She checked her watch again. And again. And again. He wasn't tired of talking, though. It was like the fucking slideshow from hell. Her hands were freezing off the damn bone already. How long had they been in the meeting? An hour? Two? A year? Ever since her father had started making her sit in on these slow deaths, she'd found a new definition for the word 'boring'. And a face to match.

"And I think this quarter, we can make a real push with R&D's newest project. The people are gonna love it!" A round of applause following the statement prompted DeVian to follow the social cue, snapping her attention back to the speaker. This had undoubtedly been the worst use of her time all week. And it was kind of irritating to have to stick around and shake hands.

She slipped out of the room without wasting another second after she was finished with the formalities. This was her last meeting of the day and the drinks she was looking forward to couldn't come any sooner.

A wave of dread washed over her. DeVian froze in place, her hands white-knuckle gripping the wheel as every muscle in her body just... stopped. It was all so fast. It was how she knew Novevu wanted to talk.

One moment she was turning the keys into the ignition and the next she was falling on her ass in the Void.




"Slacker, slacker, slacker!" came the Ancient of Death's voice, laughing like a hyena, bouncing off of the great nothing that was the Void. He took no physical form at first--it was as though every part of his realm was also him. As if by just being there, one was communicating with him, even if it was in complete silence.

"Nov--"
she started, adjusting her position to kneel before him.

"No, no, slackers don't get to call me by my name. Master, though, master--haha!--that I like." His voice was everywhere around her as if he were circling her, laughing at her, having a jolly good time mocking her. His voice returned to its usual depth, the echo of it making it sound like there were eight of him speaking at the same time. "I will accept a bow."

DeVian did as she was told. It had been longer than it should've been since she last entered the Void. Life in the human realm was... busy. She had a lot on her plate. Being a daughter of Death didn't make any money. It didn't pay any bills or attend any business meetings.

"Master, then. My apologies."


"I expect a lot more in the near future. I have a task for you to finally prove your worth in this house."

"So you're going to hold a grudge forever? Lo siento, okay?"


His laugh rattled her very bones. It was thunderous. "Not sorry enough. DeVian, the task that I am giving you, it must be completed. Do you understand me?" There was no trace of that laugh now.

"Yes, Master."


"How? I haven't even told you what it is yet." That same maniacal chuckle banged at her eardrums. "There is a manuscript in your realm that you will retrieve for me. I am sure I do not need to reiterate how important this is."

Really? He's trusting such an important mission to somebody he considers a slacker?

Her mind began racing. How the fuck was she supposed to fit in looking for some vague manuscript or whatever between her already full schedule? Was he being, like... serious? Was there no one else to ask?

Of course, though, there was no way in hell she was going to say no to his face. Or... Void.

Just as her doubts took a turn for the extremely hesitant, Novevu decided to show himself. It was almost as if there was a light behind him, but just enough to accentuate his form. He was sitting upon a great throne, easily twenty feet high, with his legs crossed, staring down at his descendant in amusement. He was a dark figure with light working just enough to silhouette him.

"For some reason you are making me wait for your acceptance of this mission."

Dev's head shot up, panic surging through her. "I... Yes, Master. I accept."


"Good. I always like to give the illusion of a choice. I am not privy to the knowledge of where in your world the book is, but it reeks of the power of the Citadel. This task is your life's priority. Disappoint me and it will be the last thing you ever do. Do not make me wait so long to see you here again."




"No, no, mon cher, why would I cheat you?"
Evans smiled with all the charm he could muster. When he saw the woman's continued hesitation, he persisted, spreading the cards in his hands out for her. "One more trick, I beg you. Don't you want to see something cool before you go back to your boring trip?"


"Boring?" The woman giggled. "What's boring about New Orleans?"

"Well, I'm inclined to think anywhere I ain't can't be that good of a time."


"Fine. One more time. My girls already left me."

"I always like alone time with a beautiful woman like yourself. Pick a card, sweetheart."
He brandished them for her again, and from the blush on her cheeks, he knew he'd gotten her.

-


Evans whistled amiably to himself as the sun set behind his head and he shuffled through the wallets he'd acquired throughout the day. None of them seemed to be terribly interesting people, judging by the contents. There were a couple of cute pictures of the victims' children, though. Those, he paused at, but ultimately put in the garbage with everything else.

He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and exhaled, rounding a corner and disappearing under a low bridge. No city ever slept, but New Orleans truly embodied livelihood at night. There was no greater feeling than being out on the streets after the sun went down. In fact, as Evans consulted his watch, he figured he'd need to put some pep in his step to make his evening rounds in the Quarter.

The red-headed man settled his hands in his pockets, tripping over a crack in the brick and right into a bright, golden-hued room with only a grand piano at the center. He knew Elysian when he saw it. It was always the 'golden hour' here, but sometimes the setting was different. Today, he supposed, Destodai desired to play the piano.

"Oh, this is just the loveliest thing I have ever had the pleasure of hearing,"
Evans drawled, bowing briefly before the Ancient that he assumed had called him.

Destodai didn't acknowledge him immediately. She continued to play a song Evans had never heard, but it was, in fact, very beautiful. Moving, even.

"May I ask what brings me here, madame?"


"You may ask. But I do not answer to you."


"Am I already makin' a fool of myself?"


"Listen."
She continued her playing, her back turned to him the entire time. He waited patiently, despite the fact that it felt like she played for hours before speaking again. "I have something to ask of you."


"Anything, ma chérie."


"I am sure."
Her fingers moved delicately yet languidly over the keys. "There is a book in your world. It is from the lost Citadel. I require it."
A dark note played. "It is imperative that it is brought to me."


"Consider it done, then."


"This is no time for games, Evans. There is no room for charm. I will not accept anything from you other than this book in my hands."


"Mon cher, why would I ever cheat you?"
A confident grin rose onto his features. "That book is yours."


She let him stay in Elysian for a while longer as she played. Destodai never turned to look at him, but it didn't bother him. He was delighted just to be able to listen. At one point, he found himself on the verge of tears as she continued, reaching a sad and slow song. But just as the first tear was teetering on the edge of his eyelid, he found himself stumbling over the brick that had tripped him on his way into Elysian in the first place.

She checked her watch again. And again. And again. He wasn't tired of talking, though. It was like the fucking slideshow from hell. Her hands were freezing off the damn bone already. How long had they been in the meeting? An hour? Two? A year? Ever since her father had started making her sit in on these slow deaths, she'd found a new definition for the word 'boring'. And a face to match.

"And I think this quarter, we can make a real push with R&D's newest project. The people are gonna love it!" A round of applause following the statement prompted DeVian to follow the social cue, snapping her attention back to the speaker. This had undoubtedly been the worst use of her time all week. And it was kind of irritating to have to stick around and shake hands.

She slipped out of the room without wasting another second after she was finished with the formalities. This was her last meeting of the day and the drinks she was looking forward to couldn't come any sooner.

A wave of dread washed over her. DeVian froze in place, her hands white-knuckle gripping the wheel as every muscle in her body just... stopped. It was all so fast. It was how she knew Novevu wanted to talk.

One moment she was turning the keys into the ignition and the next she was falling on her ass in the Void.




"Slacker, slacker, slacker!" came the Ancient of Death's voice, laughing like a hyena, bouncing off of the great nothing that was the Void. He took no physical form at first--it was as though every part of his realm was also him. As if by just being there, one was communicating with him, even if it was in complete silence.

"Nov--"
she started, adjusting her position to kneel before him.

"No, no, slackers don't get to call me by my name. Master, though, master--haha!--that I like." His voice was everywhere around her as if he were circling her, laughing at her, having a jolly good time mocking her. His voice returned to its usual depth, the echo of it making it sound like there were eight of him speaking at the same time. "I will accept a bow."

