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It was a breathtaking sight. The view of the valley from the top of the mountain was beyond what Venus had expected. The lush greenery stretched out endlessly, dotted with vibrant wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. The sky was a brilliant shade of blue, with fluffy white clouds lazily drifting by. She looked out at the world below her, feeling the wind flow through her hair, carrying the fresh scent of pine and earth. She felt amazing.
“Blaine, it’s so beautiful,” she said, turning to the man beside her. His eyes sparkled with joy as he took in the same view.
“I knew you would love it, Ve. I think I’ll paint it for you one day. Today I just wanted to experience it with you,” he replied, his voice filled with warmth.
“Oh Blaine, that would be lovely. This was definitely an experience to remember.” She softly smiled, “I love you so much.”
He smiled back as he stepped closer to her, placing a delicate kiss on her lips before resting his forehead against hers. “I love you too. More than you could ever know. I can’t believe it’s been a year since you said you’d be mine.”
“It has been the best year of my life. I couldn’t imagine a future with anyone else. I’ll love you till the end of time.”
Blaine chuckled, “Time is a funny guy.”
“What do you mean?” She leaned back and looked at him, a little confused.
Blaine had a sudden strange look on his face, “Oh um, I just mean time is a funny thing. This year went by so fast yet I feel like I’ve known you my whole life.”
She smiled, “I feel the same way. I think that’s just even more proof that we are soulmates.”
Blaine hugged her tighter, “I never thought I’d be someone to have a soulmate until I met you.”
They held each other for a while, savoring the moment, before it was time to leave. As they began the journey back down the mountain, the path became steeper and more treacherous. The once clear trail was now littered with loose rocks and fallen branches. Venus stepped onto a loose rock, it gave way beneath her. She lost her balance and tumbled down the steep slope.
“BLAINE!” her scream echoed through the mountains.
She reached her hand up towards Blaine who had tried to catch her. As she fell, she saw him getting smaller. His face was terrified. His eyes glowing red, the only thing she could see just before everything went black.
She felt the world around her change. It started getting cold, a damp mist tickled her skin. The once vibrant colors of the valley were replaced by a gray, shadowy landscape.
“Where am I? What happened?” she thought to herself.
A strange presence molded around her. She felt as though someone else was there, but it didn’t feel like Blaine. It felt cold, sad, and lonely. Was it Death?
“Hello? Is someone there?” She whispered, even though she couldn’t see anything.
“I’m sorry Venus. You can’t go, not yet.” she heard a voice say before she began to feel a warm light engulf her. For a moment, she saw a shadow of a cloaked figure. The feeling of the damp mist faded away. She could feel arms around her, drops of warm tears hitting her face.
Venus looked around, disoriented and confused. She had no memory of what had happened, no recollection of seeing death. All she knew was that she was alive, and Blaine was there, holding her, his face hidden in the shadows.
“Blaine?” she whispered, her voice weak.
He pulled her close, relief flooding through him. “I’m so sorry! I’m here now, my love. You’re safe.”
Blaine’s heart stopped as he watched her fall, powerless to stop it.
He scrambled down the slope as quickly as he could, his mind racing with fear and desperation. When he reached her, she was unconscious, her body still and lifeless. Tears streamed down his face as he cradled her in his arms, whispering her name, begging her to wake up.
In that moment, the world around him seemed to shift. The air grew cold, and a familiar darkness enveloped him. Blaine knew what was happening—he was being summoned as the guardian of death. But this time, it was different. This time, it was Venus.
He felt the pull of his duty, the call to collect her soul and guide her to the afterlife. But as he looked at her, his heart shattered. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t let her go. Not her. Not the woman who had brought light into his life, who had given him a reason to live.
With a heavy heart, Blaine hid his face, masking his true identity. He whispered words of love and sorrow, his voice trembling with emotion. “I’m sorry Venus. You can’t go, not yet.”
He reached out, his hand trembling, and placed it over her heart. Summoning all his strength, he refused to collect her soul, instead sending her back to the world of the living. A soft glow enveloped her, and she began to stir, her eyes fluttering open.
They returned to their shared apartment, the cozy space filled with memories of their time together. The walls were adorned with Blaine’s paintings, each one capturing a moment of their love. Venus settled onto the couch, still shaken from the fall, while Blaine busied himself in the kitchen, making her a cup of tea.
As he stirred the tea, his thoughts lingered on the decision he had made. The decision to not collect her soul. It was a choice that weighed heavily on him, reminding him of his true nature. Blaine was not just an artist; he was the guardian of death, a role he had kept secret from the woman he loved.
He brought the tea to Venus, his heart aching with the knowledge he carried. She looked up at him with grateful eyes, unaware of the turmoil within him.
“Thank you, Blaine,” she said softly, taking the cup from his hands. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
He forced a smile, sitting down beside her. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll always be here for you.”
As she sipped her tea, Blaine’s mind wandered back to the moment on the mountain. He had seen her fall, felt the panic rise within him. In that instant, he had made a choice that defied his very existence. He had chosen love over duty, and now he had to live with the consequences.
