So Shall I Reap Read Online Free PDF Page A

caused me to mindlessly scratch an itch… the area where Razor had impaled me. I spoke cautiously to the female who had addressed me. “You can see me? How do you know my name? And how come my minion will not go near you? Or much less, kill you?” The black tentacles were tinted purple from the cloak drifting to the darkest side of the room. Its demonstration of abnormal behavior made me severely skeptical about this particular Vessel.
    She walked with an unearthly style of grace as she answered, “Because you and Alexcia are the same, and yet, you are not. She belongs to this world, for now, like you once did. You were given a choice and chose your path as a Grim Reaper, an Ashen.”
    My eyes latched onto hers as she approached. The color of them was hidden by a mask of dark circles caused by the stress of crying. An underlying protectiveness for this child was palpable. The little one’s mother must have sensed the danger was gone and returned for her daughter. Then I looked down where she had fallen asleep and felt my lips press together. Since I had succumbed to my situation, I never noticed if she had left the room. The mother faced me as I stood over the little Vessel. 
    When she spoke, I was awestruck, frozen in place. I had never heard of such a thing, let alone witnessed it. “Well, there are many powers I once possessed. Ultimate clarity was one, which enabled me to see the overlapping planes between our world and this one. I was able to wield the purest form of Light. What I miss most is the ability to dance with the clouds.” She glanced down at the child and smoothed her hair. Staring past me, both of her eyes filled with memories she had purposely misplaced. Continuing with a sigh, she said, “Sadly, I have been recopied several times while trying to save her life. Each time I return with less power. For this reason alone, we need you… she needs you. Your role in her life holds special meaning since you were once like her. A time will come when she will make a similar choice.”
    My mouth hung open. “Sorry, I am having a hard time with all of this. First off, no Vessel has ever spoken to me in over six hundred years. I have only dealt with the entities of the Unseen. Secondly, what are you, angel or daemon?” I backed away, uncertain who I was dealing with. “You are not an elemental.” I knew that because she did not have nature’s scent. She was not entirely human either, nor was it implied. But her aura was distorted somehow. “Yet, you claim… you have died… more than once?”
    “Yes.”
    “How many times have you been recopied?” I motioned with the scythe to the little one on the gurney. “And how did you become one of them?”
    “I have died four times, and as you know, only a small portion of an entity dies each time. Unfortunately, you never realize what you’ve lost until the River brings you back.” The sadness in her voice reached out to the corners of the room. My shoulders hunched along with hers as she continued, “The last time the River recopied me, it stripped the ability to summon my wings.” Cocking her head to examine my reaction, she chose to go on. “Alexcia’s soul is special. The Bridge Crosser spoke the truth, but I’m unsure why they want her power. The Houses are not giving my daughter the chance to choose, and it’s such a life-altering decision. Spindled magic in our world smells tainted, Daemon. I believe the Houses have gone mad. Something is very wrong.” She inched closer, carefully sliding off the covers of the bed while bending down to gently brush the child’s cheek before placing a kiss on her forehead. No question, she cared for her child.
    Why was I getting pulled into this mess? I did not even know this child, or why the female was implying a connection between me and the small one. The Cauldron only gave me two names. I was still frustrated and without realizing it, I began pacing. To top it off, there was not enough power to recharge