6 comments/  12405 views/  18 favorites

Can't Fight Time Ch. 01

By: sensanin



Hey Everyone! 

So, I've completely revamped Can't Fight Time. I liked the first book, but I thought there was something missing. Meh, I'm a perfectionist, what can I say. Anyway, I hope you're excited! I know I am! This is the first chapter of the revamped, brand-spanking-new Can't Fight Time. Hope you all like it! Don't forget to comment, I love feedback! 

-S 

***** 

"The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time." Nina recited the Mark Twain quote out loud, much to the surprise of all of her classmates, and most especially of her professor. 

Well, he did ask what I was reading, Nina thought, smothering her smile under a quick cough as she continued to stand with all eyes on her, the book of famous quotes held between two fingers. 

"And how exactly does that relate to the Arab Spring, Ms. Strathmore?" her professor asked caustically, sending her a look that her fifth grade bully would have cringed at. 

"It doesn't." Nina said succinctly, lowering her head in what she hoped looked like shame. "I apologize for interrupting class... again," she finished softly, her tone not nearly as repentant as her words. 

The history professor rolled his eyes at Nina, clearly frustrated, before turning back to the board and resuming his lecture. She looked around the class, trying hard not to stick her tongue out at the sea of glaring eyes. The squeak of chalk against the chalkboard and the shuffling of chairs and papers let her know her little interruption had been forgotten. Smoothing her cream-colored skirt over her thighs, Nina sat down quietly, dog-eared the page in her book, and then before picked up her pen so she looked studious. 

Whirling her pen between her fingers, Nina stared past her schoolmates to the rolling hills of green outside the classroom's window. Dust collected in the separated glass panes of the windows smudging the bright flowers and green grass outside. Grey-white walls, ancient wooden desks, and over three hundred students surrounded Nina in a lecture hall that was both too big and too small. It always amazed her how, in the sea of people and laptops, Mr. White always managed to find her goofing off. It wasn't like there weren't a hundred people playing on their phones, updating their statuses, and covertly listening to music or Snapchatting with their friends. Guess I'm just special. Yay for me. 

Nina chuckled mentally as she tuned out the lecture and ran through her mental playlist of songs. Just because she couldn't listen to music didn't mean she couldn't play some songs in her head. There was one song, in particular, that had been stuck in her head. It'd been there for a while but Nina couldn't remember when she'd heard it or why it had stuck with her for so long. It wasn't like she could remember the singer or even the title. Nope, just two lines played on repeat, a broken record that annoyed her as much as it interested her. 

Like the beat beat beat of the tom-tom... 

...Like the drip drip drip of the raindrops 

She tried to remember more of the words, but all she couldn't seem to remember anything but those two lines and the melody of trumpets and bass. Mentally blowing out a sigh when Mr. White narrowed his eyes at her, Nina sat up straighter and tuned into class. I'll look it up later. 

"Focus or you're gonna fail," she muttered to herself as she picked up her pen and began to scribble down notes. 

Time melted away until the tell-tale shuffle of papers and the ding of laptops being shut down brought her back. Somehow Nina had drifted off again and missed the rest of the class. Meh, the slides'll be up by the end of the day. Shaking her head, she listened to her teacher as he yelled out to his departing class "... If you have any questions on today's lecture, email your T.A.'s. Remember, your first paper is due Friday. Have a good rest of the day." 

Covering her mouth over a large yawn, Nina shuffled through her backpack for her headphones and phone. Obnoxiously loud conversations and rambunctious laughter became her background music as she gave up her search and stuffed her textbook and notebook in her bag then slung it over her shoulder. Nina nodded to her teacher and a few familiar faces as she moved out of the room and down the hallway towards the exit. 

Moving away from the hall, she weaved through the hundred or so students milling around with moves that an ice dancer would have been proud of. Soft grass absorbed her footprints as she moved around the students, twirling to avoid skateboards and bikes. A smile broke out as she looked up and spotted her favorite building on campus: the beautiful and secluded chapel. 

The brick building was tall without being imposing and, despite its name, the chapel didn't subscribe to any particular religion. It was one of her favorite places to read, meditate, and just get away from the usual chaos that was her life. There was just something about the building that made it feel not just like a sanctuary, but a home. 

Skipping around the building, Nina tripped over the same tree root she always tripped over. "They really need to fix that." Or I really need to just stop tripping over it. 

She slowed down as her favorite spot loomed just ahead, buried in a maze of trees and foliage. While Nina loved the chapel, her real peace and tranquility were found in its mazed gardens. Behind the chapel was a labyrinth with a small, bubbling fountain in the middle surrounded by stone-backed benches. The leaves and roots absorbed any sound, and made the center of the garden the perfect spot for curling up and reading a good book. 

"Freakin' finally! I need to work on my scheduling for next semester, so that I don't take another three hour lectures." Nina breathed a sigh of relief as she made her way through the maze towards the fountain. Moving around the circular fountain dead ahead, she settled down in one of the stone-backed benches under a weeping willow. 

Sunlight streaming through the trees provided the perfect amount of light for reading. "Ah... Peace and quiet." My two favorite words. 

Propping her legs up, Nina tucked her toes under her long skirt and rummaged through her backpack for her book. Settling in, she zoomed in on the next quote. Truth is stranger than... 

*** 

"Amica?" A lightly accented voice called Nina away from her slumber, "Are you alright?" 

"Hmm?" She struggled to open her eyes, only to find the most beautiful creature leaning over her. "Huh?" 

Leaning back, Nina was momentarily thrown off by the man engulfing the space around her; not exactly threatening, just... all-consuming. He'd give a linebacker a run for his money! she thought as she leaned towards him and sucked in a deep breath of what smelled like fresh, rich soil and piercing winter cold. It was a combination she'd never smelled before and, as inconspicuously as she possibly could, Nina took another deep breath into her lungs, relishing the crisp scents. 

"I was wondering if you were alright? I thought there might be a problem, with you sleeping outside in the middle of the night and all," the man stated evenly, with no hint of censure in his tone, just concern and curiosity. 

Hmm... He sounds better than chocolate tastes! Is that even possible? Nina wondered silently, still shaking off the layers of sleep clouding her brain. Wait. Middle of the night? 

"I'm sorry, um, what did you say?" she said on a yawn, leaning forward and making a move to get up, the stone suddenly feeling hard and cold beneath her. "I think sleep is still clouding my brain." 

The man leaned away from her and took a step back to give her some space. Whether she was happy about that or not, Nina didn't care to guess. She was grabbing her bag and untucking her legs when the man answered her: "It's 1:30." 

"A.M?" Nina blurted out as she shot to her feet and stumbled, not realizing her legs had fallen asleep. The man immediately reached out and steadied her, while still being able to dwarf her. That wasn't an easy feat by any stretch of the imagination; at 5 foot 11 and curvy to boot, Nina didn't have to look up at many people. 

Cold shot up her arm, and goosebumps appeared on her skin as Nina craned her neck to look up at the giant in front of her. Thick black lashes framed blue-diamond eyes, and polished, pale silver skin with just a hint of something exotic covered thick, corded muscle. But there was something in his eyes, something that both enthralled and haunted her. It was like a deep chasm of loneliness, pity, and a touch of fear. 

"Yes, it's pretty late," the man responded with a deep chuckle, slowly letting her go as she regained her footing. 

"Well, shit! There goes Statistics and 20th Century Lit," Nina mumbled sourly as she shook off his gaze like it was a physical thing around her. His laugh penetrated her and settled to a slow burn in her belly with the deep timbre of his voice and the softly accented words that made her think he might be Greek or Turkish. There was something mysterious, almost deadly about the stranger. It wasn't unsettling exactly, but it made her very aware of the man in front of her. 

"So, like... Um, thanks for waking me up. I guess I didn't realize how tired I was." She shuffled her feet awkwardly, feeling a bit intimidated by his size. The fact that it was the middle of the night, and they were well enough away from anyone hearing her scream in case her knight in shining armor turned out to be a sheep in wolf's clothing, didn't bother her as much as it should. Well, if he was going to kill me he had plenty of time when I was out cold. 

Blue-diamond eyes met hers, and Nina would swear she saw sadness race across those shining depths before they went flat. A crease marred her brow and Nina opened her mouth to ask if something was wrong, but at the same moment a noise to her left startled her. Every horror movie flashed across her mind as Nina whipped her head around expecting to find some kind of serial killer hiding in the shadows. That sounded like a muffled gasp. 

She peered into the darkened, thick foliage in the hopes that Nina would see a rabbit or squirrel eating or something. She didn't see any friendly creatures, but she also didn't see any creepy looking guy with a knife poised over a dead body. But I don't want to stay, just in case my intuitions shot. 

Worrying her bottom lip between her teeth, Nina turned back to the stranger but was struck with another goosebump-inducing chill that made her shiver from the tips of her toes to the bridge of her nose. "Um, thanks for the—" But the man was gone, as if he'd never been there. 

"And that's my cue to get the hell out of dodge," Nina whispered under her breath as fear slipped into her body; she grabbed her bag and all but ran out of the thick maze. She didn't dwell on the sinking feeling that the maze was longer, darker, and seemed to have branches reaching out to get her. 

Note to self: stop watching crime shows! From this moment on, you're on a strict diet of happy, mindless kid's shows. Her voice was a bit hysterical, but she was still talking, still breathing, and that was all she cared about. 

*** 

Grim hid a smile as he watched Nina look back at the spot where he'd just been and then dash out of the labyrinth as if the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels. A wry smile twisted his lips. Well, maybe not hounds, but reapers were. 

A deep sigh escaped Grim before he could corral his emotions. Centuries of existence hadn't curved his emotional tendencies, though they had dulled them. Well, that was before her anyway. Grim would have liked to blame it on his mother, but after nearly two millennia he was convinced that it was just his character flaw. Reapers, by their very definition, didn't have the luxury of feeling pity or sadness for humans; they weren't saviors, just middlemen. 

With that thought in mind, he moved out of the cloaking darkness and passed through the wall of foliage, until he reached the body of the dying girl. He didn't feel the leaves whip at his navy sweater, or twigs and thorns rip his black jeans. He was less than nothing as he passed through the wall, the only trace left behind of him being a slight frost over the plants and a chill in the already cool night air. 

Bending at the knee, Grim waited for the last flicker of life to fade from the dying girl's eyes. She could see him, the veil between this life and the next allowing her a glimpse of death. Grim was glad he'd decided to appear as a human and not as the stereotypical rendition of a Grim Reaper. That form he only used for the truly wicked of humanity, a sick pleasure he found in watching their eyes widen and fear take their body a second before they died. 

But for the child in front of him, he took no pleasure in her death. She was only a sacrificial lamb, a consolation prize for a man who denied himself his real kill because of sentimentality and love. A pitting smile twisted Grim's lips as he looked over the girl's features and figure, so similar to Nina's that it was both terrifying and beautiful. 

Wildly curling hair reached past the girl's shoulders, but Nina's was coiled a bit tighter with flecks of red that were easy to see in moonlight and sunlight. Her skin was like toffee, and only slightly darker than Nina's raw sugar coloring. The girl also lacked the curves that Nina seemed to have in abundance, a thickness that made her look more desirable, like she could take a man and give as good as she got. 

No, they weren't exactly the same, but they were exceptionally close. Ah, he's getting desperate. Grim noted with resigned tiredness as he took a deep breath over her body and sucked out her soul. Dark red and sea foam green swirled dangerously from her last emotions. He knew the colors well, had seen them far too often, fear and resignation. 

Grim rose from the body of the young girl so like Nina that he knew it was only a matter of time before he would collect her soul too. Another sigh escaped him as Grim felt the soul settle in his body, right next to his slowly beating heart. When it came time to take Nina's soul, he wondered what would happen with his emotions then. Never had Grim become so attached with a human he'd only just watched from a distance. But there was something about the sassy, smart, and funny girl that drew him in. Perhaps it was the happiness surrounding her, a feeling of joy that persisted despite the trial placed in front of her. Grim had yet to find that peace, that happy center that seemed to be a part of Nina's soul. 

It was one of the reasons he was attracted to her, one of the reasons he wanted her. But desire was not a reason to upset the careful balance that existed in this world. He was a reaper, straddling life and death, keeping the balance between the two. Pity, desire, and loneliness weren't sufficient reasons to break the laws that had been in place for centuries, laws that had been made because other reapers had acted on their wants and inadvertently killed humans. He would not break the rules and jeopardize the world, his family, everything, for one lovely human woman. 

Decisions, responsibility, and duty weighed heavily on Grim's shoulder as he turned and walked away into the night, until he became the night. 

***** 

I know it's a little short, but the next chapter should be up soon.

Can't Fight Time Ch. 02



Hey Everyone! 

Next chapters up! Hope you like! 

-Rosi 

*** 

Nina twisted her wrist, pushed open her front door, and rushed inside then turned the lock back until she heard the snip of the tumbler fall into place. Another note to self: don't do any creepy, dangerous things like sleep outside at 1:30 in the morning! 

Pushing away from the door, Nina let out a relieved sigh before she threw her bag on the couch, kicked off her shoes, and made her way to the kitchen where the scent of slightly burnt pizza wafted out in waves. 

"Hey, Dad," Nina chirped as she entered the kitchen, not all that surprised to see her father up. The man had strange hours as a security guard, and would often come home in the middle of the night craving food. And after her mother passed away, that food was mainly in boxes and usually frozen. 

"Little Boo, you're home late. Were you studying?" her father asked as he slipped on an oven mitt and pulled out the pizza. 

Biting her lip, Nina went to the sink to wash up. Her stomach growled letting her know that she'd skipped lunch and dinner. A spot of red on her father's sleeve caught her eye, and Nina grabbed a paper towel, ran it under the tap until it was damp and then went to him and began dabbing at the spot. 

"No, I fell asleep at the chapel. Knocked out cold, but this nice guy woke me up. Dad, you really need to stop making such a mess! I swear, every time you come home you have another stain on your clothes," she chastised her father, as she got most of the stain out and threw the paper towel in the trash. 

She went over to the kitchen drawer, pulled out a knife and began to cut the pizza. Her father was quiet beside her, and Nina cast him a curious look over her shoulder. "Something wrong?" 

Her father's emerald eyes were narrowed, his voice strained. "You said that a guy woke you up?" 

She paused, knife half-way across the pizza. Carefully, Nina placed the knife on the counter and turned to her father, the mood in the small kitchen taking on an almost dangerous edge. She'd known this would happen. Why did you mention it then? her inner voice questioned in an exasperated voice. 

The faded yellow walls of the kitchen seemed to draw closer to Nina, boxing her in as she looked at her father's carefully controlled face. "Yes, but he left right after. He was just being nice and—" 

Her father slammed his hands on the counter, and the sound made Nina jump nearly out of her skin. "You know I don't like you with other men," Slowly, disdainfully, he whispered the words through his teeth, "But you always push me, Nina. Push me to the point of doing something I would regret." 

She stood her ground, keeping herself in a non-threatening position. After Nina's mother had passed, her father had broken and never been able to piece himself completely back together. She'd learned through trial and error that when he got like this, he was more like an animal than a man. Remaining absolutely still with no sudden movements and a relaxed, even tone was the best thing for her to do. 

"I need you to calm down, Dad. I can't talk to you when you're like this," Nina said clearly, her voice serene, betraying none of the fear that lurked just beneath the surface. "Why don't we take a deep breath, hmm?" 

*** 

From the backyard of the house, hidden in the shadows, Grim watched the exchange between father and daughter. He leaned against a magnolia tree in their backyard, staring through the dusty window at the pair. He'd been watching Nina for a while now, and knew it was only a matter of time before her father finally ended her life. 

Grim brushed a stray leaf off his shoulder as he watched Nina work through her father's volatile mood, trying to calm him down and bring him back from the murderous brink that he seemed to be at constantly. How many times have I seen this now? Too many times to count. It was a miracle her father hadn't just killed her already. Grim knew the man couldn't last much longer. Murderers, just like addicts, were always looking for the next high, the next kill to make them feel whole and alive again. He'd been studying humans for years, learning their patterns, anticipating their actions. It made the Collectors' job easier, allowed them to slip into the human word just a second before or after a humans death and then leave with their soul back to the Underworld. 

The Underworld, Hell, Hades, there was a name in every culture of the world for his home yet few cultures truly depicted it correctly. A mirror image of the human world, the Underworld was just that, a world apart from the humans. It was neither purgatory nor an Eden. It was not a place for humans, but for reapers. Yet, because reapers had nothing besides the human world to use as comparison, they recycled the souls of animals and plants to use in their landscape, modeled mountains and deserts after Earth's marvels. There was no point in going to different planets, traipsing through different galaxies. They needed souls to exist, needed the power those souls provided to live. Just like vampires feed off blood, and zombies feed off flesh, so too did reapers feed off the energy stored in all souls. 

Grim returned his attention to Nina, and smiled at the way she handled and controlled her father's mood. She's strong. Stronger than I thought, he acknowledged proudly as he stepped out of the shadows and walked through the back wall into the house's kitchen. He noted the sudden condensation on the wall he passed through and watched a chill snake up both Nina and her father. 

"Dad, I need you to stay with me. Look in my eyes... keep looking..." she chanted softly to her father, still as a statue. 

Grim moved swiftly, more out of habit than necessity, and took a seat in one of the kitchen chairs, his eyes never straying from Nina. Even after months of similar behavior, it still bothered him to see her like this, walking on eggshells around the man who she should have been able to lean on. Goose flesh ran across her arms, and made Grim smile. It was a small consolation for him that even though Nina could not see him, her body could still feel his presence in the room. 

Not that it makes a difference, either way. Grim forced himself to be impassive, stifle the emotions trying to push to the surface. He ignored the blood that coated his palms from his digging his nails in, and the blood that flowed over his tongue as he bit down hard on his lip. They were involuntary actions, things he couldn't stop because somehow he'd developed more than a simple affinity for the human. 

Sending his power out, Grim felt a brief tingle before his wounds healed. Sometimes he forgot that his human body was a perfect replica of its counterpart. When Grim hurt himself, he felt pain and saw blood. It was only a flash, barely anything in the grand scheme of his life, but it was a small price to pay for the form because the alternative had always felt... strange to him. Even though reapers were made from human bone and magic, to actually don his bones, cloak, and scythe felt uncomfortable. It felt more natural to Grim to have flesh. It was one more thing he'd inherited from his mother, one more thing that made him unlike most other reapers. 

Despite the fact that Nina couldn't see him, Grim felt more... comfortable in his human form around her. He wasn't sure what it was, but being around the woman made him feel more like himself. He didn't understand the sensations the human girl inspired in him, didn't understand why it mattered so much. Running a tired hand through his hair, Grim turned back to Nina and her father, the sudden feeling of violence in the room disappearing like smoke. 

"I'm sorry, Nina," her father said, a note of apprehension in his tone. 

"It's fine, Dad." Nina smiled comfortingly and changed the subject. "Are you still hungry?" 

Smart girl, Grim acknowledged, watching as they each grabbed a piece of pizza and sat down at the table. Neither of them took the seat he was sitting in. It was that sixth sense humans refused to document as anything but a fable. Even though they could not see him, they subconsciously knew he was there, felt his presence. 

"I'm really tired, Dad. So I'm gonna hit the hay," Nina gave her father a quick kiss on the cheek and then hurried out of the kitchen and up the stairs. 

Only Grim could see the twisted look Nina's father gave her retreating back, one of self-loathing and lust. He knew the cause of both emotions, had collected the souls of thirteen women who loved similar to Nina and her mother. For months, Grim had watched the name hunt down women, take them to secluded areas and have sex with them, kiss them, and for a brief moment love them. But that moment faded quickly, and death soon followed. Nina's father had a pattern, had a signature, and a type. 

Grim could still remember the color of Nina's mother's soul. Adrienne's had been a brilliant turquoise dotted with flecks of lilac. It had been an interesting combination, one he'd never seen in a very long while, relief with spots of anger. The colors had left an impression on him, and before Grim knew it, he went to Adrienne's home. Something inside of him was curious as to those particular emotions. When he had found her body, broken in an alley way, his interest had been piqued. 

Nina, a young girl devastated by her mother's murder, crushed, did not weep or shed one tear. When Grim had seen her for the first time she'd been dressed in black laughing and smiling at a funeral, her mother's funeral. Beautiful. That had been Grim's first thought. And when her hands shook, and water collected in her eyes but did not fall, Grim had seen her strength. Nina didn't grieve; she celebrated her mother's life in the way her mother would have wanted. 

He watched Nina's father grab another slice of pizza and eat it. A pinch of pain in his hands reminded Grim that his emotions were nearing the surface again. Grim knew men like Nina's father all too well, and despite whatever happened in his life to cause him to become like this, murder was still murder. 

Rising from his seat, Grim turned away from the man and made his way up the stairs to Nina's room. He walked through the door, and immediately turned to her bed. What he saw there made blood pool heavily in his mouth, made him clench his fists so tight he heard bones breaks. 

Nina was curled on her side, feigning sleep with a metal bat clutched tightly in one hand. Grim spun away, but his eyes caught on the door. A number of locks lined the seam of her bedroom door though some looked like they had been broken off. 

It was his first time in her room. Usually he waited in the hallway when he came to see her, a kind of courtesy he provided her. As he looked around the room, Grim felt his temper rise, emotions he's tried to keep in check bubble to the surface. This? This is how she lives? 