DeVian did as she was told. It had been longer than it should've been since she last entered the Void. Life in the human realm was... busy. She had a lot on her plate. Being a daughter of Death didn't make any money. It didn't pay any bills or attend any business meetings.

"Master, then. My apologies."


"I expect a lot more in the near future. I have a task for you to finally prove your worth in this house."

"So you're going to hold a grudge forever? Lo siento, okay?"


His laugh rattled her very bones. It was thunderous. "Not sorry enough. DeVian, the task that I am giving you, it must be completed. Do you understand me?" There was no trace of that laugh now.

"Yes, Master."


"How? I haven't even told you what it is yet." That same maniacal chuckle banged at her eardrums. "There is a manuscript in your realm that you will retrieve for me. I am sure I do not need to reiterate how important this is."

Really? He's trusting such an important mission to somebody he considers a slacker?

Her mind began racing. How the fuck was she supposed to fit in looking for some vague manuscript or whatever between her already full schedule? Was he being, like... serious? Was there no one else to ask?

Of course, though, there was no way in hell she was going to say no to his face. Or... Void.

Just as her doubts took a turn for the extremely hesitant, Novevu decided to show himself. It was almost as if there was a light behind him, but just enough to accentuate his form. He was sitting upon a great throne, easily twenty feet high, with his legs crossed, staring down at his descendant in amusement. He was a dark figure with light working just enough to silhouette him.

"For some reason you are making me wait for your acceptance of this mission."

Dev's head shot up, panic surging through her. "I... Yes, Master. I accept."


"Good. I always like to give the illusion of a choice. I am not privy to the knowledge of where in your world the book is, but it reeks of the power of the Citadel. This task is your life's priority. Disappoint me and it will be the last thing you ever do. Do not make me wait so long to see you here again."




"No, no, mon cher, why would I cheat you?"
Evans smiled with all the charm he could muster. When he saw the woman's continued hesitation, he persisted, spreading the cards in his hands out for her. "One more trick, I beg you. Don't you want to see something cool before you go back to your boring trip?"


"Boring?" The woman giggled. "What's boring about New Orleans?"

"Well, I'm inclined to think anywhere I ain't can't be that good of a time."


"Fine. One more time. My girls already left me."

"I always like alone time with a beautiful woman like yourself. Pick a card, sweetheart."
He brandished them for her again, and from the blush on her cheeks, he knew he'd gotten her.

-


Evans whistled amiably to himself as the sun set behind his head and he shuffled through the wallets he'd acquired throughout the day. None of them seemed to be terribly interesting people, judging by the contents. There were a couple of cute pictures of the victims' children, though. Those, he paused at, but ultimately put in the garbage with everything else.

He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and exhaled, rounding a corner and disappearing under a low bridge. No city ever slept, but New Orleans truly embodied livelihood at night. There was no greater feeling than being out on the streets after the sun went down. In fact, as Evans consulted his watch, he figured he'd need to put some pep in his step to make his evening rounds in the Quarter.

The red-headed man settled his hands in his pockets, tripping over a crack in the brick and right into a bright, golden-hued room with only a grand piano at the center. He knew Elysian when he saw it. It was always the 'golden hour' here, but sometimes the setting was different. Today, he supposed, Destodai desired to play the piano.

"Oh, this is just the loveliest thing I have ever had the pleasure of hearing,"
Evans drawled, bowing briefly before the Ancient that he assumed had called him.

Destodai didn't acknowledge him immediately. She continued to play a song Evans had never heard, but it was, in fact, very beautiful. Moving, even.

"May I ask what brings me here, madame?"


"You may ask. But I do not answer to you."


"Am I already makin' a fool of myself?"


"Listen."
She continued her playing, her back turned to him the entire time. He waited patiently, despite the fact that it felt like she played for hours before speaking again. "I have something to ask of you."


"Anything, ma chérie."


"I am sure."
Her fingers moved delicately yet languidly over the keys. "There is a book in your world. It is from the lost Citadel. I require it."
A dark note played. "It is imperative that it is brought to me."


"Consider it done, then."


"This is no time for games, Evans. There is no room for charm. I will not accept anything from you other than this book in my hands."


"Mon cher, why would I ever cheat you?"
A confident grin rose onto his features. "That book is yours."


She let him stay in Elysian for a while longer as she played. Destodai never turned to look at him, but it didn't bother him. He was delighted just to be able to listen. At one point, he found himself on the verge of tears as she continued, reaching a sad and slow song. But just as the first tear was teetering on the edge of his eyelid, he found himself stumbling over the brick that had tripped him on his way into Elysian in the first place.

She checked her watch again. And again. And again. He wasn't tired of talking, though. It was like the fucking slideshow from hell. Her hands were freezing off the damn bone already. How long had they been in the meeting? An hour? Two? A year? Ever since her father had started making her sit in on these slow deaths, she'd found a new definition for the word 'boring'. And a face to match.

"And I think this quarter, we can make a real push with R&D's newest project. The people are gonna love it!" A round of applause following the statement prompted DeVian to follow the social cue, snapping her attention back to the speaker. This had undoubtedly been the worst use of her time all week. And it was kind of irritating to have to stick around and shake hands.

She slipped out of the room without wasting another second after she was finished with the formalities. This was her last meeting of the day and the drinks she was looking forward to couldn't come any sooner.

A wave of dread washed over her. DeVian froze in place, her hands white-knuckle gripping the wheel as every muscle in her body just... stopped. It was all so fast. It was how she knew Novevu wanted to talk.

One moment she was turning the keys into the ignition and the next she was falling on her ass in the Void.




"Slacker, slacker, slacker!" came the Ancient of Death's voice, laughing like a hyena, bouncing off of the great nothing that was the Void. He took no physical form at first--it was as though every part of his realm was also him. As if by just being there, one was communicating with him, even if it was in complete silence.

"Nov--"
she started, adjusting her position to kneel before him.

"No, no, slackers don't get to call me by my name. Master, though, master--haha!--that I like." His voice was everywhere around her as if he were circling her, laughing at her, having a jolly good time mocking her. His voice returned to its usual depth, the echo of it making it sound like there were eight of him speaking at the same time. "I will accept a bow."

DeVian did as she was told. It had been longer than it should've been since she last entered the Void. Life in the human realm was... busy. She had a lot on her plate. Being a daughter of Death didn't make any money. It didn't pay any bills or attend any business meetings.

"Master, then. My apologies."


"I expect a lot more in the near future. I have a task for you to finally prove your worth in this house."

"So you're going to hold a grudge forever? Lo siento, okay?"


His laugh rattled her very bones. It was thunderous. "Not sorry enough. DeVian, the task that I am giving you, it must be completed. Do you understand me?" There was no trace of that laugh now.

"Yes, Master."


"How? I haven't even told you what it is yet." That same maniacal chuckle banged at her eardrums. "There is a manuscript in your realm that you will retrieve for me. I am sure I do not need to reiterate how important this is."

Really? He's trusting such an important mission to somebody he considers a slacker?

Her mind began racing. How the fuck was she supposed to fit in looking for some vague manuscript or whatever between her already full schedule? Was he being, like... serious? Was there no one else to ask?

Of course, though, there was no way in hell she was going to say no to his face. Or... Void.

Just as her doubts took a turn for the extremely hesitant, Novevu decided to show himself. It was almost as if there was a light behind him, but just enough to accentuate his form. He was sitting upon a great throne, easily twenty feet high, with his legs crossed, staring down at his descendant in amusement. He was a dark figure with light working just enough to silhouette him.

"For some reason you are making me wait for your acceptance of this mission."

Dev's head shot up, panic surging through her. "I... Yes, Master. I accept."


