Page 56 of Guarded By the Reaper

“Grim? Are you leaving?”

We turned to see her standing a few feet away, looking small. Her blue eyes, so much like mine, were wide and worried. My heart melted at the sight.

“I... well...” Grim stammered, his bony fingers twitching nervously at his side. He glanced between Elysia and me, clearly unsure how to respond.

“Please don’t go,” Elysia said. “I know it’s over, but I’m still scared. Can you stay?”

Grim looked at me, then back at Elysia. His face softened, the dark pits of his eyes seeming to warm up. “Of course I’ll stay.”

Relief washed over Elysia’s face, and she smiled for the first time since our talk. I felt a surge of affection for both of them.

“Why don’t we all get comfortable?” I suggested, placing a hand on Elysia’s shoulder. “It’s been a long day. Let’s get you in bed.”

We made our way upstairs, the old wooden steps creaking under our feet. Once in Elysia’s room, I sent her to wash up and change into pajamas while I quickly cleaned up the messy floor, threw the straws in the bin, and made her bed. A few minutes later, we were all settled in.

Elysia and I were tucked into her bed, the fluffy comforter pulled up to our chins. Lady Mews curled up between us and started purring loudly. Grim stood awkwardly by the bookshelf, his tall frame looking out of place among the stuffed animals and colorful books. He propped his scythe against the wall, as if to signal that right now, here with us, he wasn’t a bodyguard, and he wasn’t a reaper.

“Will you read my favorite book?” Elysia asked, pointing to a well-worn book on her nightstand. Its cover was creased and faded, a testament to how many times it had been read.

I smiled. “It’s The Neverending Story,” I told Grim, running my hand over the cover. “She knows it by heart. It’s her comfort book.”

Grim nodded, his fingers carefully picking up the book as if it were made of glass. He settled into the pink armchair next to the bed. As he opened the book, the spine cracking softly, I watched his face. Even without flesh, I could see the concentration in the set of his jaw, the gentleness in how he held the book. He started reading. His voice took on a rhythmic quality, rising and falling with the story’s cadence. Elysia snuggled closer to me, her eyes heavy but fixed on Grim. I felt her breathing slow down, becoming deeper and more even. The story washed over me, bringing back memories of countless nights spent reading it to her. But now, hearing it in Grim’s voice, it felt new and magical all over again. I found myself relaxing, sinking deeper into thesoft pillows. The events of the day faded away, replaced by the comfort of this moment. Here, in this cozy room, with the two people I loved most in the world, I felt a sense of peace.

As Grim continued to read, his voice a soothing rumble, my own eyes grew heavy, and I dozed off.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Grim

I sat in the ridiculous pink armchair, which was almost too small for my frame, watching Millie and her sister sleep peacefully. Lady Mews was curled up between them, her furry body rising and falling with each breath. The sight made my chest ache, a feeling I couldn’t quite name. The scene before me… it was like something out of a dream. I looked down at my hands, remembering how they felt when I held the book earlier. The Neverending Story. What a fitting title for this moment. I wanted it to go on forever… this warmth, this sense of belonging.

But did I really belong here? The question nagged at me, refusing to let go. I was a Grim Reaper, for crying out loud! My job was to guide souls to the afterlife, not read bedtime stories to little girls. And yet, here I was, doing exactly that. I thought back to my life before all this. The war, the pain, the loneliness. Then the centuries of reaping souls, seeing the worst of humanity over and over again. It had made me hard, cynical. I’d given up on the idea of happiness, of love. But then Millie came along. Stubborn, brave, beautiful Millie. She’d turned my world upside down, made me feel things I thought were long dead. And now here I was, in her home, part of her family.

I looked at Elysia, her face peaceful in sleep. She trusted me, a skeleton in a cloak, to keep her safe. To read her stories and chase away her nightmares. It was a responsibility I never thought I’d have, but one I found myself wanting more than anything. And Millie... My gaze shifted to her sleeping form. She’d said she loved me. Me, a creature of death and darkness. She wanted me in her life, in her future. The thought made my non-existent heart race. This life they were offering me… it was everything I’d ever wanted but never dared to dream of. A family, a home, love. It seemed too good to be true. Part of mewas waiting for the other shoe to drop, for it all to be taken away. But another part, a part that was growing stronger by the minute, wanted to grab onto this chance with both hands and never let go. To hell with being a reaper. To hell with my past. I wanted this. I wanted them.

I imagined waking up every morning to Millie’s smile. Having breakfast with her and Elysia, helping with homework, going on family outings. Normal, everyday things that I’d never experienced before. The idea of it filled me with a warmth I couldn’t begin to describe. But could I really have this? Could I, a creature of death, truly be part of a living, breathing family? The doubt crept in, cold and familiar. I’d seen too much, done too much. Maybe I didn’t deserve this happiness. And yet... Millie and Elysia didn’t seem to care about what I was. They saw past the bones and the darkness. They saw me. Just me. The thought made me feel oddly vulnerable, but in a good way.

I stood up and took a step towards the bed, drinking in the sight of them. This was what I wanted to protect. This was what I wanted to come home to every day. I loved them. Both of them. And I wanted to be part of their lives, no matter what.

Just as I was about to reach out and touch Millie’s hand, a movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention. I turned, my hand automatically reaching for my scythe. In the darkest corner of the room, a figure appeared. I recognized it immediately as one of Death’s messengers. These creatures were a strange mix of human and animal, their bodies twisted and unnatural. This one wore a heavy cloak that hid most of its features, but I could see glimpses of fur and scales peeking out from under the fabric.

“Reaper,” it hissed. “The Breathless summons you.”

I felt my good mood evaporate. Of course. Just when I was starting to believe I could have this life, duty called. Typical.

“Now?” I asked, keeping my voice low to avoid waking Millie and Elysia.

The messenger nodded, its misshapen head bobbing unnaturally. “Immediately.”

I sighed. I looked back at Millie and Elysia, still sleeping peacefully. They had no idea what was happening just a few feet away from them.

“Fine,” I said, turning back to the messenger. “I’ll be there.”

The creature vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving me alone once again. I grabbed my scythe, the weight of it in my hand a reminder of who and what I was. I took one last look at Millie and Elysia.

“I’ll be back,” I whispered, even though I knew they couldn’t hear me. “I promise.”

With a heavy heart, I focused on the Halls of Death. In the blink of an eye, Elysia’s cozy bedroom disappeared, replaced by the cold, dark corridors I knew so well.

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