Elemental Genesis

***

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Knights of Death

"Jerry?"

"Yeah?"

"Your parents are insane."

"I know. I think it comes with the territory of being biologists."

Dudley cringed. All around him, buzzing and clacking, were insects of all kinds. They were everywhere, kept contained within glass jars and tanks. He was particularly nervous about the jar that contained a swarm of wasps within its clear confines that was just adjacent to him. He wondered how Jerry dealt with this everyday: his friend was infamous for his hatred and phobia of any insect life. They were at the Maplethorpe home, sitting in the modest study of Jerry's parents. It was a relatively decent home, mostly due to Jerry, as his parents were rarely ever home with free time.

Dudley, still on edge, asked, "You said over the phone that you had something to tell me?"

"Yeah." Jerry rummaged through the mess of machinery and circuitry that cluttered the surface of the desk. "Here it is," he said, holding up his black and silver MiniMancer. "I figured it out!"

"Do you mind if you clarify a bit?"

Jerry rolled his eyes. "The transporter! It can transport us to our rooms now!"

"Really?" Dudley looked at him skeptically. "You figured it out?"

The other sighed and turned to the computer. After a few clicks, a diagram was brought up showing the MiniMancer in a three-dimensional blueprint form. Rapidly typing on the keyboard, Jerry brought up magnifications of certain parts of the tool. "It's like this," he started. The window showed a chip that was inside the main part of the MiniMancer. "This chip is a combination of both magic and machinery. The magic is inside the chip, while the circuitry enables us to use it with a tap of a button." He pointed at the actual device lying on the desk. "The complexity of the thing is astounding. I'm surprised I could even figure that out."

Dudley whooped in triumph. "This is great! Everything will be much easier because of this." This was an understatement. His mother had nearly caught him five times now. Cami and Alyce weren't faring too well either. It was really nice of Jerry to try to solve this problem since he himself had no trouble getting in and out of his house at night. According to Jerry himself, his parents did care, but were just too busy to care for him properly.

The technical genius himself leant back his swivel chair arrogantly. "You owe me big because of this, you know."

Dudley grinned. He could play this game, too. "Really? And here I thought you were doing this out of the goodness of your soul." Dramatically, he put a hand over own heart and formed a mock-expression of shock and pity. "Oh, that's right. You don't have one."

Jerry lunged forward in the swivel chair to get a Dudley, but Dudley made it to another swivel chair in time. His loss of weight was very noticeable now. The former bully had loss an incredible twenty-five pounds since his encounter with the Shadow Goddess. He knew that the running and the work at the construction company had something to do with it. Dudley also assumed that hunting demons down also qualified as exercise. But he was pleased with the result. Instead of fat, he was gaining muscle and his spirit energy was already strengthening. To the point that he was getting odd looks in public from those that he could tell had mild spiritual awareness, actually.

He didn't know how to handle everything when school started up. Alyce had reassured him that they would be able to deal with it, but he was still uneasy about it. The prospect of going to Stonewall also daunted him.

But, at the moment, the thoughts of Stonewall and scheduling were far from his mind. Dudley and Jerry rolled around the wooden floors of the house's first story on their swivel chairs, screaming and laughing. When they had swiveled past a linen closet, pillows were introduced to the great chase.

These were the times worth treasuring, for one never knows what could happen next. Dudley knew that his childhood was not really a pleasant part of his life, despite the fact that he had received everything he wanted. No. This kind of happiness made life worth living.

<><><>

It's dodged through the dark trees of the forest easily. Unfortunately for the demon, it's coloring gave it away. The scaly skin's bright orange and pale white pigments made it stand out in the shade. Still it ran in a futile attempt to escape. For it had decided it would not return to the other realms. To it, there was no logic in leaving a world full of living prey that was waiting to be eaten to return back to it's own world: where larger demons hunted it. No matter what anyone said, including the Dark Queen of the Dead, it would not go back.

Dudley and Alyce ran on after it, ignoring the growing fatigue in their legs to accomplish their goal. They had been on the trail of this particular demon for three hours already. Jerry had stayed behind to help Cami through. It was very difficult for her, even in the harsh light of the full moon. If Dudley listened carefully, he could hear the howling of wolves in the night wind...

