The next morning brought with it the brisk cool air, welcoming the first day of Autumn. From Chester’s bed he could quite easily peer out the open window to his left as Almeria drew the curtains back to let in the natural light from the risen sun. Grimacing at the thought of having to get up, Chester raised his arm to rest upon his forehead as he closes his eyes once more and takes in a steady breath. Almeria only ever woke him this early if they had received word of his next job. Sometimes he wished that things would slow down, and the sceptics would break word through the towns once more so the work would just try up.

“How did you sleep?” Almeria’s words filtered in soft enough to not seem like a burden to someone who wanted to just drift back off into the darkness of sleep. “You were tossing quite a bit last night” Her cheeks flushed as she fidgeted with her fingers clasped before her. Chester was actually used to her watching over him, so he was not sure why she was so embarrassed to admit it.

“I slept just fine” letting out a deep sigh he moves his arms back so he can lift himself up off his pillows and into a more comfortable sitting position. “Did you even sleep at all considering you were watching me all night?” Flicking his gaze towards Almeria, who had moved by his side to help pull the silk covers from over him.

“Well as you would say,” she smiled with a small nod. “I slept just fine once I had finished my duties and managed to lye down”

Chester smiled at this. Usually Almeria was very formal and rarely showed this side of herself… but when she did… it kind of broke up the normally heavy feeling his body held whilst going about his daily tasks. With Almeria now standing so close to him as she started to unbutton his night shirt, he could start to see the faint lines of her age blemishing her once smooth skin. Her hair she used to keep quite kempt and pinned back, now held strays of hair which wisped across her face and shaped her features.

“Your mother is waiting to start breakfast. I hope bacon and eggs on lightly toasted sour dough is to your liking”

And just like that her playfulness had disappeared. Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed so Almeria could help guide the legs of his jeans up to his thighs, he then stands and waits for her to clasp the button at his waist. He did not know how his mother was awake so early in the morning, considering how late she was last night returning home from the party. Perhaps she gained enough energy from the masculine company she kept.

“I can make you something a little lighter if you’re not feeling well” Almeria had started to pull his dusty blue dress shirt up over his shoulders and button the buttons down the front whilst she looked up towards him. “You are looking a little pale”

Chester pursed his lips and shook his head lightly before he spoke. “I’m feeling fine… whatever you prepared will be good enough anyway”

He knew that probably was not enough to comfort her, but once she had fastened his shoes in place, she was quick to nod and stand up before she made her way towards the door. “Once you’re ready just come downstairs and I’ll serve it to you” And with that she was gone.

Chester groaned and laid himself back down against the bed, spreading his arms out either side of himself. He could just fall back to sleep if he really wanted to. Though whether that would give his mother ample fuel to march up those marble steps herself to shake him awake was a completely different story.

Sitting himself up once more he moves up onto his feet and paces the few steps across to the window so he could lean out and look down to where the stone path snaked it’s way towards the front of the manner and then up and back to a small courtyard lined with hedging for privacy’s sake. His mother had put a lot of money into the manner over the years, to the point that now every room is decorated just as lavishly as the next. Turning around to face his bed, he looked over the redwood bed frame carved into the shape of a stallion. She had this bed imported from over seas and she often boasted about it amongst her friends. Looking across to his dresser he moves over so he can open the top drawer and remove a small container which he opened revealing an artificial contact lens. This was something new to the scene and although it felt like glass piercing his eye and did not exactly match the colour of his other eye, his mother insisted that he wear it.

Tilting his head back he places the lens over his eye then blinks a few times to set it in place. Leaning forwards, he peers into the mirror above the dresser to ensure it is positioned properly then biting his lip he takes a step back. Sometimes old habits never die.

