Death Catchers-Chapter One

Note: Again, this is unedited....

The next day dawned cold and dreary. I awoke with the smell of smoke in my nostrils from the fire Josiah had lit in my fireplace before he left last night. He had left as quickly as he had come last night, only taking the minute to run his fingers through my long black hair before disappearing into the depths of the castle, off to see his other friends. I didn’t mind and I had crawled into the warmth of my antique king-sized bed and fell asleep instantly.
I had nothing to call me to the city today. After collecting deaths for nearly three weeks straight, I was due for a rest day. It would be spent lounging around the castle, relaxing and people watching. Rolling over and out of bed, I crossed to my armoire and dressed in my normal attire, all black. I buzzed to the kitchen for food to be sent up and I threw my weary body into my favorite crimson chair. Watching the sun in the sky, I hardly heard Shannon at the door, until she knocked somewhat loudly.
Shannon was new to us. Her story was like my own. Kidnapped and taken to a cottage in the woods, her Death Catcher, Mikal, had been early and in her last moments of life, she had seen him, just as I had seen Josiah. It was a normal mistake Death Catchers made. Usually, they were young, on one of their first retrievals, nervous to collect a soul. There was no real consequence besides a verbal lashing. The soul was not taken to its designated room, but instead was recreated back into a human form to become one of us. So, in a way, we needed these mistakes.
Anyway, Shannon was too young to be trained in Death Catching, so her role was in the kitchen until she was mature enough for the training. At only 16 at the time of her earthly death, our age difference was nothing in human terms. I, too, died at 16, but had been here for well over 500 years. We clicked upon her re-creation and instantly became friends.
At the continuance of her knocking, I stood and let her in. Shannon sashayed into the room with a bright smile on her face, her emerald dress swishing against her legs.
“Good morning Karolin. I had a break, so I though I would join you for breakfast if that’s alright.” She smiled shyly.
“Of course that’s alright.” I went and placed a couple more logs onto the fire as she set the tray with our breakfast on my small table.
We sat in silence for a few moments, enjoying the delicious food she had prepared. Crunching on a piece of toast, Shannon blushed unexpectedly.
“What?” Her expression confused me. Although shy, she usually came out to me.
“You haven’t checked your messages today yet have you?”
“Of course not. I never check them before I eat.” I was still confused.
“The Leaders have called a Meeting tonight, to announce who will be trained next.” She was still smiling and blushing, “Jakob thinks I might be eligible.”
“Well good for you.” A meeting was not something I was interested in. I hated them, with a livid passion. We all had to dress up and attend, save the lucky few who were collecting during it. It was all a bunch of unnecessary bullshit and I hated attending.
“Do you think they’ll pick me?” She seemed so earnest.
“Honestly, I have no idea who they will pick. But seeing as both Josiah and Jeremiah brought back new members in the last week, there’s a good chance they’ll bump you up to training status and those two will take your place in the kitchen.” This was true. With two new recreated souls, we could train a few more people for Death Catching.
“I hope I’m picked. If I was, who do you think would train me?” She took a sip of tea, her blue eyes shimmering over the top.
“Well, one of the elders of course. We both know I won’t be it.” I said it in a low tone and she averted her eyes.
We both knew of my last trainee Nikki. It had been about two years earlier that she was assigned to me. I had been surprised then. I am one of the younger Catchers and never thought I would train anyone. But at the same time, I was good at what I did and that was something everyone knew. In my 500 some years of collecting, I had no mistakes save one on my record. And that mistake was Nikki. In training, she hadn’t listened to me, and paid for it with her life. I remember the trial and the questioning well from that time. The Leadership had been hard on me for losing her, but it was not my fault she died. The girl was stupid and arrogant and lost her life because of it.
That was the only black mark on my record. I did not screw up, plain and simple. And that was unheard of. Out of the 53 Death Catchers here, I hold the fewest mistakes, the next in line is another younger Catcher with 5 faults. This only made me more isolated from those around me, but I didn’t care.
“What are you thinking about?” She had set down her tea and was looking at me intently.
“Nikki of course.” She nodded in affirmation.
“Do you think you’re going to be asked to train someone?”
“It’s a possibility. A very good possibility.” She nodded again and suddenly I was uncomfortable talking to Shannon about this. She remembered that time as well as I did. She must have sensed my awkwardness and she politely excused herself back to the kitchen.
I sat there for a long time after she left, mulling over the thought of training another. I’m sure that if I was picked, there would be discomfort in the castle and the Leadership would have some very disgruntled Death Catchers on their hands. To put it simply, I am not well liked. I am an outsider. My two friends are Shannon and Josiah, no one else even acknowledges I exist. That’s fine with me; it makes my life a hell of a lot simpler to control. I know most of the elder Catchers resent me, save Josiah, who brought me here. The Catchers around my age never talked to me, which was fine. And those younger than me seem afraid. I guess it could be said that I am not an outgoing individual and I am somewhat intimidating.
This isolation only helped me in what I needed to do and there was nothing wrong with being myself.