Finally, when they had entered a small clearing, the demon had turned around and faced them. Dudley and Alyce stood ready. The creature was a Palvermil demon, notorious among demons for their preference of human food, according to the Mancer. Dudley was reminded of the textbook pictures of the extinct dinosaurs of times past. The Palvermil's fanged reptilian face snarled angrily. It's arm claws were extended, but Dudley doubted they would be much use in the inevitable fight. They were far too short. He had the same opinion of the demon's legs, which would most likely be used for dodging in this case. Fangs and speed, it was a wonderful combination. But that was probably what helped it kill and devour ten Edinburgh residents so easily.

It opened its mouth and a harsh, hissing voice asked, "Youu doo nott givve upp easssily, doo youu notttt?"

"Of course we don't," Alyce countered. "Did you think we would?"

"Most of your kind dooo," it replied. "I know from exxxperriennceee."

"I'm sure you do," Dudley tersely replied. "You must return to the dark realms. If you do not, then we have orders from the Shadow Goddess to eliminate you."

"Ahhhh," it murmured. "You follllow the waysss of the Darkkk Laaddy? Howw sstrangeee. Huumaanss thiinkkk ssshee iss eevill."

Dudley interrupted, "Nevertheless, will you comply?"

"Nooo."

"I hate when they do this," Alyce said as she prepared her spirit energy field. She had been practicing minor spirit shots, so she could cover him if necessary. But her spirit shields were what were really exceptional.

Dudley grinned, "Do we all?"

Making a terrible growl, it made for them. Ready for it, Dudley formed a sword made of spirit energy.

He didn't need it. And the demon never managed to get even three feet away from them.

The Palvermil fell to the ground, obviously dead, bluish blood trickling down from a wound. The weapon that made this was a dagger, nearly completely embedded in the scaly skin of the demon. Dumbly, Dudley stared at the deceased creature.

Alyce, however, turned around and shot a spirit bullet into the trees. It missed though. The bright violet eyes showed where it was and it clearly dodged it. He looked down at his MiniMancer (Jerry had the real one). It was detecting a demon of around Alyce's and his own power levels.

Dudley yelled out, "Who are you?!"

The shape gracefully jumped down before them. The disturbing purple eyes glared at them, alarming because of the demon's dark brown skin. He had cut his dark coarse hair closely to his scalp. Judging from his bare arms, he was quite strong though he physically looked around Dudley and Alyce's respective ages. The demon bowed in what could be deemed respectfully. "My name is Lirenas. I am a user of the spirit arts just as you are, specifically the techniques of summoning and stealth. Am I correct in assuming that you do serve the great Shadow Goddess?"

"Yes," Dudley responded suspiciously. "What of it?" He made a slight motion to Alyce to have a shield ready just in case.

"There is no need to put up defenses," Lirenas said abruptly. "I mean no harm. And I have come not to antagonize you, but to help you."

Alyce bluntly asked, "What for?"

Lirenas said, as though speaking to a young child, "The world is changing around us and the prophecies will come to pass. I seek to help the goddess protect this world and to grow stronger."

"Prophecies?" Dudley had heard nothing of this.

Lirenas shook his head. "It is not for you nor even I to know. Only a select group of people has access to the texts made years ago, which tell of what is to come."

The dark-skinned demon looked up to the sky and said cryptically, "Mars, the realm of the dark god Ares, is bright tonight. And it will grow still brighter. The light of Artemis will not hold back what has been foretold for centuries to pass."

Dudley was lost in a whirl of confusion. And judging from Alyce's expression, she was as comprehending of this as he was.

<><><>

So, Lirenas had joined Dudley's group of fighters. But it had been a shock for him to have the demon himself to show up at Dudley's doorstep the next morning. His mother then explained to him that they were hosting an exchange student from the country of Kenya: Lirenas Muwambe. Dudley was relieved when Lirenas decided to take the guest bedroom. If he had taken Harry's room, he would have killed the demon right there and then.

Cami greeted the demon amicably, later saying that she was quite certain he was a friend. Jerry was skeptical. He had fought far too many demons and was pretty suspicious of this one coming forward as a friend and ally. Jerry had even tried to get Dudley to get rid of him. Alyce decided to see how things went. If Lirenas proved to be an enemy in disguise, they would take him out. Dudley had chosen to take Alyce's point of view. Besides, what would his mother say if 'Lirenas Muwambe' suddenly disappeared? It would look pretty suspicious. He didn't want to take that chance.

Lirenas didn't seem that eager to make friends either. He largely went off on his own, getting a feel for the town. Though one time, Dudley found him in the local park looking up at the night sky. It was an odd conversation.

"Why do you look up at the sky so much?"

