Micah watched in silence, as Hal consoled a quiet, teary Briseis before he ascended back onto the platform, leaving the mortal coil.

Standing on the platform, Micah felt a sense of angst creep up into him. This was not ideal at all. What if he showed her these things and she reneges again on the agreement? They both would be screwed. He couldn't risk being betrayed again, but at the same time he didn't want her harmed. That just wouldn't be good for either of them. The sorrow that flowed through those eyes were genuine, there was no mistaking that, but so were her tears of horror the other night. That same night, he was sure she would abide by the vow and she broke it the following day. Any other reaper would have killed her. Any. Single. One of them. But he just couldn't find it in him. Every time he got near her now, he saw her young face sullen with tears. The wailing for her mother. The boldness in her eyes as she challenged him. Even the closeness of her tended to invade his senses with a strange warmth that he didn't understand. He just wanted it all gone. Micah wanted this mission over so he could get back to some normalcy.

Micah went up to the handler's booth and rang for Saffron. Finally, she came from the back with an odd, contorted look on her ivory face. "Hi Saffron."

"Hi Micah. Thanks for checking in." She spoke quietly, very timid from her usual behavior.

His eyes squinted, boring into her. "Saffron, what's the matter?"

Saffron cleared her throat, her eyes wide as she felt betrayed by her body language. "Um, Gideon came by to visit me earlier. And trust me, he was not pleased about whatever's going on down there with the witch. I've never heard him swear so much." She grabbed his slip of paper and stamped it.

Micah frowned, a pang of concern hitting him. "He didn't take it out on you, did he? Hmm?" He told Gideon he had it under control, but if he wanted to be a dick and harass others who had no part of it, then Micah was ready to make it his business to calm him the hell down. He wasn't one for reapers treating the handlers poorly.

Saffron, almost sensing the negative energy around Micah, held up her hands. "No! No! not at all!" she lied. "He was just swearing at the situation, that's all. Saying that his job was incomplete thanks to you and that arrogant necromancer." She leaned forward to Micah, lowering her voice more. "I thought everything was settled with her, Micah? What's going on?"

"I thought so too, Saffron. But she is super difficult." He started to chew his bottom lip in frustration. Micah always trusted his handlers, especially Saffron. They have worked together for a very long time and she was just and wise to a fault. However, this situation had him ashamed. A handler's purpose was to advocate for you when things go wrong, and help you make it right during your mission. His bright blue eyes looked at her.

He never had to solicit her advice before. Not once. But, he needed it now.

"Micah?" Saffron asked with a small, concerned tone. Her eyes were searching and a sense of tension started to churn around them.

Micah started to open his mouth, but he closed it with a sigh. The words wouldn't come out. They just wouldn't. Call it pride, call it shame. Whatever it was, it was confusing him, twisting him up like a mad contortionist eager to please. For once, Micah didn't have all the answers. He woefully felt it was the beginning of the end for him.

"Micah?" Saffron came around from the back, loping from the side of the wall to meet him at the counter. "Micah, talk to me." She looked around, concerned it anyone saw their interaction in this manner. As long as she's known him, Micah as always been confident. The reaper knew his shit inside and out and their wasn't no job too big or small for him. Ever. But as Saffron looked into his ethereal blue eyes she saw something she never in a million years expected to see.

Confusion.

She sighed. "I'm your handler, Micah. It's my job to help you. I know you know that."

Micah cut his eyes away from her to the floor. "I know that, Saffron." He shook off his vulnerability that threatened to linger on him like a parasite. He had some dignity left, he just had to hold on to it. Micah brought his eyes back to focus on Saffron. He stood there for a full minute before he finally spoke again.

"I need your help."

Saffron knew better than to react, but inside, she imagined giving him the biggest smirk ever. It was only in the faintest, one side of her lips quirked up just briefly at his response. The Pale Rider finally met his match and needed her support. The rarity called to her like nothing else. Instead, she merely nodded.

"Let's step into the Black room."

