Fate and the Defiant Angel (COMPLETED)

Chapter 43- Opening

Well, this wasn't where Antonio had expected to see himself one hundred years down the line. When he was promised immortality and the ability to choose anyone he wanted, he didn't expect to be in an old woman's body in a basement.

He wanted to laugh but he was too deep in self-pity. He had spent the last fifty years running and hiding. He had tried the normal schtick, but it got boring fast. Sure, he had lived in a few millionaires' bodies, tried acting and ruined so many bodies with drugs but was it worth it?

Yeah probably, but still.

He had done his due diligence to his species; he was there on the day when their leader Mary tried to take over the world but failed at a small town. He had killed a few people and tried to climb in some bodies, surely that's enough? Nope.

He had just been swapping from a nice guy, who was handsome and had a good thing going with a hot piece, when he was stopped by a reaper. Antonio was certain that that was the end. However, Mary was back in play and they needed something.

He couldn't refuse. The bitch who ruled over their species was still clawing power back while dead, so he didn't really want to get on her bad side. He had seen her wrath to many times and the murderous power she commanded. He felt like a little bitch running back to follow her lead, but at least he wasn't the only one.

Antonio's assigned partner was all brawn and stupidity. He went on about the glory of soul shifters. He had watched as his partner was slaughtered by a wolf after he just tried to grab the girl. How stupid.

Antonio had been smarter. He had stalked the entrance to their land, until he saw someone who looked like they were trusted and weak. The old woman hadn't even realised he was there before she was gone, it was just pure luck she was related to the alpha guy.

So, that had all worked out. It was the tea that did him in, or actually the girl who tackled him.

They'd locked him down here, and just left him.

He hadn't lied about not wanting to escape. There was no escaping Mary. However, he was awaiting instructions.

In the body he had chosen he laid on his side, pretending to be asleep but transitioning out of his body. It was just briefly to see if there was a reaper waiting for him. Nothing for the past few hours, and it was getting exhausted. His bones ached from the toll of moving in and out of the body, but he did not want to be tortured by the crazy bitch Mary.

And then he saw them.

The cloaked figure stood there, a scythe in hand glinting with red. That was what he was waiting for. Antonio found himself suspended, not fully dead but not alive. He was able to have a casual chat with the reaper from this position.

"Oi, what does she want me to do now?"

The reaper tilted their head and let out a deep sigh. "Mary has requested that you go to the portal and die."

Antonio would have blinked if he had eyelids. "Whaa?"

"The portals needs a soul deemed to 'need saving' to open it. You desperately need saving."

"I don't wanna die! The whole purpose of this was not to!"

"Idiot you won't die, you'll go to the underworld and fun fact your opening that portal. Just get there and die. You'll be rewarded."

Antonio snorted. "I better be. I'm expecting like any choice of body I want and any girl I want. Like some model type shit who do whatever I want."

"Whatever." Then the Demon Reaper vanished, and Antonio fully disconnected himself with the old body.

It was always exhilarating to be disconnected from a body and totally free, but also terrifying. If a Death Reaper appeared he had no defences and they could snatch him right up. He didn't have to go far. He just flew on up and jumped into the first body he found.

It was a thirty-something man who was eating a bowl of cereal at four in the morning, so obviously he didn't have much of a life Antonio though. Who got up that early?

Antonio gritted his teeth through the familiar pain as he latched onto to the body and pushed his way in. He felt a mixture of confusion and panic, not knowing what was happening but that was quickly gone. This body was larger but better. The senses were sharper, the legs longer and everything was stronger.

Antonio quickly brambled his way over to the kitchen draw and pulled out a large knife.

Ugh this would suck.

He knew where the portal was and how to get to it of course, because he done his research. So now he just got to have a good old time and run over there. God, he hated running.

He just had to keep remembering Mary and everything she'd give him if he succeeded, and all the pain she'd cause if he failed.

So, he ran, with a knife in hand, and felt like an idiot. Who ran to their death anyway? Well, he did. He forgot how fast werewolves could be even in human bodies, and how could they be at navigating through the woods. He was there in no time. He broke through trees into the clearing but was stopped by a wolf.

With cracking of bones and morphing of flesh a woman stood in front of him, hands on her hops and completely nude. God, he couldn't even sneak a peak because werewolves were so respectful and used to this.

"Eric? What you doing here?" She didn't look alarmed, just confused.

"Oh yeah, well the alpha he was like really worried. He sent me check everyone was doing their job and that the report was wrong."

"The report? We haven't written any report for this?" she said, crossing her arms.

He feigned surprised. "Well there was a report that the stones were glowing or something. He is gonna be here soon to check it out but sent me ahead."

She shrugged. "I mean you can come have a look, but its fine." In the blink of a eyes a grey wolf was there and trotting towards the centre of the clearing where the remains of the gateway stood. He followed, hoping his loud heartbeat wouldn't give it away.

Could he really do this?

When they approached it the wolf glanced over shoulder and looked at him expectantly. See it's fine he could just hear her say. Not for long.

"Awesome," he said taking a step forward, and pulling the knife. Before he could hesitate, he dragged the blade hard against his throat and staggered over. He collapsed almost immediately, grabbing the stone tightly as he choked on this bodies blood and began to die. He stared up at the stone and watched.

The stone began to crack and shake. Pieces pulled themselves from deep in the ground and began to fit themselves together, slowly at first but increasing. Soon the archway towered over head, every splinter of stone secured. It was a grating sound as everything settled.

And then light shown through, just as he died