"Good. I always like to give the illusion of a choice. I am not privy to the knowledge of where in your world the book is, but it reeks of the power of the Citadel. This task is your life's priority. Disappoint me and it will be the last thing you ever do. Do not make me wait so long to see you here again."




"No, no, mon cher, why would I cheat you?"
Evans smiled with all the charm he could muster. When he saw the woman's continued hesitation, he persisted, spreading the cards in his hands out for her. "One more trick, I beg you. Don't you want to see something cool before you go back to your boring trip?"


"Boring?" The woman giggled. "What's boring about New Orleans?"

"Well, I'm inclined to think anywhere I ain't can't be that good of a time."


"Fine. One more time. My girls already left me."

"I always like alone time with a beautiful woman like yourself. Pick a card, sweetheart."
He brandished them for her again, and from the blush on her cheeks, he knew he'd gotten her.

-


Evans whistled amiably to himself as the sun set behind his head and he shuffled through the wallets he'd acquired throughout the day. None of them seemed to be terribly interesting people, judging by the contents. There were a couple of cute pictures of the victims' children, though. Those, he paused at, but ultimately put in the garbage with everything else.

He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and exhaled, rounding a corner and disappearing under a low bridge. No city ever slept, but New Orleans truly embodied livelihood at night. There was no greater feeling than being out on the streets after the sun went down. In fact, as Evans consulted his watch, he figured he'd need to put some pep in his step to make his evening rounds in the Quarter.

The red-headed man settled his hands in his pockets, tripping over a crack in the brick and right into a bright, golden-hued room with only a grand piano at the center. He knew Elysian when he saw it. It was always the 'golden hour' here, but sometimes the setting was different. Today, he supposed, Destodai desired to play the piano.

"Oh, this is just the loveliest thing I have ever had the pleasure of hearing,"
Evans drawled, bowing briefly before the Ancient that he assumed had called him.

Destodai didn't acknowledge him immediately. She continued to play a song Evans had never heard, but it was, in fact, very beautiful. Moving, even.

"May I ask what brings me here, madame?"


"You may ask. But I do not answer to you."


"Am I already makin' a fool of myself?"


"Listen."
She continued her playing, her back turned to him the entire time. He waited patiently, despite the fact that it felt like she played for hours before speaking again. "I have something to ask of you."


"Anything, ma chérie."


"I am sure."
Her fingers moved delicately yet languidly over the keys. "There is a book in your world. It is from the lost Citadel. I require it."
A dark note played. "It is imperative that it is brought to me."


"Consider it done, then."


"This is no time for games, Evans. There is no room for charm. I will not accept anything from you other than this book in my hands."


"Mon cher, why would I ever cheat you?"
A confident grin rose onto his features. "That book is yours."


She let him stay in Elysian for a while longer as she played. Destodai never turned to look at him, but it didn't bother him. He was delighted just to be able to listen. At one point, he found himself on the verge of tears as she continued, reaching a sad and slow song. But just as the first tear was teetering on the edge of his eyelid, he found himself stumbling over the brick that had tripped him on his way into Elysian in the first place.

She checked her watch again. And again. And again. He wasn't tired of talking, though. It was like the fucking slideshow from hell. Her hands were freezing off the damn bone already. How long had they been in the meeting? An hour? Two? A year? Ever since her father had started making her sit in on these slow deaths, she'd found a new definition for the word 'boring'. And a face to match.

"And I think this quarter, we can make a real push with R&D's newest project. The people are gonna love it!" A round of applause following the statement prompted DeVian to follow the social cue, snapping her attention back to the speaker. This had undoubtedly been the worst use of her time all week. And it was kind of irritating to have to stick around and shake hands.

She slipped out of the room without wasting another second after she was finished with the formalities. This was her last meeting of the day and the drinks she was looking forward to couldn't come any sooner.

A wave of dread washed over her. DeVian froze in place, her hands white-knuckle gripping the wheel as every muscle in her body just... stopped. It was all so fast. It was how she knew Novevu wanted to talk.

One moment she was turning the keys into the ignition and the next she was falling on her ass in the Void.




"Slacker, slacker, slacker!" came the Ancient of Death's voice, laughing like a hyena, bouncing off of the great nothing that was the Void. He took no physical form at first--it was as though every part of his realm was also him. As if by just being there, one was communicating with him, even if it was in complete silence.

"Nov--"
she started, adjusting her position to kneel before him.

"No, no, slackers don't get to call me by my name. Master, though, master--haha!--that I like." His voice was everywhere around her as if he were circling her, laughing at her, having a jolly good time mocking her. His voice returned to its usual depth, the echo of it making it sound like there were eight of him speaking at the same time. "I will accept a bow."

DeVian did as she was told. It had been longer than it should've been since she last entered the Void. Life in the human realm was... busy. She had a lot on her plate. Being a daughter of Death didn't make any money. It didn't pay any bills or attend any business meetings.

"Master, then. My apologies."


"I expect a lot more in the near future. I have a task for you to finally prove your worth in this house."

"So you're going to hold a grudge forever? Lo siento, okay?"


His laugh rattled her very bones. It was thunderous. "Not sorry enough. DeVian, the task that I am giving you, it must be completed. Do you understand me?" There was no trace of that laugh now.

"Yes, Master."


"How? I haven't even told you what it is yet." That same maniacal chuckle banged at her eardrums. "There is a manuscript in your realm that you will retrieve for me. I am sure I do not need to reiterate how important this is."

Really? He's trusting such an important mission to somebody he considers a slacker?

Her mind began racing. How the fuck was she supposed to fit in looking for some vague manuscript or whatever between her already full schedule? Was he being, like... serious? Was there no one else to ask?

Of course, though, there was no way in hell she was going to say no to his face. Or... Void.

Just as her doubts took a turn for the extremely hesitant, Novevu decided to show himself. It was almost as if there was a light behind him, but just enough to accentuate his form. He was sitting upon a great throne, easily twenty feet high, with his legs crossed, staring down at his descendant in amusement. He was a dark figure with light working just enough to silhouette him.

"For some reason you are making me wait for your acceptance of this mission."

Dev's head shot up, panic surging through her. "I... Yes, Master. I accept."


"Good. I always like to give the illusion of a choice. I am not privy to the knowledge of where in your world the book is, but it reeks of the power of the Citadel. This task is your life's priority. Disappoint me and it will be the last thing you ever do. Do not make me wait so long to see you here again."




"No, no, mon cher, why would I cheat you?"
Evans smiled with all the charm he could muster. When he saw the woman's continued hesitation, he persisted, spreading the cards in his hands out for her. "One more trick, I beg you. Don't you want to see something cool before you go back to your boring trip?"


"Boring?" The woman giggled. "What's boring about New Orleans?"

"Well, I'm inclined to think anywhere I ain't can't be that good of a time."


"Fine. One more time. My girls already left me."

"I always like alone time with a beautiful woman like yourself. Pick a card, sweetheart."
He brandished them for her again, and from the blush on her cheeks, he knew he'd gotten her.

-


Evans whistled amiably to himself as the sun set behind his head and he shuffled through the wallets he'd acquired throughout the day. None of them seemed to be terribly interesting people, judging by the contents. There were a couple of cute pictures of the victims' children, though. Those, he paused at, but ultimately put in the garbage with everything else.

He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and exhaled, rounding a corner and disappearing under a low bridge. No city ever slept, but New Orleans truly embodied livelihood at night. There was no greater feeling than being out on the streets after the sun went down. In fact, as Evans consulted his watch, he figured he'd need to put some pep in his step to make his evening rounds in the Quarter.