The Black Room was not actually a room, but a mysterious void between their plane and the mortal coil. To many new reapers, it was a myth. To the more seasoned ones, a haven to air one's worries, concerns and worst of all misgivings regarding their duties. Rumor had it that not even Azarael didn't even know of it's existence and was considered a 'black hole' where nothing was seen--not even by the Divine. The only blind spot in the universe...at least, that is how the misfit reapers are treating it.

Saffron and Micah stood quiet, nearly suspended in nothingness, as she finally broke the silence. "We're safe here, Micah. Now, tell me what is wrong? Has the witch done something to compromise the mission?"

Micah grunted in angst. "I caught her resurrecting another marked mortal, even after I gave her the Horror. She made a vow and she broke it the next day. I never had anyone do that before."

He paused to hear Saffron gasp before speaking again. "Gideon was there and saw it as well. That is what he was so pissed off about."

Saffron shook her head, feeling remorseful of the situation. She had a very difficult time imagining anyone ignoring the Horror from Micah, of all reapers. Either she was insane or had no sense of fear for death. Either way, this Briseis must indeed be an interesting mortal to fluster Micah this way. "Breaking a vow to a reaper is grounds for soul collection, Micah. She could be marked. This isn't a game."

"I know..." He clenched his fist. Micah totally understood. Any other reaper probably would exercised that judgement, but apparently he was trending on being an idiot. "I don't want it to come to that, Saffron."

She shrugged, suggesting a matter of fact. "Why not? You're in the right to do it, Micah. You did the right thing to offer her a way out, but if she doesn't take it seriously, Azrael would not fault you for doing that." Her eyes dropped slightly. A typical Micah had no patience with oathbreakers, but this version standing before her seemed different. "Gees, what was it that you saw of her in the Eye of the Divine?"

He shook his head, trying to erase the mental vision of Briseis' tear-streaked face. Micah didn't want to tell Saffron about his target's past. He wanted to think it was because he was worried revealing it would affect Saffron's advice, but in reality, he was afraid to let her see how it already affected him. Not to mention, if Micah told Saffron that he was also the reaper who was indirectly involved with the incident from the necromancer's past, as his handler, she would have no choice but to pull him from the mission if she sensed his judgement was compromised. A pit formed in the bottom of his stomach. Then Briseis' fate would lie in Azrael's once more, with horrid consequences. 

"Nothing that would give me reason to reap her." Micah rubbed the lids of his ocean eyes. "If you could understand, Saffron this was a harbinger mission, not a mission to collect. Because of that, I'm trying to...spare her. I know it sounds crazy but I would like to give her one more chance to renounce." His voice trailed off for a moment, as he confessed his ridiculous decision.

This is crazy, this is crazy, Micah...you loony son of a--

"And to solidify this, I was considering doing a blood oath with her."

Saffron swallowed, then choked on her own spit. "What?" She pulled in another breath as her cough subsided, trying to sober, hoping she heard him wrong. "Have you ever done a blood oath, Micah?"

"A very, very long time ago, I could barely remember the face of the marked soul I performed it with. I told you this was crazy, but I need something concrete, because I'm afraid she will betray me again. And there's something else."

Oh great, more good news? , Saffron yelled in her thoughts. "What is it?"

"Briseis will agree to renounce if I explain to her exactly how her resurrections upset the balance in the world of reapers." Micah watched Saffron's body tense as she whipped her head to him.

She pursed her lips. "You're not seriously considering exposing this world to her, are you?" Saffron's answer was in his deep, serious stare.  "Mortals cannot know of all this, Micah, witch or not. You know the repercussions of that. Azrael would lose his shit!" She sighed. "You don't even trust her to truly renounce her power, so why are you open to this?"

"Because I want this over, Saffron. And, I hate to admit it, but the witch does have a point. She isn't the enemy and maybe if she understood why it was so damning, I wouldn't have to work so hard to convince her to renounce. She's been free with this power for years and now it's become a part of her."

Saffron nodded, bumping up her brows in consideration. "That is a pretty fair point." She glared at him with warning. "But you can't bring her here, Micah. She isn't even allowed to see through your eyes up here, or else Azrael will punish us all."

