The Golden skeleton stares with its black shining eyes. I only wonder more how any of this makes sense. Death chatters their opalescent teeth. I look at them.


"He appears only as I wish him to." Death's voice hisses from his lipless mouth.


"So yeah, anyways, your gonna have to start training and meet your partner." The man who claims to be my father states. I still have a skepticism about that.


I walk up to the man and sigh. I don't think I'm going to be given a choice here. I think.


"Then where is yours?" I ask.


"Right here." I hear a feminine raspy voice lunge into the room as her footsteps get to be heard clearly.


She walks up to me. She sizes me up, glancing over my physique. She shakes her head.


"Darrian, I thought he was your legacy?" She teases him.


"What's wrong with me?" I huff angrily. I know I'm young still but there's to need to be like that. I think.


My hands clench into fists as Darrian, the man who claims to be my father, rushes me out of the room. Probably for the best. I think. I follow his lead down the Grey halls of this apparent castle. I can't even remember the outside. What did that smoke do to me? I wonder.


"Let me guess. Damien just smoked you out?" Darrian laughs.


"Well, if that black smoke is what you mean, yeah. What was that about?" I ask.


"Damien doesn't like to deal with anyone, just quickly and quietly grabs the target for extraction."


"I see."


We walk farther into the hallway when I can hear people shouting and swords clashing. What's that about? Where are we anyways? My head floods with questions.


"You will be starting combat training tomorrow." He says.


"Okay, what's that for?"


"We don't just collect human souls, Steven."


"Steve." I correct Darrian softly.


"Fair. Anyways, we work alot with demons as well."


I stop in my tracks and stare at him. I don't believe my ears. We are supposed to kill demons? I wonder.


"We do?" I ask.


"Yeah, our Magick makes this possible. you'll understand soon. Death will be meeting us in the armory to have you and your partner meet. They Are your Lifeline."


"Well, why can't I work alone?" I ask.


"You're either unified or an amplifier."


"What's that supposed to mean?"


"You're either a Magick user or a shapeshifter. Never have we seen both in one person." Darrian explains.


"What are you getting at?"


"Look everyone's got to do it." He huffs. We walk through a big oak wood door that screeches through the hallways.


I don't even like the idea of being here. I think. Hopefully I'm just dreaming. This is ridiculous. Fighting demons, I'm only a kid! I ramble in my head. I fill with a deep breath and exhale vehemently.


"What's their name then?" I ask as he sits me on a bench in the corner of the room, other kids are training with weapons in the opposite end of the room.


"Sylvie."


"Okay. What are they like?" I ask.


WHABAM!


The door class open as a small girl with white hair approaches. She can't be any older than me. I stare a bit with curiosity. She waltzes up to Darrian.


"Where's the legacy?" She asks.


"I'm right here?" I tap her shoulder.


"You? Oh, yeah, we're dead." She raises her arms and shakes her head as she finds her way back out from the room.


"Smooth. That's her." Darrian says laughing.


"Thanks." I say.


We aren't dead. Whats she know anyways? I'm new sure, but I can't hold my own. I think.


"So, she will be teaching you the ropes. I suggest you listen. She's the top of our trainees." He admits.


"Yeah? And? what's your point?"


"You've never held a sword."


"Okay... that's fair." I sigh. I rub the back of my neck.


"So, be careful with the little firebird." He says.


"Firebird?"


"You'll see tomorrow. I would suggest getting something from the mess hall. Then an early night's rest."


"Oh?" I ask.


"You'll be up at Four AM if she has it her way." He laughs as he walks from the room.


I stand alone. Blades still clashing in the corners. I can't help but feel lost. This has to be a dream... right? I ponder. the blades clash again. I hear a Whoosh and a singing blade. I turn to see the sword flying my way.


I place my hands on either side of the blade. In an instant I stopped it dead in its tracks, only a half inch from my forehead. Oh, shit! I can't help but be in utter shock.


"Can I have that back now, showoff?" An older tanned boy comes up to me.


"Yeah, sorry." I flip the blade so I can offer him it by the handle single handed.


"Luck won't keep ya alive long, Kid." They say.


"Yeah,well who are you to say?" I ask.


"Boy, I'm Dedria." He looks over to his training mates.


"Okay. Steve." I say.


"You don't even have a reapers name yet?" He asks.


"Reapers name?" I ask.


"That's a no. First day tomorrow?" He asks.


"Yeah."


"You the one stuck with Sylvie?" He smirks.


"Yeah, how'd you know?" I ask.


"You're a dead boy then." He says.


The door to the room opens as the hood of Death enters the room. Dedria runs back to his corner where he is training. He must be afraid of Death.


"You met Sylvie?" They hiss from the dark hole in their hood.


"Yeah." I say.


"She's an orphan." He says.


"That's terrible." I reply.


Death rests a hand on my shoulder. His breathing is shaky. He hisses with his breath.


"You I am hoping are the one to tame her down." They say.


"Why me?" I ask.


"Because, I have plans for you, Beyond your dreams." The hissing voice cackles and coughs.


"Okay, and so I need to work with her to do that?" I ask.


"She will be your partner. If you let her die, you will die also. Polarity is how a reapers life must be." Death explains.


"So, don't die? or let her die?" I repeat it my own way.


"Yes, you two have greatness in your blood."


"I see."


I run my hand through my hair. I can't help but feel like this whole time I am just going to be fighting to survive. She can't be someone I can trust, can she be? I wonder. Death goes towards the door.


"Why does she say we will die?" I ask.


"That's because of her history." Death stops in its path.


"What do you mean?" I ask.


"She is an amplifier."


"Okay?"


"She bursts when scared. It usually kills most people in a ten foot radius." Death leaves the room without another word.


She can kill people by being Scared? how is that even possible? I think as I leave the room. I look for the signs of the mess hall. Perhaps Darrian is right and I should get an early night. I think.


I wander the halls for a while before finally finding the signs leading to the mess hall. I am hungry, tired and sore. I follow another sign. Maybe Sylvie had an accident when younger. Death did say she's an orphan. I think to myself. It's impossible to just guess why without talking to her. I realize, that's what I'll do tomorrow.