Beatrice Harrison is your typical high school sophomore who has had glasses since she was three, but not for the reason that she initially thought. What happens when Beatrice loses her glasses in the woods and witnesses something she shouldn't have...
My legs pumped as I struggled to keep up with the brunet rather than being pulled around by him, my shoulder threatening to dislocate itself from his brute strength, but I didn't mind. He was worried about his partner who telepathically sent out a distress signal. The fact that he decided to bring me along made my heart pound in my throat. If what Oxe was facing was so monstrous that he needed to call out for Mason, I was scared to see what this particular Negative looked like.
"Mason..." My grip on his hand tightened. "I'm honestly kind of scared. Will they be okay?"
Mason picked me up and started running in the sky, me securely in his arms. "As of right now, they are well, but I don't know how long it'll stay this way."
I hid my face in his chest to keep from getting dizzy. The reaper was running inhumanly fast, the air cutting around our bodies, chilling the bone. I felt bad for slowing him down.
"Beatrice..." Mason's voice came out as a whisper over the loudness of the air. "If it comes to a place where you're running low on energy, run. Keep living and run as fast as you can and we - I'll keep you safe, okay?"
"You're not allowed to die."
"It's fine. I'm not exactly alive."
I felt us descending so I opened my eyes to see Oxe wearing a skeletal mask that was different from Mason's. The three spiraling horns protruding from it gave off an almost regal aura, the horns reminiscent of a crown. They looked like they could be a god like Hades or Anubis, both radiating immense power and death.
Mason set me down and ran his fingers through his hair, his own mask materializing, though his was a much brighter white than his senior's, the style more sleek and elegant, yet still predatorial and ominous. His mask was more closely related to that of a wolf skull rather than the imaginative being Oxe wore on their head. The brunet pulled up his hood like his partner had on and held out his left hand, his scythe appearing out of thin air before he took off to attack.
I watched as osseous structures met the dense flesh of a gargantuan Negative. Oxe and Mason seemed to almost resonate with each other, their attacks in perfect synchronization. It was almost like watching a dance, their movements artistic and meaningful, combatting the harsh reality of their true killing intent. They were breathtaking.
Oxe's scythe skidded against the asphalt as Mason was flung down the street. The temperature dropped five degrees and the streetlights began to flicker quickly before they all started exploding, going off in waves. The negative ran to attack Oxe, but it failed, instead having its arm chopped off.
"You..." Oxe eyes glowed bewilderedly, though I couldn't help but sense underlying gratitude and respect for me cutting the assailant's appendage off. "Thank you..."
I just nodded in response, too shocked to speak. The Negative was already starting to regain composure. Its arm had already regrown.
"Shit, it has a healing factor," I cursed.
The two reapers stood on each side of me, assessing the situation.
"The head." Mason's grip tightened around the hilt of his weapon. "If I cut its head off, it'll be defeated."
"I'll distract it," Oxe volunteered.
"I'll help," I added, gripping the knife. "I have a soul, so I'm more appetizing."
"She's in your hands..." Mason said absently. "Protect her as you would me."
"As you wish," Oxe replied. "Don't die, Xyll', I don't want another new partner."
Despite both of their faces being covered, I could tell that they were smiling. Though I wasn't sure what Oxe's looked like, I was positive that Mason was cheesing goofily.
"Of course I won't die, Oxe, I just know how you hate meeting new people."
Before the raven could shoot out a reply, Mason disappeared. I quickly ran up to the Negative much to Oxe's unhidden distaste.
"Oi, bastard!" I waved my knife around frantically, the Negatives snake slit eyes following my every move, its tail thumping on the ground as its long, black tongue licked its purple, chapped lips.
It lunged and I sidestepped in the nick of time, grabbing my neck and cursing. Oxe's eyes widened and they quickly grabbed me, situating me in their arms as they used me to taunt the Negative.
"Are you okay? Is it the mark?" Was there a hint of concern in their tone?
"Y-Yes..." I winced, the pain strong, but manageable. "Stay safe, Oxe."
They seemingly grimaced, a strangled voice leaving in a whisper. "Don't worry about me or my partner. We can take care of ourselves."
I smiled before burying my face in their chest as I tried to focus on anything but the wound. "I don't want Mason to die."
"Me neither..." They whispered, though I doubt that I was supposed to actually hear that part. "They're stronger than they look. They'll outshine me soon enough. I mean, look at them, already taking the forefront."
I watched as the brunet tried to maneuver around without getting noticed. Despite his actions seeming instantaneous and second nature, I knew that he was very nervous. He just wanted to show his partner what he could do and maybe even receive a compliment of sorts from the closed off individual. Mason wanted to be seen by his superior, his partner.
Mason's attention stayed glued to the Negative, only occasionally checking to make sure I was still alive and well. Oxe was trying their best to keep the beast distracted enough, yet steady to the point where Mason could end all of it. I wish I had a mask at that time like the two reapers did. It seemed like my scared expression was doing nothing but fuel the Negative which scared me more, thus creating a vicious cycle.
The reaper that was holding me pulled me closer before closing in on our prey, cutting off one leg and then the other from knee down. I stabbed whatever I came into contact with, twisting the blade. The Negative was healing quickly though.
It stood on its knees, head bowed as if being scolded by a cross mother when its head came off with a sickening thud, the memory of the bone snapping echoing in my mind. My eyes looked up at Mason who looked proud and powerful from his spot on the air. His scythe was more like a guillotine than what it was supposed to be.
"Beatrice."
I looked up at the brunet, standing up shakily to see Oxe stand by his side. They both had an alluring, but dark presence, the raven standing the tallest and the mightiest. Mason seemed to give off a more regal aura standing beside the deadly monarch when it clicked. If Oxe was the king of death...
Then that made Mason their royal executioner.
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