Making his way out of his room he travels down the familiar hall and then down the marble steps lined with a thick red rug that trails all the way down to the large oak doors before him. If he decided in that moment to have a mental break… to just run full pelt through those doors… he wondered how long it would take for his mother’s new house tenders to catch up with him. Probably not long considering he struggled going up and down the stairs at the best of time at a walking pace. Gripping hold of the banister he makes his decent and as he turned himself to head towards the dining hall, he was stopped by a broad-shouldered man with thick brown locks pushed back from his face. Dark brown eyes looked down towards him through thin lashes and thick brows pinched in the middle. His mother’s guard.

“Tor-“before he could speak out the mans name, he gripped hold of Chester’s chin abruptly and tilted his head upwards so he could turn his head to the side and ensure his lens was in place. Gritting his teeth Chester knew he just had to endure it. It was not as if he could just muster up enough strength to shove Torvalds off.

Once he was finished his inspection the man stepped to the side and allowed Chester to enter. His mother was positioned at the middle of the table on the right-hand side and his silverware was positioned opposite her own. Normally she would sit at the head of the table and he would be off centre to her… it avoided him having the ability to look at her he guessed. She was dressed in a pinched black gown that trailed down to her ankles. It was almost as if she were in mourning the way she was sitting slightly hunched in her chair.

Almeria entering the room from the far-left door gave a sense of relief for Chester, but for only a few moments as she pulled the chair out for him. Sitting himself down Chester was then provided his plate with one egg balanced delicately over the slightly toasted sour dough. He could see that Almeria had chosen to only give him one slice of bacon as garnish on the top, but she had made the effort to add the extra pieces to his mother’s plate.

“Leave us”

His mother’s words bit into the air like a hungry pup. Almeria bowed slightly before she left the room, but not without turning her head slightly to give Chester one last sorrowful smile.

“I thought we could discuss what happened last night,” her tone started off soft, but soon her pitch started to change, and her knuckles turned white around her cutlery handles. “A dog… really?” She flicked her gaze up towards him then went about cutting into her toast. “Of all the things you could have said you saw, you spouted out some nonsense about some stupid dog and even went to the trouble of elaborating some fantastical story about how it came to be in that attic?”

“I know what I saw-“

“You’re defending your actions then?” his mother cut in whilst shoving her cut piece of toast and egg into her mouth. She was chewing as if she had not seen food in days, but perhaps that was just her way of trying to combat the hangover with the internal rage that was brewing inside of her.

“I don’t understand… if you wanted me to lie to them then you should have charged them” At this point Chester was not intentionally trying to debate the matter, but that was usually the way when it came to paid jobs. If Chester found something that his mother knew the family wouldn’t like or agree on, then it didn’t matter what the dead had said, he had to personalise it for the family in order to gain the wealth his mother desired.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“You make me out to be this horrible person Chet,” She moved in her place to bring her napkin up to a single tear gathering beneath each eye. “But what you don’t understand is the sacrifices I have had to make to ensure that this demon curse you have been graced with remains being utilised for the purpose of the best benefits of the people”

Chester placed his knife and fork down so he could remain focused when he looked up towards his mother. She had mastered the act of grief… she had mastered the act of happiness of love… but this ritual she had whenever he started to become anything but her vision of perfect was getting old and he was starting to get tired of it. Opening his mouth slightly he went to say something, but his parted lips only evoked arched brows from his mother almost daring him to speak. Closing his mouth once more he looked towards the doorway where Torvald had abandoned his post guarding the door and had started the first few steps towards the table.

“Our next client made contact within the early hours of this morning so we will need to leave by lunch today in order to make it to their location in time for our appointment” Holding her hand up as if like clockwork, Almeria returned to the room and presented a letter which already had it’s seal broken. “Bishop Earnest Miller Davis. He has been suffering with liver failure for quite some time and it has come to the point that he has exhausted the resources of any medical professional.”

An 84-year-old man with acute liver failure. This client seemed to be bordering on the restrictions to his abilities.

