Page 56 of Touch of Death
“Enough! Take us back to the room; we can continue discussing this once everyone has had a chance to calm down.”
Eros’ jaw hardens, but then, much to my relief, he nods.
“Fine.”
I want nothing more than to thank Death for ending the lesson, though I know better than to do so in front of Eros. We’re led back through the palace, Eros remaining strangely quiet the entire way.
Reaching the doors, he pushes them open and steps back.
“I have some business to attend to. I’ll have dinner sent up.”
With that, he turns and sweeps out of sight.
Neither Death nor I say anything as we slip into the room, shutting the door behind us. It’s a welcome relief not to have Eros hovering.
“I cannot stand that man,” Death says, turning toward me. I can feel his displeasure rolling off him in heavy waves. Even the darkness around him seems to have grown inkier with his mood. Thick shadows waft up around him, nearly swallowing his form within them. I’m not sure what to say as I stare up at him.
“He has his head so far up his own ass … how the hell does he expect to teach you anything when it is obvious that he barely understands his own craft.”
I’m so taken aback by his directness that I can’t seem to find any words in the way of a response. Death shakes his head, letting out a sigh of frustration as he moves to step around me. Only, I mistake his path, and he nearly collides with me instead.
I reach out, my hand meeting the firm expanse of his chest as he quickly grabs my arms to keep from tumbling to the floor.
He goes still, slowly lowering his eyes to meet mine. “Forgive me, Hazel; I am not thinking clearly.”
“Your frustration is understandable,” I say softly. “I feel it as well, but we need his help. I just need time to grasp what he’s trying to teach me.”
I can tell he wants to argue with me, and for a moment, I think he will. But then Death lets out a deep sigh, the fight leaving his body as his shadows calm into soft waves at his feet.
“You are right. It is my own fault for feeling …”
He trails off, and I wait a few seconds before pressing, “Feeling what?”
“Nothing.”
“Please, I need to know what you’re thinking. We’re in this together, aren’t we?”
He stares down at me, his eyes softening as they move over my face.
“I just … I do not trust Eros. I think he is trying to seduce you more than he is actually trying to help.”
I let out a sigh at this, pulling out of Death’s hands as I walk further into the room. I don’t know why I’d hoped for more from him, some vocal acknowledgement of his feelings for me.
“At least he’stryingto help,” I say, regretting the tone of my voice as soon as it slips from me.
“You thinkthatwas helping? He spent the entire day speaking nonsense and giving you useless pointers,” Death growls.
“Well, you’re wrong,” I say, my back now to him, “because, for a moment when I was with him, I felt a connection.”
“Fine.”
Death strides past me at this, his shadows crashing over me in an icy wave as he crosses the room to settle into a chair.
“What should we do now?” I ask.
“Wait,” he answers bluntly, not looking my way. “I am sure Eros will return to teach you morelessonsbefore too long.”
I try not to notice the distance he’s put between us as I quietly move to sit on the bed. The minutes slip by slowly, the silence filling the room almost nauseating in its intensity.
