Death's Feather

Chapter 10: The End

It turned out, Rasya's true form was something like a mix of a dragon and a giant owl. She had feathered long wings as black as the night. Strong iron scales as white as her human hair used to be and claws as long as Ignacio's arms. Her eyes were the creepy black of a hollow cave and her fangs glinted through the dark.
She moved like a shadow hiding from the light, slithering like a snake and flying high while making no sound, just like owls fly through the night.

"You have to look down and tell me when you see them." She said, with a perfectly human voice.

Ignacio payed attention, looking down on the stone maze. The wild fire had disappeared. Ignacio couldn't find it anywhere, even though it was supposed to be chasing them close enough to make them run. But from there, soaring through the sky on Rasya's back, he noticed it was gone. Finally.
Maybe they were getting closer to the end. Close enough for Death to get rid of the fire. He didn't needed it anymore. They were right on his grasp, closer and closer to the end.

"¡There!"

"Don't yell at me, I'm right here." Rasya growled and went down like an arrow pointing at its target. Down and down until Ignacio was able to feel his own stomach stuck on his throat.

She touched the ground as soft as a feather descending, right in the middle of...an arena.
Wide and circular, with stone steps and seats where the crowds yelled loud and intensely. Amelia was there too, side by side with two other competitors, an old woman and an adult man.
She looked surprised when Ignacio descended from Rasya's back, and he couldn't help but smile menacingly at her. She seemed truly outraged.
And then there was Death.
He wasn't like Ignacio remembered him from back in that clear.
This time he was a she.
A beautiful woman with golden skin and red blood hair. Eyes like obsidian and lips like petals of a rose.
Her wings though, were still black and wide, casting shadows upon the competitors below her.

"Rasya." Death said with a voice as soft as a breeze.

"¿What's the meaning of this?"

Rasya's breathing turned heavy and controlled. She came closer with big steps that made the arena's ground tremble like an earthquake.

"It means, master, that I am done torturing souls for your entertainment. I'm done doing everything but what we—as reapers—are supposed to do. ¿What do you think she'll say when I inform her of this..."

She couldn't finish the sentence. Suddenly but surely, Rasya froze as though she was petrified and Death flew right in front of her.

"You do not threatened me. You do not disobey me. You do what I told you to do, or you no longer serve me. ¿Is that clear?"

Rasya was able to move again. She nodded slowly and said nothing. Ignacio could smell her fear as though it was his own. Maybe it was. He couldn't deny how scared this made him feel.

"You will be punished. This boy was supposed to die and you saved his life. It won't be at the cost of yours, but you'll wish it was."

Death turned around, looking directly at Ignacio.
He looked away, to Rasya.

"Take her away."

Instantly, two more reapers appeared out of nowhere and stepped right along Rasya.

"¡Wait!" Ignacio yelled. "¿Where are you taking her?"

Rasya blinked once.

"It's okay. I'll be fine. Like I told you before, they won't do anything they haven't done to me before." Ignacio placed a hand on her giant cheek—her dragon cheek.

"¿Will I see you again?"

Rasya smiled.

"Perhaps. But for now, forget about me. Win this thing. No matter the outcome, just do your best. And remember, the doorway out is real. It doesn't matter if the tournament isn't. If you get the chance, take it."