"Just look at him. He's worse than I thought," Gideon's voice broke Micah's heart. He shouldn't  have been surprised at the betrayal,  yet it hurt all the same. "He can hardly stand."

Essence shook her head in disgust. "They're right, Micah. You've been grounded too long. Look at you. You've become weak and short-sighted. Playing doctor with that necromancer."

Abraham lifted his head to her. "Speaking of which, don't you two have somewhere to be?"

Essence frowned. "We're in no hurry. There's nowhere she can go where we can't find her. The mortal coil is a pretty small place. She won't get far."

Micah looked up at them all, his rage tempered by heartbreak and confusion.  "You won't fucking touch her!," he growled before Essence pushed him back. He shook his head, bleeding. "Why are you all doing this? Did Abraham put you up to this?"

"No. You did."Gideon replied. He squatted down, examining him as if he stared at a stranger. "I trusted you, Micah. We all did. And you lied to us. Broken that trust and left us all holding the bag while you betrayed us all. It breaks my heart, but you made your choice. You aren't fit to be a reaper anymore and for that, your fate is sealed."

Micah caught his breath. "Then let it be mine and mine alone. Leave Briseis out of this. I'm the one who broke all the laws. It's me. Don't have her pay for my transgressions."

Gideon's face softened only a second before it turned as cold as the Void. "You know we can't do that. She's broken laws as well, while in your charge. And she's just as a threat now as she was before. She hasn't respected any warnings, so you know how this goes for her. " He stood up to his full height. "She'll be judged."

"No!" Micah leaped to his feet and attacked Gideon. His blows to his face had no effect on Gideon, who returned punches of his own. Each more devastating than the last as Micah fell to his knees, groaning.

"Stay down Micah," Gideon warned, shaking blood off his knuckles. "There's nothing you can do."

"The hell there isn't. I'm not letting either of you lay a hand on her. Her judgement deserves Divine Intervention."

Abraham stomped on his spine, forcing him down. "Now we know you've really lost it. She deserves to be a witch kebab, not having her case brought to the Divine. She's no innocent bystander in all of this. She did damage to the system. And you don't have the power to even request it."

Micah willed all the strength he had to stand up, but his body throbbing with debilitating distress and pain. His body wasn't as strong as his will to keep Briseis safe and as long as they were fighting him they weren't going after her.

Essence leaned forward. "Just stop, Micah. Stay down for your own good."

Abraham connected another jab to his jaw, planting him back down against the floor. "You think you can stop us from bird-dogging that witch by throwing your body at us? It's cute. Misguided and futile. But cute."

Gideon sighed. "Stop toying with him Abe and let's do what we came here to do."

Micah sat up, barely. His vision blurred from blows and blood in his eye. "What you all came to do here is heresy and vulgar." He spat crimson on the floor. "This is not your place to judge you know that." He looked over to Abraham. "And you--so jealous of my station and your failure you can't help but bring everyone else into your shit. A rebellious coup so Azrael would finally notice you and maybe make you his golden boy. You don't care about the others here. Just yourself."

Abraham grabbed Micah by the hair and pulled him upward to his face.

"You want to speak of heresy? We have to rectify all the damage that your little necromancing bitch has done.  You chose her over us now you reap what you sow. There's no coup, here. To be that, you would have to be in a position of power." He scoffed. "Look at you. There's no power anymore." He threw him aside. "Don't worry Micah, we'll clean up your mess and give you a chance to be the reaper you once were, but this will come at a cost."

"I'm warning you don't touch her!" He struck him across the back of the neck and Micah dropped unconscious.

"Oh, save it, pale rider," Abraham scoffed. "Boy, it's disgusting to see you so weak."

Gideon frowned. "Was that necessary? He's still one of us."

Essence shook her head. "No, he isn't. Maybe he was before, but did you see his face? He won't listen to reason. He'd keep trying to interfere with what we must do and we can't any longer. Abraham is doing the right thing."

Abraham fastened his hoodie. "We have to work fast. Some of us are due to check in soon and we have a witch to get before she does any more damage." 

Essence pulled her black hoodie over her head. A flash of the Horror surged from her shadow. "Then, what are we waiting for?"