"The night goddess writes the secrets of the world in her veil while her children show their emotions in their lights."

"Like Artemis and Ares?"

"Not Ares," he had said. "Ares is no child of Mother Night. But he and his sister Eris are deities in which one must be careful with. They are very erratic. It is something to be expected from those born of the witch goddess Hecate, sister to Destiny and Erebus of Tartarus."

Dudley did not know what to say to that then. He should have realized that there were far more gods than the Shadow Goddess herself. He also should guess that there were even more of a variety of demons. So, he put up with Lirenas, however awkward it was.

Currently, the five of them were after a water demon that refused to go back to the dark realms in Wales. Dudley did not like the country with its long grasses, crags, mountains, and winds. He had found that preferred Scotland, even above his native southern England. With a pang of guilt, he realized it would have probably appealed to Harry. He could just imagine his skinny cousin in this scenery...

Hastily, he put that to the back of his mind. It was too distracting. And he needed to be alert for this. And it would be indirectly helping Harry out by doing this.

He watched as Lirenas jumped ahead of the demon and summoned a spirit shield to stop the demon. It tried to retreat, but Alyce copied Lirenas' idea and cast a spirit shield of her own. Now the demon was trapped within the strong confinements of two spirit shields.

Dudley could now tell that she was female. She twitched her fish-like tail agitatedly while kneeling in a defensive crouch. She was hideous: her green hair hung like limp seaweed off her head and onto her blue-green shoulders. White eyes that reminded him of blind fish blinked back at him angrily, disgusting him with each batting of a blue-greenish eyelid. She spoke in an annoying high pitch screech not unlike someone dragging long nails across a chalkboard.

"Wait! I can help you!"

"Yeah, right," Jerry remarked. "I doubt you know anything."

"It is true," Lirenas agreed. "There would probably be nothing but worthless ramble from you."

"No, I do have some," she protested adamantly. "Umm...where Hogwarts is!"

Dudley waved off the others' look of confusion. "It's the wizarding school, up north in Scotland."

Cami smartly replied, "Then that's out."

"Spare me, please! Umm...where the wizards hide their base!"

Dudley was beginning to have some suspicions about this demon. How would it know so much? "We don't need any information on wizards."

Alyce added, "Your time is up, spare us the useless information." Jerry formed a spear of spirit energy and was prepared to strike the demon.

"No! I beg of you! I - I know where Harry Potter is!"

What?! Dudley ordered sharply, "Wait!" Jerry stopped in mid-action, while the girls and Lirenas looked at him curiously.

"What for?" Lirenas seemed especially curious about this.

Dudley ignored the question. "You know where Harry Potter is? For certain?"

The demon nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes!"

"Tell me where he is."

She laughed shrilly. "He is so close! I heard the Reapers. They say he is in-"

The demon never finished.

As she collapsed to the ground, they saw a large scythe sticking out of the demons back. Hastily retreating a few steps away from the dead body, they saw the weapon turn a lurid green. Before their eyes, the water demon's body turned to ash while the scythe itself vanished. Dudley didn't know what to say. It was right there, his chance to reunite with his missing cousin, and it was gone within minutes.

Cami then said in an urgent tone, "I feel two powerful presences!"

"What are they?"

"I - I don't know. They aren't demon, but - they aren't human!"

Alyce and Jerry looked around before stopping cold. Alyce turned deathly pale while Jerry stuttered out, "Who are they?"

Dudley followed their gaze. Standing on the crag above them were five figures, four of which were holding scythes. The only man without the scythe had a swarthy Middle Eastern look to him and wore black robes that were similar to the ones of that region. Next to him was a pretty blonde woman wearing black robes over a corseted gown and beside her was a man who wore a black turban and flowing garments. He was plainly of Asia, possibly India. The other two were cloaked in shadow, but he could tell one of them was a woman.

A strong gust of wind blew and with that, they were gone.

He saw Lirenas looking both shaken and shocked. But his eyes held the recognition that none of the others had. "You know who they are," he said to the demon, almost accusingly.

"Did you not felt the shock and fear that went through you when you saw them? Of course I know them," Lirenas replied. "Those were Reapers, the agents of the god of death."

<><><>

Melania had unfortunately made the mistake of groaning in front of a very surly black statue. She was sitting on the steps of the castle's hall, looking for the entire world very upset and anxious. Her stately dark red kimono contrasted heavily with the white marble steps she now sat upon. Just because she was a goddess and the queen of the land of the dead didn't mean that she had to always be formal.

