Page 36 of Frosty and the Reaper

“Braxton’s inclusion.”

“My what?”

Devlin sighed. “Your inclusion into the Four Horsemen.”

Braxton blinked. “What? No, that’s just crazy.”

Zander scowled at Devlin. “Haven’t you explained anything to him?”

Devlin shrugged. “I was waiting until I found you.” Smiling, he said, “Braxton, you may be known as the God of Souls now, but you actually have a different title.”

“Which is?” Braxton asked after a long pause.

“Death,” Zander stated bluntly.

“One of the Four Horsemen,” Devlin explained. “As I am Conquest and Zander is War. Welcome to the club, kid. You are now Death. Being Death is what gives you the unique ability to send certain souls back to critical moments in their life to be reborn so they can fix their mistakes.”

Braxton slapped a hand over his face. “What the fuck? Am I going to have to go around killing random people now?”

“Death isn’t like that,” Devlin snapped. “While Raziel was shrouded in mystery and reverence, he isn’t like he is portrayed in most of the stories.”

“Unlike the terrifying finality often associated with his name, Death is a guardian of the boundary between life and the afterlife,” Zander explained. “His presence is supposed to be both chilling and comforting, for he is not merely an agent of destruction, but a guide for souls. He ensures that the cycle of existence continues undisturbed. Raziel’s unique magic allows him to shepherd souls to their destined rest or, in rare cases, grant them a chance at redemption by sending them back to pivotal moments in their lives.”

Braxton and Devon shared a speaking glance with one another.

“Among the Horsemen, Death has always been the most enigmatic,” Devlin said. “He rarely reveals his thoughts to outsiders, preferring to observe and act only when necessary. His wisdom is legendary, and his decisions are guided by a deep understanding of the cosmic order. While others may fear him, we understand that Death is not to be hated or dreaded but respected.”

“Death is not just an ending, but a beginning. An essential force that keeps the universe in balance,” Zander concluded.

Since Braxton seemed completely overwhelmed, Devon rubbed his arm in comfort even though she had gone a little pale. “It’s okay, honey. We’ll just handle this like the last magical upgrade. One step at a time.”

“Actually, I don’t think you have formally taken over the role as Death until you…” Devlin’s voice trailed off.

Zander nodded. “We will need to visit the source to make it official.”

“The source?” Kellen asked.

“One of the seals,” Zander explained. “You’ve been infused with the magic, but you have not been granted the final key to unlocking the full extent of your abilities. We don’t know exactlywhat we need to do since a Horseman has never been replaced before. The four of us were born from the source.”

“So, there is a chance this is a big mistake?” Braxton asked hopefully.

Zander and Devlin both shook their heads.

“We sense the Death magic in you. There is no mistaking that,” Zander stated.

“Death magic. Great,” Braxton muttered.

“Just think of it like another title,” Kami said cheerfully. “You can still call yourself the God of Souls. Just like people call Zander the God of War.”

Lia’s brows furrowed. “I was going to ask this earlier, but…I thought Ares was the God of War?”

Zander frowned. “Who?”

Devlin sighed and patted his shoulder. “An annoying upstart in the Celestial Realm who is actually the God of Dispute. He decided to change his title to God of War after you disappeared.”

“You let a little nobody use my name?” Zander growled, utterly incensed.

“Not by choice, brother. It had spread before I had a chance to stop it. We can find him and hurt him later,” Devlin promised. “But for now, it is best not to start a war with the Celestial Realm.”