His power leaked out and saturated the room. From the bed, Grim heard teeth chattering, and saw small shudders rack Nina's form. Calming his raging emotions, Grim composed himself. Reaching forward, he placed his power into the locks, fortifying them against any intruders. If her father really wished her dead there was little he could do, but if the man only wanted to sneak in, then the locks would hold. 

Effortlessly, he moved towards the bed and laid on the comforter next to Nina. Grim wrapped his arms around her curled form, suppressing as much of his power as he could. "Sleep, Amica," Grim whispered, knowing that she could not hear him because he remained invisible. 

Yet she began to relax slowly, as if she knew she was being protected. For the first time in his many long centuries of existence, Grim wished that he was not a reaper. He wished he was a human and could do more for Nina than help her pass on when she was ultimately murdered. 

But life was never fair, for reapers or humans. 

"Sleep." Grim cast his voice to her, power laced through the word. Within a second she was in a deep slumber, leaving him to wonder why, after countless centuries of existence, he was choosing now to have a bleeding heart.



Can't Fight Time Ch. 03



Hey Everyone! 

So, I know a lot of you are mad, but the book is already out. This is just a revision, because my teacher encouraged me to do it and she was right. I'm adding a couple pages to the book, fixing some errors and what not. Anyway, if you're new, thanks for reading, if you are a returner, please don't hate me. I'm just a perfectionist and finishing correcting Time helps me finish Fate. Alright, I hope you like. 

-Rosi 

*** 

I'm gonna have me some fried fricassee when I get my hands on those damn birds! Nina thought aggressively as she opened her eyes and threw her pillow at the window. Said birds had been chirping for more than an hour while she struggled to get back to sleep. Of course, the stupid things hadn't stopped, and Nina had gotten tired of feigning sleep. 

Turning onto her side, she read her alarm clock. Holy crap! It's six in the freakin' morning! Nina screamed into her head as she kicked her arms and legs and indulged herself in a brief tantrum. 

Yesterday had been the best sleep that she'd had in a while. She didn't know why, but she'd felt safe, something she hadn't felt in a long time. It wasn't as if her father did anything that would endanger her; but she'd woken up one night to see him staring at her in the funniest way, like he wanted to do some 'not so fatherly' things to her. Even knowing he'd never do them, a part of her had insisted on the locks. 

But it's Dad. And maybe it was that thought that kept her from calling the police. Deep down she wanted to believe that he'd never hurt her, but an even deeper part of her knew that that was a lie and it was only a matter of time before things escalated and he really did do something dangerous. 

Swinging her legs out of bed, Nina got up and stretched before going to her dresser to pull out her clothes for the day. If she was going to be honest, being awake at six wasn't even a new phenomenon. Ever since her mother had passed, her body seemed to wake up with the sun as if seeking that form of protection. It was much easier to live and sleep in the daytime than it was at night. It was like her soul craved the warmth of the sun, because she couldn't find it at home. 

Sighing, Nina pulled on her clothes as quietly as she could, still a bit cold despite it being early enough in fall that the chill hadn't really set in. Even now, she saw students wearing short-shorts, flip flops, and tank tops around her campus. But as she pulled on her clothes, Nina found herself reaching for a long sleeved pullover. Although the chill hadn't set in for most people, for her it seemed to be a constant. 

"Freakin' cold as Hades," Nina muttered under her breath as she quietly, but quickly jammed her feet in a pair of flats. 

She was quick as she dressed, grabbed her bag, and moved down the hall. It meant that she had less of a chance of seeing her father. Nina loved the man, but lately he'd become increasingly... strange, distant, and seemingly removed from reality. 

Nina sighed again as she got outside and closed the door, then turned the knob to make sure it locked. It was only a ten minute walk, but it gave her time to reflect on her life. School had never been daunting; though Nina struggled in math and science she had ultimately passed those classes. Nothing had really been a challenge for her, well, except for her relationships. Most of that was because, after her mother had died and her father had become protective in the extreme, all of Nina's friends had disappeared. 

The only friend she had now was Nicole, since it would take a natural disaster or death to separate them. They had become friends in freshman year,Nicole had a way of making the loneliness that seemed to perpetually claw at Nina fade away. She was one of the few people that Nina felt she could fully trust herself with. 

Why is it so cold? Goose bumps rose on her skin despite the early morning rays from the sun. 

Nina was passing through the gates of the university, headed towards the chapel, when the blinking lights of cop cars alerted her. Probably just a drunk girl? I mean Wednesday is the new Saturday. Nina thought, holding her bag tightly and walking with more caution towards the chapel. 

But in the back of her mind, a gnawing persisted. Could it be one of the murders? But, it's never been on a campus before. 

The murders had been around the city, in different locations. They had the same M.O., which had led people to conclude it was a serial killer, especially considering all the women had looked remarkably the same. Still, it was highly unlikely that the murderer had decided to strike on her campus. From the news, the places chosen were bars and clubs, not schools and universities. I mean I don't see a coroner tru— 

Nina hadn't even finished her thought when the smell of blood and chemicals wafted towards her, making her want to vomit any leftover pizza in her system. 

Turning her head away, she gripped her stomach and tried not to hurl as images assailed her mind. The morgue is sterile. But faint traces of blood are still in the air, not quite suppressed by the heaviness of chemicals. 

"Stop," Nina whispered to herself as she fought back the memories. 

"I want to see her. Pull the sheet back," I say and bite my tongue bloody. For a moment the smell overpowers the chemicals in the air. 

"No!" Nina closed her eyes, fighting back more than her memories. 

"Are you—?" the coroner is asking pityingly. 

My Dad's beside me. Quiet, hasn't spoken a word. "Do it." 

"Hey! You okay?" someone yelled near Nina, drawing her back to the present. "Can I get a medic over here?" 

She was on her knees on the ground, shivering, goose bumps running like ants across her skin. An officer stood over her, a woman, soothingly rubbing circles on her back. 

Pull it together! her subconscious yelled at her, smacking Nina out of the fog of depression and memories surrounding her. 

"I-I'm fine," she forced out through chattering teeth. Breathe. "I just have, um, panic attacks... school and stuff." More like memory attacks, her conscience mocked. 

Always the same memory, only longer and more detailed every time. It had started after her mother had died and she'd gone to the morgue; only her memory of the time was foggy, becoming clear in her visions. Nina's therapist said she was working through a traumatic experience and that, over time, the visions would fade into nothing or become crystal clear. Two years later, and the visions had increased in clarity, but become strangely disjointed, as if they were from different places in time. 

"You don't look fine," the officer said, her voice sounding so familiar to Nina even though she'd never met the woman before. The officer had straight blonde hair, pulled back into a tight bun, with what looked like gel securing it. She couldn't have been more than five foot five and yet her mannerisms declared her to be a giant. 

Sharp sky-blue eyes met Nina's as the woman assessed her for long seconds before turning to address a young man coming towards them. "Take a look at her for me, will ya? I got to finish up." 

"Sure. No problem," the young man dressed in a medic's uniform chirped in a lightly accented voice as he helped Nina up and then moved her to the back of an ambulance waiting off to the side. 

Was that here before? Nina wondered, trying to distract herself from the crime scene tape blocking off the maze to the fountain. "I was there," Nina muttered, dumbfounded. 

"Huh?" the medic asked as he went about checking her. "You say something?" 

Nina shivered again, as new goosebumps replaced the slowly fading ones on her skin. "Nothing." Her eyes strayed back to the maze officers were coming in and out of. 

Is that a body? Oh my God! It is! Nina fought back revulsion as the medic finished up on her. He seemed to catch where her eyes were going and what they seemed to be glued on. 

"My name's Liuz," the medic began as he took a seat beside her in the back of the ambulance. "You're probably wondering what happened." 

"Nina," she supplied, keeping her eyes glued on the bustling cops and never looking directly at the man next to her. "Uh, yeah, what happened?" 

"Well..." the medic dithered, obviously deciding how much to tell her. "At the moment, we aren't at liberty to say." 

The way he phrased it sounded weird. Usually, when a student died of alcohol poisoning, the police were all about telling the community and making sure every student knew that drinking had consequences. But, he sounded like he was trying to hide something, trying to— 

"She was murdered," Nina's eyes followed the black body bag as it was wheeled to the coroner's van and into the back. That was the only explanation for why he wasn't giving her the 'don't drink and don't do drugs' speech. 

Goosebumps ran up her arms again, and absently Nina stroked her arms trying to warm herself up. "The Sweetheart Killer, right? Probably looked like all the other victims?" her voice sounded weird, like it was far away. It reminded her of another time when she'd been near a dead body. Nina rubbed her arms harder, until they began to burn. 

"How the hell—" the medic began but was cut short by the female officer coming back to them and giving him a sharp look. "Uh, sorry." 

She's a detective. Yup, same one on TV working the Sweetheart Killer case. That's how I knew the voice. Nina thought, turning to give the detective her full attention. 

"You feelin' better, Hun?" the officer asked, her voice buttery soft with a hint of a southern accent. Nina was just waiting for the woman to bat her sky-blue eyes and offer her a glass of sweet tea. "You still look a little pale. Maybe I should call someone? A family member? Do you have a number?" 

Nina opened her mouth to respond that she was fine, but something possessed her to close her lips right back up. Despite the woman's kind concerned words, there was something behind them. 

Nina had talked with too many detectives when she and her father had been working on her mother's murder before the case had gone cold. After being surrounded by detectives for nearly ten hours out of the day, Nina had acquired a very useful skill: seeing under the concern and flattery to the real information they wanted. 

This officer wanted to know about her. After the number, she'd probably ask her name, her address, maybe weasel out some classes and activities Nina participated in. But the biggest question was: why did the officer care? Simple. Because she suspects me of something. Maybe not murder, but something. 

Nina turned away to glance at her watch. She furrowed her brows in what she hoped looked like worry over her classes and not fear at the detective's line of questioning. "I'm fine, really," Nina slid from the back of the ambulance onto the sidewalk. Nina chose her words carefully, giving no indication where her class was or when it started. "Thank you for the help, but I have to get to class." 

"Wait." The simple command issued by the detective stopped Nina in her tracks. The air around them became a few degrees cooler, though that could have just been her imagination. 

"I'm sure you could spare a few minutes to talk with us. Maybe answer a few questions—since you're feeling so fine," the detective's tone was flat and devoid of the buttery quality it had before. 

So the gloves are off, then. Turning, Nina smiled, and inclined her head. "Of course, I'll be happy to help in any way I can." 

*** 

Grim ground his teeth as he stood beside Nina and heard her answer the detective's questions. She's smart, Grim noted again as he watched Nina choose her words carefully and try to look like a freaked-out college student about to be late for class. Of course, he could see through the charade to the calculating woman who knew far more than she let on beneath, but so could the detective. 

It had been twenty minutes of his immortal life, standing there and watching the two women talk. No pertinent information had been exchanged, though it was obvious both knew a great deal more than what they were telling each other. Like the fact that the detective won't tell Nina that she looks like all the other victims. 

But Nina had her own secrets too. However, twenty minutes was long enough to ferret them out. If the detective didn't know by now, she probably wasn't going to know. 

Grim took a few steps away from Nina, watching as she stopped shaking and her skin began to regain some color. 

He grimaced slightly, feeling a tad bit ashamed. Reapers were naturally cold, but when they were in their transparent state, or as his brother liked to say 'ghostin', their temperature dropped drastically. It was only natural that Nina would be freezing and not know why. The sun was out, everyone else seemed to be unfazed, yet she was freezing, with her lips turning blue. 

Grim continued to walk away from Nina and the detective, straight through a brick wall and into the nearby chapel. If he suddenly materialized in front of a dozen witnesses, that would mean trouble for the royal families and Council of Guardians in the Underworld. The last thing Grim wanted to do was break a rule and have all hell break loose. There were few rules in the Underworld, but those rules were absolute and could result in the 'true death' if broken. 

Craning his neck to make sure no human was lurking around, Grim materialized himself. He looked down at his outfit, a dark green T-shirt under a leather jacket, and decided it was appropriate for the century. Quickly he walked to the door leading outside, but at the last minute he materialized a light grey scarf that matched Nina's faded blue jeans and dark blue pullover. She's probably freezing right now because of me, and it'll only get worse when I'm with her. 

He continued without breaking stride, and pushed open the front double doors of the chapel with more strength than he intended. Grim heard them bang violently against the sides of the building, bits of brick flying off. 

It's been too long since I've been a human and had to touch things. Grim continued to walk over to Nina and the detective, careful to make sure he didn't do anything inhuman, such as walk through walls or break people's bones with a handshake. 

Oh, and don't forget to breathe. Humans breathe. his subconscious reminded him as he took a deep breath in, blew it out, and hoped it looked natural. 

Grim was about 10 feet away from them when the detective noticed him. He saw her hackles rise, and had to wonder how he looked. But no one was screaming or praying, so he could only assume he still looked somewhat human. 

"Amica," Grim said quietly when he reached Nina's side, surprising both her and the detective. 

He watched as Nina whirled around and pointed an accusing finger at him, her voice reflecting surprise and wonder: "You!" 

"Him?" the detective chirped, and brought her had to rest over her holstered weapon. She might not know him, and he might not fit the profile, but the detective wasn't taking any chances. 

Grim just inclined his head to the detective as if saying hello and shook out the scarf before wrapping it around Nina. "Yes, Amica, it's me. Who else did you expect?" Grim gave her a lopsided grin as he watched goosebumps flit over her skin again as his hands brushed her arms. 

Nina gave him a pointed look before quickly looking around and then looking back at him. He knew she was weighing her options, had seen the look countless times now. Grim could practically see the wheels turning in her head. 

If Nina stayed any longer she could be called down to the station for questioning and miss class. If she feigned some kind of excuse and left with him then she could probably make it to class and get the detective off her back. There were many other possibilities that he watched cross her mind, but her eyes judged, calculated, and systematically dismissed them all. She knew just as well as he did that making up an excuse and leaving with him would be the best option. 

Planting a bright smile on her face, Nina transformed into a flirty, smitten girlfriend. "Oh, you! I told you to wait for me in class. You didn't have to come all the way here to pick me up," Nina gushed, twining her arms around his torso and giving him a quick squeeze. Her body immediately stilled and gave a large shudder. 

Grim was just about to pull her away when she burrowed closer and feigned another shudder, this one not about cold at all. "But I'm happy you didn't listen." 

"I'm sorry, who is this?" the detective asked as Grim gently moved Nina to his side so that she wouldn't be as cold. 

"I'm her boyfriend," Grim answered with a friendly smile, trying to look as non-threatening and casual as he could while simultaneously watching his strength to make sure he didn't accidentally bruise or break one of Nina's ribs.  

The detective gave them both an incredulous look. "Can I see some identification, boyfriend?" 

"No," he infused the words with power, suggestion. "You don't need my identification. In fact, you have to leave now." 

A complacent look settled over the detective, and she nodded. "I'll keep in touch, Ms. Strathmore. But if you'll excuse me, I have to leave." The woman turned and unhurriedly walked away from them. 

Grim felt Nina stiffen even as she continued to shiver next to him. "You're not human." 

It was a statement, which Nina whispered lowly with a fear she couldn't conceal. 

Grim frowned. I don't want her to fear me. The thought came unbidden and left a strange ache in his chest. He was about to break one of the laws of the Underworld, and yet did not know why. He was going to disrupt the balance, potentially destroy the tentative truce held between the three kingdoms of the Underworld for an emotion he could not even give a name. Perhaps it was instinct that brought him to Nina, and a strange sense of kinship kept him glued to her side. 

"No," Grim answered after a moment, turning them in one swift motion away from the chapel, the officers, and the murder scene. "I'm Death."



Can't Fight Time Ch. 04



Hey Everyone! 

So, I know a lot of you are mad, but the book is already out. This is just a revision, because my teacher encouraged me to do it and she was right. I'm adding a couple pages to the book, fixing some errors and what not. Alright, I hope you like. 

-Rosi 

*** 

Nina wasn't an idiot. In fact, she prided herself on being pragmatic in the extreme, except for those rare times when she completely lost her marbles. But this wasn't one of those times. 

Fact: He appears out of thin air and apparently has the ability to control people. Now, either he's a fantastic magician or telling the truth. 

Nina cocked her head and regarded his side profile as they walked. A strong jaw and chiseled features made even clearer in the light of day. His skin seemed to be super pale as if he was sick; but the slight olive hue, recalling a Mediterranean background, was still there. And goodness, was he tall! Though what his height had to do with him being Death or not, Nina refused to examine, because she knew deep down she wasn't just looking at him objectively anymore. 

"You look young for Death," Nina finally said as they began to get closer to the school mall. The sun was bright, but she was still freezing; like she was near an open freezer. Nina couldn't help but wonder if it was Death. If I touch him, will I die? Get frozen? 

"My body reflects the age that I became a reaper. I stopped growing when I was... hmm, I think twenty-eight, but it's been too long for me to be sure," Death responded. 

Interesting. "Growing? Were you born? Aren't Grim Reapers supposed to have died? And then, like, be brought back or something?" Nina dug through her mind for the romance novels, movies, and general lore she knew about Death and Grim Reapers. 

Am I really doing this? Nina walked across the mall, the sun shining brightly as she watched several girls tanning and guys playing Frisbee without their shirts, sweat glistening on their skin. And yet, I'm freezing in long sleeves, jeans, and a scarf. It's definitely got to be Mr. Death. 

"I was born. Reapers cannot be made in the way you think. They must be born from a human female or a female reaper. But I'm very curious to know why you're not running for the hills or laughing at how ludicrous this conversation is. I would've assumed you to be too rooted in science to believe in myths." Grim's voice was an interesting combination of deadly undertones, refined notes, and a strong tone. It reminded her of steel roses, the baritone fitting perfectly with his beguiling and cajoling appearance. 

Goose bumps appeared on her skin when he leaned closer to hear her response after calling her out. There was not much she could say: Nina wasn't humoring him, and, in all honestly, she didn't think he was crazy or psychotic. She didn't get a dangerous vibe from him, or even an off-his-meds one. No, the vibe she felt from him was of ancient power wrapped in the guise of a twenty-something, good-looking college guy. He clashed so distinctly with the image of Death she had in her mind, that Nina couldn't surmise any other explanation than for him to be the real Grim Reaper. 

Nina stopped under the shade of a tree, her lecture hall right in front of her. Reaching out, she grabbed his arm, feeling a numbing cold shoot up her hand and straight to her heart. "I am rooted in reality. I believe what I can see and touch with my own hands. And I'm touching you, ergo you must be real. That's the only probable explanation to the fact that you seem to be as cold—no pun intended—as Death." 

She paused and pulled her hand away. Her throat was a bit parched and her lips felt cracked like she'd been out in the cold. Nina grimaced as she wiggled her fingers and tried to pump warm blood back through her hand. "Not only that, but you're able to control people's will. I accept that you are Death. But I'm curious... How am I seeing Death? I'm alive and breathing." 

Nina watched Death closely, daring him to tell her she was wrong or laugh and say it was all a joke and he was just one freaking awesome magician. But of course reality was never like the movies. Aperson could anticipate someone's actions only to be disappointed when they were utterly wrong, and Nina was utterly wrong. 

"I could tell you the truth, which would likely ruin your day or we could go and grab a cup of coffee and I'll let you ask all those questions I'm assuming are buzzing around in your head. Which would you prefer?" Death asked, with such politeness Nina almost missed the whole 'ruin your day' thing. But she wasn't an idiot, as she liked to remind herself often. 

She'd read somewhere that if given the choice to know that they were going to die, most people would like to know. Maybe that was because they wanted to stop it, or live however they wanted for as long as they had left. But to Nina it didn't matter; death was inevitable, so why fear it? The uniqueness of life was death. 

"Coffee and questions." Nina gave her lecture hall a longing look as she watched her money going down the proverbial drain. She turned and started walking again, this time in the direction of the small cafe on campus. "But, before I forget: do you have a name besides Death? It would be weird if someone heard me calling you that." 

"You're quite a curiosity, Amica," Death chuckled beside her. Nina cast him a sidelong glance with a questioning brow, Name? 

"You can call me by my nickname, Grim," he said finally. 

She snorted: "Should've known." 

The laugh that flowed from him was throaty and sexy all at once, and made Nina squirm uneasily as she walked. Stupid! You can't be attracted to Death! He'll literally kill you! That thought cooled Nina's ardor quickly as they continued to walk towards the cafe. 

*** 

Five hours, two lattes, and a turkey panini later Nina had all but exhausted her questions. The old adage, 'curiosity killed the cat,' didn't apply to her for two reasons: one) talking to Grim basically meant she had one foot in the grave already, and two) it didn't kill the cat, it killed her very grounded belief in what she could see, hear, smell, and touch, because some of the things he described sounded like they came right out of a Monsterpedia. 

Still, Nina's fascination at talking with someone who was literally a living relic far surpassed her suffocating fear that she would die soon. In fact, talking with Grim she'd all but forgotten he was Death. When they'd started talking about history and the modern world in comparison to the vagabonds of the 12th century, the attraction she'd first felt spark inside her ignited like a roaring fire. 

Even now, nursing the last few sips of her vanilla latte, Nina couldn't help but lean closer to him and lower her voice to a seductive purr. Amazement and wonder colored her tone with a hearty dose of attraction she just couldn't hide. "So, you're telling me that you were actually there during the Great Flood?" 

Of course, she wasn't blind, and neither was she celibate. In all honesty, if the reaper sitting in front of her blatantly asked her to drop her pants and fuck him on the coffee table in front of God and everyone, Nina would have been hard pressed to say no. 

