*Flashback*
Evie hid in the bushes her eyes locked on her mother. She was tired, hurt, and terrified.
*Don’t look around…don’t look around. *
She didn’t want to see the bodies. Broken, bloodied, the lives of her friends extinguished all around her. Evie inhaled holding her breath as the black mist appeared.
*Be very still when Thanatos’ arrives. *
Her mother cautioned her. Evie was afraid, she knew that he was callous. His reputation for torturous killings was known around the world. He couldn’t be her Soul Tie, the Gods would never be so cruel. She’d already suffered so much, could that really be her fate? Evie watched as he removed the long black hood, and her eyes widened. He was not what she was expecting. Where were the scars? Warts? The bloodied cracked skin that coiled into burnt flesh? Where were all the horrid things she expected to see when she looked at her soul tie? Her full lips parted as she looked to his smooth ivory skin. A chiseled face and stunning blue eyes, he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen.
As Thanatos ran his hand in a circular motion, the souls of the necromancer’s began to rise. Standing to attention, they all stared at him waiting for the wrath to come. Thanatos patted his chest, his black cloak becoming his usual leather jacket. With a small smile on his lips, he extended his hand. “That’s better.” His voice was deep, somehow sensual. Evie couldn’t understand what was happening to her.
A small necromancer child walked up to him, clutching her teddy bear she took his hand.
“Well, hello there.”
The child smiled at him in return.
“Would you like to help me today?”
She nodded her head yes. Looking back at everyone, his pale blue eyes held sadness.
“I so sorry for what has transpired here today. Though I can’t do anything to change your demise, I can make sure that your souls will be at peace.”
Confusion lined their faces, as they too had expected something different.
“Grim Reaper…”
Evie heard her mother call to him. Walking over, Thanatos bent down to her. Angelica’s breath was labored, she was trying her hardest to hold on.
“I’m glad that it is you that is coming to get us today.” This time, confusion found his face. Looking towards the bushes, Angelica’s eyes teared.
“I’m so sorry about today.”
She patted his hand, “It’s how it’s meant to be.”
“Can I help you?”
“Please.”
Thanatos rubbed auburn hair, and her breath began to slow. She placed her hand in his, but her eyes remained on Evie.
“I release you.” Thanatos said, allowing the black mist from his mouth to seep into her.
Her body thrashed for just a moment before her soul departed from her body. The two stood, and Evie saw the deepened sadness in his pale eyes. Slowly he began to usher the souls to their new homes. As Evie watched his gentle nature from the bushes, she placed her hand over her heart.
“Oh my…” She’d never seen anything like him. Not the ugly that the world described him as. He was absolutely beautiful, and he belonged to her. Waiting until it was over, she stood and quickly wiped her tears. Her mother’s words continued to ring in her ears.
*Your heart belongs to him Evie. *
It did. She hadn’t thought it possible, but Evie had fallen for the Reaper. Standing she quickly dried her eyes and prepared to make a deal of her own. What was to come would be hell, but in her heart, she knew he was worth it.
---------------------------------------
*Present day*
Thanatos held Evie in his strong arms and kissed her deeply. His hands traveled all over her body, as he pulled her closer to him. “I missed you,” he whispered in her ear, making a shiver go up to her spine.
“I missed you too Reaper.”
He took her mouth again. Pulling back, he looked her in her eyes, “You sure?”
“Of course.”
Wrapping a piece of her hair on his finger, he smirked at her, “Then why are you laying with my enemy Poppet?”
Her breath stilled, “I’m not-”
“Don’t be a fucking little liar.” The black of his eyes showed, and he quickly moved from her.
“I’m not lying! I would never let him touch me! I love you…I’m in love with you!”
Thanatos didn’t turn around. Ignoring her pleas for him, he vanished into the darkness.
“Wake up mommy!” Evie opened her eyes, to see an identical pair staring at her in excitement. Kore jumped on her mother wrapping her small arms around her neck. Quickly wiping away her tears, she smiled softly at her daughter.
“You have so much excitement for a two-year-old.” Kore scrunched up her nose. Smoothing her long black hair, she pulled the child into her arms.
*God, you look so much like your dad. *
It tore at her every day. Aside from her eyes and complexion, everything screamed Thanatos.
“I’m hungry.” She could hear her daughter's muffled voice. Cradling her on her hip, the two walked into the kitchen. Evie moved around the small lair, preparing breakfast for three. Apep’s portrait stared at her constantly, reminding her again where she was. She ignored it, allowing her mind to travel to home.
*I miss you Reaper. *
She dreamed about him almost every night. The same type of dreams that tormented her, but at the same time gave her solace. Pouring orange juice into a cup, she handed it to Kore. “So, what do you want to do today?”
Kore's green eyes glistened, “Play in the garden!”
She loved that she was such a bubbly child, “You want to feed the spiders?” She nodded happily. Evie loved that about her too.
“Okay we can get dre-”
“Where the hell is my food?” Apep walked into the dining room and kissed Evie on her forehead. She stilled, trying her best to calm herself.
“There.”
*The same place it is every morning. *
She hated that he used any excuse to berate and touch her.
“Not nice,” Kore said, her eyes turning slightly black.
Evie grabbed her to her chest, “It’s alright honey. Let’s go outside.”
Apep glared at her, “That’s a good idea. Wouldn’t want a little girl to somehow become a little toad.”
Ushering Kore from the table, Evie tried her hardest to control her temper, “That was unnecessary.”
He sneered back at her, “So was her birth.”
Outside Kore and Evie played in the garden as Evie looked around.
*Where the hell are we? *
Apep made sure she would never figure out. The day he’d taken her back to his old lair, he promptly knocked her unconscious. She’d awaken delirious with no idea where she was, and in a new place.
“To make sure you don’t run back to that dead thing.” He grinned, “You promised to be a wife, I will have a wife.”
Evie remained quiet. She never fought him. Endured all of his abuse and beratement all in the hopes of keeping her daughter safe. For all his hate of Kore, she could also see the way he eyed her. His evil grin surfacing whenever she used her powers. She hated it. It was the same way he looked at her when she was a child, and the very reason she played nice to keep him at bay.
“Mommy…” Kore sobbed catching Evie’s attention. She was bending down over something she couldn’t see.
“What wrong?” Approaching her, Evie saw the dying bird. It’s wing broken, its beak smashed, it was clearly in pain. Kore reached out her little hand and rubbed the bird's head. Its breath slowed and it looked contently at the child trying to lift its foot. “It okay.” She said
Evie's eyes widened in horror as a small familiar mist exited her mouth and entered the bird. It thrashed a bit before it finally stilled.
“No...” Evie covered her mouth.
"Mommy...I... bad?"
Evie couldn't talk. Hurriedly, she picked Kore up, and turned to run to the house. The pair collided with a tall figure and Evie stifled her scream. Apep stood his grin wide, the evil setting it. For every step Evie took away, Apep took one more towards them.
"Someone's gotten a new power. Not as powerful as his, but with a bit of experiment I can make it close." He smiled harder and wave his hand producing a small orb. "Imagine my pet...my very own little reaper. I'll be invincible."