Death Catchers-Preface

editorial note: This is the unedited version, meaning, i have yet to correct the errors and such on the computer. The hard copy is a little different. This is the preface to one of the three books that are currently in progress...enjoy...

Standing atop the hill, I watched the city move below me. It was chilly for late April and the stars were shining through the light covering of clouds above. I wrapped my cloak tighter around my body as I surveyed what was below. The city lights were few and far between. Only the neon glow from the bars, clubs and restaurants were apparent. Josiah landed next to me, his boots making a thudding sound as he touched the boulder.
“Are you ready to go? We have a few minutes.” I nodded to him and pushed off from the boulder, launching my small body into the air. Gliding slowly, we approached the city and maneuvered between the shadows, making sure to stick to out preplanned route. He signaled to me and we landed next to a broken down warehouse.
“This is my turnoff. I’ll see you back Home.” I nodded and started walking the shadow of the building, away from Josiah and towards the blue-green glow of The Gentleman’s Club. As I approached the entrance, a drunk poured out, bringing with him the stench of cigarette smoke and liquor. Walking inside, I maneuvered around dirty tables cluttered with empty glasses and smoking ashtrays. Drunken men kept their eyes on the stage, waiting for Lena to appear as scheduled. She was the one I was here for. I leaned against a graffiti covered wall next to the stage and checked my watch. It was 3:13. She appeared onstage in a skimpy white lace outfit as music blared from a crappy sound system. Shifting, I roved my eyes through the smoke and fog and looked for his face. He was sitting across from me, eyes intent on Lena’s swaying body.
Her song ended as she flung her white lace into the crowd and blew a kiss as they cheered. Averting my eyes from her disgusting display, I watched him stand up and cross the room past me and go out the side door. Waiting for her to exit, I followed him outside into the employee parking lot. He was leaning up against his pick up truck, the glowing red tip of his cigarette bright in the dark. Only the bed of his truck was clearly visible, caught in the small ark of light from the street lamp. I stay hidden, the side door on my right and the stage door on my left. Relaxing against the wall, I checked my glowing watch once more. It was 3:34, only two more minutes. I checked for my vial and found it intact, Lena’s name already written on it in my trademark teal ink. Tracing the letters of her name, the stage door creaked open and I heard her heels on the cement walk.
“Hi handsome. What can I do for you?” Her voice was like Sweet n’ Low as she moved up to him. “Are you a fan?” He flicked his cigarette to the ground and dug it in with his boot.
“Yes, I am Lena.” He grabbed her arm. She giggled.
“You need to let go of me or I’ll go get the bouncer.” Her face looked panicked as he held her tighter and opened the door to his truck. She screamed but he muffled it. Shoving her into the truck, he pulled out his gun and aimed it at her face.
“Shut up slut and get into the truck and lay down.” She froze for a moment and nodded, backing up and into the truck. He climbed in, their legs hanging off the bench seat. Glancing at my watch, I kept track of the time and averted my eyes from the truck. I hated these cases. I usually stayed away from them, but Mabel loved to torture me like this. Sighing, I glanced again at the time. It was 3:58. Time to go into action. Moving closer to the door, the truck stopped rocking and he dragged her out and threw her to the ground.
Her perfect make-up was smudged and running down her porcelain skin. She lay there, trembling and holding herself as I kneeled to the side, vial in hand. Raising his gun, he fired and hopped into his truck, speeding away as she lay twitching on the ground. Holding her, I could feel her heart slow and stop. Holding the open vial to her right ring finger, I caught the blue essence as it poured from her. Clamping the cork in I stood as the stage door opened and the bouncer came out.
Standing to the side, I watched the scene unfold before me as police cars came and an ambulance. Amidst the blue and red flashing light, Josiah found me and watched for a little while. After a little time, he squeezed my hand and took off, flying across the lights, his vial deep in a pocket. I stayed until there was only a dark pool on the ground and the night was dark. Yellow caution tape littered the parking lot and the club was dark. Another glance at my watch told me it was well after five and the faint rays of pink sunshine were apparent in the east. Walking around, I noticed a silver glint on the ground next to the bloodstain.
It was silver ring, the shape of a fairy. Smiling, I pocketed it and left, taking to the sky. It was still dark enough to hide me and I flew onwards to the mountains, Lena’s vial nestled in a pocket of my cloak. The castle lurked closer as I came upon the mountain. Its turrets and towers were outlined black against the sky. Landing softly, I walked inside and nodded at those who were preparing to leave.
I turned down a black hallway to another filled with endless amount of doors. I stopped and pulled a slip of paper from my pocket.
Lena Watkins
Age twenty-Five
Room Three Eighty-Seven
Walking briskly, I went to the entrance of her designated room and opened the door. Stepping into the glass chamber, I shut the door tight behind me and typed her information in the computer. Reaching for the vial, I held it up against the glass panes. The bluish glow was apparent in the dim room. Smiling, I placed the vial in a rounded tube and closed it. Suction sounded and the cork popped off. The blue light escaped and slowly found its way to the waiting hole. Through the hold and out a tube, it traveled into the room to join its counterparts.
Moving my eyes to the glass-viewing window, I watched her faint blue light move into the room and dance. I had brought her home. I took her vial and fingered her name. Slamming it against the counter it shattered, sending glass everywhere and reflecting rainbows of light across the room. In silence, I watched her dance and merge with the others in her room, free from the pain she had suffered in a normal life.
With only one backwards glance, I left and went to my chambers. I found myself alone and removed my cloak and high heeled boots and threw them in a corner. Relaxing in a chair, I watched the sunrise in the picture window and thought of Lena. A gruesome death, but I had seen worse. In over seven hundred years, I had seen many that were far worse, especially in times of war. It was my duty.
The door opened and Josiah entered, placing his cloak and boots with mine. Sitting on the arm of the chair, he ran his bony fingers through my chestnut hair and smiled. Resting into him, I relaxed and closed my eyes, forgetting about Lena and the life she had led.
After all, I was Karolin, and I was a Death Catcher.