The Midnight Murder Series: Pieces

“How’s your throat?” asked Adán to Beyond while pouring himself a cup of green tea back at the house. Rufus and Beyond were sitting at the kitchen table. “I’m sorry for not getting your things, Rufus?” he leaned against the counter in a white robe and twisted a strand of his wet, clean hair with his index finger.

Rufus sat his cup of coffee down and looked at the vampire. “What things?” His eyes saw Rosario finger drawing hearts on the robe.

“Daddy,” the little girl spoke. “Look what I draw!” Her words and smile broke Rufus’ heart even more.

“It feels like I’ve swallowed gallons of sand and acid,” answered Beyond in a hoarse voice while rubbing her throat. She coughed before taking another sip of her bottled water. The half-breed scratched absently at the sizable Band-Aid pad on her forehead. She made a side note to replace it with a new one in the next few hours.

“You wanted me to get you some crackers and energy drinks this morning when you were throwing up in the toilet from your hangover,” Adán explained and Rosario smiled more when her father reached a hand down. She thought he would pat her head and tell her that she did a great job, but instead, he scratched his outer thigh. “Stupid bugs.”

Rosario took a step back and frowned. “Daddy, that was me doing that, see?” She watched him drink his tea and realized that he couldn’t hear her. Tears began to well in her eyes. “Daddy?”

Rufus watched her flicker then disappear. He took a moment to collect himself before answering the vampire. “I wasn’t throwing up. I was fighting a dragon with Beyond. That thing was huge! I mean, it had scales, claws, and a pink tail.”

Adán and Beyond traded looks before Beyond cleared her throat.

“Yeah, uh, we were fighting a dragon. Th-That’s what he meant not throwing up. I cured his hangover,” she lied before changing the subject. “Who was that stranger?”

“He wasn’t a knight that’s for sure,” spoke Rufus “He smelled like Chinese food and sweat – mostly sweat.”

Beyond’s stomach grumbled when Rufus said the word food. She rubbed it and sighed. “Whoever he is, he did save me.”

“He wore a raven skull mask and all black. I think he was trying to go as an emo hero,” Adán shook his head.

Beyond was in deep thought as the boys continued talking. A headache was forming from the run-on questions in her head. She reluctantly stood up and leaned against her seat. “Guys, the dragon told me that Dany is going to summon the Horsemen to bring an end to the human world.”

Beyond’s statement made Rufus and Adán astound.

“The Horsemen as in the Book of Revelation’s Horsemen?” asked Rufus.

She nodded. “There’s more. The leviathans already hit the capital. The American new president is one.”

“The king,” Adán spoke as he set his cup down on the counter. “We need to warn him. If he turns into his older self, we’re in deep trouble.”

“I will,” stated Beyond. “I just wanted to tell you guys first. We’ll tell the hunters when they get back.”

“How long do you think we have until that fiend does summon them? A month? A week?” Rufus put his face in his hands, worrying about Zak’s safely. “A day?”

“There won’t be a summon,” she corrected. “If I can – if we can get one step ahead of Dany, we can stop him or,” an idea popped into her head. “Let’s summon Death.”

The boys shook their heads at her.

“That’s murder, Beyond,” addressed Adán. “You need a whole city or a state dead to summon him and more.”

“Lucky for you, I know a spell that won’t need a massacre,” she sadly smiled. “One reaper wing, some herds, a few bones from any human or animal, and dirt.”

“That’s a nice spell, but where are we going to get a reaper’s wing?” Rufus got up and put a hand on his hip. “They’re in hiding due to Dany.”

Beyond sighed before facing her back towards the boys. She hissed in agony as a black broken wing unfolded from her back and torn part of her shirt. “Y-You’re looking at one,” she panted as the dumbfounded men watched her. “Rip it out. Collect as much blood as you can.”

A heavy silence fell upon the three. Rufus and Adán shared a quick glance then back to Beyond. Beyond was looking down and sighing, trying her best not to pass out due to the blood loss and agonizing pain.

“You’re a reaper, but you’re a witch,” Rufus noted. “So, you’re a half-breed, but the king told us that you’re a full witch.”

“The king is an idiot,” Beyond remarked. “Now, rip off my wing so we can do the spell. Come on, come on.”

“But where’s your other wing?” the werewolf raised a brow.

Beyond didn’t answer him. “Pull it out before it’s too late. Don’t stop until you pull it out completely.”

“Are you sure?” Adán frowned.

She wasn’t. Her wings were her grace and strength, but she was willing to sacrifice her last wing for the greater good. She inhaled deeply through her nose then slowly exhaled out of her mouth. “Do it. But first, give me a belt.”

Rufus quickly pulled his belt off and handed it to her. “Here.”

She took it and put it between her teeth. “Ready,” she closed her eyes, preparing for the pain and tightening her grip on the chair.

Rufus stepped behind the half-breed to stop Adán from doing it. “You’re clean, and you’re wearing white.” Adán rolled his eyes and Rufus wrapped his hands around the wing. “On the count of three. One. Two. Three.”

