“Are you trying to tell me that you can lift a scythe off a black guard?” I asked, and Rudolph nodded once more. “And that you can then give it to me so I can use it?” Another nod. “Holy crap. That sounds like a good plan… I mean, what would I do with it then? Just scratch the runes off?”

“S… Seel… Seeley… h… help… you,” he whispered, his tongue struggling against the fangs. His voice was low and raspy, as if the inside of his throat had been burned. But I got the message.

“You, my dear Rudolph, are a hero,” I said to him, drawing another ghoulish grin. “We’ve got a plan then… sort of. It’s a little weird that I can’t touch a scythe right now, that I need you to take it first, but… I guess it’s got something to do with material transference, maybe? Because it’s on a living being?”

He nodded, making me smile.

“Heh… I’m not that daft, then. So, a scythe is a tool that belongs to both the world of the living and the world of the dead. If a living guy holds it, I, a mere spirit, wouldn’t be able to touch it, because it’s stuck in the material plane. But if a ghoul or a Reaper takes it, which means you… either way, the scythe becomes a more ethereal object, and I can touch it again. Am I getting that right?”

Rudolph exhaled sharply. “Smart.”

“Thank you. But our mission won’t be easy. Especially for you,” I said, giving him a sympathetic half-smile. “You’re going to have to suck up to Zoltan when he comes around. Real hard, until he thinks you’re his favorite pet.”

A low growl escaped his throat.

“I know. I don’t like it either. But it’s the only way to get you enough freedom to then snatch a scythe from a black guard,” I replied.

Hours later, the door finally opened, and Zoltan Shatal came in, a heavy ring of keys hanging on his belt. He seemed quite satisfied with himself, grinning at the sight of Rudolph becoming more and more of a ghoul.

Behind him, in the hallway, stood two guards. A terrified old Nalorean male was between them, his hands bound and a gag over his mouth. He was crying and trying to beg for mercy, but his words were muffled, drool seeping into the fabric and trickling from the corners of his mouth.

“Oh, Lord…” I murmured, standing back in my corner.

“You’re looking good,” Zoltan said to Rudolph.

The ghoul got up, towering over the Aeternae almost menacingly. I figured Rudolph was still itching for some bloody revenge on the one who’d made him like this, but, as sickening as the entire situation was, I needed him to play nice.

“Rudolph, remember. We need Zoltan to trust you,” I said, thankful that the others couldn’t hear me. I’d reached the ghoul, for sure, because he lowered himself on all fours, letting a deep sigh roll out of his crooked chest.

“That’s an obedient little ghoul,” Zoltan said, glancing over his shoulder. “See, boys? It gets easier when they’re malleable like this. The weak-natured ones are a pleasure to work with. Our master did say this once… that not all Reapers were made to be Reapers. That some of them are weak.”

His master. New information right there, I thought. Was that master still around? Who was he? Or was it a she? I went over all the Aeternae we’d met so far, and I wondered if any of them were devious and knowledgeable enough to be Zoltan’s superior. It didn’t explain the death magic, though. So… maybe Zoltan’s master was a… Reaper. A rogue and powerful Reaper. Capable enough to teach him all this. The thought frightened me, but the sooner I got to the truth of it, the better for everyone—myself included.

“The others are wild,” one of the guards said. “Shall we use the shock sticks on them?”

Zoltan nodded. “Yes. They’re angry. They seek vengeance through violence, and they will need violence to understand that this is their existence now. Rudolph here… he’s a breath of fresh air, to be honest. Look at him sitting down, so nice and obedient. You’re a good boy, Rudolph.”

I would’ve loved to just rip this guy’s throat out. But my body was no longer available. All I could do was boil at a high temperature and pray that the universe would find a way to punish him for such atrocities.

Rudolph purred slowly, looking up at Zoltan.

“What about the first one we caught, milord?” the second guard asked. “Will you turn him, too?”

Zoltan shrugged. “I haven’t made up my mind yet. There’s something about him that I find intriguing. I’ll think about it and let you know, but until then, he stays where he is.”

“He’s awfully loud when we’re feeding the ghouls,” the first guard replied. “Can we at least gag the sucker? He’s a headache to all of us.”

“Do whatever you want.” Zoltan sighed. “Now, time to feed this good boy here.”

He walked back out of the cell, and the guards tossed the Nalorean inside, instead. Rudolph stared at the poor creature, then at me. He shuddered, nodding at the door. “Leave,” he whispered. “Leave…”

He didn’t want me to see what he was about to do, but I knew. I could see the hunger in his black eyes, the veins swelling as he pushed himself into a standing position. My vision became hazy, and I left the room, standing back and covering my ears.

The black guards and Zoltan blocked the door, watching with perverted delight, as the Nalorean’s muffled screams burst from the cell. I heard Rudolph growl, and I cried as the ghoul killed the Nalorean.

