Chapter 98 - Gazer

Morrigan, Death, and Pepper walked through the quiet streets, Pepper shuffling nervously along, glancing now and then at Death with wide eyes. Morrigan couldn’t quite hide her limp anymore. Running after Pepper had done a number on her injury, but it wasn’t exactly unbearable either. Still, she'd be glad to get off her feet when this was over.

“So, Death, one thing I don’t get,” Morrigan said, breaking the silence.

“What is it?” he replied, his skeletal form eerily composed in the moonlight.

“Didn’t Alice technically just save Pepper’s life?”

Death raised his skeletal fingers to his chin, thinking it over. “Yes, it does seem that way. Though I can’t imagine she orchestrated things quite so precisely. Then again… it wouldn’t be the first time she’s affected fate in such a way.”

“How does she get away with that, though? Shouldn't she be in trouble with the reaper police or something?” Morrigan asked.

“Well, the truth of the matter is that we reapers are always affecting fate in small ways, mostly unintentionally. But… I don't believe there is any reaper with much longevity who hasn’t done so intentionally a time or two. I myself intervened with your family that day long ago, and just this year I allowed Mrs. Meyers more time than she was destined for. The truth is, a single, average human life means little to the overall determinism of the universe.”

“But then, why would I have been in so much trouble for saving Pepper?”

“Well… it’s different if an arbiter is actively assessing you. Think of it as a petty theft at the workplace going unnoticed versus being caught during an audit.”

“So, basically, you can bend the rules a little, just don’t get caught.”

Death chuckled. “More or less. Though, I strongly advise sticking to your list until you’re more experienced.”

“What about the butterfly effect?” Morrigan pressed. “Couldn’t even the smallest alteration completely change everything thousands of years from now?”

“Perhaps, perhaps not,” Death replied, his empty eye sockets gazing contemplatively at the stars. “Our current structure of order hasn’t been around long enough to say for sure.”

“But… isn’t the universe billions of years old?” Morrigan asked.

“That’s what human science currently believes, but I’m afraid I have no particular knowledge to confirm or deny it. What I do know is that the last great demon war was fifteen thousand years ago, when chaos transitioned to order. Fifteen thousand years is an incredibly long time, but still too short to form any solid conclusions about the butterfly effect.”

Pepper, who had been listening wide-eyed but silently, finally spoke up. “Um, M-Mr. Death?”

“Yes, dear?” he said, turning his gaze down toward the small girl. She instantly hugged her arms tighter to her chest and lost an inch or two of height from shrinking into her shoulders. Morrigan wondered if she was a turtle in a past life.

“Um… s-so… are you, um, THE Grim Reaper? Like, the one in stories?”

“Just one of many,” Death answered. “There are plenty of others like me. Though, the story of the Grim Reaper began to manifest in Europe around the 14th century, during the Black Plague. Our unusual level of activity during that time likely led to more sightings than normal, allowing for the myth to arise. Well, it’s not so much a myth, but they did get it wrong by assuming it was only one entity tasked with the role.”

“I-I see… so how old are you?” Pepper asked.

“At least ten thousand years,” Death answered. “Though my memories beyond three thousand years are terribly unreliable.”

“That’s amazing,” Pepper whispered. “Um… so will Morrigan…”

“Yeah, I’m basically immortal too,” Morrigan cut in, smiling slightly. “I’ll turn into a skeleton like him eventually. But Death, should we really be telling her all this?”

“Well, she is a gazer, and quite a powerful one at that. It seems there is little of the supernatural world that is veiled to her, even more so than with most reapers. So I see no harm in sharing.”

“A… gazer?” Pepper asked, cautiously glancing toward Death again before quickly looking away when she met his empty eye sockets.

“Yes, that’s my personal favorite name for people with your ability,” Death explained.

“There are… more people like me?” Pepper asked.

“Yes, but they are exceedingly rare. I’m afraid I know of none currently alive. I believe the last one I crossed paths with was… hmmm, perhaps a hundred years ago.”

“I-I see…” Pepper awed quietly.

“So tell me, how long have you been able to see spirits?” Death asked.

“Um… as long as I can remember, but only Juniper ever believed me. They used to just be blurs, but I see them perfectly now.”

Death’s skeletal fingers softly stroked under his jaw. “So, your power has actually grown stronger as you’ve aged, not weaker? How interesting.”

“Is that… bad?” Pepper asked, her voice small.

“No, just unusual.”

Pepper hesitated. “The b-biggest change came after I lost my family… First i-it was Juniper. But other spirts became more clear as well.”

“Ah… Perhaps your sister haunting you unlocked the full potential of your latent abilities. Noir tells me you’re even able to see his true form. Is that correct?”

Pepper turned pale, her eyes widening at the memory. “Yes… he’s horrible.”

Morrigan snickered. “Well, you’re not wrong there.” She was hoping to lighten the mood.

Pepper shook her head as if trying to banish the memory. “Um, the other one… Nyx… she wasn’t so bad.”

“Yes, well, in comparison to Noir, Nyx is like an infant. She was manifested solely to serve as Alice’s voidling.”

“What about Noir?” Morrigan asked, curious.

“Noir was causing quite a disturbance until I, along with three other reapers, put a stop to him,” Death explained.

“Whoa, really?” Morrigan grinned. “Noir was a troublemaker?”

Death chuckled softly. “Yes, he was quite unruly in his early years. But over time, he found his purpose and adapted to his role.”

Morrigan couldn’t help but smile, imagining the stoic Noir in his rebellious youth. “I can’t picture him as anything but overly serious.”

Death chuckled softly, his voice low and almost fatherly. “Yes, Noir was... unruly. But he found his place.”

