Where Geno finally gets to go back to the monster afterlife without vilent procedures.
And with Reaper.

No one's POV:
-

Reaper's grin almost dissapeared from what he heard, then rubbed the back of his skull awkwardly.

"Uuuh, haha, if that is some kind of a joke, ya got me go-."

"Kill. Me." Geno repeated more serious, leaning a bit forward towards Reaper. "Send me to the afterlife."

It was then when Reaper's smile dissappeared completely. He had stayed staring at Geno with wide open and empty eyesockets.

"... What..." He whispered. "Why-?" Geno scoffed and got off the chair, only to walk around the desk and towards Reaper.

"It should be easy right? Just one touch and boom!"

"Now hold on just a sec!" Reaper did as he jumped off his chair and started walking backwards as he faced Geno.

"There ain't no time to waste. Just stay still will ya?!" Geno asked as he kept persuading the Captain.

"Unless you give me a very serious reason as to why you would want that!"

"Just-... Stop movin'!"

The 2 small skeletons kept chasing around the office for a minute more or so before Reaper lost his patience, unable to understand what had gotten into Geno. He stopped walking backwards and stomped his foot once on the floor.

The room became slightly darker, plus colder. Next thing Geno knew, he had flown backwards, got pressed against the wall and his arms were pinned tightly above his head, the wrists bound by cyan chains.

Readers: "Oooh, how kin-" *see the author grabbing the chankla and staring at them intensively* "... d of Reaper to stop Geno's madness!"

The siren stared as Reaper was walking up to him, the pupil in his left eyesocket flickering intensively.

"Alright, ₩HÆT HƧ GØTTƏŊ |ƝTØ ¥ØU?!" Geno froze by that tone and stared at the necromancer gulping silently, his body shaking in fear. Familiar situation. Almost. That was how they were the first time the siren had seen his face.

And right before getting yeeted off the ship.

"I-I..." Was all Geno could pronounce. He watched as Reaper's hands were both going for his face and he shut his eyesocket.

Simply to reopen it feeling the familiar sense of the leather's gloves cupping his face gently. Geno looked again at Reaper, much calmer, simply mainly confused and... sad.

"What happened, angelfish? Why would you ask me somethin' like that?" He asked softly and something about that tone caused Geno's fear to dissapear almost completely. Still it took him a few seconds to start talking.

"There's someone I must find in the afterlife." He said quietly.

"... Who?"

"My... dad."

Reaper sighed quietly as he stepped back.

"So you chase me around, you want to die... just because you missed your dad?"

"Hey, it ain't just for that! Plus, why would I die?! I've died many times before and have come back to life, why not again?" Geno asked slightly arrogant.

"I'd be surprised if you survived another death, but what guarantees that one of these times won't send you permanently to the afterlife?!" Reaper asked, slightly raising the tone of his voice. Geno stared at him surprised. He was... concerned and worried... "What caused you to suddenly want to see him again? Why?" He asked more calmly as Geno felt the chains dissapearing and stop binding his wrists.

"... When still alive, my mom shared with him knowledge about her kind and of the mermaids. He has knowledge about traditions and rituals of how sirens behave, in all 4 of their main houses. I think aside an actual siren or mermaid there's nobody else who knows all that better than him. If I get to find him he will share with me information on how perhaps we can face the Loner sirens without violence. Not just for my safety, but perhaps... for your crew's safety too."

If Geno was still able to contact his mom or Echo through dreams and they were capable to tell him of what to do, he wouldn't even be with Reaper and persuading him to help. But aside not seeing any dreams with them anymore lately, even if he did, Morgana or even Calisia would simply mess things up and threaten to kill him. They could. Geno had experienced it. He stared at Reaper as he had his head lowered, thinking of what he heard.

"... A way to face them without bloodshed?" He asked looking at Geno.

"Mhm." The other nodded.

"No fighting?"

"Yup."

Reaper thought again for a few seconds.

"And how did it occur to ya all of a sudden that your father holds such knowledge?"

"My memory works strangely, alright?!" Geno complained. "But it occured to me from the last time I was dead, y' know, when your loyal dog killed me. I saw my dad's essence, but it was for a brief moment before that wraith or whatever it was came to interrupt and att-."

The speed with which Reaper dashed at Geno and held him by the shoulders was so fast the smaller almost fell backwards, being held stably by the other's hands gripping him.

"¥øυ cæmə æcrøss A ₩RÆ|TH?!" He asked with panic in his voice and expression as his left pupil started glowing, scanning Geno from top to bottom.

"Ermmm... yeah?" The siren did. After Reaper stopped checking the smaller from top to bottom, he covered his mouth and looked away, thinking intensively and walking in random patterns in the office. Eventually he snapped his head again at the other skeleton.

