The Shadow of Death - Chapter 2

  My death came long ago, though I am not sure how I know that. I still remember how I died; flung off my own tower. Those so called heroes stopped me. All of my planning, all of my work, all of my sacrifice, for naught. I wanted to be a god, so that I could right the wrongs of this world. I wanted to shed my mortality. I came so close too, but failed. Then the reaper claimed my soul for his own. I had used his powers, and made a deal with him. Now, he had come to collect his price.

  I slept for a long time. Occasionally I would dream, voices would come and go, like flitting memories. It was like I was floating in a dark ocean, having just drowned, on the precipice between life and death. I could hear nothing, I could see nothing, I could feel nothing. Even my emotions were set adrift. I would have been driven mad, if not for the fact that I was flitting between wakefulness and unconsciousness.

  I remember this, as I was slowly coming to. My mind has awoken, and my memories flash by. My numbness begins to subside, and I feel the moisture on my skin. Suddenly there is a rush, and my eyes come open. I sit up, gasping for air, as I raise myself out of the foul smelling bath. I look around wildly, noticing that I am in some kind of dimly lit chamber. Above is a gentle blue light, and the walls are smooth. In the middle sits the basin which I have sat up in. It looks like a strange sarcophagus, filled with a brackish liquid. At the end of the room, a door opens, and a lovely looking woman in clean, crisp attire comes up.

  “Welcome, Mister Adrius” She says with a soft smile, passing me a towel to dry off with.

  I was led to an office a decent walk away, after being dressed in comfortable clothes. The office and hallways reminded me of some of the manor houses that the fashionable nobility had when I was alive. Instead of candles though, bulbs glowed with a soft, though bright, light. The windows look out to a courtyard with a great deal of splendor. A garden filled with plants that seemed to pop out of my wildest imaginings holds me enraptured.

  “Mister Adrius” The man behind the wooden desk says. Just as I remembered, a man dressed sharply, in dark colors. This is the god of death he remembered. My attention snaps back to his face. I was seated in a guest chair, across from him. “Yes, Lord Death?” The god in question is flitting through paperwork, though he has only a few sheets before him, the words on the sheets seem to change and rearrange themselves at his direction.

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  He waves his hand dismissively “Nathan is fine. I'm not one for putting on airs. Its why I generally don’t interact with mortals directly.” I nod at this, tilting my head questioningly. “Nathan... Why did you wake me? Is it finally time for me to go to my appointed hell?” I ask with resignation. In truth, I had come to terms with my fate long ago. I knew the chances of my success were slim, so I steeled myself for my afterlife. I knew that my actions would anger the gods, and they would want to take it out on my hide. The God of Death was also a merchant; he traded in high-value souls. He was also known for his... aggressive business tactics, but thats beside the point. I knew that selling my soul to him would result in my soul being auctioned off to the highest bidder, and that would likely be the god I offended the most during my lifetime.

  Nathan smiles. “No, after some deliberation with my servants I decided it would be a wiser course of action to keep your soul for my purposes. Even asleep, its been quite profitable.” I shudder at the prospect; was I going to become one of his Grim Reapers? That would be a truly morbid job, and almost a hell in and of itself for me. As I pondered this, he continued. “As for why I brought you here... well, I have a deal to offer you. One I don’t think that you will be inclined to refuse”

  “A deal?” I ask, full of disbelief. “You already have my soul. What more can you ask of me?” The idea of it shocked me immensly. I do not know what else I can possibly give; I am a dead man after all, and one wholly owned by the god before me. “Its a task I have for you. A long, difficult one. However, if you take on the task, I will give you what you always sought. You would become a god, Mister Adrius.” I felt my heartrate quicken at that, odd since I was dead. Then my eyes narrow “Whats the catch?” I ask, suspicious.

  “Well, Mister Adrius...” He chuckles darkly, “You merely have to bring about the end of your world.”