Another Reaper

Kole smirked at the comment he heard, then quirked an eyebrow at his subordinate.

“Are you insinuating something Keera?”

The woman narrowed her eyes at him, pursing her lips.

“As a matter of fact…” She was interrupted as a shriek ripped through the air.

Keera seemed to flinch inwardly at the noise but remained silent. Her master’s thin lips curled upward.

“Oh come now Keera. Surely you can’t despise our colleague because of her…methods. Anyway it appears she’s doing our work for us.”

“It’s not her methods I hate. It’s having to watch.”

“Ah. Yes I suppose she is rather brutal.” He chuckled as it became evident that the ruckus was in their alley and moving closer. “Then again those of dragon blood often are. I happen to think she is rather amiable to those who aren’t targets.”

There was silence giving the two time to silently regard one another coldly. The man’s dull eyes widened for a split second before he clamped his hands over his partner’s shoulders. He cast her, cursing, down to the pavement behind him as a body flew from the darkness on a tidal wave of trashcans. The woman sprang to her feet as the other grounded being did the same.

As the shale colored body’s torso lifted away from its then straightening legs, the being grew to tower over all the other beings in the corridor. It lowered its long body to a crouch, sinking its hooked nails into the pavement. Dipping its head, it began to lap with a pitch colored tongue at a wound on one of its spindly arms. It did not regard its company, nor did it move to defend itself as Kole drew his scythe.

A soft padding sounded in the distance causing the beast to tense and emit a guttural growl.

“She’s made it angry “ The reaper commented: amusedly sheathing his weapon. “ We’ll see how our little friend closes business without help.”

The padding noise grew in volume and frequency before dying out. The creature relaxed and went back to tending itself. Kole, however, raised his head: his eyes connecting with two glittering flecks of what seemed to be amethyst stuck to the darkened building side. Nodding, he backed up flattening himself against the opposing wall. His charge wisely mirrored him as the two purple flecks disappeared for a moment, then returned as their owner used the wall to spring into the air.

The transition from air to ground was soundless. However, as what appeared to be a significantly smaller beast sunk its clawed fingers into the sides of the demon’s neck, it loosed an ear splitting battle cry. Black fluid bubbled up around the intruding appendages as the predator, made prey, attempted to throw its attacker. As it was met with success, the attacker went sliding along the pavement while quickly regaining its footing.

Kole inclined his head regarding the newcomer. “Sherah.”

The violet scaled woman didn’t turn to look at him but responded with a snide,

“ Brother, what brings you to this part of town? Was it the food? The sights? To take in a show? A sacrifice perhaps? “

He grinned at the back of her horned head before responding, “It was the food.”

She laughed; it was a dangerous, honeyed sort of noise. Her prey was cornered and she was reveling in its helplessness. Beginning to sidestep the half-breed began to circle her conquest.

“Thought so.”

It charged her in desperation, bellowing savagely. Catching the creature by one of its slim wrists, Sherah sent the creature careening into the ground. She had a knee in its gut before it could formulate a proper response.

“Why so angry tonight my lady? This isn’t even your fight.” The man questioned more with the hope of stoking his colleague’s wrath more than anything else.

A snarl rose over the daemon’s wails of pain. It was hers.

“This fucker,” The noise she made was perverted by a growl, “attacked a small family in hopes of eating the children after it knocked over a bank about three blocks down the street.“

“Always the hero.” He snarked back.

She appeared to ignore him as she raised a hand into the air. A speck of brightness appeared in her palm then quickly expanded into a ball of light. She began to lower it toward the trashing creature. It wailed pitifully as her hand hovered over its chest.

“In the name of the forest god,” she scowled, “I cleanse thee!”

Before the light came in contact, the creature dissipated into a black mist, sending the reaper atop it to the ground. She pounded her fists into the asphalt screaming in frustration.

“What the hell was that?!”

“It appears,” Kole chuckled, “someone has nabbed your kill.”

She stood, leering in his direction. Her purple eyes were like daggers. The man just held his smirk.

The horned woman hung her head, sighting. “Let’s just head home, I’m tired of being a super hero tonight.”

He patted her on the back.

“It’s in the job description. What's the matter, not dragon enough?"

“The hand book." She laughed. "We, based on the word of the Verdian codex, will eradicate the scourge of black magic. Protect the innocent. I know what is expected of us."

Sherah shrugged her shoulders as she, Kole and Keera began to walk toward the exit of the alley.