Death held me as easily as a web holds a fly.

"What's the matter?" Death asked, the red of her eyes glinting with amusement, "Not happy to see me?"

The flowing mist of her dress danced in its own wind as the Goddess beheld me. Smirking, she allowed me to tear my face free of her grasp and retreat several paces. Some of my blood smeared on her fingers as I gained my distance. She rubbed it between her thumb and forefinger, watching the red spread across her pale skin.

"No," I replied flatly as I circled the white roses. She didn't let any distance open between us, following my path. Her strides were long, fluid, and unhurried. She was the hunter and I felt like a fox run to ground. The scent of the flowers wafted in my nose, but I sensed the coppery tang of my blood as well. I remembered all too well the pain she could inflict with half a thought. The same pain she had just inflicted just moments ago. Gods, every second in this place felt like hours.

As I continued to move, my eyes strayed to the blood sprayed over the pale flowers. My blood. The red laid in stark contrast to their ivory beauty. Why was it so much to ask that I be allowed to live a quiet life and collect my bounties in peace? Why couldn't she just leave me alone? I never asked for all this shit with Gods and demons and magic. Hissing a breath through my teeth, I turned back toward where Death stalked me.

She wasn't there.

Startled, I retreated several steps as I searched for her. Damn it, her laugh sounded from every leaf and petal as I swiveled again.

My back collided with soft breasts. Silken hands encircled my neck as a kiss was pressed to my cheek. The touch was an icy burn, like a ghost would get if you walked over their grave.

Death tutted at me, waving a finger in my direction as soon as I rounded on her.

"Oh, come now," she said, her crimson gaze glowing in the low light, "You know you missed me. What has it been? Nine years? Ten?"

I ran the back of my hand across my cheek as if to wipe her kiss away.

"You said you wanted to talk, Death. I doubt you just wanted to exchange pleasantries. What do you want?" I countered, sinking into a fighting stance. Death laughed, examining her nails.

In the time of a blink, she stood right before me, a blur of motion.

Her fingertip traced my Marks in leisurely slowness. Phantom pain radiated from where she touched, and I stilled. The moment she touched me, invisible hands locked my limbs in place. I couldn't have moved an inch if I tried.

"Careful, pet," she said, her tone light. Her finger trailed up my neck, and lifted my chin to force me to meet her eyes. The slits of her pupils constricted, the only sign of her irritation.

"Just look at all that hatred boiling in your soul. Are you still blaming little ol' me for all your problems?"

I couldn't help a sardonic lift of my lips as I heard one of the most feared beings in any realm call herself "little ol' me".

I narrowed my gaze right back at her. Let her punish me all she liked. She was just going to do what she wanted anyway.

"You took everything from me. It's hard to let that go," I said too quietly. The corner of her mouth lifted in a malicious smile.

"Oh yes? And your own decisions have nothing to do with your present circumstances? Nothing at all?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from every word. My jaw tightened as the blow hit home.

Satisfied, Death turned from me and stalked back to her tree in the center of the garden. The tree reshaped into a magnificent throne as she walked, trunk splitting into a seat and the branches fanning into intricate patterns behind her.

"I suppose you're right, however," she drawled as she reclined. She towered over me from where I stood, crossing her long legs as she resettled her gaze upon me.

"As much as I would love to catch up, we do have a serious matter to discuss."

She waved me closer, and the ground shifted beneath my feet until I was at the foot of the throne.

"You've taken a particular interest in the dying Deified lately. That's rather unlike you, isn't it? To care about these pretentious mortals?" she said bluntly, plucking a low-hanging fruit from a branch.

"What do you know about it?" I asked, struggling to keep my voice even. Death simply laughed, taking a large bite. She took time to lick the juice from her chin.

"Grimwater aside, you have been relatively silent all these years. Now, all of a sudden, you deign to care about these beings. The people that represent your biggest failure."

My mouth went dry as paper, but Death simply continued on.

"After all, these are the same people who chose to hold onto their precious miracles, instead of helping the Bounty Hunter's Guild when they needed it most."

She tutted her tongue again.

"Such a shame. So many lives."

Each word hit my mind like a hammer on an anvil.

"So why all the compassion all of a sudden?"

Swallowing the lump rising in my throat, I fought to keep my voice even as I spoke.

