"When does Death ever mean well?"

Wine Coloured Poison

My black boots echoed down the long, brick corridor. A deep male voice rang out from the other side as I stepped over the threshold and into a small humble room covered in dust and the smell of old and crumbling books.

The grey bearded man on the other side immediately sensed my presence as a shiver shot up his spine. The young boy standing across from him looked sickly pale as he peered over the man's shoulder and caught sight of my hand. In it I held Morte- my scythe.

"Oh, for Pete's sake!" The elderly man grumbled and turned his cantankerous gaze to glower at me. I smirked at his reaction and watched as the young boy grew even paler.

My grinning mouth was visible along with my lower nose, but as for my eyes, it was better to keep them hidden in the presence of mere mortals. I'd learned that the hard way.

"Troubles, Conrad?" I watched as the boy's eyes grew wider at the sound of my voice.

His hand shot out and grabbed the elder man's brown trench coat. His white knuckles clenched on for dear life as his eyes bore into the area where mine would have been visible.

The man smacked the child's hand away and spoke with the authority and anger of a father, "Pull yourself together, boy!"

He smacked the young man on his head with his rough hand and watched from the corner of his eye as I comfortably leaned myself against the old mahogany desk. My gaze travelled over the desk as Conrad continued to instruct the young boy on what to do for the coming finals. The boy pretended to listen and I pretended to care about the desk's interesting pattern.

"...and after the fire test, remember to call up Francesca. She'll direct you to the area in the woods where you can find the plant. And for heaven's sake, do NOT eat the bloody thing like last time!"
Conrad's British accent shook the little dome and the young man nodded, his head moving at the speed of sound.

It was clear to any idiot that this boy had never been in the presence of Death. As for Conrad, he was far too comfortable with me for my own liking -and his.

"Now get back to the lunch hall!"

With another smack the boy flew out of the room and ran for the buildings exit, but not before stopping in front of me and whimpering; "Morte sii clemente."

I smirked proudly and casually spoke while pointing a lazy finger down the hall at the retreating, shivering figure, "Why aren't you afraid like that anymore?"

"Hmp!" Conrad scoffed and picked up a pile of books on a smaller desk. His back turned to me. I watched as he rummaged through some old rolled up scrolls. "Afraid of what? That piece of crap in your hand?"

I vividly gasped and picked up the shrunken down version of my scythe and gently stroked it, like a mother holding her wailing infant. "Shhh... Morte. The nasty man didn't mean it..."

Conrad quickly adjusted his spectacles and pointed his index finger at me, his voice filled with irritation, "The next time you heedlessly bring that thing along while I'm busy with one of my students you had better put on something more flame resistant!"

I chuckled at the man's threat and pointed to my black cloak that swept across the floor as I shifted my feet to a more comfortable position; "This is 100% pure cashmere. You damage it; I strangle you with it..."

"You are overly attached to that piece of cloth. Not to mention far too fond of that scythe."

"Her name is Morte."

Conrad sighed. I watched as the early morning sun shone through the steel framed windows. The small dome looked exactly like a miniature cathedral; with its high white windows, hundreds of candles and ice blue coloured walls. The white tiled floor contrasted brightly against my pitch black cloak.

I felt a familiar presence outside of the small dome and tapped a finger against Morte's bone handle. My shadow idly stood in the brick layered corridor. It had returned quicker than I thought. I could feel the satisfaction roll off the entity's edges. It had fed well.

Conrad could sense my shadow linger in the corridor, but he knew already that it wouldn't dare enter the room. It's never been fond of bright places. Besides, Conrad would never be able to clean up the mess it would leave. It was far too curious for its own good.

My shadow watched and waited outside in the darker parts of the long hallway. I indicated to him with my hand that I would only be a second. After my visit to Hades the day before, Shadow had been on edge; mainly due to Hades' harsh demeanour, but also partly due to my overlapping stress.

A human girl...

It was just purely absurd! What were the gods thinking? Hecate was very powerful. A human girl would not be able to handle that sort of power or have the intellect to understand it. This was a huge mistake.

But no one ever listens to Death. Lately, I'd felt more like the god's errand-boy than Hades' right-hand man. Not that that's a brilliant title to wake up to everyday either.

Luckily I hate sleeping.

"That poor boy..." Conrad's heavy tone brought my attention back to the brightly lit room.

"Which one?'

Two irritated, grey eyes glared at me, but I paid no attention to them. Conrad scurried over to his table full of potions and medicine and I watched as he examined each label to find a specific blue-coloured bottle.

"He's probably telling all his friends how he barely escaped the clutches of death."

"Or he's crying in a corner, sucking his thumb. Either way, I had no time to shape into a different form. I need to speak with you, now."

"Lucky me..." Conrad grinned dryly and crossed his arms over his chest. His expression immediately changed to that of a concerned father and I watched as he struggled to structure his sentence correctly, he knew how ill-tempered I was and upsetting me was like poking a grizzly-bear with a short, pointy stick. "Is this visit connected to Hecate's-" Conrad cleared his throat, "-passing?"