It was around six when I went down to the Meeting room. Tables had been set for dinner and I knew where to go. My table was with Josiah and Jeremiah and a few other Death Catchers who were around my age. Upon approaching the table, Josiah reached for my arm and escorted me to my seat.
“You look beautiful Karolin.” I smiled and thought I did too. Simply dressing in a long emerald green skirt and black lace corset, I didn’t bother with the fuss the other women Death Catchers did. I kept my hair simple as it trailed down my back in gentle waves. Sitting in my seat, I realized I was one of the last to arrive.
Our dinner came and we ate in silence, rather I ate in silence and listened to my table talk of the night’s events. All that gossip merely bored me and I paid attention to my food, obviously prepared by Shannon.
It was nearly quarter to seven by the time the plates were cleared and the Head Catcher, Nathaniel started his speech. It was filled with the normal gossip filled updates on the state of the Catcher Clans across the world. After finishing this needless information, he turned to the shadows and beckoned someone forward. I sat still in my seat upon recognizing the face.
“This is Liam. He comes to us from a Clan far away. I hope you will welcome him with the warmth I know you can give.” A few Catchers clapped and Liam nodded. He swiveled his eyes around the room, acknowledging the applause before his eyes caught mine. The look of surprise was apparent in his face as he saw me. He nodded at me grimly before taking a seat, glancing over at me occasionally.
Out of all the surprises I have had in my life, seeing Liam was certainly the biggest. You see, Liam and I were together in human life. We courted and were planning to marry when I died. I never thought I would see him, but here he was, in this afterlife with me. Shaking off the shudders going through my body, I returned my attention to Nathaniel’s speech.
“As you all know, two new members have come to us in this last week. So, of course we will be training some new people as Death Catchers. Both Carol and Shannon will be trained.” There was a round of applause as Shannon and Carol stepped forward. Shannon caught my look and I smiled in encouragement. Carol, however, stood there gravely, acting like the bitch she was. I hoped I would not be the unfortunate soul to train her.
“Carol’s trainer will be Meredith.” Another round of applause as Meredith joined Carol on stage. Meredith was around my age, a good Death Catcher and she could deal with Carol’s apparent bitchiness. I crossed my fingers for Shannon, her nervousness clear on her face.
“Shannon’s trainer will be Leah.” A quick look of disappointment crossed Shannon’s face and my heart fell a little. The Leadership still didn’t believe in me, that much was clear.
“We are also setting a trainer to Liam, someone to show him the way of our Clan and that person will be Karolin.” There was a long pause before anyone clapped, and that applause was shaky.
Standing on uncertain legs, I walked up to Liam and stood beside him, accepting my responsibility. Nathaniel ended his kooky speech and people started to leave. Shannon jumped to give me a hug and express her regret at not having me as her trainer. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Josiah and Nathaniel beckon me over. Prying Shannon from my arms, I went over and stood still as Nathaniel spoke.
“Karolin, I am aware that you deserve another chance at being a trainer, but Liam is the best we can do. Before giving you a completely untrained individual first, we thought Liam would be best. Just show him around, take him along on collections and we’ll track your progress. If you succeed, you will be next in line for training.” I nodded before answering.
“That makes perfect sense, but are you aware that I already know Liam?” They both had a look of shock on their faces. “In our human lives, Liam and I were lovers, torn apart only by my death.”
“Well…” Nathaniel stuttered a little before responding in an intelligent answer. “I had no idea Karolin. Will this be awkward for you?” I looked over to Liam, who was waiting patiently for me.
“It might be at first, but I am not sure.”
“If you become uncomfortable at any time, let us know and we will give Liam to someone else.” I nodded and shook their hands, giving Josiah a quick hug before turning to Liam.
He was just as I remembered him, black wavy hair, and blue crystal eyes. He looked young. He must have died shortly after I did. Taking a deep breath, I approached him, a smile on my face.
He looked down at me and I trembled, the smile disappearing at the look of his serious face. Lifting a hand to my cheek, I closed my eyes as he spoke, focusing on his touch and the roughness in his voice.
“I never thought I would see you again Karolin and look at us now.” I opened my eyes to find his pouring into mine, deep and serious. I trembled again as I answered.
“I missed you Liam. But tonight is not the night for this talk. I am tired and this has me shaking. I will meet you in the entranceway at 5 tomorrow morning, is that alright?” He nodded, dropping his hand.
I turned away then, trembling and shaking, fighting off the tears until I reached my door. Upon closing it, I sunk to the floor and wrapped my arms around my knees shaking and crying.
My love had returned to me.