The red-headed man settled his hands in his pockets, tripping over a crack in the brick and right into a bright, golden-hued room with only a grand piano at the center. He knew Elysian when he saw it. It was always the 'golden hour' here, but sometimes the setting was different. Today, he supposed, Destodai desired to play the piano.

"Oh, this is just the loveliest thing I have ever had the pleasure of hearing,"
Evans drawled, bowing briefly before the Ancient that he assumed had called him.

Destodai didn't acknowledge him immediately. She continued to play a song Evans had never heard, but it was, in fact, very beautiful. Moving, even.

"May I ask what brings me here, madame?"


"You may ask. But I do not answer to you."


"Am I already makin' a fool of myself?"


"Listen."
She continued her playing, her back turned to him the entire time. He waited patiently, despite the fact that it felt like she played for hours before speaking again. "I have something to ask of you."


"Anything, ma chérie."


"I am sure."
Her fingers moved delicately yet languidly over the keys. "There is a book in your world. It is from the lost Citadel. I require it."
A dark note played. "It is imperative that it is brought to me."


"Consider it done, then."


"This is no time for games, Evans. There is no room for charm. I will not accept anything from you other than this book in my hands."


"Mon cher, why would I ever cheat you?"
A confident grin rose onto his features. "That book is yours."


She let him stay in Elysian for a while longer as she played. Destodai never turned to look at him, but it didn't bother him. He was delighted just to be able to listen. At one point, he found himself on the verge of tears as she continued, reaching a sad and slow song. But just as the first tear was teetering on the edge of his eyelid, he found himself stumbling over the brick that had tripped him on his way into Elysian in the first place.

She checked her watch again. And again. And again. He wasn't tired of talking, though. It was like the fucking slideshow from hell. Her hands were freezing off the damn bone already. How long had they been in the meeting? An hour? Two? A year? Ever since her father had started making her sit in on these slow deaths, she'd found a new definition for the word 'boring'. And a face to match.

"And I think this quarter, we can make a real push with R&D's newest project. The people are gonna love it!" A round of applause following the statement prompted DeVian to follow the social cue, snapping her attention back to the speaker. This had undoubtedly been the worst use of her time all week. And it was kind of irritating to have to stick around and shake hands.

She slipped out of the room without wasting another second after she was finished with the formalities. This was her last meeting of the day and the drinks she was looking forward to couldn't come any sooner.

A wave of dread washed over her. DeVian froze in place, her hands white-knuckle gripping the wheel as every muscle in her body just... stopped. It was all so fast. It was how she knew Novevu wanted to talk.

One moment she was turning the keys into the ignition and the next she was falling on her ass in the Void.




"Slacker, slacker, slacker!" came the Ancient of Death's voice, laughing like a hyena, bouncing off of the great nothing that was the Void. He took no physical form at first--it was as though every part of his realm was also him. As if by just being there, one was communicating with him, even if it was in complete silence.

"Nov--"
she started, adjusting her position to kneel before him.

"No, no, slackers don't get to call me by my name. Master, though, master--haha!--that I like." His voice was everywhere around her as if he were circling her, laughing at her, having a jolly good time mocking her. His voice returned to its usual depth, the echo of it making it sound like there were eight of him speaking at the same time. "I will accept a bow."

DeVian did as she was told. It had been longer than it should've been since she last entered the Void. Life in the human realm was... busy. She had a lot on her plate. Being a daughter of Death didn't make any money. It didn't pay any bills or attend any business meetings.

"Master, then. My apologies."


"I expect a lot more in the near future. I have a task for you to finally prove your worth in this house."

"So you're going to hold a grudge forever? Lo siento, okay?"


His laugh rattled her very bones. It was thunderous. "Not sorry enough. DeVian, the task that I am giving you, it must be completed. Do you understand me?" There was no trace of that laugh now.

"Yes, Master."


"How? I haven't even told you what it is yet." That same maniacal chuckle banged at her eardrums. "There is a manuscript in your realm that you will retrieve for me. I am sure I do not need to reiterate how important this is."

Really? He's trusting such an important mission to somebody he considers a slacker?

Her mind began racing. How the fuck was she supposed to fit in looking for some vague manuscript or whatever between her already full schedule? Was he being, like... serious? Was there no one else to ask?

Of course, though, there was no way in hell she was going to say no to his face. Or... Void.

Just as her doubts took a turn for the extremely hesitant, Novevu decided to show himself. It was almost as if there was a light behind him, but just enough to accentuate his form. He was sitting upon a great throne, easily twenty feet high, with his legs crossed, staring down at his descendant in amusement. He was a dark figure with light working just enough to silhouette him.

"For some reason you are making me wait for your acceptance of this mission."

Dev's head shot up, panic surging through her. "I... Yes, Master. I accept."


"Good. I always like to give the illusion of a choice. I am not privy to the knowledge of where in your world the book is, but it reeks of the power of the Citadel. This task is your life's priority. Disappoint me and it will be the last thing you ever do. Do not make me wait so long to see you here again."




"No, no, mon cher, why would I cheat you?"
Evans smiled with all the charm he could muster. When he saw the woman's continued hesitation, he persisted, spreading the cards in his hands out for her. "One more trick, I beg you. Don't you want to see something cool before you go back to your boring trip?"


"Boring?" The woman giggled. "What's boring about New Orleans?"

"Well, I'm inclined to think anywhere I ain't can't be that good of a time."


"Fine. One more time. My girls already left me."

"I always like alone time with a beautiful woman like yourself. Pick a card, sweetheart."
He brandished them for her again, and from the blush on her cheeks, he knew he'd gotten her.

-


Evans whistled amiably to himself as the sun set behind his head and he shuffled through the wallets he'd acquired throughout the day. None of them seemed to be terribly interesting people, judging by the contents. There were a couple of cute pictures of the victims' children, though. Those, he paused at, but ultimately put in the garbage with everything else.

He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and exhaled, rounding a corner and disappearing under a low bridge. No city ever slept, but New Orleans truly embodied livelihood at night. There was no greater feeling than being out on the streets after the sun went down. In fact, as Evans consulted his watch, he figured he'd need to put some pep in his step to make his evening rounds in the Quarter.

The red-headed man settled his hands in his pockets, tripping over a crack in the brick and right into a bright, golden-hued room with only a grand piano at the center. He knew Elysian when he saw it. It was always the 'golden hour' here, but sometimes the setting was different. Today, he supposed, Destodai desired to play the piano.

"Oh, this is just the loveliest thing I have ever had the pleasure of hearing,"
Evans drawled, bowing briefly before the Ancient that he assumed had called him.

Destodai didn't acknowledge him immediately. She continued to play a song Evans had never heard, but it was, in fact, very beautiful. Moving, even.

"May I ask what brings me here, madame?"


"You may ask. But I do not answer to you."


"Am I already makin' a fool of myself?"


"Listen."
She continued her playing, her back turned to him the entire time. He waited patiently, despite the fact that it felt like she played for hours before speaking again. "I have something to ask of you."


"Anything, ma chérie."


"I am sure."
Her fingers moved delicately yet languidly over the keys. "There is a book in your world. It is from the lost Citadel. I require it."
A dark note played. "It is imperative that it is brought to me."


"Consider it done, then."


"This is no time for games, Evans. There is no room for charm. I will not accept anything from you other than this book in my hands."


"Mon cher, why would I ever cheat you?"
A confident grin rose onto his features. "That book is yours."


She let him stay in Elysian for a while longer as she played. Destodai never turned to look at him, but it didn't bother him. He was delighted just to be able to listen. At one point, he found himself on the verge of tears as she continued, reaching a sad and slow song. But just as the first tear was teetering on the edge of his eyelid, he found himself stumbling over the brick that had tripped him on his way into Elysian in the first place.

