Uncle Fred leans in to try to kiss me on the lips, I move my head so he hits my cheek. My blood starts to boil in rage, and The Reaper is lurking, watching for a reaction. Which just enrages me that much more. I turn to dragger eyes from The Reaper to Uncle Fred. I feel a little, stab of pain in my skull. Then I see a hazy number on Uncle Fred's head.

The Reaper is coming in close to see, right behind Uncle Fred, for he can soak in my reaction. All I feel is anger. I don’t see why this old prevent gets to stay so long here with us versus my Dad. The more I see the number, the more anger I feel. I swear I could see The Reaper grin. Then I saw the number decreasing quickly, very quickly. What is that?

“Interesting, little Seer,” The Reaper claims in a settled, curious voice.

Uncle Fred sways and falls to the ground as his number dwindles to the double digits. Hmp. Well deserved if you asked me. I step over him and go to my Dad’s casket. I feel his soul present but not near his body. I pull on his soul to come forth. I sense a tangy, new form of energy within me. A sensation of desire washes over me as I pull in my Dad’s soul.

His soul hovers over my palm, I pull it in with an embrace. I feel the warmth, the love from his soul. Warm tears swell up in my eyes and threaten to take over my cheeks. I feel an urge to put my Dad’s soul back in his previous vessel. I know it’s wrong… But I can’t fight it… I push his soul down to my Dad’s previous vessel and put my other hand on the vessel’s heart. The energy is soaring through me. I can do this. I can feel it. All the extra energy surges in me, I gather to one point and move it along towards his soul then towards where his heart used to beat.

“Nooo,” howls The Reaper. “You must!”

Even reapers are not allowed to do this. Or maybe they can’t do this… I don’t care, though. I need a good-bye. I need him for a little longer. I surge the energy faster, the soul starts to enter his people. There is chaos going on behind me. I feel a shield enforce the area around me.

“You are forbidding a prohibited law, Little Seer! You must stop immediately or you will call him here!”

I continue to ignore The Reaper. He wants a show, and now he has one. I complete the soul-tying with the vessel. I feel slightly exhausted, watching for my father to awaken. When I feel the energy around me turn cold, dark. Oh… Nooo. Not yet, I just need a goodbye. One goodbye. Pleasseee!!!

The tears are finally starting to sting my face as I don’t take an unblinking eye off my father. Faster, please. Before the Gods take you away from me again. PLEASE! I feel a firm grip take my shoulder.

Stolen story; please report.

“Enough, Leila.Time to let him go. You may not have him back,” the powerful voice claims.

“I don’t want him back, that would alter his soul. I need five minutes. He has ten before his soul starts to twist and change from himself. I just need a goodbye,” I plea back.

“Interesting. But if you have that extra time with your past love one, why shouldn’t everyone else have the same chance?”

The Reaper is studying the interaction between the two of us. Interested in what will happen next. The Reaper energy seems to be nervous since the powerful figure appeared. Finally, I shifted my eyes from my Father to a powerful figure. The Devil. It’s the Devil himself. A God. One of the most fearsome Gods.

I look straight into his dark violet eyes and answer him, “Did any of those people, or will any of person, manage to do what I just did? Because if not I guess you have nothing to worry about. Plus, you can move aside, removing your energy from stopping what I am GOING TO accomplish.”

“How bold of you. You are a different one, Ms. Leila. You will be punished for this. And Reaper, I expect you to take care of this mess. Until next time, Ms. Leila,” he says with a mystery wink and walks away into an emerging smoke.

“That was a mistake, Little Seer,” hisses The Reaper.

“So be it,” I say matter-of-factly.

I notice movement out of the side of my eye, my Father sits up. He is glowing with the surging energy I placed there to combine his soul.

“What have you done, Leila!” all but screams my Father’s angry voice.

“Just need a Goodbye, a hug, and one last I love you Dad…”

“What will be the penalty!? Did you even consider that!?”

“We only have five minutes, please, Dad. I just need the closer,” I try to reason with him.

“I hope this was worth the price you will pay for it, Leila.” He sighs with defeat. “Always so stubborn and strong. My little treasure.”

“I am sorry, Dad. But it was worth it even for a minute...”

“I love you, Leila,” he embraces her with a hug and places a kiss on my forward.

“I love you too, Dad. I love you so much. I will miss you.”

“I will always be watching, my little treasure.” With that, I go into hug him and start unbinding his soul from his vessel. Warm tears flooding my face as I do so. The weight is heavy, cold, and permanent.

“It won’t be worth the price, Little Seer,” hisses the raging Reaper.

“It was worth every second. You probably feel that way because it interfered with your goal to turn me into one of you.”

“Not at all! You still have a chance to become a Reaper. But now he will be watching you. FOREVER! He will be deciding when you can become his plaything. Plus you have no idea what the punishment is!”

It will always be worth it… “Then what is the punishment, Reaper?”