Chapter Eleven

Ifelt my boned eye sockets crack when I saw her hands reach for her throat. My chair fell behind me when I leaped forward and grabbed her shoulders. Her face was red but quickly flushing blue. She was losing oxygen, and fast.

Humans are so fragile and delicate, it enraged me how quickly their bodies deteriorate.

She grabbed her throat again and panic swelled inside me. Fluffy whined, his paws and teeth pulled at my robes to move.

Instantly my shadows clamored forward and opened her mouth. They seeped inside her body, wrapping around the food inside her throat and pulling, latching upon the substances. It pulled it from her body and her lungs took a large gulp of air.

She coughed, pulling in large gasping breaths to fill her lungs.

All color returned to her face, and my body relaxed instantly.

Fuck.

“Are you foolish, mortal?” I sneered, my voice a venomous hiss that echoed through the room. The sharp, acrid scent of fear hung heavy. It mingled with the salty tang of tears streaming down her cheeks. With trembling hands, my bony thumbs brushed away the wet trails, feeling the warmth and dampness on my skeletal fingertips.

After she finished coughing, she grabbed my arms and stared up at me. “You’ve saved me twice!” She held up two fingers. “I’m thinking you can’t hold up to your reputation.” She winked.

How dare she.

I want to let go of her body, but my body doesn’t get the message. Instead, I held her, checking her throat and making sure she doesn’t have bruises along her neck. I held her cheeks and made her open her mouth, and she watched me with amusement in her eyes.

“What are you doing?” she laughed, pulling my hand away.

“Making sure you are alright; I don’t need Athena visiting my domain again.”

I didn’t need to bring any attention to myself, and Athena coming back to the Underworld would do just that. I’m sure it has sparked some speculation already.

Juniper patted my hand and coughs again. “I’m fine now. You got it out. Those shadow things are pretty awesome. I wonder what else they can do.” She whispered the last sentence under her breath.

She tapped her finger to her lips and smiled. “Fun devilish things, I bet.”

This female was strange, yet I have not been around a living mortal for so long. When I arrive to take a soul, the body has usually already passed or is in the process of ceasing to exist. She was so lively, so charming, and her soul was full of so much light even in the surrounding darkness.

She wasn’t dull; she wasn’t annoying, but I feared she put herself in more danger than most. How had she come to the Fuzzy Bunnies? How had she survived for so long if she could just choke on a small piece of food?

I hummed low and pulled out her chair, pointing to it for her to sit. She obeyed and sat close to the table. I gathered mine and pulled it next to hers, and she watched me intently when I pulled her plate over to me and took her food.

“What are you doing?” She reached over to take her plate back, but I slapped her hand and she shook it. “Owie, your bones are hard.”

I scoffed. “Of course they are, they are bone.”

I took a knife and fork and began taking the meat off the bone, cutting her food into smaller pieces. I gathered more vegetables onto her plate, fruits, and potatoes, making sure I cut them into smaller pieces. Then I kept the plate close to me and placed a small portion on the fork. “Now open,” I commanded and lifted it to her mouth.

Juniper lifted her eyebrow and leaned on the table.

“Excuse me?”

“I said open, mortal. I’m going to feed you since you are incapable of feeding yourself. I will not have you trying to die in my care.”

She smiled.

“What?”

“Aw, you worry, you care. You have more emotion than you think,” she cooed at me.

I shook my head. “I know worry and anxiety.”

She directed a finger towards me, her expression stern. “It’s not the same,” she asserted. “Your worry goes beyond just being anxious. You act and show care, ensuring that I don’t choke. Your worry turns into genuine caring, showing a deeper level of concern.”

I hummed, mulling over her words.

This seemed to be true. I held more regard for her than anyone else.

Because she was mine.

She was going to be mine until her mortal body could hold out no longer, and even then, I would figure out a way to keep it with me.

I could not tell her earlier that she was worth more to me than just the information that I needed from her. She had been through much, and I would not have her turn her back on me now, not when she looked at me without fear.

I held the fork up to her mouth. She stared at it and then at me. She wasn’t happy about my command, but there was no other option. I would not have her choke. I wouldn’t have her die in my care. I would wrap her in my protection for the rest of her days.

“Eat, or I will have it transform into your stomach and bypass your mouth,” I growled.

“You wouldn’t dare.” She crossed her arms.

“Try me.” The fireplace and candles flickered in the room.

Not testing me, at least for now. She opened her mouth and took the bite. She hummed and smiled as she chews. Warmth bloomed in my cold bones. I couldn’t understand the feeling of warmth that didn’t come from anger that often bloomed inside me when provoked. The more she ate, the more warmth spread through my marrow. Providing for her, making sure she didn’t choke, and she was safe in my presence brought me more peace than I have had in the longest while.

Joy? Could this be joy? Joy and happiness frequently intertwine. I could ask her if this is what it could be, but I dared not overwhelm her. I didn’t want her to know my possessiveness for her. I couldn’t let her know, not yet. I needed to let her have at least a few days of wakefulness before I let her know how deep my craving of her soul truly was.

I felt the heat of Fluffy’s stare on the side of my hood. His head butted my femur, and I stared down at him.