“And so, a man of the faith has come to us for assistance. Perhaps he can throw some holy water on that demonic eye of yours and we can call it even.” His mother chuckled as if she was making some kind of inside joke that she half expected Chester to laugh at as well. But when he did not respond the way she had intended him to, she cleared her throat and passed the letter across the table. “Have Almeria take you into town for a fresh suit. Let us try something other than the black and white for a change”

Chester picked up the envelope and taking the letter out so he could unfold it, his eyes ran along the desperate pleas of a frail man. Each letter appeared to be written by shaking hands, which indicated that he actually had taken the time to write this request for himself. Within his words he had stated that he had not yet found a successor for the orphanage to which a lot of the church’s proceeds went into. The next Bishop in line had questionable motives for taking over the church, inclusive of a demand for luxury living, and Bishop Earnest knew where the funds to create that dream were going to come from.

“You said we must leave by midday?” Placing the letter within his pants pocket, Chester used his hands to lift himself up from his chair. “Then Almeria and I will head into town now so as to not waste time.”

For once his mother seemed pleased with this. His desire to actual complete a client’s request was always welcomed, rather than his stubbornness to leave on other occasions.

…

“You seem rather eager to complete this next client’s request”

Chester pulled himself up into the carriage and shuffled himself along so he could lean against the far door. It was more of a personal reason as to why he accepted it without resistance. If he saved this old man Bishop, then he prevented a far worse creature taking over and breaking a system which helped those who could not help themselves.

The sound of whinnying from the steeds that hauled their carriage were soon followed by the sudden jolt of the carriage being pulled into motion. Almeria had found her seat by his side and was leaning slightly forwards so as to not grant herself too much comfort whilst she was on duty. She would never sit herself opposite him, not even when the carriage was filled with his mother’s male company.

“What can I say, I feel sorry for the old man” Chester found himself sighing again. Again conversation, even so little as small talk was not something that Chester was comfortable with, even amongst people he knew. But judging by the way Almeria lowered her head and appeared dejected that he was wanting to end the conversation there, he decided to continue.

“Will you be joining us this time?”

Almeria briskly nodded. “Of course. Your mother likes to ensure that you’re removed from site before the repercussions of your work kicks in” She smiled a little at her words and then a glisten of curiosity seemed to befall her once dull eyes. “I know I have asked this before but…”

“But?” Chester found himself repeating her last word in order to encourage her to continue.

“You have had this gift since birth… your father isn’t particularly anything or anyone special and neither is your moth-“she stopped herself at this and gave a sheepish grin as she corrected herself. “Well your mother doesn’t possess these abilities either so… there has to be a source for it right? I have been doing some digging myself and…” At this point Almeria produced a novel from the folds of her cloak.

Almeria proffered the book into Chester’s hands. It was a hard cover lined with a moss green felt. Upon first glance it appeared to be some kind of gimmick or replica of a pagan bible with the way the pentagram was carved skilfully into the centre and lined with a gold leaf trimming.

“You purchased the devil’s bible?” Chester’s brows creased at his words and Almeria moved closer as if to welcome the idea that they should be speaking in hushed voices. “You know how my mother will react if she finds something like this on my person, or even yours.”

Almeria looked around nervously at first, as if she thought that anyone within a few steps from the carriage would hear what she had to say.

“I have folded a page down for you… before we get to your tailor, find it and just have a quick read and tell me what you think.” She continued to nod whilst she spoke before she pushed herself back to place some distance between them.

Chester looked down at the book within his hands and turning the book over so the pentagram was concealed by the back cover, he peered out the window to the cobble stone streets that winded through the stone buildings that created the town. It would not be long until they reached the tailors. A few updated measurements and he should have the opportunity to slip away for a few moments whilst Almeria and the tailor discussed colours. But did he really want to read the pages of the book he held in his hands? Or was he just inclined to do so because Almeria had put so much effort into bringing it to him?