"What are you so upset about? Bet you that it's nothing."

She sighed. Why she kept Black Wolf around was a question she didn't even know the answer to. "They're coming."

"Who are? Better not be Thanatos again. I had enough of the little bugger," Black Wolf remarked.

"No," Melania corrected. "Artemis and Pandora."

"They're just your sisters. Fortunately, they are the almost normal ones. What's the problem?"

"I can't deal with them today," she moaned. Placing her head onto her knees, she groaned. "There's too much going on!"

"Care to clarify?"

"I have to deal with Pheta and the light gods, keep Tom from finding out the truth, protect Harry, judge the dead, answer ritual callings, and watch over the Dark Gateway. All at once! Give me some credit!"

Black Wolf sneered, "Deal with it. At least, Ate isn't coming. Goddess of mischief...bah!"

Melania sighed. She should have expected this from Black Wolf. "Well, they're coming whether I like it or not. And knowing Artemis, she'll pull out the 'listen to me because I'm the older sister' card' to try to influence my decisions."

"Here they come, are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be." With a quick flick of her hand, the doors of the castle of Annuvin opened. She hated it when her siblings visited. They tended to be nothing more than nuisances. Artemis would be pushy in her dignified way. Moros would be lying through his teeth and Hypnos would only drop by for a few minutes before rushing off, complaining about work and insomniacs. Ate caused disaster through and through, which was why Black Wolf hated her. This was because when Ate visited the last time, he was 'Pink' Wolf to his horror. Pandora was just too optimistic for her tastes while Deimos and Phobos were...creepy.

Walking elegantly into the hall was Artemis. Melania scowled. She knew that Artemis was planning something. If one looked at us, you wouldn't think we were sisters. Melania took most after her father, Erebus of Tartarus. Her sisters were different, resembling the night goddess Nyx more. Artemis' pale white locks were a huge contrast to Melania's dark silver streaked hair. Brown eyes immediately sought her blue ones out, narrowing in disapproval. Artemis had never accepted Melania's decisions and personality. Like the dark goddess herself, the moon goddess wore a kimono. Hers, however, were much more ornate: diamond crescent moons stitched on dark blue and white embroidered silk. In a clear alto, Artemis admonished, "I see you haven't changed much in the past few years, have you sister?"

"Why would I? Everything is going smoothly, so I see no reason to," she countered.

"Really?" Artemis glided closer. "Then explain what has been going on then in the mortal realm. I see as much as our mother does."

On the banister, Black Wolf snorted. "Don't kid yourself. You can only see as much as the great Lady Nyx could see only when there is a full moon. And while you do so, you cause havoc on those bitten by the werewolves."

The moon goddess glared. "That is none of your concern, wolf. Aren't you insulting your own kind?"

"Hardly. Werewolves aren't real wolves. I consider those humans who turn into them more wolf than those things. Besides, where do the humans get the word lunacy?"

Artemis said imperiously, "I have not come here to argue with a statue." Turning to Melania, she said, "Do you mind explaining what is going on?"

The dark goddess answered fuming, "Simple. I'm defending my descendants from a vengeful, idiotic, self-centered, blonde-"

"I get the point," Artemis interjected tightly.

Black Wolf asked, "Why'd you stop her? You should have let her go on. We were about to be treated to the best line of incessant cursing and insults since Thanatos caused the Black Plague!" He was silenced by two swift glares.

"Anyway, Melania-"

"Hello!" Melania winced at the sound of the saccharine voice. This was what would make this little family reunion extremely difficult: the overtly dignified and formal Artemis along with her other sister.

"Sorry, I'm late," said Pandora gaily, practically skipping into the hall. Beside her, Melania could hear Black Wolf start distinctly mutter angrily about 'happy hyperactive' goddesses. "I just caught this wonderful story on the mortal news," the newcomer enthused. "It was so inspiring! This little boy lost his legs and through determination and-"

"And hope, he managed to walk. I get it, Pandora." Melania snuck a look at Artemis, who was currently rolling her eyes. This behavior of Pandora's was nothing new. Her sibling was clothed in garments no doubt horribly offensive to Artemis: a bright yellow sundress, flip-flops, and a huge straw hat topped with sunflowers. She looked extremely out of place in the gloom of Annuvin. Though out of them, Pandora could be considered to be the most outstanding one of them when it came to beauty. Who could resist curly black hair, laughing brown eyes, and an infectious smile? She was considered the most favored out of all the dark deities since she was the goddess of hope. Though it was a good question as to how she was born to the dark gods in any case.

