A couple of days went by, and doctors ran some tests to be sure Grandma was ready for surgery. Between those days, I really tried to be composed. However, I couldn't. Not only was I confused by my feelings for Death, but I was also petrified of what was to come. Five of the wild demons were still freely running around our town. Keliah and Azra were supposedly looking for them for three days straight and couldn't find them. That's what Death said. Rowan tried to help them, but he was of no help to them.

No matter how worried I was about him, I didn't want to see his face. I didn't want to hear about him until Grandma was done with the surgery. All I wanted to occupy my head was my grandmother, but of course, Death found a crack to get inside of it.

I sat on a chair near the window, listening to music through my headphones. Grandma was awake for an hour today, but she hasn't said much, except for 'Yes' and 'Okay'. However, she seemed glad to see me.

I had to take a week off my work because I was afraid of leaving her here by herself when Death wouldn't leave me alone. I told my boss about my grandma, and he already knew about it. Gossip spreads fast in this town. He let me take a week off because he found someone to cover for me. I didn't know who it was because I didn't care. I was just glad I could be with my grandma.

The music in my ears was at its highest volume. I didn't want to perceive reality. Only to hear the music until my ears bleed.

The left ear cup moved from my ear, leaving the melody to escape. Chills spread through my body, and at the edge of my periphery stood Death, right next to my cheek. He picked up the ear cup and stretched it closer to the side of his head to listen to my favorite song.

After numerous seconds, his shadowy face moved in front of me, and his body crouched down. I stopped the music and slid the headphones around my neck.

"What?" I whispered.

"I like the melody." He said, and supported his head with his fists that were placed under his chin.

Wow, the Angel of Death likes my taste in music.

I was ready to stand up and leave the room since he had been bothering me for four days now, but his hand swiftly grasped my knee. I focused on the dark shadows that guarded his face and wished I could see his facial expression for once.

"Where do you think you're going?" He said, his voice husky.

I glanced at his hand on my knee and recalled what happened a couple of days ago. How his lips kissed me, how his tongue licked me-and suddenly, I forgot how to speak. It was the lack of intimacy with men. I'm shattering even to the slightest touch, and maybe it's the reason for my confused feelings towards him. Perhaps it was the only reason.

I slammed my legs together so he wouldn't try to spread them. I played brave and clutched his hand in mine to separate it from my knee. He was faster than me, and when I was yanked toward him, I almost fell from the chair. I was inches from his face, just inches from his shadows.

With his other hand, he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His claws lingered along my jawline, and I was simply frozen. He always likes to observe me. They slowly moved to the side of my neck, his thumb resting against my jaw. The coldness of his hand was unbelievable to sense. A piece of ice was stuck to my neck.

Despite my trembling hands, I again tried to move his hand. When my fingers collided with his skin, his hand, and fingers so slender but soft, I was taken aback. The darkness of his skin looked rough to the touch, but when I sensed his skin against mine, I was proved wrong. His hand twitched for a second from the surprise, but he did not move it.

I intertwined my fingers with his, and when I felt how his fingers tightened around mine, my heart skipped a beat. I yanked my head and stood up. I took a few steps away from him.

"You owe me an answer, Death," I said, and I folded my arms under my chest.

"Do I?" He whispered into my ear, standing now behind me. He locked his arms around my stomach, his chin resting on the crown of my head.

Again, I was too aware of his body against mine. His broad chest was as hard as rocks. His slender but firm arms rested on my hips, and his hands locked on my belly. It's like every nerve in my body activates when he's touching me.

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"Death."

"Vivienne."

"I meant it. I want to know how you knew about my father. Please tell me." My voice softened. I was too exhausted to be angry.

His chin jiggled on my skull a little bit, and then he hummed. My whole head thrummed. "I remember the day," he started. "So clearly than the others for some unexplainable reason. It was a sunny day, which was strange since it was December and most days were covered with fog. I came to Earth to collect souls as always, when I sensed that some human was close to entering the other side."

I felt how he exchanged the chin with, I assumed, the cheek.