Adán, dressed in outside clothing, and Beyond were standing around a dug-up hole with the reaper’s wing poking out in the backyard. The vampire sprinkled the hole with some salt while Beyond dried some chicken bones with a dish towel and tossed them in.

“Where’s Rufus with the herbs?” she sighed while rubbing her shoulder with a whimper. “I need more pain pills.”

“You had a whole bottle. I don’t want you to overdose,” Adán shook his head and brushed his hands against his pants legs to clean them. “I’m sure he’ll be here-”

The sound of baaing interrupted him. The knights turned to the entrance of the backyard to see Rufus bringing in a herd of sheep.

“What the hell?!” Beyond yelled in wrathful. “Rufus, I said herbs, not a herd.”

“No, you said herd. I remember because the writer of this series was in a rush to get to work and was too tired,” he corrected. “To fix your sentence.”

“Oh,” she blinked and made a face. “Anyway, do you have the herbs?” Beyond pinched the bridge of her nose. “We can deal with the sheep later.”

Rufus nodded and reached into his jacket pocket to pull a green plastic bag out. “I got what they had over at that Smit Farms down the road. Also,” he giggled. “Got some McDonald’s in the house for lunch.”

“You got me a chocolate chip frappé and some bacon sandwiches?” smiled Adán. “And some fries?”

“Hell yeah!” Rufus grinned. “My baby needs his protein and energy.”

“Aw!” Adán blushed. “Thank you, honey. You’re so sweet.”

“Guys,” Beyond whispered. “We’re getting out of character.”

“Oh, right, sorry,” Rufus cleared his throat. “Yeah, I got what they had over at that Smit Farms down the road.”

Beyond took off one of her gloves and held out her bare hand. “Pour them out.”

Rufus headed towards her and dropped the herbs into her hand. He watched as the healthy and living plants withered to an unappealing brown. His jaw dropped in shock as the female turned to walk towards Adán and the hole. “Note to self: Don’t piss off a reaper.”

Beyond hummed as she extended her hand over the hole. “Oh, Death,” she sang as she clenched it into a fist and crushed the dried herbs into pieces. “Oh, Death. Oh, Death. Won’t you spare me over ’til another year?” Slowly, she unclenched her fist and watched the pieces fall into the hole. The dirt began smoking when the herbs touched the ground. “But what is this, that I cant see with ice cold hands taking hold of me,” Beyond continued singing.

“How big is this hole?” Rufus asked when he walked beside Adán who was watching. “Adán?”

“Six feet,” the vampire replied. “Now, shush.”

“When God is gone, and the Devil takes hold, who will have mercy on your soul?” Beyond paused for a moment when thunder rumbled in the distance. “Oh, Death.”

Rufus and Adán looked skyward to see the white clouds darken and swirl. They turned their attention back to Beyond when it began pummeling rain. The herd of sheep fled the backyard in fear as the earth rumbled.

“My sheep!” Rufus yelled while pointing at the runaway herd. “I’ve paid over a thousand dollars for them!”

Adán facepalmed at Rufus’ last statement. “Dammit, Rufus. You’re not allowed to have money.”

“Oh, Death,” Beyond sang as the now mud sizzled. “Oh, Death,” the same hand over the hole formed a small fireball in her palm. “No wealth, no ruin, no silver, no gold. Nothing satisfies me but your soul,” she threw the fireball into the hole, causing everything in the pit to burst into flames. “Oh, Death.” she turned to the boys, her eyes glowed green. The female signaled for them to stand next to her and elevated their arms in the air. The vampire and werewolf obeyed. “Well I am Death, none can excel. I’ll open the door to heaven or hell. Oh, Death.”

Rufus hummed softly as the flame flared up several feet against the raindrops. “Oh, Death...”

“My name is Death, and the end is here,” Beyond whispered the last part as the rain and fire died down. “My name is Death, and the end is here.”

“Indeed, it is,” the trio spun around and gasped fearfully at the man in front of them. An old man with black slicked back hair, 5′10”, and slender-looking like a skeleton leaned against his wooden cane while staring at them. “No thanks to a fiend, I assume.”

The men bowed down respectfully to Death while Beyond stood there, cleaning the raindrops off her glasses to see with her dry glove.

“Why is Death dress like a mortician?” whispered Rufus to Adán who side-slapped him. The werewolf whimpered and rubbed his red cheek. “I feel like this is copying the TV show Supernatural,” he murmured to himself. “I hope he doesn’t ask for pickle chips.”

“What is it? I’m busy,” Death announced.

“We, uh, summon you to warn you,” explained Beyond when the knights rose. “We have word that Dany will be summoning you and your brothers to end the human world and other.”

Death shifted his dull gaze at each knight before his gaze resting on the charred wing in the pit. “Who’s wing was that?” he asked. Unlike his younger self, Death doesn’t show his emotions, but he was pissed to see the wing destroyed and used to summon him.