But their parents had their own favorites. And their father didn't approve of Pandora's lack of cunning or subtlety. The same went for cheerfulness. Exuberance and optimism were two things that didn't belong in Tartarus. And Artemis was far too uptight in his opinion. So, she was the favored daughter with Thanatos being the favored son. No one knew the reason to that last one. I bet he doesn't even know that. Their mother was different. She by far approved more of Artemis and Hypnos.

"What did you want to talk to me about, Pandora?" Her tone was exasperated, listless. She was reminded of how kindergarten teachers take on an unenergetic manner when dealing with a hyperactive child. Though the situation was not that far from the case.

"Yes, please tell us," added Black Wolf sarcastically, eyes narrowing. "We have nothing better to do." Muttering to her quietly, he said, "I prefer Miss Pompous here than Little Miss Sunshine any day. I can at least deal with bombastic children. Oblivious ones are much harder."

Artemis' brown eyes flashed angrily at this, but Pandora didn't seem to notice. Frowning, she answered, "I'm wondering what do you think you're doing."

Melania fought the urge to just blow up the entire castle. Was every little thing against her or did they only want to get her annoyed? Through gritted teeth, she replied, "I'm protecting my descendants. Isn't that obvious?" Her implied threat to shut up was caught by Black Wolf and Artemis, who wisely decided not to interrupt with their own opinions on the matter.

Pandora, however, prattled on. "But do you realize what's going on? The whole wizarding community is losing hope because Harry Potter is missing! Do you realize what I've had to do to keep them from giving up?"

Fuming, Melania stood up with blazing blue eyes. Pandora took a few steps back. The castle was alive with rage; one could feel it vibrating within the very stones of the structure itself. "You would rather have him dead just so some people could have their hero? He's my descendant and I'm keeping him safe!" Pandora's eyes were widened in terror. Evidently, Melania could do as great a job at scaring people as her brother Deimos, the god of terror himself.

"Wait," ordered Artemis. "What do you mean by 'what I've had to do to keep them from giving up'?" Trust Artemis to catch that.

Sniffing, the goddess of hope said guardedly, "I allowed Sirius Black to spot him in London."

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"

Pandora never had a chance to defend her stance. For waltzing in came the one person who with no doubt could make this state of affairs even more complicated.

"Hello, everybody!" In his usual black robes and jeans was the ever-affable god of death. When he was greeted with no response, Thanatos pouted. "Well, I see that I'm not wanted."

"My god," Black Wolf said in fake incredulity. "He finally figured it out."

Thanatos only scowled at the statue before speaking again, this time seriously. "Mel, I've got to tell you something really, really important. I've discovered that-" He stopped suddenly. His blue eyes landed on the visibly annoyed Artemis and the nervous Pandora. Only Melania caught the flash of frustration and intelligence that passed in the two orbs before they were replaced by humor and mischief. Obviously, he wasn't going to let the other two know what he wanted to tell her. Striding forward, he enveloped Pandora in a hug, exclaiming happily, "Dora!" When he released her, he went forward with arms open to Artemis, saying in the same manner, "Artie!" The moon goddess or 'Artie' stopped him with a venomous glare.

This time, Thanatos scowled. "Honestly, why do you dislike me so much?"

"You're rude, irresponsible, and hopelessly crude."

He smirked. "Then why does Dad like me better?" Melania's anger dissipated. She knew what was coming. It happened every time Thanatos used the 'Dad likes me more than you trick'. Of course, he didn't know that what he was saying was true. He only did it to annoy Artemis. And if Thanatos pulled out the 'Dad' card, then Artemis was sure to...

A pale eyebrow twitching, Artemis yelled out, "MUM!"

Thanatos cursed. "Why do you always do that?!"

<><><>

If the barkeeper found the three people sitting at the counter in his tavern odd, he made no sign to show it. But this was easily explained: he was one of them. Leith Maitland was a certified Reaper himself and knew these three quite well. They had worked together often over the years. No one guessed the man who looked quite good for appearing around fifty to have been dead for centuries. The fourth, a man with a mane of white hair and gold eyes, had left earlier. He had been brought up to date because of the meeting. Raistlin Majere was a close advisor of the Lady Melania, so his information was certain to be accurate.