"I located the person," he continued. "And appeared before a tiny white house. I walked through the door and found a woman lying on the ground with a knife dug into her stomach. Next to her was a small child. Blood was pooled around her, and she sat in it. I was standing right in front of her when her eyes shifted to me. I realized she could see me. And only the individuals I allow to see me can see me. I was astonished by it. Intrigued."

His hands started to caress my waist.

"The child was too small to understand what was happening to her mother, but she held her hand like that would save her. For a second, I pitted her. She wanted to die so badly that she was able to see me. She wanted me to come for her. But I reminded her that she has someone to live for. She cannot leave the child behind. So I healed her and left."

I twisted myself to stand toward him. "Death, I don't understand. Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"I'll have a point, darling. Just keep listening." He pressed my back hard against his chest again.

"A couple of years later, I went to collect a soul that I knew I'd been in that area before, and believe me, I don't remember everyone's address whose soul I'm going to collect. I do not keep a list. So, I knew I had to remember it for some reason. When I went there and saw the same woman I once saved being hanged by a rope, I was truly taken aback."

My heart began to race against my chest, and my breath had quickened. I pulled away from him. "W-What? It can't mean what I think it is, right?" My voice came out unsteady.

"I watched the mother of the woman completely lose herself once she found her daughter lifeless a few minutes after that. I've never seen someone sob so hard as she did. I recall what she said till now." Death exhaled and cupped his hand on my cheek.

"I have failed you, Lily. And I'd rather die than live in the same world where you do not exist, but I have to stay alive because of her. I have to be there for her. She needs me. Vivienne."

No.

No.

"Imagine my surprise when I found out you're the daughter of the woman I once saved and then collected her soul."

"You are lying!" I yelled, taking steps back.

"No, I'm not this time. It's the truth, Vivienne." For the first time, he spoke softly.

I looked at Grandma and realized why she was able to see Death when I heard their conversation. She wanted to die along with my mother. Do I see him for the exact same reason as well?

Tears broke down my cheeks, and I couldn't comprehend what I just heard. He knew my mother and grandmother, even me, a long time ago.

"Why are you telling me this now?" My voice came out breathy.

He shifted close to me, wiping a tear from my cheek. "Because you paint me as a monster in your head." He whispered in a low voice. "I wanted to prove you wrong."

I huffed and ducked my head down. "Because you're a monster," I said. "You think, because you said this to me, I would forget about the things you have done to me? How you pretended to be someone else. How you got into my head and scared the shit out of me. How do you constantly make me afraid, I'll lose my life?" I snapped.

He took a step back, and when I looked up, he held a scythe in his hand. Silence ruled over us for numerous seconds.

"For how long will you torture me? Because, truthfully, I cannot take it anymore. Your words...are worse than hell." His voice sounded like thousands of thorns, and I knew at that moment that I had hit the right spot. "I thought you'd understand, Vivienne. Especially you."

"What should I be able to understand?" I demanded. "How did you pretend to be my friend? How did you act kind towards my grandma, but it was just an act?"

Death growled, and it echoed throughout the room. Thankfully, Grandma was sleeping like a bear in the winter.

"And Mr. Sunshine is different; how exactly? He should've captured my demons a few weeks ago. I even stopped hiding them, and guess what? He doesn't care about his job because he wants to stay here on Earth with you. He wants to have you." He said in a stern voice.

"So? His intentions are pure! He doesn't manipulate me or touch me wherever he wants. He cares about me and my feelings." My voice thundered.

"Pure? Are you so blind that you cannot see his true nature? If he was so pure, he wouldn't kill a human. He's a goddamn angel!" He snapped back and took a step toward me. "You never even once complained when I touched you. Because the truth is-"he came ever closer, towering over me so that I had to tilt my head to see his hooded head. "You fucking love when I lay my fingers on you. It turns you on, darling."

Rage formed within me; I had to take long, deep inhalations into my lungs. I thought my eyeballs would fall out of my skull because of how intensely I'd been staring into his mist of shadow.

"His fingers had a better effect on me." I seethed.

Death hasn't said a word to me. I was frightened by his silent answer. I knew he'd gotten mad at Rowan for touching me. And although it was partially the truth, I couldn't lie to myself. Rowan never made me feel what the Grim Reaper had.

In the next second, there was nothing left of him but the gray, heavy mist dissolving in the air.