“Fluffy?” she wiped her mouth with the clothed napkin. “His name really is Fluffy?” She let out a jolt of laughter.

Fluffy and I both gazed at her as she laughed, her hand hitting the table.

Her voice was harmonious. I couldn’t understand how people could let out the sound of laughter. What caused it, what made things so funny? In my life, I believed I had laughed, but it had been so long, I’d forgotten what it felt like.

“What is wrong with the name Fluffy?” I petted his head.

“You are the God of Death.” She wiped away a tear. “And you named your pet the sweetest name. You also take care of me and cut up my food. Seriously, Thanatos, I’m questioning if you really are the god you say you are.”

I didn”t know if this answer should offend me or please me.

Of all mortals, I didn”t want her to fear me, but I wanted her to know that I could rip any soul from a body if they ever threatened her.

“A female named this wallow in a previous life. I’ve kept his name, so he doesn’t lose himself.”

Her face softened and reached out to pet Fluffy. “You mean, this is his soul? Then why can I pet him, touch him?”

She kneeled on the stone floor and I immediately wanted to pull her into my lap. I didn’t want her knees to become bruised from the floor, to feel the harsh stone. I restrained myself, my hands tightening on my femurs.

This was proving more difficult.

“Animals are simple creatures,” I began. “Their souls are not as delicate as a human thus I can manipulate his soul and give him my shadows while I am in the Underworld. When I leave the Underworld, my shadows must follow me, so he will return as nothing but a soul, a spirit and cannot be touched.”

Juniper frowns and pets Fluffy. “That’s so sad.”

I hummed in agreement. “He has nobody. He sacrificed himself for his masters and received the highest level of rest in the Underworld, living amongst the heroes, yet he wandered and discovered my cave and refused to leave.”

Fluffy moved closer to me so my boned hand laid on top of his head.

“Sounds like he wanted to be attached to someone that needed some extra care.” Juniper gave me a soft smile and ran her fingers through Fluffy’s fur.

After dinner, I led Juniper back to my bed chambers. She yawned frequently, her weary body still recovering from her wounds. I knew little about the human body, but I knew that mortals needed sleep, and much of it.

As we walked, Juniper continued to fill the silence. She continued to ask questions. Her shyness was lacking, and I didn’t know if that was a blessing or a curse. The more she talked, the more I stared at her lips, the column of her neck and the more I cursed how I’d had Athena place her in a long white gown that covered every part of her body.

But I thought it would be for the best. She was mostly naked when I found her and spent most of the past years working in an area where she was naked.

My shadows whipped around me as we made it through to the bedroom. Her voice finally quieted when she noticed my irritation and short, one-worded answers. I did not know how to convey my answers, how to tell her I wasn’t angry at her but at her past.

I wanted to rectify what happened to her. I was furious. I had done nothing to calm my anger because I did not want to leave her alone while she recovered.

Now that she was well, I could hunt the men that used to watch her in lust and bring them back here. Let her watch and see what I can really do.

Moreover, I could ask her about Fuzzy Bunnies, but even that task deemed too great. I didn’t want her to relive those memories.

“Where do you sleep?” Juniper fiddled with her fingers glancing toward the bed and back to me.

“I don’t,” I replied. “Now that I know you are well, I will be tending to work that I have neglected.”

One of those tasks being visiting the soul that touched what is mine.

As I stood there, I watched her fidget nervously with her fingers, a part of me wanted to take her in my arms and assure her she was safe now. But I knew better than to act on those instincts. I wouldn’t let her see the extent of possessiveness just yet. Not until she had fully recovered from the traumas of her past.

She glanced into the main living room, her gaze lingering for a moment before she looked back at me. “Is it because you are a god? Gods do not sleep?” Her voice held a hint of curiosity.

I tilted my head. “More so, being the God of Death grants me certain immunities. Sleep is not something I require, but I could certainly do so if I wanted. Death never sleeps, dearest Juniper.”

Her brow furrowed slightly, and I could tell she wanted to say something but held back.

“Please.” I opened the curtain to the bedroom and led her inside. I showed her the washroom where she could prepare herself for her sleep and new clothes in the closet for her to wear.

Fluffy jumped on top of the bed, and turned his body around several times, finding a comfortable spot on the large king size bed. I was about to command him to come off, but Juniper sat beside him, scratching his ears.

“Can he stay?” she asked softly. It was the softest I’ve heard her speak since waking from her slumber. I could sense a radiating sadness emanating from her soul.

I couldn’t deny her. I would bring her the fiery coals of Tartarus to heat the room if she wanted.

“Of course he can.” I stood straighter. “Is there anything else that you require?”

She shook her head and leaned on Fluffy’s body. I never thought I would be jealous of a pet before, but now I have become increasingly so.

I ruffled my wings and turned to the curtain that separated the living quarters from the bedroom and she called out to me one more time. “Thank you again, Thanatos. For saving me. I’ll help you as best I can.”

I didn’t look back when I let the curtain go. For I knew if I did, I would return to her and pull her into my arms and bask in the warmth of her soul and let it warm my bones.

Juniper had already helped me more than she realized. I just hope I don’t put out the light that is still bright inside her with my darkness.