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He leads me once more to the Valley of Death. But as we move through the mist, I blink as I take in the valley before us. It seems paler, somehow. The golden hues faded to a muted yellow as I glance about. The bright colors of the flowers have faded into dull shades of red and blue. Frowning, I turn to Death, but he seems unaffected.
“Come,” he says just as Knax appears, neighing deeply in greeting.
Death pulls me to his chest, and for a moment, I’m lost as to what he intends. But then his feet move, and I realize there’s a soft melody I hadn’t heard before filling the meadow. Together, we dance as Knax prances about us. I lay my head on his chest, content in that moment as we move. We dance until my feet ache, and I’m unable to do anything but collapse to the ground with Death at my side. I stare up at the pale sky as I feel Death’s gaze settle on me.
“I know tonight is my last,” I tell him.
He says nothing in response. Turning away from the sky, I glance to him. There is such sorrow in his gaze that my heart clenches.
“When must it happen?” I ask.
“Soon.”
“How soon?”
“Before the rays of dawn’s first light.”
I nod and then ask, “Will you allow me to die here?”
“No. Not here.”
Then without warning, he bends to pull me into his arms. His arms tighten around me as we leave the meadow and Knax behind. I bury my face in his neck, fighting back the smile at the way he tenderly carries me through the halls. It takes me a moment to realize where he’s headed. I blink as he slows once we reach his bedroom. My brows furrow as he places me gently atop his bed.
My chest pounds in my chest as I gaze up at him. Unable to help myself, I feel hope growing within me as I realize what he must intend. Our eyes meet, and for a moment, neither of us moves. But then he straightens as though misreading the excitement in my gaze for something else. I frown up at him.
“Do not worry,” he tells me. “I did not bring you here to bed you.”
“I do not understand.”
“It seems fitting that I take your soul here. Where I will have to live with what I’ve agreed to for the rest of eternity.”
My disappointment at this is sharp as I stare at him. He steps away, coldness rushing in to fill the space where he once touched me.
“The time is near.”
I watch as he removes a glove from his hand. Unable to stop myself, I reach for him. He pauses, his eyes once more returning to mine. A moment passes before he cocks his head to the side in silent question.
“Is it too much to ask that I look upon your face?”
He hesitates for a moment before slowly nodding in agreement.
Excitement bubbles within me once more as he reaches for his mask. Again, he hesitates before slowly removing the mask. A gasp escapes me. He is stunningly beautiful, all sharp angles and tanned skin.
“I am not meant to be beautiful, little creature,” he says, and I realize that I mutter the word aloud. “I am meant to be terrifying.”
A small laugh bursts from me before I say, “It is truly terrifying to have you look out at me from your masks. They are terrifying, but your face, it is not. I could gaze upon it for years and never be able to replicate it on my canvas.”
“You would gladly die to look upon this face?”
“Yes,” I tell him without hesitation. “If looks could kill….”
I never get to finish my sentence. His eyes widen at my words, and before I know it, he moves. His lips crash to mine as he steals away my breath. My heart soars as I lose myself to his touch, the tender way his lips move on mine. Joy, love, and thrill course through me as he deepens the kiss. Then just as quickly as they hit me, they slowly fade away as my soul slips from within me.
28
Death
No.
