Famine had his back to both Devon and Angelique. They were still goading him on about killing The Hunter. Their tirades were fierce and unrelenting.
“It’s the only way! Think about what he did to you! He deserves to die!” shouted Devon.
“Yes, boy, let your light burn that miserable creature into a pile of ash! Only then will you be free of him. He will never bother you again!”
Famine wouldn’t bend. He couldn’t bring about that sort of finality. “No!”
“You’re a weak boy! No wonder The Reaper kept you hidden away. He’s ashamed.” Angelique said.
That remark hurt worse than the pressuring. She had been right about everything else until now. Why shouldn’t this be the case? The old man had kept a lot from him. Could his human past be something shameful and blemishing to Death’s great name? He uncovered his ears and stared at her with tearful eyes. “What did you say?”
“I said you are as weak as water and that’s why you were kept locked away. You were a disgrace to the family name.”
“No, I’m strong…”
“If you were so strong,” said Devon coming up and cupping his face, “you’d have no problem killing that piece of trash over there. Trust in yourself as I trust in you. I know that you can do anything. Show me that you can. Show me that you’re strong.”Killing The Hunter suddenly seemed less noxious. It had gone from being a disgraceful act to one of valor. That is, at least valor in Devon’s eyes. “You really think I can do anything?”
“Yes. Now get rid of him and prove it to yourself.”
Before Famine could answer, a raspy old-sounding voice rang out in the air. “You don’t have to prove a damned thing, child! Don’t listen to these evil bastards!”
Everyone, including The Hunter, turned to see Ankou and Morrigan standing defiantly in the entryway. Ankou held the box under his arm as he looked around the room disapprovingly. “Ugly house you have here, Angelique. I hate your decorating sense.”
Famine was both mortified and a bit happy to see them both: mortified that they show up to embarrass him and somewhat happy that they might actually help get him out of this dilemma. However, the former feeling was predominant and anger soon took the place of his happiness. He scowled at them. “What the hell are you two back stabbing asses doing here? Get the hell out!”
“We’re here to help,” Morrigan pleaded.
“I don’t need it!”
Angelique opened her arms and smiled at the visitors. “Welcome to my home, ugly though it be!”
“Kiss my chapped old ass! We’re here for the boy!”
Devon stepped in front of everyone, putting his arms out as shields. “You’re not wanted here. There’s personal business going on. Get out before I call the servants.”
Ankou boldly pushed the boy aside and went up to Angelique. The woman put her hands on her hips and tried to look as intimidating as she could. The two of them stared at one another for several more seconds. No one said a word as the two forces stood face-to-face. At last Ankou spoke. “I hate your shoes,” he said flatly.
Angelique glanced down at her feet but instantly knew it was a mistake. She quickly regained her former stern composure but it was too late. Ankou was smiling and pointing at her. “Made you look!”
“Is that any way of coming into someone’s house? Making fun of her décor and fashion? How pathetic and common! Enough of this! Famine kill The Hunter and when you’re done, take care of these two intruders!”
“Don’t do it, child! They’re messing with your mind!” Ankou screamed.
“You’re a better person! Don’t make yourself like them!” Morrigan added as she walked over to him.
Famine whipped around and pointed at them both. His face was livid and his voice quivered. “Don’t you two tell me what to do! Do you hear me? I will do whatever the hell I want and you can’t stop me!”
Ankou broke away from Angelique and looked down into his nephew’s eyes, his own eyes were pleading and teary. “You’re not like this. Killing The Hunter is beneath you. Show him mercy. Show him compassion.”
“He’s never shown me mercy or compassion and doesn’t deserve it. He’s never been anything but trouble. I can take care of him once and for all.”
“And then where will you be, child?”
He hated being called child. It was an affectation that he had grown to despise. It only fueled his anger. Damn Ankou and his damned old man wisdom. Damn him for being so closed-minded and dull. “I’ll be in a better place than I was in that mausoleum. I’ll be in the place of a man.”
Famine turned away, nervously walked up to The Hunter’s cage, and gave him a long angry stare. The wispy figure backed down and as far away as he could. The boy put his hand out and reached towards his captive. A spark of bright white light shot from his fingers and arced above his hand. Famine cocked his head slightly to the right as he looked into the empty black sockets that served as The Hunter’s eyes. With one last push, he touched the soul collector’s ectoplasmic body and a piercing blood curdling scream filled the room. The Hunter’s body arched and glowed around Famine’s hand and arm. A steady pulse of blue went from him to the boy. Ankou and Morrigan watched in abject horror as The Hunter’s facial features distorted and fell away…his scream began to fade as more of it disappeared in a hazy orb of white mist. His robe shrank and dropped to the floor as his body disappeared into nothingness. Within seconds, his entire body had turned into a single pinpoint of light. Famine stood near the cage for another minute before turning to face everyone else in the room.
Ankou and Morrigan’s faces were ones of sadness, disbelief, and fear. Angelique and Devon were beaming as they came up to him. He met Devon halfway and tightly embraced him.
“I can’t believe you did that,” Ankou said hollowly.
“Believe it, old man, because your time is coming,” replied Devon.
Famine let him go and walked up to Angelique. He couldn’t believe he had hesitated. Doing that had been truly liberating. “That was amazing. The feeling was just unbelievable. That was power. That was what The Reaper kept hidden from me.”
“I told you, boy. I told you how great Dead Light was. You just need to learn how to use it properly now.”
“How?”
She could hardly keep her glee to herself. “That’s where I come in. Share your power with me and I will show you how to control Death. No one will be able to stop us…no one.” The last bit was meant as a threat to Ankou and Morrigan as she said it while looking in their directions.
“Share it with you?” asked Famine.
“Yes. Just as The Reaper transferred the power to you, you can transfer some to me. Once I have some, we’ll be an unstoppable force. Your youth and strength combined with my great knowledge will fuel your Dead Light to new heights!”
Famine nodded ‘yes’ to her and held out his hand to her outstretched one. Ankou ran out between them with Morrigan running close behind. His mind reeled at what he was seeing. The boy he had come to trust and love so much had suddenly and horrifyingly changed. He had to be stopped. Ankou was waving his arms frantically to get his nephew’s attention. “Stop!”
“No, Uncle, I’ve made my decision. Now get out of the way before you get hurt.”
Morrigan had joined Ankou at his side. She was also seeing a side of her friend that scared her. If Ankou was going to get hurt, she wanted to make sure the old man had someone to help. She hated the idea of injuring Famine, but it meant helping her other friend. Ankou held out the memory box. “Give me one last wish before you do this, child, please.”
Angelique lowered her hand. “Very well. Do whatever this ancient bag of skin and rot wants. It’ll be the last thing he sees before I cut him down.”
Ankou thrust the box into Famine’s hands. “Open it! Open it now! It will give you everything you want.”
Famine regarded the object curiously. For a second, a familiar smile spread across his face. Ankou knew
it as the same grin the boy got whenever he saw his pet dog or ate some candied soul from a jar. The fear and revulsion that had gripped Ankou’s heart was replaced by one of optimism and hope. Something that the old carrion driver had grown to love about the boy swelled up in his chest…the wonderment of childhood discovery.
Angelique’s course voice cut across his tranquility. “Sentimental claptrap!! You don’t need bracelets or trinkets now but open it. I’m sure it’s going to disappoint you to no end.”
Devon snickered. “What a load of shite.”
Ankou stepped back and joined Morrigan as Famine unlatched and opened the box. A faint soft glow flooded from it and bathed the youth in a blanket of warmth.