The man was an irresistibly sexy, walking history book! And Nina could appreciate that as the fact it was. 

Grim chuckled, dark and exotic with that hint of an accent she had detected a few times and which he had admitted came from his time in Athens. "Amica, I was in the flood. Died a few times actually, but that was when I was first getting used to my power. I was still a fledgling back then." 

Nina hoped her jaw didn't dislocate from being dropped so long, but goodness the man was interesting. And funny, sexy, smart... Nina swiveled her stirring straw around in her cup as she regarded him through the curls covering her eyes. If only he wasn't Death and I wasn't going to die. 

The thought came unbidden and added a harsh light to the last five hours. The truth was that he was here, which meant that, very soon, she was going to die. And even if he told her all of his knowledge, all of his memories, what good would any of that be to a corpse? But that was the point. He had the luxury to tell her all of his secrets, all of his weaknesses, and just watch them die along with her. 

She finished off her now tepid latte and thought about her next question. Grim was relaxed, sipping at his drink of choice, mint tea. At one point, she remembered asking him "Why mint?" His response: "Because it calms me." The line had been almost comical. Death needed calming? I thought he was the very definition: silent, deadly, and calm. 

Nina stuffed a napkin in the now empty cup and turned to him. "Tell me about the Underworld." 

Grim seemed to think about it, stroking his slight five o'clock shadow, while leaning forward to place the tea on the table. "It's not very interesting." 

Nina paused, looking at him for any sign that he was lying to get her away from the topic. He was completely relaxed, watching her through half-lowered lids like a lion might watch a mouse. But she wasn't scared by that, because the fact still remained that he was a lion and she was a mouse, and at any time he could readily slaughter her. 

But Death doesn't kill. Grim had told her that. It wasn't their aim to kill, but to guide. They were mediums for spirits (basically ferrymen without boats) who shuffled souls on to the next world. Everything she'd learned in the course of five hours from a walking encyclopedia namd Grim. 

"It doesn't matter if it's not interesting. It's something that we haven't talked about." Something I don't know about you. 

Grim paused, stretched, and then got up. "We've been here too long. Why don't we take a walk and I answer your question?" 

Nina was up in a heartbeat, stiff muscles protesting their sudden use. "Sure. A walk would be nice." 

Nina gathered up her school bag, their trash, and threw everything away, trying to be as quick as possible. What she'd learned over the course of five hours with Grim was that he didn't sugar-coat the harsh realities he had faced, or try to make it more palatable for her to digest. He spoke from experience and answered her questions outright. 

They were outside walking, with the midday sun shining a bit too brightly overhead, when Grim finally began. "As I said before, the Underworld is ruled by monarchies. Within their kingdoms are different provinces managed by Guardians and Peacekeepers. Watchers keep track of all the finances, and record the history of the Underworld. Ambassadors and envoys ferry messages to Royal Guards in the different kingdoms." Grim clasped his hands behind his back, and walked straighter. 

Nina frowned when he didn't keep going. "How many kingdoms are there?" 

Grim cast her a sidelong glance, the gesture deceptively innocent, but Nina could still see the steel behind his blue-diamond eyes. Did I step on a nerve? 

"There are three royal families," Grim began quietly, his voice sounding far away. "The Castoff, the Bloodspurn, and the Darklore. Each of these names reflect the history of their family. 

"The Castoff kingdom on the Northern plain. It is the wealthiest kingdom, and collects souls in Africa, all of Europe, part of Russia, and the Middle East. The second is the Bloodspurn, which is known to have the fiercest reapers. They control the Americas, Denmark, and the Queen Elizabeth Isles. The last is the Darklore, the only kingdom where the monarchy is matriarchal. Their queen is the oldest reaper to date, and she controls all of Asia, most of Russia, and Australia and New Zealand." 

"The Guardians act as mayors or governors. They watch the provinces and come together every new human century to revise the rules. But what they usually do is report issues and problems to their respective kingdoms. 

"Have their been many problems recently?" 

He turned and looked through her not at her. It was like he was calculating, sizing her up as a threat or ally. "Yes. There have been reports of reapers in the Darklore and Bloodspurn Kingdoms going missing, their ashes being found." 

Grim paused and gave Nina a weary smile as if with that gesture he could lessen the impact of his words, and warm the deathly chill in the air. He didn't return the smile, but instead regarded her with that carefully blank and calculating look. "The only way to truly kill a reaper is to burn them down to ash, so not even their magic survives. We call it the et mors, or true death." 

Keeping her face calmly pleasant, Nina watched Grim, following the subtly shifts in his blue-diamond eyes. "Who is killing the reapers?" 

A chilling smile cut across his face. "There is a rumor that the Castoff kingdom is responsible for the incidents; but without any concrete proof, the neither the Darklore or the Bloodspurn Kingdom will accuse outright. There is a power struggle in play, an ancient one." 

Nina nodded as she listened, understanding dawning on her as he explained the rules of his world. "It sounds very complicated. How do souls even get collected with all the inplay going on?" 

Grim paused in his walk for a heartbeat and gave her an unreadable look, before a smile split his face and he resumed his relaxed stride. "Souls are one of the constants. No matter the politics, Collectors and Messengers will always have a job to do." 

"Collectors and Messengers?" 

"Yes. Collectors take souls from the human world and deliver them to Messengers. Messengers then sort and distribute the souls." 

Grim continued with his description of the different kingdoms while Nina listened next to him. There was something he wasn't telling her, something that the didn't want her to know; Nina couldn't be certain, but it almost sounded like he resented the kingdoms, harboured some ill will towards the monarchies that went far beyond the surface. 

"Grim?" Nina asked quietly, making him pause and look at her. 

He'd seemed so consumed in his description of the royal families that Nina had wondered if Grim would even hear her. "You are under the Bloodspurn kingdom, right? You're a Collector." 

Grim stopped his walk and, as if on a string, Nina did the sam. He raised a questioning brow at that, but Nina didn't want to think of her reaction to him, because she'd realized early on that she had one. Subconsciously she matched his breathing, even though he said it wasn't necessary for him to breathe, and that he was just trying to appear human. If he leaned back, she leaned forward. If he licked his lips, she followed the action with her eyes. Nina didn't want to examine why she was doing these things, or the many others that she refused to cop to. 

"Aren't you cold?" Blue-diamond eyes flashing with restrained power, and something like irritation. 

As if on cue, goosebumps popped up on Nina's skin and her entire body shuddered. Grim smiled slowly, and his smile changed into one the Big Bad Wolf might have given Red Riding Hood right before he ate her. 

"Here you are, standing with Death, and you're not cold or frightened?" Grim took a menacing step towards her only for Nina to take a step back. "Did you somehow think you were safe?" 

As soon as she retreated, she stopped herself. I don't retreat! The thought stuck in her mind like glue. She didn't back down or cower. If he had lied about not killing her and he was going to do it now, then she'd make damn sure she was standing on two feet and in his face while he did it. 

"Are you threatening me?" Nina snarled, pointing her finger at his chest as she took a brazen step towards him. 

She watched Grim cock his head in contemplation, and giver her another of those right-through-her looks. The thought scared Nina, and her defensive instincts kicked into high gear. "I'm not some dog that will lie down when threatened. If you want to kill me, Grim, then you better be prepared to take me kicking, clawing, and screaming, because I'm not frightened of your alpha male horseshit!" 

Grim just stood there and blinked slowly, looking like he was observing some type of new animal. After a moment, his features began to relax and his body took on the relaxed looseness that characterized most people his 'age.' Very calmly he took a step back smiled with a lopsided grin and continued walking."You are a curiosity, Amica." 

This time, Nina hung back and tried to get her emotions—and her fears—under control. She watched Grim stop and cock a brow, before she begrudgingly readjusted her bag and began walking towards him. 

"You'll have to forgive me, Nina, that was rude. But my... position is a sore subject with me," Grim apologized as they crossed a street and began walking down a biking trail. 

Still feeling a little pissy because of his earlier behavior, Nina's reply was clipped and sour. "You don't have to talk about it; I'm not going to force you. So we can just walk in complete silence." 

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Grim's lips twitched in an obvious attempt to hold off a smile, but she ignored him. Only his exaggerated sigh drew her attention; "Amica, you wound me. I said I would answer all your questions, and I will," Grim said with a slow, confident smile, drawing the word "all" out and putting some unnecessary heat behind it. Unnecessary because even though he was a prick a few minutes ago, I could still jump his bones now. 

Nina chose to ignore that blatant invitation to ask him all the questions on her mind, and waited for him to continue.The trail shifted from concrete to dirt and the thin grove of trees thickened 

"I am of the Bloodspurn kingdom, but I am not a Collector. " 

Well, that's a weird way to say it, Nina thought as Grim's natural cold began to penetrate through her layers of clothes again. Can't he turn that off? 

Nina rubbed her arms as she they continued walking further onto the trail, the scenery beginning to take on that weird serial killer movie vibe. Wait! He said 'of' not under or a part of. Actually if you just change kingdom to line, than it sounds like he's saying he's a royal. 

"You're a royal." It wasn't a question. 

Nina had been pragmatic about her entire conversation with Grim, trying to look objectively at her situation. Finding out he was of some weird reaper royal birth didn't even chart with her top ten most interesting things Grim had said. If anything, finding out he was someone higher up on the food chain explained why he was just lazing around and talking to a human instead of out collecting souls. 

Again Grim stopped, and Nina turned to regard him, crossing her arms under her breasts. She didn't like when he stopped, or rather she didn't like it now. Last time he had been a class-A prick and she didn't have the desire to see that side of him again. But then Grim was, if nothing else, full of surprises. 

"You are a curiosity, Amica. Never have I met a human so utterly fascinating. You are perhaps the only human I have ever met who has accepted what should be impossible without even a blink of your pretty chestnut eyes," Grim said to Nina slowly, raking his gaze down the length of her as his last comment penetrated her mind. He thinks my eyes are pretty? 

She just shrugged, and struggled not to blush as her eyes caught the very obvious tent in his jeans. "I see the world for what it is, and like I've said this entire time: if I can see it and touch it, it must be real. No hallucination would last as long as you've lasted and no psychotic episode would have this amount of clarity and cohesion. If I had been having some sort of episode or breakdown, then it would have probably ended a while ago, or there would have been a lot more signs that this isn't real." Nina shrugged again and uncrossed her arms to shove her cold fingers into the back pocket of her jeans, staring at the pebbles dotting the path. "None of that has happened." 




Can't Fight Time Ch. 04



A sudden shift in the air, a feeling of icy cold alerted Nina to Grim's sudden presence right in front of her. She lifted her head, wondering if she was going to have to tell him to back up and then leave, because she did not deal with temperamental men. 

But her mouth never uttered a single peep as Grim's soft, cool lips shut down any angry words that might have come out. Is he kissing me? The thought was so shocking that Nina reflexively opened her mouth to ask that very question just as Grim swooped in to take the air right from her lungs and her tongue right from her mouth. He covered her, arms locking around her frame, tilting her back and covering her so that all she could see, taste, smell, hear, and feel was Grim. 

Nina didn't have that logical and pragmatic shell wrapped around her that would have screamed how strange it was that Death was making a move on her. Or how weird that, at every other moment he seemed cold, even freezing to the touch, but now? Oh, now he literally burned her, scorched her in a way that was both pleasure and pain. 

It was the heat that invaded the body just before one froze to death. How funny that, wrapped in Grim's arms pressed so close that every part of her body was touching his, she should feel that now. Did that mean she would die soon? I don't want to die yet. 

Nina forced her fear back down, burying it deep so it wouldn't ruin her moment. Because kissing Grim was the best thing she had felt in a long time. She hadn't felt this happy, content, and excited since before her mother's murder. And even if it's only for a little while, I'm going to hold onto it.



Can't Fight Time Ch. 05



Hey Everyone!

I hope you like. Another one is one its way!

-Rosi

***

"You're shivering," Grim whispered against her lips when he finally drew back.

"I'm fine. Keep going," Nina replied, not caring that she sounded like a romance novel reject. 

"No." Grim pulled away from her and manifested a winter jacket out of thin air. "It's getting late, and you should be getting back."

Quickly, he wrapped her in the coat and then stepped away to give her space. Oookay? What the hell happened in the last two seconds that I missed? Nina shrugged into the coat while giving him the funniest look. Not even ten seconds ago, he'd been all over her, practically consuming her, and now? Now he was acting like it never happened.

Nina felt her temper shoot up as she watched his blank face for any sign of emotion. Not even a twitch of a brow. The man looked like he'd been carved out of freakin' granite.

"All righty, then." Nina clapped her hands together and smiled too brightly. "How's that old saying go? Oh, 'don't call me; I'll call you'? Yeah, well, see ya." She turned and started to marched back up the trail.

"Nina, please," Grim pleaded behind her.

She never stopped, just flipped him the bird over her shoulder and kept walking until the trees opened and revealed the last rays of the setting sun.

***

"Come out." Grim didn't bother to raise his voice but made sure his tone reflected his displeasure. He knew Nina was angry with him, but the fewer people who knew about her, the better. 

"Not even going to say hello, Brother?" Uriel, his younger brother, asked with mirth.

Grim pivoted in a slow circle, casting out his power so that Uriel could feel he was not in the mood to play. At his feet a mist gathered and began to thicken to a fog that crawled up his body like an amorous lover until it covered him completely.

"Ever one for the theatrics, Grim," Uriel laughed, as his Grim's form became indistinguishable from the thick fog. And then, all at once it left, leaving Grim the epitome of the Grim Reaper he was.

"You know I don't ever take this form for shits and giggles, Uri." His voice came out as a dancing of bones and the howl of the dead.

Humans weren't wrong about how reapers looked; in one hand he held a black and silver scythe, the blade covered with mystical writing that only the oldest reapers still spoke. A black cloak that seemed to engulf light, as if complete darkness was the only finite thing in the world, draped over his form. Grim detested this form, but he could guess why his brother was here, which meant this form was a necessary evil.

"I don't know why you insist on brooding about your impending succession." Uri shifted from foot to foot and tried not to look directly at his brother. "To be the next king of the Bloodspurn line is an honor." 

Grim knew that Uri had yet to begin shedding, and was unsettled by the whole process. Often reapers decided to take one for after the transformation, that of a skin or that of bone. Few went between the two. 

Though Grim could understand his brother's hesitation over the process of shedding. It wasn't a happy event when an skin one had been walking around in since birth suddenly started to melt and fall off one's bones, then turn to dust before it hit the ground. It was like watching an ice cream cone melt in the sun, except for the smell of rotting flesh and the blood that accompanied the event. The entire process was extremely painful because after a reaper saw pieces of themselves fall off a sick compulsion to remove the rest took over.

Grim could still remember his shedding, the months seemed to drag on until one day his voice seemed to come from his rattling bones and a mystical scythe had appeared at his side, the embodiment of all his power. Words etched themselves into the curved, metal blade shimmering with ancient magic and announcing that he was truly a Grim Reaper.

"Perhaps you would like the honor of having hundreds of reapers under you, depending on you, relying on you? Maybe you would like to carry the burden of continuing the Bloodspurn line—of playing chess in the king's seat with lives?" Grim's unnatural voice rattled at his brother, his scythe pulsing ominously as his power once again leaked out and surrounded his brother in a cloaking miasma.

"Is that what you want, little brother?" He drew out the word, his voice a whistle of air through bone. "Power?"

His form lacked eyes, a mouth, a heart. Everything seemed to be commanded by the invisible power he wielded effortlessly as he glided closer to his sibling. One bony finger reached up, the cloak shifting down as Grim traced a line on his brother's cheek. He leaned forward, his body and scythe grew and encompassed the other reaper until fear leaked from every pore and fouled the air.

"I would give up every claim I have to the throne if you could be even half as responsible as you claim to be. I would kiss your fucking feet if, for even one second, I thought you could carry the burden of the Bloodspurn name as you so desperately want to. Come little brother, prove me wrong!" Grim cackled as he drew his cloak tighter around him, his power seeming to retreat along with him. "Prove to me that you have what it takes to become the Bloodspurn King." 

Uriel had no concept of the life Grim had waiting for him, always had waiting for him. As the second son of the Bloodspurn King, the chances of Uriel being a successor dropped to almost zero, and because of this his life had been considerably easier. But Grim did not envy his brother's life, because as it stood the young reaper was undisciplined, weak.

Grim sighed as he stuffed his hands into the folds of his cloak, letting his scythe stand next to him like a patient dog. "I'm getting tired, Uriel. Relay the message and then let's go back." 

"I w-was—" his brother stuttered, looking like he might soil himself. Of course that bodily function was gone unless they drank or ate.

"Father wants you. Two more reapers have disappeared and the ceremony is in only four months. He wants you to meet with the Council of Guardians and a few Peacekeepers that were in the area of the disappearances. Plus he wants to talk to you about your... e-engagement again." Uriel whispered the last part, knowing how Grim felt about his arranged marriage.

Strategically, marrying the daughter of the Castoff king would be the best plan. It would build a truce and hopefully end the disappearances. Of course with the Castoff Kingdom it would only ever be a temporary truce.

Politics, politics. It gave him a headache most of the time, and if he weren't so sure that his human body would never age, Grim would swear that he noticed stress lines around his mouth and eyes.

"Come, then. Let's go home. I'm sure Father and Mother are dying to know why I'm in the human world," Grim said silkily, wondering if his brother would catch the hint.

Uri waved his hand and materialized a portal between worlds, that looked something akin to a mirror with a silver frame and iridescent markings around it in a forgotten language. "What you do for your last for days as a bachelor is your own business, Brother. My lips are sealed."

Grim nodded and entered the portal with his scythe floating beside him, held up by his own magic and will. Uri entered after him.

Grim tried to turn his thoughts to his people and the problems he would have to deal with the minute he set foot in his home, but his thoughts were still on the curly haired beauty whose lips tasted as sweet as her skin looked. Please be alright until I get back, Grim hoped fervently, before he turned and began to walk the path that had been set out for him.



Can't Fight Time Ch. 06



Hey Everyone!

Hope you enjoy!

-Rosi

***

"Such an asshole!" Nina muttered as she slammed her front door, not caring if it upset her father, because right at that moment she wanted to be angry.

Tossing her bag on the couch and kicking off her shoes Nina marched up to her bedroom only to find the door slightly ajar. I know I locked it. Her anger dissipated as cool logic once again reigned.

With practiced calm, Nina pushed her door open only to see her father at her computer facing her with a thunderous expression on his face. Instead of moving into the room, she stayed rooted at the opening, her face a carefully blank mask.

Her father carefully got up from her chair, the movement reminding her of a snake uncurling. It made Nina take an instinctive step back. "Your teacher sent you the make-up assignment for today.

"How was it you missed class when I heard you leave early this morning?" her dad asked calmly, with an edge to his voice.

Maybe he isn't in one of his moods and he's just angry? Still she didn't make a move towards him, feeling far more comfortable treating this as another one of his episodes. 

"Dad, I was—" 

"I know where you were!" he roared. Nina stumbled back quickly and bump into the hallway wall. "Do you think I wouldn't know that you were playing hooky with Nicole? That she was the one convincing you to hang out with boys? I already had a very long conversation with her about it." 

Nicole called? And lied? Nina wondered, trying not to shake. Stupid Nicole, why does she have to needle him!

Nicole hadn't been intimidated by her dad's weird mood swings or his new controlling tendencies. In fact, she'd all but said: Hey! You're an adult and can leave whenever you want! You don't have to put up with his shit!' Of course she hadn't said that, just hinted at it aggressively.

"Nicole called? But she lied, I didn't—" Nina began, about to explain that she hadn't been playing hooky with her best friend, but talking with the police.

"I don't want to hear any more of your lies!" her dad screamed, coming at her in a blur of speed and slamming his fist into the wall only a few inches from her head.

Tears streamed down Nina's face as her resolve cracked, and real fear leaked from her. The violent man in front of her wasn't her father. No, it was some stranger in her father's body.

"Look at me when I talk to you," he demanded harshly. Nina forced her head up, despite her body's shaking protest.

The emerald eyes that met her were violent, chaotic, a whirl of dangerous thoughts that made Nina want to shrink back into herself and disappear. There's no way he can be my dad. It's not him. Nina denied, her lips quivering as thick tears fell from her eyes.

"Just like your fucking mother!" He turned sharply and headed down the stairs, away from her. Nina heard him pause at the entrance to the door, stuff his feet into his shoes, grab his keys, then open the door and slam it shut.

Sobs broke free from her throat as her knees buckled. Nina slipped to the ground, her stomach churning dangerously as she shuddered and broke down completely. Before she succumbed to the bile crawling up her throat and the wave of emotion taking her under, a thought invaded her mind. I guess this is one of those times when I lose my marbles. 

***

"So glad you could make it, Your Highness." The condescending words greeted Grim as he strode into the council meeting, and up the length of the room to take his seat at the head of the table. 

Grim raised a brow at the council member's tone, raking the other reaper with an equally condescending look as if he was measuring him up and finding him lacking. A hush settled over the room as Grim compacted his scythe and pulled the power back into his body. Sixteen members surrounded him, eight on either side of his chair, curving around the wooden, oval table. Brocade tapestries covered the windows with sconces placed on the walls in between them to provide light. The room was medieval at best, yet the creatures inside were not. Many of the reapers surrounding Grim were older than him by centuries, and many considered themselves higher than him because of it.