"... And you're still alive!" He said in a low voice, still betraying his agitation. Geno shrugged his shoulders.

"I've told you so... Well, I've heard from-... other essences that wraiths are malevolent and cruel, generally beings better avoided, but... what are they really?" He asked. Reaper looked to his right before huffing.

"... That's the name given for the essences of the 'impure' necromancers. When my ancestors discovered love and chose to go through it instead of roaming the living all alone until the afterlife took 'em back, the kids that came from their unison with other beings that could withstand them were... let's just say not quite as welcomed by the afterlife when they would join there too eventually."

"Huh..."

"Even if they were born with mainly necormantic magic and power, their nature wasn't purely deadly anymore. More unstable, mixed with the magic of the other parent. The wraiths are given with plenty of power and abilities to roam in the afterlife, called just like their first pure necromantic ancestors to keep balance amongst the dead, in a way herd 'em. But after a long time bein' dead, the aura messes their minds up. Their logic turns to instinct, their composure becomes aggressiveness. The more they let themselves loose, attack and harm other essences, the faster they will loose themselves, get consumed by the afterlife itself, until they become... darkness. Part of it."

"Aaah, this great!" Geno did definitely not uncomfortable. "Ain't there somethin' that can stop 'em?"

"Well, their soulmate's essence keeps them at bay and calm. But even them can't be safe from their wrath if it gets out of control. Many of them have gotten consumed by the wraiths as a way of wantin' to 'be one forever', especially if they felt their love was going to abandon them out of fear."

"Oh Hell no?!" Geno did triggered.

"Buuut, that was mainly the case with the oldest of my ancestors. As centuries passed by the necormancers learned becoming more mature with their emotions and handle them better. When still a kid I had stumbled upon my father's parents. Grandpa still seemed pretty sane and calm with grandma on his side. He wasn't thrilled to see me but he didn't go ahead to kill me."

"As if that makes things better!" The siren thought still triggered. But then he remembered again how that wraith he saw with Alejandro was acting, he recalled how it was acting around him years back and slowly stopped feeling agitated. He looked at Reaper. "It wasn't my first time encountering that wraith though." Reaper looked at him surprised.

"What do you mean?" Choosing to reveal things from his past in the village, Geno narrated how with him being so sickly, he would often end up in the afterlife when younger and the wraith would keep him company, even go as far as to hold him until he was coming back to life. "And you're sure ya talk about the very same wraith that you said attacked your father?" Reaper eventually asked after he listened.

"I'm certain. Which simply makes things even more confusing. If it didn't hurt me all those years, why would it attack my dad and forcefully send me back to the living?!"

"Rarely a wraith will show a liking to anybody other than their soulmate, for whatever reasons. And even if they do, doesn't mean they will feel fond of whoever is related to the monster they have that liking for. It didn't ever hurt you? Lucky you, for whatever reason. It hunted down your father? He's done for."

"What?! No, no!" Geno yelped pressing his hands on the sides of his skull. "Not like that!" He walked again closer to Reaper with clenched fists. "I must see by myself, what if he ain't-... gone? I must find him!"

"Nothin' in the monster afterlife guarantess you safety and that you will efficiently defend yourself. Even if in the past nothin' ever happened to you, the stakes for danger are always high. You have a wraith's attention, which might not have been harmful to you in the past, but can be at any time given, 'specially if you go against it! Your father has that very same's wraith's attention! What are you gonna do Geno, get in the way?! That will definitely keep you in the afterlife forever!" Reaper huffed as he shook head left and right. "I can't allow you to risk your life just to find out if your father is a goner or managed to escape. And this knowledge of his? About sirens and mermaids? Maybe it is worthy to learn, maybe it could really give us an advantage against those sirens waiting in the pillars of Hercules, but again, it ain't certain the holder of the knowledge is available, after what you told me... I'm sorry."

"So you're not helpin'?" Geno asked frustrated. Reaper didn't reply, just looked away with a heavily serious expression.

The smaller scoffed indignated, threw hands in the air and headed for the door. Just as his hand was about to be raised and open the door, he ate jumpscare by Reaper teleporting in front of him and holding his hand firmly yet gently.

Geno slightly panicked and stepped back, freeing his hand off the other's hold. He silently asked him what. After many seconds Reaper inhaled and exhaled quietly.

"... Stephan. Right?" He asked calmly. Geno looked at him surprised and suspicious.

"Where did you get that?" He asked. Reaper didn't reply, his gaze just became even more intensive. The smaller groaned annoyed. "... Whatever. Yes. So?" The taller skeleton didn't reply immediately, just... opened the door of the office.

"... If in an hour somebody approaches to tell you to come back and see me, be outside my office." He looked at Geno with a cold expression. "I ain't agreeing with anythin' yet. I'll simply think. This will be the only reassurement you'll get for now..." He stated. Geno looked at him confused and slightly surprised, even like that while walking out of the office.

