Lake of blood

still clutched in his hand.

“Why the apple?” He asked.

“The apple?” She questioned quizzically, “That’s it? No profound statement, or why am I here?”

“I understand why I’m here” Vern stated as he looked up and straightened his back, a tightness about his face.

“A peace offering Vern, it’s been many years, and I thought you might like one” She stated, leaning back in her chair.

“Why would you make peace with a damned soul?” He asked.

“I don’t, if you were damned you would have been drained and tossed in the corpse grinder by now” Gwen stated in a more serious tone now.

Vern looked at her, confusion plastered across his face ad he took a deep bite out of the piece of fruit, it tasted nearly too good to be of the mortal world. Several streams of juice made their way down his short beard as he crunched away, preparing his next question. Gwen looked to warm up as he ate smirking and playing with sparks of blue magic across her finger tips.

“Why am I here?” Vern finally stated, setting the apple core on the ground beside him.

“There's a monster in the lake and I need someone to take care of it” Gwen stated nervously.

“What happens if I die again in the lake?” Vern pressed.

“I don’t know, that’s never happened before.” Gwen answered quietly.

“And what do I get if I slay said beast?” Vern continued questioning.

“Whatever you wish Vern, I could even give you a house in the sky” Gwen offered.

“I’ll need my sword” Vern stated, wiping his sticky hands across his thighs before heaving himself up out of the chair and gazing out into the lake.