The Reaper (The Assassin Series Book #2)

That night I laid in bed with Sebastian. We were just talking. Since we finally knew the truth about each other, there was nothing that we really needed to hide. It was nice. I didn't get to do that often. I was never able to bother with conversation in the past. There was always something holding me back.

I had learned so much about him. He had done so many things, watched history happen right before his eyes. It was amazing. Imagine being on the Mayflower with Christopher Columbus or meeting an Egyptian pharaoh. People at that time were trying to figure out what their culture had been like, searching for bits and pieces of pottery and jewelry. Sebastian could answer all their questions. It was the thing people dreamed of!

I didn't know why Sebastian was so interested in what I had done with my life. His was much more exciting. I wish I had more to tell him, but he knew my life story. Besides killing, it had been pretty boring. I had lived in luxury, but I wasn't allowed to parties or anything like that. The only thing I could really think of that was close to that was festivals, which had been fun. It was just hard for me to do things and keep a low profile at the same time.

His arm rested underneath my head like a pillow as I played with his tie. We were silent for a few minutes before I asked, thinking back to what Ronald had said earlier, "Do you know many of the Reapers in my division?"

"Well, I've met Grell, Will, and Undertaker, but that's it," Sebastian answered. I didn't know who Undertaker was, but I let it slide. "Why do you ask?"

"Ronald Knox, a coworker and new friend of mine, was talking about you today. He spoke of you like everyone has had problems with you somehow," I explained.

"I'm not surprised. I'm infamous among the Reapers. I meddle in their line of work often because of orders from the young lord. Though, I must admit, I do like joking with them every now and then for no reason," he smirked.

"Sebastian," I sighed.

"I'm sorry, but it's true. The only Reaper I like is you, Willow. All the others could disappear for all I cared," he shrugged.

I said, "I know. You're never going to get along with them. It's pretty obvious, but that doesn't help if someone was to find out about us."

Sebastian asked, "Why would it matter?"

I listed, "I would get moved to a different division, have my death scythe confiscated, get demoted, or just fired from my duties as a Reaper."

He frowned, "It's just a job. If you lost it, it wouldn't really matter much."

I argued, "Sebastian, Reapers are supposed to reap souls, not sit around all day. It might not be my whole life, but it is what I was created to do, and I take it very seriously."

He said, "Your job has taken over your life before, Ms. Widow. You don't have to do that anymore."

I rolled my eyes, "Oh, yes, because sitting in your room all day is so much better."

"At least then you wouldn't be stressing about this problem," Sebastian told me.

"I love you, Sebastian, but I can't do that. I was born for this job, literally. I'm not going to quit, and that's the final word on the subject," I declared. His frown deepened. I kissed him and pouted, "Oh, come now. Don't act like that. You couldn't have been expecting a different answer."

He said, "Yes, but I was hoping for one."

I began, "Well, I-" We both froze, feeling something was off. "Do you feel that extra soul outside?"

Sebastian nodded, "Yes. It's rather close and it belongs to a Reaper." I jumped off the bed and ran over to the window, checking the area around us. "Do you think you were followed?"

"I don't know. I'm not secretive about it. Everyone leaves for London once their shifts are over. It might have been someone on the night shift doing their job nearby. It's out of my range now, though. I didn't see anyone out here," I informed him, turning back to the bed. He stood up.

"It came about pretty suddenly and left just as fast. Maybe we shouldn't worry," he advised.

I told him, "The Reaper most likely left Earth. I should get back and see if security will allow me to see the records of those who returned right before me. Besides, it's getting really late. I needed to leave anyways." I pecked his lips, "Goodbye, Sebastian."

He smiled, "Goodbye, sweetheart." With that, I left through the window and headed back to the exit out of Earth. I didn't want them to be way ahead of me, or other people could have left right before me as well.

All I knew at that point was that if a Reaper told anyone I was with Sebastian, I was done for.