Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 80(@200wpm)___ 64(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 80(@200wpm)___ 64(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
My cousins always said I was lucky because I could walk in the light, but it looks as though I wasn’t so lucky after all. Maybe I was never meant to be and this is the world's way of fixing an anomaly.
I let out a deep breath and get myself together. The sun is setting and I want to be at my parents’ house when they wake up. I take off running towards their home that’s not far from mine. It doesn’t take me long before I’m entering the back door and moving quietly towards the front of the house.
I put on my best smile and try to be my old self. I pretend to be happy and full of life like both my parents always said. It’s laughable because in reality they are the ones full of life and mine is fading. I try to shake it off as I walk closer to my dad's office because I don’t want either one of them to pick up on my mood. If death is coming, I want my last days to be happy ones.
I stop when I hear my name and I tilt my head a little and listen closely.
“Something is wrong,” I hear my mom say. “I feel it. He’s coming for her.” She whispers the last part, but I still hear it clear as day. Something is after me. I’m not surprised she felt it somehow.
“Who?” my dad asks.
“The Grim Reaper.”
My dad lets loose a string of curses. “It’s you he wants,” my dad barks, sounding more pissed than ever. I can feel his jealousy from here.
I take quiet steps away from his office and back outside. Once I’m there I lean against the house. The Grim Reaper isn't unknown to me. It’s just the first time I’ve ever heard my parents mention it. Not only that, but it sounds like they know who the Reaper is.
Everyone knows the tale of the Grim Reaper. It’s actually a story I’ve always been fascinated with. There are so many different stories, it makes me think there has to be more than one Reaper. When I read about him, I remember Bishop telling me that every tale comes from some bit of truth. It only changes as it passes from one person to another. I’d shamelessly hoped he’d been real, but I couldn’t explain why. Such a dark creature should scare me. I shouldn’t want him to walk this earth taking lives, but I couldn’t stop my curiosity.
“Are you going to come inside?” I jerk my head up to see my dad, Valen, standing there. He tries to read my face, but I smile as brightly as I can.
“Just enjoying the last of the sun.” I glance towards the sunset and see the fading light. “You guys are up early.” I walk over to him and he tucks my long dark hair behind my ear. Dad pulls me into him and hugs me tightly. So tight that if I were human I bet he would have cracked a few ribs.
“Your mom hasn’t been sleeping well,” he tells me before letting me go. I look up at him and hate the worry that rolls off him. Not only for me but my mom, too. It’s consuming him.
I concentrate on releasing calm between us to take away some of his stress, and I don’t think he’s aware that I’m doing it. It’s always harder with him than it is the others. I don’t know if it’s the slayer blood that runs through his veins, but it’s always the hardest to soothe him. It takes extra energy and I should be more careful. I don’t have extra of anything right now, but I can’t help myself. I have to make him feel better.
I start to relax when I feel the tension leave him. His eyes flash with something and for a moment I think he might know what I’m doing. Mom saves me as Dad starts to say something, but she cuts him off.
“Sweetheart.” I smile over at my mom as she moves towards us. Her smile is as fake as mine. I only wonder if she knows mine is. She pulls me into as tight of a hug as Dad had.
“How are you?” she asks as her eyes roam my face. I look so similar to her, but it’s clear when you look at me I’m both my mom and dad.
“Hungry,” I answer in truth. Her face softens, but the worry in her eyes stays.
“I should have known,” she teases. “I think you could out-eat your dad these days.” She pulls me inside and Dad follows right behind us. She’s always loved working in the kitchen while Dad and I sit and watch. I know it won’t be long before some of my cousins come rolling in. The ones that haven’t turned eighteen are still eating, and Mom’s cooking has always been the favorite. I love when they come over, but today I want it to be only us. Emotions swarm me as I think about leaving them behind.