Hereweald was in a rotten mood. The elder reaper was pacing furiously in his office muttering and occasionally spitting up a noxious black goo. He was mad. Certifiably psychotic. Unfortunately, for everyone around him, he had no clue {as most crazed maniacs don't} that what he was thinking and planning was sending him closer and closer to the brink. Closer to the final transformation. A Fallen. His insides were already rotting, hence the black junk he was hacking up. Hereweald's wife had seen it but he had brushed her concerns off and instead had the cook killed for attempting to poison him.
Hereweald spat again, the disgusting goop a hard contrast to the greying marble. He then turned to his scrying mirror and muttered the incantation. The silvery surface of the mirror shifted before bubbling for the scene the reaper had requested. It was Barnabus.
The younger reaper was speaking with Gerald, still looking very thin and extremely morose. Hereweald couldn't hear what they were saying but the madness within told him that Barnabus was up to no good. He was planning something. Something to do with him. His own father! The elder growled and slammed his hand on the desk. "I won't let him get away with it! He won't take my throne!" He yelled before gesturing his mirror away. "I will be emperor here forever!" Hereweald muttered, grabbing a scroll and his quill. He began scribbling furiously. "I know what he's planning. He's going to overthrow me! With that other reaper. Gerry or something. I'll get him. I'll take care of them all!"
"What are you taking care of?" A meek voice interrupted Hereweald's dark thoughts. It was his wife, Mildred. Her grey eyes were suspicious but her face feigned docile curiosity.
"Nothing for you to worry about!" Hereweald snapped. "Haven't I told you to knock and announce yourself?!" His silver eyes narrowed. "Were you eavesdropping?!"
Mildred bowed low. "Forgive me, my lord. I do not think you heard me. Someone is here to see you." She explained before turning back towards the door. The reaper gave a nod and a tall, imposing man strolled in.
He had long, amber hair that was going white in wide streaks and a lengthy beard to match. In his hand, he held a copper staff that had an hour glass attached on top. The hour glass was nearly halfway full on both sides. "Good evening, Hereweald. You missed our meeting this morning." The man spoke in a deep voice with an accent that was difficult to place.
Hereweald huffed. "I did not want to go. Father Time, you are not welcome at this time. Be gone." He waved a hand to dismiss the man.
Father Time frowned. "Now see here. You have missed our last month's worth of meetings! You need the list of souls to collect! Your people are waiting for your guidance! I have not seen any passage of souls either! Are they not collecting? There are deities reaching out to me asking where their charges are? I had Yama come to my realm quite cross that he hasn't had anyone to judge in 3 months!" He explained, exasperatedly. "You are Lord D'aeth! Emperor of the Reapers! You have a job to do! And frankly Hereweald, you aren't doing it!"
"I know my position! You need not remind me, old man!" Hereweald roared angrily. "I have more important matters to do now! Be gone!" The reaper spit black goo at the elder's feet before turning his back on him to continue scribbling on his scroll.
Father Time stared at the gunk in front of him before his copper eyes glanced back to the reaper. His lips were drawn into a deep frown. He had seen something like that before. The rumors were true then. He turned to Mildred and motioned for her to follow him. Once outside of the office, he turned to her. "You were right to call me. How long has he been showing the signs?" Father Time asked.
Mildred sighed. "At least a year." "A year?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Father Time was aghast. He had met with the reaper plenty of times over the last year and hadn't seen the signs himself.
"I thought he was just getting older! Hereweald's always been cross and short to anger. You don't remember the time that Barnabus spilled ink on his best robe... My poor son was beaten black and blue!" Mildred sniffled. "This was not my choice of marriages. Remember?"
Father Time sighed. That was true. Mildred and Hereweald's marriage was arranged which was normal for the time. He also knew that Hereweald was not the best mannered and respectful person out there. Shaking his head, he ushered Mildred through the hallways. "Has your son noticed?" Father Time asked.
"I don't think so. He avoids his father like the plague. I think he's heartsick regardless." Mildred replied, shaking her head.
"Heartsick?"
"He met someone but Hereweald made Barny come back home. He's been so down since." She explained.
"I see. We must speak with him. Sooner rather than later." Father Time paused to check his time piece. He gave a small noise of discontent. "Tomorrow perhaps. I have another meeting and I cannot be late."
Mildred nodded and watched the deity disappear in a shimmer of copper light. She continued on her way, not knowing that her husband had heard their whole conversation. He had a terrible plan now. And it was about to begin.
