Death being interested in a lady.”
“Death is just helping me settle into my role as Queen, that’s all.”
“Mya, I’m a spirit, but I’m still a man. I can see the longing on his face when he looks at you. Now whether that’s because he thinks you’re a fit wench like I do, or whether it’s reminded him of the human side he doesn’t recall, I dunno. But I’m not wrong. He has feelings for ya, and that will throw him for a loop, cos Death don’t let his feelings in. If he does, it could overwhelm him. Can you imagine if Death started being affected by what he saw day in, day out?”
I drummed my fingers on the table. “I never thought of that. To let in a side that cares too much, could cause Death to…”
“Collapse like a pack of cards, once a busty wench comes serving the rum?” Spence offered.
“I’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t like me then,” I mumbled to myself, noticing that my own stomach sank with the thought.
Oh dear. It seemed if Death came a knocking, I wouldn’t want to run. But I’d have to.
Suck. My. Life.
Death
I needed to spend a day soul collecting and reminding myself of who I was. Opening the window, I threw the sweater, shirt, and chinos out, then put my leathers and cloak back on. I was Death. I did not think of Mya’s perfect bosom, or how I’d like to sink into her depths. I mean, I hadn’t done that since I’d become Death, and yet, I just knew, that I had done it before in my pre-Death life and knew inside how to do it again.
It was a good job I was my own boss, left largely to my own devices. If I had problems I had to consult with God and Satan and no one wanted to be the meat in that sandwich.
Nope, I’d focus on work and leave Mya and my thoughts of her back in the house.
“Why have you thrown your clothes out of the window?”
Damn it. I’d left my door ajar and Mya now stood in the doorway.
“They’re not me. Don’t represent me.”
I expected her to protest, but she didn’t.
“Yeah, maybe I was wrong. You’re Death, the dark collector of souls. I was being a real idiot there wasn’t I? Trying to dress you like a real man. I’ll deal with them. See if I can get the twins to accept a return.”
“You do that.”
“Or I’ll see if they fit Stan junior.”
“You met Stan junior?” Why did my chest tense up at the mention of his name? Could it be because he was one of the younger men of Gnarly Fell?
“No, I met Stan senior, but he said he and his son could come help me fix some things at the house. So, if the clothes fit him, he can have them. Anyway, I must dash. I’ve a lot to do today: cleaning, shopping, seeing if I can get souls to move on.”
“Do you want me to sit in with you some more?” I asked her, feeling bad about leaving her to it.
“No. It’s fine. I have the computer, and Spence has been around a long time. I can always consult him. I don’t need you, so go do your thing.”
She walked away from my room and I heard her footsteps on the stairs.
I don’t need you.
I took a deep breath and pulled up my hood. Grabbing my scythe from the door, I got ready to do what I did best.
Destroy people’s lives.
It was good that Mya didn’t need me. Death should be a loner, unloved. Someone who took lives did not deserve happiness. Even if it was already forecast in The Book of the Dead.
Everyone blamed me.
It was a heavy toll on my soul.
Yes, I took other people’s.
But deep down inside.
Somewhere.
I still had my own.
And Mya was making me remember that.
The further I stayed away from her, the better.
Some people saw me and that was the case today. It was like those who saw ghosts. Some were more tuned in to the frequency than others.
I visited the old people’s home where the residents were sat in chairs with the television on. Two members of care staff sat among them, one right next to the man whose soul I’d come to collect.
He saw me and his yellowed eyes widened. He turned to the staff member at his side and tapped her arm. “D- do you see anything there, dear? A man dressed