A Light in the Dark Part Nineteen: A Fallen Star.

Walking through the woods with Matty, my temptation had led me to explore the cemetery near our house. Victoria floated behind us with Toby and Boomer, a warm breeze kissed my cheeks. His mother had Selene, her excitement about granddaughter time. My curiosity drove me before, the very thing driving me now. Rubbing my shoulders, Matty hugged me from behind. Our activities earlier had me a bit more tired than usual, his lips kissing the top of my head. Dirt crunched with each step, a colonial cemetery coming into view. Ghosts mulled about, all of them gazing upon me in my onyx dress. Adjusting the scarlet cardigan, it was a lovely evening. Waving at them, a couple of ghost children bounced up to me. Picking them up, Matty’s loving gaze fell on me. Clearing my throat, the adults hovered by the granite wall keeping them trapped. Stepping into the stones, I fished around my bag. Presenting three books, the final selection was a book about apples. Reading each page had me smiling softly to myself, all the children inching closer with every word. Closing the book, this was my favorite part of my job. Putting the books away, my slender hand curled around a bag of rubber balls. Tossing them all one, their laughter soon filled the air. Watching them play had me yearning for my Selene, Felix running up to me with a horrified expression. What was affecting my new friend? An angry teenage girl with torn clothes marched up to him, the leaves crunching as I stepped in between them. Cussing in my direction, every attempt to grab my arm failed. Noting the glass piece in her forehead, a dark line led to the white of her uniform shirt.

“Let’s play nice. You died and you need to decide if you want to move on or not.” I commented sternly, her death glare causing me to shrink back. “You can’t be mad at him. He is merely doing his job, right?” Not letting up, a golden door appeared behind me. The warmth was a pleasant change from the dark places I went into, a bit of jealousy burning in my eyes. Dropping her attitude, an older version of her called her over. Apologizing quickly, a bright light blinded us. The light died down, Felix clinging to my side. Turning back towards him, a long list fluttered in his hand.

“Do you need help?” I offered sincerely, his silent nod confirming my new plans for the evening. “Matty, are you coming? We all live in the same place anyway.” Giving me his list, my heart shattered for all of the younger children. Silent tears stained my cheeks, the first stop being the nearby hospital. Sobbing into my shoulder, I understood his sentiment. These children could have had a whole life in front of them. Walking back to his car, Felix and I sat in the back. Clutching him close to my chest, this would never get any easier. Staring numbly at the window, the trees turned into the town that hated me. Pulling into the hospital, the three of us walked past the nurse at the front desk. Walking into a little girls room, her bald head spoke of a lost battle to cancer. Her wet eyes met ours, the parents not seeing us. Felix must be using a cloaking spell, Matty gripping my arm in an uncharacteristic manner. Sitting on her bed next to her, her thin hand grabbed mine. Felix was new at this, his uncertainty holding him back. His master had died when he was still in the apprentice stage, the girl’s eyes never leaving mine. 

“I am not going to make it.” She choked out through a wall of tears, her grip getting tighter. The machines went haywire, the nurses rushing in around us. Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, her hand cupped mine. Asking for her favorite song, the tears wouldn’t stop flowing. Singing it to her, Felix was taking it all in. Closing her eyes one last time, her hand dropped to the side of the bed. Broken wails pierced the air, her parents clutching her close to her chest. Struggling to hold my composure, her soul floated out of her body. A bright door opened up, her arms curling around my leg. Sobbing into my knees, a soft voice called from the other side of the door. An elderly woman stepped out, uncertainty burning in her eyes. Crouching down to her level, fright had her body shaking. Clutching her close to my chest, her tears soaked my shoulders. Taking a step back, her hands cupped my face. Why was this so freaking hard?

“Thank you. I see where I have to go.” She sobbed softly, her smile breaking my heart. Kissing my forehead, she bounced over to her grandmother. Sinking to my knees, the door faded away. Wiping away my tears, our silence spoke of the agony coursing through our minds. Trembling where I sat, this made me want to hold my little girl. Felix hugged me from behind, his composure a bit better than mine.

