Death is a Girl

Chapter 39 - Interrogation

Morrigan’s mind raced as she tried to process the situation. She was trapped in a room with a witch who seemed to perceive her as a threat, and Emma was under some kind of spell.

“I-I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Emma!” Morrigan said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the fear gripping her. “She’s my friend!”

“We’ll see about that. Emma, how do you know this girl?”

Emma’s voice came out in a monotone drone, though she hardly moved a hair except for her lips as she spoke. “She goes to my school. I’ve known her for a long time.”

Morrigan’s eyes shifted between Emma and the witch. “See?” Morrigan said, not sure what to make of the spell Emma was under, but her words did seem to bode well for her story.

“And Emma, prior to today, when was the last time you saw Morrigan? And where did you meet with her today?”

Emma spoke in that same droll tone. “I saw her at the mall a week ago. Today we met in the graveyard.”

“The graveyard? And has she changed since the last time you saw her?”

“Yes… Her skin and hair are now white, and she has red eyes.”

Arrietta narrowed her eyes at Morrigan, then held out a hand. One of the staves from the rack in the back corner shook until it suddenly flew from its place, crossing the room in a blur and landing in Arietta’s grasp.

“W-wait! This is a huge misunderstanding!” Morrigan said holding open her hands as nonthreateningly as possible.

“I sensed it the moment you walked in. You carry the aura of death around you. You reek with it more so than anything I’ve ever encountered. Not only that, but you claim ignorance of magic, yet when we shook hands it was practically oozing from you.”

“I haven’t been this way for long,” Morrigan explained quickly. “I was a normal human just ten days ago… now I… Look, I died and I was turned into a reaper, okay?”

Arietta chuckled sardonically. “My, you say it so convincingly. I almost think you believe your own words.”

Morrigan’s heart raced as Arietta’s skepticism grew. She had to convince her of the truth, but how could she prove something so extraordinary?

“It’s the truth,” Morrigan insisted, her voice trembling slightly. “I can show you!” She hesitated for a moment, then, with a deep breath, she summoned her scythe. The weapon materialized out of thin air, its blade emitting a faint, ethereal glow.

Arietta’s eyes widened in alarm at the sight of the scythe. Her reaction was instantaneous. She thrust the staff forward, unleashing a surge of magical energy that sent Morrigan stumbling back, her scythe was ripped from her grasp by some unseen force and dissipated into the air.

“Are you attacking me?!” Arietta’s voice was sharp, her stance aggressive.

“No! I was just trying to prove—” Morrigan started, but Arietta wasn’t listening. She chanted a quick spell, and Morrigan felt something wrap around her wrists and ankles. She looked down as she struggled, unable to move her hands above her waist nor her feet from their current place. It was like there were invisible chains sealing her to the floor where she stood. “PLEASE JUST LISTEN TO ME!”

Arietta stepped forward cautiously, staff raised and pointed at Morrigan. “Make no sudden moves, spirit. I plan merely to seal you, but if I sense danger I’ll take another approach.”

“Please! I’m being honest!” Morrigan cried, struggling against the invisible chains that bound her.

“Here is what I think,” Arietta spoke slowly, matching her cautious steps forward. “I believe Morrigan is one of Emma’s classmates. I believe something happened to her. Maybe you are the one who did it, or maybe you just moved in after the fact. But, you are not human, yet you are pretending to be human. I believe that you are being honest that magic is new to you, and you are confused about your own existence. Be that as it may, you have no place in this world, so I will take care of you now.”

“I’m a reaper!” Morrigan yelled. “I was killed by some psychos with a book that I think came from your shop! They were doing some kind of demonic ritual and I died in the middle of it! My soul was defiled so Death couldn’t send me to heaven and he made me a reaper instead!” Morrigan practically screamed the story at her. “If you don’t believe me then use whatever truth spell you used on Emma!”

“Oh don’t worry, I will. Once I’ve removed you from that body and have you safely sealed away.” The staff glowed as she moved closer.

“If you do that I’ll die!”

“Not precisely. That dead body you currently occupy will no longer be animated, but you’ll still get to answer all my questions.”

“Please just stop!” Morrigan cried.

“Well, well, well,” a thick raspy voice spoke. “Things are quite lively today.”

Morrigan searched for the speaker but didn’t see him.

Arietta smirked. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this handled,” she said to the mysterious voice.

The runes on the wall pulsed with a tint of green, and Morrigan noticed a disturbance on the wall at the far end of the room. It rippled like heatwaves and the silhouette of a tall cloaked figure appeared as he seemed to step through. For a second, Morrigan thought it was Death.