***

Saffron leaned against the counter, flicking her nails. A terrible tic of a habit that she had no idea where it came from. But it was keeping her sane right now because she had a bad feeling growing within for a while now. Micah hasn't come back to the ethereal plane and that couldn't be good news. He had seemed pretty convinced that he could get the aloof necromancer to come to terms, and to Saffron's credit, she had every confidence that he would because Micah never failed at anything. Her mission was sound and so was his, despite the peculiar circumstances. When he decided to be grounded, she had her apprehension, but once again...The Pale Rider made a sound choice. But now, in her worry, that choice also meant he was cut off from coming back until his job was complete. Saffron crossed her arms. 

But he was late returning. And Micah is never late.

Fidgeting, she put a hand in her pocket and flicked the gold card hidden in there. It remained safe in her possession after Abraham stole it. "That little bug," she whispered to herself. Who knows what kinda havoc he was planning with peeking into---

Oh no. She looked around. It was a while since she'd seen his smug face hanging about Grand Central and that wasn't a good sign. She stepped out of her station and walked over to where Abraham's handler stood writing in silence. 

"Y'vaine," she called out, getting the attention of the sable-skinned, statuesque handler. They turned around and smiled at Saffron with the warmth of a morning sun.

"Hey, Saffron. What's up? You doing okay over there?"

She hopped over the counter, a courtesy that only Y'vaine allowed her to partake. "Yeah, I'm well. Just thought I'd check in on you. You seem bored."

Y'vaine shrugged. "Truth. It's weird, but honestly, I'm kinda glad. I finally have some peace when what's his face isn't around clamoring for another task. Treating me like a secretary. He can be an annoying little fool when he doesn't get work." They looked around. "Don't tell him I said that. I don't need him causing me more trouble."

Saffron chuckled. "Mum's the word, my friend.  So, Abraham is off plane right now?"

"Yeah, but it's weird. It wasn't a mandated mission from me. I think the jerk is getting absent-minded."

"Whaddya mean?"

"Well, I sent him a job a few days ago, and he was late delivering, saying he was doing some recon or something like he's a soldier. Then, he brings the soul, then yells at me for another soul collecting job, but he was so freaking specific about it."

"Specific? How?"

"He demanded I find him a job in Louisiana. Crap, what was the city?"

"New Orleans." Saffron looked around for Essence, Gabriel and Gideon. All of whom were missing too. A sinking feeling pulled her heart into her stomach.

"Yeah! That's it. Really weird."

Saffron turned to her. "Have you seen Essence and Gideon?"

Y'vaine shook their head. "Their handlers are never at their station, so who knows. But I heard Gideon was back at work. Maybe they are all off plane, finally getting some work done instead of sulking around here about that necromancer."

"Shit!," Saffron hopped over the counter. "Thanks Y'vaine. We never spoke."

***

Briseis ran down the street and didn't dare look back. She needed to think, but each step drove her further into a panic. The reapers were all after her and she was in deep shit. She couldn't trust anyone to help her or even believe what was happening to her. Her side ached and forced her to stop and puke by a box of abandoned bottles and cans. Spitting and gasping for air, Briseis tried to think back to her mother's words. God, she wish she was here right now. She needed some kind of guidance. Bent over catching her breath, a pair of black boots stepped into her view. She stepped back at the face of Essence frowning at her. 

"I hear you wish to see your mother." She outstretched her pristine hand, the grin on her face was poisoned with wickedness. "I will take you to her." Her shadow casted wide over Briseis. Then, her voice darkened. "Kicking and screaming if I have to."

Briseis grabbed a bottle from the box, smashed it against Essence's head and ran away. Pushing past people on the sidewalk, she heard an authoritative voice yell past her. She paused only long enough to spot Gideon following behind her. "Shit." She needed to find a coven. Somewhere who could take her in. She needed Micah, but she didn't know if she could trust him either. She was completely alone. Running without aim, she ran into the grasp of a police officer. Her eyes finally focused on him as he held her shoulders.

"Ma'am? Ma'am is everything alright?"

Briseis looked behind her and Gideon and Essence had disappeared. "No, some people have been following me, trying to do me some harm. They invaded my home and tried to accost me."

"What do they look like?"

"One is a tall white woman in her late twenties with dark hair. The other is a Black man, maybe in his twenties with long dark locs. Both are wearing black hoodies. Please be careful, they are dangerous."

"Okay, okay ma'am." The officer looked around. "Where were you coming from? Did they say anything to you?"

Briseis shook her head, realizing anything she repeated from them would just cause more questions. "No, maybe they want money, I'm sure one of them has a weapon."