She checked her watch again. And again. And again. He wasn't tired of talking, though. It was like the fucking slideshow from hell. Her hands were freezing off the damn bone already. How long had they been in the meeting? An hour? Two? A year? Ever since her father had started making her sit in on these slow deaths, she'd found a new definition for the word 'boring'. And a face to match.

"And I think this quarter, we can make a real push with R&D's newest project. The people are gonna love it!" A round of applause following the statement prompted DeVian to follow the social cue, snapping her attention back to the speaker. This had undoubtedly been the worst use of her time all week. And it was kind of irritating to have to stick around and shake hands.

She slipped out of the room without wasting another second after she was finished with the formalities. This was her last meeting of the day and the drinks she was looking forward to couldn't come any sooner.

A wave of dread washed over her. DeVian froze in place, her hands white-knuckle gripping the wheel as every muscle in her body just... stopped. It was all so fast. It was how she knew Novevu wanted to talk.

One moment she was turning the keys into the ignition and the next she was falling on her ass in the Void.




"Slacker, slacker, slacker!" came the Ancient of Death's voice, laughing like a hyena, bouncing off of the great nothing that was the Void. He took no physical form at first--it was as though every part of his realm was also him. As if by just being there, one was communicating with him, even if it was in complete silence.

"Nov--"
she started, adjusting her position to kneel before him.

"No, no, slackers don't get to call me by my name. Master, though, master--haha!--that I like." His voice was everywhere around her as if he were circling her, laughing at her, having a jolly good time mocking her. His voice returned to its usual depth, the echo of it making it sound like there were eight of him speaking at the same time. "I will accept a bow."

DeVian did as she was told. It had been longer than it should've been since she last entered the Void. Life in the human realm was... busy. She had a lot on her plate. Being a daughter of Death didn't make any money. It didn't pay any bills or attend any business meetings.

"Master, then. My apologies."


"I expect a lot more in the near future. I have a task for you to finally prove your worth in this house."

"So you're going to hold a grudge forever? Lo siento, okay?"


His laugh rattled her very bones. It was thunderous. "Not sorry enough. DeVian, the task that I am giving you, it must be completed. Do you understand me?" There was no trace of that laugh now.

"Yes, Master."


"How? I haven't even told you what it is yet." That same maniacal chuckle banged at her eardrums. "There is a manuscript in your realm that you will retrieve for me. I am sure I do not need to reiterate how important this is."

Really? He's trusting such an important mission to somebody he considers a slacker?

Her mind began racing. How the fuck was she supposed to fit in looking for some vague manuscript or whatever between her already full schedule? Was he being, like... serious? Was there no one else to ask?

Of course, though, there was no way in hell she was going to say no to his face. Or... Void.

Just as her doubts took a turn for the extremely hesitant, Novevu decided to show himself. It was almost as if there was a light behind him, but just enough to accentuate his form. He was sitting upon a great throne, easily twenty feet high, with his legs crossed, staring down at his descendant in amusement. He was a dark figure with light working just enough to silhouette him.

"For some reason you are making me wait for your acceptance of this mission."

Dev's head shot up, panic surging through her. "I... Yes, Master. I accept."


"Good. I always like to give the illusion of a choice. I am not privy to the knowledge of where in your world the book is, but it reeks of the power of the Citadel. This task is your life's priority. Disappoint me and it will be the last thing you ever do. Do not make me wait so long to see you here again."




"No, no, mon cher, why would I cheat you?"
Evans smiled with all the charm he could muster. When he saw the woman's continued hesitation, he persisted, spreading the cards in his hands out for her. "One more trick, I beg you. Don't you want to see something cool before you go back to your boring trip?"


"Boring?" The woman giggled. "What's boring about New Orleans?"

"Well, I'm inclined to think anywhere I ain't can't be that good of a time."


"Fine. One more time. My girls already left me."

"I always like alone time with a beautiful woman like yourself. Pick a card, sweetheart."
He brandished them for her again, and from the blush on her cheeks, he knew he'd gotten her.

-


Evans whistled amiably to himself as the sun set behind his head and he shuffled through the wallets he'd acquired throughout the day. None of them seemed to be terribly interesting people, judging by the contents. There were a couple of cute pictures of the victims' children, though. Those, he paused at, but ultimately put in the garbage with everything else.

He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and exhaled, rounding a corner and disappearing under a low bridge. No city ever slept, but New Orleans truly embodied livelihood at night. There was no greater feeling than being out on the streets after the sun went down. In fact, as Evans consulted his watch, he figured he'd need to put some pep in his step to make his evening rounds in the Quarter.

The red-headed man settled his hands in his pockets, tripping over a crack in the brick and right into a bright, golden-hued room with only a grand piano at the center. He knew Elysian when he saw it. It was always the 'golden hour' here, but sometimes the setting was different. Today, he supposed, Destodai desired to play the piano.

"Oh, this is just the loveliest thing I have ever had the pleasure of hearing,"
Evans drawled, bowing briefly before the Ancient that he assumed had called him.

Destodai didn't acknowledge him immediately. She continued to play a song Evans had never heard, but it was, in fact, very beautiful. Moving, even.

"May I ask what brings me here, madame?"


"You may ask. But I do not answer to you."


"Am I already makin' a fool of myself?"


"Listen."
She continued her playing, her back turned to him the entire time. He waited patiently, despite the fact that it felt like she played for hours before speaking again. "I have something to ask of you."


"Anything, ma chérie."


"I am sure."
Her fingers moved delicately yet languidly over the keys. "There is a book in your world. It is from the lost Citadel. I require it."
A dark note played. "It is imperative that it is brought to me."


"Consider it done, then."


"This is no time for games, Evans. There is no room for charm. I will not accept anything from you other than this book in my hands."


"Mon cher, why would I ever cheat you?"
A confident grin rose onto his features. "That book is yours."


She let him stay in Elysian for a while longer as she played. Destodai never turned to look at him, but it didn't bother him. He was delighted just to be able to listen. At one point, he found himself on the verge of tears as she continued, reaching a sad and slow song. But just as the first tear was teetering on the edge of his eyelid, he found himself stumbling over the brick that had tripped him on his way into Elysian in the first place.

She checked her watch again. And again. And again. He wasn't tired of talking, though. It was like the fucking slideshow from hell. Her hands were freezing off the damn bone already. How long had they been in the meeting? An hour? Two? A year? Ever since her father had started making her sit in on these slow deaths, she'd found a new definition for the word 'boring'. And a face to match.

"And I think this quarter, we can make a real push with R&D's newest project. The people are gonna love it!" A round of applause following the statement prompted DeVian to follow the social cue, snapping her attention back to the speaker. This had undoubtedly been the worst use of her time all week. And it was kind of irritating to have to stick around and shake hands.

She slipped out of the room without wasting another second after she was finished with the formalities. This was her last meeting of the day and the drinks she was looking forward to couldn't come any sooner.

A wave of dread washed over her. DeVian froze in place, her hands white-knuckle gripping the wheel as every muscle in her body just... stopped. It was all so fast. It was how she knew Novevu wanted to talk.

One moment she was turning the keys into the ignition and the next she was falling on her ass in the Void.




"Slacker, slacker, slacker!" came the Ancient of Death's voice, laughing like a hyena, bouncing off of the great nothing that was the Void. He took no physical form at first--it was as though every part of his realm was also him. As if by just being there, one was communicating with him, even if it was in complete silence.

"Nov--"
she started, adjusting her position to kneel before him.

"No, no, slackers don't get to call me by my name. Master, though, master--haha!--that I like." His voice was everywhere around her as if he were circling her, laughing at her, having a jolly good time mocking her. His voice returned to its usual depth, the echo of it making it sound like there were eight of him speaking at the same time. "I will accept a bow."

