Ecrion’s Interview Part 3

“Are you afraid?” Ecrion said.

“Yes and no.” I said. “I hate that place.”

Ecrion looked at me with those unknowing eyes of hers. Just like an Encronian to know so much but understand nothing.

“After all.” I said. “It is fear that allows for hatred…”

“But love that allows for fear.” She said.

I turned to look at her, a chill crawling down my spine. How could she say that? I questioned. How does she expect me to reply?

“I love nothing, and no one.” I said. “I’m not a Croation, I’m not a number alright. I’m just…”

“Reaper.” She said. “Dark R. Reaper. Right?”

“A name with no meaning.” I said, clutching my chest. “No memories, no past, no close relationships, not a place for love. Do you understand?”

“What’s that even supposed to mean?” She said. She smiled. She grabbed my hand.

I slipped from her grasp. “Right here, in this heart, there is no place for love to grow. There is no light here.”

Ecrion closed her eyes. She pointed at my chest, finger prodding at my heart. “This moment is a memory, every second is the past, relationships grow stronger each moment, and there is no place where love can not go. No place where light can not find you. No matter what the cost.”

I grabbed her hand that was pointing at my chest. “A cost indeed…” The visions of the beast passed through my mind. I snapped my head away from her and moved from her touch. “There are some things that light does not want to find.”

I could hear something that sounded like a whirlpool behind us. “It is time.” The voice said.

I felt a throbbing pain in my back as I collapsed to the ground. My vision slowly faded, but before I passed out I could make out those black boots.

Who are you?

When I awoke I was sitting in a chair in a dark bedroom. It reminded me of my own at home, but it was so much more dim, so much darker. Ecrion was gone. “Not dead, just gone. I couldn’t feel her here.” To be reunited just to be pulled apart again.

“I’ve been searching for you.” A man’s voice said.

From his voice I could tell he was standing behind me, but I didn’t have the strength to turn my head. “Who are you?” I said.

“Why my lord. I am but your most devoted servant.” He said.

“I have no servants.” I said. “I’m a hermit. I live alone. Everyone who knew me is dead.”

“Except Ecrion?” He said.

“How do you know her name?” I said. “How long had you been spying.”

“Decades, young master.” He said. “For years I watched you living among the Humans and in the Underworld. When your true calling has always been here.” He waltzed over to the red curtains on the wall. “The Croatian world has been awaiting its old Lord.” He opened the curtain to reveal a vast iron kingdom beyond which lied the darkest green forest I’d ever seen, and beyond that the city of Croatia in flames and dismay.

To be Continued After

Reaping 2

But First a Short Intermission

From Another Tale in Another Time