The Angel of Death carried me in his arms. This was truly a one-of-a-kind experience that I doubt anyone else will have.

I kicked my legs and yelled into his face to put me down so that I could walk by myself, but he ignored me completely and carried me through the path that led out of the woods.

When we got closer to the hospital, he put his hood back on, and I had to say goodbye to his half-sexy face. I wasn't sad to say goodbye to the other side, though.

As I saw the sight of the hospital, I realized that I had forgotten about Grandma's surgery. I needed to know if she was okay and that the surgery was going well. However, it was hard to leave when I was still being carried by Death.

In the distance, I saw Rowan, Keliah, and Azra talking to each other. I was about to wave when Death shifted us in the blink of an eye to Grandma's hospital room. He steadily laid me down on the spare bed that I was sometimes sleeping on.

"Don't. Move." He hoarsely ordered.

I stayed put because I was truthfully exhausted, and I never won against him. I stared at the white ceiling, only thinking about Grandma. I even forgot about my cursed hand and what will happen to me now. I stopped being selfish. I killed two demons and saved someone's life-even mine. I'd rather be cursed till the day I die than let the monsters walk the earth.

When Death returned his cold presence reminded me, I was drenched from head to toes.

"Put this on." He threw an oversized sweater and a pair of sweatpants on top of me.

I sat up and glared at him. He went to my house and brought me my clothes, even the comfortable ones. I bowed my head and chuckled quietly.

I started to undress myself, but Death's intense stare stabbed right through me. I sighed out loud. "Would you be so kind and turn around?" My mouth curled into a fake smile.

He folded his arms under his chest. "Kitty, if you don't change this instant, I'll honor it by doing it myself." He said in a warning tone.

I let out an exaggerated exhale and violently pulled the wet hoodie over my head.

"I took your bra as well." He added.

I searched the bed as the room was too dark as I hadn't noticed the black bra further away from the sweatpants. When I snapped my head in Death's direction, he was turned around, looking out of the window, and I was surprised he was willing to turn around for me.

I quickly changed my bra and slipped on the dry-clean sweater. Then I tossed my muddy leggings to the floor and stretched on the gray sweatpants. I was still trembling as we were standing in the rain for, god knows, how long.

Death turned around and walked toward me. He pulled out of his cloak a hairdryer, and my eyebrows hit my hairline. He plugged the cord and sat right beside me. He turned the hairdryer on and dried my hair. I couldn't see his face, but I was so eagerly curious about how he was looking at me. He dried my hair with such gentleness that I almost wanted to crash my head against his chest and stay there until he was done.

My hair flew to every side. He didn't care how I would look with my short bangs standing like static hair. He tucked some of my hair behind my ear, and I couldn't ignore the tingling sensation in my stomach. I felt my cheeks flush, and all I wanted to do at that moment was hide under the bed.

After what felt like an eternity, he switched the hairdryer off and grabbed me by my waist. I didn't need to see his face for me to know; his eyes were staring at me.

"I wish-" He started, "I could warm you up." and his hand stretched behind me. He wrapped the comforter around my body and stood up. As he was about to leave, I gripped his hand. He snapped his hooded head at me, and I wished I thought a bit rationally.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Where are you going?" I asked with my face frowning.

I eased my grip until I lost the strength around his hand and yanked my hand away. He straightened his posture and stood in front of my legs. His fingers collided with my chin, and my gaze lifted to his shadowy face.

He rubbed my lower lip with his thumb, and a low groan escaped his mouth. All the memories of us in the woods flooded my mind like a tsunami.

"Stay in bed, and I'll check on your grandma." He said softly and vanished into the gray mist.

I blinked multiple times and hugged myself tighter with the comforter. I hate when he does this out of nowhere, without any warning.

The door swayed open. "V!!! When did you get here?" Keliah jumped onto the bed and hugged me super tight. I had no time to protest, like always.

I glared at Azra, and he only shrugged. Behind him stood Rowan, no longer with his wings. They all looked beaten up, wet, and exhausted, except for Keliah.

"Death told me you're here, so we came immediately. Do you wish to be alone now?" Azra asked.

