his cart and untied his horse from the post. He started to ride back to his home, smiling a little as the coins jingled in his pocket.

I hope you like this chapter!

~Duckling