A smile flitted across Grim's mind, though the action could not be duplicated on his skeleton face. He knew from experience, from centuries of training to serve in the compactly he was about to be forced into, that age was simply a number and that experience was what made a king. 

Grim didn't rise to the taunt thrown at him, but instead dived into the matter at hand. "I heard a PeaceKeeper found the remains?"

"Yes," Samuel, an older member said with a rustle of his black cloak. Silver, thread vines lined the edges of the garment drawing attention to the red roses the silver threaded through. "Ashes were found outside of Diyu. It looked like three sets."

Grim felt irritation rise and his power begin to seep out. Diyu was only a day away from the castle, barely any time for a reaper. The fact that the culprits of these acts were getting closer to his home did not make him feel well. From what Uriel and their father had told him, almost every province in the Bloodspurn Kingdom had suffered some kind of attack. Yet no one knew who the attackers were or who their victims were. The fact that no one had reported the reapers missing infuriated Grim, and left a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"How many does that make?"

Someone coughed and another council member answered in a soft feminine voice. "Thirty-three, Your Highness."

Grim felt his carefully constructed barriers break and his power saturate the room, until the tapestries swayed gently and the flames within the sconces flickered. Usually he could temper himself, command his power as an extra appendage, but finding out that a huge majority of his citizens had burned alive past the bone and right into ash angered him beyond his control. Someone was sending him a message, testing him as no one had done since the first few Bloodspurn Kings went on a killing rage to ensure their power. 

Grim had wanted to be different, set a new example for his people. He didn't want his kingdom to be revered as the fiercest or the bloodiest. War was not his aim, but Grim feared it would be an inevitability. One reaper was bad enough, but thirty-three was a slaughter. Thirty-three was a war.

"We think it is the Castoffs," Sani, the only female reaper on the council said again. She was the only one in the room not wearing the cloak and bones ensemble and dressed in modern clothes. She was also the only member Grim had appointed himself.

He turned to her, staring her straight in the eyes. "But do we know it as a fact?"

She looked down and then cast her eyes around the room at the other council members. "No."

Which brought them all back to square one. Grim also suspected it was the Castoffs, but there were two things wrong with that assumption: one) if it was them, then they would have to go to war and Grim wasn't sure the Bloodspurn Kingdom would win, and two) he was already engaged to the only daughter of the Castoff King. To attack now would be pointless and end in mass casualties and bloodshed. The only reason for their marriage was to avoid that outcome at all costs.

Grim sighed, long and loud as he leaned further back in his chair. "What are our options than?"

The man who had first spoken, lashed out again with vicious, condescending words, "Is that not while you are here, Highness? To provide us with options and to command your loyal servants?"

For years now, Grayson Raeborn had been challenging Grim. From the moment the Bloodspurn King had begun to lose his mind and Grim had taken over, the man had decided he wanted power and control. But everything came with a price. 

Raeborn was willing to sacrifice his position, his family, and his own self in his pursuit of power. The man had lived centuries, manipulating which ever king came into power because the former was assassinated or some other thing. Grim knew that the most dangerous job in the Underworld was not of a Collector, Messenger, PeaceKeeper, Council Member, or Guard, it was that of a king. Paws, that's all kings were; discarded as soon as they became inept and replaced with another pawn, by another Council. He had known this since birth, that the monarchy was simply a figure for the people to love and support. Grim knew that the real power lie with the Council of Guardians and the Watchers. His father had accepted it in exchange for having the one thing his heart desired. His father had forsaken his power, so that he could break a rule without consequences.

Grim was not his father and would not make his mistakes. The man would continue to challenge him, continue to needle him until he seceded power and became another figure head. But that was not the person Grim wanted to be. He was going to be king, that had been his birthright always, but he would choose the kind of king he wanted to be.

"You challenge me, Grayson," Grim's words were soft, not a question but neither an accusation. He rose fluidly from his perch. "We are in a time of crisis, and you sit there and play power games. 

"Have I not been lient in my response to your attitudes? Have I not been fair?" Grim placed his hands on the back of the other reapers chair and felt Raeborn's power lash out at him like a cornered animal. The temperature in the room dropped, so cold that the council members noticed the frost collecting on their cloaks and the icicles twinkling in the air. "You have tested me for the last time."

Grim's voice boomed with power as he stepped aside then hauled Raeborn's chair back until it slammed against the wall. He was in front of the reaper in a second, hands gripped around the arm rest, body blocking the other reaper in. "I hereby sentence you to three centuries in the Puluto Desert."

The command was absolute, laced with power even a reaper could not escape. It was the power passed down from each Bloodspurn King, absorbed from the ashes of their victims. He didn't use it often, had never used it with a Council member, but than there had never been a point before. 

Angry and outraged power flashed out, trying to coil around Grim, but with a single word he suppressed it. "Stop."

Fear permeated the council room, thicker than any soup. It was a great motivator, fear. It was what built his kingdom, what had sustained it for years. Grim knew that, understood its place in the grand scheme of it all, but he did not like it. Fear was temporary, a thing that could be overcome by something even more powerful. Devotion, love, loyalty, those were the things of substances and eternity. Grim understood this, accepted that he would need them, and do anything to get them.

He turned away from Raeborn and to the council at large. "This inner bickering and power struggle will come to an end now. I am your king, the one you have sworn allegiance to. If you would like to challenge me, to try and manipulate me as your tool, then you can join Raeborn on his journey."

Silence reigned in the room, and Grim knew he had just cemented his role. Too many of his people had died, too many things had been left unchecked for him to continue to pussy-foot around the issue at hand. He had to step up, accept that he would be king, that he would marry a girl many considered the enemy, and accept that he could not just think of himself in first person anymore, because he wasn't just him, he was every single reaper in the Bloodspurn kingdom. They were the only ones who governed him.

"We are all in accordance then?" Grim spoke the words softly, his gaze lingering on every member of the council. No one turned away, no one spoke out of turn. This was a new beginning, a new term in their history. 

Grim gave a quick nod and then summoned a fog to conceal his form as he shifted into his human skin. Half a blink later he stood before the Council of Guardians in form-fitting black slacks and a blue fisherman's sweater that matched his eyes. He would not conform to their dictates, not suffer their nonsense. He was who he had always been, a Bloodspurn King. It was time he started to act like it.

Striding purposely back to his chair, Grim spared Raeborn a glance. "You may start your journey. Leave immediately."

With mechanical movement Raeborn rose and than left the room. The minute the door closed, it was as if Grim could breath again, like a huge weight had been lifted.

"We can take PeaceKeeper trainees and post them in different locations, ones that have not been targeted yet, but ones we suspect might be." With that one line, thoughts and ideas began to flow easily in the room. Every council member voiced their opinion or ideas on the best course of action to ensure no other reapers in the kingdom died. 

Grim relaxed back in his chair, letting his tight muscles unwind. This was the kind of council he wanted, one that was bent on the protection of the Bloodspurn people. Still, he could feel the dissension in the room, old ways clashing with the new. It would take time, Grim knew, to reach a state where each member thought of themselves as an extension of their province, but they had made headway.

And as all eyes turned to him for his thoughts, Grim knew that he had made the right call; that despite his lack of choice, being a leader was who he was. "It is decided than," his voice boomed around the room as he stood abruptly. "We proceed with the wedding, but we keep close watch over the Castoffs. Take a few Royal Guards and place them in vulnerable regions. Try to find out who is killing our people, and what makes them a target. And if you have any other concerns or would like to speak to me privately, do so." With that said, he left the room.



Can't Fight Time Ch. 07



Hey Everyone!

So, if you haven't guessed already, I'm kind of just posting these as fast as I can in preparation for the next book! I'm really excited about it! If you have feedback for me, please comment of message me! It'll definitely help me as I write Can't Fight Fate! Hope you enjoy!

-Rosi

***

"You shouldn't sleep in the hall next to a pile of your own vomit; it's not sanitary." A male voice chastised above Nina as she struggled through the cloud of exhaustion that had taken her over.

Rubbing at her eyes, Nina tried to ignore the sour taste in her mouth and looked up at the good-looking red-head above her. She extended her hand to him as goose bumps ran up her arm like ants."Help me up, please." 

The red-head blinked at her with a baffled expression. "I'm sorry?" 

Nina glared at him from her spot on the floor. "For a reaper you're not very smart!" she snapped, in a foul temper because someone had caught her in a vulnerable position. But not just that, she had allowed herself to be caught in a vulnerable position, and that alone pissed her off.

The red-headed reaper grabbed her hand and pulled her up as if she weighed nothing. Immediately Nina was yanked as if on an invisible string into his chest, and she shivered, her teeth chattering from the biting cold. 

The man wrinkled his nose at her in disgust. "Sorry 'bout that. Used too much strength." 

"Sorry if I smell terrible, but that's what happens when you throw up on yourself and then pass out." Nina pulled away from him and with far more strength than she felt, walked into her room and began rummaging through her dresser for some clean clothes.

"How'd you know I was a reaper? I could have been a robber or something," the redhead said behind her, his voice reflecting curiosity.

Nina pulled out a sweater and skirt set, threw it on her bed and then dug around for a bra and panties set. "I'm freezing cold and have goose bumps. Plus when I touched you I felt like I was freezing from the inside out. " Nina threw her undies on the bed.

"Excuse me," she continued, pushing past the red-head and heading towards the bathroom for some cleaning supplies.

"Well, you're not very nice are you?" the red-head muttered as Nina grabbed the supplies from under the sink, filled a bucket with water, and went to the stain in the hall. "And here I was going to introduce myself and make nice with my brother's new beau." 

"So you're Grim's brother?" She pulled on a pair of gloves and began to scrub at the stain. "And for your information I'm not his latest beau. If anything, I'm his pity project." 

"Yup. I'm Uriel, but everyone calls me Uri." He got down on his knees and took the cleaning brush from her hand. "Here. Why don't you go take a shower and change while I clean this up?"

Nina sat back on her haunches and looked at the red-head steadily scrub at the stain. I don't think he knows what he's doing. Nina watched him work as if she wouldn't know that he'd probably never cleaned a stain out of a carpet before.

But she was too tired, too emotionally drained, and too fragile to mutter anything but a quiet "Thank you" as she moved to the hall closet and grabbed a clean towel, then headed to the bathroom.

Locking the door, Nina turned on the shower and began shedding her clothes. Wow! I look like shit! She stared at her reflection in the mirror, the woman staring back at her looking nothing like her usual self. No, this woman had sunken eyes, pale skin, throw up in her hair, and white lines where tears had streaked down her face. All in all, the woman looked broken.

You are not broken, her internal voice reminded her immediately.

Climbing in the now-steam-filled shower, Nina luxuriated in her first shower in a long time where she didn't have to worry about her father suddenly walking in on her, or breaking the door down. Despite what Grim had said about reapers not meddling in human affairs, his brother was in her hallway cleaning. I think that constitutes as meddling.

Scrubbing at her face and skin until it felt raw, Nina washed and conditioned her hair until her scalp hurt and her fingers ached. Still she scrubbed, not even realizing the tears streaking down her face or the now-cold water raining down on her body. 

Uri knocked on the bathroom door and broke her trance. "Nina, you okay in there? You've been in there for a while." 

Her skin was bright red and hurt, but not only that; there was blood under her fingernails. You're stronger than this! Pull it together! She turned off the freezing water and wrapped a towel around herself. 

Exiting the shower, Nina picked up her clothes and opened the lid to the hamper. She dropped her clothes and picked up her father's bloodstained shirt on top of the clothes pile. "What the hell?" 

Stomach pain hit her suddenly and made her drop the shirt and gag. "Nina!" Uri yelled and pounded on the door. "You got three seconds before I ghost through this door."

Chucking her dirty clothes into the hamper, Nina turned on the faucet and grabbed the hand soap. She yelled at the door as she compulsively cleaned her hands. "I'm fine; my stomach just hurts!"

Satisfied that the blood was no longer on her hands, Nina pasted a fake smile on her face as she grabbed the knob, blew out a heavy breath, and opened the door. "I'm good, Uri, but thanks for worrying about me." She breezed by him and into her room, not shivering in the least. "Great job on the carpet, but you know you really should leave before my dad gets home and does—" 

Nina froze as fear gripped her. It was suffocating, like silken ropes tightening themselves around every inch of her body. It started from her tones, a spasm of muscle and tightening of blood, until her neck arched and the dead ends of her hair felt alive. She crumpled to the ground a second later, and started to hyperventilate.

"Shit, I don't know anything about humans!" Uri quickly knelt beside Nina and waved his hands back and forth, rambling. "Tell me what to do, Nina. What can I do?"

You can't break down again, Nina. You need to get up, get dressed, and get out, her subconscious told her in a no-nonsense tone. You're stronger than this. Get. Up!

It took a few more minutes, but Nina was able to calm herself and draw on her internal strength. Everything in her world was falling down, but she would not crumble with it. She would keep moving; keep surviving, just like she'd done after her mother passed away.

Slowly Nina forced her body up, her knees shook badly as she stood; she forced herself to walk to the bed, and ignore the pain in her stomach. She had to face this and overcome it. No matter what the future held, she had to face it.

"I'm just hungry, Uri. It happens to humans," Nina lied, trying to assuage his worry.

"I know when humans are hungry, and they don't act like you just did!" Uri said vehemently, turning his back as Nina slipped on her clothes.

She struggled to slip on her clothes, but even with fingers that felt like blisters and bones that felt too brittle she managed. "Uri?" 

He didn't turn around. "Yeah?"

"Will you take a walk with me?" she asked suddenly, surprising herself and Uri.

Slowly he turned around and nodded his head. "Sure." 

Nina packed a small bag with some essentials. In the back of her mind she knew that, no matter what, she wasn't coming back here.

Grim had told her that no one could outrun their death, that it was inevitable. A practiced smile slipped into place on her face as Nina cautiously walked down the stairs and slipped on a pair of tennis shoes. She opened the door and let Uri out first before exiting and turning to lock the door out of habit. 

She looked up, eyes catching on the clogged white gutters, and the streaked and weathered bricks. Her gaze followed the trail of memories that started at her bug-smeared window, and ended in front of her apple-red front door and rusted, gold door knob. Nina stood there too long, the metal warmed in her hand, and the memories faded to the back of her mind. The second she pulled away she felt cold; whether that was a good thing or bad thing, she did not know. Only one thing was clear in her mind as she strode past Uri onto the path. I'll be damned if I die in this Godforsaken place. 

Nina turned away, breathing out a heavy breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Together they walked, side by side with unspoken questions floating in the air between them. Uri was the first to break the silence. "Where are we going?"

Nina's answer was immediate, without hesitation. "The chapel."

"Why? Isn't it sectioned off?" His answer surprised Nina, but a second later a dark smile pulled her lips tight. Nothing should surprise me anymore. So Uri knew about the chapel, about the murders. She wondered what else he knew. 

Nina's answer was purposely vague as she steered him up the hill that lead to her University's front gate and the chapel a few yards behind it. "To make sure it's the same smell."

As if on a tether, Uri stopped, but unlike her reaction with Grim she kept going only stopping once she noticed that he wasn't continuing. Cocking her head back at him, Nina raised a brow, giving Uri a questioning look and watching as he slowly walked to catch up with her. Deja vu?

"What smell, Nina?" Uri's voice was deadly quiet. He placed his hand on her arm to keep her from continuing her walk, the touch deceptively gentle.

"You know exactly what smell," her voice sounded like a sharpened blade cutting through the darkness. She advanced on him with the wild passion of a woman whose world was being completely torn to pieces. "Did you think I wouldn't notice? That after all the signs, I would somehow choose to avoid it?" 

"I don't know what you—" Uri put his hands up defensively, his eyes darting to the side.

"My father is a murderer," Nina whispered harshly, spitting the words out like they had a bad taste. 

Tears streaked in a rush down her face as her emotions lit and exploded. Nina raged at him; "What is he? The Sweetheart Killer too? Is he going to kill me? Is that my fate? To be killed by my own father?" 

Nina turned away from Uri, swiping at her tears and trying to compose herself. Only a few pieces remained on the puzzle board of her life, and then she could finally finish what was her life. Only a few more questions.

"Why me?" Nina asked finally when she was able to lock her emotions down and turn back to him. 

"It has to do with my mom, doesn't it?" Nina watched Uri's face pale even more until he looked like a sheet with myrtle green eyes. Her father's words rang with one of the last puzzle pieces; just like your fucking mother!

Slowly her mind began to connect the dots, see the links between everything. Mom was murdered. Same M.O. Victims look the same. Sweetheart Killer. In a jumble of chaotic thoughts and memories, Nina found her answer. She solved the puzzle. 

"My father killed my mom, and then started killing people that look like her—like me. He's advancing his way up to kill me as a way to somehow get back at her. That's how it all connects." Nina saw the truth of her statement reflected back at her in Uri's eyes. 

"You're right," he said quietly after a few minutes. "But let's continue our walk, before we talk more." 

The sudden change of topic startled Nina, but she realized the reason. They were still out in public, and she was yelling her head off about her family and serial killers. Not my brightest moment. But I'm giving myself some wiggle room with the whole death-by-insane-serial-killer-father thing.

They continued their walk, this time moving a bit faster until they entered the chapel. Nina could see two officers standing watch, but Uri just grabbed her hand and passed the officers as if they were ghosts.

"They can't see us." It was a statement, not a question.

He ignored her observation and instead sat with her on the stone bench next to the now-inactive water fountain, and immediately released her hand. "Time passes differently in the Underworld," Uri began, turning to look at her seriously. "What you view as a couple of hours are like days to us." 

Nina bit her lip, not in the mood to play guessing games. "And this has to do with my death how?"

Uri ignored her and continued, "I was able to learn everything about you in what was probably only hours to you, but was days to me." Uri looked at her searchingly. "Do you understand why I'm telling you this?"

For the life of her, Nina couldn't figure out why it should matter that time passed differently or that he had learned everything about her. Would any of it stop her impending death? She was pretty sure that answer was a resounding no.

"No," Nina answered tiredly, her stomach cramping with hunger pains and a migraine beginning to creep up on her.

Uri grabbed her arms tightly and shook her, and edge to his voice; "You're not normal, Nina. Your life wasn't fair, and your death is not going to be any better." 

Was this supposed to be comforting? Nina wondered hysterically as the pressure in her head seemed to increase like a hundred buzzing bees were flying around.

"I'm offering you extra time," Uri carefully released her and materialized a glass of water and some pain meds. "Take this."

Nina reached forward and took a sip of water, her throat burning harshly as she swallowed the cool liquid. Reaching forward, Nina grabbed the pills from Uri and shoving them in her mouth. Two painful swallows later she got them down. 

"Can you please manifest me a banana?" Not a second after Nina asked the question, a banana was suddenly thrust into her hand and her glass was refilled. Still a cool trick.

"Thanks." Nina smiled at Uri as she munched on her banana, trying to look as lady-like as she could and not just jam the whole thing in her mouth and then ask him to manifest some ribs and a chocolate cake. A banana was safe to eat; she wouldn't throw it up. 

"What do you mean extra time?" Nina asked around a bite of banana, trying to stifle a grimace as the food hit her stomach with the impact of a brick.

"I mean..." Uri paused as if weighing the how much information to give her. "I can take you to the Underworld as a human under temporary contract."

Temporary contract? That sounds fishy. "What's a temporary contract?"

Uri blinked at Nina like he was surprised by her question. "Didn't Grim explain the reaper history? He told me he told you everything." There was a touch of suspicion in his voice that made Nina forget her mortal pains for a moment. 

"He only told me bits and pieces, but not the whole story," she responded vaguely. Whatever Uri was about to tell her was going to be important, but Nina didn't want to let him know that she was genuinely curious. Curiosity can't kill a dead cat.

He seemed to puzzle over her response for a few seconds before accepting it. "It's a long story, so I'll give you the Spark Notes edition." 

Nina blinked in surprise at his modern use of slang. The thought of Uri sitting down and watching reality TV shows to keep up on the lingo was almost comical to her. If they hadn't been about to discuss a way to get Nina some extra time from her impending death, she might have laughed outright. "I'm all ears."

"Well, you know how this world was created right?" Uri asked, and only continued when Nina shook her head no. "Well, the people that you worship as Gods are actually just super old and crazy scientists. When I met them, they introduced themselves as Yin and Yang, but that could have just as well been a joke. 

"The world was created because they basically f'ed up an experiment. The Big Bang was them. And humans? That was just a fluke." Uri barked out a laugh and bated at invisible flies. "They can't even remember how they did it; just that they mixed some stuff, and poof! Humanity.

"After that, the world started to get too crowded because nothing was really dying. Animals didn't have the instincts to hunt, kill, or survive. They just sort of existed. Well, Ying and Yang decided that there needed to be a sort of balance—life and death."

"Is that how reapers were made?" Nina asked, fascinated by the story and completely ignoring the cold coming off of Uri in waves as she leaned forward to hear more.

He shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, yes and no. At first there was no medium. People just sort of died. Then Yin and Yang took their consciousness and fiddled with it. When humans first started they didn't really have a soul, just a conscious mind separating them from animals. But, over time, Yin and Yang developed that consciousness to be its own separate entity: the soul.

"They had to make mediums because the souls were overwhelming them and they were too lazy to really deal with everything. But don't say that to them; they'd be pissed if someone actually said it!" Uri said with a laugh, like he was talking about real people. Well let's keep an open mind. They could actually exist. The world's first mad scientists!