“There are many a mythical creatures out there who have been said to possess the same abilities as yourself,” Almeria continued whilst tapping the back of the book. “To think that they’re only depicted in fairy tales when you stand before the world as a living representation of a Godly being- “

“Godly?” Chester scoffed. “Since when did the crimson in my eye depict anything Godly- “

“You may have a crimson eye, but you certainly aren’t the Devil Chester, and the sooner your mother realises it the better”

Chester smiled a little to Almeria’s words. She had never treated him any different… even when he was a child and she saw his red eye for the first time she did not treat him any less than she would her own son. If she were so inclined to have any of her own.

The sound of Torvald’s boots hitting the pavement caused Almeria to hurriedly take the book back from Chester’s grip and conceal it once more beneath the folds of her coat. A few moments later and Torvald was swinging the carriage door outwards only to hold out a hand to help Almeria step down to the sidewalk. Torvald did not offer the same hand to Chester, but that was not something Chester had expected. Torvald was only there to ensure that each move Almeria made was exactly as ordered by his mother.

“Good morning Louie,” Almeria chirped up as the tall blonde man came striding from the store back to the store front. He wore a well-made tailored suit in an off grey with a white undershirt and light brown pointed leather shoes. “We’re after a fresh suit for Chester”

Louie looked Chester up and down and then he quirked one brow up as if he were thinking of what to recommend first. “Any particular colour?” Louie continued as he pulled a tape measure from his coat and used it to grab a quick measurement of around Chester’s waist. “Or is the Madam of the house requesting another all black suit with white underlaying?”

Almeria took Louie by the warm and started to guide him towards the fabrics off to the far right of the store. As she moved, she slipped the book once more between Chester’s fingertips and then gestured for him to move to the back of the store where the change rooms were. Chester gave a small nod in understanding and briskly made the quick walk out the back and once seated in the change room, he pulled across the red curtain to conceal himself from Torvald’s view.

Pulling the book out onto his lap he began to flick through the thick pages until he came to the page where Almeria had turned down the page. He run his fingers along the words and the picture on the right was that of a hooded figure that appeared to have no face…. A reaper…? Running his fingers further down the page and along the printed words things began to piece together… like why he felt the way he did whilst healing another being… why toying with the natural order and healing those who were meant to be dead could easily be reflecting onto someone else… or even himself. His fingers gripping the edges of the book the further he read down the page, he could feel his heartbeat increasing within his chest. The ability to see the dead… the ability to heal the ability to see the last moments of someone’s life it all stemmed from the similar abilities of this creature and Almeria had already done her research.

Dropping the book to the floor he used his heel to kick the book beneath the stool before he heaved the curtain back and started to stride back towards the door. He did not need a new suit… he needed to get out of there before his heart exploded from his chest. Letting in a few heavy breaths, by the time he reached the door Torvald was quick to grip his shoulders and turn him back to face Almeria.

“What’s the matter dear boy?” Louie chimed in as he made a few paces towards Chester. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost” Chuckling at the thought of it he then exchanged glances with Almeria and then he too started to turn pale. “Wait… you didn’t see a ghost back, there did you? I have been hearing noises and footsteps, but I haven’t seen anything I- “

“No ghost” Chester forced himself to say abruptly. “Just… a piece of thread I mistook for something else”

Louie stopped his ramblings and then broke into laughter. “Oh, Chester you had me worried there for a second. It’s not that often that you’re able to come here between your busy schedule and when you do you react like that!” Breaking into laughter once more Louie then waved him over and Torvald made the effort to push Chester in Louie’s direction. “You’ll give a poor young man like me a heart attack”

Chested tensed as Louie pulled his coat back from his shoulders and then went about replacing the pitch black for a dusted blue. “See how this brings out his eyes more. The off-colour blue really brings out that unusual silver ring” Louie continued whilst talking more to Almeria then Chester.

Maybe he was just overreacting. That book was stamped in the fiction section for a reason there was no way it could be true. The grim reaper was a figure used to explain death it was not something that could be identified as being real or not, but either way he knew for a fact he was human. But that did not stop the nagging question. If he was human then where did his abilities come from and was he the only one?