37. The blood of the dead

Bee

( " ...appy birthday to you ! Happy birthday to you ! " they sang whilst standing around me .

I smiled and clapped my hands . I wanted them to sing louder .

" Happy birthday to - "

" Me ! " I shouted and they all laughed and smiled at me .

We were in a small room with a wooden table in the centre .

The room was dark and the only light came from the doors behind us that were open but I couldn't see outside .

I knew it was night though but everything else was blurry .

But there was another source of light .

On the table was a small birthday cake , with bright candles .

I looked at it and felt immense joy , because today was special .

It wasn't just my birthday but ...

What was it again ?

I couldn't remember ...

Where was I ?

Who am I ?

" ... Bee ... please "

I knew that voice , it was ... think , remember !

" ...Bee ..."

I remembered green eyes and a jovial smile ... who was it ?

" ... B...ee..."

Someone important ... but who ?

Think ! Remember ! I told myself

...

" B...ee..."

Nymph ! )

I opened my eyes .

I was in the bathroom at Nymph's house .

What had happened ?

I swallowed and ... I tasted blood .

I was stunned and confused . Why could I taste and where was the blood coming from ... ?

" Be..e..." a soft whisper next to me . I turned and saw the nymph lying next to me with his head on my shoulder .

Why was he sleeping in the bathroom ? What had happened ? I wondered .

I looked down at my lap and saw my hands holding the nymph's arm .

But there was ... blood dripping from his hand .

" Nymph ? " I said moving away to look at him .

He was so pale , just like the day I took him to the hospital .

What happened , how did he-

" Bee... please ..." the nymph said quietly in his sleep ," I ... can't ... anymore ..."

Then it all came back ...

I had been wiping the nymph's body and then I had felt the burning sensation in my chest .

But then a whirling feeling came into my stomach and I rushed to the toilet to empty my bowels .

As I kept on vomiting , I felt myself getting weaker and weaker .

Then the burning sensation had come up with even more intensity .

I knew what had been happening , I had gotten hungry again .

I tried to move but my body was too weak and hot . It felt like agony all over my skin and right to my bones .

I had been vaguely aware of the nymph calling out to me but my mind had been too fuzzy , all I had wanted was to eat .

When I had moved to the door , a hand had touched me and I became angry at it and swatted it away .

I had needed to eat , I had thought of nothing else and I desperately wanted to go out and find something to feed on . Then the burning sensation had reached into my chest abd had erupted and my body jumped up and fell back against the bathtub .

I couldn't take it , I had to eat .

I had ripped my shirt apart and started tearing off pieces of skin to assuage my hunger but it didn't work and I spat it out.

I layed back writhing in agony and unable to move , it hurt to much .

It hurt everywhere !

I begged out for someone to help me , my mind was burning and my senses frazzled .

" Bee , I have some ... some flesh for you to eat . " I heard as if from a distance , " I want you to eat it okay. Just so you can feel better ."

I had nodded my head , anything to assuage my suffering !

A moment later I had felt flesh on my lips and without thinking I had bit into it . I had chewed deeply and yet slowly as if i was slightly holding myself back .

Then I had tasted the blood ... it had been amazing .

It had tasted like sweet berries and mint leaves . So savoury I had wanted more and I had kept sucking .

" Bee...ease...top..." I had heard vaguely but my mind had still been fuzzy with the need to feed and the blood cooled down the burning feeling so I had kept on sucking .

Then the images had started appearing in my mind .

I had been laughing with people all around me . It had felt good ... I had felt good .

Then I had heard my name and I had slowly snapped out of it .

Now I sat facing the nymph with a terror deep inside me.

I looked down at his hand and lifted it up .

There was a huge bite mark on his wrist and blood was slowly flowing out of it .

The floor had blood on it too , even my tattered shirt .

I looked at my torn bloody clothing in a sudden distress and I ripped off my shirt completely !

I threw it away behind the door and I stood up looking down at the nymph .

Please , I didn't do it , I thought horrified , please , I didn't want to , I couldn't have done this .

