The Deceiver

“Draco!” An infuriated Fawn growled as she chased the blonde boy down the dirt path. Draco ran deep into the heavy trees and hid inside a rotting tree trunk, steadying his breath to keep himself hidden. He could hear her heavy breathing closing in. “Draco!” She yelled into the green forest. “You had no right to trick my little sister like that! Enough is enough!” Draco felt a twig snap beneath him. He stood up and saw Fawn standing less than a few feet from him.

“Come on Fawn,” He scoffed. “It’s not a big deal, it was a joke.”

“Yeah, tell that to my little sister who is still crying over the fact you gave her a chocolate covered raw egg and told her it was candy!” Fawn’s face went deep red, her little fists balled up and ready to fight. Draco burst into laughter, holding his arms across his stomach. “It’s not funny!” Fawn cried; she launched herself at Draco and tackled him to the ground. She grabbed handfuls of dirt and rubbed them into his face.

“Hey! Cut it out!” He grunted; Draco threw Fawn onto the ground and pinned her down.

“Get OFF me, you neanderthal!” Fawn yelled. Draco smirked and let a spool of spit drip from his mouth menacingly above Fawn’s forehead. She pushed him off and into a patch of ivy.

“You’re a nitwit, you know?” She brushed her dress out and huffed. “Just leave us alone, Draco.” Fawn stomped away until she blended into the forest background.

Draco rubbed the dirt from his nose and ventured further into the woods.

“It was a harmless prank,” He scoffed, kicking rocks at the cliff's edge. He watched the rocks tumble down and disappear into the thick fog. He heard a twig snap behind him and turned around startled. A large wolf paced back and forth, cornering him at the edge. Draco’s eyes darted toward a large branch; he swung it around ferociously and grunted. “FAWN!” His voice echoed past the branches. He could see the creature's teeth through its snarling.

Draco caught movement out of the corner of his eye and watched the rest of the wolf’s pack close in on him. “Get back!” His voice cracked. The large predator lurched at Draco and was met with the heaping branch crushing into its jaw. The animal whimpered and cowered behind the rest. “Get back from me before I get the rest of you!” He yelled with fury. The other creatures tucked their tails and slowly retracted back into the brush. Draco felt the adrenaline in his body shiver down his spine. He threw the branch and felt the vibration in the ground through his core.

“That was close.” He sighed heavily. A loud thrashing broke through the branches of the trees; black wings violently barreled past him, followed by deafening screeching. Draco protected his face from the flying rats by covering himself with his arms. He felt his foot stumble into a wet patch of leaves and in a split second felt a cool air rush past him; Draco had disappeared through the fog past the cliff's edge.

“You’re awake.” A dark voice loomed over his body. Draco’s eyes fluttered open as he struggled to sit up; he was cold and numbed.

“Who’s there?” Draco asked groggily; once he was able to focus his attention, he noticed a tall cloaked figure sitting on a large rock. “Who are you?” Draco asked, he stood up quickly and moved away from them.

“I am Azrael.” They replied; their voice was calm but eerie.

“Am I dead?” Draco stuttered, he could feel his bottom lip quivering, anticipating tears.

“Not yet,” Azrael replied. “However, you don’t have much time.” They gestured toward Draco’s limp broken body in the riverbed. “If someone doesn’t find you soon you will be.”

“No one is going to find me here, let alone LOOK for me here.” Draco felt his face grow hot with anger.

“I’ll make you a deal,” Azrael said with a smirk. “I’ll give your spirit a temporary host to find help.” Azrael pulled a large hourglass from their cloak and set it down on a smooth stone. “Go,” They snapped their fingers and Draco was standing at the cliff’s edge once more. He hurriedly ran back through the woods and into the village.

“Mr. Vitale!” Draco waved down the local baker. “I really need your help, can you come with me?” He asked tugging on his arm.

“Draco, not now; I have a business to run. I don’t have time for your childish tricks and games.” He waved Draco away like a fly.

“Ms. Andrea,” Draco wandered over to the florist. “I need help, please.”

“Draco, I have a wedding to prepare for, I can’t risk it for your prankster humor.” She walked past him briskly.

He noticed Fawn and her younger sister, Anna walking on the other side of the street.

“Fawn,” Draco reached out and grabbed her by the arm.

“Leave us alone, Draco!” She pulled away and squeezed her sister’s hand tightly.

“Fawn, please I really need help.” Draco felt tears swelling in his eyes.

“You need help finding another person to fall victim to your terrible pranks?” Fawn scoffed; Anna hid behind her older sister.

“No,” Draco replied, barely audible.

“I’ve had enough of you Draco; so has everyone else in this town. Your tricks aren’t funny, they’re just annoying like you.” Fawn spat.

Draco felt a lump in his throat and noticed Azrael in the window of a nearby shop with the hourglass in his hands.

“Look, Fawn, I’m sorry. I’ll stop my dumb tricks. Please just come with me.” He begged.

“No Draco. Leave us alone before I send my dog after you.” Fawn left Draco standing alone, pulling Anna by the hand behind her. Draco watched them walk away and closed his eyes to stop tears.

“Time’s up,” Azrael said quietly. Draco opened his eyes and was met with his lifeless body.

“That’s it.” He said in a monotone voice. “Where do I go now?” “He looked up at Azrael for answers.

“One of two things,” Azrael replied; they extended their arms and formed an orb in between their hands. Draco looked into it and caught a vision of his soul swirling into an abyss. “You become a lost soul wandering the earth, trying to find a purpose.” Azrael spoke softly; they clapped their hands together and the orb disappeared in a smoke. “Or you join me.” They extended their hand to Draco.

“What do you mean?” Draco asked hesitantly.

“I’m the God of Hell, I can’t be expected to do everything.” Azrael replied. “I’ve seen your craft, would you do me the honors of becoming my trickster god?”

“What do I get out of it?” Draco asked.

“You skip out on eternal damnation.” Azrael crossed their arms across their chest. “You will receive a permanent host to enjoy an earthly existence but no interaction with the living will be permitted.” Draco glanced at his cold corpse stuck in the graveled stones.

“I’m really dead, aren't I?” He asked numbly. Azrael nodded solemnly. “I’ll come with you.” Draco sighed.

“Don’t act so glum about it.” Azrael let out an unsuspecting chuckle. “Think of it as your dream job, a trickster without any repercussions.” Draco balled up his fists in anger; no one cared where he was or that he was gone. They all thought of him as nothing but an annoying prankster. “Channel what you’re feeling into your work. Use the frustration and anger,” Azrael encouraged. “It will be your best work yet.” They pressed their bony finger to Draco’s forehead; Draco felt immense power flow through his body. He grunted with discomfort as his blonde hair faded into a translucent white and fangs burrowed through his gums. Azrael laid a hand on his back in comfort and snapped his fingers together. “Do your worst.”

**I DO NOT OWN THE PHOTO PROVIDED**