"They constructed reapers out of the bones of dead humans. They did a little hocus pocus that gave us our powers, and that's how reapers were made." Uri winced as he continued. "Except we kind of freaked people out and a lot of souls refused to go on and just became wandering ghosts."

His voice dropped to an ominous purr that let Nina know he was about to say something critical. "It's said that the old reapers noticed this and tried to devise a way to safely get humans to trust them and go with them. But other people say Yin and Yang began experimenting again and that's how it happened. It doesn't matter either way, the fact is that male reapers began to mate with human women and have kids." Uri let out a loud sigh and ran a hand through his short red curls, looking so much younger than his centuries of existence. "But there were some hitches because it only worked with human women and after nine months the chicks died in childbirth." 

For some reason Nina could only see Uri as Grim's mischievous sibling, and not actually a badass reaper like his brother. The two were so different that she wondered if they were from different parents. But the story fascinated her far more than finding out what their relationship was.

"So to protect the women and ensure that the women didn't refuse them, reapers bargained." Uri spared her a glance before looking down at his thumbs again. "It was a temporary contract that allowed the human woman to live in the Underworld during her pregnancy. During the time when this was being done, human life was hard and brutal. They didn't have modern medicine, and death was about as normal as the sun rising and setting.

"But"— he stretched the word out as he uncurled his arms.— "if you agreed to have a reaper's child, then you could go to the Underworld and live in the lap of luxury. Sort of like Persephone, but they weren't tricked; they wanted that life.

"You see, because time passes much slower there, a nine month pregnancy can be stretched into several years, practically an entire human life time. It was sort of like immortality because you remained whatever age you were when you got pregnant; you just increased so slowly that it was almost like you weren't pregnant." Uri turned to Nina then, and looked her dead in the eyes.

"Reapers aren't supposed to kill humans though, and however inadvertently, we were still killing them. We're supposed to be mediums, one foot in the grave type deal." The air around them dropped a few degrees. "Which is how the laws came to pass." 

"What Grim did, talking to you, watching over you, kissing you—it's forbidden... because you're alive." Uri took her hands in his own as she felt a numb cold shoot up her arm. "See?"




Can't Fight Time Ch. 07



Dropping her hands, he relaxed back onto the stone bench, arms loosely crossed once again. "We can make a temporary contract, where in three days you will come back to the human world and die. It's the perfect amount of time to live and raise a little hell without lasting consequences."

Nina sat back and puzzled over everything Uri had told her. And it was a lot of information, a lot of things that she had never known and never tried to look at differently. Mad scientist created the world? Human women used to bargain their bodies and lives off for a few years of luxury? Grim had been breaking rules?

The last one perhaps bothered her the most. The entire time they'd been talking she'd been thinking that he was only doing it because she was going to die, and that way there'd be no blame or repercussions for him. I mean what can a dead girl say? But it was deeper than that. From what Uri had said, even talking with a living, breathing female was breaking some rule, and kissing? How did that equate in punishment?

"You'll make a temporary contract with me just because I'm unique and you pity me?" Nina asked quietly, no anger in her voice. She just wanted to know his reasoning.

"Well," Uri shrugged nonchalantly, like he made this sort of bargain often. "You're going to die soon anyway. Plus from the looks of it, you're not going back home, and it just so happens we got an extra room in the house."

But from what's he's told me, he doesn't. "What's in it for you?" Nina watched his reaction.

Uri gave her a shit-eating grin and patted her hand comfortingly. Heat spread through her hand where he touched, contrasting sharply with the freezing cold that, at every other instance, came with his touch. "Since we'll be under contract, no other reaper can touch you. And if they try than I have every right to beat the crap out of them."

Of course! Nina rolled her eyes. Sibling rivalry. Something like: 'I got your toy! Nana nana boo boo, stick your head in doo doo.' But for extra time to have some semblance of a life, Nina would take sibling bullshit any day. But one question still remained. "How much time will I have on this temporary contract?"

Nina watched as Uri scratched his arm and rolled his head, thinking about how he would answer.

"Give or take three months in the Underworld. Something like the equivalent of three human days. It's plenty of time to finish a bucket list, but not enough time to get pregnant or cause a lot of suspicion in the human world. It's like forty-eight hours until a missing person report is filed, right? So one more day shouldn't have the dogs out sniffing for you," Uri noded, scratching at his neck.

Three months. That's how much time I get. It wasn't really a bad bargain. But Nina could read between the lines and surmise that Uri would still get in trouble if they went through with it. 

Yet the selfish side of Nina acknowledged that she didn't care if Uri got a little banged up if she got to live for three more months. A quote from what seemed a lifetime ago, popped up in her head: The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.

Would I be able to die after this bargain? Accept the inevitable after living on borrowed time? Nina wasn't afraid of death; she'd met him, and he'd been nice. No, her biggest fear was the way she would die. Maybe she could have accepted getting hit by a car or even shot during a mugging-gone-bad. But death by serial killer father? Even Mark Twain would sympathize with her.

"I'll do it," Nina said, with a sharp nod. At the moment the option seemed like her best shot and, ever the pragmatic woman, Nina could accept that she was out of viable options.

Uri nodded solemnly. "Your hand," he said, turning her hand over so that her palm faced down.

Nina gave him her hand, and a burn of ice and fire raced over the top of her hand, up her arm and into her heart. The whole world seemed to stand still as her heart gave a few heavy beats before settling into the slowest rhythm Nina had ever heard. Like her heart was on the cusp of death, just waiting for that last push.

Surprisingly, the cold Nina had felt around Uri was gone, replaced by just the slightest chill, like it was from a fan set on low in the summertime. She looked down at herself to make sure she didn't have gray skin, or anything weird like that. But, all in all, she was absolutely fine.

Staring at the mark, only about the size of a quarter just below her thumb on the top of her hand, Nina was amazed at how painful the small mark had been. On closer inspection, the little seal was very intricate, twisting and curving around strange lettering in the center.

"What does it say?" Nina asked curiously, poking at it.

"In the middle is my name and around it is the contract." Uri said.

"Can it be removed?" Nina asked curiously, staring up into his myrtle green eyes.

Uri smiled and reached for her hand, placing a kiss on the mark. "Trying to run away from me already?"

Nina raised an incredulous brow at him, her look saying that she wasn't interested in the least. Uri snickered and lowered her hand. "It can only be removed by me or someone more powerful, and only with your permission. The minute you feel unsafe the mark will trigger, and it won't be able to be removed."

Nina nodded somberly and placed her hand at her side, resisting the urge to scratch at it. It wasn't that it was itchy, but it was strange to suddenly have a tattoo looking mark on her hand. The closest that she'd gotten to a permanent mark on her skin was the slight scar on her ankle from when she'd broken it as a kid.

"You ready to go?" Uri asked her pleasantly, like they were talking about grabbing a bite to eat instead of going to the Underworld.

"Um? I guess so," Nina said after a pause, getting up and watching Uri move with her. "Is there like a bus or something?"

Uri laughed out loud, tears springing to the corners of his eyes. "Nah," Uri said around a laugh, wiping at his eyes. "We're going to use this. But next time we'll take the d-death bus!" Uri said, bursting out laughing and clutching his sides.

Nina glared at him with her hands on her hips. "I was being serious! I mean, you're wearing an Ed-Hardy T-shirt for goodness sake! A bus doesn't seem so improbable if you look at it that way."

She watched Uri look down at his shirt and laugh again as he swung his arm and a portal suddenly appeared. "Yeah," Uri said around his last fit of giggles, "I guess you're right. But seriously, not everything you read or watch is true. Only some of it," Uri said with a waggle of his brows, making him look like he was a high school prankster.

Nina smirked as she grabbed his extended hand and walked through the portal as if she was walking through someone's front door.



Can't Fight Time Ch. 08



Hey Everyone!

So, if you haven't guessed already, I'm kind of just posting these as fast as I can in preparation for the next book! I'm really excited about it! If you have feedback for me, please comment of message me! It'll definitely help me as I write Can't Fight Fate! Hope you enjoy!

-Rosi

***

Grim pressed his seal into the last envelope and leaned back in his chair, stretching his body in an entirely too human gesture. Guess I was there too long, Grim thought as he smiled and flexed his hands, watching the skin draw back against the bone and blood rush through the veins in a parody of a human body.

"Mictlantecuhtli!" Grim heard his mother screech, rattling as she entered his study with a flurry of black cloth and ivory bones. "I don't know why you insist on wearing that form when you have already shed. It disgraces your lineage to wear the guise of a human," she said with a scathing, haughty air, scythe trailing after her form as she rounded on him.

Fog enfolded Grim once again as he resumed his skull-and-bones look, the epitome of a Grim Reaper. "And that fog! It's so annoying. I wish you would stop using it. It's not as if we all haven't seen you transform," she snapped loudly, shaking her head as she gathered up the cards in front of him.

Just because you're used to it doesn't mean that I am! Grim wanted to snap back at his mother, but wisely kept his bones quiet and his power firmly in check. Fighting with his harridan mother had never helped either of them. The only thing that helped was his extended absence from her presence. 

Despite the fact that he took control of the council, Grim knew it was easier just to give his mother what she wanted. Besides, using his power to silence her would only result in pain for him afterwards. Grim was many things, but a fool was not one of them. 

Even now, the council was putting his plan into action, utilizing the resources he had given them, and working for the good of the people and not just themselves. Weeks had passed easily, the council more responsive to his concerns. Even the PeaceKeepers and Watchers were starting to follow suit and report directly to him with any queries or concerns they had. Everything was falling into place, and there was no better example of that than in his own home. 

Even now, talk of the coming succession and marriage were abuzz in the castle walls. The words still taunted him with a life he did not want, but it did not grate as severely as it had in the past. Grim understood that all kings were forced to endure things that they did not want, forced to live by the people's will alone. 

But a part of Grim, the childish part he couldn't quite contain, wanted to scream and rant and beg for a different outcome. He would have to live for centuries with a woman he did not want, one he did not love, and whose kingdom he even suspected or murder. But he knew he would not find compassion in his home, not is the words that had been said to him for the last few hundred years still reigned true. It's a political alliance, a truce of mutually assured destruction to both the Castoffs and the Bloodspurns. It is a necessary evil.

"Stop looking so grim, Mictlantecuhtli," his mother hissed at him, shuffling through the envelopes to make sure he had sealed each one.

Of course, the irony of her statement wasn't lost on him. Grim Reapers being grim; there's a pun in there somewhere, he thought, pushing back from his desk and rising. "I apologize, Mother, if I am not ecstatic about signing over my future happiness to a child I've never even met."

There was a harsh pause in the room, a length of time when both mother and son wondered who would break the tension, and whether by doing so they might do more harm than good. A sudden whistle of air in the castle's portal room alerted them to an arrival. The power that followed it let them know who it was.

"Damn that child! This is entirely your fault, Mictlantecuhtli! Going to the human world to play and relax—you are inciting a rebellion of my sons!"

Grim rolled his eyes and suppressed his obnoxious sigh. Apparently I'm not her son anymore.

"Mother, stop being so dramatic," Grim nearly growled, the sound of his birth name starting to grate at his nerves. Only she ever called him that, and it was only because she'd raised him.

"What Uri does on his own is his business. I have no control over his choices."

The sound of a heartbeat forestalled the other unkind things he was about to say. No one in their kingdom had a heartbeat; the last human-reaper child had died and begun shedding centuries ago. The only possible explanation was—

"Human!" his mother scream as she streaked out of his study, a cloud of black and gray.

Grim was right behind her, praying he was wrong, hoping that Uri hadn't done what he thought he'd done and signed a temporary contract with a human. But then, what did he expect? Uri did whatever he wanted and damned the consequences, because many times there were none!

"Uriel," Grim whispered harshly, speeding down the corridor to the portal Uri had just come out of.

"Come on, guys. You can't do anything; it's already been—Oh! Hey, Mom. And hello—" Grim heard Uri begin casually, a laughing note in his tone that made Grim lash out with his power and start to choke Uri.

"Uri!" The husky voice he had been craving for a chance to hear once more screamed, dropping to her knees beside his brother as Grim continued to choke the life out of him. "Stop it!"

"Mictlantecuhtli, don't be childish," his mother chastised, her bones rattling with indignation.

A dozen guards surrounded Uri and Nina, forming a semicircle around the—if Grim had currently had a tongue he would have bitten it off with the next word—couple. Anger, betrayal, and fear clawed through the remnants of his body, whipping his power into a frenzy he could barely control.

Uri had taken Nina from him, signed a temporary contract with her, and for what? For the glory of rubbing it in his face? Another pawn in the game of 'who wants to be the next Bloodspurn king'?

"You have committed a grave offense, Uriel. By bring a human here you have broken one of our most sacred laws." Grim's voice sounded cold, harsh, and forbidding even to his own ears. "You know what the punishment must be."

Beside him, Grim's mother moved to speak but he raised a hand to silence her. He would be the king in a matter of weeks; in this arena she had no power, and it was best she learn that quickly. "Step aside," Grim commanded, watching his guards lower their eyes and bow their heads as they moved away.

Seeing Nina, arms wrapped around Uri as he slowly began to breathe again, made Grim want to stop what he was doing. To stop everything, wrap her in his arms, and tell her everything was going to be okay. To assure her that she was safe. But he couldn't, he wouldn't.

As if he was unclenching his fingers, Grim pulled back his power, allowing Uri to breathe freely. He drew back his hurt and his rage, until the power was once again curved around him, coiled tight.

Grim measured his steps carefully until he was only a few paces away from Nina and Uri, his scythe a deadly promise at his side. Looking down at them, he listened for the slow beat of Nina's heart, barely there. 

"Uriel of the Bloodspurn line," Grim began formally, making sure everyone in the room could feel his power stroking over them like a harsh caress. He leaned over them until neither of them could see past him. "Together with the human, nullify your contract and accept your punishment." 

Uri was scared, obviously not expecting this kind of reception, even if he had broken the law. What puzzled Grim the most, was that Nina didn't seem frightened or scared; in fact, her heartbeat hadn't sped up once. 

"Human," Grim addressed Nina, trying to scare her into submission. She has to die.

"My name is Nina Marie Strathmore," Nina said slowly, her voice gaining in strength as she turned her face up to his. "I have been through"— her voice rose as she moved away from Uri and picked herself up— "Hell and back! And I don't give a flying horseshit what law Uri has broken, because he saved my life!" she screamed, advancing towards Grim with a pointed finger, her body shaking.

"So I don't care that you don't want me here, because F.Y.I, I don't even want to be here. I just want to be able to have a few more days where I don't have to worry about being tracked down and killed by my father." Nina walked him back until he felt the wall press against him. "So can you please take that righteous high-and-mighty attitude and shove it!" 

"How dare that insolent, little—" Grim's mother began. 

Nina whipped her head around to glare seething hatred at his mother. "Will you shut up!"

The feeling began in his ribs, slowly spreading up until it engulfed him. Grim found himself laughing, his bones rattling wildly as he clutched at his side, bent over and laughed. The guards paused before following suit, and soon the whole room was laughing except for his mother and Nina, who were glaring at each other.

"Enough!" Grim boomed, laugher still rattling through his bones. "The contract can't be nullified unless both parties accept, and the human does seem willing." 

Grim came close to Nina and trailed a bony finger down her cheek. He was impressed by her bravery as she stood her ground, refusing to flinch away. She truly was the most interesting human he'd ever come across. And the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, he added mentally as he leaned forward until they were only a breath apart.

"Welcome to your temporary, new home, Amica." Grim watched a flare of recognition light Nina's eyes before she lowered her lids and tossed her head away.

Does she recognize me? Grim wondered as he watched Nina go back to Uri and help him up.

"Thank you..." her soft voice trail off, obviously waiting for his name.

Nina didn't know Grim's title; all she knew was that he was a royal. She didn't even know his birth name; he didn't tell it to many people or even like it when people used it. But he still didn't want Nina to find out who he was just yet. She was in contract with Uri, and he had to remember that.

"Heir Apparent to the Bloodspurn Kingdom, Mictlantecuhtli Jallgrímur Bloodspurn; you may call me Highness," he added, just to needle her.

A tiny line marred Nina's brow, but it was quickly replaced by a sardonic twist of her lips. Grim wondered if he had even seen the confusion on her face or if it had been a trick of the light. "Thanks, Mickey."

Grim smiled, as much as he could as a skeleton, and waved his hands to dismiss the guards. "Come, Mother." Grim turned to leave, not sure if he was doing the right thing by letting Nina continue to stay or the wrong thing by not letting her die. He didn't know.

"But Mictlantecuhtli—" his mother began to whine.

Grim's temper flared, and he snapped at her: "It wasn't a request."

Beginning to walk away, Grim paused and looked back over his shoulder. "Enjoy your stay, Ms. Strathmore."

***

"Uri?" Nina asked as they walked to his rooms, where she would be staying. Well, the room adjacent to his, because she had already mentioned about a thousand times that there was no way they were sleeping together, no matter how many years of practice Uri said he had.

"Yeah?" He tucked into his back pockets as he nodded at yet another guard they passed. The guards barely even glanced at her, and if they did, it was a glare. This place has to have more security than the Pentagon, Nina thought. 

"What does 'Amica' mean?" The question had been bugging her after the scary-as-all-get-out reaper had called her it, because Grim called her Amica too. She would have thought it was a reaper thing, but so far Uri hadn't used it at all, which confused the hell out of Nina.

"It's an endearment, like sweetheart or darling." Uri wagged his eyebrows at her. "Why? Someone call you that?"

Nina smiled and rolled her eyes, ignoring the information he was oh-so-subtly fishing for. "Where's it from?"

She watched him shrug and lead her down another hallway. God, this place is big! I swear I just walked a mile! "Attic Greek. The language died long ago, but certain reapers like to hold on to the past."

Nina nodded as she walked down the corridor and thought more of the reaper who had called her 'Amica.' Could he have been Grim's friend? The—guy?—seemed like a dick, but maybe they know each—

All at once memories started to flood into her head, tearing into her mind like bullets.

The morgue is sterile. Silver doors line one wall. The floors are white, surprisingly clean for a place where murder victims came and had their body's torn open. I'm trying to focus on everything and nothing; the body on the silver slab covered by a white sheet is calling to me.

"Leave! Get the fuck out!" I'm screaming at the coroner. I think I'm crying.

I finally look at the body, but I've been looking at her this entire time. My vision blurs, overwhelmed by tears. I swipe at them angrily.

"Why is she smiling if she'd dead?" I ask angrily.

"Not again!" Nina moaned, leaning against the stone wall for support as her breathing started to hitch with panic.

"Nina? What's wrong? Does your head still hurt? Are you still hungry?" Uri's voice was fast and urgent, but the memories were too vivid, too alive, and they forced their way back into her mind.

My father's gone, along with the coroner. The room's empty and cold. It's just me and my mother's body. I think I see her smile widen.

I know I'm losing my mind.

"Ugh!" Nina choked, the emotions spilling out of her as she became to shake, tears racing down her cheeks.

"What's wrong with her?" Nina heard someone ask above her. 

Stay here! Don't go back! Her subconscious screamed at her. I'm trying! She screamed back, turning her head to focus on Uri's blurry form. Nina could swear that there was a black shadow behind Uri, but then she was pulled back.

The world blurs again, and I have an instant headache. I massage my temples; the need to scream and cry and rage is riding me hard.

"Nina..." I snap my eyes open and look at the corpse. I can only see her head and the tops of her shoulders. Her creamy mocha skin is pulled tight and looks pale. I can see her collar bone.

I focus my eyes on her face, looking for any flicker of movement. Maybe she's not dead?

I look at her lips, tinged blue, and her cheekbones look like knives trying to come out of her skin. The hair I used to play with as a child, used to braid, looks like dark brown straw, like it could fall out at any second.

"Nina..." I hear the whisper again, stronger this time, maybe a little bit irritated. I take a step back; my eyes are focused on her closed eyelids. Just a flicker, I tell myself. Just a—

"Nina!" Uri yelled, shaking her violently until Nina felt her head bang against the brick wall.

Nina looked at Uri as her vision began to clear. Oh shit! A dozen or so people were gathered around them. Crap, I look like a nutcase!

"I'm fine Uri. Just—" she started, shaking off his hands as she pulled herself to her feet. Nina ignored the shaking of her legs and swiped at her eyes.

The visions were coming closer together, but they still didn't have any rhythm. It seemed Nina wasn't safe from the memories even in another world. Whatever messages were in the vision, desperately wanted to be discovered.

"You are not fine!" Uri snapped at her, his voice holding a slight tremor of worry.

Nina opened her mouth to argue, but a sudden thought occurred to her. Why do I need to lie? She was already almost-dead, already in the Underworld, already aware that her life for the next couple of months was going to be a joke. So then what was the point of saying she was fine when she wasn't—hadn't been—since her mother passed away.

No, she was murdered by my father; Nina reminded herself, looking up at Uri as he all but wrung his hands. If she was honest with herself, she hadn't been fine since the morgue, and in the last 48 hours "not fine" didn't even begin to compare to her shit-tacular life.

"I'm not—" Nina reached out to clutch at Uri. The truth was ripped from her soul as she allowed herself to rely on someone. "I'm not fine!"

Uri gathered her close, stroking her hair as she clung onto him, too numb to even cry. Again there was that surge of heat, except this was different. Uri's heat didn't burn her as Grim's; it warmed her like brandy, like a friend on a dark night.