"You sure? What kind of weapon?"
"I'm not sure, she kept digging in her pocket." Briseis looked around, her blood pumping so loud, she could barely hear the officer tell her to follow him.

He gently, but urgently steered her towards his cruiser. "Come with me while I call this in." She followed him as he opened the back passenger side door. She hopped in as he closed the door locking her in. Briseis looked on as the officer stood around the car speaking into his radio. Her head darted around the perimeter of the cruiser and amongst the gathering crowd of lookyloos, but didn't see any sign of the reapers. But they weren't gone--she knew better. She wiped her eyes. Micah was alone somewhere and he was in no position to help her and she couldn't help him. She dug around in her jeans and felt a pen in her pocket, when the cruiser filled with the scent of fresh lillies.

In a heartbeat, Essence materialized in the back seat and grabbed her throat so tight, Briseis couldn't breathe or scream. She stared into the dark eyes of Death as Essence smiled. "You think anyone could save you from us, you're dumber than I thought."

That was the last thing she heard before Essence hit her against her temple and everything went black.

***

Saffron arrived at the platform and found herself pacing. Micah was in serious trouble there was no doubt about it. He was outnumbered and if she knew any better, he was grounded too long to maintain any of this reaper gifts. He was fragile down there for the first time since he was taken from the mortal coil so long ago. No one but her and others knew what was going down and this complicated things.  Handlers were never to go to the mortal coil. Ever.

Her job was to protect and support her reaper but only from here. Only within the boundaries set for her kind so long ago. She paused as Y'vaine came down the stairs. Their expression concerned. Saffron turned her back as they approached her. 

"Something's rotten going on isn't there? Where's your reaper, Saff?," Y'vaine whispered.

"Wherever yours is, I'm afraid. Death is in chaos."

"Shit. I knew that asshole Abe was up to something shifty. He's been hanging with Essence and Gideon an awful lot despite he used to talk major crap about them." They sighed. "Is Micah okay?"

"No. He can't protect himself from them nor can he protect his charge." She looked at the dome that encircled them that gave view to the cosmos and all the wormholes that gently flowed throughout. "And I can't do anything from here. I have to get down there."

Y'vaine sobered. Their eyes dark with warning. "You know you can't. We can't interfere down there. Not without divine intervention. You know the rules better than I do on that."

Saffron folded her arms. "This isn't about rules. This is about what's right."

"It's about both, Saff. What's right is protected by rules. It keeps us from further conflicting with free will gifted to humans. We don't have such luxury."

"But the reapers do. Micah chose to save Briseis and now they can both lose their lives because of this. Something must be done."

"Have you ever wondered why we were busted down to handlers?"

"Sometimes, but honestly, I try not to. It's in the past and I've made my peace with it."

Y'vaine scoffed. "Bullshit. None of us are over it. I see it in your eyes and I know for damn sure it's in mine. But it was because we were overstepping. We wanted what the humans had and we liked that divine power by proxy a bit too much for our own good.  You mean well, Saffron. There's not a more dutiful and loving handler. But you know what happens to us when these type of lines are crossed. There are no more demotions left after this."

Saffron tightened her fists. "I'm so angry. Micah is good. The reason he's down there is because of me. We can't have reapers taking matters into their own hands down there. They aren't humans anymore. Their presence and activity can upset the fragile mortal coil. That loophole of theirs is dangerous."

"I'm not disagreeing with you there. I never liked it, but reapers rarely fall outta line like this. How could anyone have known?"

She turned to Y'vaine. "We knew. Anything with a human soul whether claimed or not is an inherent risk. Yeah, we got punished for intervening, but dammit, something had to. I mean, look at them. Without us, they just turn back into basic monkey bitches. All feeling, no logic--"

"And zero forward-thinking," they said in unison.

"But Micah is different. I've been his handler since he first got assigned. When he taps into his emotions, he doesn't let it rule over him. He wields it."

"Is that why you allowed him to ground?"

"Yes...and no." She smiled. "I had another intention, too." 

Y'vaine shook their head. "You're as hardheaded as your reaper, Saff. What did you think was going to happen?"

"I didn't expect a handful of reapers to play vigilante on our watch. Otherwise, it was likely working out fine."

Y'vaine sighed. "I should not have come out here."

"Then why did you?"

"Because I believe in Micah. Because I know this is wrong, too. Because I wanna help you."

"Really?"

