Page 26 of Guarded By the Reaper

Millie’s hand tightened around mine. “But that’s life, isn’t it? Sometimes stories end too soon.”

Her acceptance of her fate only strengthened my resolve.

“Maybe,” I said. “But not this time. Not if I can help it.” The promise felt heavy, but I meant every word. For the first time in a century, I was ready to fight against the very nature of my existence.

I couldn’t believe I’d just made such a huge promise to Millie. What was I thinking? I had no clue how to save her from Ma-Vasha. It was like promising to lasso the moon.

But as I looked at her, those doubts faded away. Her raven hair caught the artificial light from the mini chandelier above us, framing her face like a halo. Those blue eyes, usually so full of life, now held a mix of hope and fear that tugged at something deep inside me. Her pale skin seemed almost translucent, reminding me of her fragility. How could someone so vibrant, so full of kindness, be destined for such a cruel fate?

I knew then that I’d move heaven and earth for her. If it came down to it, I’d trade my immortality for her life in a heartbeat. If that was even possible. The rules of my existence were murky at best, but for Millie, I’d find a way.

Millie stood up and rounded the kitchen table. Before I could process what was happening, she gently lowered herself onto my lap. I froze, not knowing how to react. This beautiful, warm-blooded woman was willingly getting close to me, a walking corpse held together by magic and darkness. It didn’t make sense.

She placed her hands on my shoulders, the warmth of her touch seeping through my cloak. Then, she leaned in and pressed her lips to my cheek. The kiss was chaste, but it felt like a jolt of electricity throughout my entire being. For a moment, I could swear I felt a heartbeat in my chest. A ghost of a pulse thrummed through my body, awakening sensations I thought long dead. It was as if every cell in my body suddenly remembered what it was like to be alive. The feeling was overwhelming, almost painful in its intensity. I wanted to pull her closer and push her away at the same time. I was a creature of death, and she was so vibrantly alive. The contrast was huge, yet somehow, it felt right.

As quickly as it began, it was over. Millie stood up and walked to the sink, leaving me reeling from the experience. I watched her rinse her cup, trying to process what had just happened. But the fact of the matter was I couldn’t. It was obvious why I was attracted to her, but there was simply no explanation for why she would be attracted to me. It was better if I didn’t think about it and just enjoyed it, then tucked this moment of intimacy away in my memory, so I could relieve it for as long as I roamed the earth.

As we waited for dawn to break, Millie and I watched another movie. She couldn’t sleep, understandably, so we stayed awake together. The flickering light from the TV cast dancing shadows across her face, highlighting the worry lines that had formed over the past few days. I found myself stealing glances at her more often than I cared to admit.

When the first rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains, I stood up from the couch and grabbed my scythe. It was time to get to work.

“I need you to stay inside until I return,” I said. “You and Elysia should lock all the doors, cover the windows, and don’t even think about looking outside.”

She nodded, her blue eyes wide with concern. “How will you get back in?”

“I’ll teleport,” I explained. “Don’t worry about that.”

“Right,” she said, a small smile playing on her lips. “I forgot you could do that.”

I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of... something. Pride? Amusement? It was strange to think that my abilities could impress someone like Millie.

“What’s your plan?” she asked.

I paused, considering my words carefully. “To find the answer to one simple question: how do I keep you alive?”

The weight of my promise hung heavy in the air. I saw a flicker of hope in her eyes, and it both warmed and terrified me. What if I couldn’t deliver?

“Here,” I said, pulling out my smartphone. “Take my number. Call if you need anything.”

Millie’s eyebrows shot up, a grin spreading across her face. “Wait, Grim Reapers use phones? What’s next? Do you post selfies on Instagram, too?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’d be surprised. Death has to keep up with the times, you know.”

We shared a laugh, the sound feeling foreign in the massive, silent house. As I prepared to teleport, Millie’s voice stopped me.

“Grim,” she said softly. “Be careful.”

I nodded, unable to form words around the lump in my throat. With a final look at her face, I vanished, so I could materialize someplace else – my first destination.

Chapter Fourteen

Millie

After Grim vanished, I stood there, staring at the empty space he’d just occupied. The room felt colder without his presence, despite the warm sunlight streaming through the windows. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold onto the feeling of safety he’d given me. It was strange how quickly I’d come to rely on him, to trust him. A creature of death had become my lifeline. I couldn’t shake the memory of his promise, the determination in his voice. For the first time since making the deal with Ma-Vasha, I felt a flicker of hope.

Elysia wandered into the kitchen, her bare feet padding softly against the tile floor.

“Where did Grim go?” she asked.

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