3 Brass Tax

I looked down at my dead lover trying to remember his name. Had it been Caleb, or Alex? Neither really sounded right. I put on a black silk robe that I had placed nearby. We had gone back to what's-his-name's house in the very upscale part of town. The room was expertly decorated, and was definitely not my style or even the young man's someone though had put a lot of effort into it. He was from money just like most of my victims. Why not enjoy the finer things if you can get any man you want? Truth is though, I always felt a bit guilty afterwards seeing them all lifeless, youth snuffed out way before time. I couldn't stop even if I wanted to, I am what I am. I am not sure how long I had been standing there staring when there was a soft pop behind me. I glanced back over my shoulder and said,

"Hi, Frank hows tricks?"

Frank looked at me, or well I think he did his just a black shadow devoid of light, and answered in his deep growling voice "It is an existence." He laughed at his own joke the laugh made my skin crawl it sounded like nails on a chalk board. Frank was the reaper assigned to only me, and I think I have been rubbing off on him. When he first got his assignment me had been so up tight insisting I call him Francis. I kindly pointed out that Francis was a sissy name and he was a reaper. He never objected again. I walked to my purse pulling a smoke and my zippo from its depths. Frank was leaning close to the guy looking at him closely. He rose his smokey form, and pulled out a big leather book from God knows only where. I sank into a chair lighting the smoke taking a deep drag, and sighing Frank was so damn dramatic.

"Blaine Sloan I call you to your eternal rest come, and face judgment." Frank called his voice the icy chill of death. Damn I hadn't even been close. Blaine's soul rattled out of his mouth to float in front of Frank. It had a vague shape, but you couldn't make much out I had nearly drained him to well. Frank turned towards me bowing formally. "Until we meet again." He said then they both faded like smoke on the wind. Frank never stuck around long, not that I wanted to reaper's where such nerds. My phone pinged a notification and I opened it cig still pressed between my lips. '***Raid in one hour***' It said I grinned down at my phone, and rushed to get around.

You might be asking yourself, who the fuck plays games at four in the fucking morning? Well when sleeping is something you only do to make time pass, and you play with mainly Australians its prime time! The game we play is an old one I doubt many people even have heard of it, but we have played it for years. Our raids aren't against just some big boss with a set of predictable moves it uses to do it's best to keep you from its goodies. Nope, we fight other players usually very outnumbered. Our entire guild is only about ten players, and we battle groups of upwards of thirty. It is called Guild Wars , and not to brag but we are a guild that sends terror into any server we face. I am the only American in my guild, well as much as a demon as old as time can be American, and only one of two women. Most gaming is a boys club, but that is probably why I love it so much. Since the time I first saw an arcade game in the sixties I have fallen hard in love with games. I honestly do not even know what I did to amuse myself before them. Probably seduce Kings, and cause civil wars or something. I logged in eagerly my favorite character I have is a reaper I named Francis. Frank has yet to see her, but I think it would give him a good laugh. It carried a huge sword that while slow would do massive damage to any it hit. Then one push of a button I would turn black and smokey weapon changing into a scythe bigger than my character. I had often wondered if the creators didn't have a near death experience or something. Most humans seemed to think of the reaper in long hooded robes with a scythe. Last I checked Frank was too much of a bookworm to even think of doing anything cool like wielding a weapon. He really didn't need it reaper's didn't kill people, just judge them once they had kicked the bucket.

I was the last person to arrive, sloth is definitely one of my personal sins.

"Hailey, how nice of you to join us." Paul's smooth sexy accented voice said teasingly over my headphones.

" Hey baby, missed ya yesterday." I said putting a little purr into my voice. I would never prey on Paul, but I sure loved to flirt. I greeted the others, and we got down to business.