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"ARE YOU ALRIGHT, DELILAH?"

Delilah glanced over at her mother, who was in the driver's seat of the car. Roshan had decided to stay a day longer and her mother had insisted on driving her to school, to catch up together. She always caught it so quickly whenever Delilah's mind wandered, even now, when she hadn't even acted different from normal. For a moment Delilah hesitated - she hadn't told her mother about what had happened before so she wouldn't worry her, because she knew the thought of her little girl alone kept her up at night sometimes.

Still, her mother was the only one who knew and believed her about the fact that she could see ghosts. Though she couldn't see them herself Mateo always felt uncomfortable around her, but she didn't blame him. The first time she had told her mother about him had resulted in a huge fight, because her mother didn't want any ghosts hanging around her permanently. Ever since then he had avoided her, only coming downstairs or closeby whenever her mother was out of the house.

It was those exact reactions of hers which had kept Delilah from talking about the interaction she had had with the Reaper. If she hadn't cared at all about him she would've kept it to herself, but for some reason he kept lingering in her mind. Perhaps it was worry in some way, because he always did look so lonely. The thought saddened her.

"I've met an idol of mine," Delilah said.

Before she could say any more her mother interrupted her with a relieved sigh, placing a hand on her heart.

"Oh, it was just that?" she said, shaking her head," I almost got worried it was something supernatural again. Who was the idol, one of your favorite tarot readers or something?"

"No," Delilah said," the Grim Reaper."

They were on the highway, but that didn't stop her mother from steering immediately on the breakdown lane and braking. Delilah's head flew forwards at the sudden stop, her mother grabbing her shoulders and pushing her back with wide eyes.

"What?" she said, sounding like she was rambling more than anything," is that really true, Delilah? Has he tried taking you? He can't take my little girl away from me, he can't -"

"Mom?" Delilah frowned," what's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" her mother exclaimed, shaking her," what do you think is wrong, Delilah? The Grim Reaper is made of death, why do you think he won't kill you as well? You're all I have left, I will not let anything happen to you."

"Mom," Delilah began, repeating it until her mother finally looked at her," Mom, I was kidding."

"What?" her mother said, her frightened gaze clearing up a bit.

"I was," Delilah said," if I met the Grim Reaper, you know I would be so excited Roshan and you would know immediately. I wouldn't be able to keep it to myself until now." She grabbed her mother's hand on her shoulder, squeezing it. "And I know, Mom, I know, I'll be more careful."

Her mother breathed out, a relieved sigh leaving her lips.

"You're right," she murmured," you would've told me." She let Delilah go, but the imprint of her hands was still colored red on her skin. "I'm sorry, Delilah, I may have overreacted. If you had truly met him I would have had no choice but to keep you at home, safe away from any supernatural things that can take you from me. You understand, right?"

"Yeah," Delilah said, hand absentmindedly grazing her shoulder," I understand."

Her mother changed the subject as she got on the highway again and Delilah replied like nothing had happened. Once they arrived at her dorms her mother pulled her into a hug so tight it felt like she would suffocate, but she still meant it when she told her mother she loved her too. After her father had walked out on them she knew she was the only thing holding her mother afloat. Sometimes love felt like drowning and you just had to learn to breathe underwater.

"See you later," Delilah smiled, waving at her mother," good luck at work!"

"Wow, your mother is scary."

Delilah glanced at Niccolo, who had suddenly appeared beside her as soon as her mother's car had disappeared out of sight. He stood out with his clearly expensive outfit of white and gold and his aristocratic features, but didn't seem to mind the attention at all, instead flashing a smile at girls who walked past, all of them blushing.

"I could feel her glare at others miles away," Niccolo said with a shake of his head," I had to wait for her to leave before she would tackle me."

"She's just protective," Delilah said, starting to walk as he followed.

"Are you not surprised to see me?" Niccolo asked, tilting his head downwards to catch her gaze," you're allowed to fall to your knees in prayer."

"I thought you disliked when people worshipped you," she noted.

"I'm a complicated man," he shrugged," I mean, does their stalking make me want to resort to violence? Yes. Do I think I'm a god worthy of being followed around? Also yes."

Delilah chuckled and he continued on, placing an arm around her shoulder as he flashed her a grin.

"Anyway," he said," have you thought up a plan to kill me yet?"

"I've been quite busy," she said," but like I told you before, I also have no idea how to kill someone who's immortal."