I turned around and went to the mirror and what I saw made a dark feeling rise in me that nearly tore my heart in two .

My face was flushed with a creamy red hue and my eyes seemed to glow .

My disfigurement was disappearing , my skin closing over , it looked like it was slowly melding into itself and closing the cut .

But what I saw above these things was my lips .

They were stained with crimson blood .

I immediately crumbled onto the floor .

" No ... no ... I ...I " I held my head in my hands shaking it and I felt the dark feeling spread as if consuming me .

What have I done ? I thought frantically , why?... no ...please ... I didn't want to... I ... I ...

I looked back at the nymph's prone form and crawled on my knees and hands slowly .

" Nymph ? " I said holding his face , but he didn't move , " Nymph... Yuree .... please wake up ... I... didn't mean to... please ...I..."

I held his face close and put my forehead on his .

I felt tears prick my eyes but I didn't care .

I had hurt him... almost killed him ...I had ... why ?

Why ... no .... please

" Why ? " I cried and held his head onto my chest . I felt the dark feeling inside me swell and choke all my emotions .

I gritted my teeth and held the nymph close to my chest .

I ... had hurt him .

I almost killed him ... I hadn't wanted to ... I hadn't known ...

I knew death was not the end but I still couldn't shake the dark feeling . I needed the nymph ... I didn't want him gone .

But he was going ... his breathing dropping and his blood still flowing ... all because me .

The dark feeling swelled up and around me . I felt dark rage and self-loathing , so deep ... so dark ...

I wanted to lash out ... I wanted to ...

" You might want to stop now , " a voice said ," before you raise the whole Underworld . "

I looked up and turned to its owner .

A mysterious black clad figure stood in the room having appeared out of nowhere .

He wore a billowing dark grey cloak that seemed to be make of thick smoke . It reached to his feet and was enveloping the being so much he looked like a ghost hovering in the air .

He had fair white hair and a cold face that held a icy smile . His eyes were a frosty blue that seemed to gaze into something beyond normal sight .

" Well , Corpse ? " the being said " Are you going to raise all the dead because of your mistake ? "

" Who are you ? " I said scowling , I didn't know why but I didn't like this being . He made the dark feeling inside me blaze more .

The being raised his gloved hands ," No need to try and steal my life force . " he said defensively and cackled coldly ," My name is Zascare , and I ..."

the being pointed to the nymph in my arms ," am his Death . "

" What ? ...are you ...here to kill him ? " I asked the dark feeling blazing into a torrent around me and I saw a wisp of blackness shoot at the cloaked being , Zascare .

He swiftly moved out of its way and then he cackled coldly again , " Me ? You already did that . " he said with a cold smile ," A Corpse killing it's Beloved ... it's as odd as the moon shining in the day or a mortal making fire with sand . Why did you do it Corpse ? "

I swallowed and looked at the nymph with a sense of pain cutting through me . " I ... didn't want to . I lost control...I was ...hungry ."

" Ah , I see . The old Dead ones would usually leave to hunt when they felt the hunger coming . " he said frowning , " Why didn't you go to hunt ? "

" Hunt ? Hunt what ? " I asked and he cackled loudly .

" Keh heh heh heh , " he laughed with icy humour , " You know nothing , it appears . Your kind hasn't been seen since The Raze . And for good reason . "

" What are you talking about and what do you want ? " I demanded .

" I have come for his soul , which I saw was marked for death when I first met him a while back ." Zascare said casually , " Of course , how a human dies is not shown to us Reapers . Had I known it would be at the hands of a Corpse and that the human was a Beloved ... I might have killed him myself as a mercy ."

The dark feeling swelled out of me again and two more arcs of blackness shot at Zascare. He ducked and swirled around , avoiding each one . His movements were so lucid , it was as if he was actually smoke .

Then he stop and glowered at me with his icy smile now wiped off his face .

