Scrabble

Chapter 12

Raising a hand, she twisted the brass doorknob of the door and slowly pushed it open.

The room was small, about the size of the other rooms in the mansion. It was completely white and almost empty. The only furniture in it was a small round chocolate-coloured table and a black computer chair on wheels.

The computer chair turned around, causing her to jump in shock.

“Megan!” the man laughed, his eyes twinkling with something undecipherable. “It’s about time you came.”

His voice was like a thousand whispers, strong and solid yet subtle and soft. The layers in his voice spoke mysteries, intriguing Megan immediately.

Megan drew herself up to her full height. “Who are you?”

“I’m Deal Fallon,” the man introduced himself in a pleasant American accent, “I’m, uh, how do I say this.. I’m basically the Keeper of Purgatory.”

Megan let out a little giggle – she couldn’t help herself. The Archangel of Death, the Keeper of Purgatory? What was today, international Death day?

“No, no, Megan,” Deal shook his head, “It’s not international Death day. These things actually take place outside the normal world, you know.”

Despite the man’s casual tone, Megan’s mouth dropped open. “You can… you read my mind?”

“Yes,” Deal smiled, “I’m granted with that talent. Cool, right?”

Deal Fallon looked around the age of forty. With brown hair and green-brownish eyes, he somehow gave off the aura of someone much less intimidating than Anthony.

Yet something was off about him, something that felt wrong. Megan tried shaking away the feeling. For the first time today, someone was talking to her in a trustable and non-confusing manner, and she was suspecting him?

“Right,” she forced a smile, “So what are you doing here?”

“I’d love to say the same for you,” Deal frowned, “What are you doing here?”

Taken aback by the abrupt question, Megan stuttered, “I… I… um.. Anthony…”

“Oh, that’s right,” Deal gave a very fake laugh, “Anthony. Looks like he’s attacking innocent ones like you now too.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your aura,” Deal spoke in his soft voice, “It’s blue, it’s pure. There’s no way you’re ever entering Purgatory. Nope, you don’t deserve it. You’re going straight to a better place.”

Megan forced back the urge to roll her eyes. “That’s interesting and all,” she told him, “But can we not talk about me as if I’m already dead? Because I’m not.”

“That’s interesting,” Deal retrieved the twinkle in his eyes, “Being here on Anthony’s will is practically synonymous to a death sentence.”

“That’s interesting too,” Megan shot back smartly, “Do you know Anthony, Mr. Deal?”

“Yeah, as a matter of fact I do,” he replied, “But I wish I didn’t.”

“So do I,” Megan murmured under her breath. Deal’s eyes sparked with interest. “So you don’t like Anthony, then?”

“Of course I don’t!” she exclaimed, “He’s the one who’s given me the supposed ‘death sentence’.”

Realization seemed to dawn on Deal. “So he hasn’t given you any reason behind it then?”

“No.”

“And he’s been all mean and rude to you and stuff, right?”

“Yes,” she answered unsurely.

Deal burst out laughing, bending over to slap his knee. His wide forehead was creased and his face was red. But even though he seemed to be laughing his lungs out, there was something close to bitterness in his voice.

“Care to explain, Deal?” Megan asked impatiently.

“No, not really,” Deal Fallon sobered up, “Maybe I should just let Anthony do the explaining.”

Megan was about to demand an answer, when a timid voice behind her asked, “Ms. Megan? Did you need me?”

“Calvin!” Megan spun around and looked with relieved eyes at the rouf. “Anthony wants to see you.”

“Anthony!” Calvin squeaked, “He- he’s here?”

“Yeah,” she said, “He’s here… Do you mind coming with me?”

“N-no! Not at all, Ms. I don’t mind in the least. Come, let’s go.”

Leaving Deal behind her, Megan followed Calvin out of the kitchen and down the hallway. She was buzzing with questions but didn’t ask a single one to the little rouf. If Anthony was watching through the walls – as if that thought wasn’t scary enough by itself – she didn’t want Calvin to get into trouble because of her curiosity.

“Anthony,” she greeted coldly as she approached the white television from which the Archangel of Death was staring at her.

Gizmo was sitting down cross-legged on the floor, with his back to the right wall. Both Anthony and Gizmo seemed to be ignoring each other’s presence.

“I’ve brought Calvin,” she stated unnecessarily, and Calvin stood a bit straighter. Smiling slightly, Gizmo stood up and walked to her side. His presence, however abrupt, put Megan at ease.

“Good day, master,” Calvin recited in his squeaky voice, his suit making him look more like a butler than anything else. Megan still couldn’t believe that creatures like roufs existed out of her ordinary life.

“Rouf,” Anthony nodded, “It is time. You know what you have to do.”

Calvin shuddered visibly, before bowing and practically running away on his delicate feet.

‘What was that all about…’ Megan couldn’t help but wonder.

Anthony turned his attention to her, his blue eyes flickering over Gizmo for a split second. “Okay, it is now time for your question. What would you like to ask?”

Megan had already decided. Anthony had to answer truthfully, that was part of his terms.

“What do you have with Deal Fallon, and how does that relate to me?”

A sharp intake of breath sounded from both Gizmo and Anthony. However, with her eyes closed, Megan did not register this.

She formed a mental image of the Keeper of Purgatory in her mind, and gasped when the realization hit her. This was why she had felt so unsettled and insecure while talking to him.

Deal Fallon had no eyebrows.

__________

A/N: Guess who’s back on track and still alive? Me! :D

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Harpy