Belle Adams' Butler

Barron felt relieved that they were not being kicked out of the boat or were going to be handed directly to the Hawverts. He let out a sigh of relief. 

"But the path down there, I don't think it will work as you have planned," said Rower and this caught everyone's attention. "The Hawverts might have already blocked every passage to your way to the living world. I understand most of it, but what is going on with Miss Belle?"

With Rower who knew most of the things, maybe as much as Edith or more than her, Belle didn't feel the need to hide it. She raised her hand up so that he could see her boney fingers and arms. 

"What am I looking at?" asked Rower. 

"Belle has Winston's bone fused into her own body now," replied Lucas.

Rower for the very first time chuckled, "What an interesting development. And how did Miss Belle come to acquire it? I don't think Winston gifted it to her and now decided to take it back. Not that it would work if she gave it out unwillingly." 

Hearing this, Barron slowly turned to sit with his back facing them as if the conversation didn't concern him. Rower had a questionable look on Barron's action, his head tilting to the side.

"The root cause of the problem," said Greed, pointing his hand in Barron's direction, "I don't think it should come as a surprise anymore."

"Ah, so that is why he has such a high bounty on his head," murmured Rower under his breath, "I thought it was because he sent the reaper on vacation. She hasn't returned back yet, has she?"

"Do you know where she is?" questioned Lucas and Rower nodded his head. 

"I do."

He did? Belle couldn't believe that Rower knew. Lucas asked Rower, "Where can we find her?" 

"I met her a few hours ago," replied Rower, "Though I am not sure of how much time has passed since I saw her. She should be somewhere in the forest." 

The rabbit's ears stood straight and he suddenly turned around to ask, "Wait, if you knew she was on vacation why didn't you ask her to go back to work?!" 

Rower stared at the rabbit before shrugging his shoulders, "I don't care what happens out of the water. And I think it is much more entertaining to hear that something is not right and the land of the dead is in chaos," saying this, Rower smiled, the bones on his face moved wide near his teeth for a smile. 

Lucas didn't care about Rower letting the timekeeper go freely and hadn't bothered to inform the Grims or the Hawverts. It was how Rower was. He liked stirring things in the pot for his own amusement. 

"Barron, go find the timekeeper," Lucas looked at the rabbit who raised its brows at him. 

"Why me? I need to look after Ophi."

Ophi...Belle was sure now that Barron liked the girl who was still unconscious. 

Lucas sighed. Like others on the boat, he was tired and he was lacking patience. He was looking for a peaceful night but Barron being Barron had caused troubles, "You were the one who sent her on a vacation, so you will be the one to bring her back to this boat."

"Boat?" asked Barron, "Are we not going to send her back to the Hawverts to get the bounty lowered?"

"No, we are going to fix something," answered Lucas.

"Time is delicate, Guilt," said Rower, the whisper in his voice reduced as he said those words, "Slight imbalance will cause a ripple of effects."

Lucas nodded his head, "I know. But I need to go back and place something for someone," he turned back and went to look at Barron, "I will get Belle to use the magic to bring back the girl to life but for that, you will need to go find the timekeeper." 

Barron looked torn because he wasn't sure if he would be able to find the timekeeper, "I am in my bunny form! I will be eaten alive!" Lucas pulled out his scythe. 

"We don't have time, Barron. You are the last person one would suspect. Create a bond with anyone of us here and get on duty," ordered Lucas. 

The rabbit's ears flopped, "I am going alone?" 

Greed looked away as he didn't want to get into a mess, "Yes," answered Lucas, "Belle stay here. I will try to get to the living world. We don't know what creatures are there in the passage and obviously, Belle cannot stay forever in a reaper form in the living."

"There are reapers who have already positioned themselves at the shore of the lake," warned Rower, "It won't be easy." 

"I know," answered Lucas, "But we don't have a choice right now."

Belle moved to look at Lucas when he turned the old robes to a brand new one. From the lowly robes, it turned to one that belonged to the Grim Reapers, "Be safe," Belle wished him. In a blink of an eye, Lucas disappeared from the boat. Belle wished she could see the future to make sure he would be alright. 

"He will be alright," she heard Rower's words and Belle turned to look at the Grim, "It is much safer to have him go than the others. Now speaking about the task, would you like some help in getting on the land?" asked Rower to Barron. 

Barron huffed, "Always making me work. You know if it wasn't for Ophelia I wouldn't be going. Yes, I would like a drop there." Belle was about to say no when Rower raised his hand but it was too late. When Rower snapped his fingers, Barron was thrown into the river which was close to the ground. 

The rabbit looked nothing less to a cat that was thrown into the water. He flapped his hands but then Barron's body that was made of cotton started to absorb the water and Greed muttered, "This was the easiest to get away from the next catastrophe."

Barron struggled in the water before he finally made it on the land, the bunny looked mad.