" Corpse ... you antagonize me but I have no qualms with you . I am here for his human soul , quite bright it is too . " he said casually and my anger grew but then he said something that gave me pause , " And if I do not take it then it will dissipate and he will TRULY BE GONE . Do you want to be the cause of his soul's destruction aswell as his death ? "

I looked down at the nymph , he looked so still ... so pale ... I didn't want him to disappear ... not even his soul .

" I ... don't want ...to lose him ." I said through gritted teeth and Zascare sighed and tisked his tongue .

" And yet you almost killed him . How perverse , a typical Corpse ." he said mockingly , then he looked at me with deep eyes and a cold calculating expression , " You say... you don't want to lose him . That is ... endearing . But ...as a Reaper I must never leave empty handed ."

I glared at him , was he going to take Yuree away from me ?

But maybe ... that was a good thing , I realised .

He wasn't safe with me , I had almost killed him .

I looked at his innocent face and felt a stinging pain in my chest. It was worse than the hunger and ate at me .

I felt slight moisture on my eyes and the pain increasing but I snuffed both of them down .

I looked at the nymph with a deep sadness .

I raised his face and did something I had never dared to think of doing .

I kissed him .

It was a brief touch of my lips on his forehead but it was all I could do to say sorry to him . I would never forgive myself for hurting him .

I would let him go now though ...

He would go to the golden staircase and go into Paradise.

Olibia had said all souls are happy there . I would still never forgive myself but I'd be content that he was happy .

He would be happy ... without me .

" My , my ... so strange . " Zascare said quietly , " You care for him , yet you did this . It is quite odd . I , however , can not judge you . That would be hypocrisy but I honestly wonder which foolish entity brought you back and left you in this state in the first place , Corpse . Little control and little knowledge ... a dangerous thing . But , no matter ... have you chosen what you want ? "

" I want the nymph... Yuree to be happy . " I said solemnly and Zascare raised his brows and then he looked at the nymph with a sharp gaze and for a moment he's eye's glowed a bright green and shimmered but it quickly passed . His face broke into a soft smile but his eyes were cold .

" Well , if that's what you want then ... I can oblige . " he said casually and he walked closer and leaned into my face until we were at eye level , then in a cold voice " You will owe me , even after payment . Remember that , and know ; I ALWAYS collect . Now , put him in the water ."

" What ? But , you said you were going to take him ." I asked confused and Zascare nodded his head .

" I did but ... I have certain interest in this soul ... as a Reaper and PERSONALLY . So I'll help him . " he said and I frowned , " What ?... Oh , no , my interest is nothing romantic you husk of dead flesh , it is something that concerns him . Also , you asked for him to be happy , did you not ? I may not be a djinn but I can still see a soul's greatest desire . Now will you put him in the water or not ? His soul is fading already and he'll truly be dead in the next two minutes ."

I stood up and put my arms around the nymph , I didn't trust this being . There was something about him that made me ... angry and wary . But he said he would help the nymph and it had sounded sincere enough , if a bit cold .

And anything was better than the nymph disappearing completely .

Even if he hated me .

I placed him into the bath tub carefully . The wound on his wrist still had a steady flow of blood that quickly mixed with the water .

" Now , for the next part , I need your hand . " he said and I raised my fist while glaring at him .

If he tried anything I would not hesitate to kill him .

He smiled at my show of aggression and then he extended his hand . His nails were long black claws and I looked at them with warily .

" Relax , Corpse . I merely need your blood . " he said snidely , " The blood of the dead is quite useful for regeneration . "

His index finger touched my wrist and with a small swipe his claw sliced across my wrist and drew out my blood .

A black drip began to flow down from the cut and Zascare told me to put my wrist in the water . I complied and my blood soon merged with that of the nymph's and the water became a dark red .

" Good , now I am going to heal him... but not completely . His other superficial wounds will heal by themselves , faster after this is done . His vitality and healing prowess will be greatly improved ... Ahh , Dead blood ... so rare ... if only ... but ," he said coming out of his musings , " after this , I recommend you try and keep you hunger under control . "

" I don't know how ." I said honestly , " The first time it came I ate rats to make it stop ."