"I'm not fine," Nina whispered into Uri's shirt as she heard the shuffle of retreating footsteps, and slowly realized they were alone once again.

"I know, Nina," Uri soothed, rubbing her back in large comforting circles. "I know."

It was a few more moments before Nina was able to release her death-grip on Uri's shirt and slowly step away; neither of them spoke as Uri turned and placed a comforting arm around her.

But it's different. And it was. Uri's embrace was warm and inviting, but Grim's? Nina shook her head as a feeling of power ran over her senses like a thousand tongue-strokes. Shivering, Nina tried to ignore the throb between her legs and the longing in her heart... longing for a reaper who would have let her die.

***

Uri swirled the amber liquid in his glass and sighed appreciatively. "Still the smoothest scotch I've tasted."

Grim glowered at his brother, and balled his fists to keep from beating the living daylights out of him. Ten minutes ago Uri had strolled into his study, popped open his scotch, and started drinking. It was obvious he was waiting for Grim to give in and ask about Nina, but he would be waiting until the universe ended for that to happen.

What Grim had done in the human world had been stupid. Loneliness and empathy had driven him to talk with Nina, to share things he had never shared with anyone—to break the rules that kept him and his country together. Time away from her, dealing with the rash of murders, his impending succession and marriage, and all the political games had given Grim a chance to clear his head.

Humans and reapers weren't meant to be together. Grim understood that better than anyone, and even if Nina was just down the hall and in desperate need of a friend he wouldn't give in, he couldn't.

"Were you really going to let her die?" Uri finally asked as he took a sip of his drink and regarded Grim over the rim of his glass.

A flick of Grim's power sent the drink tumbling back and the liquid pouring down Uri's throat in a harsh burn. Coughing and hacking, Uri glared accusingly at his brother, trying to compose himself.

Crossing his legs, Grim leaned further back in his chair, not wanting Uri to see how much the question had upset him. Would I have let her die? He'd been thinking the same thing for a while now, the dark hollow of his study giving him no other choice than to reflect.

Grim turned to the fireplace, his eyes catching on a painting hanging there. Women, mothers, lovers, they were such complex creatures: they gave life, killed life, and left life kill them.

Grim thought back to Nina's mother's soul. From the moment he'd taken Adrienne's soul, Nina had never left his mind. The tragedy of her life had been the background music for his waking moments. But meeting her, talking with her, feeling the flare of attraction ignite in his bones had changed him. Before, he would have said that one human's death meant nothing in the grand scheme of things, but Nina wasn't just a nameless soul he'd come to collect.

"I should have never spoken to her." Harsh words whispered in a harsh tone.

There was little else Grim could say, or that he wanted to say. Of course, Uri was never one to let anything go. "But you did." Uri shrugged and reached for the decater to pour another drink. "You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, Brother. It never accomplishes anything."




Can't Fight Time Ch. 08



Grim looked up at the boy across from him. At times Uri seemed to be young, living in the moment, doing what he wanted when he wanted and damning the consequences. But at other times...

"Sometimes I fear you, Uri." Grim shook his head as he rose from his chair. "You have the potential to be so much more."

He didn't spare his brother another look as he tucked his bones into the folds of his cloak. He would keep his skeletal form until Nina left; less chance of her finding out who he was.

Hand on the doorknob, Grim was stopped by his brother's silvery voice. "You might have the power to take her away, but you can't do anything unless she agrees. Just remember—" Grim felt his power rouse as his anger flared to life. "—Nina's mine until she says otherwise."

The door swung open with a burst of power, the wood splintering on the stone wall. Grim wouldn't forget; his brother would never let him, and that was reason enough for him to avoid Nina.

After all, he thought bitterly as he stalked down the hallway with his brother's laughter trailing after him. I would have let her die.



Can't Fight Time Ch. 09



Hey Everyone!

This is one of my favorite chapters and I didn't really make any edits to it, thankfully. I hope you like it as much as I do!


***

Darkness. That was all Nina saw when she finally came back to herself: complete and total darkness. In the back of her mind, she could remember Uri walking her to a bedroom—her bedroom—and leaving her to deal with whatever she was going through.

Why'd he leave again? Nina racked her brain and an image of herself screaming at him, raging for peace and solitude sprang up. A self-deprecating laugh escaped her and was instantly consumed by the darkness. "Oh. That's why."

Fidgeting as a sudden need to move consumed her, Nina peered into the blackness, wondering about her next play. She was in the Underworld with Grim nowhere in sight and Uri claiming her as his. Weird didn't even begin to explain the events of the past few hours—days.

Closing her eyes, Nina took a deep breath. Her heartbeat was so slow that she wondered if the quiet little thumps were just her imagination. Concentrating, she could hear her mother's voice advising her: "Close your eyes and focus on one goal. Find it, and keep it close."

"One goal," Nina whispered, focusing on her breathing as she contemplated.

What do I want? It should have been a simple question, considering that Uri had told her she could have anything she wanted; just not more time.

I want my mother back. The thought came with a rush of sadness and tears. But with another slow intake of breath, Nina let it go; she let her pain and sadness over the murder of her mother ease out of her as she exhaled. My goal, what's my goal?

The answer curled around her ankles, up past her calves, between her thighs, over the curve of her belly, between the valley of her breasts, and up the column of her neck until she could finally breathe life into the words; "I want Grim."

As soon as the words were spoken aloud, given a life and a purpose, despite knowing that he would have let her die, despite knowing that there was no future for them, despite knowing that he might be the one to take her soul... Nina's mind was still made up.

She wasn't sure what drew her to him, what had inspired such emotion in those hours bent over a coffee table with the reaper. It wasn't just his looks, or even the way he smiled and flashed her a hint of dimple in his left cheek, it was everything about him. Yes, there was danger, exotic and foreign, but there was also peace, something she hadn't felt in so long Nina had almost forgotten what it felt like. He gave her that feeling back. He was a life raft in a tsunami, the eye of her storm. 

Slowly opening her eyes, Nina noticed that the dark didn't seem so endless, so stygian; if anything, it seemed full of undiscovered possibilities, untraversed paths. It was the path Grim walked, the same one she'd follow.

Her joints popped and her muscles ached, but Nina still forced herself to get up and search blindly around the room for a light. It was high time she got out of the darkness.

But she never found the light; her hands closed around the smooth, cool metal of a doorknob instead. For a split second she paused, a million thoughts going through her mind as to the how and why of her decision, but she forced them out of her mind. She was dying, literally dying, and every second she agonized over whether it was right or wrong was another second wasted.

"I've made my decision." There was steadfast conviction in her tone, an assurance that no matter what came to pass, it was the road she would walk.

Nina gripped the knob tighter, and forced her wrist to turn. "There's going back."

***

Grim's power reached for Nina before he could corral it. Stop! He commanded himself as the woman in question turned a corner and strode purposefully towards him. She's not yours, remember?

"You have some crappy guards," Nina said matter-of-factly, her hips swaying slightly as she came closer to him. "You might want to hire some new people."

If he'd still been in his human form, Grim would have smiled at that. "Do you know who I—?"

"Mickey," Nina cut him off as her eyes peered into the black folds of his cloak.

Grim pulled the material closer to himself, needing to separate himself from her as much as possible. The woman was more dangerous for him than anyone; even the Castoff King seemed like a minor nuisance compared to Nina.

He didn't speak for a while, trying to remember why he insisted on standing there with her instead of turning and walking away. It hadn't just been his insane attraction to her that had deterred Grim, but her very humanity. It had been her humanity that had cemented his decision to let her go, no matter how much he wanted otherwise.

A rustle of fabric and a whisper of air through bones was the only indication that he was about to speak. "Can I help you with something, Ms. Strathmore? I assume you're not just here to reprimand me about my guards."

Grim watched her take a step closer to him, her eyes seeming to see past his black cloak and ivory bones to the man hidden inside. It made him feel caught, like an animal in a trap preparing to be taken. Never had he felt like anyone had power over him—even those who truly did have control over him had never made Grim feel base and naked, raw and wanting.

Nina stared at him for another long second, seeming to consider something before she shook her head and dismissed the idea. "What are you doing right now?" 

Grim felt his power stir at the thought of spending more time with her, but he knew that he should tell her he was busy, that he had affairs to attend to, that any day now his fiancée would arrive... but he couldn't.

"I was just headed to my study." 

Nina swung around to his side and linked arms with him. "Mind if I join you?" 

Grim twitched, feeling a bit awkward with a human touching him in his reaper form. No one had ever done that, and for a second Grim worried that Nina would drop dead like in the films. But she just stared up at him, her smile mysterious and her eyes alight.

"You are a curiosity, Amica," Grim said before he could stop himself.

Recognition flared in her eyes before Nina lowered her lashes, hiding her gaze from him. Nina's voice lacked censure, and sounded like she was trying to suppress a laugh. "Are we just going to stand here and stare at each other, or are we going to go to your study?" 

Grim turned away from her teasing smile and fire-streaked curls, needing to distract himself while they walked to his study. "How are you adjusting to the Bloodspurn Kingdom?"

Nina's soft breasts rubbed against the material of his cloak, and though he couldn't feel the sensation of them pressing into his arm, there was something to be said about her moving closer to him. She was so odd for a human. Strong, with an endless curiosity and intelligence that surprised even Grim. He wondered how much she actually knew, or if she was hiding secrets just like everyone else.

"Well, considering I've been here all of twelve or so hours, I'm doing pretty well." Nina's voice was steady; betraying none of the nerves Grim knew she had to be feeling. "I mean your mom's a bit—erm, rude. I like Uri; though sometimes, I feel like he's hiding something. But then again, aren't we all?"

Grim felt his power slide around Nina, bringing her closer to him, but he tried to rein it in. She's not mine, he told himself again, though he was starting to believe it less and less.

Maybe walking with her wasn't such a good idea. The last time I walked with her... Grim let the thought trail off as they turned a corner and arrived at his study. He nodded to the guards stationed on either side before he opened the door and ushered her through.

"Hello!" Nina chirped to the guards as she went through. Neither paid her much attention, except to glare briefly at her. Grim frowned as he followed her through and shut the doors, knowing he would have to talk to them later. 

"I told you, you need new guards," she muttered as she went further into the room. 

"Wow!" Nina breathed as she spun in a slow circle to look at all the books lining the walls of his study.

Grim followed her eyes as she cranked her head back to look all the way up. He knew the shelves reached several stories, but he'd never been awed by it. Perhaps he'd been around it too long to see the beauty anymore. That was the case with many things in his homeland lately.

"This is incredible! I mean, there's got to be more books her than the Library of Congress," Nina's eyes shifted to the various works of art around the study. "And the painting...?" her voice trailed off as she walked over to a portrait hanging over the fireplace mantel.

If Grim had had a heart, it would have constricted. It always pained him when he looked at that portrait: the beautiful woman with olive toned skin, summer green eyes, and midnight-black hair twisted in a complicated braid and thrown over one shoulder. Beautiful, ethereal, always poised with her legs tucked under a flowing crimson skirt, with her hands resting softly on her distended stomach.

"Who is she?" Nina asked softly, making Grim look away from the painting to her.

Nina was turned towards him, half her body facing the painting and half facing him. The fire wasn't burning, but with a flick of his power, flames leapt in the grate, cracking the kindling and warming the room. Still, Nina did not turn away from him.

Sighing softly, Grim glided over to her, sending his scythe to rest on his desk. He spoke when he was beside her, his tone was soft and filled with a mix of love and contempt.: "This is Ivona Bloodspurn, my birth mother." 

Nina picked up on it. Her tone was soft and inquisitive, "Do you hate her?" 

Always so curious, Amica, Grim thought fondly as he turned to her and gestured to one of the couches surrounding the fireplace. He watched her pause and look at him again like she was seeing through his facade, before she moved to a couch and sat.

"I never knew her," Grim replied as he followed Nina and took a seat next to her, keeping a good distance between him and temptation.

A frown marred Nina's brow before it cleared, and her face softened. "Because she was human, and died giving birth to you."

Grim drew deeper into the folds of his cloak, uncomfortable with the subject. Nina was far too observant for her own good, seeing more than most humans or reapers would see. It made her dangerous.

Feeling unsettled, Grim let his power leak out to saturate the room with his displeasure. She was a human, a frail and easily killable human with a lifespan like a second. She would be gone in the blink of an eye.

"Do not forget your place here, human," Grim's voice was a whistle of air through bones with an edge like a blade. "You may have Uriel's protection, but you are under my roof. Do not assume to ask me questions as if we are friends—we're not."

Fire sparked behind Nina's chocolate gaze before she leapt from the couch and went to stand in his face. "You are the most temperamental, egotistical man-child I have ever met! And here I thought you had a pretty good reason for not telling me who you were to begin with, Grim. But all you want to do is bitch and moan and keep everyone at arm's length because you don't want to even take the chance that someone might see the real you!"

Grim froze as her words sliced through the anger covering up the hurt he felt over his mother. "You know who I am."

***

Every single freaking time I get near anything touchy with him, he becomes the world's biggest asshole! Nina thought sourly as she looked into a skeleton's face and searched for Grim.

The minute he'd uttered the whole "curiosity" thing, she'd known it was him. And before that, when he'd called her "Amica," she'd had an inkling. Though why the man was looking like the stereotypical image of Death instead of the gorgeous, dark haired, silver-skinned man she knew, confused her.

"I guessed when you started calling me 'Amica.'" Nina leaned back as a weird fog started to spread over his body. "What the hell is—?"

"You knew!" Grim's voice blasted at her, no longer sounding like a weird whistle, but more like its usual deep timbre with that slight accent.

And then the fog cleared away, and Grim was suddenly standing before her in faded black jeans and a tight gray t-shirt, looking stunned and furious. Seeing him like that, like a relaxed college student instead of a terrifying skeleton, did something to Nina.

It reminded her of the promise she'd made to herself.

"Yes," she answered softly. "I knew."

Grim stared at her for a long moment, an unreadable expression on his face. There was something holding him back, something that Nina didn't know if she'd ever be able to break through. Is it going to be like the last time? The thought flitted through Nina's head, leaving her with a feeling of dread.

Swallowing down her emotions, she was ready to apologize and find a way to at least be his friend. Maybe then she could help him work through whatever he was going through. "Grim, I—"

Her words were captured by his lips and tongue, lost in his throat. Again that feeling of heat just before being frozen to death invaded her body, but the pain wasn't there. She wondered if it was because she was in the Underworld, her heart beating barely once a minute.

Nina's world didn't shatter from Grim's kiss, and she didn't lose her inhibitions. If anything her world ignited and narrowed down to a soul-deep need to know Grim. They weren't just kissing, they were binding, coming together to feel each other, explore each other, know each other.

"We can't do this. You're human," Grim whispered against her lips as he drew her closer, tilting her body back and sliding his tongue against her teeth, her lips, and her tongue.

Through the fog of desire clouding her brain, Grim's words registered. Memories of another time he'd called her a human like it was a bad thing flittered through her mind. Human, Nina thought about it, what the term signified and the power it had over Grim.

His mother was human, and she died.

Wrenching her mouth away from his, even as it pained her to do so, Nina pushed him away. "Stop!"

Grim stumbled before he fell back onto the sofa, looking dazed and confused. "What?"

Nina drew in a deep breath, the smell of rich soil and icy cold tightening her nipples and making her sex clench. She wanted him; there was no doubt of that. But it came down simply to the fact that if they continued he'd hate her and himself. As soon as they crossed that line from friends to lovers, he would feel like he'd killed her.

"I can't continue if you can't let go of your past, Grim." She shook her head to clear away the fog of desire.

Grim's face shadowed and shuttered, his earlier anger returning to him, but Nina wouldn't let it. She wouldn't let him push his pain and hurt and guilt aside because he didn't want to deal with it. Nina spoke as she moved and straddled his waist, keeping him pinned down and looking into her eyes. "No, I need you to face this."

Grim tried to look away, tried to regain his anger and let it fuel him, ignite him. Nina could feel his power around them, crackling the air. She'd felt the same hum of energy from Uri, but Grim seemed to have far more power, and Nina wondered why she hadn't sensed it before.

"You don't know a damn thing," Grim growled. His hands moved to grip her hips and his nails dug into her flesh.

"I know that you feel guilty over your mother's death." Her hands moved to grip his head, her eyes boring into his soul. "I know that you think by having sex with me you're going to somehow kill me. I know that every time you say 'human', what you really want to say is 'mother'."

The sofa hit her back, as Grim flipped her and crouched over her body. "You don't know anything! I killed her; I murdered my own mother!" he raged, shaking her hard.

Nina leaned up, captured his lips and forced him to kiss her, to want her. Anger gave way to passion as Grim tore at Nina's blouse and devoured her mouth until he tasted blood.

His tongue struck hers, hands sliding roughly up her body to her breasts. Nina let him claim her, let him take what he needed, ever aware of the tears wetting his face. She knew he needed to work through it, and if sex was the only way for him to do that, then... she'd just have suffer through it.

Grim's mouth pulled away from hers and she gasped in a breath, needing the oxygen. But she couldn't stop; she needed him to expel the demons that festered inside of him.

"Tell me how you killed her, Grim. Tell me how you murdered your own mother. Tell me I don't know a thing about you."

His mouth closed, hard and insistent, around her peaked nipple, teeth tugging. It was both pleasure and pain. "Tell me!"

Cool air breezed across her naked breasts as Grim pulled back and buried his head in her stomach. He was panting against her, his tears soaking into her skin. "I—" his voice was pained.

Nina could feel the bite of his nails into her hips, the sting from her nipple, and her lips swollen and bruised. Every spot he'd touched felt raw, but not in an entirely unpleasant way. It was a way that reminded her she was still human. The slight pain reminding her that, despite her murderous father and her reaper beau, she was still herself, alive, breathing, feeling pain, and most certainly herself.

"You're so fragile, Nina," Grim's voice was so soft, so forlorn, that for a second Nina thought she'd imagined it.

But then he spoke again: "I feel like I could break you, and lose you forever."

Slowly the pressure against her hips decreased until it disappeared and a cooling breeze passed over all the spots he'd touched, healing them. His power. It was like being swept in by a wave and gently carried the feeling so sublime Nina would have thought she was in a dream.

Reaching her hands down to him, Nina pulled him up to her, hands splayed across his cheeks. "I'm not as fragile as you think, Grim." 

The blue-diamonds of his irises were small, obstructed by the obsidian of his pupils. "I might be human, Grim, but that isn't a bad thing." Nina pulled his head closer until she could feel his lips on her newly healed ones, tentatively seeking her mouth. "I like that I'm human."

Grim's hands moved to the nape of her neck, his thumb rubbing in small circles as he leisurely kissed her mouth. There was no anger in the kiss, no bitter tears of regret for her humanity. It was just a simple kiss.

Slowly Grim pulled back, his lips clinging gently to her as he went. "I'm fucked up, Amica. I can't help it."

It was the first thing that sounded remotely like it was from this century, and Nina couldn't help but laugh; "You and me both."

Grim's smile was slightly strained as he kissed her lips again and then pulled back to lean his forehead against hers. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to let go of my past."

"Screw the past." Nina closed her eyes and leaned into him. "Live in the present—with me."

Grim held still, his body taut against Nina's, but she didn't stop. As much as she needed him, he needed her. They were both fucked up, their lives unfair from the beginning. "You didn't murder your mother; she gave her life to have you, Grim. It was love."

Power curled around her body, slipping under her thighs and back. Just like the first time, it felt like a thousand tongue strokes against every sensitive nerve ending. It was hard for Nina to focus with Grim taking her over completely, trying to drown out their conversation with sex.

But, she let it.

There was no more point to conversation; Nina had said all that she could. She didn't want to dwell on the past anymore, didn't want to think past that moment.




Can't Fight Time Ch. 09



"Take what you need, Grim," Nina whispered a second before his lips descended over hers.

***

Nina's hands stroked the soft, springy hair on Grim's chest, relaxed in his embrace. Just the way he wanted her.

"Nina?" Grim asked her softly.

Lifting her head from his chest, Nina let her curls fall down over them. "Yes?"

Sleepy and content eyes met his, a soft smile playing with the corners of her lips. She's perfect. She's mine, Grim thought as he stroked her hand down her back, feeling the lush curves that made his woman.

A dark cloud settled over him as he remembered their future, or lack thereof. In less than three months Nina will be dead, and I'll be married. The thought entered his mind and soured his mood.

Nina seemed to sense the change as she shifted on him and placed her hand over his heart. "Don't think about the future, Grim. That's not where we live."

Moving his hand up to the nape of her neck, Grim pulled her down for a kiss, placing all the things he couldn't say into the caress. Again, he felt utterly helpless, unable to do anything for Nina but watch her slow decline into death.

Before, he'd told himself that death was a part of life, a necessary evil. But he couldn't fool himself with the same lie twice. It was unfair. And in fact it was more than unfair, it was wrong. He was a reaper; he was Death. Life didn't apply to Grim; its rules didn't apply to him.

Grim pulled Nina back to him and looked into her eyes. "You don't understand what you mean to me, Amica."

Those intelligent and curious eyes saw everything. "Don't go all mushy on me, Grim." Nina playfully smacked him on the shoulder. "Don't ruin this with promises you can't keep."

Nina ducked her head and kissed him again, covering the enormity of her words with a caress. But Grim still heard it, the pleading note that she tried to hide from him—and most likely herself. It was there in her eyes, in the quiver of her lower lip, in the slight tremble of her hand still bearing Uri's mark.

