The feather was like the most fragile glass you could hold in your hand-one wrong motion, and it might cut your hand or shatter into a million pieces. I was careful not to hold it harshly because it was a feather from an actual angel.

Rowan hid his divine wings and sat opposite me again. His mood changed into a more serious one, and I knew it was important to hear what he was about to say.

"This feather will protect you from Death. Wear it as a necklace, so you won't forget it somewhere." Rowan said. "Death won't be able to touch you; he will only be able to see you. While you'll be wearing it, no danger could occur. I can promise you that."

Wearing the feather as a necklace would finally set me free from the Grim Reaper. Say less.

I unlocked the chain around my neck, which belonged to my mother. It is the only possession I have of her. It was a silver, water-drop-shaped pendant that was hollow and could be opened. It was crafted with intricate details and had a small loop at the top for hanging. The inside of the pendant was empty. I carefully opened the pendant and fit the small feather inside.

"It looks like it was made to fit there." I laughed and showed Rowan the pendant.

He examined it and made sure I closed it properly. First, he glanced at me, then went back and forth between me and the pendant. He gently took the pendant from my hand and walked behind me. He clasped the necklace around my neck with a gentle touch, ensuring that it lay perfectly against my skin. He dragged his fingertips against the chain. The hair around my neck rose.

"Under any circumstances, you cannot take this off," Rowan emphasized, sitting down next to me.

I tasted the soup he made for me and couldn't believe how delicious it tasted. It was better than my grandmother's.

"Why would I ever want to take it off?" This feather of his will stick inside my pendant until I get rid of the Grim Reaper. I don't know how it will be possible to achieve it, but I can't lose hope. Even the tiniest one.

Rowan brushed through his hair with his long fingers. Truly a heavenly view.

"Is there a way to get rid of-" I couldn't bring myself to finish the sentence.

Rowan looked into my eyes intently. "Death is a very powerful being. It's not easy to get rid of him. You may think that I, as an angel, have all the power in the world, but to be honest with you, Death is twice as powerful. That's why he was able to hit me. My feathers won't protect me from him because I'm a celestial being. I can only protect myself absolutely when my wings are spread."

"Your wings activate your power." I deduced.

He nodded, and his forehead creased. "Still, I can protect you the best. Don't doubt my strength!" He said.

I covered my laugh with my hand, and it seemed that it made his worry wash away. For the first time in weeks, I felt safe. I found a solution for my protection, and I even have an angel on my side. I wasn't fighting Death alone. He might think he got me, but he's so wrong. I won't let him destroy me. I have to simply put an end to his fascination with me.

We have three options:

1. Move his fascination from me to another girl. Which is heartlessly cruel coming from me, and it's my least favorite option.

2. I made him go away and not appear here. I have no fucking clue how to make that happen.

3. Move to a different state or go to Europe. Specifically, to Spain. Sun, good-looking guys, and amazing food. I would have to change my clothing style, though.

Rowan's hand kept shaking in front of my face. "Are you listening to me?" He said.

I blinked repeatedly, realizing I wasn't in my room to space out without a care. Oh god, he just watched me stare into nothingness as I thought of our plan, didn't he?

"Don't look at me!" I covered my face. "I got lost in my thoughts." I stuttered.

He captured my hands and said, "Look at me." He didn't spread them forcefully; instead, he waited for my own willingness. I dropped my hands on my lap with his still attached to mine.

"You should go to sleep. You have work tomorrow, right? If you need something, I'll be downstairs." He said.

"Wait, you mean that I should sleep in your bed while you're on a couch? Definitely not." I got up and walked to the living room door. Before I could grip the handle on the door or get even close to it, Rowan appeared before me, his wings spread out. They were so magnificent.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

At that moment, I decided to not argue with him and take my place on his bed. But I still felt guilty because he had to protect me from Death, even taking a strong hit, and now he can't even sleep in his own bed.

I gazed up at the ceiling, my arms positioned in a T shape. When I heard nothing but quietness, my eyelids slowly shut.

• • •

The next day, I had to go to work. I already wasted my vacation as I took care of Grandma, and my boss doesn't give anyone second chances. Rowan accompanied me to work just in case I'd come across Death.

He was so kind; he prepared a fantastic breakfast for me and gave me his clothes. Of course, I couldn't borrow his pants; I kept mine, but I took his black shirt that fit my clothing style.

I came to work earlier to please my boss, and for him to see, I appreciate that he gave me another opportunity. He knows that when I'm on the clock, he gets the biggest sales. He'd never admit it, though. He's too proud.

Rowan said he'd come to visit me after he was done with work. I still don't know if he meant his real work here on Earth or his celestial work.

The work was going nicely, and I was more than happy Death didn't come. Instead, Alec showed up, and that took me by unpleasant surprise. I didn't see him from the time I ran out of the store because he was behind the counter. He looked like he was a part of a 90s rock band.