Micah nodded in agreement. He's seen it all too well how reapers have brought down wrath from Azrael from showing the gifted mortals too much of a world, they should never know before their time. He planned on giving her as little detail as he could to appease their agreement, nothing more. "Saffron, I would never do anything to jeopardize you or any of the reapers with Azrael. You have my word."

She smiled. "I know that Micah. Believe me, I trust you'll do what's right.  I just wouldn't be much of a handler if I didn't make clear the warning."

"I just need this over and with as little blood spilled as possible." He stepped closer to her. "I will need clearance to perform the blood oath, Saffron."

Seeing the weariness in her reaper's eyes, Saffron gave a soft nod. "You have it. You have all the clearance you need to take care of this." She stepped back, rubbing the back of her neck casually. "But you will have to drop onto the mortal coil, and stay grounded for a time."

Micah frowned at the idea was being set on the mortal coil for longer than expected. "What? Why?" His brows dipped in curiosity. "I don't remember having to do that before."

Saffron tied her hair behind her neck. If he wanted her advice, then he was going to get it--but probably not gonna like it. Guess that's advice in a nutshell, she thought to herself. "Micah, you said it yourself. You are trying to take away one witch's hard lined power, one that she's had for years without any guidance, and no consequences till now. I worry that if you simply pop in to do this, you not only could crush her sanity, but force her to renege again. And this time, her fate will be sealed, with nothing to save her."

Micah crossed his arms. "What do you suggest I do?"

"I would treat this like quitting smoking, Micah. You know that nasty vice that keep us so busy?" 

Micah nodded.

Saffron continued. "A human can't just go cold turkey and never think about a cigarette again. They would get break down and run back to it with a fierceness. She has to have time to let it go or she never will."

Micah's face crinkled into a scowl as what Saffron was implying seemed more loony than his willingness to do a blood oath on an oathbreaking witch. "Are you suggesting I stay on the mortal coil and let her conduct resurgence while I'm down there?" He watched Saffron give a gentle nod, before scoffing. "The reapers and Azrael himself will rip me apart for such an infraction!" He could just see the ambulance truck full of reapers ready to tear both him and Briseis to pieces. And whatever was left of Briseis' soul would be forever in torment; he had no idea what Azrael would have for him. He actually shuddered to think. "I'm sorry, Saffron, but that's unacceptable."

"So is losing out to a witch, Micah. Even after the oath, if she turns and reneges, it will still go on your report as a loss. She would've died not by your hands, but basically her own. Azrael will consider her death a stop to his headache, but in honesty, he will never depend on you to carry out such missions again. You'll have a black mark on your record, Micah, just as if you did nothing now."

She watched him sigh and begin the pace, slowly walking as he methodically considered all his options, while she continued on.

"Just give her a week, maybe two. Tell her you're giving her time to get it out her system. And when that time is up, tell her why she's screwing up, make her perform the blood oath and come on home. At least anything you tell her will be sealed with the oath too. She will live--granted she obeys, of course, and the mission will be a success." She cocked her head to the side and offered a comforting smile. "You can finally go home and relax, like you've wanted for centuries."

"This is madness, Saffron. What if she goes nuts in that week and resurrect everyone under the freaking sun like a free-for-all? The reapers would go berserk and I'll be up shit creek anyway."

"Micah, she's never had guidance, remember? You need to set guidelines for her. Make her trust you. If this is truly the route you want to take, then this is my advisement for you. This path will take a lot more effort, Micah. It is not the easiest way. But if you want to try to save her life, you'll have to earn her trust and convince her the right way. The way that will resonate with her, or else you'll just be another entity telling her she can't. She seems more stubborn than you and most likely will simply balk at authority."

Micah blew out an exasperated, annoyed sigh. Saffron had no idea how right she was on that. 

"I know you hate staying long on the mortal coil, Micah. Staying long term can have some undesirable side effects for a reaper, and there are tons of rules. But if you try to shortcut this, you will lose her anyway." She shrugged at the easier option that Micah clearly didn't seem interested in. "You can always decide to go the route of collecting her soul, like I said. Azrael will not fault you for it."