Pepper, still hugging her arms tightly to her chest, listened quietly. She seemed more at ease now that the conversation had shifted away from her, though her occasional glances toward Death showed she was still processing the sheer weight of everything.

“Does that mean Nyx can change too?” Pepper asked, her voice soft but curious.

Death nodded. “If Alice allows it. Nyx is still quite young, and voidlings can evolve. But they are only as strong or independent as their masters allow them to be.”

Pepper frowned, thinking it over. “I… I hope Alice lets her.”

“Why do you say that?” Death asked, a hint of curiosity in the hollows of his skull.

Pepper hesitated, fidgeting with her hands before responding, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know. I think it’s sad if she doesn’t. Noir seems to have his own will, but Nyx is… I-it’s almost like she’s Alice’s slave. She seems trapped. And Alice doesn’t seem like the type to let someone grow if it doesn’t benefit her."

Death’s empty sockets stared down at Pepper, though Morrigan could tell he was considering her words carefully. "Trapped… you say?”

“I-I don’t know. It just seems like she can be more, and she knows it too, but can’t do anything about it.” Pepper turned her head away, nervously wringing the hem of her shirt. “That’s how it seemed when I looked at her. I-I’m sorry, I don’t know. I might be wrong.”

“Pepper?” Morrigan raised an eyebrow, her voice gentle.

Death’s jaw cracked slightly in what passed for a smile. “It is a pleasure getting to know you, Pepper. I am glad our paths crossed.” He then stopped and reached into his sleeve, turning to look up a fire escape toward a window high on a brick wall in the alleyway. “Morrigan, we’ve arrived at our destination.” He pulled a scroll out of his sleeve and handed it to Morrigan—it was her list.

She unrolled the familiar parchment with a sigh, realizing just how incomplete she had felt without it and the skeleton key in her possession. If only she could get her phone back, she mused. She hoped to talk to Emma again soon—it had been a very long two days.

Her eyes skimmed the name and location of the single name on her list, her brow furrowing. “Looks like it’s an old guy, dying of heart failure.” She tilted her head to find the address number on the building and confirmed this was the place.

“I’m sure you can handle it just fine on your own,” Death said. “I’ll stay out here with Pepper until you're done.”

***

Morrigan’s reaping went smoothly. She climbed through the window, met the nearly deceased—an old man who seemed grateful to be rid of his frail, sick body—and sent him on. Afterward, she snuck back down the fire escape, ready to return to the shelter.

“So, Morrigan,” Death began as they walked. “Have you given thought to what you wish to do now?”

“What do you mean?”

“It seems you have a choice to make. You don’t necessarily have to return to the shelter and your old life.”

Morrigan hesitated. “But… it’ll be harder to be there for my mom. And besides that…” She glanced at Pepper. She definitely felt like she had unfinished business at the shelter, particularly with Jenna and her lackeys still messing with Pepper. Before the night in the basement, leaving was an easy decision, but now she didn’t want to abandon her.

Death chuckled. “No worries, I understand. Let’s get you two back, then.”

“Wait, but how’s that going to work?” Morrigan asked. “I still need to work as a reaper, right?”

“Oh, it will be a tad inconvenient, but I don’t think it impossible to sneak out every night to handle your list. I would advise working on your mastery of shadow stepping, however. It will make travel at night much faster.”

Pepper smiled at the idea. She, of course, was very happy at the thought of continuing to room with Morrigan.

Morrigan smiled back. “Alright, looks like we’ll be roomies for a while longer, Pepper.”

That made Pepper’s smile only widen. For being such a shy and timid girl, seeing her able to form a natural smile was an especially welcome sight. Morrigan chuckled and put her arm around her back in a quick half-hug before returning her attention to Death.

“So, how are Emma and Hilda?” she asked as they continued walking through the quiet streets, gradually leaving the city behind and moving toward the residential areas.

“They are fine. Worried about you, but just fine. Perhaps I can arrange for them to meet you when you sneak out again another night?” Death offered.

“Yes, I’d really appreciate that,” Morrigan confirmed.

Finally, they arrived back at the shelter. Death wished them luck on sneaking back in, disappearing back into the shadows as easily as if that’s where he belonged.

Morrigan and Pepper crept along the side of the building to the back door. Morrigan used the skeleton key and quietly unlocked it, then held it open for Pepper. “After you.”

Pepper slipped inside, her small frame disappearing into the dim hallway. Morrigan followed quickly, closing the door softly behind her and locking it again. The shelter was mostly silent, save for the occasional creak of settling wood.

They tiptoed through the halls, their footsteps light as they made their way upstairs. Morrigan motioned for Pepper to stop when they neared the top step. She peeked over, seeing the soft glow of the TV from Mrs. Cheyenne’s “guard post,” but nothing else stirred.

Finally, they reached their room. Morrigan carefully turned the skeleton key in the lock, nudging the door open before letting out a soft sigh of relief. She slipped inside and closed the door gently behind them, then turned to Pepper with a wink.

Pepper smiled, nodding, her face bright. Morrigan realized how much she liked seeing Pepper smile. With the weight of her sister’s lingering spirit finally lifted from her shoulders, Pepper’s smiles came a little easier now.

“Thanks again,” Pepper whispered.

Morrigan nodded, sitting down on her bed and propping her leg up carefully. “Yeah… things got pretty scary, but I guess everything worked out. How are you holding up?”

Pepper looked down at her hands, thinking. “I’m just glad Juniper is okay now. I bet she’s with Mom and Dad already… I hope they’re all doing okay.”

Morrigan smiled warmly. “I’m sure they are. And I’m sure they’re all proud of you.”

Pepper smiled again before heading over to change into her pajamas. By the time she was ready for bed, Morrigan was already fading fast. She barely heard Pepper’s soft, “Good night, Morrigan,” before she mumbled it in return and drifted off to sleep.