Monsieur Death

Liam

I hated Shalka’s. They were monsters of plague and disease. and loved to suck the life out of their victims. I know, being the god of death, I should love that stuff! But they had tried to kill far too many times. Doctor Plague, the god of disease, was supposed through o keep them hidden away in Despair, but instead, he considered them his pets, and mostly let them run around, hurting gods and causing issues. But unleashing them on humans? He was not supposed to do that. Me and him had never gotten along, but defying a direct order from Judgement himself was across the line. What was he doing?! He had always gone out of his way to cause trouble for me, but I never expected this. It just appeared in the dining room, teeth and claw. It leaped at us. I was too slow to protect Evangeline, but she was plenty capable of protecting herself. She brought up her fork and stabbed it in the eye. Blood spilled down her arm, but she didn’t seem to notice she backed away, gripping her bad shoulder. It seemed to be hurting her less. She snatched her bowl and threw it in at the monster. The ceramic shattered harmlessly against its skin, but I was there by then. I grabbed its neck and pulled it down, chocking and gasping. It managed to throw me off and head for Evangeline again, but she had grabbed a handful of paper towels and put them in the stove. She waved it in front of its face, causing it to reconcile and hiss. When it started going out, she drove it into its mouth. It shook its head and yelped, jumping around and demolishing the kitchen. I jumped in it with a kitchen knife and stabbed it through the head. It shrieked and screeched until it shriveled up into the wound, burning away until it was nothing but the plague pendent it wore around its neck. We both stood there, breathing hard.

“What.....” Evangeline trailed off. “What the heck just happened?!”

I shook my head. “I think you’re ready now.”

*********

By the time we settled out on the lawn, it was almost nine. There was a bit of rain, but neither of us minded.

“So.... you’re a god.”

“Yeah.”

“And you really are three thousand and one in a month?”

“Month and a half, actually.”

“And you really don’t eat?”

I shook my head.

“And you’re here.... why are you here?”

I hadn’t told her that yet. I wasn’t going to. “I was banished.” I said finally. “Banished for saving a little boy’s life.”

She was quiet after that. And then, she said something I didn’t expect at all.

“That’s cruel.”

“What?!”

“That’s cruel and-and dumb. So they’re the reason everyone dies. We would have to die if they didn’t exist. They choose when that little boy died. Well, they shouldn’t. Life should be in no ones hands. It’s nobody’s right to say when we die.”

I was silent for a while. Then, her words hit me.

“You’re right.” I whispered. “No one deserves that privilege.”

She bit her lip. “I’m sorry, you know.”

“For what?”

“For not believing you.”

“I’m sorry for telling you before you were ready.”

Her eyes flashed. “I was ready. I just needed proof.”

“And you got it.”

“Yeah.” She rubbed her shoulder like it was hurting her again.

“I have to leave.” I said.

“Why?!”

“I have to find out why this is happening. I have to tell Judgement.”

She looked at me. “Where will you start?”

“Golden gate bridge. It has a secret bunker that will transport us to Taj Mahal.”

“Why Taj Mahal?”

“It has some sort of connection to the gods. Maybe I’ll be able to communicate with Judgement from the-“

A car had pulled up in the driveway next to us. Emmaline got out and unlocked the door.

“I have to go now.” I told her. She nodded.

“I know. And I’m coming with you.” I looked at her.

“What about your family?”

“My family hates me. I’d love to get away from here. Please don’t argue. I have an uncle who can drive us to the bridge.”

I nodded. “I wasn’t going to. If you want to come, it’s your choice. Besides-“ I cut myself off. I had been about to say I needed her close to me, but then she would ask why. Instead I said, “We have to go now.” She jumped up, wincing a little.

“Let’s go.”