2.7 The Other Reaper

LEO

The Grim Reaper was standing in a corner of the room, frowning at me. This one I had never met before, but I recognized him from Libra’s description: silver hair, silver like starlight.

“You’re here for me again? Already?” I leaned back on my pillow, a sort of peace in my mind now that I’ve made my decision. If this was the end, it wasn’t so bad. It certainly made ‘taking secrets to the grave’ easier.

“Not so fast,” said the reaper. “It’s not your time yet. I’m just here to keep an eye on you.”

“You’re staying here?”

“In the background. Don’t mind me.”

As if anyone could ignore death floating around their house.

“Don’t…” I swallowed, and my throat felt raw. “Don’t tell my family anything.”

“I won’t. It’s none of my concern.”

“Swear you won’t.”

I stared hard at his expression, but it did not change as he said, “I swear.”

LIBRA

‘Shocked’ was a bit of an understatement for what I felt when I saw the other reaper coming out of my father’s room.

“Don’t worry,” he said, when he saw me. “It’s not his time yet. Once we delay a reaping, a new date of death is assigned and we aren’t able to reap the soul before then. I am merely here to keep an eye on things.”

“How long has my father been given?”

“That I can’t tell you.”

That was fair, I supposed. Perhaps I would try to catch him out into telling me another time. “I thought this wasn’t your jurisdiction,” I said instead.

“I’m just helping out.” He was staring at me with a frown on his face, which seemed to be his standard expression.

“What?” I said, the word coming out more defensive than I had intended.

“I just wanted to say. The other day when you faced down my colleague…”

“Yes?”

“It was very brave.”

I scoffed. “It was hypocritical. I think your colleague had a point.”

“It’s hard to be consistent when faced with death.”

“You don’t think it was nosy? Many people have told me I have that problem.”

“If there is a time to be nosy, I would say it’s when your father’s life is on the line.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. If there is one thing more bizarre than talking to Death, it is Death to be justifying why I got in his way.

I was startled by my name being called from behind me, and turned to find my mother in the hallway, looking concerned.

I tried to smile reassuringly. “Father is awake.”

She let out a sigh of relief, pressing past me into the room.

I looked back at the other reaper. “So you’re staying here?”

“I am.”

“I guess I’ll be running into you quite a bit then.”

The corner of his mouth twitches upwards, and for a second it is as if he is almost smiling. “Yes, I guess you will.”