"Well, look. I meant what I said, though. I'm not violating the rule of going down there. I like my existence and it may not be all that jazzed and full of chocolate ice cream, but my place is here and I'm at least in a position to make some kind of a difference." They rested their hand on Saffron's shoulder. "And don't want you to violate it either. We need you here. You've worked so hard to make up for your transgressions. You took the brunt of it for all of us and saved us by designing this position for us. Please don't throw all that away by being reckless again."

"You act like there's another way."

"You know there is." They glared at Saffron with knowing brown eyes.

Saffron rolled her eyes. She looked down and never had a more desire to just step off and fall into oblivion instead of Y'vaine's sobering and problematic alternative. 

***

Micah came to with a start, "Bree?!" His right eye was swollen and thobbing, unable to focus and keep it open. He crawled up to the edge of the bed and pulled himself up with a groan. The mild light from the windows signaled approaching dawn. The sat on the edge and wept. He was no good to Bree like this. He was foolish to have allowed himself to become this. They had taken her and there wasn't anything he could do about it. The betrayal of the others burned at the pit of his stomach. He wanted blood for such a thing. He no longer cared whether he and Bree were wrong. It didn't matter. Nothing between them could be so wrong to warrant this. Not ever. He was trapped down here cutoff from Saffron and anyone who could help him.  

Stop this wallowing and think, Micah. Where would they take her?

Reapers tended to be traditionalists and nothing was more traditional than burning a necromancer. Humankind had been doing that one for centuries unfortunately whether they truly got their hands on a bonafide necromancer or just torched some poor soul who just got in their way through either ignorance or political influence. The others would want her to suffer as he felt their rage with every blow they took to him. 

New Orleans was full of places to burn someone. Where would they go? There was only one group of people who would know for sure. Luckily, he had a penchant to locate them, especially if they were in groups.  He staggered into the bathroom and splashed water on his bloody, swollen face. When his reflection distorted into a long ago memory buried. 

His face beaten, Micah pulled against the ropes that bound him to the post. He could barely focus on the blur of the crowd shouting at him. All of Sumeria seemed to be watching him. Chanting. Cheering for his painful demise. He didn't mean to do it. It was an accident. But the King would have none of it. Such a power had to be extinguished. It was unnatural. Terrifying. And he was the only one who held such an awful gift. When the spirit approached him to flee, he wished he'd listened. Now it was too late. A woman in the crowd stuck out among the rest. Her soft features and eyes seemed familiar as she stood still against the jeering crowd. Her eyes were glossy with tears as if she wept for him. Did she? He wasn't worthy of tears or pity. Perhaps he brought this on himself. The heat and smoke escalated around him his feet feeling like they were on cooking coals. He prayed his pain would be brief but he knew better. He screamed to the heavens. 

Micah jumped back from the sink and fell against the wall in fright as he came back to the reality of Bree's bathroom. He gathered his shaking breath. His feet were hot as if...

What's happening to him?

Osiris meowed announcing his entrance into the bathroom and sat at the door staring at him.

Micah frowned. "Look. I don't like you. And I know you don't like me. But we have a mutual need to look after Bree. You've been around witches your whole life...well your second life."

Osiris meowed and licked his face. Then shifted and kicked his leg up to lick much, much lower.

"Stop licking your non-existent balls and take me to a witch. The more, the better."

At least thrity seconds passed before Osiris stopped  and stepped out of the bathroom a couple steps. Then back into the bathroom as if he was leading him somewhere. Micah pulled himself up, building his grit. "Lead the way. Be quick."

He wished the blasted cat had more human-friendly routes as they avoided as many streets as possible. Smart for a cat who was living on stolen time, but a pain in the ass for a tired reaper with almost no power. It was sheer will and determination that finally brought him to the quaint little neighborhood of the Ninth ward. Beautiful green grass and brightly colored homes. He followed Osiris as the cat made a beeline to a blue and gray home surrounded by a french lace wrought-iron fence. Before he set foot on the lawn, he felt the radiant bands of energy that enveloped the little shotgun house. There was definitely some wielders of the light and dark in there. Some powerful ones. Micah paused for a moment. He was in no condition to fight off an attack from a coven, but this was his only chance to save Bree. 

He knocked on the door, bracing himself on the frame. The door opened and a short Black woman with short wavy hair and wearing blue yoga pants and a t-shirt appeared. As soon as their eyes met, she tried to close the door, but Micah wedged his foot in, blocking. "Wait, please. I'm not here for you. I promise."

