They had just exited the airport, and were standing outside, the long flight finally over, light fading from the sky.  Liliane hopped up and down in excitement, finally warming up to the idea of boarding school.  Her mom had whispered more secrets about the school to her during the plane ride, quietly so the other passengers couldnâ€™t hear, before Liliane fell asleep on the nearly 24-hour flight.  She found a taxi for her mom, waiting as she flagged it down.  Mom started loading their bags into the trunk, Lilianeâ€™s two bags and a long skinny package she hadnâ€™t noticed before.  Frowning, Liliane struggled to get the bag with her clothes into the trunk as her mom finished stowing the other two, wondering how she had missed it before.  They slid into the backseat together, Liliane nestling up against her mum, nice and snug.  She really loved her mom- she had to be the best mother in the whole world, strong and nice and really beautiful, with her pretty hair, braided for the trip.<br/><br/>She dozed off during the ride, waking only when her mom shook her and whispered, â€œLiliane.  Weâ€™re here.â€  She blinked sleepily and sat up, rubbing her eyes.  â€œWhere?â€  There was nothing around them but dark wilderness, but she obediently slid out the door after her mom, opening the trunk as Mom paid the taxi driver and assured him this was the right location.  He sounded a little bit scared, telling Mom they were near a â€˜bad place,â€™ and should return to town.  No taxiâ€™s would come pick them up here, but Mom only smiled and said, â€œWe wonâ€™t need a return taxi, thank you.â€<br/><br/>It was eerily dark and silent as they started off down the road, Liliane pulling her rolling suitcase behind her, her mom with the mystery package slung across her back and the other suitcase in one hand.  â€œMom?  Itâ€™s really darkâ€¦is it close?  Why donâ€™t you have a suitcase, Mom?  And how far do we have to go?â€<br/><br/>â€œYes, I know itâ€™s dark.  But itâ€™s not far.  And I have everything I need, right here.â€  She patted her package with her free hand, continuing down the road, leaving Liliane with no choice but to follow.  When Liliane began to drag her feet, Mom silently took the other bag from her, carrying both as if it was nothing.  It seemed like they walked down the road forever, before Mom finally said, â€œWeâ€™re almost there, just around this bend.  Just wait a second.â€  She stepped off the road, into the shadows, and finally took the skinny bag from her back, opening it.  Liliane peered inside curiously, but she could only see darkness.  Her mom reached in and pulled out something dark, a long swath of cloth that turned out to be robes of some sort, blacker than the shadows they stood in, with the moon shining above them.  Her mom slid them on, covering her black clothing, and Liliane stared at her.  She really did look like a grim reaper now, scary if not for her familiar face, the slight glimmer of her green eyes peeping out from behind her bangs.  Now she reached back in, and pulled out a sword.  A real sword, in a black leather scabbard, with a silver hilt wrapped in black.  It was slung across her motherâ€™s back, seeming too big for the slender woman.  â€œDoes everyone wear clothes like that there?  Will I?  And why are you wearing them?  Do I get a sword?â€<br/><br/>â€œThere.  Hmm?  Oh, no, not everyone.  But youâ€™ll get a set, too, with the schoolâ€™s emblem, right here.â€  She pointed to a spot near her heart, where there was nothing on her robes.  â€œThey probably changed them a little, too.  But I donâ€™t know if youâ€™ll get a sword.  Itâ€™s possible.  But youâ€™ll learn to fight with a scythe.  Letâ€™s go.â€  They rounded the corner, Mom staying in the shadows, and stopping.  â€œGo on, honey.  You know what to do.  Just tell them that youâ€™re a reaper and youâ€™ve come for training.  Anything goes wrong, ask for Stellaâ€¦or, if sheâ€™s not there, Angela, or Aaron.  Got it?â€  Liliane dutifully recited the names back.  â€œTheyâ€™re nice.  Remember, nothing about me.  I love you, darling.  And Iâ€™ll be right here, watching, even if you canâ€™t see me.â€  She bent down, giving her daughter a hug and kiss, before Liliane finally walked down the road, glancing back to where her mother- well, where she supposedly was, even if she couldnâ€™t see her.  She neared the gate slowly, stopping to call, â€œHello?  Umm, is anyone there?â€<span style="font-style: italic"> Am I just supposed to go in?</span>she wondered, biting her lip and holding her bags with hands that trembled.