"I need to keep a Deified's daughter alive for a job. That's it."

Death quirked a knowing brow.

"Is it?"

I ground my jaw, feeling naked before her eyes.

"Yes," I replied through clenched teeth. Death kept still, her expression never changing. Finally, she loosed a small laugh.

"I have tried subtlety with you before. With little success," she said, sitting forward on her throne, "So, I shall be brief and to the point."

She tossed the remainder of her fruit over her shoulder. A tree immediately grew from where it landed.

"I have an offer for you. If these people are so worthless to you, if you truly are the heartless bounty hunter you wish to be, then it will be easy for you to accept."

Red eyes cast a crimson glow on her face.

"And I highly encourage you to accept."

An order. A nicely wrapped order, but an order nonetheless. Death reclined again, her hair flowing around her in an ebony river. Dark and beautiful.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"What happens after this moment is entirely up to you."

An enigmatic smile. I waited for her to finish, curling my hands into fists to keep them from shaking.

"I want you to allow these murders to occur. Leave the Deified to their fate. Do not interfere with the assassin sent to kill them in any way."

I stood still, rooted to the spot. My heart thundered in my chest as a flash of auburn hair with a posh accent sprinted across my mind.

Myra.

"The killer is after a charge of mine, Death," I paused before I said my next piece, my tongue choking on the words, "Please, I can't--"

I was sent to my knees again as pain spread through my neck and into my chest. My head. My very soul itself.

"Perhaps I am not being clear," Death said quietly, her gaze as thick as blood as she started to age. The skin turned to leather on her bones, and the plants died one by one again. All of them, that is, apart from her throne.

I struggled not to scream as I writhed on the grass. My limbs were being ripped from my body. My skin was being flayed from my bones by a burning blade. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

Please just let me die. Please just let me-

And then the pain was gone.

Grass regrew under my cheek as I pulled in deep and heaving breaths. Slowly, I managed to look at Death again, rising to my knees. She had phased into the mature woman now, her face contemplative.

"Alright. I shall offer a compromise. An incentive, if you will. Let it be known to you that I am not without mercy," she murmured. The tone was so kind, so gentle. Utter contrast to the pain I had just felt.

Death stood and circled me, tracing the planes of muscle on my back.

"Including today, you have managed to collect nine hundred and fifty-seven souls so far," she continued, striding around me on silent feet. She ran her other hand along the twelve Marks on my neck.

"That makes around eleven thousand to go," she said and trailed off for a second, considering.

"If you obey this command, then your charge will be spared until your task is complete. After that, she is fair game."

My heart rang in my ears as I was held frozen to the spot, my Marks threatening to flare again if I spoke.

"And, as a reward, I will reduce your debt to me by five Marks. Five thousand fewer souls to bring to me, and less time trapped in the material plane. Less time away from your Fayra."

She looked at the black sky above, as if seeing something far away.

"Believe me, Chosen. This is a fight that you cannot win. Their fates are sealed, regardless of what you choose."

I swallowed, my mind reeling. My debt could be nearly cut in half. But one question escaped my lips.

"I'm just supposed to let these people die? To let their souls get ripped apart and sent to the abyss?"

Death's eyes suddenly went an unholy black.

"This is a command from your Goddess, Chosen," she said in a primordial growl that shook the air. Her eyes strayed to where the Far Shore was, so close and distant, before she stared calmly at me again.

"And I don't think I need to explain to you, of all people, what the cost can be."

*******

The Beaufoutonte mansion came into view again.

Blood and gore were everywhere as head after head exploded. Every single kill shot was mine. Only the Puma I had shot in the knees remained alive. The one who had destroyed Fayra's pistol.

As I returned to the physical realm, my head pounding, time resumed on its own. The shots I had fired met their Marks, and I felt the blazes across my back as each of them died. The bodies fell to the floor as I swayed on my feet.

All my energy was gone. I was an empty vessel. A shell. A lifetime had passed in the few minutes of my meeting with Death.

Zachariah was next to me in an instant as my vision blurred. The world tilted, and suddenly he was holding my limp form in his arms. I had nothing left to give as my eyes met his. A wrinkle formed between his brows.

"What happened to your eyes?" he asked, but I had no time to answer him. I knew what he saw, though. It wasn't mine, but Death's gaze that greeted him. Black and red with catlike slits for pupils had replaced my violet orbs temporarily.