“Thank you. I see what I have to do. Go take the rest of the evening off.” He wept brokenly, hugging me tighter. Rising to my feet, he was already gone. Leaping out the window before the parents saw us, Matty’s strong arms caught my weakened body. A dark energy whistled towards us, my scythe blocking a sword. This wasn’t the Dark One himself but one of his disciples. Knocking him back, a flick of his wrists had a dagger quivering in shoulder. Dropping my scythe, Matty scooped it up. Shoving it back into place, ivory and onyx magic swirled in his palm. His hair floated up, the energy blasting the bastard back. Shivering in my spot, a venom burned in my veins. A searing pain had me howling, a glob of blood floating in the back of my throat. Our spirit guides rushed to our sides, her hand ripping the blade out. Slumping into her arms, blood slid down her form. A clammy sweat drenched my skin, Matty and Toby working on a spell to cleanse the area. The hair on Boomer’s back stood up, his snarls growing louder. Twitching in her arms, death seemed to be on the horizon. A boom rattled the concrete, Lucifer raising his blade. Death popped up behind him, Life coming in with a shimmering violet liquid. Sparks drifted in the air with every violent clash, the three of them moving faster than I could recognize. Pouring the liquid down my throat, a pale purple light sucked out all the venom. Nausea wracked me, the ground spinning as I crawled over to a bush. Muddy sludge flew up my throat, the rest of the color leaving my face. Wiping the sweat off of my brow, his disciple rolling to my feet. His form glitched, inky bubbles floating around my hand. Fury mixed with regret the moment I slammed my hand into his chest, drops of blood hitting his face. Melting his heart, his body decayed to ash. A breeze blew it into the air, a lightness dawning upon the area. Struggling to my feet, a white dome hummed to life around the town. The wound sealed shut, a black scar remaining where he got me. Limping towards Matty, his bloody nose was all the damage he received. Thankful for his well being, our love would live another day. Sensing more coming, Lucifer shouted for all of us to hold hands. Listening to him, one snap of his fingers had us in our store. Collapsing into a chair, this was getting ridiculous. Smoothing out my outfit, we all needed coffee or something. The chair groaned as I rose to my feet, Matty coming in with me. Helping me brew a cup of the strongest coffee, his hand rested on my shoulder. The sad fact is that we would have to wait until morning to go home, my heart aching for my little girl. Leaning on the counter, tears stained the wood. Watching the light color darken with my pain, his hands held mine. 

“I know that our little reaper is okay.” He promised me shakily, texting his mother. “See.” Showing me a picture of his mother holding her, a sigh of relief escaped my lips. Everything hit me at once, the shock of helping a child pass destroying me. Her parents’ wails echoed in my head, my depression returning with a vengeance. Why did children have to die when they had so much in them? Was the future not important? Digging my hands into the counter, the harsh reality of a reaper sank in. Until now I had dealt with the rotting souls, not the good ones. So much of my time was spent in the darkness, the light seemed like poison. Carrying me to the seat in the corner, the scent of my husband merely prevented a panic attack. Drops of coffee hit the bottom of the pot, the sound keeping me sane temporarily. Burying my head into his shoulders, my fingers gripped his shirt. His love seemed to make everything a bit better.

“You did great. I am as busted as you.” He assured me lovingly, his hand rubbing my back. Death stepped into the kitchen, her gentle gaze falling on my wet eyes. Taking my hand, a silent understanding passed between us. Kissing the top, guilt dimmed her eyes. She had nothing to worry about, it would join my bottomless jar of trauma. Exhaustion rested on my eyelids, a couple of ravens fluttering by my window. 

“It never gets any easier. Felix reported back to me. You gave him the confidence to do his job on his own. Thanks for getting rid of that rotting clown.” She comforted me gently, her thumb wiping away my tears. “Let’s have some coffee with everyone.” Taking her hand, the warmth was new. Taking a seat by the wall, everyone watched on with confusion as I knocked on the wall. Storm clouds rumbled to life, my muscles tensing up. Scanning the sky, Matty placed a cup of tea in front of me the moment he took his seat next to me. 

“We are supposed to have a storm tonight.” He informed me with his crooked grin, every breath growing shorter. “I have reinforced the dome protecting us all.” Unable to settle down, the cup of tea exploded in front of me, light hot water spilling onto the floor. Lucifer took the seat on the other side next to me. His words faded in and out, the memory of my traumatic birth causing my heart to beat out of my chest. Why was all this coming on? The glass shattered again, the sleeve of his velvet suit brushing my cheek. Examining the black scar, a long sigh poured from his lips. Doubles of everyone waved at me, a rough darkness stealing me away.   

Taking in a deep breath, the comfort of the shop greeted me. Death and the others had left, Matty lighting up at the sight of me. Seeing the daycare relieved some of my nerves, his hand taking mine. Selene rested in his arms, tears of joy flooded from my eyes. Taking her into my arms, his mother came out of the bathroom in her scrubs. Hugging me from behind, her lips brushed against the top of my head. 

“You have a wonderful girl.” She commented sweetly, stealing a large coffee and muffin. “Be good for me Lil.” Walking towards the door, surprise rounded her eyes the moment I hugged her from behind. Sobbing into her back, her love always felt like that favorite blanket. Spinning around to face me, her lips brushed against my forehead. Something felt wrong, an inkling telling me to keep her in the shop. Ignoring it, she had to go to work.

