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Eden

I splash my face with warm water at my vanity in my bathroom, combing out my hair, I finish freshening up before walking towards the door, knowing the Reaper awaits on the other side, I hesitate before exhaling and reaching for the doorknob and entering my bedroom where he waits, seated on the foot of my bed.

A lazy smile makes its way onto his face as I enter the room, somehow he still seems menacing, maybe it's his ridiculous size, towering over all the women here in the village. It's been a while since I've been around a man, but know for a fact they don't usually get so.. Big.

"So, am I free to now use your bath, Eden?" He asks, his eyes turning into pools of molten gold as he does.

I roll my eyes at him, no longer caring how he views me, or my attitude towards him, he will not sway me as easily as he did Aries. I don't trust him, there's just something about this Reaper, I won't let my guard down around him.

"It's all yours, help yourself to any of my soaps," I wrinkle my nose, mimicking his earlier actions. "anyone within a 5 mile radius knows you need it." I smirk as I finish, lifting my chin slightly, proud of my little jab at him.

For once he has no come back as he stands from the foot of my bed and walks past me into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. I sit on my bed, feeling out of place in my own home, when I hear the bathroom door swing back open, turning around I shriek before quickly turning away.

"What are you doing?!" I yell at him, he responds by laughing. "My lower half is covered, your reaction is overly dramatic. More importantly, how am I supposed to bathe when there is no water and no pipes to produce the water?" He asks, an annoyed look crossing his features as he does.

"I'd barely call walking out of my bathroom in nothing but a towel a decent action to take when a lady is present." I state, before walking past the barely covered man and into the bathroom and standing by the tub. "This is one of the things I do use magic for, I suppose I forgot, not needing to fill the bath for anyone but myself for so long, it didn't cross my mind to fill it up for you." With a snap of my fingers the bath fills up with clean, warm water, I smile to myself. There.

"That was fascinating to watch, thank you." He says, his breath hitting the back of my neck, causing goosebumps to pebble up all across my body.

I jump, almost falling into the bath full of water, when two strong arms wrap around my waist, keeping me steady. I can feel his broad, strong, bare torso against my lower back that's exposed by my top. I wiggle in his grasp, trying to escape him, smacking at his arm he turns to the side and releases me, I turn to glare at him before realizing he just saved me from getting dunked in the bath while fully clothed, and in front of him, I'm sure it would have given him a good laugh, but he steadied me instead.

"Thanks for, uh, catching me.." Should I apologize for panicking when he grabbed me? No, I'm too embarrassed and have no explanation as to why I acted that way, if Aries would have been the one to stop me from falling I wouldn't have acted out that way.

"Would have been a shame to have to wait even longer, considering you were strict about not bathing together, though you seemed so willing to jump in when you knew I was about to." I stare open mouthed at him, stunned yet again by how openly vulgar he speaks to me.

"Do you talk so inappropriately with all the women you come across?" I glare at him, before turning and walking out the bathroom door. "No, it's only you." He smirks at me before walking towards the door and shutting it. "Thanks for the warm water!" He manages to say loud enough for me to hear through the closed door.

I stare open mouthed at the door, the absolute nerve of this Reaper! He has no shame! I can't stand a minute longer with his cocky attitude, as soon as he finishes up I'm going to find Aries so I can be relieved of my Reaper duties. The sooner the better.

'No, it's only you.' He said.

Looking back it's true, he never once acted this way towards Aries, and even turned down Lilly's invitation earlier. If he was truly after just bedding a woman, he would have taken Lilly up on her offer, easily. Even told her he didn't have time for any extra things while here, and yet he spent the entire day with me, helping me with my chores, he could have easily sat back and done nothing, he could have even tried to wander off without me. None of which he did.

I begin biting at my lip, a habit I've developed when nervous. I can hear the water splash around and can't help but smile to myself, he's probably much too big for my bath and can barely move comfortably in it without splashing water outside of it, he better clean up after himself.