DeVian did as she was told. It had been longer than it should've been since she last entered the Void. Life in the human realm was... busy. She had a lot on her plate. Being a daughter of Death didn't make any money. It didn't pay any bills or attend any business meetings.

"Master, then. My apologies."


"I expect a lot more in the near future. I have a task for you to finally prove your worth in this house."

"So you're going to hold a grudge forever? Lo siento, okay?"


His laugh rattled her very bones. It was thunderous. "Not sorry enough. DeVian, the task that I am giving you, it must be completed. Do you understand me?" There was no trace of that laugh now.

"Yes, Master."


"How? I haven't even told you what it is yet." That same maniacal chuckle banged at her eardrums. "There is a manuscript in your realm that you will retrieve for me. I am sure I do not need to reiterate how important this is."

Really? He's trusting such an important mission to somebody he considers a slacker?

Her mind began racing. How the fuck was she supposed to fit in looking for some vague manuscript or whatever between her already full schedule? Was he being, like... serious? Was there no one else to ask?

Of course, though, there was no way in hell she was going to say no to his face. Or... Void.

Just as her doubts took a turn for the extremely hesitant, Novevu decided to show himself. It was almost as if there was a light behind him, but just enough to accentuate his form. He was sitting upon a great throne, easily twenty feet high, with his legs crossed, staring down at his descendant in amusement. He was a dark figure with light working just enough to silhouette him.

"For some reason you are making me wait for your acceptance of this mission."

Dev's head shot up, panic surging through her. "I... Yes, Master. I accept."


"Good. I always like to give the illusion of a choice. I am not privy to the knowledge of where in your world the book is, but it reeks of the power of the Citadel. This task is your life's priority. Disappoint me and it will be the last thing you ever do. Do not make me wait so long to see you here again."




"No, no, mon cher, why would I cheat you?"
Evans smiled with all the charm he could muster. When he saw the woman's continued hesitation, he persisted, spreading the cards in his hands out for her. "One more trick, I beg you. Don't you want to see something cool before you go back to your boring trip?"


"Boring?" The woman giggled. "What's boring about New Orleans?"

"Well, I'm inclined to think anywhere I ain't can't be that good of a time."


"Fine. One more time. My girls already left me."

"I always like alone time with a beautiful woman like yourself. Pick a card, sweetheart."
He brandished them for her again, and from the blush on her cheeks, he knew he'd gotten her.

-


Evans whistled amiably to himself as the sun set behind his head and he shuffled through the wallets he'd acquired throughout the day. None of them seemed to be terribly interesting people, judging by the contents. There were a couple of cute pictures of the victims' children, though. Those, he paused at, but ultimately put in the garbage with everything else.

He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and exhaled, rounding a corner and disappearing under a low bridge. No city ever slept, but New Orleans truly embodied livelihood at night. There was no greater feeling than being out on the streets after the sun went down. In fact, as Evans consulted his watch, he figured he'd need to put some pep in his step to make his evening rounds in the Quarter.

The red-headed man settled his hands in his pockets, tripping over a crack in the brick and right into a bright, golden-hued room with only a grand piano at the center. He knew Elysian when he saw it. It was always the 'golden hour' here, but sometimes the setting was different. Today, he supposed, Destodai desired to play the piano.

"Oh, this is just the loveliest thing I have ever had the pleasure of hearing,"
Evans drawled, bowing briefly before the Ancient that he assumed had called him.

Destodai didn't acknowledge him immediately. She continued to play a song Evans had never heard, but it was, in fact, very beautiful. Moving, even.

"May I ask what brings me here, madame?"


"You may ask. But I do not answer to you."


"Am I already makin' a fool of myself?"


"Listen."
She continued her playing, her back turned to him the entire time. He waited patiently, despite the fact that it felt like she played for hours before speaking again. "I have something to ask of you."


"Anything, ma chérie."


"I am sure."
Her fingers moved delicately yet languidly over the keys. "There is a book in your world. It is from the lost Citadel. I require it."
A dark note played. "It is imperative that it is brought to me."


"Consider it done, then."


"This is no time for games, Evans. There is no room for charm. I will not accept anything from you other than this book in my hands."


"Mon cher, why would I ever cheat you?"
A confident grin rose onto his features. "That book is yours."


She let him stay in Elysian for a while longer as she played. Destodai never turned to look at him, but it didn't bother him. He was delighted just to be able to listen. At one point, he found himself on the verge of tears as she continued, reaching a sad and slow song. But just as the first tear was teetering on the edge of his eyelid, he found himself stumbling over the brick that had tripped him on his way into Elysian in the first place.

She checked her watch again. And again. And again. He wasn't tired of talking, though. It was like the fucking slideshow from hell. Her hands were freezing off the damn bone already. How long had they been in the meeting? An hour? Two? A year? Ever since her father had started making her sit in on these slow deaths, she'd found a new definition for the word 'boring'. And a face to match.

"And I think this quarter, we can make a real push with R&D's newest project. The people are gonna love it!" A round of applause following the statement prompted DeVian to follow the social cue, snapping her attention back to the speaker. This had undoubtedly been the worst use of her time all week. And it was kind of irritating to have to stick around and shake hands.

She slipped out of the room without wasting another second after she was finished with the formalities. This was her last meeting of the day and the drinks she was looking forward to couldn't come any sooner.

A wave of dread washed over her. DeVian froze in place, her hands white-knuckle gripping the wheel as every muscle in her body just... stopped. It was all so fast. It was how she knew Novevu wanted to talk.

One moment she was turning the keys into the ignition and the next she was falling on her ass in the Void.




"Slacker, slacker, slacker!" came the Ancient of Death's voice, laughing like a hyena, bouncing off of the great nothing that was the Void. He took no physical form at first--it was as though every part of his realm was also him. As if by just being there, one was communicating with him, even if it was in complete silence.

"Nov--"
she started, adjusting her position to kneel before him.

"No, no, slackers don't get to call me by my name. Master, though, master--haha!--that I like." His voice was everywhere around her as if he were circling her, laughing at her, having a jolly good time mocking her. His voice returned to its usual depth, the echo of it making it sound like there were eight of him speaking at the same time. "I will accept a bow."

DeVian did as she was told. It had been longer than it should've been since she last entered the Void. Life in the human realm was... busy. She had a lot on her plate. Being a daughter of Death didn't make any money. It didn't pay any bills or attend any business meetings.

"Master, then. My apologies."


"I expect a lot more in the near future. I have a task for you to finally prove your worth in this house."

"So you're going to hold a grudge forever? Lo siento, okay?"


His laugh rattled her very bones. It was thunderous. "Not sorry enough. DeVian, the task that I am giving you, it must be completed. Do you understand me?" There was no trace of that laugh now.

"Yes, Master."


"How? I haven't even told you what it is yet." That same maniacal chuckle banged at her eardrums. "There is a manuscript in your realm that you will retrieve for me. I am sure I do not need to reiterate how important this is."

Really? He's trusting such an important mission to somebody he considers a slacker?

Her mind began racing. How the fuck was she supposed to fit in looking for some vague manuscript or whatever between her already full schedule? Was he being, like... serious? Was there no one else to ask?

Of course, though, there was no way in hell she was going to say no to his face. Or... Void.

Just as her doubts took a turn for the extremely hesitant, Novevu decided to show himself. It was almost as if there was a light behind him, but just enough to accentuate his form. He was sitting upon a great throne, easily twenty feet high, with his legs crossed, staring down at his descendant in amusement. He was a dark figure with light working just enough to silhouette him.

"For some reason you are making me wait for your acceptance of this mission."

Dev's head shot up, panic surging through her. "I... Yes, Master. I accept."


