Page 63 of Guarded By the Reaper

On the other side were my fellow Grim Reapers. They stood out in their dark cloaks, looking more like they were here for a funeral than a wedding. Norman, my handler, sat near the back with his daughter. They weren’t speaking to each other, which was no surprise. Some wounds took longer to heal than others.

The Second Sister stood beside me, practically vibrating with excitement. Of the three Fates, she was the most romantic. She’d jumped at the chance to officiate our wedding, saying how love stories were her favorite part of measuring life threads.

As I waited for Millie, my mind wandered. If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be standing here, about to marry the love of my life, I would’ve laughed in their face. Love wasn’t for the likes of me. I was a walking corpse, but Millie saw past that. I remembered the first time I saw her, how annoyed I was at being assigned to protect her. I thought she was just another rich girl who’d made a stupid deal. But she proved me wrong at everyturn. Her kindness, her strength, her love for her daughter... she showed me that there was still good in this world.

A hush fell over the crowd, and I knew it was time. The soft notes of a harp filled the air. There she was, my Camellia, walking towards me with Elysia leading the way. The girl scattered rose petals from a basket. Both of them wore black dresses, a choice Millie had made to match my unchangeable attire. I couldn’t take my eyes off Millie. Her black dress hugged her curves, flowing down to the grass like a shadow come to life. She carried a bouquet of dark flowers in one hand, and a black umbrella in the other, shielding herself from the gentle drizzle that had started. The raindrops made her skin glow, and her blue eyes seemed to shine even brighter against the darkness of her dress.

In all my years as a Grim Reaper, I’d seen countless brides. Some happy, some nervous, some even regretting their choice. But Millie... she was something else entirely. She was the most beautiful bride I’d ever seen, and not just because of her looks. It was the love in her eyes, the determination in her stride, the slight quirk of her lips that told me she was fighting back a grin.

Elysia stopped in front of me, her face serious as she looked up at me. “Take care of my sister,” she said.

“Always,” I promised, meaning it with every fiber of my being.

As Millie reached my side, I took her hand and pressed my skeletal lips to it. The touch sent a jolt through me.

“We’re doing this,” Millie said, her voice a mix of excitement and disbelief.

“We are,” I replied, still amazed that this was happening. A part of me, the part that had been alone for so long, couldn’t help but ask, “If you’re still sure you want us to get married.”

Millie squeezed my hand. “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.”

The Second Sister cleared her throat, breaking our moment. “Are you two lovebirds ready? Because I don’t have all day. I love doing this, but I also have life threads to measure.”

I wanted to roll my eyes at her, but I didn’t have any. Still, her impatience couldn’t dampen my mood. As the ceremony began, I found myself unable to focus on the words being said. All I could think about was Millie. I loved her in a way I never thought possible, especially for someone like me, who didn’t even have an actual heart. It was like she had breathed life back into my dead form, making me feel more alive than I had since I was human. As the Second Sister droned on about love and eternity – concepts she understood better than most – I marveled at how lucky I was. A woman like Millie – beautiful, kind, and fierce – had chosen me. Me, of all people. Or monsters. Whatever I was now. I thought back to my human life, to the scared, disfigured soldier I’d been. The runt who came back from the war only to die alone on the streets. If that version of me could see me now, standing here about to marry Camellia Aster, he wouldn’t believe it.

The rain picked up a bit, pattering against Millie’s umbrella. She moved it slightly, making sure I was covered too, even though the rain didn’t bother me. It was such a small gesture, but it hit me hard. This was who Millie was – always thinking of others, always caring. I glanced at the guests, at the strange mix of humans and monsters. Millie’s family friends looked uncomfortable, but I didn’t care what they thought. The only opinion that mattered was Millie’s. My fellow Grim Reapers stood stoically, their dark cloaks in contrast with the colorful outfits of the human guests. I caught the dark eye sockets of one of them, an old friend who had been there when Death first offered me the job. He gave me a slight nod, and I knew he understood. He’d seen me at my lowest, and now he was witnessing my highest point. I turned my attention back toMillie, drinking in every detail of her face. The way her black hair fell in waves around her shoulders, the slight flush on her cheeks, the curve of her lips as she smiled at me. I memorized it all, wanting to keep this moment forever.

As the Second Sister asked us to exchange vows, I felt a flutter in my chest. It wasn’t a real heartbeat, but it was something. A ghost of a feeling. It was Millie’s effect on me, making me feel things I shouldn’t have been able to feel. I opened my mouth to speak my vows, the words I’d spent weeks agonizing over. How do you tell someone they’ve changed your entire existence? How do you express a love that defies death itself?

“Camellia, before I met you, I was just going through the motions. Existing, but not living. You changed that. You made me feel alive again. You saw past what I am and loved me for who I am. I promise to love you, protect you, and stand by your side, for as long as we both exist.”

It was her turn. “Grim, you came into my life when I thought all hope was lost. You saved me in more ways than one. You’re my protector, my partner, and my best friend. I promise to love you, support you, and remind you every day that you’re more than just a Grim Reaper. You’re my everything.”

I felt the strange flutter in my chest again, stronger this time.

The Second Sister cleared her throat. “By the power vested in me by Death themselves, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” She paused for dramatic effect, then added with a grin, “Grim, you may kiss your bride.”

I pulled Millie close, careful not to jostle her umbrella. As our lips met, the rain fell harder, but we were in our own little world. The umbrella shielded us, creating a private moment amidst the crowd.

When we finally broke apart, Millie was beaming. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too,” I replied, marveling at how easy the words came now.

We turned to face our guests, still embraced under the umbrella. The rain pattered around us, but all I could focus on was Millie’s warmth against my side and the feeling of her hand in mine. For the first time in over a century, I felt truly, completely happy.

Epilogue

Millie

Twenty-four years later

The sun dipped low over Lake Washington, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. I sat on the plush sofa on the patio, sipping my champagne and soaking in the peaceful moment. The party had been wonderful, but there was something special about this quiet aftermath. I heard the patio door open, and Elysia stepped out. My heart swelled with love as she approached. She kissed my cheek, her lips warm against my skin.

“Happy Birthday again, Mom,” she said.

I smiled, still not used to her calling me “Mom”, even after all these years. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

Elysia glanced at her watch. “I have to get going. Brock has an early day tomorrow, and the baby is tired. It was a lovely party. And you don’t look a day older.”

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