I wasn’t dead.

How?

Why could I only see white?

Was I in a hospital?

Was this all a dream?

My thoughts came disjointed, like fragments of glass trying to fit back into a whole window.

Where was the Prince?

Pain, like an itch started on my neck. The itch turned into a burn, I tried to raise my hands to see what was wrong but…I couldn’t feel my hands. I couldn’t feel anything but the pain slowly becoming worse.

I screamed for help, my words seemed to die the minute they were out of my mouth.

Screams turned to mushy, messy tears as the pain became excruciating. I gasped for breath.

The pain took all my focus so I didn’t hear it at first.

Footsteps.

Like dress shoes on a marble floor.

“My apologies, the pain is my fault, I pulled you at the brink of death, so the pain of your death stayed with you.” I looked up, why did I need to look up? I didn’t feel like I was lying down.

Above me stood a gorgeous brunette man in his early thirties. I looked into his eyes and knew he was a god. No iris or pupil colored his eyes.

“Come, let me help you up,” he held out a hand and suddenly I could feel my arms, my legs. I felt like jumping, I had never felt so energized just to be able to move around, instead I took his hand and letting him pull me up.

I felt my throat, the pain was gone and nothing felt out of place. Like I never lost my head.

“Where are we?” I asked looking around the white space. There appeared to be no walls or end to the space...just white in every direction.

“In Between,” he said like I should know what that meant. Seeing my expression he laughed, for a god he seemed to have a full range of emotion, “I guess you wouldn’t know, most gods don’t know about this place,” he cocked his head, “Or of me for that matter.”

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“Who are you?” I asked, he had walked away and I had to jog to catch up with his long stride though where could we go here?

He stopped, turned and smiled, “My apologies, it has been a while since I’ve had to introduce myself.” He bowed like they did on TV, even his clothes looked like they were from the 1700s. He put me in mind of a vampire, like some writer’s wet dream.

“That’s sweet,” he said, “My name is Eternal.”

Did he read my mind? Next time I saw the Prince I would find a way to block my thoughts, I promised myself.

I started, “Wait, did the Prince send you?”

Eternal laughed, a musical sound yet not exactly pretty, “The anchors have no power over me, with the chaos they’re causing I’d be surprised if they remember me at all.”

Okay, that didn’t explain anything, “Look, I’m sure you get your kicks from talking in circles, but, and this may be the near death experience talking, I have no clue who you are, where I am and why I’m here. Would you please just tell me what’s going on?”

He laughed again, “I can see why the Prince is attached to you.” He shrugged, which just seemed unnatural, “I will explain, I am Eternal but the name most call me is Death,” he leaned close, “Though I hate that name, so please call me Eternal.” Behind the light-hearted comment, was a vast anger, it terrified me just to glimpse it.

“You are In-Between, in between life and death, a place of my own devising since I am part of neither world, not truly. As for why you’re here?” He paused before turning abruptly and walking away.

“Wait,” I yelled running after him. One step we were in white space, the next we were in an old-fashioned study. I skidded. Round-eyed I looked behind me. Nothing. No doors, no windows.

Eternal sat at the desk, “This is my world, I can make it into whatever I please.”

“Wow,” I looked at the detail, the books had real names on the spines, the statues had faces, the tapestry felt like one.

“I get the ideas from the souls that pass through here,” he said proudly.

He was bragging. “Um, it’s amazing,” I smiled, not keen on actually seeing him angry.

“Have a seat,” he pointed to the chair across from him.

I sat, “You were going to tell me why I’m here.”

“Yes, yes, but first tell me something,” he leaned forward, “You ran away from him, he gave you a chance to make it permanent, you didn’t, why would you go back to the monster?”

“How do you know that?”

He shrugged, “I have my sources. Just because I’m not a part of that world, doesn’t mean I don’t know what happens. After all there has been an influx of Worshipper deaths.”

“I stayed for humanity, Kitty, the Princess, is going to kill everyone. If you can take me back, please.” Panic rose in my voice as I realized I didn't know how it ended. Did the Prince decide not to fight now that I wasn’t there to uphold our bargain? Or are they still trying to kill one another?

Eternal ignored me, “What if I killed him, would you mourn his passing?”

I jerked back, kill the Prince? “You can’t.”

“I can, I’m the only one who can. Why do you think I’m here? So far away from them?”

“They put you here? But you’re Death, don’t you--”

“Belong here?” He rose slamming his hands on the desk, no trace of mirth on his face.

I shrank in my seat, “I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”

He sat back down. “That’s the problem with humans, you don’t think.”

I remained silent, watching him fume, like playing dead when a bear was around.

“The reason you’re here is because a god prayed for me to save you. A god prayed!” He waved his arms for emphasis, “And you even killed this god’s lover in cold blood. So, naturally, I had to meet you.”