"Hell, neither would the other reapers, now I think about it." Micah added. The situation began to simmer within him as he thought about execution of what Saffron was advising. He should have felt more relief that he confided in his handler and she gave him options. However, both options were, in a sense, terrible. Long ago, he was taught, by Azarael, if he could still believe it, that reapers, despite their job to reap souls, loved and respected life. Living was unique, fleeting and so beautiful--the more popular sense of existing. Reapers weren't the blood thirsty, vengeful creatures human folklore distorted them to be. The Horror, of course, had a lot to do with how humans saw them, but the ones that got the see the true beauty behind what they did, unfortunately do not live to tell others. 

It was that belief that made it hard to throw in the towel and take her life. She wasn't a bad person, she was naive. And yes, stubborn as hell. Saffron was right--Briseis Devareaux didn't have the comfort of a coven to teach and protect her. She barely had her mother for two years after discovering her powers. Essentially, the witch was an abandoned necromancer gone renegade. Making her own rules as she went, and it was a very dangerous game she was playing without knowledge of the rules.

This was the alternative he guessed he was looking for, though it still felt ridiculously risky. As if Saffron could hear his internal conflict, she stared at him. "You always have a choice, Micah. Whatever you decide to do, I will back you. I hope you know that."

Micah began to move away from the Black Room. "I know, Saffron. Thank you for consulting with me."

Saffron ran in front of him. "Micah, I know it's not easy to admit when you're in trouble. You're older than a lot of us and more celebrated than I dare imagine. Everyone loves and respects you. But that doesn't mean you have to face every hurdle alone. I'm proud to work with you and I know you'll do the right thing."

"Thanks Saffron, for being my confidant. I owe Azrael a report. But, I can't tell him about this."

"I'll tell him," Saffron interjected. "I'll tell him about the blood oath. He should be pleased with that, because it shows you want to ensure she obeys, and you'll be back before you know it." As they walked back into the light, Saffron passed him a piece of paper. It was already stamped with clearance. "Godspeed, Micah."

Micah gripped the paper, then slid it into his pocket. "Thank you, Saffron."

She stood behind and watched him disappear heading to the platform.

As soon as Saffron headed back to her counter, she jumped as she ran face first into a familiar reaper. She caught her breath. "Abraham. Sorry, I didn't see you there!" Saffron took a step back as Abraham's large frame essentially formed a wall. He didn't say anything at first, just stared down at her with a little weird smirk. In defense, Saffron offered him a nervous chuckle. "Are you okay, Abe?"

"Yep, couldn't be better." He offered a chuckle to her as well, however, it barely had emotion. "Sorry, didn't mean to bump into you." Abraham quietly stepped aside, outstretching his arm to gesture like a gentleman asking her to go first. "After you, me lady."

Saffron gave another chuckle, this time pushing past him to speed walk back to her counter. "Thanks Abe! Sorry, I'm in a rush!" Her excuse was loud and blatant, making it painfully clear she wanted to avoid him. He would just ask her about Micah's mission, just like he did when Micah came up to use the Eye. Abraham was pestering her about how it was going, probably hoping she would divulge some information that would give him something to gossip about with the other reapers. She stonewalled him last time, but today she just wasn't in the mood to smile at him behind gritted teeth.

Abraham stood back and watched Saffron move like the devil was on her heels. In a rush indeed. When people rush like that, how are they supposed to notice when things get missing? Abraham smiled to himself as he opened his other hand to reveal a little gold card that once hung off Saffron's hip. It was Micah's access card to the Eye of the Divine. His lips curved into a deeper smile that would make the Cheshire cat envious. "I wonder what old Pale Rider was looking at in there," he said to himself. He slid the card into his pocket, as he walked over past Central Station and to the elevators. It was time to see what Micah has been up to and why some reapers were just as pissed at the prestigious Pale Rider than Abraham.

###

What do you think of Saffron's option for Micah?  This is gonna be interesting if Micah will finally have to stay down there.  How will Briseis will react to the agreement?  And what the hell is Abraham doing with Micah's access card?