Page 51 of Woven Souls

Danger.

“I’m going to be in so much trouble…” Willow mutters under her breath as she frantically shoves her arms into her shirt and pulls it over her head.

“Are you doing this?”

Usually when I’m in danger, my body shifts into fight mode. Even without my sword or dagger on me, I have teeth and claws at the ready. But the intense need torunmakes my knees knock together.

“No, but it’s—”

Before she can finish her sentence, a massive, dark void rips open in the middle of the kitchen. A blast of air so cold it hurts to breathe comes rushing out of it. A foot steps through the void first, followed by a leg and then the rest of the body. The time for running is over. There’s no escaping the man standing before us. How I know that I’m not sure, and that scares me even more.

There’s a thundering of footsteps coming down the stairs before Theodon and Viktor burst into the kitchen, their swords drawn and ready. Viktor is dressed, but Theo is only in his pajama bottoms. They barely make it two feet into the room before they freeze. Both of their faces pale dramatically.

While I’m paralyzed with fear, beside me Willow steps forward. But as she takes another step towards our guest, I find the ability to snatch her wrist to hold her in place. The contact immediately lessens the fear clawing through my skull. My muscles coil, ready to move again when Willow looks over at me.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry.” After shooting me a reassuring smile, she turns and looks back at the man closely.

The next words that come out of her mouth floor me.

“Hey, Dad!”

* * *

Never in mywildest dream would I have pictured Death dressed in khaki shorts, a Hawaiian button up shirt, and sporting a bucket hat that sits on top of a bald head. Then again, I never thought much about Death other than in the abstract.

His skin is many shades darker than his daughter’s, almost like he’s made out of the void he stepped out of. Maybe he is? The lower half of his body flickers between a dark smoky mist and solid legs. Is that intentional? I would assume so since the upper half stays solid as he wraps his arms around his daughter, who is currently burying her face in his chest.

Without contact with Willow, the fear that she managed to pull away from me has returned tenfold. All I can do is stand there and tremble like a damn fool. When I look over at the other guys, they look just as unnerved as I feel. At least I’m not alone feeling like this. I didn’t really think I was afraid of death. Maybe it is more so that I’m not afraid ofdying. When you sign up to be a Ghost, you know how your end will play out. Either by the sharp claws or teeth of a monster or from the swing of a blade from another Ghost should you become Fallen.Meeting Death face to face is not like dying. This is a whole new ballgame. One I’m not sure I’m equipped to play.

Willow steps out of her father’s embrace, but he keeps his hands on her shoulders as he looks down to study her.

Are you alright, Willie?

Death’s mouth doesn’t move, but I still hear him loud and clear. His voice is all around and inside of me. It even feels like apart of me. Instantly, I recoil, unused to this type of communication. My step backwards is noticed immediately. Death lifts his head and looks directly at me. He tilts his head to one side curiously as he regards me as one would a painting in a museum.

“Yeah, I’m fine, why—” she assures him, drawing his attention back to her.

Are you? Death scowls down at this daughter.Because last I checked, you made me a promise that you wouldn’t use your power unless absolutely necessary, and last night I felt the imbalance in the realms as surely as I can feel you in my arms now. What happened?

“Oh, yeah,that. Things got a little out of hand, but I took care of it. You didn’t have to come to the rescue. I’m a grown woman, Dad.” The haughty tone she takes with Death scares the shit out of me. How is she being so nonchalant about this? Can’t she feel his presence all around us?

Maybe she’s used to it. She is his daughter after all.

The entity frowns, and his brows come together with concern.I didn’t come all this way to have you blow me off.

When his eyes slide back over to me, I stop breathing.

This one carries with him a part of you, Willie. An unusuallylargepart of you.

“Yeah, it’s kind of a long story, and I know you don’t have a lot of time… Maybe when you have some time you could fix something for me, but for now, I think I have everything under control.”

My fear subsides as I bristle at the word “fix.” There’s nothing to fix between us. Maybe with the others, but we’re meant to be together.

I may be a busy man, but I have time to hear what my daughter is up to,Death states.Especially since you’ve been avoiding your mother. You only disappear when you’re in trouble.

“Okay, well, last time I got in trouble I was a teenager and stupid.Thissituation is different.” Willow lifts her chin and crosses her arms over her chest.

I’m sure it is.

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