Fortunately, they had come during a time when he didn't not when business was slow. Putting down several wine glasses, he poured in the violet-red liquid into each from an expensive and exclusive wine brand. Leith rarely used it for his regulars. Partially, this was because the year that it was made would give it away. What normal bar would carry wine that was originally made from medieval times? Leith prided himself on his skills as a bartender. And the wine he had stored in the establishment's basement centuries ago with special charms was his claim to fame. His position as a bartender in a shady part of London made it easy for him to gather information for the Boss. They called Thanatos that for no reason actually. It was just a tradition to.

He himself got out a shot glass and a bottle of vodka. As much as he liked wine, he preferred vodka. Leith personally blamed Katya Vladmir-Tartarsky for this opinion. "So what brings you three here?" All of them looked tired and that was saying something for one of them.

Annie Kentworth was rarely, if ever, tired. He was the one who introduced her to the job of a Reaper years ago and she had earned quite a name for herself since then. She still carried on the fashion styles of her native times: the 1700s. Annie still wore corsets, but she had ditched the petticoats, full elaborate skirts, and wigs in the early nineties. He guessed some habits of the former Duchess of Caventry. A pretty blonde with an easy-going attitude to go with dark green eyes, Leith was amazed to see her so lethargic. And she was wearing a dress she hadn't worn in decades since it had made her highly noticeable. Reapers weren't supposed to be noticed.

The same went for Indra Mugdal, but unlike Annie, he wasn't the happy sort. He carried a great solemnity and decorum about himself most of the time. He was one of the few Reapers that were instated before Jesus Christ. There were not many of them that were born before the times of the Almighty's two most famous avatars: Jesus Christ of Nazareth and Muhammed of Mecca. He was, however, from a time when the Almighty took the form of Gautama Buddha and was a firm believer of the Buddhist philosophy. His turban made him stand out in the crowd and his usually enigmatic eyes were lifeless. The former prince of an Indian empire looked very unlike himself.

Ptolemy Shadis was barely keeping his eyes open. Another Reaper inaugurated before the time of Christ, the former bandit looked like he was going to collapse right there on the bar. If one saw him right now, they would never connect him to the stories of the rogue bandits that roamed across the deserts of Egypt, preying on the pharaoh's loot. His robes were streaked with muddy, signifying that wherever they had gone, it had wet.

Ptolemy answered his question. Years of experience had enabled him to speak many languages without an accent. "We needed a break."

"Really?" This interested him. "From what?"

"I'm surprised you haven't heard," Annie said, taking a long swig of her wine. "About the Descendant of Darkness."

Every descendant of the dark gods was given a title. But the one who own the full title of 'Descendant of Darkness' was long gone. Lowering his voice, he pointed out, "James Potter died years ago."

"She speaks not of James Potter," Indra countered. "But rather of the son."

He now understood. "Ah. I see. I assume you mean the one born about fifteen years ago."

"Correct," Ptolemy responded. "But it is a bit dangerous to go around speaking of the Dark Prince, isn't? So, it is better to talk about him using one that has already been known to have met their demise."

Leith shrugged. "I have yet to meet one other than those from the lower dark realms to know the titles of the darkness-born."

Indra laughed harshly. "Then why did a water demon, a pathetic one at that, know his location?"

He paled. "Repeat that."

Annie complied. "A water demon knew where he was. According to its testimony, it heard some Reapers talking about it. It was probably brought up since Brian Jennings died again."

Leith scowled. "What kind of Reapers were those?" He paused. "Again?!"

"Bad ones, obviously," Ptolemy said dryly. "And yes, again. A man in Nebraska was in a coma and for some reason gave up." He shrugged. "So we erased Jennings' memory and put him in that body."

"What happened?"

"Freak accident. At a baseball game, the pitcher had a horrible throw. Knocked the soul right out of the body. We needed to supply a new one while taking Jennings back to Annuvin. Pitcher was-"

"His wife?"

"Bingo."

Offhandedly, Annie said, "At least I didn't take him. I don't want to see that soul ever again."

"It isn't the half of it," added Indra.

"What else do you guys have to do?"

"Simple," Annie replied. "Get Sirius Black off track. Pandora messed things up by having the Descendant spotted."

Leith grinned. "So this means..."

"Yep," sighed Indra. "We run interference tomorrow. Raistlin's head of operations."

He laughed out loud. He knew that this would happen. "Need any help?"

"I doubt it," Annie said. Lifting her glass, she said, "Shall we?"

Sharing a common smile, the three men joined their glasses with hers. They said together, "We of shadow and shade, those who neither are living nor dead. Reapers eternal, we are the Knights of Death!"