Grim felt Nina shift, felt her thighs move over his as the blanket fell off and she straddled his hips. Pulling back from him, Nina set her palms flat on his chest and raised her hips until his erection was positioned at her opening.

Digging her nails into the muscles of his chest Nina sank down onto his cock, her body still slick and warm from earlier. Grim watched her move above him, heavy breasts swaying as her hips rocked to take him deeper.

His hands went to the soft flesh of her thighs and kneaded as she took what she needed from his body, just as he'd done to her.

A sigh broke from her lips as he felt her ass hit the base of his cock and rub up against his balls. For an instant she held there, suspended above him, her eyes open but unseeing, her lips parted on an invisible gasp. Grim felt her inner muscles clench him, once, twice, before she bit her lip, a tiny moan escaping her as she came.

Grim didn't give her another second to adjust, his hands moving up her thighs to her hips as he lifted her body up to thrust into her. "More, Grim!" she gasped as one of her hands moved from his chest to his leg so she could lower herself down as he thrust up.

She was slick and tight and so fucking wet that he could hear the sounds of her body as he took her. Grim closed his eyes and felt the slight throbbing from her clit as it rubbed against his dick, the sporadic clenching of her channel as he thrust up. In that moment, buried deep in her body, stretching her like no other man had—or ever would, Grim found his home, a place where he belonged.

Nina twitched, her whole body stilling above him again. Grim moved his hand with lighting fast speed and stroked the pad of his thumb over her clit, sending her into a hard orgasm.

She screamed as he kept his thumb on her clit, gently working the tight bud of nerves until she reached down and yanked his hand away. "Enough! Enough!"

Grim smiled as he opened his eyes to find Nina beautiful and sweaty, her pupils dilated and unfocused. Taking the same hand he'd used on her clit, Grim licked the pad of his thumb, tasting her.

Smiling, Grim levered himself up and flipped her on her back. Raising her hips, Grim thrust deeper, grinded harder as his hand shot out to grip the armrest. Emotions played across Nina's face as she moved her body and met him with the same ferocious need he had for her.

Their bodies were completely in sync, moving with the soft of practiced rhythm that seemed inherent.

"Marry me," Grim demanded as he gripped her thigh and swung her ankle over his shoulder to penetrate her deeper.

Nina's neck arched and her nails swiped across his arm. "W-what?"

Grim reached for her other calf and swung it up until her ankles rested on his shoulders. "Marry me, Nina."

She snapped her head to look back at him, eyes wide and stained with tears. Sweat soaked into her hair, her lips were bruised, and her face was flushed. Fleetingly, Grim wondered if it had been like this for his father and if that was the reason he'd slept with Ivona despite knowing the risks.

Sex—no, making love with Nina was intoxicating. It was like he'd spent all his life wading through a desert and now, he'd miraculously found an oasis. His own private, beautiful, lush oasis. He wouldn't let her escape now. Never.

"Grim"— her voice was throaty, maybe a little sore —"I can't marry you." Her voice was lost on a gasp as he thrust sharply into her, tilting her back a little to rub against her over-sensitized clit.

"Stop that!" Nina moaned as she leaned down and pressed her hands against his abs.

Grim shook his head and repeated the torture, bringing her to the edge of orgasm but never allowing her the pleasure of coming. "I am not asking, Amica."

Glaring at him, she tried to move away, but he kept her firmly locked to him. Anger flashed across her features; "There's no future here, Grim. I'm all for doing it like rabbits right up until the second I die, but I'm not going to build a doomed future with you."

Nina's body was the only thing keeping his sanity and anger in check. She didn't understand. Once he married her that was it. She wouldn't die, because he'd never let her. He'd kill any reaper who tried to take her away. She'd live with him in his world so her father could never get her. He wouldn't let anything hurt her.

"If you marry me, I'll keep you safe. You'll be my wife, under my protection. I won't let you die, Nina," Grim bit off as his composure began to slip. "Not even death will take you from me."

White heat exploded in his gut as Nina suddenly came, thrashing on the sofa with only his power keeping her from hurting herself. But he was right there with her, roaring out his pleasure as he did the one thing he'd promised he'd never do.

"Fuck the past," Grim gasped as he laid his head on her stomach and gulped in air.

Nina moaned as he throbbed inside of her, the last testament to their joining. "Fuck the future."



Can't Fight Time Ch. 10



Hey Everyone, 

I know, I know, I'm late. It's just I got really caught up with my other series So I'm Not a Vampire? (which is now finished! Yay!) and I just haven't been doing my editing duty. I won't lie, willione (a member on lit) was the one who reminded me. And thank you for calling me out, sometimes I get so caught up in other stories that I lose track. Feel free to remind me, everyone, when I screw up. It's good to keep me humble LOL 

So, here's the next chapter. I'll be going a little slower since the chapters get longer, and I still have to add more pages, but I'll post at least one new chapter a week. Okay, I'm not going to talk anymore. Hope you like it! And yes, I did change it ;) 

-Rosi 

*** 

"Your Highness?" 

Grim silently closed the door to his study, and looked up at the Royal Guard in front of him. The man stood in human flesh with the Bloodspurn coat-of-arms sewn onto the two bands around his biceps. The bands irritated Grim, the symbol—that of a teardrop-shaped vial with two swords crossed behind it—reminded him of everything the Bloodspurn Kings had stood for: murder, mayhem, and war. 

Grim turned away from the thoughts and eyed the guard curiously, unable to place a name to the man. His eyes were very light green, his skin paler than the reaper norm, and he had a faded scar below his left ear. The scar interested Grim, because reapers didn't get scars unless they were born from a human woman, and received them before they completely died and became a full reaper. 

"Yes?" Grim turned fully to the guard, aware of his disheveled appearance and the smell of sex and sweat heavy on his skin. It was likely the guard knew what he'd been doing, and yet, still chose to come to him before he had a chance to return to his rooms and shower. That worried Grim. "Is there a problem? Have more ashes been found?" 

Despite the hours spent with Nina in the quiet of his study, Grim knew the minute he stepped out, the full weight of his duties would once again rest on him. Still, for a brief flash of time he had found peace and solace, something that he was beginning to realize was better than even the best alliances. Perhaps that was the reason he had asked Nina to marry him so suddenly. She was still a stranger to Grim in so many ways, but something about her called to him, stronger than any siren's song, and he was not fool enough to ignore it. 

The guard interrupted his thoughts with a gruff reply: "Nothing of the sort, Highness. It is simply that the guards would like to... meet with you and discuss our newest guest." 

Grim picked up on the hesitation immediately. He'd seen the looks his guards had thrown Nina, seen the hate and mistrust there. He knew it was only a matter of time before he would have to deal with the fallout from his decision. 

Turning sharply on his heel, Grim began to walk in the direction of his rooms. Nina was no doubt a topic of discussion for not just his guards but everyone in the realm. 

"What is your name?" Grim asked the guard, keeping pace beside him. 

"Tylend Daz, Your Highness." 

Grim's lips lifted in a half smile as he looked straight ahead and turned a corner. "I would like you to assemble all the Council of Guardians' members, the High Watchers, the High PeaceKeeper, and three Collectors, Messengers, and Royal Guards of your choosing. They are all to report immediately to my waiting room. Is this understood?" 

Grim stopped and turned to fully face the guard, who was only an inch or two shorter than himself. Green eyes so pale they bordered on silver met his, and Tylend gave the barest of nods before placing his left fist behind his back, his right palm over his heart, and bowing deeply. It was an old gesture, one that made Grim respect the guard all the more for it. 

"At your Highness's behest." Tylend looked up, pride in his eyes. "I will do so immediately." 

Then, with a woosh of air and a flare of restrained power, the guard took off on his mission. Grim took a deep and unnecessary breath, smiling as he caught the gesture. It only occurred to him then, that he'd been taking breaths since Nina had come to the Underworld, and, as he placed a hand over his chest, he was also using his power to match the slow beat of her heart. 

Shaking his head, Grim continued his walk until he's reached his rooms, threw the doors wide, and strode past his sitting area and straight into his bedroom. Grim knew he had only an hour at most before his people arrived, and in that time he would need to formulate a course of appropriate action to deal with their inquiries, shower, and think of how he was going to try and woo Nina into marriage. 

The water helped. Though Grim knew he could have just used his powers to clean himself, the act was still comforting. That was why he had had a shower installed in his suite; it was one of the only human luxuries he truly enjoyed. Well, that and tea. Perhaps it was a connector to his mother, one he sought just as he did Nina. 

Grim sighed deeply as he scrubbed off her scent, and tried to think of a course of action. But too late, a flurry of different powers washed over his consciousness like a school of fish suddenly swimming through his body. He finished quickly, dressed with brutal efficiently, and went out to greet his guests. 

The minute he stepped through the door, over fifty eyes turned to him. All the reapers were standing, some huddled together as if they'd been having a conversation. Grim moved silently to the front of the room, situating himself in front of the large floor-to-ceiling windows. With a flick of his power, a chair manifested and Grim sat, legs crossed. 

"You may sit." 

A frown tugged at his lips but Grim suppressed it. Before, commands had been hard to issue, they'd felt like a form of binding, another thing tying him to the throne. It was different now however, the power he'd always tried to hide and suppress becoming easier to wield. Grim wondered if it had something to do with Nina, a change she'd inspired in him. 

Grim didn't have more time to contemplate it before the accusations and worries began flying at him. "How could you allow a human into our kingdom?" The question was spat out by one of the Watchers. Grim only knew the man was a Watcher from the blood drop-crystal hanging from the edge of the man's hood. If the Watcher had been in human form the drop would have rested on his forehead, secured by a thin gold chain. 

"How could I allow a human into my kingdom?" Grim drew out the words and readjusted in his chair. "Perhaps you have forgotten the laws, Watcher. I can't nullify a temporary contract unless it is my own. And if you didn't hear, I did command my brother to nullify the contract with the human, but she refused." 

The Watcher stood firm. "Than command her. It is within your power as king." 

Grim kept himself firmly in check, though his lips did tighten into a white line. "You would have me manipulate a human?" the words were drawn out, said with contempt. "Do you think me so weak, so incapable, that I would have to resort to compulsion?" 

The Watcher drew back and kept silent, reading the heavy tension in the room. However another took up his grievances, a council member this time. "Then fear," the council guardian of the Province of Diyu said softly. "It is a strong motivator." 

"We are not monsters." Grim shook his head and regarded the room. "Three months. That is how long Nina is here for. If one human can jeopardize a kingdom that has exists since the dawning of man, than we have deeper problems." 

A hush settled over the room, before a man leaning against a wall spoke. "You used the human's name." 

Grim turned to the guard who had spoken, and Tylend carefully. "I did." 

The accusations were hurled across the room by nearly every reaper present, until it formed into white noise. "You have feelings for the human!," "You plan to bring about the destruction of the kingdom!," "You follow in your father's footsteps!" 

Grim let it persist for a moment, let the members say what was burning on their tongues. But then, he spoke. "Silence!" 

There was no power in the word, no compulsion, yet every reaper immediately stopped. In that moment, Grim saw himself as a king, for he knew it was not power that made a king, but he how wielded it. 

Placing his hands on the arms of his chair, Grim stood. He could feel the tension in the room, a wave of dissension coming from his subjects, but he knew the conversation wasn't actually about Nina, it was about something more. 

"We aren't having a conversation about a human," Grim began, turning his eyes to every creature in the room. "This conversation is about our kingdom—my kingdom. None of you truly believe that a single human will demolish everything we have built. 

He paused, and let his power leak out across the room. "We can fix this problem easily by addressing the issues at hand. The human will stay for her allotted time, or until I say otherwise. This matter is not up for discussion. Now, let us discuss the other issues, and advise me on the best course of action." 

It was a tense moment before Krithi stepped forward and spoke. "Your Highness, My people are scared, my province doesn't know what to think of the monarchy anymore. None of them ever saw King Tuoni, and they think you are just like him." 

That was the spark that ignited the conversation about the king he should be and the ways to achieve that. Most of the problems he was familiar with, but had never taken active steps to fit. However, now he did. With every problem that was brought to his attention, Grim addressed it and opened the floor for suggestions on how best to approach it. By the end of the meeting, there was no more talk of Nina and the dissension Grim had felt before had, more or less, subsided. 

Grim turned his head as reapers began to gather themselves and leave the sitting room. Behind him, the sky was a deep blue, swirled with black. It was a perfect mirror for Earth's night, but, it was in fact, not night at all. The Underworld was neither under nor above Earth, but on a different plane entirely, accessible only through a series of portals. The largest, and first portals ever created, were in the Castoff, Darklore, and Bloodspurn Castles, built into their very foundations and given as gifts by Yin and Yang. 

"Your Highness?" a voice interrupted his musings. 

Grim turned towards the man who had spoke. "Yes, Tylend?" 

"Do you need me to do anything?" 

Grim stared for a long time at Tylend, not quite looking at the reaper but more of what he represented. Royal Guards maintained their position for all their immortal lives. There were only two ways to be relieve of the position: by a queen or king, and the true death. The former never happened, and the later was only in extreme cases and usually issued by the king or queen. 

They were, more or less, glorified shields for the royal family. 

"No," Grim finally said, standing up from his chair. "You're free to go." 

The minute he said the words, Grim was struck by how untrue they were. Royal guards, just like kings, were stuck. Archaic rules made freedom impossible for the both of them. Change, that was what was needed most, not just for Grim or his kingdom, but for the whole of the Underworld. None of them were free because the past still bound them all, still held everyone and everything in a tight grasp. 

He clenched his fists and sped off down twisted corridors back to his study. Behind the oak door was more than freedom, more than even change. It was not Nina on her own, but them together, their relationship. A word was on the tip of Grim's tongue to describe it all, to put a name to the new energy and life in his home. But then the door opened, pulled back from the inside, and a curly, tousled head poked out. In an instant, Grim forgot the word, forgot everything as he took Nina in his arms and closed the doors to his study. 

*** 

Nina was caught in a memory... Or was it a dream? She could no longer tell them apart. 

She was in the morgue, but she wasn't in the morgue. She was seeing herself,... but it was strange. It was like she was watching herself in a movie. 

Then the morgue melted and she was in a field of flowers... Or was it at home in her bed laying on her flower comforter? Was she a child or a woman? 

Music played, a melody that she recognized, words she could sing to, but couldn't understand. Or was it a conversation? Did she hear music or a conversation? 

Her father smiled at her, her mother beside him. They looked happy, not at all how she'd seen them before. They also looked different, like they weren't exactly her parents. Who were they? 

Nina couldn't see anything; it was all a swirling blur of dreams and memories smashing into each other like fighting rams. Time unwinding, circling back—unmade, recreated. It hurt. 

The feeling of uncertainty, of not knowing what was going on, was driving her insane. She needed to get out. Needed to escape. Right. Now... 

"Having a nightmare?" Uri's voice penetrated the memory, or dream, or whatever it was, and drew Nina back to the present. 

Nina felt like she'd jumped three feet in the air, but she didn't even move a muscle. The memory faded into nothingness as she slowly returned to Grim's bedroom. The sheets were warm beneath Nina's naked body, and a slight swivel of her hips let her know she was still covered with a sheet. Thank God for small mercies. 

"What are you doing in my room, Uri?" Nina grumbled as she popped open an eye to look at him. "You're acting like a creepy stalker." 

"I'm hurt." Uri's slapped his chest dramatically, but winked at her. "I came to get you." 

Groaning, Nina shifted just as a pressure decided to push against her bladder and remind her that she was still human. "Help me up. I need to pee," she muttered to Uri and held out her hand. 

Uri looked at her and shook his head ruefully. "You know, whenever you talk to me it always sounds like a command." 

Smiling, Nina reached for his hand while keeping the sheet firmly in place over her breasts. "And whenever you talk to me, I'm pretty sure you're either hitting on me or just messing with your brother." 

Nina cocked a brow that dared Uri to contradict her. When he didn't, she gave him a victory smile, wound the sheet around her body, and marched to the bathroom. 

It had been a couple day? Weeks? Nina couldn't remember anymore. Being in Grim's bed pretty much blocked out time for her. But it had been a while since she'd seen Uri, and that in and of itself surprised her. 

"So, why haven't you come to meet me sooner?" Nina yelled through the bathroom door. 

She heard Uri move around the room, his footsteps quiet on the rugs scattered around. "I had some business to take care of. But I never forgot about you, Nina; and if you ever want to mix things up..." 

Nina could practically see the eat-shit smile on his face as she washed her face. Shaking her head, she smiled fondly. Uri was just... incorrigible. 

It was still strange, despite how long Nina had been in the Bloodspurn Kingdom, she hadn't really seen the castle and she didn't know what was behind its walls. Grim had told her there were several balconies, but the place was so massive that Nina could walk for hours and feel like she was in the same place she'd started. It all just looked exactly the same: stone walls with ornate tapestries draped over them and big, thick wood doors. She had opened the doors a couple of times, when Grim had meetings to attend and left Nina to her own devices, but after her third door and the horrifying discovery of some kind of weird BDSM trap, she'd given up on her curiosity. 

But she wanted to see more, to explore and to meet people that weren't guards that hated her guts. Nina missed the human component of it all, missed talking with someone other than Grim or Uri. 

If she were honest, she missed Nicole. "Uri," Nina began as she exited the bathroom and walked towards the wardrobe where Grim had set some clothes aside for her. "I was wondering if we could go to the human world for a few minutes. I really want to see my friend Nicole—make sure she's alright." 

Nina could still remember the conversation she'd had with her father, the palpable anger and disgust in his tone in regard to her friend. She was worried about the Nicole, about what her father might do to her. 

There was a long pause as Nina pulled out some clothes and tossed them over her shoulder and on the bed. It was so long, in fact, that she turned around and found Uri looking at her with the most curious expression. He looked like he was trying to see past her, or inside of her—the type of look someone gives his reflection. 

Raising a questioning brow, Nina tried the same tactic with Uri. The reaper was a complete mystery to her. While he seemed like he was a laid-back guy who really just wanted to piss off his brother, there was something just beneath the surface. Sometimes it felt like he didn't care about any of it, like he was completely removed from it all. 

"How 'bout I check on her later. Grim would kill me if I took you to the human world. Besides, we have plans today." 

She knew Uri was probably right about Grim, but a niggling part of her still worried for her friend. "Promise me you'll go see her," Nina said seriously, needing the conformation to at least set her mind at ease. 

"Think I'm not good for it?" Uri placed his hand over his heart and looked wounded. "I promise on my princely crown that I will go and see Nicole." 

Nina rolled her eyes and spun her finger in a gesture for him to turn around. Uri covered his eyes like a child playing hide-and-go-seek, but obediently spun around. Nina threw off the sheet, and dressed quickly. No because she was worried about Uri seeing hr, but because the brat had started to count down. She had a feeling he wouldn't sneak a peek, but just in case he did, she dressed quickly. "three... two... one... Ready or not here I come." 

Uri spun and Nina slapped her hands on her jean-clad hips and glared at him. A second later he burst out laughing, bent over and gripped his sides. Nina couldn't help but join in. 

It was another few minutes of gasping and trying to get her breathing under control, before Nina spoke. "So, we're going out?" 

Uri straightened and wiped a stray tear from his eye. "Yeah. I thought you might want to get out of the castle and explore the town. It's a decent size with tons of places to shop, you might like it." 

Nina nearly squealed with happiness at the thought of finally leaving the creepy castle, but her mood sobered immediately when she remembered Grim. The man hadn't let her get five paces from him before he, or one of the new guards he'd assigned to her, was there. She always had a shadow in the castle. 

"And what do you get out of it, Uri?" Nina asked as she pulled her hair back and secured it in a ponytail. 

"You decent?" Uri asked before looking over his shoulder and turning around completely. He smiled suavely at her. "Having your company for the day is pleasure enough." 

Rolling her eyes, Nina snorted and looked around the room for her shoes, spotting them at the foot of the bed. "Bullshit. What's the real reason?" 

"Well, there is the small matter of Grim touching you even though we're contracted. And seeing as I won't fight him..." Uri shrugged. "Whisking you off is the next best thing." 

"That sounds more like it." Nina nodded as she sat down and laced up her shoes. "But at least leave him a note. He's been a bit paranoid about my safety lately." 

Nina felt a shift in the air and then Uri was suddenly in front of her, bending down to help her tie her other shoe. "I think I can do that," Uri acceded as he pulled the laces taut. 




Can't Fight Time Ch. 10



"Now come on, I have a carriage waiting for us." Uri announced and held his hand out like a gallant prince. 

In a pair of bleach-washed denims and a light gray V-neck sweater, Uri looked like everything but a prince. His half-assed hair style didn't help, the red tresses looking like they'd just been finger-combed. 

Grasping Uri's hand, Nina squeaked when he pulled her close and wrapped her in his arms. "Hey!" she said indignantly, but whatever else she was going to say was stolen by the wind as Uri ran—flew?—down the hallways with a speed that a bullet probably couldn't match. They were outside in a courtyard of sorts in about thirty seconds flat. 

As soon as they stopped, Nina turned her head and gagged, wondering if she would throw up. She detested flying of any kind, especially the kind that reminded her of theme park rides. 

"You okay?" Uri took a big step back from her as she wiped some spittle off her cheek. 

Nina shot him a quick glare. "Little warning next time you're going to fly!" Nina tried to scream, but gagged again. 