"Good. I always like to give the illusion of a choice. I am not privy to the knowledge of where in your world the book is, but it reeks of the power of the Citadel. This task is your life's priority. Disappoint me and it will be the last thing you ever do. Do not make me wait so long to see you here again."




"No, no, mon cher, why would I cheat you?"
Evans smiled with all the charm he could muster. When he saw the woman's continued hesitation, he persisted, spreading the cards in his hands out for her. "One more trick, I beg you. Don't you want to see something cool before you go back to your boring trip?"


"Boring?" The woman giggled. "What's boring about New Orleans?"

"Well, I'm inclined to think anywhere I ain't can't be that good of a time."


"Fine. One more time. My girls already left me."

"I always like alone time with a beautiful woman like yourself. Pick a card, sweetheart."
He brandished them for her again, and from the blush on her cheeks, he knew he'd gotten her.

-


Evans whistled amiably to himself as the sun set behind his head and he shuffled through the wallets he'd acquired throughout the day. None of them seemed to be terribly interesting people, judging by the contents. There were a couple of cute pictures of the victims' children, though. Those, he paused at, but ultimately put in the garbage with everything else.

He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and exhaled, rounding a corner and disappearing under a low bridge. No city ever slept, but New Orleans truly embodied livelihood at night. There was no greater feeling than being out on the streets after the sun went down. In fact, as Evans consulted his watch, he figured he'd need to put some pep in his step to make his evening rounds in the Quarter.

The red-headed man settled his hands in his pockets, tripping over a crack in the brick and right into a bright, golden-hued room with only a grand piano at the center. He knew Elysian when he saw it. It was always the 'golden hour' here, but sometimes the setting was different. Today, he supposed, Destodai desired to play the piano.

"Oh, this is just the loveliest thing I have ever had the pleasure of hearing,"
Evans drawled, bowing briefly before the Ancient that he assumed had called him.

Destodai didn't acknowledge him immediately. She continued to play a song Evans had never heard, but it was, in fact, very beautiful. Moving, even.

"May I ask what brings me here, madame?"


"You may ask. But I do not answer to you."


"Am I already makin' a fool of myself?"


"Listen."
She continued her playing, her back turned to him the entire time. He waited patiently, despite the fact that it felt like she played for hours before speaking again. "I have something to ask of you."


"Anything, ma chérie."


"I am sure."
Her fingers moved delicately yet languidly over the keys. "There is a book in your world. It is from the lost Citadel. I require it."
A dark note played. "It is imperative that it is brought to me."


"Consider it done, then."


"This is no time for games, Evans. There is no room for charm. I will not accept anything from you other than this book in my hands."


"Mon cher, why would I ever cheat you?"
A confident grin rose onto his features. "That book is yours."


She let him stay in Elysian for a while longer as she played. Destodai never turned to look at him, but it didn't bother him. He was delighted just to be able to listen. At one point, he found himself on the verge of tears as she continued, reaching a sad and slow song. But just as the first tear was teetering on the edge of his eyelid, he found himself stumbling over the brick that had tripped him on his way into Elysian in the first place.

She checked her watch again. And again. And again. He wasn't tired of talking, though. It was like the fucking slideshow from hell. Her hands were freezing off the damn bone already. How long had they been in the meeting? An hour? Two? A year? Ever since her father had started making her sit in on these slow deaths, she'd found a new definition for the word 'boring'. And a face to match.

"And I think this quarter, we can make a real push with R&D's newest project. The people are gonna love it!" A round of applause following the statement prompted DeVian to follow the social cue, snapping her attention back to the speaker. This had undoubtedly been the worst use of her time all week. And it was kind of irritating to have to stick around and shake hands.

She slipped out of the room without wasting another second after she was finished with the formalities. This was her last meeting of the day and the drinks she was looking forward to couldn't come any sooner.

A wave of dread washed over her. DeVian froze in place, her hands white-knuckle gripping the wheel as every muscle in her body just... stopped. It was all so fast. It was how she knew Novevu wanted to talk.

One moment she was turning the keys into the ignition and the next she was falling on her ass in the Void.




"Slacker, slacker, slacker!" came the Ancient of Death's voice, laughing like a hyena, bouncing off of the great nothing that was the Void. He took no physical form at first--it was as though every part of his realm was also him. As if by just being there, one was communicating with him, even if it was in complete silence.

"Nov--"
she started, adjusting her position to kneel before him.

"No, no, slackers don't get to call me by my name. Master, though, master--haha!--that I like." His voice was everywhere around her as if he were circling her, laughing at her, having a jolly good time mocking her. His voice returned to its usual depth, the echo of it making it sound like there were eight of him speaking at the same time. "I will accept a bow."

DeVian did as she was told. It had been longer than it should've been since she last entered the Void. Life in the human realm was... busy. She had a lot on her plate. Being a daughter of Death didn't make any money. It didn't pay any bills or attend any business meetings.

"Master, then. My apologies."


"I expect a lot more in the near future. I have a task for you to finally prove your worth in this house."

"So you're going to hold a grudge forever? Lo siento, okay?"


His laugh rattled her very bones. It was thunderous. "Not sorry enough. DeVian, the task that I am giving you, it must be completed. Do you understand me?" There was no trace of that laugh now.

"Yes, Master."


"How? I haven't even told you what it is yet." That same maniacal chuckle banged at her eardrums. "There is a manuscript in your realm that you will retrieve for me. I am sure I do not need to reiterate how important this is."

Really? He's trusting such an important mission to somebody he considers a slacker?

Her mind began racing. How the fuck was she supposed to fit in looking for some vague manuscript or whatever between her already full schedule? Was he being, like... serious? Was there no one else to ask?

Of course, though, there was no way in hell she was going to say no to his face. Or... Void.

Just as her doubts took a turn for the extremely hesitant, Novevu decided to show himself. It was almost as if there was a light behind him, but just enough to accentuate his form. He was sitting upon a great throne, easily twenty feet high, with his legs crossed, staring down at his descendant in amusement. He was a dark figure with light working just enough to silhouette him.

"For some reason you are making me wait for your acceptance of this mission."

Dev's head shot up, panic surging through her. "I... Yes, Master. I accept."


"Good. I always like to give the illusion of a choice. I am not privy to the knowledge of where in your world the book is, but it reeks of the power of the Citadel. This task is your life's priority. Disappoint me and it will be the last thing you ever do. Do not make me wait so long to see you here again."




"No, no, mon cher, why would I cheat you?"
Evans smiled with all the charm he could muster. When he saw the woman's continued hesitation, he persisted, spreading the cards in his hands out for her. "One more trick, I beg you. Don't you want to see something cool before you go back to your boring trip?"


"Boring?" The woman giggled. "What's boring about New Orleans?"

"Well, I'm inclined to think anywhere I ain't can't be that good of a time."


"Fine. One more time. My girls already left me."

"I always like alone time with a beautiful woman like yourself. Pick a card, sweetheart."
He brandished them for her again, and from the blush on her cheeks, he knew he'd gotten her.

-


Evans whistled amiably to himself as the sun set behind his head and he shuffled through the wallets he'd acquired throughout the day. None of them seemed to be terribly interesting people, judging by the contents. There were a couple of cute pictures of the victims' children, though. Those, he paused at, but ultimately put in the garbage with everything else.

He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and exhaled, rounding a corner and disappearing under a low bridge. No city ever slept, but New Orleans truly embodied livelihood at night. There was no greater feeling than being out on the streets after the sun went down. In fact, as Evans consulted his watch, he figured he'd need to put some pep in his step to make his evening rounds in the Quarter.

