For the first time, I let myself cry out loud.

Every sob that escaped me let off a twinge of pain in my chest, both literally and figuratively. I didn’t care that I might get eaten by a giant three-headed dog, or that everybody else would hear me blubbering like an idiot. All I wanted was to cry until I ran out of breath or until I was nothing more than food particles stuck between the three-headed dog’s teeth; whichever came first.

As my consciousness leaked out of me bit by bit, I could hear the earth-shaking rumble from the creature’s throat. I could feel its warm humid breath bathing my body with shivers as it let out a soft whine.

“You did’nae mean it?” a familiar voice snarled. Gleaming red tresses fell over my face, and I thought, George. “What do you mean, you did’nae mean it!?”

The creature sniffed. Then another whine blew the hair off my face.

A pair of slender sandaled legs came into view, approaching with much caution.

“What are you doing, Elemental?” It was Levi’s demanding voice. “Keep distance from the Guardian at once! It’s extremely dangerous!”

I felt a hand press firmly on the hole over my scapula as George’s white button-up appeared before my eyes. “Aye! You ought to be deeply ashamed of yourself, Cerberus!”

The giant creature let out a sad yodeling sound in three different pitches. Then, it lied down, resting its heads over its massive front paws. The middle head—the one that looked like a cross between a Mastiff and a Rottweiler—nudged my arm with its nose.

Staring into its remaining violet eye, I finally lost myself thinking I was really bad with dogs.

***

It was dark and I felt myself floating.

“—take her to Luci’s lab!” Grigori’s voice sounded far away.

Someone fetch her master!” It was Levi this time.

“—made from earthly materials… Helcium’s nullifying Bind does not work in…”

“Then, it would be like… on earth?”

“Yes… immortal while inside… But… be punished… Eldest forbade it.”

The voices slowly faded into echoes beyond my understanding. Every noise seemed to come from another dimension that was suddenly unreachable to me. My only consolation now was the absence of feeling; the absence of pain.

I felt hollow and numb and cold.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the spitting fire in the middle of a cave. From across me, Alessandra stood with her back on the wall, hands fisted on her sides, the shadows playing on her ashen face.

For some reason, I wasn’t surprised. I kind of knew we would meet again.

As I started to get up from the cot that used to be Adrianna’s sick bed, I noticed that the wound in my shoulder had already healed.

Gently testing my arm, I faced Alessandra. “What now? Are you going to keep me in here for good this time?”

For now, the thought of being stuck in Alessandra’s cave looked more appealing than going back to deal with the real world stuff.

I sucked at friendship. At slavery. At human and non-human relationships in general. At life. Even after death. It was all so dreadful and problematic I didn’t know how to make it better anymore.

Instead of answering, she slowly hobbled towards me with awkward uncoordinated steps as if every bone in her body was broken in many different ways. The flames were reflected on her mismatched eyes, giving her a sinister air. As I looked into them, I felt the strong need to run. But it was as if my body was turned into stone.

Suddenly, she snatched my hand and violently yanked it down towards the flames.

As I fought to free myself from her grip, she stared at me with those wide bloodshot eyes. In an instant, I was petrified. And together, we burned.

My screamed echoed against the walls of the cave, fading into a silent cry.

As I opened my eyes again, it wasn’t me who was crying, but the woman in front of me.

“Alessandra,” Sileas thoughtfully adorned my humble name with the melody of her pleading voice. “I beg you.”

Not one soul had graced her lament with their presence apart from the fireflies that fleetingly lingered by the arched windows of the most regally embellished bedchamber in Reaper castle. Faultless was the room itself, if not for the speckle of crimson on the walls.

Concealed under the embroidered satin draping the gilded four-poster was the crumpled figure of a brown-skinned traitor named Amarah, bathing in her own blood. It was such a shame having to ruin that bright and colorful sari. If only she were as strong as she was beautiful. She would have lasted long enough to amuse me.

Bringing herself to her knees, Sileas buried her face on my feet, her tears staining the polished leather of my draughting boots.

It dawned on me: no matter how long this woman sniveled, or how many barrels of tears she may shed, never will I consider commiseration of any form towards her. My soul had long been stripped of compassion to feel anything more than wrath.

All of my humanity had razed along with the ashes of my bones and flesh; the ashes from which I was Reborn in all power and glory. A phoenix with the mission to unleash its vengeance on the flawed and corrupt world.

With not a drop of uncertainty, I called forth my scythe. Devotedly, it heeded its mistress’ summons.

Admiring my reflection on the gleaming blade—golden hair, olive skin and inimitable differently-colored eyes—I was pleased to see that my countenance did not betray pity.

“Spare me, Alessandra,” beseeched the Grandmaster’s first concubine. “And come the day whence Pilgrim Reaper’s throne falls in these hands of mine, I shall ensure you a place as my right hand.”

I honored her entreaty with a smile. Then, stroking her lustrous platinum hair, I enveloped her delicate hand in mine.

“Right hand,” I reiterated.

“Yes!” she exclaimed, lifting her face so that our eyes may meet. “My right hand.”

With a smile, I severed that right arm she so revered.

“Do you hear it now, Grandmaster?” I murmured, closing my eyes to savor Sileas’ precious wails, her profession of remorse. “I accomplished what you could not.”

In the middle of her groveling, I lifted my blade and finished the task.

With my head held high, I crossed the threshold to the castle’s grand hall. Every master and familiar regarded me with prudence as I walked, proudly bearing the blood of traitors on my clothing as though accolades of my most recent feat.

“That little girl?” A spiteful whisper came from the crowd.

“How could such a tiny thing like that defeat two of the Grandmaster’s concubines?”

Fools, I thought.

My petite appearance being misleading was to my great advantage. I gratefully took pride in it. It was merely the sight of my master Cairo that inwardly disheartened me. Though he uttered not a single word of blame, the verity that he was enduring immense pain and loss rendered me unable to raise my head.

So, as I advanced to have an audience with the Grandmaster, I resorted to a very difficult decision.

“As was promised,” the Grandmaster began, interlacing his fingers under his chin. “Anything you shall desire, I shall grant for you. If you wish it, you shall become my right hand; one whose supremacy can only be surpassed by mine.”

I nearly smirked upon the remembrance of Sileas proposing the exact same bribe. Power served to me on a silver platter, yet the sort of power I did not desire.

“Your benevolence honors one deeply, My Lord,” answered I, on my knees in a gesture of obeisance. “However, it shames one to yearn for a thing other than that which the Grandmaster so generously offers.”

The Grandmaster waved a hand, a spark of interest glinting in his silver orbs. “Do say the word, Dear Alessandra, and it shall be yours.”

It was as I had aspired for. The impossible, now at the tips of my fingers.

I searched for my master’s gaze from among the assembly. For once, I saw despondency in those ceaselessly ireful eyes.

Our ties had been severed from the moment I became his mother’s executioner. He could no longer be my master, nor I, his familiar.

Now, bowing my head low, I announced my end of the bargain.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I've mentioned before, it's Aramis' birthday on the 8th of December. As a treat for all you guys out there, I will make an extra chapter. (like a filler LOL) It doesn't have to be in Reapers setting. Maybe a mashup, a new spin, or something completely random.So if you have ideas on the theme of the extra chapter, ideas, suggestions, violent reactions are most welcome. Please connect with me thru my Facebook page -- ShimSimplina or Twitter -- @Simply_shim and I'll be waiting for your comments there.