“I am not leaving you anytime soon. It takes a lot for me to get killed.” She promised in her motherly tone, my hand reaching for hers. Stepping out, a cold breeze sent a chill up my spine. Stepping out of the shop, a black arrow pierced her heart. Coffee spilled across the street, a broken wail bursting from my lips. Laying Selene in her playpen, our boots couldn’t get to her fast enough. My uncle quivered with fear and hatred, his balding head shining in the early morning light. Matty rolled his mother over, curse words flooding from his lips. Salty tears hit her face, my uncle aiming for him. Seething rage allowed him to release another arrow, a piercing pain jolting my body the moment it hit me. Ignoring the throbbing in my shoulder, something twisted his face. Clutching his chest, he began to wheeze. Sinking to his knees, Derrick pulled up next to him. Time stopped, his last breath leaving as a reaper took his soul through a fiery door. Running over to his mother, she had a weak pulse. She didn’t deserve this, all of this being my fault. 

“I love you with all of my heart, Lily.” She choked out through a wall of tears, knowing that she couldn’t be saved. “Matty, take care of her. I love y-” Her hand dropped to the street, Matty snapping his head in my direction. Watching her soul drifting into the palms of a patient reaper. Shouting at me to call for help, he knew that she was gone. Taking a step back, his next words had me paralyzed. 

“Why don’t you call someone!” He barked hotly, his tears hitting her face. “Are you stupid or something?” Realizing what he had done, an immediate apology left his lips. Shaking my head, we both needed time to cool down. Sprinting into the shop, Death had called for assistance. Burying me into one of her bear hugs, my tears soaked her shoulder. Banging my fist against her chest, our looks of guilt matched. Selene slumbered in her playpen, a worn Matty coming in without his mother as red and blue lights bathed the streets. Stealing me from Death, he apologized non-stop. His shaking hands refused to let me go, my other half grieving. Being a reaper prepared me for actual death but my life experience sure helped. Lifting up his chin with my finger, the situation excused it. A puffy face met mine, his hand cupping my cheek. Wiping away each other’s tears, neither of us couldn’t figure out what to say.  

“Your mother died and you are stressed.” I comforted him, my lips pressing against his sweetly. “You can’t expect to keep your cool. It’s my fault anyway.” Letting him go, his hand grabbed my wrist. Clutching me close to his chest, his refusal to let me go had me realizing how much he needed me. 

“Don’t you ever leave me alone.” He pleaded through sniffles, the cops approaching the door. “I need Selene and you to keep me sane. Promise me that you will never leave. I love you, Lily.” Staying in his arms until an officer pulled the two of us aside. Filling out the reports, they gave us condolences as her body went away in a body bag. Sitting numbly at the table, the muffin and spilled coffee cup kept taunting me. Leaving the lot of us alone, Death’s lips parted to apologize to him. Raising his hand, they pressed into a thin line.  

“You don’t need to apologize. None of us saw that coming and even if you did, I don’t want to know.” He whispered darkly, his father running in as my only employee came in. Offering to run the store for us, Matty was fine with the two of them taking over while he stewed over what happened. Scooping up Selene, he loaded her into the car. Driving to his mother’s home, his key unlocked the door. The door swung open, his legs gave out the moment he entered. Asking me to leave him alone and to go for a walk or something, I understood. Sitting on the front steps with my daughter, Life appeared next to me. Sitting next to me with a sympathetic smile, his light was all I needed.  

“I was wondering if I could steal you away for a minute. I wanted to show you the garden. Grab Matty.” He urged calmly, Matty opening the door. “Are you up for a trip? Lock her up and let’s go.” Locking the door like he asked, a golden door popped up in front of us. Swinging open, his mother sat at the table. Running in, his body smashed into hers. Following Life with a thank you, her arms refused to let her son go. 

“I am going to be Life’s assistant. They said that I was too good to be an angel.” She bragged with jovial tears, her other hand reaching for me. “Besides, I have to keep an eye on you.” Noting her ivory robes, this place suited her. Knowing that she couldn’t leave, the fact ate at me. Matty hugged her repeatedly, his heart screaming out in pure bliss. Chatting with her like nothing happened, a peacefulness came over me. Life hung back with me, our family was a blessing. Chatting my ears off, surprise rounded his eyes at my bear hug. He didn’t have to do this, his arms curling around my shoulders. Friends like these were priceless, every part of me was thankful for them. Letting each other go, he leaned on my shoulder. Taking Selene from me, he smothered her with kisses. Family could really be found, his free hand patting my shoulder. Hanging back, the blissful scene gave me a second to relax my nerves. A long breath escaped my lips, Matty called me over. His mother fretted over me, a sad smile dawned on my lips. Wiping away my tears, her arms yanked me into one of her bear hugs. Please grant me some peace in the future.