That was all I knew before the world went dark.

*******

"What do you mean, Rowena?"

Stone's voice barely contained his confusion as Kage refilled his cup of coffee. I stared at my own cup, the liquid warming my frigid fingers. Myra sat next to me, but I did my best not to look at her.

"He's your witness to interrogate. We wouldn't have him without you. What do you mean you won't?"

I sighed through my nose, finally lifting my eyes to meet Stone's.

"I told you I can't. I don't want to explain. I 'm only here to warn you."

Stone sat heavily into his chair behind his desk. Kage showed herself then, her face looking between us anxiously. Myra, mercifully, stayed silent as we spoke.

"Warn me about what?" Stone asked stiffly, "That a killer with high-level magic is prowling in my town? I already know that."

"Stone," I said, sipping my coffee, "If the killer attacks again, there's nothing I can do about it. And I won't do anything to help you catch him. I can't."

Stone's eyes hardened.

"Can't? Or won't, Rowena?"

I bowed my head, massaging my temple.

"It's a bit of both."

The room went as silent as a grave. I felt his eyes on me, heavy as a boulder. I braced myself for his argument and for the yelling to begin. I just wanted to drown myself in a bottle of bourbon. This conversation needed to be over.

Stone stood suddenly, nodding at his Photofolk before handing her his mug.

"Thank you Kage," he murmured before going to the window. He stood there, staring out at the street. A fine coat of frost and snow blew through the road. The wind had come in from the north this morning, and winter had sailed in on it. Large stacks of chimney smoke rose into the blue sky. Nobody walked on the road anymore in fear of the cold. Even carriages seldom passed as if the town had decided to hibernate.

Long seconds passed before he spoke again.

"Alright,"

I blinked once. Twice.

"Excuse me?'

Stone turned back to Myra and I, his face even.

"You've already given me more information in one week than I have been able to find in months. For that, I'm grateful."

His tone was cool. Polite. It somehow broke my heart more than any amount of yelling he had ever done.

"Stone--" I began, but he cut me off.

"If you're not concerned about murders happening in your home town, and knowing a Chosen is what we face doesn't convince you, then nothing I say will change that. You've made your decision."

He walked to his door and opened it, motioning for us to leave. He stared at me as if I were a stranger.

"I've tried convincing myself for years that you're the same person my daughter fell in love with. Someone that became like a second daughter to me."

A shake of his head.

"But I think that part of you died the same day she did. I know that now."

I flinched as if he had punched me. Even Myra gasped at the ice in his voice. I waited for him to speak again, my eyes growing hot, but he simply motioned to the door again.

"Please Stone, I--"

"You are dismissed. I will notify you if I have another bounty."

Cautiously, I stood. Stone's expression change as Myra and I walked into the frigid day.

*******

I couldn't bare to look at the woman who rode behind me. My brother's future bride. The bride who was slated for slaughter. The bride who was determined to try to cheer me up.

"Well, Miss Rowena? Where to? I think we should get your famous pistol fixed. I'm sure Levi knows an excellent weapon's smith or two around here," she said leaning forward to catch my eye.

I pressed my fingers into my eyes, a headache growing like a demon. I couldn't stand it. A tear escaped and ran down my cheek as I fought to keep my chin from wobbling.

Myra jabbed a finger into my back.

"Are we just going to sit here on Dusk all day? Come on, take us to the gun smith--"

"It doesn't matter," I muttered, my voice sounding more harsh than I had intended. Myra paused, then tried again.

"You arrogant thing you," she drawled, "Do you really think you can use a broken pistol? I know you think you're good, Miss Rowena, but nobody's that good."

The broken parts to Fayra's pistol grew as heavy as the mountains themselves as a sudden numbness spread through me. My eyes dried as I spared a glance at the beautiful woman behind me. I urged Dusk forward and directed him farther into town instead of toward home.

"It doesn't matter. I don't think I'll be using it much in the coming week."

Myra lifted a sculpted eyebrow.

"Then where are we going?"

"The Blue Flame," I said, looking forward again. I pulled my new hat farther over my eyes against the bright sun. Myra had guessed my size correctly, down to every last seam of my hat and coat. It's obsidian color now matched every part of my damned soul.

"I think I need to pay Levira Casanaddi a visit."