A day had passed and Barnabus received notice that his father requested his presence. The reaper groaned. The last place he wanted to be was in the presence of his father. He had been doing a good job of avoiding him but now he wondered if one of the reapers in the communication sector had mentioned to Hereweald that he had been sending letters to Rosa. Barnabus gave a sigh and went to complain to Gerald before meeting his father. Only, he found that his friend was not in his quarters and when asked for, other reapers said that they had heard that Hereweald called Gerald in for a meeting.
Barnabus didn't think much of it as he walked to his father's office. Maybe his friend was given a mission. Though... No one had gotten any missions as of late. Barnabus had to push the uneasy thoughts out of his mind as he knocked on the office door. If he didn't have a clear mind in his father's presence, he was sure to get whacked.
"Come in." Hereweald growled.
Barnabus took a deep breath and entered the office. It was dark and grim as it has been for a few years. It smelled musty and had an strong scent of iron too. That iron smell put a pit into Barnabus' stomach. Usually one only smelled that on the battlefield or if someone had bled profusely. He tried to put the unease to the side as he bowed in front of his father. "My Lord."
"Rise." Hereweald ordered. "We have much to discuss."
Barnbus stood straight before sitting in the chair beside his father's desk. "What do we need to discuss?"
"You have been very busy, have you not?" Hereweald questioned, silver eyes narrowed.
Barnabus shrugged. "You haven't put me back on the active duty list. So I keep busy doing the odd jobs around here." He explained.
"I see. Why do I see you meeting with that other reaper so much?" His father pressed.
"Who? Gerald? Father, that's my friend." Barnabus looked around. "We talk? He tells me about what he's doing."
"And what is he doing?"
"Missions for you? Father, what's going on? I'm not understanding." Barnabus asked, worry starting to creep in.
"Have you not been meeting with him? Discussing ways to overthrow me perhaps?!" Hereweald accused.
Barnabus' jaw dropped. "What?! Father, no! I would never!" He gasped, nearly falling out of his chair.
"You lie! I know you've been planning to overthrow me!" Hereweald yelled, jumping up. "I have proof!" He rummaged through some things nearby before grabbing a large box and slamming it on the desk. "Your co-conspirers!" Hereweald opened the box and revealed a terrible scene.
In the box, looking up at the ceiling as if praying for peace, were two heads. Mildred and Gerald. Their mouths were slightly agape and eyes wide in terror. Barnabus gave a scream, falling back and trying scramble away from the horrific sight. "Dear gods! What have you done!?"
"They tried feigning their innocence but I knew they were lying! I saw it in their eyes! They were helping you!" Hereweald bellowed, silver eyes wide with madness. His greying hair was standing out and even his skin was turning a purplish hue. It was starting. He stood over his son and summoned his scythe. Then, suddenly a cool wind rushed around him. The reaper doubled over and groaned before black excrement began expelling out of his mouth. His skin went to a scabby, dark purple and his hair went white. When Hereweald stood straight again, his eyes had turned white as well. His teeth had sharpened to points and his nails grew long into claws. The scabs on the skin now began to fester and release pus. He was truly rotten from outside and in. Hereweald was now Fallen. The transformation was complete.
Barnabus stared in shock at the sight before him. He had never seen a Fallen transformation and he had never expected to see it happen to one of his own family members. His frozen state of shock didn't last long as he had to roll out of the way of his father's downward swipe of his scythe. Barnabus scrambled to his feet. He motioned to summon his own weapon before groaning as he remembered that he gave it to Rosa. "Damn it..." He muttered before dodging another swipe. The reaper grabbed a nearby book and threw it at his fallen foe. It hit his chest but stunned him enough to make the Fallen pause.
"No weapon still? You are a fool! How can you expect to take my throne when you are such a weakling!?" Hereweald sneered.
"I don't want your throne! All I've ever wanted is to be away from you!" Barnabus exclaimed, looking for way to escape.
"Ha! Even cornered, you still lie!" Hereweald held up his hand and summoned a ball of fire. "You will die, just like your kin!"
"He will not!" A new voice bellowed. It was Father Time. This time, instead of his robes, he wore a coppery suit of armor. It looked as though it had seen many battles. Barnabus had never encountered this being before and stared with wide eyes. He had heard stories of a deity who worked closely with the reapers.
"Still you interfere in our matters!?" Hereweald hissed before throwing the ball of fire at the deity.
"Naturally! I am the one who created your seat of power! Your affairs are my own!" Father Time raised his shield, blocking the blow before summoning a new scythe. This one was made of silver and had a handle of black obsidian. He tossed it to Barnabus. "Here, son. You'll need this. We made you a new one."