Everything grows quiet for a while. He sure is taking his time. That's when I hear the knob turn, followed by the soft creak of the door as it opens, a slightly dripping, towel covered Reaper pokes his head out, looking uncomfortable.

"Um, everything alright?" I ask, trying to avoid looking at him directly. "I know you said you don't use magic to clean clothes, but the ones I wore here are the only ones I ha-" I'm already getting up and making my way towards him, I silently hold out my hand once I'm close enough to him.

He smiles brightly before disappearing behind the bathroom door, reappearing a second later, dirty clothes in hand.

I grab them and quietly chant a cleansing spell over the clothes, Jericho watches intently, seemingly fascinated, leaning in closer to watch the dirt evaporate.

Once done I toss the clothes back at him. "Thank you, I appreciate it." He says, I smile sweetly at him. "The pleasure is all mine. I didn't wanna even think about trying to eat dinner tonight while sitting by your rancid smelling clothes."

Instead of being offended, he laughs, his eyes doing what they do to me again. "We both know you like my scent." He smirks and raises his chin in victory as he turns and shuts the bathroom door in my face.

"Excuse me?!" I can hear his responding laugh to my outburst. The audacity of this Reaper, he's so.. so...

Right.

Oh fuck.

Everything he's said.. Is true.

I swear I can feel my anger grow into rage.

WHY?!

Why am I attracted to this stranger? This Demon?

My head feels like it's spinning out of control when a loud knock at my door interrupts my momentary panic.

I walk towards the door and open it swiftly, Tabitha is waiting on the otherside, a worried look on her face. "Eden," she peers over my shoulder, I assume looking at the man who just emerged from my bathroom, "we can't find Aries." She finishes.

I smile at her, "Well, yes, she went to go do some work before dinner, she should be coming back soon." I assure her. She glares at the man behind me before looking at me with a stern look only a woman her age could conjure up. "No, Eden, she is gone, her presence has left the forest, I've looked for her, as have the other girls, she's gone."

My body feels numb as I take in what she's just said. Aries is gone?

Before I can respond the Reaper is giving me a slight nudge out of the doorway and meeting Tabby's gaze straight on. "There is no doubt she has left this forest?" He asks through gritted teeth, Tabby simply nods at him. Suddenly waves of heat begin rolling off of his body, his anger almost tangible.

Tabitha steps back from him, as do I, unable to stand the power that he emits, it almost brings me to my knees.

"Please, stop! You're hurting them!" I hear someone yell from a distance, my eyes fly open, not realizing I had begun squeezing them shut in the first place. Just as quickly as the massive amount of magical pressure appeared, it vanishes. A warm arm wraps around my torso, helping steady me. "I'm sorry, I'm not used to being in check of my power for so long, I didn't mean to cause anyone any discomfort.." Jericho says to me and Tabby. I look up to see it was Lilly who had run up to help me and Tabitha against the seemingly all powerful man that stands before us.

"What the hell are you?" Lilly asks, glaring at the Reaper, while helping Tabitha up, I hadn't realized she had actually fallen to her knees, though I barely managed any better, having been hunched over with my hands on my knees, a moment longer and I would have joined her on the ground.

My head is still dizzy as I try to escape the Reapers hold on me, he seems to only pull me closer.

"Release me now!" I demand of him. "So what? You can run off as well? Is that why you've distracted me all day? So she could flee? Aries has officially turned her back on a soul contract forged by The Light Goddess and The God of the Underworld, and I will hunt her down no matter the cost." Jericho's eyes are no longer golden, but that of a blackness so dark it does not exist in the world of the living.

A demon.

Looking up into his eyes causes my whole body to shiver in fear.

Lilly begins to charge towards him, I assume to help me out of his grasp. "No, Lilly! It's fine, don't get any closer." She stops halfway to me as I say this. I try to wiggle away again. "At least give me some breathing room!" I shriek at him, he stiffens before deciding to actually release me completely, I stumble forward and Lilly meets me the rest of the way, embracing me tightly.