The red-headed man settled his hands in his pockets, tripping over a crack in the brick and right into a bright, golden-hued room with only a grand piano at the center. He knew Elysian when he saw it. It was always the 'golden hour' here, but sometimes the setting was different. Today, he supposed, Destodai desired to play the piano.

"Oh, this is just the loveliest thing I have ever had the pleasure of hearing,"
Evans drawled, bowing briefly before the Ancient that he assumed had called him.

Destodai didn't acknowledge him immediately. She continued to play a song Evans had never heard, but it was, in fact, very beautiful. Moving, even.

"May I ask what brings me here, madame?"


"You may ask. But I do not answer to you."


"Am I already makin' a fool of myself?"


"Listen."
She continued her playing, her back turned to him the entire time. He waited patiently, despite the fact that it felt like she played for hours before speaking again. "I have something to ask of you."


"Anything, ma chérie."


"I am sure."
Her fingers moved delicately yet languidly over the keys. "There is a book in your world. It is from the lost Citadel. I require it."
A dark note played. "It is imperative that it is brought to me."


"Consider it done, then."


"This is no time for games, Evans. There is no room for charm. I will not accept anything from you other than this book in my hands."


"Mon cher, why would I ever cheat you?"
A confident grin rose onto his features. "That book is yours."


She let him stay in Elysian for a while longer as she played. Destodai never turned to look at him, but it didn't bother him. He was delighted just to be able to listen. At one point, he found himself on the verge of tears as she continued, reaching a sad and slow song. But just as the first tear was teetering on the edge of his eyelid, he found himself stumbling over the brick that had tripped him on his way into Elysian in the first place.

She checked her watch again. And again. And again. He wasn't tired of talking, though. It was like the fucking slideshow from hell. Her hands were freezing off the damn bone already. How long had they been in the meeting? An hour? Two? A year? Ever since her father had started making her sit in on these slow deaths, she'd found a new definition for the word 'boring'. And a face to match.

"And I think this quarter, we can make a real push with R&D's newest project. The people are gonna love it!" A round of applause following the statement prompted DeVian to follow the social cue, snapping her attention back to the speaker. This had undoubtedly been the worst use of her time all week. And it was kind of irritating to have to stick around and shake hands.

She slipped out of the room without wasting another second after she was finished with the formalities. This was her last meeting of the day and the drinks she was looking forward to couldn't come any sooner.

A wave of dread washed over her. DeVian froze in place, her hands white-knuckle gripping the wheel as every muscle in her body just... stopped. It was all so fast. It was how she knew Novevu wanted to talk.

One moment she was turning the keys into the ignition and the next she was falling on her ass in the Void.




"Slacker, slacker, slacker!" came the Ancient of Death's voice, laughing like a hyena, bouncing off of the great nothing that was the Void. He took no physical form at first--it was as though every part of his realm was also him. As if by just being there, one was communicating with him, even if it was in complete silence.

"Nov--"
she started, adjusting her position to kneel before him.

"No, no, slackers don't get to call me by my name. Master, though, master--haha!--that I like." His voice was everywhere around her as if he were circling her, laughing at her, having a jolly good time mocking her. His voice returned to its usual depth, the echo of it making it sound like there were eight of him speaking at the same time. "I will accept a bow."

DeVian did as she was told. It had been longer than it should've been since she last entered the Void. Life in the human realm was... busy. She had a lot on her plate. Being a daughter of Death didn't make any money. It didn't pay any bills or attend any business meetings.

"Master, then. My apologies."


"I expect a lot more in the near future. I have a task for you to finally prove your worth in this house."

"So you're going to hold a grudge forever? Lo siento, okay?"


His laugh rattled her very bones. It was thunderous. "Not sorry enough. DeVian, the task that I am giving you, it must be completed. Do you understand me?" There was no trace of that laugh now.

"Yes, Master."


"How? I haven't even told you what it is yet." That same maniacal chuckle banged at her eardrums. "There is a manuscript in your realm that you will retrieve for me. I am sure I do not need to reiterate how important this is."

Really? He's trusting such an important mission to somebody he considers a slacker?

Her mind began racing. How the fuck was she supposed to fit in looking for some vague manuscript or whatever between her already full schedule? Was he being, like... serious? Was there no one else to ask?

Of course, though, there was no way in hell she was going to say no to his face. Or... Void.

Just as her doubts took a turn for the extremely hesitant, Novevu decided to show himself. It was almost as if there was a light behind him, but just enough to accentuate his form. He was sitting upon a great throne, easily twenty feet high, with his legs crossed, staring down at his descendant in amusement. He was a dark figure with light working just enough to silhouette him.

"For some reason you are making me wait for your acceptance of this mission."

Dev's head shot up, panic surging through her. "I... Yes, Master. I accept."


"Good. I always like to give the illusion of a choice. I am not privy to the knowledge of where in your world the book is, but it reeks of the power of the Citadel. This task is your life's priority. Disappoint me and it will be the last thing you ever do. Do not make me wait so long to see you here again."




"No, no, mon cher, why would I cheat you?"
Evans smiled with all the charm he could muster. When he saw the woman's continued hesitation, he persisted, spreading the cards in his hands out for her. "One more trick, I beg you. Don't you want to see something cool before you go back to your boring trip?"


"Boring?" The woman giggled. "What's boring about New Orleans?"

"Well, I'm inclined to think anywhere I ain't can't be that good of a time."


"Fine. One more time. My girls already left me."

"I always like alone time with a beautiful woman like yourself. Pick a card, sweetheart."
He brandished them for her again, and from the blush on her cheeks, he knew he'd gotten her.

-


Evans whistled amiably to himself as the sun set behind his head and he shuffled through the wallets he'd acquired throughout the day. None of them seemed to be terribly interesting people, judging by the contents. There were a couple of cute pictures of the victims' children, though. Those, he paused at, but ultimately put in the garbage with everything else.

He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and exhaled, rounding a corner and disappearing under a low bridge. No city ever slept, but New Orleans truly embodied livelihood at night. There was no greater feeling than being out on the streets after the sun went down. In fact, as Evans consulted his watch, he figured he'd need to put some pep in his step to make his evening rounds in the Quarter.

The red-headed man settled his hands in his pockets, tripping over a crack in the brick and right into a bright, golden-hued room with only a grand piano at the center. He knew Elysian when he saw it. It was always the 'golden hour' here, but sometimes the setting was different. Today, he supposed, Destodai desired to play the piano.

"Oh, this is just the loveliest thing I have ever had the pleasure of hearing,"
Evans drawled, bowing briefly before the Ancient that he assumed had called him.

Destodai didn't acknowledge him immediately. She continued to play a song Evans had never heard, but it was, in fact, very beautiful. Moving, even.

"May I ask what brings me here, madame?"


"You may ask. But I do not answer to you."


"Am I already makin' a fool of myself?"


"Listen."
She continued her playing, her back turned to him the entire time. He waited patiently, despite the fact that it felt like she played for hours before speaking again. "I have something to ask of you."


"Anything, ma chérie."


"I am sure."
Her fingers moved delicately yet languidly over the keys. "There is a book in your world. It is from the lost Citadel. I require it."
A dark note played. "It is imperative that it is brought to me."


"Consider it done, then."


"This is no time for games, Evans. There is no room for charm. I will not accept anything from you other than this book in my hands."


"Mon cher, why would I ever cheat you?"
A confident grin rose onto his features. "That book is yours."


She let him stay in Elysian for a while longer as she played. Destodai never turned to look at him, but it didn't bother him. He was delighted just to be able to listen. At one point, he found himself on the verge of tears as she continued, reaching a sad and slow song. But just as the first tear was teetering on the edge of his eyelid, he found himself stumbling over the brick that had tripped him on his way into Elysian in the first place.