Gods & Monsters ✧ Elijah Mikaelson

VI ✧ Strong

Chapter Six

Avarice did not sleep that night, not that she really needed to do so.

Reapers didn't need nearly as much sleep as humans, or vampires, or even the Mikaelson's. They often spent days, sometimes weeks without sleep. Even so, it is nice to relax for a while.

However, Avarice's natural habits were not what kept her awake that night. She was left without sleep because of her thoughts, which ran throughout her head wildly. She kept wondering exactly what she would do about the Mikaelson's.

It was her job to keep the fates on track. The fates have said that the Mikaelson's were not supposed to die, so they cannot. However, they could not stay in the reaping world forever. Avarice had the ability to protect them, but there were threats in her world. Threats far stronger than that of the ones in the mortal world.

When she finally came to a conclusion, she had decided that she needed to pass along her duties to Levi and Pin. Aside form Avarice, they knew the most about the Dream Reaping of the supernaturals. They could do it. While she handled things pertaining to the Mikaelson family, they would be looking after the souls.

Avarice, on the other hand, would be doing something a little more complicated. But first, she needed to tell her dear friends what they would be doing.

Early in the morning, she sent a servant to bring them both into the Reaping room right before breakfast. When they got there only a few minutes later, she was reading.

"You sent for us, boss?" Pin said as they both came in, their steps echoing on the tile floor.

The room was entirely empty, except for one bookcase on the left wall that contained books on the most basic parts of Reaping, an oak desk in the middle, and also a set of round double-doors that looked more like a wooden circle than actual doors.

"Yes..." she mumbled, going over the time limit of the portal one more time. Twelve hours, and then she needed to return. "I will be needing your help with the Reaping. Actually, it will be starting now. You are both promoted."

Pin's eyes widened a little. "How, exactly?"

"You will be taking over and sharing my position for the foreseeable future," she told them, not yet entirely focused on them. She was far more worried about making absolutely sure that she remembered everything about the portals.

Levi and Pin were completely taken aback, not having expected that. They looked at each other, and then looked back at her.

"Why on earth would you do that?" Levi asked, as if he could not even begin to see her logic.

"I need to go to the mortal world for a while. I will be coming back every day, but I will not be here long enough to take care of the Reaping. So, you two will be doing it. You will, of course, be getting far higher pay than you are now. It will be more work, though."

"Well that's perfectly fine, but why are you going to the mortal world?" Pin asked.

When she told them why, Levi was very, very nervous. Aspin, however, was perfectly satisfied with her answer.

"Now, there is no need to inform your father or Kaige of your promotion. However, if they do happen to ask why I am not here, tell them to wait for me. I will give them the explanation they desire."

"And if they have a problem with it?" Levi asked.

"They won't. They are fully aware that I know what I am doing. And if they do happen to have a problem with my actions, then I will deal with them."

Upon seeing his nervous swallow and the way he crossed his arms over his chest, she felt the need to make him feel a little better about it.

"Levi, you know me. I will be fine. Everything will be fine."

With that being said, he only nodded. Then, they both were even more overwhelmed when she turned and started walking towards the doors.

"You mean you're leaving now?" Aspin asked with widened eyes.

"I will be back at midnight," she informed her. "Not to worry."

They both observed her as she went up to the two doors, which were, of course, locked tightly. The doors had a large and round lock on them, a lock that could only be opened by Avarice, Levi, or Aspin. Not that Levi or Aspin ever really went through it.

The lock was wooden, just like the doors. Even so, it was completely impenetrable. The lock looked as if it had roots growing out of it, the vines of wood circling over each other and covering the crack of the door. In the centre of the lock was a circle, one that glowed the moment that Avarice placed her hand upon it.

She concentrated, imagining exactly where she wanted to go and exactly who she wanted to see.

The circle in the middle of the lock glowed with white light that moved out and went around Avarice's hand. It felt very cold, like a breeze going over wet skin. Then the light quickly receded back into the carved loop, and the lock made a large click. The vines began to move down, and into the circle. When the vines had receded into the lock completely, it split into two. Avarice pushed them open, and the white light they were met with caused both Levi and Aspin to cover their eyes for a moment. Avarice, however, simply blinked a few times.

She looked back at them, the softest of smiles on her face. "I will be back later tonight. If the Mikaelson's ask where I have gone, say that I went to visit... A friend."

They both nodded, and she went into the portal. She heard the doors locking behind her, and knew that she had dove far too deep to turn back now.

*

She could hear, feel, and even see them. Not their hearts, or their breathing. Not their bodies. Not their whole selves, per say.

She could hear their souls.

The life forces of the three occupants of the motel room sang to her, One was strong and wild, the next was very strong but much older, and the last was the strongest. This person was powerful, but their soul was new. Young.

Avarice knew that they were preparing to leave, to keep moving, so she raised her hand and knocked on the door.

Both of the older occupants stopped rustling around in the room, and they whispered to each other in frantic voices. They were, of course, still very much on edge from the most recent events that had occurred.

Finally, she heard a person coming to the door.

Before that, she found herself glancing at the rather large freight truck in the parking lot. She knew exactly what was in it.

The door opened, and a woman with long dark brown hair and brooding hazel eyes looked back at her. The woman looked ready to kill Avarice. Not because she was angry, or because she was afraid. Just that she was entirely prepared to do so if needed.

Avarice's eyes landed on Mary, who was standing by Hope. 

Her gaze lingered on the child. Hope was in a baby carrier and looking at the doorway with what seemed like interest. Perhaps she could feel Avarice's power. Avarice certainly wouldn't put it past her. 

She certainly was a special child. Hope was remarkably strong; Avarice could feel it the same way that she suspected Hope could feel her. It had been written in the fates that she was supposed to live many, many centuries. Millenia, even, if she made the right choices.

It was Avarice's job to make sure that the same happened for Hayley, as well as the Mikaelson's.

"Hayley Marshall," Avarice said, a genuinely happy smile coming over her face. "I've been wanting to meet you for a long while now, my dear."