Reapers

Chapter Fourteen: A Lesson In Reaper History

Darcie opened her eyes to see Era sitting at the foot of her bed, she stared absently at the ground.  Slowly, she turned her head toward Darcie, her electric eyes seeming tired and distant.

    “You were speaking Latin, mumbling, but it was still Latin” Era said.

    Darcie swallowed hard, “I...I took a class...” she lied.

    “No you didn’t” Thane said.

Darcie jerked her head toward that corner of her room where Thane leaned against the wall, his arms crossed; his bat pendant sat on top of his white T-shirt.  Darcie almost missed it’s presence, its familiar weight, the feeling of safety it gave her.  Maybe that’s why they wore them day and night?  

Next to Thane stood Mo who looked straight at her, hands in his pockets, a sad look in his eyes.

“Darcie, why were you speaking Latin?” he asked.

“I don’t know” she whispered.

“Why!” Mo yelled.

Darcie shook her head “I don't know” she cried out.

“Why were you speaking Latin!” Thane demanded.

“I don’t know” she said again.

“Darcie, tell me!  Or else...”

Darcie looked around her room and found each of them now held their weapons; Mo had his shurikens, Era her katana, and Thane with his twin daggers.

Darcie felt tears brim her eyes, “Or else what!” she yelled at Thane, fear and anger seeped into her voice.

“We’ll have to kill you” Era said.  Darcie looked at her, Era’s electric eyes became white.  “Who are you Darcie Dawn!” Era yelled at her.

Darcie gasped for air, sweat gathered on her temple and ran down her back.  She sat up and hugged her knees after scanning her room, she began sobbing not sure which dream to fear more; the one that felt so real she thought she was going to actually die, or the one where the three people she considered to be her only friends turned against her and were willing to kill her.

She flinched as Era opened her bedroom door.  “Darcie?  You alright?” she asked staying at the door.

Darcie looked up at Era, “Who am I?” she cried, “Era, why do they want me?”

Era sighed, “We don’t know, we’re trying to figure that out...Darcie, please, we’re doing everything we can” she paused, “What’s wrong?  You’re the girl who stared into a Hellhound’s eyes and was fine, what could have possibly gotten you upset and this out of it?” she asked moving and sitting at the foot of Darcie’s bed.

“I...I had a dream” Darcie said.

“Alright...and?” Era prompted.

Darcie buried her head into her knees, “I was here, in my bed, you were here and Thane and Mo...I could speak Latin and you guys...threatened to kill me...all because I didn’t know how I could speak it” she cried, she flinched as Era placed a hand on her shoulder; Darcie looked up and saw that Era had had moved closer.

 “Darcie, we want to keep you safe, to protect you...we aren’t going to kill you.  None of us are” Era said.

Darcie nodded, “Era?”

“Yeah” Era said as she stood.

“Are we...are we friends?” Darcie asked knowing already that it was a childish question.  Era didn’t respond; she stood looking down at Darcie as if she had just asked her an impossible question.  “Era?” Darcie finally asked.