"What?" The elder man leaned back slightly, startled from my sudden outburst.

I refrained myself from knocking the cluttered desk over and instead gripped my hand around it. Conrad watched as smoke sizzled up from the mahogany desk where my hand was placed. He cringed.

"Don't do that. The enamel will melt off."

"How do you know?" My voice was noticeably controlled as I loosened my grip on the desk. The small flame sizzled out and the familiar smell of a burnt out match filled the air.

"The wood isn't very thick-"

"You know what I mean!" I ripped myself from the desk and started to pace up and down the tiny room, my black boots clamping loudly with every step. Conrad cleared his throat as I placed my gloved hands behind my cloaked back.

His voice was grave. "I was one of the first to learn of her passing. I am Hecate's archmage, you know?"

"And I'm Death! No one thought to let me know that a goddess just happened to POOF- piss off?"

"Do not speak like that..."

"Oh please." I stopped pacing and picked up a colourful bottle next to an old, white human skull, "Hecate was no angel. Far from."

"Nevertheless," Conrad arched his shoulders and watched as I examined the small bottle, twirling it in my gloved hand, "She was a goddess, and on a higher rank than you."

I scoffed, but said nothing. I knew he was right, but to admit to Professor Conrad that you were wrong was like stamping a 'remind me of my stupidity everyday' sticker to your forehead. One does not simply tell him he's right. The man was already too haughty for my taste.

"But there is more, yes?" Conrad asked, his eyebrows lifting up an inch. I paused, wondering if he was the right man to speak to.

But then again, truthfully, the only other mortal's I come into contact with I ask, "Coffin or cremation?", kill them and tell them to sod off- usually in that order.

Though, I suppose Conrad can't be classified as mortal, considering he was born around the same time as da Vinci. Being an archmage had its perks.

"What does this do?" I asked as I lifted the strange crimson bottle up to my face. I peered through the bottle and fixed my gaze onto the old, now red-tinted, man in front of me. Conrad sighed and considered whether it would be worth pressing me for more, but he thought against it and answered, "That, my friend, is a very lethal poison. Be careful not to touch it."

"As if a poison could kill me." I laughed and placed the bottle on the table. I had no use for mortal potions.

"The bell will ring soon, then breakfast is over, we should-"

"I know, I know... Look, I wanted to discuss this new plan of the gods with you. Don't you think this is lunacy?"

"What makes you think I know of it?"

I rolled my eyes; "The fact that you're extra grumpy today."

Conrad growled like the old man he truly was and snapped at me, "I resent that!"

"Oh, come now, old chap! You know I mean well..."

"Ha!" Conrad scoffed; "When does Death ever mean well?"

"When it's a natural passing..." I smirked at the old man as he glared at me with his wise eyes. How long has it been since I've had such a riveting conversation? Never mind that, how long has it been since I've seen sunlight?

"Yes. I think it's a brilliant idea." Conrad spoke with a smile, but his eyes held something similar to empathy.

"What? You're afraid this human girl will become like Hecate? Distrustful, misguided and conniving?"

"You are aware of the fact that you just described yourself, right?"

I chuckled at the old man's wit; "I'm going to ignore that and just move your inevitable death up by one more day."

"I'm sure. Although I'd advise you to not kill this new pupil of mine, I'd very much like to see the extent of her power before you slash her stomach open with Mert."

"It's Morte." I corrected the older man and softly tapped my left side where Morte hung. She vibrated slightly and Conrad shook his head. He could never fathom why I kept personifying my cloak and scythe. It was rather easy; they had a mind of their own.

Just like my shadow, but of course, they weren't as disobedient. I glanced back into the darkened hallway and instantly saw my shadow staring back at me with its glowing red eyes from the back corner. It was concealed in between two large bookcases. I swear, if that thing accidentally scared another group of students by twirling on the ceiling, I'll rip it up myself.

Suddenly the first period bell rang. The sound made my shadow jump back in between the two bookcases and I leisurely turned my head back to Conrad's stormy gaze. He was busy examining a large yellow file he'd retrieved from his desk. I watched as his eyes blinked up to mine. "Oh, you're still here."

I smirked at the old man's attempt at making me feel unwelcome and quickly turned my back to him, but before I exited his office, I slyly replied, "From that shiver you get every time I appear, I suspect the fear is still very present, old man."

"Oh, bugger off, Thanatos. I have spells to teach. Now go find the girl and leave me be!"

My wicked laugh filled the small room and the long corridor, making a young girl at the front of the hallway jump up and scurry away, like a mouse. Oh, I love it when they run!

As I stepped out of the dome and into the dark corridor, I could feel my small headache evaporate and my mind easily fell back into a more focused state. The light in the room was far too bright, making my head pain and my eyes ache.

My shadow immediately fell in step with my movements as I walked along the hall. From behind me, I heard a shuffle and then Conrad's uncompromising voice; "And don't kill her!"

But as he peaked his wrinkled face into the corridor, all that was left was a puff of black smoke.

"Bloody hell...One day he's still going to trigger these damn smoke censors!"

Jeremy Irons as Conrad (He honestly has the best voice...)