Page 10 of Touch of Death
I feel like a fool having even given voice to the question. Of course, after all, death is theonlyreason I’m here.
“Why are you here?”
Before he can answer, Cerberus lets out another growl, momentarily drawing our attention back to the end of the dock. I watch as the massive creature steps toward us, the wood groaning beneath his weight.
“Damn it,” Death mutters, eyeing Cerberus warily as he takes another step onto the creaking dock. “I promise to answer all your questions in time, but it is not safe for us to do so here.”
Spinning around, I scan our surroundings before sprinting to the far end of the dock. Dropping down, I lean over the edge to peer down into the black water, my own reflection staring back at me.
“Perhaps we could swim or allow the current to carry us further downstream?”
“You cannot swim the Styx; it is …”
His voice trails off as I blink and find myself staring down into the face of an unknown woman. Faintly, I hear the muffled voice of Death in the distance as I lean closer, my mind fixated on the woman in the water.
Her eyes are closed, her expression peaceful as deep red hair floats in a soft halo around her face. I can’t help but feel drawn to her as I watch and wonder what life she could have lived to end up here.
Suddenly, her eyes snap open, revealing a pair of empty sockets as she jerks toward the surface of the water. I scream as her mouth widens and long spindly fingers swipe at me, narrowly missing as a strong hand grabs me and pulls me back to safety.
The spell broken, I lay on the dock, watching in horror as the creature scrambles to get to me. Death doesn’t so much as flinch, his shadows swirling up around him as he steps over me to slam the heel of his boot into the woman’s face. She lets out a furious shriek of pain as she collapses backward and once again disappears into the depths of the Styx.
“Are you alright?” Death asks, quickly kneeling to pull my trembling body into his arms as he searches my face.
“I-I think so,” I answer, still in shock, surprised to find the chill of his body against my own comforting. “What wasthat?”
“Thatis what happens to those who leave nothing but hatred behind in their wake. She is one of the damned, forced to guide other souls to their final resting place while unable to move on herself.”
“Will she ever be able to move on?”
“Perhaps, if she can take another soul’s place. It is the river of thelostand the damned, andthatis exactly why you cannot swim these waters.”
Another low growl and the shuddering of the dock have us both glance up as Cerberus crouches, his muscles gathering as if he’s about to pounce.
“What do we do now?”
“We follow his lead, little one,” he says, rising and helping me to my feet. “I promise no harm will come to you as long as I am by your side.”
I have no choice but to trust him.
My mouth dry, and with nowhere to go but forward, I slowly turn to face the growling monster that awaits us.
Following Death’s lead, I watch in surprise as Cerberus’ growls quiet, and he backs away to allow us off the dock. It’s only as we move further away from the river, Cerberus following close behind us, that I realize what is happening.
We’re being herded along a well-worn path toward the mouth of an enormous, ornate gate. A shiver runs down my spine at the sight of it, and I can’t help the way fear settles over me again.
“Why are you here?” I ask, pausing just outside the open gate, much to the annoyance of Cerberus who growls in warning.
Death glances back over his shoulder to shoot a silencing look at the giant hellhound before turning to me.
“I thought I made that clear,” he answers, his eyes searching my face. “I am here foryou.”
“But why? I’m already dead,” I press. “Have you not already gotten what you wanted from me?”
Death turns and closes the distance between us, his inky shadows billowing up around us in a frosty wave as he towers over me. Immediately, I drop my eyes to my feet, inwardly chiding myself for daring to speak to him in such a way.
What was I thinking? Who am I to questionDeathhimself?
A moment of silence passes between us before a gentle hand lifts my chin upward.