Tabitha is the first to ask. "What the hell do you mean Aries has broken a soul contract? And who the hell are you really?"

Jericho's eyes are slowly returning to their beautiful golden color as he answers. "Aries has a soul contract that granted her, what you call 'Mother's Magic', and it's about time her end of the deal was fulfilled, the time came for her decades ago, and she has remained hidden here all this time, avoiding that which was destined for her. So I have come to retrieve her, she must pay, she will stand before Hades and plead for her soul, which may be taken as payment for her betrayal against Him and The Goddess of Light."

My heart feels numb at his words..

Aries, what have you done?

Jericho takes a turn looking at each of us, waiting for a reaction, when he realizes we're each at a loss for words, he continues. "The world outside your forest is dying, Aries has kept this hidden for many years. Did you not find it strange she became the only one to travel outside the forest within recent years?" He asks. How does he know this?

"There are no witches outside of this place, Aries became selfish with the power The Goddess gave her, as payment she would fight in the Wars and help restore peace, however she did not come to aid in the War as promised in her contract. The blood of millions is now on her hands."

"But.. the wars.. they're over.." I quietly say, unsure of anything any more.

"Ha!" The Reaper booms. "No matter what that Witch has told you, the Wars have been going this entire time, while you all live in utter ignorance as to what's happening past the tree line of the forest. Aries has altered how time passes inside this forest. You've all been locked away in here far longer than you realize."

I turn to Lilly and see tears streaming down her face, she was the newest member, joining only a few years ago, she had parents and siblings outside of here, whereas most of the other girls have already outlived their families, and have no one outside this forest.

"I-I just came here not long ago.. M-my family is out there." She looks into my eyes while saying this and my heart shatters for her, she truly is young, she has not seen as many life times as I or most of the other girls here. I reach out and grab her in an embrace and begin stroking her hair, the way my mother used to do when I was afraid as a child. So very long ago.

I finally get the courage to ask the question I know needs asked.

"Jericho," I look towards him and realize I've probably had his full attention this entire time. "How long have we been in here?"

He breaks eye contact before answering. "The forest has been locked away for 156 years.. And there hasn't been another witch, dark or light, born since the forest was locked away. Whatever Aries did she did it well, because it took even me a good deal of time to track down this place to find her. When she agreed to come with me so easily I should have questioned it, she simply said she wanted to finish a few things up here before saying goodbye, my mistake for respecting her requests."

156 years? My heart sinks further.

Lilly is breaking down, realizing she will never see her loved ones again, never to properly get to say goodbye.

Tabitha sets a hand on my shoulder. "Though you don't have Mother's Magic, you're now our Mother Eden, our leader. What do we do?"

I gulp before turning to look Tabby in the eye.

I'm Mother now..?

I'm Mother now.

And I will protect my girls.

PROTECT! Oh my god!

In a panic I stand quickly from my embrace with Lilly, fear now clear on my face, Jericho and the girls look to me for an answer.

"She took the magic, she took Mother's magic! She took our barrier and protection!" I scream out, knowing what this means, only her magic was strong enough to shield this entire forest. We're vulnerable. We're unprotected. Anyone can now see our forest, and the strong enough will be able to pass through.

Lilly and Tabitha look pale as they process the situation. "Aries must be found, Eden. You know the magic can't be passed to another until she is.." Tabby trails off.

"Until she's dead!" Lilly screams. "For what she's done she deserves nothing less! I've lost all I ever had outside this forest.. And now our forest is in danger.. She left us so easily! She truly never cared for us!"

I look away, having nothing to say, knowing that what she says is true.

Aries has left us for dead.

It's only a matter of time before we're discovered. I need to find Aries quickly and fix this mess.

I turn towards the Reaper. "You'll stop at nothing to find Aries, yes?" He gives a slight nod, "She can't run from a Reaper, not for long." He says.
I can hear Lilly and Tabitha gasp at the mention of what this man truly is.

"Then I'm coming with you." I say, looking into Jericho's golden gaze.

2,670 words.


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