“Who cares about the wing?” spoke Beyond. “The more important thing here is warning you about Dany.”

“Yeah, we’re warning you about Dany,” agreed Rufus before hiding behind the female in fear. “With all due with respect, my king.”

Beyond didn’t blame him for hiding. She was afraid of her father’s older self as well. What Thanatos can do were baby steps from Death’s doing.

“I see,” Death stood up straight before heading towards the knights. “Instead of warning my younger self who is up and around, you summon me. How smart are you three?”

“Well, Adán is a doctor, and I’m a scientist,” Rufus softly answered while poking his head out from Beyond’s back. “Sir.”

“But, my king, a loyal reaper of yours gave up their last wing to summon you,” Adán stated. “If Dany got to you first, he’ll enslave you and your brothers.” He swallowed and hid behind Beyond with Rufus when Death stopped in front of her.

Death tilted his head at the vampire’s words. He knew his younger self would be crying from any reaper or knight sacrificing. “Who was this reaper?”

Beyond turned a cheek towards Death and frowned. “They told us to keep them anonymous.”

Death knew the wing was hers. He sensed her silent agony, but he held his tongue on asking where was her other wing. Death closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them. “I see. Rufus and Adán, you may leave. And Rufus, take a shower. You smell like a farm.” The knights bowed their heads at the king before racing out of there and into the house. He watched them leave then back towards the female, who was facing him.

“I know you want to ask,” she began. “Where’s your other wing, right? Well, blame your son, dad. If it weren’t for Hope and Rufus, I would be dead by now.”

“He took your wing?” Death leaned against his cane.

“Ripped both of them off of my back,” she gave out a soft huff. “Hope healed the one in the pit, but – oh well. And dad, I know about the wall, and I want it down.”

“I’m afraid that’s impossible,” he stated.

“Can’t or won’t?” she scolded.

“Both, young lady,” he narrowed his eyes at her. “There’s a wall in your head for a reason. Show me respect; I’m still your father, no matter who I am. You already broke some of it, back then.”

“What do you mean?” she arched a brow.

“That Jonathan Crowden boy and,” he began walking towards the exit of the backyard. Beyond followed him. “I put a wall in your head the day after the funeral. You were fine for the next hundred years until you scratch it with that human report you were doing.”

“The ten days in an asylum report?” they stopped in the driveway. “I did receive a lot of electroshock therapy, but I want the wall down. It’s my head. I have a say so in what you do to it or not.”

“Not in that and this case,” Death surveyed one of the next-door neighbor’s teen sons playing basketball in the street. “I have a tingle that I’ll be reaping someone very, very soon.” He witnessed the car racing down the road and towards the happy group.

“What do you me-” she paused her question when she saw the car and the humans. “Dad, they’re just-”

“You can’t cheat death,” he interrupted when the car hit one of the boys. Beyond swallowed as the boy’s brothers and parents raced towards his aid as the vehicle sped off. Death vanished and reappeared next to the boy’s bleeding unconscious body. He knelt beside him and gently touch the teen’s forehead, letting the boy close his eyes and end his suffering.

The boy’s soul appeared beside Death with sorrowful eyes. “But why?”

Beyond appeared behind the boy. “It’s part of the natural order,” the boy turned around in shock. “The cycle of life. I know it seems unfair, but it’ll be okay.”

“What about my family?” he asked with tears rolling down his cheeks. “My cat? My girlfriend?”

“They’ll be fine,” she respond.

“Really?” the teen questioned with hope in his voice.

“It depends on them,” Beyond replied as she watched the mother weep on her dead son’s chest. “It depends on them.”

Adán was washing dishes in the kitchen when Rufus came in with a towel up around his hair and a blue robe. The werewolf saw Rosario sitting in one of the chairs, watching her father clean. Rufus crept behind the vampire and wrapped his arms around his waist then rested his chin on his shoulder.

“You took all the hot warm,” whispered Rufus. “You know showering in cold water wasn’t nice.”

“I see it control that boner of yours,” Adán remarked while drying the last spoon with a dish towel. “Maybe you should go back to the police station and see if the hunters have found anything.”

“What about you?” Rufus didn’t notice the unshed tears glistening in his lover’s eyes. “You don’t wanna have cuddles in bed?”

“Ew!” Rosario giggled when Rufus kissed the vampire’s cheek. “Unclie Puppy is kissing daddy’s cheek.”

Adán closed his eyes to prevent any tears falling. “Why are you talking baby talk to me?” the Hispanic’s question made Rufus frown. “I’m going to check something out with Beyond. Another way to stop Dany. Maybe later, we can do the nooky thing.”

Rufus smiled brightly and unwrapped his arms from his waist. “I’ll see you tonight or so,” he spun around to see Rosario waving at him and giggling. The German waved back at her before exiting the kitchen.

“Yeah,” Adán softly whispered as his daughter’s giggles echoed in his ears. He opened his eyes as a single tear slid down his cheek.