Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
The sound of Benny screeching outside wakes me up, and I crawl out of bed to look out the window.
Gray. He is taking the hen’s eggs and Benny isn’t happy he’s there.
I chuckle. Having Gray around when I wake up is surprisingly good, my heart seems to thump harder and louder and I am happy—I can admit that.
All my worries seem to disappear when he’s around.
It doesn’t hide the bad thoughts from haunting me, but I won’t let them take over this happy moment.
Gray looks and seems like a normal human man, although I can’t imagine he does this type of work in his day-to-day life.
Yesterday showed me just what Gray can do, how he is seen to others in my world, and that violence isn’t always the answer to death.
He showed me there are more gentle ways of dying, especially to those who deserve peace, like that rabbit or the old man.
George just wanted to visit his wife’s grave and be with her again—like Romeo and Juliet, he died to be with her.
I freshen up, pour a glass of water and watch Gray through the window.
He strokes Ada and she seems to really like him.
Ada’s coat is streaked with grey now, irregular stripe-like patterns like smoke twining through the remaining chestnut of her short hair.
Her mane and tail both have little threads of grey shot throughout too, and I find it beautiful now that I understand it has something to do with my growing bond to Gray.
Ada nudges Gray, wrapping her head around his body like she does with me when I hug her. My smile is so wide, it starts to hurt.
This morning, I need to do the stableboy’s horseshoe—I didn’t forget, I just…
lost track of the days. I put on my raggy clothes, apron over them, and head out to Gray.
He watches my every move as I walk closer to him, resting his head on Ada’s neck while continuing to stroke her; he just gets more attractive as the days go by.
“Good morning, my love,” he greets me.
“Good morning to you, too. And good morning, Ada.” Ada neighs and bows her head a little. Benny is still cawing loudly and tries to peck around Gray—so defensive, he’s not used to another male around. Gray and I chuckle at his antics, and I walk over to my blacksmithing area.
“And what do you think you’re doing, my crow?” Gray asks me while he follows me.
“I have some work to complete for the stableboy.” Gray's smile quickly fades away, his eyes darkening a little. “What? What is it?” I ask him quickly. Gray shakes his head and his features go back to how they were before.
“Nothing, sorry, don’t worry about me. Today, you’re not blacksmithing.
No, we are going to go into town. You can collect more souls as and when people need us.
I haven't collected nearly enough souls recently, just the two yesterday, so I need to focus on continuing, but someone is rather distracting me.” He looks me up and down.
I huff out a small laugh and place my hands on my hips.
“Yeah? I’m distracting? You’re the one who's been stalking me for a while now and made me fall in—” I stop myself.
What was that?
What was I going to say?
I cough and look to Ada who is just giving me a long face. Gray is smiling so wide and his eyes are turning… I can't actually tell what colour they’re becoming, and I don't want to find out. I’ve just made a complete fool of myself. I don't do this. This isn't me.
“It’s okay, my goddess. Go have a drink of water and change into different clothes.
I do like to see you in rags and little night dresses, but that attire isn’t suitable for town.
I can’t stand the thought of others looking at you the way I do.
” I feel my cheeks redden more and I quickly turn back towards the cottage.
This feels like it's going to be a long day.
I arrive in town on Ada, following Gray’s directions, after he promised to meet me here.
It feels different going into town with no hat and mask on.
It's…freeing. I can feel the cool breeze on my face and enjoy the warmth of the midday sun.
I take Ada to a different stable than usual and with a final head stroke and a kiss to her nose, I turn to weave through the streets of London to find my Gray.
I turn a corner and immediately spot him, leaning against a wall, one foot propping him up, arms folded and a smile on his face upon seeing me. He pushes off the wall and walks forwards, slowly towering over me.
“What are we doing here?” I question him, hurrying to catch up as he starts to walk off into an alleyway.
“Just down here is an old beggar. Her time has come, my queen. You may help her.” Gray comes to a halt, and I stand next to him, wishing I could hold his hand to do this together.
A lady is sitting on the floor, rags over her head, tattered grey clothes and can barely hold her begging cup any longer.
She drops it but tries to hold it up again when people walk near her.
She is painfully thin—must be starvation, a feeling I remember well and would never wish upon anybody.
People pass her by, not looking at her, and she drops her cup, crying softly to herself. She can’t survive any longer.
I walk past Gray and go up to the woman, getting onto my knees in front of her.
No one else is around now, but Gray hovers nearby, close and observing.
The woman looks up to me. She can’t even be that old, maybe the same age as me but her skeletal face could be deceiving me.
She smiles when she sees me and is about to say something but her gaze catches Gray and she starts to panic.
“No, no! Please no. I can get money; I can get food and eat! Just give me some time!” she begs, grabbing my hands, her pleading eyes flitting between me and Gray. “Please…” she whispers.
I shake my head. “Not this time. I’m sorry.”
She sobs harder and I feel her hands tense up; she wants to fight and flee but she doesn’t have the energy, she needs to let go now. I give her a small smile, brushing some of her ratted hair behind her ear as she closes her eyes and sighs.
When I pull back my hand, I have her little blue light of soul in my hand. I guide the light close to my crow necklace, and it seems to almost jump into the pendant, just like before. I look to Gray who gives me a little nod and starts to walk down the alley.
“Wait!” I cry out for him, scrambling to my feet. He stops, turning to face me as I continue more quietly. “Tell me, what do these people see when they look at you? How do they know you are Death? How do they know you have come for them?”
“Ah, my little one, they see me as what they think death looks like. Some see me as a skeleton, others see me as an angel with wings, and a few see a dark shadow. The very guilty souls see me as the victims they hurt or murdered and that is why they try to flee—I enjoy those the most; I get to hunt them down and bring them the death they’re trying to escape from.
No one can hide from me. No one will ever flee from their inevitable death date.
I will find them and destroy them how I wish.
Others, I don’t interfere with. I let nature take its course.
You, my darling, see me as the man I created for myself.
It gets a little complicated, but this is the form I created to walk amongst humans.
If you don’t like how I look, I’m more than happy to change things for you?
” He grins at me and holds his arms out and turns around so I can see him, bringing a smile and teasing slight giggle from me.
“Nothing needs changing, I like this look,” I say with a wink. Gray smiles and bows, looking very pleased with himself.
Muffled screams catch my attention, and my feet instantly take me to where they are coming from.
I’d recognise those muffled noises anywhere.
Gray walks slowly behind me as I pick up the pace, rushing into the alleyway, where I see a man forcing a woman against the wall.
Her face scratches on the brick work as his hand force her head against the building.
Her skirts have been raised where he’s stood behind her.
She doesn’t want this.
She doesn’t like this.
“Stop!” I can’t help but yell. The man looks at me, stabs the lady three or four times and flees. Her body drops to the floor and she gasps for air. I drop behind her, holding onto the back of her head and let her rest on my knees.
“He… He…” She tries to speak to me but blood bubbles and froths, staining her lips.
“I will find him for you, now, close your eyes and rest, sweet girl,” I whisper to her.
She closes her eyes and the little ball of blue light floats out of her mouth.
I grab it, lowering her to the floor and guiding the soul to my pendant.
I feel stronger and more alert now. I’m mad as hell and need to catch this guy—no one kills an innocent woman in front of me.
“Where did he go?” I turn to Gray. He raises his eyebrows at me, and his eyes start to fade black along with a wicked grin, clearly having the same idea as me.
“Come, my sweet temptation, let's go get him.” Gray disappears before my eyes, leaving me alone. I turn and walk in the direction of where the man ran off to.
Go up the street, turn right and duck behind the baker's shop. I have him.