17. Mortem

C andy, Krampus, and I spend the next few days hardly leaving my apartment. Never in my life did I think I could fuck this much, or want to. But it’s deeper than that, far deeper than I imagined it would ever be.

It’s different when feelings are involved, and I wasn’t particularly prepared for how transcendent this would all feel.

Tonight.

I’m going to tell them both how I feel tonight. I’m fully dressed in my black suit. Krampus went to the North Pole to find some attire, and I’m praying the elves don’t dress him in something absolutely horrific. Chances are I could wish all I want, but those elves are going to put him in something tacky.

Candy, however, I expect to look stunning in something she purchased from my realm.

“Come in,” she says softly, and I crack the door open.

She’s applying shimmering glitter to her cheekbones, and she looks ravishing.

Candy stands, doing a quick twirl in her dress that flares out around her hips, and shimmers in the light.

“What do you think?”

“Stunning, like a true princess.”

Her cheeks turn that darker shade of pink I’ve become obsessed with.

“Come. We’ll meet Krampus there. I’m sure that little elf friend of yours has him in some tragic gold monstrosity.”

She laughs and holds out her hand to mine. I kiss her knuckles and portal us to the space for the event.

Morticia and Candy outdid themselves. Black tents are placed alongside the river, slow tickles of rain splashing the sides. Black and gold balloons fill the space, while gold sparkling streamers are attached to the ceiling. There are black high tops filled with sparkling wine towers and a massive buffet. On the other side, there is a dance floor.

It’s tasteful, a true reaper event if I’ve ever seen one, and it’s littered with all different beings from the veil.

A sense of pride fills me.

“You did a wonderful job.”

“It was your idea,” Candy says shyly.

“It was, even though the bastard didn’t lift a finger,” a voice I would know anywhere says, Morticia approaches us, a drink already in hand.

“Thank you for your hard work, Morticia.”

“It wasn’t as excruciating as I thought it would be,” my assistant says. “Oh, don’t look now. It’s the annoying little one.”

Suddenly, Love, the interim Head Cupid, and Death, one of my most successful reapers, are in front of us.

Death looks like he would rather die than be here right now, but he nods respectfully.

“Oh, Mortem, this party is fantastic. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“I don’t. It’s all thanks to Morticia and Candy.”

Love claps her hands together. “Well, none of this would have happened without Morticia,” Love says easily. “Or that sweet old Santa Claus.”

I tilt my head and Candy looks just as confused as me.

“What?” Love says, acting like we’re stupid. “I couldn’t let a true love match slip through my fingers. Do you think it’s a coincidence that you and Krampus came to the Christmas party in Cupidale? Or that Ladybird forced you to go to the event? Shesh, a cupid’s work is never done,” she says, grabbing Death’s hand and dragging him away.

I’m worried Candy will feel played, but instead, she’s smiling and shaking her head.

“This is why she’s my idol,” Candy says dreamily. “Dance with me?”

“Always.”

I lead her to the dance floor. It’s so reminiscent of that night all those months ago, except this time she’s mine and I’m never letting her go.

She’s small and perfect in my arms as her dress swishes, and she holds me tightly. I lean down, holding her close to me.

“You make me a better person. I can’t imagine my life without you and your sparkling pink glow. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m sorry it took so long to get here.”

“I don’t care how long it took. This is where we were supposed to be.”

I hold her close to me, the words on the tip of my tongue, but I know she deserves something more grand.

This party is a symbol of a new era and new beginnings, and Candy is at the center of it all.

We continue dancing as something shining bright nearly blinds me. I scowl as I look at the direction of the brightness.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I complain as Candy turns in my arms to see our Krampus dressed like a golden fucking disco ball, being nothing but unfashionably late.

Candy laughs as Krampus approaches us.

“What do you think?” he says, wiggling his eyebrows and showing off his suit.

“I think Calanis actually hates you and this is some sort of long game.”

“You look amazing,” Candy beams, and Krampus sticks out his forked tongue at me.

“Calanis loves me, and it’s not my fault you can’t pull off anything besides black. Meanwhile, Candy, darling, you look good enough to eat,” he says with a wink.

The countdown to the New Year is only a few minutes away, and I take a deep breath.

“I need to go make a speech,” I say, and both of them look at me with confused expressions as I head to the stage and tap my glass three times.

Everyone in the audience pauses immediately and glances up at me.

“Welcome to Purgatory. I’m Head Reaper, Mortem, and we are thrilled to welcome you to our realm. It’s been a long time coming and I apologize that it took me so long to realize that you need some light in the darkness. I want to start by thanking everyone for being here, and the interim Head Cupid, Love, for being the one to bring the different beings of the veil together.”

I clear my throat and look around. The cupids look endeared, and the reapers looked shocked as shit.

“I expect a lot more changes in Purgatory in the next coming months. I want this realm to express the hope of new beginnings and a more fulfilling after life for anyone who sets foot here.”

There are murmurs around me and part of me wants to growl and tell them to shut the fuck up, but I’m working on becoming a better person.

“This change is because of two people. I want to thank my partners Candy and Krampus for being here and for opening my eyes to the disassociated state I’ve been in. I didn’t realize how important the work of cupids was until recently and I apologize. As of late, I’ve realized how significant the power of love truly is. Candy, Krampus, I love you. Thank you for being patient with me. Everyone have a happy New Year.”

The cupids are falling over themselves with joy as the reapers stare at me wide-eyed. I walk down the podium, and before I’m at the bottom step, Candy is flinging herself at me.

I hold her tight to my chest as her arms wrap around my shoulders. She sniffles.

“That was a pretty serious love declaration,” she whispers in my ear.

“I meant every word.”

“Even for a monster like me?” Krampus says sarcastically.

“Even for you,” I say, tossing an arm over his shoulder and bringing him into the embrace.

The countdown starts and as soon as the clock hits zero, we all lean in for a mismatched three-way kiss.

It makes Candy laugh, and the gold sparkles reflect against her skin.

I’ve never been happier for another year to rear its head, because for the first time in a long time, my future seems brighter than ever.