Barnabus caught it and continued to stare at the being with a bewildered expression. "Who are you?" He asked.
"Father Time. But you may call me by my real name. Eon." Eon explained, copper eyes twinkling. One could almost see an outline of a clock in his irises. "We'll talk later, dear boy. Now go! Take care of this Fallen!" Eon ordered, stepping back.
Barnabus gulped before facing his father. He gripped the scythe tightly, trying to steady his nerves before finally, lunging forward to attack the fallen reaper.
CLANG! The two reapers' scythes clashed against each other in an earsplitting sound. Barnabus kicked at his fallen foe who was moving slightly slower since his body was still getting used to its new fallen state. The Fallen reaper grunted and doubled over slightly before bringing his scythe up and knocking Barnabus back.
"Come now, dear boy! Steady your nerves. Use some of your magic!" Eon encouraged.
"Magic? I don't have any?" Barnabus retorted as he defended against another blow.
Eon's brow furrowed. "Yet another example of your shortcomings Hereweald. You ought to be ashamed!" He scolded before turning back to the younger reaper. "Imagine the warmth of a gentle fire. Concentrate that feeling into your hand and imagine a flame." Eon instructed.
Barnabus tried but found it hard to focus when his father was trying to kill him. "Maybe we can do a magic lesson later?! I'm trying not to die here!" He countered, dodging a fireball. Barnabus traded a few more blows with his foe before stepping back to catch his breath. He hadn't fought for a while so he was out of shape.
"You mustn't give up!" Eon pressed. "There is another thing you can try. All of D'aeth's kin can do this. But with your father's new fallen form, he won't be able to any more. It will surely help you."
"Why aren't you helping?" Barnabus gasped. "You're dressed for it!"
Eon gave a smile. "This is your fight, dear boy. I am just here as back up." He summoned a wall of light to push Hereweald back. "Now is your chance. I want you to say these words. Angelus mortis apparent."
Barnabus took a deep breath before boldly saying the words. "Angelus mortis apparent." As soon as the words left his lips, he felt a surge of power within him, as if he were struck by lightning. He felt a weight lift off his back and spread out. Barnabus glanced behind him and saw velvety black wings and in his reflection off of Eon's armor, he had changed. His form had grown taller and more skeletal. In fact, his head was now replaced with a skull that had glowing silver eyes. Barnabus was now the Angel of Death!
Hereweald growled and hissed at the sight. It had been years since he was able to assume that form. "No matter! I will still win!" He spat, slamming himself against the wall of light which shattered.
Barnabus steadied himself and slashed with his scythe. Silver light erupted through the arch of his swipe and connected with Hereweald, sending him back into a bookshelf. He groaned as he brought himself up, black blood dripping from his mouth. The Fallen looked up before suddenly, he was slashed at again and again. Hereweald crumbled into a heap, finally dead. His soul dripped out of his wounds and eyes, looking like black tears. It was done.
Barnabus collapsed to the ground, energy completely drained as his transformed back into his normal self. Eon caught him before helping him up to his feet. "Easy dear boy. The first transformation is always the hardest." He explained. "You did it. I knew you could."
Barnabus panted, staring at the body of his father. "He fell. I cannot believe he was Fallen! In a place filled with reapers and no one noticed!" He exclaimed.
"People were afraid. They saw the signs as part of your father's deplorable character." Eon remarked. "Come now. I'll have someone clean this mess up." He helped Barnabus out of the office and down the hallways. On the way to the healing wards, Eon ordered some reapers to clean out the old office and to call a meeting with all the reapers.
Barnabus was now in a state of shock as everything that had happened now hit him. His father murdered his best friend and mother before transforming into a Fallen and attacking him. A deity named Eon came to his aid and gave him some magic words that gave him immence power and he was able to kill his own father. His father. Lord D'aeth was dead. That made him... The new Lord D'aeth. "Good gods...." Tears began falling as they reached the healing wards. Eon had Barnabus sit down before fetching him some water.
"Easy son. You've just gone though quite an ordeal." Eon told him gently as he gave him the glass. "Drink this and rest. We'll talk when you wake."
Barnabus took a sip of water before laying back. Sleep came quickly but was marked by a terrible nightmare. He couldn't shake the sight of the severed heads.
When Barnabus awoke, hours later, he was surprised to see a tall, beautiful woman in the chair next to the bed. Her hair was black, skin pale, and she had deep brown eyes. She smiled seeing him awake. "Hello dear. I hope you're feeling well rested!" Like Eon, the woman had a peculiar accent.
