Evie felt his strong hand on the small of her back as he guided her to the end of the trail. She knew her legs were moving, could feel them even, but her mind was completely somewhere else. After a minute they found themselves sitting on a bench by the water.
“Tell me what’s on your mind Poppet?” The look of concern in his eyes snapped her from her thoughts.
“The woman in your office…the woman I did that to-”
“Deserved it.” Inhaling deeply, Evie processed his words. Thanatos placed one leg over the top of the other. “Evie…Jack was going to tell. He was finally going to tell what his father was doing to him. The bastard found out, and they paid to have someone take their children.”
The revelation stunned her. “How could people ever do that to their children?”
Thanatos looked to the sky.
“*People will do anything to maintain the façade of a perfect life*.” Evie thought about his words. He had a point, much more than he realized.
“The plan was to gain sympathy from the world while instilling terror in the children that once they were returned, they would be too emotionally scarred to speak. They instructed the kidnapper to use violence…Jack taking most of it to protect his younger sister.”
As he continued to tell Evie the story, she could see Thanatos break. His usual scowl and hardened face held so much sadness. “He’s only ten. No kid should have to sacrifice themselves to save their younger sibling.” Thanatos’ beautiful eyes look to be a million miles away.
“They never got them back, deciding the fame from missing children was much more appealing than having to deal with emotionally scarred ones. Left them to rot knowing they were being beaten until Jack succumbed to his wounds. Rose at seven, laid beside her dead brother’s body for days...DAYS Evie.”
Evie felt the tears fall down her cheek as her heart ached for those amazing souls she’d just met. The thought of having children never crossed her mind, but if it did, she’d be forever grateful to have ones like them. How could someone do that to them? How could they do that to any child?
“Why is Rose burnt?”
“Their kidnapper set them on fire.” The wryness in his voice sent her heart to her shoes. “Couldn’t deal with the guilt of killing the kids so he killed himself by setting the house on fire not realizing that Rose was still alive.” Thanatos grabbed her in his arms, allowing her to cry on his shoulders everything becoming too much.
“Hey…hey now Poppet, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking, I shouldn’t have brought you here. I’m not really good at this first date thing.”
Evie quickly removed her face from his chest and looked at him. “First date?”
A small blush crept onto his face but disappeared just as quickly, “I wasn’t saying it like that. I-”
“Thank you for sharing a part of your world Reaper. It means a lot.”
Thanatos seemed to let the air that he was holding in go and wiped the tears from her eyes. “There’s more I would like you to see…if you’re up to it.”
Evie quickly nodded an excited yes, and he grabbed her hand as they stood. Thanatos and Evie spent most of the day traveling through the grounds. She got to see how the souls spent their eternity, as he explained how he determined their fates. Probably the most interesting part was the living he brought in for judgment.
“Typically, when a number is called, I go and collect the soul and we work out the details from there, but sometimes when the person has done something extremely malicious, I pull their number early and have them brought here still alive.”
“Doesn’t that break the natural order of things?”
Thanatos scoffed then laughed, “And who's going to condemn me for doing so Romulus? He’s brought a few to me himself…but shhh that’s a secret.”
Thanatos winked his eye at her when he heard her gasp. “*Evie…people will do anything to maintain the façade of their perfect life*.” After another hour or so, Thanatos announced he had one more thing he wanted to show her back at the mansion and they began to make their way.
“Is this the part where I visit a man about a horse?” She smirked, watching his face pale before a loud laugh escaped his throat.
“Don’t be so crass, besides that’s more of a second date thing, no?” Before long, they’d made it back to the large mansion, the sun slowly lowering in the sky. Thanatos led her through the large doors down the corridor ignoring her constant ask of what he was up to. Stopping at the living room, he stretched his hand outward instructing her to look.
Inside, a cozy fire roared in the fireplace, a large blanket stretched over the modern gothic couch. Wine pre-poured and an assortment of various snacks including popcorn sat on the long table. Looking upward, Evie could see the huge television’s blue screen shone. She turned and smiled the biggest smile she could muster.
“You set up a movie night?”
Thanatos rubbed the back of his neck embarrassed, “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a little help with this part. Derrick and Romulus are a bit more romantic than me.”
Looking at the effort he put into the room, her heart felt it would burst from her chest. “I love it Reaper.”
He smiled clearly satisfied, “I don’t watch many movies, so I asked Romulus for a few of his.” He pointed to the selection of movies on the table, and she quickly walked over to inspect them. Evie could feel her nose scrunch up, and shortly Thanatos spoke from behind her.
“What’s the matter?”
“I’m just not a Rom-Com kinda girl…I’m more into thrillers and horrors but I’m sure we can find something here.”
Thanatos eyes gleamed against the light of the fire. Walking towards a chaise, he reached inside it’s storage section and pulled out a few more movies. “These are from my personal collection.”
They both laughed enjoying the unspoken connection found. Thanatos popped a movie in and joined her on the couch. Before he had a chance to overthink the moment, Evie quickly cuddled under his broad chest. He stiffened slightly, but soon, she could feel him relax against her. A couple of sips of wine and a few snacks was all it took for her to feel her eyelids grow heavy.
“Reaper…how come Rose and Jack still…look that way? Is there anything you can do?”
“Yes…but they won’t allow it. I think they’re holding on to some type of guilt...although, for the life of me, I can't imagine why.”
Evie laid silent for a moment. “I’d like to visit them again with you if that’s alright.”
“I was hoping you would say that.”
The thought of seeing them again made her happy. Maybe she could get them to change their mind…maybe she could do something to help. “Reaper why did you take me there today?”
“I wanted you to meet them.”
“Are you sure that’s all to it?”
Thanatos didn’t speak. Too tired to push further, Evie snuggled in closer, and after a second, she felt him wrap his arms tighter around her. His intoxicating scent, and strong arms aided in the exhaustion she already felt. Closing her eyes, she slowly allowed sleep to take over.
Thanatos kissed her on her forehead, repositioning her so they both were comfortable, and she could hear his breathing slow. After a few seconds, she heard a voice speak. One so low, she didn’t know if it was really there or in her dream.
“I wanted you to see a hidden part of me…a part you would think was good. Apart you could maybe someday I hope...find worthy enough to love.”