The Dark Shroud(Book 1)

e a reaper and every day since I ha

n the family, even though my family thought I was a witch in the beginning, a living person has accepted the existence of a reaper is when they are about to be

found it amusing when a man who was hit by a car wanted to challenge me to a game of connect four, he couldn't even pick up the pieces.

how money mysteriously appears in said bank account. I don't know who or how the money appears, but it does and sometimes raises a red flag. The only t

ed gold digger, who is only in it for the money that someday his great aunt Anna would give him for an inheritance. What she doesn't know is that I am the great aunt Anna

Chevy Chevelle. I ignore the chauffeur and s

e to sit her

the man talking to me is

am?" I ask him ra

leave you to your business." He leaves

ings have you bee

he groom sit down next to me in hi

ude weddings I've had t

ls his eyes

have been to," I tell him. "When is

into their seats," he says. He looks at his watch

f and wait for the

of his friends all the while keeping his eyes on me. The ceremony starts and a piece by Johann Sebastian Bach called Air on G string fills the air. The entire room turns to watch as the succession begins down the aisle. I watch as the groomsmen adjust their ties and stand all in a line. I then see the ring bearer, the flower girl, and the first bridesmaid wearing a blue and yellow Greek style dress walk down the aisle, the whole time the man is staring at me and will not look away. It seems that I am more interesting the wedding itself to this man. An

e is on the phone making demands. The vision stops and I stand just as the bride is starting down the aisle. I walk into the

ng lot to find a large enough shadow to jump into; I find one in the shade of a tree. I drive my car into it and I come out into a crowded street. I get out of my car only to be told by a police

hallway he looks around in the offices and down the hallway. If it wasn't for me being a reaper and in the shadows, he would have seen me. He walks into an office and starts

?" he

tage every half an hour until I get what I want. No, you listen; I am tired of how calm

n lobby to see the hostage he shot was a little boy with sandy blonde hair wearing a superman t- shirt and jean shorts, his guardian seems to be trying to get to him, but she is being held back by other hostages. I walk over to the body and reap the poor boys' soul. In the beg

will go to heaven,

ther hostage and sitting her next to the body of the boy. He m

your next," he says holdi

when the phone rings again. The man

ha

eing killed. Give me my deman

k over to her body to reap her soul when he shoots another hostage. I look up and see the hostage h

?" the bank

r," I tell him.

o a job like thi

now since I have seen so many passes away, I am numb. I feel as though death is a part of life and part of nature. It also doe

account with our bank. You have one of the hig

ou are

ne, in the chest making him cry in pain. I watch the man

ake care of him?

souls have a fine line when they are ready to be harvested. Although, I can feel

is ready?" the b

a pull when t

nd the man answer

ha

ing up. The man stands there at the phone and bows his head as a swat team enters the bank. The man tu

ens beyond that portal, and I don't know what will happen to them, but for now I have to make it back to the wedding just in time for the reception. The last thing I do before jumping from the sanctuary is console the little

ily giving me the stink eye and pursing their lips. I

voice says

very large man s

d me not to let you into

be taught a lesson," I say. "I am curious,

d to throw you o

g next to his bride at the wedding table. He looks at me and I give a come here gesture with a stern look. I see fear wash over h

shoulder on the man's arm. The man looks a

me outside. We need to have the talk

will be out for tha

"I know both of you smoke, and I bet you both are dying

be a good id

my eyebrows. "You will d

en minutes of waiting I see my nephew and his wife come out of the hall and light up a cigarette. After they take a hit, they both relax against the wall with relief. I see m

I instantly feel anger in sue my body as my emot

you need to leave." She says

k. "From what I know, this is both of y

ack inside,

worried he might upset both of us, b

out here?" she ask

he answers wit

Tiffany says crossing her arms

, do you know what kind of tree this

s it matter?" she raises her chin. "I have better th

ay with sincer

ter?" she asks like

nting a different property. This willow tree is one

ething new every da

my connection to this tree is on a much higher level than any other living person. I am not connected to this tree because someday d

y says as her eyes widen

. I then hear her swallow it. I smell fear coming off of her, and

her body begins to shake. Tears begin to fill

the fact that she thinks I am a lunatic. I am going to have to give her the ha

family knows what I am and how beautiful death can be, because of me.