He wore brown oversized pants with a simple black T-shirt and a large denim jacket, which had numerous patches of rock and metal bands stitched to the fabric. Lastly, he had his combat boots that made a heavy sound when he was walking.

He strolled to the counter, taking a seat on a bar stool. A few other customers sat next to him, so I felt a bit relieved; I wasn't completely alone with him.

"One beer." He said, his voice low.

I stared at him with anger. I placed the beer in front of him and moved to a new customer who sat on the other side of him. It was a woman in her early forties. She often came here for a glass of red wine. She was a small, petite woman with curly yellow hair.

"As usual?" I asked.

"Yeah!" she confirmed.

As I placed the wine in front of her, she asked, "I don't want to sound intrusive, but do you have a partner?"

My eyes widened. "Uhm, no, I don't. Why are you asking?"

She giggled, grabbing the glass of wine. "Well, my son from time to time comes here, and he said you're pretty. Not that I'm trying to set you up with him, but I think you'd make a cute couple." She explained.

I didn't reply to her; I just smiled awkwardly.

Suddenly, Alec's deep chuckles echoed throughout the space, and that made me snap my head at him. I shifted in front of Alec and furrowed my eyebrows at him. "Are you having fun taunting me?" I said, leaning over the counter.

"Very much." He replied and drew closer as well.

Then, like electricity, it shook us apart. A bubble of invisible protection bounced us back when we intruded on each other's space. We both looked at each other in unison. It felt like we were the only people in there. A couple of confused people eyed us, but we kept piercing through each other's eyes.

"Don't tell me..." I scoffed. I had to crash down on a chair and pour myself some vodka. I downed the shot in one go, feeling the warmth spread through my body. I just sat there, trying to gather my thoughts and relax my racing heart.

"How the fuck were you able to do that? Oh, wait. Did Mr. Duck help you to confound me?" He started clapping his hands, and everyone stared at him. A mischievous, dark laugh escaped his mouth.

I roamed my hands through my hair. "You are a spineless creature." I sneered.

He gawked at me in disbelief. "Darling, do you realize who I am? I'm all bones." He died laughing, banging his fist against the counter.

Some people who were seated on bar stools had left to sit in the back because of him, and I can thank God that my boss didn't witness this.

"Leave this bar," I said sternly, holding eye contact with him.

"Listen, kitty, I do a thing called what I want." He said, a smile plastered across his face.

I was on the verge of a mental breakdown, and I highly hoped I'd see Rowan walk through the door to save me. But I suppose it was too great of a wish.

Now everything makes sense. That night I thought I went mad, when in fact, Death was messing with my mind, and made me believe I got drunk. And when Alec was helping my grandma, which looked suspicious to me, but I let it go because good people who want to help still exists. What kind of psychopath is the Grim Reaper? Who made this guy take care of us after our deaths?

I had to stop being selfish for once and take care of the customers who had no idea who honored his presence with us. I looked at the time, and the closing time was quite far away, but did I have any other choice?

"Attention everyone!" I clinked the wine bottle with a spoon. "I'm sorry to say this, but something happened, and I have to close the bar. Come tomorrow, and you get a discount on every drink." I announced.

At first, they were a bit irritated because everyone was enjoying their lives, except for me, of course, but after they thought about the discount, they collectively left. Excluding Death.

When I moved my gaze back to him, he was already staring at me. "Have I ever told you how much I love your mini bangs?" Death said, and he leaned against his fists like a child, blinking.

Wouldn't it be funny if I came to the conclusion that this is all just happening inside my head because I lost my mind? As quickly as that thought swirled through my head, it flew away because I didn't see Alec in front of me anymore, but Death.

Seeing him drink beer in a cloak looked comical, almost unreal. What would I see underneath it if I lifted his hood? Would I shit my pants?

"They're micro bangs." I corrected him. "And what if you just fixated on another girl? Maybe blond? Do you like blondes or brunettes? We have all kinds of girls in our town. Or even better-on the entire Earth." I said.

Death was sitting still, and the beer in his hand suddenly moved from his shadowy face to his right. He released the grip around the ear, and the glass shattered on the floor. The sound of a million tiny pieces of glass scraping my ears.

He shifted next to me, leaving enough space to not enter my invisible protection. "I've been patient, but from this day on-it's over." He said, with his throaty, low voice.

"You can't get close to me!" I yelled, walking backward to the corner of the counter, where I had spread clean glasses.

Death chuckled, swinging his scythe from one hand to another. "Are you sure about that?"

Wait, was I?

"I'm not going away with you!" I declared and grabbed an empty glass, throwing it at him, but he dodged it swiftly.

"And I'm not leaving without you."