I longed for her to summon me. For her to ask me for the help she didn’t deserve. I knew I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I denied her, but I just kept thinking about that moment when I saw her in the graveyard. She’d known me then, and then the next day it was like that hadn’t happened. She had forgotten me in favor of remembering others.
When the summoning finally came, I was surprised to see it was Rory who held the burning piece of paper over the flame while Asena stood nearby, playing with her hair nervously.
Rory screamed when she noticed me, her flaming paper thankfully dropping into her cauldron.
I stared down at her in confusion. She’d summoned me and my appearance had frightened her? I couldn’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if I hadn’t been summoned.
“You told me to summon you, so I did,” Asena said, clearly unfazed. “I need your help.” She looked at me expectantly.
I side eyed her. This was the same woman that had run out into a battlefield after my death. The same woman who sacrificed her own life for her mother’s, and the very same woman who had bore a son of the enemy. Yet she was not the same woman. She was standing before Death, looking at me like I owed her a damn thing. The old Asena would have known her place.
I laughed, cold and humorless. “You ask like it’s already given.”
Her nose scrunched in irritated confusion. “What do you mean? You offered it.”
Looking down my nose at her, I sneered, “I remember insinuating that there needed to be some desire to live behind that request. And forgive me, but you still seem to lack that crucial quality.”
“What would convince you?” Rory asked.
“I’m so glad you asked,” I found myself purring like the Master. I internally cursed myself for the sound. “Beg me. Kneel if you must.”
“What?!” Asena and Rory exclaimed at the same time.
“Asena Black has made it unfortunately clear that she cares very little for her fate while the rest of us are trying to ensure she has a long and happy life before she ascends.”
“I’m still going to ascend?” Asena asked.
I frowned at her. “You can’t beat fate. Only delay. But it’s either a painful death via murder, or a nice peaceful death in a hospital surrounded by loved ones decades from now.”
Rory dropped to her knees. “Please save her,” she begged, holding her clasped hands to me. When Asena didn’t follow suit, Rory hissed, “Swallow your damn pride and ask for help, Asena. Do you want to be murdered? I would rather you weren’t, personally.”
I smirked. “Especially since Rory’s father was murdered by the same witches.”
“What?” Rory blanched, whirling back to face me.
Oops. Thought that was common knowledge. “Never mind. Asena, if you’re not going to beg then I simply don’t have time for this. I have souls to reap and people to care for while you mope in your last weeks.”
Asena turned pale. “Weeks?”
“Weeks. As your power grows, so will the target on your back. The witches will have you in their clutches within a few weeks, no doubt. They’ll be sliding a knife between your ribs in no time.”
Asena clutched her chest, hyperventilating.
“I don’t have time for this,” I muttered, then to Asena I snarled; “I have been warning you about this for days. You cannot act like you’re surprised or suddenly concerned that you’re going to die because, again, you’ve been warned. My very appearance to you should’ve been a sign, but instead of learning about magic you shut it out because ‘it betrayed you.’ I hate to break it to you, but not all that betrays you can be shut out - and some of it shouldn’t be. So, get on your knees and remember that you want to live, damn it.”
Her knees slammed into the ground. “I’m sorry you’re right,” she blurted out. “I need your help. Please help me.”
I stared down at the two girls, wondering if helping them would truly be worth my time since the Master had all the pieces. Could I stand a chance against them with these two girls who could barely string a simple spell together? The chances didn’t look good, to be frank, but perhaps it was worth a shot.
Asena stared up at me, her star bright eyes shining with tears brimming along her lashes. Maybe she’d finally come around. Maybe she finally understood what was at stake, but I was still unconvinced.
I knelt down and took her face in my hand so she was looking at me. “You better not be lying,” I hissed. “If I even see a hint of you wavering I will let you drown, do you understand? I will let you be murdered.”
“How–” Rory blurted out and then pinched her mouth shut. How could you?
Asena struggled in my grasp at first before finally surrendering. “I understand,” she murmured out finally.
“What was that?”
“I understand. I won’t waver.”
I laughed. “Don’t tease me with lies, Black. I will make sure you regret lying to me if you are.”
“I’m not lying,” she whispered, a single tear sliding down her cheeks.
I released her face, grinning as I slid back to my full height. “Good, then we’re all in agreement. I will help as long as this one–” I pointed at Asena; “–continues wanting to live, otherwise our deal is off, and you’re on your own.”
“How can you be so cold?” Rory asked, helping Asena to her feet.
“Because, dear, I have been a Grim for centuries, and sometimes the idea of giving it all up sounds quite nice.”
“Then why not let me die?” Asena asked, hugging herself as if she were cold.
“Now, isn’t that the question,” I laughed. “But anyway, to start you both need to understand the lore the witches are following. Read both the Grimm and Black family grimoires and then summon me again.”
I moved to transport myself back to the In Between but hesitated when Asena made a sound of disgust.
“You want us to read?” Asena balked. “You don’t want us to learn any spells or anything?”
I wanted to scream but I settled for a long, irritated sigh. “Spells will come after learning lore.”
I transported myself to the In Between’s fields with the best view of the Veil in hopes I wouldn’t get the Master’s chiding–
“That was so much better!”
A loud groan of irritation ripped from my throat as I turned to face them. They were beaming at me, their features twisted in enthusiasm. They were wearing bright colors of the rainbow in their usual attire of a androgynous suit jacket that changed color with their mood. Rainbow was seldom seen except for whenever they were exceptionally happy.
Shit.
“It’s so nice to see her crumble at your feet. It means she’ll be easier to tame when she arrives.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
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