~

Indeed that wasn't a reassurement. It was something nerve-wracking for him, wandering around the ship and waiting for time to pass, see if... what? If Reaper would actually agree to his mad request?

"What did you discuss with Reaps son?" Alter had asked him a few minutes after returning to the deck.

"Can we talk about it... later?" Geno had asked in return. The priest didn't insist.

The 2 skeleton friends passed their time talking for the most part, with Alter mainly describing adventures and impressive details from them.

"Güzel!"

Yalin's melodic and whistling voice was heard then, interrupting them. Geno looked at him in wonder. Could it be...

"Yes?" He asked trying to sound normal and indifferent.

"Enough ssstaying around with thisss Giaour!" The python monster said, causing Alter to lowly laugh as he rolled his eyesockets. "The Captain hasss called you ssspecifically!"

Yes yes yes, finally!

"Ah. I see." Geno did chilly. He excused himself and started walking for the Captain's office. Just as he was 10 steps away he saw the door opening and Ramirez bursting out of the room sharply.

He was clearly angry. As he turned to Geno's direction, he froze. Not for long, as then, snarling loudly he kept walking at Geno who almost thought he was done for. The dog grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and leaned forward.

"Hopefully you feel every second of your stay in the afterlife as miserable as possible." He said lowly, then let go of the small skeleton, walking away angrily. Geno looked at him for a few seconds leaving, then turned forward and approached the door's office. He hesitantly peeked inside the room.

"Sar zaitezke." He heard Reaper's chill voice calling him in Basque. Slowly Geno entered the office. The deadly skeleton was sitting on the couch, eyesockets both empty, melancholic faintly. "Excuse Andrés. He has been really agitated and annoyed about going to the monster afterlife."

"No wonder why-. Wait a sec!" Geno looked at Reaper surprised. "So you've decided?!" He asked hopeful. Reaper waved his hand for the smaller to approach closer. He watched Geno closing the door behind him, then sighed quietly.

"There are still parts about this whole situation goin' on that I don't agree with." He got off the couch as he stared at Geno serious, stopping 2 steps away from him. "Even so, family has this much of a worth to you still. Danger certainly hasn't stopped you before from proceeding..."

 "So... you'll send me there?!" Geno asked.

"Wrong." Reaper dissapeared and reappeared right in front of Geno without a warning, almost towering over him. The smaller leaned back both startled and ready to throw hands. But the taller then stood normally. "We, are going there, together."

"What?!"

"I will help with you getting what you want. You'll get to follow your plan, go in the afterlife without going through some painful effort, find your father and get your answers. But in order for that to happen, you'll have to listen carefully to what I have to say. Remember and follow the rules I will tell ya, commit on followin' them."

"Ugh, of course and there would be rules..." Geno mumbled rolling his eyesocket.

"Then again you can always simply stay in the living if ya don't like the idea of rules, angelfish." Reaper commented.

"Will you stop reading my mouth?!" The siren complained snapping his head to look at Reaper annoyed.

"Get used to it." The other replied coldly.

"And what happened about you not wantin' me endanger myself for nothin'? Why are you offerin' to help me this time? What changed???" Geno asked raising brow.

"In the time I told you to wait for one of my crew to come fetch you I investigated. I went to the afterlife. I don't know how, I don't believe it myself that one can be this lucky... I saw him." Reaper announced.

"My dad?!" Geno yelped. The other nodded. The smaller skeleton raised his fist in the air triumphantly. "HAH! Suck on that for tellin' me he wouldn't make it!" He said pointing at Reaper, who proceeded to smile faintly for a few seconds before turning serious again.

"He seemed alright. His essence didn't seem shredded. But when he realised I was the one callin' him, he fled terrified before I could even tell him you wanted to talk to him."

"Damn it!"

"After being attacked by a wraith, sounds fair that he wouldn't wanna stick around me. He can be found again. And this time, we'll be together. You'll call him and even with my presence, he'll stay. You'll get to ask your questions and hear the answers you want from him. But until we find him, like I said before, there are rules you must follow. Listen and agree to them and the visit in the monster afterlife will go smoothly." Geno would have objected again if he wasn't surprised by how serious Reaper was. Eventually he sighed.

"Fine. Tell me."

~

In 5 minutes all rules were said and explained. They weren't particulary difficult to remember, yet the reason they were told and explained had unsettled Geno.

If he wanted to speak up, he would only move his mouth and make no sound. If he wanted to ask Reaper something, he would simply tap him on the arm so he could see him pronouncing the words.

The Captain himself would stay silent and only answer in questions with yes or no, by nodding or shaking head left and right. When they would find Stephan they would be free to talk, though even then the talking had better to be kept low.

Again for a reason. What for again?