Her light brown eyes stern with warning. "Doesn't matter. You're a bad omen. Plus, I don't let strangers up in here, now step away from my porch. We don't do second warnings here."

"Please," Micah replied. "One of your own is in danger and I really need your help to protect her."

The woman's face shifted to disbelief and scrutiny. "Since when did Witch lives matter to you, reaper?"

Micah swallowed. His heart beating out of his chest from the reality of his next words. "Since...Since I ended up falling for one."

Her eyes widened with curiosity. "Oh shit." Her attention shifted down to Osiris sitting quietly at his feet. "What the hell? I haven't seen you in a minute."

***

Micah, at the behest of Arianne, he stood in the protected circle on her back porch as her other two sisters stared him down. Their expressions were those of pure confusion and deep suspicion. He didn't blame them. A reaper at a witch's door is never a good sign.  Tamia, her oldest sister sat down a bowl of tuna in front of Osiris, who meowed gratefully before chowing down, pushing the bowl around the linoleum. For once, the beast had proven valuable.

Arianne stood in front of him outside of the circle. "You say they are going to take her to burn her?"

He nodded. "I don't think they know what else to do with her and since so far, that method of death has proven effective..." He shook the thought away. "Where would they take her? It would have to be somewhere secluded and away from people. They can't risk being seen and interacting with others."

Isis, Arianne's youngest sister, tapped away on her phone. "They probably gonna try to take her to them rice fields up near {x} It's far out. Ain't noboby hanging out there, especially at night and you can easily have a controlled burn out there." She looked up to Arianne. "Didn't a girl get killed out there three years ago?"

"Yeah, but she wasn't no witch or rootworker. But she's right. That area out there has a long history of witches and conjurers being murdered and supposedly brought to justice out there. Their deaths unsolved and unpunished."

Isis leaned against the porch post. "That's why I don't eat the rice from this area. That shit's full of bad juju."

"You said you've had a flashback?"

"I don't know what it was. It felt really real."

"I don't know. My mawmaw told me y'all were once humans. Perhaps all this time being back home has not only brought back your mortal body but also your mortal mind. If it felt real, it's probably your own memory. Trauma lives in the body and the body still remembers." She looked to Tamia. "You wanna read him?"

"Hell no!" She sobered. "No offense, but I don't want nightmares for the rest of my life digging around in his head. That man has centuries of mess all clogged up in there. That's a no for me."

Arianne folded her arms. "You'll need us."

Micah scowled. "No."

"What the hell you mean, no?" Isis turned her phone on selfie mode and aimed it at his face like a mirror. "No shade, but look at you. Your eye looks like a vage."

"Isis!," Tamia shouted. 

She continued. "Your ass is beat the hell up and you already told us you can't match the others strength. So what the hell you gonna do except wind up sharing a post with her?"

He frowned. How could he ask anyone else to risk their life? "I can't endanger anyone else. Just take me to the fields and you'll never see me again."

Arianne shook her head and cut her eyes to Isis. "Uh-uh. First off, don't be co-signing us to risk our lives. I done told you about that mess, Isis."

Her sister shrugged. "You know I'm right. And if what golden boy here says is true, this Bree girl has some power we can use. Shit, have her join the cause, you know?"

Arianne scoffed. "We don't mess with death-wielding witches, Isis. We're healers and guides. We don't fool with that netherworld mess. That's White people shit."

"You act like she chose her power, Arianne. She chose it no more than we chose ours. It is what it is. Our lives matter. We have to do something about this. If anything but to show 'em we ain't asking. We'll defend our right to exist by any means necessary."

"Bet, sis." Tamia replied. She and Isis locked pinkies and snapped their hands back in agreement. "We Bellefleurs be on that revolutionary ish from our ancestors. That's what I'm talking 'bout."

Arianne nodded. "True. But all of us ain't kinfolk, neither." She turned back to Micah. "Is she good people? You know what I mean. Tell the truth, reaper."

Micah nodded. "Yes. A little isolated and misguided, but her heart is kind, strong, and open. She's meant for more than this and I got her into this danger. I'm prepared to die to protect her."

Isis smirked. "Okay, white boy. Say that shit. Done fell in love with the enemy. I love to see it." She moved over to the shelf with her various rows of jars and bottles. "Tamia, come on and help me with this."

"What are you doing?" Micah asked.

"You can't run up on your buddy reapers looking like that. We can't bring you back to your original strength, but we got a few tricks to give you at least some kind of glow-up. You're gonna need it."

###