Zascare put on a face of disgust ," Animal flesh . How vile . It can work to assuage your hunger , even if it's very thin in life force . " he patted me on the shoulder ," But now that you've fed on human flesh and human life force , it will be awhile before it returns . And you'll have ample time to get away from him . TAKE IT ."

He looked back at the water and smiled maliciously , " Now , it's time to begin . "

He reached his hand into the water and then ... the nymph started to sink .

I quickly lifted my hand to stop him going into the now deep water but Zascare held my shoulder and shook his head .

So I reluctantly let him go . It was to help him , I told myself , he'll be fine .

The nymph sinked down into the water until his head was the only thing above the surface . But it quickly sank under too until he was completely gone and I had to grit my teeth to not panic .

" Good , " Zascare said , " Your Beloved is fine . Your dead blood is healing him . Although having to be tainted by Corpse blood will alter his soul , he will still be the same . "

Yuree would be okay , I breathed out in relief .

Then I saw his face rise again from the water . As he rose I noticed that he didn't have any water on him though , he was completely dry .

" Lift him out now . " Zascare said taking his hand from the water and stepping away .

I lifted Yuree from the water and placed him next to the tub .

His would hand vanished and he looked better . His skin was no longer pale looking and he was breathing normally . His body was dry and his cast was still held together despite his submersion in water .

I begrudgingly opened my mouth to show my gratitude , I still didn't like or trust Zascare and his presence erked me .

But he'd helped the nymph .

" Thank y- "

" Oh , no , Corpse ." Zascare said cutting me off , " I said it before . I have interest in this soul and I also do not take thank yous . But I was supposed to have left with his soul , whereas now I healed him . Reapers do not leave empty handed as I said in the beginning . But since I am not going with his soul , I want something else as payment . "

I looked at him with renewed suspicion . I knew I had reason not to trust him .

" What do you want ? " I asked him , If he wanted the nymph alive then I would fight him .

" I want ... your blood . " he said casually taking out a small cylinder shaped bottle .

I narrowed my eyes , " Why do you want it ? Do you ... want to do something that will harm me ? "

" What I will do with it , is for ME to know and YOU , to not be worried about . It doesn't concern you ... but let me just say , I am in your shoes and this can help me . " he said but I didn't understand , " Now , I have done my part . Your turn . "

I didn't move from my position next to the nymph , " Why my blood ? "

He gave a exasperated sigh , " I told you , the blood of the dead is very useful for regeneration and I have a use for it . We waste time I do not have . Merely give me your blood and I will leave . Afterall , I saved your Beloved , now pay me ... with your blood ."

He threw the cylinder bottle and I caught it .

I looked at it with narrowed eyes.

It was a clear bottle that appeared to be made up of something like crystal glass . It's texture seemed to shift as the light touched it .

" mmm ." Yuree moaned and we both looked at him .

" Hurry up , before sleeping beauty over there awakes . " He said wryly and I raised my hand where he had sliced my wrist .

There was still a slight blood flow and I let one drop fall into the bottle .

" Ah , that will do just nicely ." Zascare said taking it back . He smiled at the bottle and then at me , he's eyes seemed to glow wickedly .

Then in an instant flash ... he was gone .

I looked around and felt even more confused .

The bathroom was clean now , all traces of what happened were gone .

The floor was clean , the tub was empty of water and shining . My torn shirt seemed to have vanished into thin air .

Why had he cleaned up the mess ? I wondered , why the extra help ?

I didn't trust Zascare to do favours lightly .

I remembered his words , " You will owe me , even after payment ."

I doubted this would be last time I saw him .

But all that could wait , I had to take care of the nymph until he woke up .

Then I would accept whatever punishment he chose .

Even if he asked me to go away from him forever .

Chapter 40: 37. The blood of the dead

CREATORS' THOUGHTS
NixelLazuli

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Chapter 40: 37. The blood of the dead

CREATORS' THOUGHTS NixelLazuli

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CREATORS' THOUGHTS
NixelLazuli