Venus leaned against him, her presence a comforting warmth. “I still can’t believe what happened. It felt so surreal, like I was in another world.”
Blaine’s heart tightened. She had been in another world, a world he was all too familiar with. “I’m just glad you’re okay,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay, Blaine? You seem… distant.”
He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “I’m fine, Ve. Just… thinking about how close I came to losing you.”
She reached out, taking his hand in hers. “You didn’t lose me. I’m right here.”
He squeezed her hand, the weight of his secret pressing down on him. “I know. And I’m so grateful for that.”
As the evening wore on, they talked about lighter things, trying to push the day’s events to the back of their minds. But Blaine couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that lingered. He was the guardian of death, and he had broken the rules. How long could he keep this secret from Venus? And what would happen when she found out the truth?
As they prepared for bed, Blaine watched Venus with a mixture of love and fear. She was his everything, and he would do anything to protect her. But he knew that his secret was a ticking time bomb, one that could shatter their world if it ever came to light.
He lay beside her, listening to the sound of her breathing as she drifted off to sleep. He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I love you, Venus,” he whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of devotion and sorrow. “More than you could ever know.”
And as he closed his eyes, he prayed that he could keep his secret just a little longer, but the threads had already begun to unravel.
Months went by, and the two settled back into their daily lives. They cherished every moment together, grateful for the second chance they had been given. Venus often found herself reflecting on how lucky they were to have each other, feeling a deep sense of gratitude every time she looked at Blaine. She would catch herself smiling at the simplest things, like the way he laughed or the way he painted, each stroke filled with love and passion.
One sunny afternoon, they decided to go on a road trip to a picturesque countryside they had always wanted to visit. The drive was filled with joy and excitement, the landscape unfolding before them like a beautiful painting. Venus marveled at the rolling hills and vibrant fields of wildflowers, her heart swelling with happiness. They sang along to their favorite songs, their voices blending in perfect harmony, creating a soundtrack for their adventure. The sun cast a golden glow over the landscape, making everything look magical.
As they rounded a bend on a narrow mountain road, a sudden flash of movement caught Blaine’s eye. A deer had darted onto the road, and in an instant, everything changed. Blaine swerved to avoid the animal, but the car skidded on the loose gravel, careening off the road and down a steep embankment.
The world spun around them, the sound of metal crunching and glass shattering filling the air. Venus felt a jolt of terror as the car tumbled, her mind going blank. When the car finally came to a stop, Blaine’s heart sank as he looked over at Venus. She was unconscious, her body limp and lifeless.
Panic surged through him as he scrambled to free himself from the wreckage, his hands shaking. He reached for her, his mind racing with fear and desperation. “NO! Not again!” he whispered, tears streaming down his face. “Venus, please,”
As Blaine held her, a familiar darkness began to creep in, reminding him of his duty. The call to collect her soul was strong, an inescapable part of his existence. But just like before, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He couldn’t let her go. Not Venus. Not the woman who had given him a reason to defy his very nature.
In her unconscious state, Venus felt a strange yet familiar sensation, as if she were floating in a void. She sensed a presence, something cold and distant, but she couldn’t grasp what it was. Her mind was a haze of confusion, fear, and familiarity. Have I been here before?
She felt the strange presence behind her once again, “Hello? Who's there?" she called into the void, searching for the figure. Soon making out the shadow before her. "Who-" before she could ask the figure spoke.
With a heavy heart, he turned his face away, concealing his true identity once again. “I... it's not your time yet.”
His hand shook as he reached out and placed it over her heart like before. Again, he refused to collect her soul, sending her back to the world of the living, back to him.
She reached her hand out towards the figure, feeling something was missing "Wait! Please!" But the familiar glow enveloped her, and the void began to fade.
Venus struggled to open her eyes. She was weak, and in pain, this accident being worse than the pervious. Again, she had no memory of what had happened, no recollection of the figure in the void.
“Blaine? What happened?” she whispered, her voice weak.
He held her close, tears streaming down his face. “You're okay! A deer ran in front of the car. We had an accident but we're okay. The ambulance is on the way. ”
They were taken to the hospital, where Venus was treated for her injuries. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, and the beeping of machines created a rhythmic background noise. Blaine stayed by her side, holding her hand, his eyes never leaving her face. As the days passed, Venus recovered quickly, her memory of the accident fading like a distant dream. She remembered the road trip, the joy they felt, but the crash itself was a blur, a shadow in her mind.
Blaine, however, was haunted by the events. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Why had death come for Venus again so quickly? Was he being punished for not collecting her soul the first time? The thought gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the delicate balance he was disrupting.
As he watched Venus sleep, her face peaceful and serene, he couldn’t help but wonder how long they had. How many more times could he defy his duty before the universe corrected itself? The thought of losing her was unbearable, but he knew he couldn’t keep bending the rules forever.
Death was inevitable for humans, but how long could he hold it off? He had the power, but he was abusing it. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, one that could have dire consequences.
How long could he twist the threads of death?
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