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--donation bonus (day #9, post 3/5)--
Geoffrey raised an eyebrow. “Reapers’ genetic trait?”

‘The trait that makes us live on after death,’ said Feromas.

“Yes, it’s a recessive gene and terribly rare these days,” said Damian. “Luckily, I’m a carrier myself, as are some of my children, including your mother. The real trick was getting her to have a child with someone who was also a carrier. She’s rather headstrong, you know, and was determined to marry for love. I had to orchestrate events extensively so that she fell in love with just the right man.”

‘That’s what you were doing? Why didn’t you ever tell me? I thought you were just being a dick when you sabotaged her relationships.’

“I wanted to surprise you!” said Damian, grinning.

Feromas sighed again. ‘Of course. For a second, you made me forget that you’re a fucking idiot.’

“Huh,” said Geoffrey. “So, if you had not performed this soul-transfusion on my mother, I would have been born as a normal human?”

“Seemingly, yes. But you wouldn’t just be a carrier of the reaper trait like your parents. It would actually manifest in you. So when you died, you would have become a reaper like Feromas here.”

“Oh!”

“Unfortunately, with two parents who are only carriers of the trait, the success rate is about twenty-five percent. If the child is merely a carrier as well, then the transfusion will simply kill the subject. You might have had a couple of older siblings, otherwise.”

‘No wonder she never comes to visit you.’

“Hmm,” said Geoffrey. “I am not sure what to think. Is being a reaper more fun than being an aberration?”

‘I doubt it. Boredom is a real problem for a lot of us.’

“Then I must thank you, Grandpa.”

“No problem.”

‘By the way, I’m Damian’s great grandfather. So you should thank me for your genetics, too.’

“I see! Thank you both, then!”