"You'll find out," he said, sun coloring his red hair golden," it's fine, I have nothing to lose either way."

It took a moment for him to realize she had stopped walking and he turned around towards her, expression confused.

"Before I do," she said," can I ask a favor?"

"What?" he said, putting his hands in his pockets and leaning forward," you want to hear about the Grim Reaper's soulmate now? Don't tell me you've gotten attached."

"I suppose I have," she smiled," we're friends now."

"You're not heeding my warning," he remarked.

"You're an immortal being trying to die," she said," we all are not following the rules, are we?"

"Touché," he chuckled," and you know what, normally I'd have let you wait longer for the suspense, but I'll tell you because I'm in a good mood today."

They had been standing in the middle of the cobblestone pathway leading to her university, but she took him along towards a bench on the side, the trees around it large enough to provide shade.

"Did something happen?" she said as she sat down," for you to be in a good mood, I mean."

"I was able to escape without any trouble today," he said, seeming to ponder on it as he stared up at the sky," though that happens often. It's easy to flee when you can see exactly what other people will do in the future. I don't know, why am I happy?" He rested his cheek on his hand then, glancing at her as he smiled. "Perhaps it's because you're here."

"Perhaps," she mused," I've been told I am pleasant company."

He stayed silent for a moment, that undecipherable expression he always carried not slipping off his face as he started speaking.

"You know the Reaper sees her in you," he said," his soulmate. He's a simple man, I genuinely think it's just because you're someone who's nice to him. Warmth always catches people off-guard when all they know is winter."

"She's the woman I see in my dreams, right?" Delilah said.

"I wouldn't call her a woman," Niccolo said. He let his gaze wander absentmindedly across the few people who passed, seeming to read their life story like a book as he scanned them. "Do you know what a Soulweaver is?"

"I've read about it once," Delilah said," it's someone who restores the souls, right?"

"You're almost correct," he said," the Grim Reaper is the all-powerful head of the gods because he represents death. He guides all the souls and is able to kill anyone he wishes. The Soulweaver is his partner, like yin and yang in a way. She creates the souls, changes them to fit in the destination he has to guide them to, basically, she's the only one who's truly able to create life."

"So she's all-powerful as well?" Delilah asked.

"Yes," Niccolo said, turning to look back at her," but not that fond of the spotlight, hence why she never comes to Vox Dei. Just in case you were wondering, I never go as well, but that's because all the gods do is bother me for their future like I'm some cheap fortuneteller. In the end the Reaper finally granted me permission to stay away, seeing as it keeps disrupting the meetings."

"It is tempting, I have to admit," Delilah said," the chance to know your future."

The tattooed snake on his arm hissed softly as he raised his hand towards her face, eyes unreadable.

"Do you want me to?" he said," I can tell you everything: what you'll be later, with who, when everyone you love will die."

Delilah gently took his wrist, lowering his hand.

"There's no need," she said," the future's not here. I don't care for memories I haven't made yet."

"It isn't often someone declines an invitation from me," Niccolo said," surely you must realize I'm the oracle of the gods, I can tell you everything your heart desires."

There wasn't much her heart desired. Honestly, if her loved ones were happy and the stars were there she was fine. Most of all, she felt her heart ache for Niccolo, for the way he probably never was able to have a conversation without his status being involved.

"I don't know why you want to die," she said gently," and I won't pry, but it doesn't seem as if you like reading the fortunes of others. So it's fine, really. It must be unpleasant to have to see everything all the time."

His lips parted, but he quickly concealed the surprise with a chuckle, lowering his head.

"Your kindness will break your heart one day," he said," and that isn't a prediction, that's a guess."

"That's alright," she said," if it gets broken, that must mean it was full first. I'll make sure to put it back together after."

"You're such a glass half full type of person," he said with a shake of his head," can you roll with the program and be anxious about everything I say?"

"What kind of person are you then?" she said.

"I'm a person who wants to smash the glass," he said," and in case you were wondering about your new friend, the Reaper would pour the water out. You're not going to be friends for long."

It was obvious he was trying to get a rise out of her still, but though she wondered why it didn't really matter. Even if it was true, it would be something she'd discover on her own. She never had been one to regret her past choices.

"I'll tell you one thing though," Niccolo said," something you've been wondering about for a while."

"What is it?" Delilah asked.

"The reincarnation of his soulmate," Niccolo said, looking her straight in the eye," she is on this Earth, but you are not her."


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