Page 65 of Living with Death

“Old.”

“Not as old as you are.”

The corner of my lip lifts. “There are few things older than me, darling.”

Marble stretches out across the whole bottom floor. Floor-to-ceiling windows cover one wall, and furniture is left broken. Two large fireplaces sit on opposite sides of the room.

“Does that frighten you?” I ask.

Mabel looks around, taking it all in. I've seen it a thousand times, so I'm only interested in her.

“Not at all.”

I slide my hands into my front pockets, noticing how my pale skin nearly glows in the low-lit room. My tattoos appear darker. “Why is that?”

She bends, picking up a silver vase. “Why don't you scare me?”

“Yes.”

She places it on the mantel. “You excite me. Even make me a little nervous. But scare?” She shakes her head. “Not at all.” She puts a piece of hair behind her ear and circles the large room, looking at the old crystal chandeliers and vaulted ceiling. She isn't frightened of me. Interesting. Most mortals find me terrifying. I am Death, after all.

“The rest of the bottom is in bad shape, but we can see it if you like.”

“Is there a library?” she asks.

I try not to smile. “Yes.”

“That is what I'd like to see.”

“How did I know?” The smell of mold and dust floats in the air. “Oddly, it's on the third floor. Lily liked to look out over the forest when she read.”

“Where are the stairs?” she asks.

“Down the hall.”

“Is it safe to go up?”

“I wouldn't put you in harm's way.”

Liar. You did exactly that.

We can worry about that tomorrow.

She moves across the room, past the wide columns, and enters the vast hall. A staircase with stone walls winds up to the second and third floors. It cuts off at the second and then continues to the third.

“They're just rooms here, nothing special to see. Keep going up.”

She follows the next stairs, running her hand along the old wall as she climbs. “Can you imagine how many hands have touched these?” she says. Curiosity looks beautiful on her, but I thought that the moment she first saw me.

So many questions, but who could blame her? I'd be shocked if she didn't have things to ask me. These mortals go their whole lives believing I'm a fairytale. Thinking portals are just myths, and other realms are only valid in fiction novels.

It's the only way to keep the balance. Michael always says we must maintain balance.

I smile as I follow her up the stairs, anxious to see her reaction and slightly worried about her comment about Francis being cringey.

I don't care for that word.

When she hits the top step, she gasps. Candles cover the room. Windows make up the far wall, and the fireplace roars, warming the enormous space. There are two floors. This one is where Lily used to read, and the open one above is where she kept her books.

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