One Foot In & One Foot Out

Chapter 8

*Author's Note: This is a lengthy and information filled chapter. Do make sure to pay attention to the story being told. It is basically the backstory of why Damien is the way that he is.
This chapter also has a warning on it due to some violence and a bit of gore.

"So, what's the deal with that silver bracelet you like to wear? I know I've seen one like it somewhere else but I can't place where."

Dinner had been finished and the two were enjoying some bingsu at the kitchen table. It took her by surprise, but Davin was true to his word when he said he could cook. Even though the two of them were simply grilling meats and eating side dishes like kimchi and rice, Jael truly felt as if she were back in South Korea studying abroad. Davin could definitely "throw down" in that kitchen with those marinated meats and spicy fermented cabbage!

"I mean it's a silver bracelet. It's not like it's the only one in existence," Davin told her nonchalantly.

"Ok SpongeBob Smartass, I get that, but yours seems to be a braided bracelet. It's almost feminine. Was it your mother's? Or maybe grandmother's?"

Davin fidgeted a little and seemed to have an upsetting look on his face that made Jael regret asking in the first place. However, she desperately wanted to know, so she wasn't going to let this pass.

The joyful air in the kitchen was replaced by a still atmosphere that now made her uncomfortable.
After a long sigh he responded, "You've seen one like this before because Damien has one just like it. He doesn't wear his as much anymore, but he has it sitting in a glass case in his office."

"Why? What is so special about it that it garners a glass case?"

"The bracelets belonged to a set of young twin girls. They were about ten at the time that we obtained them. Elyse and Yarra were their names."

"Family members of yours?"

"No. They were the first souls we reaped."

Now Jael felt bad for asking after seeing the obvious pain in his eyes. The discomfort on his face and body language was enough to make her want to smack herself for being so selfish.

"Before we started, Damien and I thought it would be cool to do reaping as like a brother duo type thing. Lame, I know, but we were pretty inseparable back then. Anyway, my father came to us and told us that he had a couple of souls for us that would need reaping, but they hadn't died yet. He gave us the when and where and we headed off. We were so excited and confident in the training that we previously received, but nothing could prepare us for what was to come.

The year was 1718, my brother and I were just twenty-six and stoked to be going on our first reaping mission by ourselves. We knew we couldn't screw this up and we knew we couldn't let our parents down.
The unknown deaths were supposed to occur in a park in a town in Switzerland. The weather wasn't even bad that day, it was fair and mild with a crisp breeze, and the sky was a clear blue, but after their deaths occurred, that suddenly changed and it became very cold. Dreary, and rainy.

The girls' father, a white Frenchman of high stature and esteem, named Beau, had previously fallen in love with an African woman while on vacation in Africa, but was forbidden to ever see her again by his family for obvious reasons.
The mother, Zainab who came from an important political tribal family as well, was able to secretly send word to Beau after he went back to France that she had become pregnant and wanted to run away with him because her family didn't approve of him either.

He was so overjoyed in learning that he was to become a father, that he wanted to do the same: run away with his love and soon to be children. However, Beau's father had suddenly fallen ill so he couldn't leave his mother to take care of him by herself. Zainab was distraught, but she understood the importance of family even though soon enough she and their unborn children were to be his family too.