Barnabus sat up and stared at her with a sense of caution. After the day he's had, he was not sure about anything anymore. "Who.... are you?" The reaper asked nervously.
"My name is Gaia. You might have heard me be called Mother Nature." Gaia explained. "You've already met my husband."
"Eon? Father Time?" Barnabus asked.
Gaia nodded. "That's the one! He mentioned you've had an eventful day!" She replied. "I'm sorry for your loss, love."
Barnabus sighed and looked down, that morose expression returning. "I can't believe it. My father fell and killed two of the most important people in my life..." He shuddered. "I've never seen a Fallen transformation before. That... That was terrifying."
Gaia patted his shoulder. "I understand. But now... Now you can set things right."
He looked back up at her? "Huh?"
"My dear boy. You're next in line. You can be the type of reaper your father never was." Gaia explained. The reaper groaned.
"I don't want to be Lord of the Reapers... I never did..."
"I'm sorry Barnabus." A deep voice boomed.
It was Eon. "It is your duty. And I agree with Gaia. You can do better. You will be better."
"Why do you have so much faith in me? You don't even know me?" Barnabus countered. "I didn't know about the pair of you until today!"
"That is because your father was not a very good mentor and really did not want you to inherit." Eon remarked bluntly. "We believe in you because..."
"Eon... Careful." Gaia warned, giving him a look.
He shot a look back at her, copper eyes flashing. "Because I have seen what you will accomplish. I know you will do good."
Barnabus cocked his head. "What?"
"Why do you think I am called Father Time?" Eon questioned, an amber eyebrow raising. "I see all threads of time. I see the past, the present, and the many webs of possible futures. But mark my words. You will be the most influential Lord D'aeth of your time and may help us finally turn the tides against the Fallen."
"Now you've done it..." Gaia muttered with a roll of her eyes.
Barnabus just stared, utterly confused. It was a lot to take in.
Eon just shook his head and motioned for Barnabus to stand. "Come now. It's time we go."
With that, the trio left the healing ward for the central area.
On the way to the central area, Eon explained what his ambitious plan was. Since Barnabus had received no formal training to be the new Lord D'aeth. Eon would mentor him. Teach him how to be a good leader. Barnabus was extremely nervous. He had not realized how lacking in his knowledge he was and was worried that his people would not accept him.
Once they made it to the central area, it was clear that Eon had gathered most if not all the reapers in the headquarters for a meeting of sorts. Everyone was muttering and looking confused. Eon, Gaia, and Barnabus went to the middle of the group before Eon gave a loud whistle to call everyone's attention. "Listen up! I have an announcement to make!" He exclaimed. "Lord Hereweald D'aeth is dead!" There were some gasps and murmuring, many of the reapers looking at Barnabus with suspicion or concern. "He had fallen. In his transformation, he murdered Gerald and Mildred before trying to do the same to his own son." Eon served a severe glance around at all the reapers. "We had all missed the concerning signs. Your own leader was falling and no one spoke up. We mustn't let that happen again!" The deity chided to a shocked crowd.
"Now we understand that Hereweald was not a good man... He ruled with fear and without compassion." Gaia added, in a kinder tone. "All we ask now if that you come to us or Barnabus with any concerns of fellow reapers or beings falling. It is so crucial to our future that we move forward with understanding and empathy." She explained.
"Speaking of Barnabus..." Eon summoned a silver circlet in a flash of amber light. It was dainty, seemingly made of olive leaves that were painted with silver, and had tiny lilies barely hiding within the details. "This is the Ryder Crown. Originally thought to be lost during the Arthurian Usurpation. Truth be told... Gaia and I took position of it until we felt there was a leader fit to wear the true crown again." He held up the crown and moved it above Barnabus' head. "We have found a worthy heir!!" Eon announced.
Barnabus' normally pale skin blushed deeply and he could not help but look down sheepishly. Eon placed the circlet upon Barnabus' head before putting his hands on the young reapers shoulders.
"I present to you, your new leader and emperor... Lord Barnabus D'aeth! May his reign be long and bring peace to the realms!" Eon proclaimed proudly.
The crowd of reapers began clapping politely before a few that were closer with Barnabus began cheering. It all started small before as if like a dam bursting, exploded into a frenzy of relief. No longer would they be under the rule of a tyrant. It was the beginning of something new. And they all felt as though Barnabus would do anything in his power to do better than his predecessor.
