The Dark Shroud(Book 1)

er new found immortality to the God and Goddess of the underworld. 150 years later she meets a man named Ren, who is the second son of the Don for the Irish Mafia. All her inst

"sir." I can feel sweat beading on my forehead and drip down th

me and watches me as I have a co

. "And I am here to give you a choi

words out. "

way unwillingly and places his hand on my forehea

ve been watching you and I want to choose you as my successor. So, the choice you get is to be reaped and pass

appen if I c

turn, will take you to Charon to pass over the river of Styx into the underworld

confused. "I have

o live or die?

barely lived the life I have. O

ermined a

nd black move from under his skin. It moves through the veins in his hand, into mine and then disappears. I feel my hand become warm before spreading up my arm and ov

bet

hand out for me to ta

nd I have been a reap

e looks at me

head and hands me a black ro

is a s

he answers. "It is a shame because you are a b

y you chose

m to me. "...I chose you because regardless of this being a man's world you don't take

going to do

reap and afterwards you

nd mist. Normally I would already be cold, but I welcome it with th

he barn. We walk into the barn and he closes the door behind us. "Shadow jumping is

s experience. He walks back to me and pulls me into a shadow. There is no middle ground when moving between shadows, the moment I entered the shadow I left it, but in a different place. When I look, we are in an old house, in a room with a man that is dying in his bed. Surrounding him are his family and friends who all

nd on my shoulder and leans

er all the while with his hand still on my shoulder. The

laces his hand on his chest and the man takes a deep breath before exhaling for the last time. William lifts his hand and between the man and William's hand is a string of light. In this string of light, I can see how the man lived his life, all of his memories and pain all in a couple inches of pure delight, towards the end I can see the light

we doing h

will meet the angle of death to present your souls for him to take. He will be

to this place.

ested souls. This sanctuary, only the souls we harvest and o

an angel

can have a chance to become one if you

ed smile and then to a large flat boulder. "An

for you to become a full reaper, and don't be

ce my hand on his chest shakily with the word instinct pounding in my head. I then feel his soul attach to the tiny nerve ten

enter of your hand when my soul is ready to leave my body. You

nd as he exhales as I pull the rest of his soul from his body and throw it very lightly to my side. His soul materializes into view and William's body turns to ash next to me. I feel both exhilarated a

body?" I ask with ter

hey die," William's soul says to me

ke a ghost would if they passed through you on a warm sunny day, that sudden r

don't age doesn't mean your body won't change. You can even have children. Also,

d he smi

reap a soul without an assignment. You also cannot use your abilities for personal gain.

it be cata

in the titans' image. The universe will fall under Cronus's rule and those who defied him will fall into despair and

ut is there a chance that

y cheek. I get the gut feeling that he is hiding something, but I don't pry abou

t to do and how to handle them. It is a knowing that in every soul in this universe and a knowing that only a reaper can find. Not even gods are allowed such power and if they did, they could very well end our univer

at I would never have any once or experience of knowing. I have no clue of what it is, but it made me choose you. I can f

on, but knowing someone as beautiful as you exist, it will give me enough love to last me a thousand life times in these last moments I have with you. I loved you Anna from the moment I saw you

ls away and caresses my cheek again. At that moment I want him to kiss me, and I know he wants it too, but part of me knows he just wants to hol

nates in my soul for years to come. If he kisses me now, I know I will never want to let him go, nor will

will see you again in the next life, and I wish we could be reapers together, but alas, I have to move o

ust as the sun pushes through the threshold to visibility, I see a flash of green and an opening. I wat

is

. "But there is something that I do know, sh

e backs into the gate into the afterlife. I see other souls I didn't see before walk past me from out of nowhere and into the opening as

rse thought is telling my family and how they will react to what has become of me. If I tell them, they will accuse is me of being

aves wear when coming off the ship from Africa. She holds a spear and shield, and wearing African warrior clothing of gold, red, and black. Her head is shaved bare and green paint covers half of her face. Little white dots encirc

o Sister, my name is Amina. You don't know my language, but will underst

ll not accept me for wha

fact, you are the only one allowed to r

ow will I live my life? Will I have to solely be a

ctuary wasn't just created to harbor souls to the underworld. And if you are g

her perks?" I

tiful black, orange, and white markings and spots. "This is a hell hound given to those that are recognized. There are thousands upon thousands of reapers, but only few get this honor.

ut seams very skittish. She runs back to Amina

ile, but get nowhere, because the sanctuary is infinite. I jump back

though that many spirits and powerful things passing in and out planes within the d

es contentedly. She places h

eaper." I blurt out w

a friend long ago who was one. It explains wh

young girl walking down a stone road unaware of the runaway carriage coming from behind. I come

ore any other word comes from my mouth. "Do your job, you hav