The Grim's Daughter

Chapter Eleven:

The snow fell over Nevaeh, turning her clothes coal black to white. 

It was too hard to believe, she was out. Nevaeh knew she was almost halfway home after dancing minutes in the deep, children shooting snowballs at eachother, and woman, kicking the high snow out of their way as they tried to walk. 

Nevaeh had wandered into the cemetary, debatig whether to turn around or to keep on walking. Before she knew it, her father's grave was standig infront of her, the stone angel towering over her. The angel stood hunched over, letting the ivory snowflakes fall onto the shattered robes, bowing as it weeped into it's hands.

The cemetary was almost empty, with only an old man snoring under a tree, his hat pulled over his muddy face. He held his shovel tightly with his boney fingers. 

Nevaeh pulled her sleeve over her hand, and wiped the chilly snow from her father's grave. She read the inscription.

Death Stolhem-

1964- 2011

A loving father, brother and leader.

May he always be remembered. 

At the bottom of the grave was a blood-red rose, it's many petals curling in the frosty air. Nevaeh stopped and looked over the plate again. Brother? He'd never told her about having an uncle or auntie. But they had never really spoken much since he'd earned the title of the Grim Reaper.

She gazed at the grave with damp, weary eyes, watching the snowflakes fall into the empty spots.

Nevaeh turned to walk away, when she saw the man awake, staggering as he walked slowly toward her. "Hey, you!" he shouted, his voice all croaky. Nevaeh pointed to her chest. "Yes, you! I ain't talking to the underground people, am I? Nobody comes 'ere anymore."

"I came to see my father's grave, isn't that what cemetaries are for?"

Nevaeh stepped away from the grave, still looking up at the weeping angel. The man stopped walking, like he had suddenly froze. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. "I never knew that Grim 'ad a daughter."

Nevaeh smiled. "I just wanted to get away, so I came here."

The man walked closer, but he was still a few rows away from her. "No people 'ave been 'ere for three months, not eve those reapers. I should know- I work in this place."

"I was here yesterday, his funeral was yesterday," she told him.

He looked confused. "That was three months ago, lassie. You've really gotta' sort ya' days out. You're a reaper ain't ya, girl?"

"Kind of. Hmm... it's seem so," said Nevaeh, looking down at her robes. 

"What 'cho going on about, you either are or ya' isn't. So which one is it?" he asked as he fiddled with his mud-stained bow-tie. "Bad lot. They all are. Used to be one ma'self."

"Why are they bad," asked Nevaeh impatiently. 

"I think ya'll need to find out the facts for ya'self. But a word to take in mind. Watch ya' back in that place of there's, aye?"

"I...I have to go, sorry," said Nevaeh as she walked backwards toward the gates.

"Tell that Luko, old friend Beetle said 'ello," he shouted.

What did he mean? Something was wrong, she had thought that from the minute she'd entered Reaper Manor, but now she knew something was definetly wrong.

It wasn't long before Nevaeh had decided to return to Reaper Manor. She herself hardly knew why she was entering through the gates again. 

Dusk was beside the door, waitig with his arms crossed over his chest and fury growing quicker than the purple in his face. "Where have you been?"

Nevaeh walked past him.

"Did you here me?" Dusk contiued. "Everyone's out looking for you!"

Luko was resting his favourite armchair when Nevaeh walked in. Except you, she thought. 

"We've been searching everywhere for you! You've missed all your lessons today!"

"Yes, I see you've been very worried," Nevaeh said sarcastically. 

"Do you know what time it is?"

"Not really, should I?" Nevaeh walked into the hallway, but then walked back into the room. "By the way, I went to the graveyward. I actually talked to an old friend of yours. Now, what was his name... something strange. Ah yes, Beetle!"

"You talked to the grave-digger?" said Luko, raising an eye-brow.

"Yes- he told me some interesting facts. But I'm really tired now," she said, faking a yawn. 

"What did he tell you," Luko boomed.

"I think you can probably guess." After saying that, Nevaeh quickly ran to her room.