“Aaaah, Arietta, so quick to jump to conclusions,” the man said as he materialized in the room. He had a long white beard, his skin wrinkled and sagged around his face, and he wore a pointed hat similar to Arietta’s, except it was a dark blue. “Release the girl. I’ll handle this.”

“Huh? But, Grandfather…” Arietta spared a glance over her shoulder.

“Right now, Arietta,” he said with stern patience.

She returned her gaze to Morrigan, glaring at her as she removed one hand from the staff and snapped.

Emma gasped and started looking around, eyes wide, book still in her hands.

“Not that girl, Arietta…” the man, Atomyst presumably, said. “I meant the reaper. Please release the reaper.”

“Um…” Emma whirled around looking over everyone in the room. “What… uh… what’s happening?”

The old man chuckled. “I apologize for not stepping in sooner. I was just curious how well this young reaper would do against my dear Arrietta.”

Morrigan struggled for a moment, looking down to confirm she still couldn’t move her hands above her waist.

“Arietta…” he said again.

She clenched her jaw and, with a resigned sigh, tapped her staff on the ground. Morrigan instantly felt the pressure around her wrists and ankles disappear and took a step back. If she wasn’t so relieved she’d be throwing it in Arietta’s face right about now.

“Grandfather, I don’t understand… Reaper?”

“Yes, I knew for sure once she summoned her scythe. Though, I’ve never heard of one so young before.” He stepped over to Morrigan, giving her a kindly smile.

Morrigan rubbed her wrists, staring back at him with wide eyes. “Um… so you know about reapers?”

“Of course, though I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting one face to face. You are typically an elusive bunch. I certainly never expected one to just waltz into my shop.” He held his hand out. “I am the great wizard Atomyst, and it is an absolute pleasure to meet you, Morrigan.”

Morrigan stepped back, nervous after the previous handshake with his granddaughter. She looked at Emma and said, “Can we leave now, please?”

“Um, sure,” Emma said, and started to follow her out, but Morrigan found as soon as she reached the beads a force repelled her. It was just like the secret door at Death’s and how it felt like pushing against a magnet. She turned around, “Do you mind letting me out?”

Atomyst laughed. “Oh, I will, but I would like you to answer some questions for me first.”

“So what, you’re holding me hostage?”

“Now those are harsh words. I’d just call it a temporary detainment.”

“Isn’t that illegal?”

“Hahaha, true, true, but you are no longer human so I don’t imagine you’ll be calling the authorities.”

“Most cops would think I am human, so I think it still applies.”

He chuckled. “Well, that’s a fair point, but I do want to know a few things first, and then I will break the seal.”

Emma watched in astonishment, confused by everything that was going on but still decided to listen. “What kind of questions?” Emma asked.

Atomyst gave her a kindly smile. “Well, you said you came here because of a book, and I want you to describe that book to me,” he said, returning his gaze to Morrigan.

“I don’t know. I didn’t get a good look. I think it was bound in leather like most of your books. When he read from it, it sounded similar to the language Arietta used for her spell.”

“What was the book used for?”

Morrigan scoffed. “I don’t know, it was some kind of ritual. I don’t know if they were trying to summon a demon or what, but they ended up killing me instead. Something about needing the blood of a virgin for the ritual.”

He paled at that. “Was the book, light leather, dusty grey… gold stiching?”

“I just said I don’t know,” Morrigan said. “I was more focused on fighting for my life, and as you can see, it didn’t go very well.”

Atomyst and Arietta glanced at each other, each with concerned expressions.

“Would you mind describing the boys?” Atomyst asked.

“Um, one was big, had broad shoulders, and had a ponytail. The other was tall and kind of creepy looking, hair drooped over one eye. Last… uh, the smaller boy, I don’t know, he was really skinny.” She thought about it and then added. “Oh yeah, I think the tall one was named Frank, and the skinny boy was Todd.”

Arietta covered her mouth in shock. “No… he didn’t!”

Atomyst likewise had a very serious look in his eyes. “Are you sure the name was Todd?”

“Yeah, pretty sure.”

“You’re lying!” Arrietta snapped. “Todd wouldn’t do that!”

“Calm yourself!” Atomyst yelled at her. She instantly obeyed. He then looked back at Morrigan and said, “Would you mind if I used the truth spell on you?”

“Why would I lie about this?” Morrigan said. Arietta looked like she had something to say to that, but kept her mouth shut.

“It is not that I don’t trust you… I…” Atomyst let out a sigh, running a hand through his beard. “I just have to be sure.”

“So… who is he to you anyway?” Morrigan asked, seeing how troubled they both were.

“If what you are saying is true…” Atomyst spoke slowly, a hint of resignation in his voice. “Todd is my grandson, Arietta’s little brother.”