then at Brian. "What do you say abo

r not to call me crazy," I whis

he is for all my l

e?" she asks

amily knows what she is and since you are in

esses up her hair just a little tiny bit and some of the cigarette ash falls into it. I feel instant happiness knowing that she doesn't realize she just messed up her perfect done up hair. She turns towards us again and inhales her cigarette

r. "I have been a grim reaper for about 250 years.

she asks shaking her head back and forth. She looks at Brian and th

teps away from Tiffany

o it," he says.

urt me?" She looks terrif

Tiffany. "Clo

" She

rab her arm, and because we're already in the shadow of a tree I jump our bod

ks to her left for Brian but he is not there. She looks around hersel

we?" she

k do

the Sphinx in Egypt. She looks around and fi

," I say let

" she asks with tears

the world just as long as there is a shadow there. Thi

Tiffany says hugging herself. "

jump back to the

asks her as she rips h

nt Anna?" she takes a step forward and looks me square in the eye. "I

when the soul passes into the underworld. She seems to be fixed on every little bit o

dge them, yo

pass into the underworld," I answer. "I thin

om us and then prances ba

n dollars," he says turning from me. "I guess I will need to go

ungry woman of what I am, this isn't going to be easy. I stand up and walk around the garden for

," a young man with black hair and

ognizing the man as the one st

I get you a dr

od. "Sorry, I

wo champagne glasses from a nearby ser

knowing how stret

" he pre

, in

nd sips his

to know?" I ask h

stands up and walks away

very dark and husky man walk onto the dance floor. They take each other's hand and dance slowly with the music. I watch them for a while until I get the feeling I am being watched. I grab the champagne off the table and down the entire contents. I leave the glass on the

atching me. In fact, I think one of you are up there." I look

my level, other men walk into view i

do you

ard. "I am Ren and

harvest. The strongest souls I have ever met were that of other reapers and the angels of death I have encountered in my life. I have never met a soul stronger until I me

me I didn't feel how strong he was

est?" I ask trying

e has cancer and in serious pain. I would like for you to

I ask still confused, but now by the s

s and only one of you," s

wards other men, but not for himself. When it comes to him, no other man can compare and he knows it, in fact he dwells in it. Ren strikes an old

outnumber you," Re

ag you by that beautiful head of copp

nfused. "I am not what you think I am."

you are

stepping up to Ren. "And regardless of I being a doctor or not, I can st

ok into his emerald green e

l his cologne and leans forward to whispe

will live your life and I will live mine." I step around him and w

the dance floor. Ren spins me and holds me close to him while we dance. He looks around a

I fight for a short while before I give in and let him lead. After a while I relax

hh, a slow song is coming up." he slows the dancing and I try to r

no. I don't care if you are a doctor or not, there is som

her is on his deathbed, you cannot make me do anything." I slip from his grasp and leave him

t be g

soon?" B

need to leave before I us

" Tiffany asks. "Is it

no

it?" s

n I know she won't do anything. I think she is try

yone out," I say.

," Brian say

I lie. "And I have to move

ight away when called into a reaping,"

way. I am sending you

hugs me, I feel sick

?" I ask as s

ffany asks sitting b

hy do y

til we throw the bouquet,"

ve caught the bouquet?" I ask gr

d keep me company. I would love to know more about your life style and how you

question about me, "but if I get called into a reaping I am leaving." I

y says with all too

razy and lunatic, now she wants to be m

ly. I walk around on the dance floor for several min

o be told no." he holds my

dance floor and to a buffet table. I grab a plate and start to fill it with a ple

chair next to me

say popping a stra

ooking at

ht. I stop and I can feel him behind me close enough to make me feel his warmth. I take a step before turning to grab him and push him against

drop him and he gasps for air. I leave him and walk back into

er to the foyer and I see Ren leaning against a wall next to the entrance smiling,

s. "Okay." She throws the handful of flowers over her head and I step out of the group lettin

oing no

the front door to the outside

a very

nding by the hood of

ck for someo

you?" I ask wi

ks up to me still

is...," he looks me up and dow

lams it shut before I can get into the car. He then pins me between the car and himself. I can feel his

him to stop because there is no one around to see,

rk at him, "You don't

s. "That

the tree next to the space. He gasps for air

n eyes. I never noticed before, but I can see every mus

to undo the top three buttons of his shir

u want to get closer to me, you're goin