For the wraiths.

"We are after the essence of a monster that had and still possibly has the attention of a wraith. If your father is still hunted down, there's a great possibility we will attract its attention."

Another rule Geno had to follow was to alert Reaper if he heard voices.

"Voices?"

"If you hear somebody callin' your name, givin' you commands, if they sound familiar to you, in no case you turn around or try to figure out where they're comin' from. Stick by my side and nudge me, I'll handle it."

"And what happens if any Wraith spots us and attacks?"

"I fight, you try your best not to get hit..." Reaper looked at Geno, still slightly frustrated listening to the rules and huffed. "Look, if it wasn't for the fact that a Wraith is so closely involved with your father, perhaps I'd have send you by now to the afterlife. But I can't have ya endangered. Yes you're in search of helpful answers, but remember that you gotta stay in one piece." Geno lowered head.

"Of course..."

"If I didn't care enough to inform you, you'd have gone there and be unable know what to do and how to act. Goin' to the afterlife means going in the house of the necromancers. Their home. They can hear you anywhere to detect you and have all power by their side to not just permanently kill you, but eat you whole. And by feasting on you also means obliterating you out of complete existence. You'll be nothin'. There ain't some other place you'll end up after that, even your essence simply stops existing." Geno gulped and shivered. "They can't be reasoned with and the only 2 things you can do to survive a Wraith is to whether be lucky enough to never attract their attention, or be of abstract nature. Only the ones with such can hope to fight off a Wraith. Do you understand completely now why I'm persuading you so much to listen and learn?" Reaper asked. The smaller huffed defeated and calmer.

"Alright. Can we go now though?" He asked.

"Just 2 more things..." Reaper streched his arm to the direction of his desk. Until the moment he did that Geno hadn't observe the big white cloth-like object resting on the chair the Captain was sitting often. It seemed so physical with the envirnoment, it had stayed unnoticable. The half-siren watched as Reaper held that cloth in his hand and walked closer to him. "... Wear this."

Why, was Geno clearly asking silently. Yet he held the cloth in his hands and looked at it properly. It looked like a white cloak. He looked again at Reaper with a questioning look, who nodded at him to wear it. Still not breaking eyesocket contact with him, he wore the cloak above his clothes. It fit him.

"Sooo, is the cloak gonna play its own important role on the trip we're gonna take to the afterlife?" He asked.

"You're close." Reaper replied. "Now turn around and open your arms." And before Geno could ask in suspiciousness and confusion, he continued. "In the monster afterlife the temperatures ain't friendly with most monsters who are in the process of dying. The cold there is meant to draw and kill the monsters completely and permanently so they join forever."

"And is that cloak magical or cold-resistant? What?"

"Not quite yet, but by combining its material and a lil' bit of actual magic, it will be. Now, turn around and open arms." Reaper commanded.

Still uncertain, Geno slowly turned around, his reflexes ready at any second to kick in. He listened closely as the necormancer inhaled deeply and slowly, then blew air in that way that it sounded like howling wind behind a locked window.

Geno realised he was doing the very same thing he had done with the compress when he had fever. Except the cold he felt from the air Reaper was blowing, penetrated the cloak and made his bones start freezing.

"Agh! Stop, it's cold!" He complained as he turned around sharply, the moment Reaper too had stopped blowing air. "Ya could  have warned me at least!"

"Cold is what you feel right now, but I assure you, the moment we enter the afterlife it's gonna be completely different. Trust me about that." He said as he winked at Geno grinning.

"Great, let's go already!" The smol hurried the other up as he tried to blow air in his palms and warm them up.

"Yes, we shall." Reaper agreed as he was taking out of the right pocket of his jacket a pair of gloves, held them close together, blew air on them shortly too and handed them to Geno, who death-glared at him. "Your patience shall not be tested any longer. Wear them and we can begin the ritual."

~

Geno watched as the other quickly took care of the last details. He locked the door, looked at the little clock on the desk carefully, browsed through a black book for a few seconds, then he stood in front of Geno and closed his eyesockets. The temperature in the room dropped a little too harshly and obviously.

At the same time the light  in the room lowered some more. Silently cursing but still doing his best to be patient about his pelvis getting frozen, Geno looked at Reaper, concerned also for how the atmosphere felt. Well, there goes nothing. It was really happening. The necromancer looked at him with empty eyesockets.

Then his arms reached for Geno's. Hesitantly the half-siren held Reaper's hands, who started chanting lowly in incomprehensible languages. With every second passing Geno felt more and more light-headed and concerned. The room was spinning and becoming more blurry in his eyesocket.

Then, finally, the familiar sensation of falling into the nothingness and darkness prevailed.

3890 words. and now, i am going to eat you for thanksgiving-

ok no.

*pat pat pat pat pat*

*smek*