The black cloak trailed across the floor with quick swishes. Simmer of movement made the fabric look alive as if one stared into it they might fall into a void. The fabric sucked away at light, eating it to leave only the darkness. Most notable though was the large chuck missing on the dragging tail. A jagged line showed where it had been tore away yet no one dared to remind the man wearing it. The man within it stood ten feet tall, shadowing any normal human. His entire body was a sickly white only made more unsettling by each passing shadow flicker that revealed bone. The pacing steps reflected an unbridled rage steaming just beneath the surface. Have mercy on the soul that delivered him the news he awaited.

Spirits of various shades floated through the room, fixing things as he broke them in a fit or just doing general cleaning. It was like walking through history from all the different clothing they worn. Someone not used to it may have been in awe by the fashion parade. It only served to make him madder. It reminded him how long it had been since he claimed a life. Because while their garments may span since close to the beginning of history, no modern era clothing could be found.

The Grim Reaper had lost his hold on humanity.

People still died of course. Humans were still their squishy fragile selves. They stepped wrong and fell down stairs to their death or coughed and died in those hospitals they claimed could save them. Immorality was nothing but an unachievable dream to them. And yet, when they died they no longer came to him. Where they went still evaded him, no matter how many he sent to investigate and worse sometimes they wouldn't even come back likely caught by whatever was doing it. So with each passing of a life, the Grim Reaper became more desperate to retain his power and more consumed by his obsession with death.

That was why the child had been so important. She could've fixed it all. She could've regained his control and not only that, she could've sent them all down prematurely. Because while he wasn't allowed to interfere with the lives of mortals unless they called for him or came through his domain on one of those silly quests which used to be so popular, she could have.

Damn that child. Damn that dog.

He would have them and then he would have all of the humans dancing by his strings.

The gentle caress of the breeze woke him up. Cy left his eyes closed though, instead taking the moment to enjoy the movement of air. It was amazing the little things humans took for granted. The world was so still in the underworld, but here it seemed to be always moving.

"Can't believe he calls himself the alpha when he needed to be saved by a girl." Sin's laughter interrupted his peace.

"To be fair, so did you and I." Bryn replied.

"Not true, I was just lying in wait. You know strategy and stuff."

A hmph was the only answer.

Cy pried his eyes open. Everything hurt. He was never going to hear the end of this. White hair fell and tickled his nose. He found himself staring up into pale icy eyes. Was this what love was? Or was it merely obsession?

"You're awake."

"Yes I suppose I am." He sat up causing her to pull away leaving the faint scent of flowers and wool.

He touched his shoulder with a wince. It had been forced back in the socket and his arm was now in a sling. He'd heal fast, but it was still a nuisance to deal with until then. Next was the tail, a shift of his body showed a sad little stump barely visible emerging from his back. He could already tell it had grow from when it had been removed. He tried to move it to no avail. At least it'd be harder for his brothers and Lily to read him like this. Plus he'd blend in more with the locals. He had liked his tail though, even if it was vain.

Tugged by an invisible force that never left his presence when she was around, he let his eyes be lead to her again. There were a few small scratches on her otherwise pristine face, but nothing too alarming. He wondered what she had done. How had someone so delicate saved them? Then again, if anyone knew that looks could be deceiving it was him. Too many times had he ended up with a new scar because a weak looking human had challenged them only to be found a hero. He relished once more in the fact heroes were going extinct.

Bryn's hand fell on his shoulder, interrupting his musing, but his brother's eyes remained upward at the sky. Cy followed his gaze to see the twilight falling. They needed to move. Now was not the time to wallow in his lacking. The others waited on him because despite the arguing they all knew who took the lead.

"Onward."