“Help me! Somebody help me!” the Nalorean spirit screamed, and I cried out when Rudolph took him. I didn’t need to see what was happening to know… to understand the feeding process of a young ghoul. Rudolph had just murdered a living Nalorean in order to eat his soul.

I covered my mouth with both hands, dropping to my knees and cursing the fates for having brought me to this place, for having pushed me to this point. I was now endorsing Rudolph’s feeding habits in order to keep him focused on freeing Seeley. I was helpless before what was happening, but I wasn’t even protesting anymore. It was all to help Seeley.

When Rudolph was done with the Nalorean spirit, his body already carried away and likely fed to other inferior ghouls, Zoltan took out a new iron collar, with different runes engraved into its surface. It came with a three-foot leash made of leather and iron chains. He carried it inside the cell, while the guards waited outside, exchanging nervous glances.

“Now, will you be a good boy and come with me for a brisk walk?” Zoltan asked, and I heard Rudolph’s low growl. It was meant to be a yes, it seemed. “Let’s go.”

Moments later, Zoltan walked out with a grin slitting his face and Rudolph on a leash, the new collar tightly clasped around his neck. The guards moved back, not wanting to stand too close to him. I would’ve loved for Rudolph to just rip them apart, but Zoltan’s trust was more important at this point.

When Rudolph saw me again, his expression, as distorted and as awful as it was, lit up. He seemed relieved to see me, and I forced myself to smile. He needed my support and my reassurance. Despite what he was and what he’d just done, I had to be there for him if any of this was going to work.

I stayed close to him as he moved on all fours, obediently pacing himself by Zoltan’s side. My ghostly skin crawled from the Aeternae’s vicinity, but I had no choice. Rudolph was my ally here.

“Let me show you around,” Zoltan said to the ghoul.

Looking back, I noticed the guards continued to keep their distance. They were not fond of ghouls, in general, both of them clutching the scythes mounted on their belts. Physically, it wouldn’t be too hard for Rudolph to steal one, provided he could get close enough without stirring suspicions. The key here was for nobody to blame him once they realized a scythe had gone missing.

“Your friends are here,” Zoltan continued, stopping in front of another cell door.

“Keep it together,” I said to Rudolph, already feeling queasy. I knew what the Aeternae was trying to do with this brief tour. He was looking to test the ghoul’s resolve and self-control by showing him the others—his own people, transformed and degraded. “He’s doing this to push you. Don’t let him win.”

Zoltan opened the door with one of his keys, revealing Lisl inside. She was naked, her Reaper clothes in tatters on the floor. Blood was sprayed all over the walls. She’d been fed a live Rimian or Nalorean, judging by the satisfied look on her face. Her black eyes glimmered with recognition when she saw Rudolph.

“She’s still Lisl, somewhere deep down,” I whispered, leaning closer to Rudolph. “See? She recognizes you. She knows you’re Rudolph. So don’t let Zoltan tell you otherwise.”

Rudolph was shaking, anger likely coursing through him like a forest fire. With a trembling hand, I touched his back, and he… stilled. All of a sudden, all the rage flowed out of him, and he relaxed visibly under Zoltan’s surprised yet watchful eye. I was taking a great risk by being so close to Rudolph, but I couldn’t let the Aeternae win.

“Deep breaths,” I said. “Deep breaths. We’ll find a way to help her and the others. I promise you.”

He looked up at me, a pleading look glimmering in his eyes. I could almost hear his words, echoing in my very soul. Please, help them… You have to help them.

As a ghoul, Rudolph was cut off from the other Reapers. But Herbert had been able to communicate telepathically with sentries like Harper and Caspian. Maybe Rudolph was trying to talk to me, in his ghoulish way, because those words I thought I’d just heard were not mine.

“Take it easy,” I murmured. “Don’t force yourself.”

Exhaustion from trying his various abilities could be detrimental to us. As much as I appreciated his attempt to telepathically talk to me, even though I wasn’t a sentry—which just made everything extra weird—it wasn’t necessary at this point, and it was bound to take its toll on him.

“Let’s stick together, Rudolph. Charm these suckers until they give you more freedom,” I said, scowling at Zoltan, who shut the door to Lisl’s cell and walked Rudolph over to the next one, showing him Bert. “Don’t let any of this get to you. Make them all like you. Get close enough, grab a scythe, and I’ll let Seeley loose. We’ll avenge you all, Rudolph. You have my word.”

I kept talking to him, encouraging him as Zoltan went ahead and showed Rudolph the rest of his teammates, each angrier and more out of control than the last. By the end of the tour, Rudolph had retained his calm composure, further impressing the chief councilor.

“Yes, I think I will enjoy working with you, Rudolph,” Zoltan said, then looked at the guards. He must’ve learned their names while forcing them to turn. “Take him to a bigger cell. He’s earned some extra legroom. And see if you’ve got some other dissident to feed our good boy, here. I reward obedience.”