I shook my head and glanced at Rowan. He looked so worried, and I understood why. I killed demons, and my hand is cursed. I cannot forget about Death's kind of confession.

It definitely wasn't the craziest day ever.

"Vivienne, are you feeling okay?" Rowan spoke for the first time.

I looked up at him and nodded. I tried to smile, but I was dog-tired and still freezing. I wanted Death to come back as soon as possible to tell me how Grandma was doing. It's a big surgery, so it's lasting a very long time.

"Oh heavens, your lips are purple," Rowan stated and hurried to me. He shoved Keliah off my shoulders and leaned me into his chest.

This was the worst idea ever.

Yes, I did like his warm body against mine, but not for the reason you think. I was barely alive, and his hot body was like a paradise. Like heaven.

But Death's return was unspecified. And he hates when other people touch me, let alone Rowan. I had no strength left to watch them fight about me because there are more important matters than me.

"What will happen with the wild demons? Will they try to return?" I asked Azra, and Keliah was sitting on the ground.

Azra stared down at Keliah for a while and then helped him get up onto his feet. His glowing eyes focused on me then. "No, V. Their leader was killed, so they are free. They only came to your house because she ordered them too. Wild demons have no empathy, so I'm sure they're 'happy' to be free and be under no one's reign."

I still can't believe it was me who killed her, I thought.

Rowan's hands grabbed mine and squeezed them. They were soft and warm. I never wanted to let them go.

This peaceful moment didn't last long, though.

Death's silhouette slowly formed from the mist to his solid body, and when his hooded head snapped to me, even Azra took a step back.

"Are you fucking touching her?!"

I quickly whispered to Rowan through my teeth, "Move. Right. Now." and giggled.

"Why should I?" He snapped, and I loudly sighed.

"Why shouldn't I touch you, Vivienne? You're freezing, and we all know that Death cannot keep you warm since he's ice-cold." His head turned to Death. "Because-he's dead."

Azra instantly moved next to Death, ready to stop him from attacking Rowan. Keliah was simply laughing, and I was about to shit myself.

Death began to laugh eerily, like I've never heard him do. Then he folded his arms under his chest and sighed. "By being a dick will not make yours any bigger, Mr. Sunshine."

Rowan groaned, and his hands around me tightened. It slightly hurt. "Rowan, please," I whispered.

Death's hands fell beside him, and his head cocked to the side. "Get your hands off her before I slice them with my scythe, Rowan." He threatened with his low voice.

Azra marched towards us and yanked Rowan away. Keliah joined him as Rowan protested.

"Be a good boy, holy boy. We're saving your pointless life, you know." Keliah taunted. Two against one. Rowan could never win this.

Before they walked through the door, their appearance changed to a human one, and the door shut loudly. I don't know if I was glad the chaos ended or mad that I was alone with Death again.

I tightened the comforter around me and brought it to my nose. From the stress, I began to feel hot again.

"How is grand-"

"Your grandma is fine. The surgery shouldn't last for too long. Perhaps two more hours." Death cut me off.

I recognized the frustration in the tone of his voice. He was furious because of Rowan, and so was I. I didn't want that to happen today, above everything else.

We were silent for quite some time before I spoke again. "What about the demons? Azra said they'd be no longer a problem."

Death shifted towards my bed and sat down on the edge of it. "Yes, Azra was right."

I hated when he replied to me in short sentences. Maybe I should've been glad he even did, due to his outrage.

"Death." I softly said.

He turned his head toward me. "Yes?"

I lost my mind for even thinking about this, but saying it out loud? Was madness.

"Could I-uhm, lay down on your, you know, lap?" I asked, but hesitated.

He was staring at me for a couple of seconds without making a movement. I fucked up, didn't I?

He snatched a pillow and placed it on his lap. His arm wrapped around my shoulder, and with his strength, he pulled me down. My head crushed onto the pillow, and a breath left my mouth.

As uncomfortable as I thought this would feel, it was the exact opposite.

His slender finger brushed through my short hair, and soon enough, my eyelids closed.

"I'll never let you go, Vivienne."