All around her, Nina could hear people moving, and Uri relaying a message for Grim to someone. After a few seconds of deep breathing, Nina was finally able to feel her stomach settle back into place. 

Lifting her head, she looked around and her eyes went wide at the horse-drawn carriage a few feet from her. Uri hadn't been kidding. The thing looked like something out of the Brother Grimm stories except the horses were jet black. The carriage was also black, and what looked like a crest with a pendulum with two swords crossed was emblazoned on the side of it. 

"Is that the Bloodspurn coat-of-arms?" Nina moved to the coach and ran a hand over the crest. 

"Yup." Uri was beside her in a second, hands stuffed in his pockets. "Cool, right?" 

Nina turned her head and rolled her eyes at him. She would never ever forget that the two were brothers. Sibling rivalry aside, they both had possessive tendencies that could not be missed. 

"Um, why are the horses alive?" Nina moved her eyes to the horses stomping their hooves on the cobbled drive and throwing their heads back in irritation. 

"They're not," Uri said. "They are spirits that have taken physical form. Reapers can recycle animals, plants, and anything living. So if you look around, you can see grass and flowers, but it's all just souls." 

Nina looked around at the courtyard noticing the calla lilies swaying in a light breeze, the bees buzzing around them. If she didn't know she was in the Underworld, she would have thought she was in the human world. It was almost an exact mirror of— 

A skeleton in a dark robe walked out of the castle with a large scythe, paused and looked at Nina, then sped off in a blur of ivory and black. 

No. This isn't the human world. Not anything like it. Nina reminded herself as she shook her head, and climbed into the carriage. Settling in the seat, she turned her thoughts away from the Underworld, and indulged in the obvious elegance around her. It was nice, the velvet fabric soft and supple against her fingertips. Nina had never been in a carriage before, but so far she liked it. It sort of reminded her of Cinderella, except she wasn't going to a ball and her life was the farthest thing from a fairytale. 

"She's a beaut', ain't she?" Uri hopped in and shut the door behind him. "Cars are impossible because we don't have gas or electricity. Most people either take bikes or carriages to get around." 

Nina nodded and felt her knees brush against Uri in the confines of the carriage. With a jerk, the carriage began rolling, and Nina could hear the soft commands of the driver and the disgruntled snorts from the horses. Nina clutched onto the seat and mentally curse every movie that made riding in a carriage look easy. 

"Not used to carriages?" Uri asked around a smothered laugh. 

Turning to glare at him, Nina squeaked as she bounced up on the seat. "I'm a city girl. The closest I've been to a carriage is in a book." 

Nina turned her head and looked out the small window flap to the rolling countryside they were traveling through. There were roaming cows and ancient, gnarly trees that appeared out of nowhere. It all seemed to reinforce how out of her element Nina really was. But as much as she wanted to humanize the place, she couldn't. 

Gnawing on her lip, Nina turned back to Uri and prepared herself for the question that had been burning her tongue for the last few days. She'd heard the maids and guards whispering about it. "Uri, why didn't you tell me Grim had a fiancée?" 

Uri quirked his head and crossed his legs calmly, drawing out the moment. "Because I'm pretty sure she's soon to be his ex-fiancée." 

"Does anyone else know that besides you and Grim?" 

Uri shrugged, something Nina thought might be his trademark gesture. "They'll know soon enough." 

Sighing as a sudden burst of exhaustion hit her, Nina watched the countryside roll by. She didn't even know why she brought up Grim's fiancée, it only reminded Nina of what she couldn't have. 

Turning her mind away from Grim's impending marriage, Nina thought about Nicole again. How long has it been since I've seen her? She wondered somberly. Feels like forever. 

Nina was just getting into a good ol' pity party when a shout from the driver and the rearing of the horses interrupted her. 

The carriage jerked, and Nina went flying across and right into Uri's arms, forehead bumping his chin. "Ow!" Nina swore under her breath as she rubbed her head and stared daggers at the closed carriage door. 

What the hell happened? She wondered as she watched Uri move with preternatural speed to the door, and then outside. Nina was only a few seconds behind him as she stepped down from the carriage to see the commotion. 

"Stay here, Nina." 

Cocking a brow that clearly said: "Who do you think you are?" Nina strode past Uri and to the source of the problem. A woman was lying with her hand on her calf, surrounded by scattered bay leaves. It took less than a second for Nina to figure out what had happened. 

Crouching down near the woman, Nina lent her a hand, the manners her mother had drilled into her came to the surface. "Are you okay, Ma'am?" 

The woman looked up at her with large dove-grey eyes, her mouth parted slightly, and her cheeks pinkened. She looked around forty, with wisps of gray hair in her auburn bun. 

"Thank you," the woman said in a lightly accented voice that sounded strangely British. Her entire appearance sort of made Nina think of an 18th Century governess, except for the red and gold sash around her hip which contrasted sharply with her navy gown. 

Nina mentally rolled her eyes and blamed her thoughts on way too much British television. "We're so sorry," Nina mumbled as the woman took her hand and stood up. "Let us help you with your bags." 

Turning, she sent menacing glares to both Uri and the driver, until the pair slunked over and began helping pick up. Nina turned to make sure Uri was actually doing something, and not goofing off, when she saw him pause and look over at the woman. Uri stared at the woman for a long moment, so long that Nina thought he might know her, but then he turned away and began picking up again. 

Weird, Nina thought as she looked over her shoulder at the woman, who was rubbing her calf absently while looking over at them. The woman shook her head softly before grimacing and going back to her leg. 

They all finished packing the leaves up and set them down in front of the woman. "We're so sorry, Miss..." 

The woman's smile was kind, if a little nervous. She executed a perfect curtsy. "Iris, Your Highness." 

Nina bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. Never had she thought someone would refer to her as "Your Highness." Here she was with a reaper prince, traveling around in a freaking carriage, and some poor woman that they'd nearly killed was referring to her as royalty. It was almost comical. 

Shaking her head, Nina addressed the woman. "I'm not royalty by any stretch of the imagination. You want to talk to this guy." Nina pointed her thumb at Uri. 

"Prince Uriel Keuthonymos Bloodspurn, at your service." Uri graced the woman with a bow that every prince charming in any book would have taken note of. Sometimes Nina completely forgot Uri was a prince, and other times it was so blaringly obvious it hurt her eyes to watch. 

This was one of the latter times. 

The woman flushed a delicate rose and looked back at Nina. Her mouth was open, about to pose a question, when her entire face shifted and she took one huge step back. "Human," the woman whispered fearfully, like she was saying the Devil's name. 

Nina furrowed her brows and shifted on her feet. It was the castle guards all over again. It seemed the whole Underworld had some kind of hate-on for humans. It made Nina feel a little angry, but most of all very sad. If the history was different, if things could have worked out in the past, if— 

Nina mentally shook herself. If-ing solved nothing, and helped no one, she reminded herself, the lesson from her sixth grade English teacher coming back to her. 

"Yup, I'm a human," Nina said with more cheer than she felt. "Something wrong with that?" 

Iris shook her head quickly, almost fearfully. "Nothing. It's just, we don't have humans here. It's not allowed." 

Nina's smile was wry. "I just love breaking the rules." Uri snickered beside her, and Nina cast him a sidelong glance. 

"Do you need a ride, Iris?" Uri asked pleasantly. 

Nina turned and cocked a brow at him, but the man had turned into Mr. Innocent. Nina rolled her eyes, pretty sure he was only offering so that he didn't have to be trapped in a carriage with her alone again. 

"I wouldn't want to impose on—" Iris began softly. 

Nina waved aside her concerns as the men began lifting her bag of leaves and placing them into the cart. "You're not imposing. We were just out on a sightseeing trip." She gestured to the carriage. "If you wouldn't mind riding with a human, then we'd love to have your company." 

Iris was smiled gently. "I would love to ride in the carriage. Thank you so much." 

They all climbed back in the carriage and settled down. Then with a flick of the reins and a click to the horses, they were off. 

Nina smoothed her skirt down and turned to smile politely at Iris. "So, um, what do you do?" Nina asked then amended herself. "I mean, in the Underworld." 

Iris nodded like she'd already understood, and flicked the sash at her waist. "I'm a Messenger. I deliver specific souls to Yin and Yang." 

Nina felt her curiosity peak and she turned slightly to really take inventory of the woman beside her. Iris looked like a strong wind could knock her over, and the sweet demeanor she wore like a second skin was a little disconcerting. 

"Can you elaborate on that? I'm not exactly up to date on the whole hierarchy here." Nina was glad she could get her mind off of Grim, her death, the weird engagement thing, and the other dozen or so thought floating in her head. 

Iris pursed her lips for a second before releasing them. She looked like she wanted to refuse, but Iris just clasped her hands and began speaking. "Of course, Ms. Nina—" 

"Just Nina is fine." 

"A-alright." Iris looked at Nina quickly before looking down at her lap, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her skirt nervously. "In the Underworld, there are different positions you can have: a member of the Council of Guardians, Royal Guard, PeaceKeeper, Envoy to the different kingdoms, Watcher, Collector, and finally Messenger. Messengers, however, hold the lowest positions. 

"You do know about Yin and Yang?" Iris asked her, with a quick glance up. 

Nina turned to Uri and gently nudged him. "I know a little, courtesy of Uri. Mad scientist gods and all that." 

Iris nodded and looked at Nina with a bit more respect. "Yes, that's more or less how it is. My job is to deliver specific souls to Yin and Yang. They tell me which souls they want and I go find the reaper that has them and give the soul to them." 

Iris paused, and pursed her lips. "There are other Messengers who just recycle the souls. They have more prestige than me, because they can prove they are doing their job. But since the Yin and Yang are forbidden to directly meddle in reaper affairs—due to some events in the past—I cannot prove that I am actually doing my job. It's a bit complicated to explain." 

It was all very fascinating to Nina, and made her curious to what other dissimilarities lurked just under the surface of the Underworld. So far, she just found herself in a world that almost directly mirrored her own, with the occasional weirdness that accompanied beings of Death. 

Nina paused and for a second forgot she was in a carriage. Thoughts floated through her mind in waves, and again she felt like there was a puzzle being laid out in front of her that she just couldn't see. But then a thought struck. 

Perhaps she hadn't finished the puzzle at all. 

Nina bit her bottom lip and thought hard. She was still alive by some weird force of nature, still learning and discovering new things. Now, whether any of this could actually help save her life was the real question. But she really doubted any of it could do much more than fascinate and dazzle her until her death. 

But there was still a puzzle that was unfinished, still a puzzle that she might not have finished at all. Maybe she'd just begun to collect the million or so pieces that made up the whole picture. 

And perhaps you're just going crazy because every second that ticks by brings you closer to death and you're trying to keep your mind occupied with everything but that fact, her internal voice mocked in a scathing tone. 

Nina felt blood coat her tongue, and realized she'd bitten through her lip. Damn! She thought as she licked at the blood and looked at the woman beside from her. 

As much as it pained her to admit it, the voice was right. Nothing she learned actually helped her. All it did was make it easier for her to digest that there were things she'd never known existed, but that were real. All it really did was open her mind. And while that was great for the long term, it really didn't help with her shortening life. 

"Nina?" Iris asked; bring her attention back to the jostling carriage. 

Drawing back from her dark thoughts, Nina smiled at Iris and then cast a sidelong gaze at Uri. He was still looking relaxed and completely unfazed. Nina would have killed to have Uri's 'whatever' look; the best she could manage was a 'doing-my-best-not-to-break-down' look. That one had been popping up a lot more lately. 

"Yeah, sorry, zoned out for a second there." Nina waved off her wandering mind and crossed her legs. "So basically, you can't prove that you do your job because your employers are forbidden from coming here." 

Iris blinked back in surprise and nodded slowly. "Actually, yes. That's exactly how it is." 

Her expression pensive, Iris folded her hands and stared at Nina as if she was some kind of new species. "Our world is different from yours. While your world is based more on monetary power, our world is based on spiritual power. 

Iris nodded to Uri. "If you touch his Highness and then touch me, you'll see. The power difference is drastic." Iris held out her hand. 

Curiously, Nina touched Uri and felt the power thrumming through his veins, faster than even her blood. Turning, she grasped Iris' hand and felt... nothing. It was sort of like touching herself, like touching a human. 

Nina gripped tighter and tried to feel the power, and just when she thought there was none, she felt it, so faint it was like a single drop. 

"Wow." Nina opened her eyes slowly and let go of Iris' hand. The woman nodded and tucked her hand back into her lap. 

"A reaper can achieve power one of three ways: be born into power, work to get power, or take it from another. Reapers can kill each other and take on the other's power. " Uri explained. 

Nina mentally snorted. Kind of like the human world. Not exactly, but closer than I thought. "You know, our worlds really aren't so different." Nina cocked an eyebrow and Iris and Uri. 

Uri laughed the sound like something out of a wet dream. "You have no clue how different our worlds are, Nina." 

Rolling her eyes, Nina turned to share a smile with Iris, when she saw the grim set of the woman's face. Dove-gray eyes met her own, and she saw steel behind them that she'd only ever seen in herself, and only at her lowest moments. 

"Our worlds are completely different, Nina." Iris said quietly, and then turned her eyes to Uri. The two shared a bond that Nina knew she would probably never understand. "The only way you would understand our positions is if you became a part of our world. At the moment, you are simply human. " 

Turning to look out at the rolling scenery, Nina hoped it wouldn't be too much longer to the town. It hurt to realize the mistake she'd made, thinking that she could humanize the Underworld. They were beings of death, reapers. 

In that moment, Nina couldn't have felt farther away from Uri, or from Grim.



Can't Fight Time Ch. 11



Hey Everyone! 

This chapter is freaking long, so I should get zero complaints about length LOL I would love feedback, and still thrive on it. And I do read the comments, and I'll even write back from time to time. Just know that they do help me and I do read them. And if you liked Grim, I have another story on Literotica So I'm Not a Vampire? that you all would also love. It's completely opposite of Grim, but it still has all of my humor and some very interesting characters. 

Aside from that, I'm still in desperate need of editors, not just for Grim but for my other projects too. If you all haven't noticed from my 50+ projects, I write a lot LOL I'll also be teaching a class (online) on how to write a sex scene, but more details about that will be loaded later. 

All in all, I'm excited about the next Grim story, and super happy about this chapter! I hope you like it! 

-Rosi 

*** 

Grim paused, his hand on the ornate handle carved with the Bloodspurn coat-of-arms. He stared at the markings a second before he took a deep breath and entered the throne room. Questions and thoughts buzzed in his head about good and bad choices, what was right and what was wrong. But he always came back to the center of it, the reason he had come here, the reason he was willing to throw away all he had worked for, all his family had achieved... Nina. 

Looking down at the silver-veined black marble and then up to the dark red drapes covering the dozens of floor-to-ceiling windows, Grim forced his feet to move forward. This was one of the rooms he truly detested. It was the rooms display of wealth coated with death, betrayal, and anguish that got under Grim's skin. The room was supposed to embody their name, their legacy—the Bloodspurn Kingdom, with the strongest warriors and the most fearless kings in the land. That wasn't what it did. 

The room served as both a warning and an invitation. Paintings depicting gruesome death scenes lined the walls as Grim walked the length of the room to his father. Captions told how and by which king the people in the paintings had been killed, but there were no actual pictures of the kings themselves. But even deeper into the throne room was something truly grotesque and frighteningly beautiful. 

The teardrop-shaped vials hanging from the ceiling all around the seat that were the true focal point, and Pièce de résistance. A slight scent wafted out from inside the crystals, and the softest sound of grain rubbing against grain could be heard. 

When Grim was a child, he'd been playing in the throne room and had accidentally broken one of the vials. It was at that moment that he discovered what was inside the crystals and what the they all meant. Thousands of reaper's remains stuffed into vials no bigger than his middle finger, murdered by Bloodspurn Kings and placed on display for all to see. It was the equivalent of cutting someone's head off and hanging them on spikes behind the throne. 

Grim had told Nina that reapers never killed, and he hadn't lied. Reapers never killed humans, but he couldn't say the same about their own people. Just like humans, reapers murdered, tortured, and massacred each other. Perhaps it was the humanity in their veins from when they used to mate with humans, though Grim doubted that. 

Then again, it could just be what drove every person to maim and kill: power. 

"Grim?" His father's voice was quizzical, as if he wasn't sure if Grim was truly there or not, a figment or reality. 

Gritting his teeth, Grim watched as a maid beside his father leaned over and refilled his father's wine, trying to tempt the king with her curves. That might have worked years before when the king had sunk himself between the thighs of every woman he found in an effort to reclaim the feelings that Ivona had stolen from him with her death, but it would not work now. Grim remembered what it was like during those times, when all you could hear through the halls was a woman's cries of ecstasy and seconds later the angry footsteps of the king leaving because he'd felt nothing. That was when his father had truly begun his slow descent into madness, and when Grim's mother had begun grooming him to take over the crown. 

Smiling wide and sitting up straighter on his throne, his father looked like he'd just been given a giant present; "What are you doing here, my son?" 

Grim paused at the base of the steps leading up to the stone throne. "I'm here to see you, Father." 

"Hmm?" The king's eyes caught on the maid's bosom as she leaned over, but the look he gave the tempting flesh was hollow, as if he was looking right through her. 

"I am here to talk with you about Nina," Grim ground out as he watched the maid frown, perplexed, and move away from the king. 

To the side of the room a door burst open and a surge of energy he recognized shot out into the room. Grim drew deeper into the folds of his cloak, grateful that's he'd changed into his reaper form after he'd left Nina. 

"Mictlantecuhtli!" His mother swept into the room with all the power of a typhoon. "I'm glad you have brought up that unsightly creature." 

Grim watched with a slight amount of satisfaction as the maid visibly paled, then lowered her head and rushed out of the room, past Grim. "Excuse me, Your Highness," the girl muttered as she fled. 

"Morrigan! What a pleasant, pleasant surprise," the king said as the corner of his mouth rose. He gave Grim an exaggerated wink, his eyes dancing with a type of happiness that bordered on lunacy."What brings you here?" 

Grim would never understand why his father had married Morrigan. Yes, she was Grim's mother now, and the woman who had raised him, but never had she been kind or caring, choosing instead to be distant and disappointed with her sons. 

"I assume you've heard about the human your son brought home, Tuoni? A disrespectful little thing with all the manners of a street rat," Morrigan hissed scathingly as she ascended the steps to the dais. She took her place next to his father on an equally impressive throne surrounded by vials. 

Grim flinched at the insult to Nina, but mentally forgave his mother. Very soon Nina would be his wife and the next Bloodspurn queen, it was just a matter of time. 

Tuoni looked quizzically at his son. "Yes, I heard. She broke you. Split you in two. Took you again. And made you anew." 

Tuoni reached for the glass the maid left him, but just as his fingers closed around the goblet it fractured and broke into a million pieces. Grim watched his father frown as he looked at his wine-soaked hand, shards of glass embedded in it. Then, very slowly, he leaned down and licked his bloodied hand. 

Immediately his mother snatched the hand away from the king's mouth and tore off a piece of her cloak to tie around it. No one spoke as maids appeared out of the woodwork and cleaned off the king before disappearing as quickly and quietly as they'd come. Grim had seen the scene many times over, yet another reminder why it was time to take the throne. His father's grip on reality, on his power, was slipping fast. 

It pained Grim to see his father this way, though he supposed it was better in comparison to his earlier whoremongering. At times, Grim would find his father completely coherent and sane; they could have whole conversations, and Tuoni would give Grim advice. The next day, his father wouldn't remember any of it; he would be lost once again. 

It scared him sometimes when he looked into his father's eyes and wondered if his and Uri's fate would be the same. It wouldn't be if Nina was with me. Grim clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, knowing it was time. She'd keep me sane. 

"It's been nearly a month, Tuoni! We still have a human living in the castle, and the Castoff King's daughter will be coming any day." Morrigan shifted in her throne, sitting straighter, her power held firmly in check. "And from what I've heard, she loathes humans." 

More than you, Mother? Grim mentally retorted as he looked up at his parents, desperate to get this over with and then return to Nina. Return to her soft body, warm arms, and comforting words. 

"Mother, Father, I wanted to tell you that I won't be marrying the Castoff girl. I want—" he paused, shook his head, and looked directly at his parent. "I will marry Nina." 

For a moment the entire room was still; the vials stopped swinging, and their powers paused. Then, like a rolling wave, he felt his father's power leak out and encompass everything. Even his mother shifted away from her husband. 

Grim didn't match his father's power or pin it back against him as he could have. No, he let his father have control. With all the grace of phoenix uncurling its wings, Tuoni rose from his chair and took the steps down to his son. His smile was a bit lopsided, eyes clouded like he might be drunk. "Emotions, emotions, such fickle things. They come and go like butterfly wings." 

Suddenly his face dropped, transforming into the mask of urbane indifference that Grim had seen almost all his life. "You don't love her, Grim. It is simply the first time you have felt human emotions, and you're not sure how to deal with them. You're letting your emotions control you. And that my son, will be your downfall." 

Grim felt his defenses rise and his power flare up. When his father was lucid, he was extremely brilliant, tapping into a wealth of knowledge. But that was his father's downfall: despite all his brilliance, he had failed to save the one woman he loved. 

"I will not repeat the mistakes of the past, Father." Grim's eyes skirted over the vials. The past was in the past and had no place in his future. Nina had taught him that, taught him to leave what could never be fixed for the ages and to relish the present. But he didn't just want the present, he wanted the future—their future, where Nina was alive and safe and his. 

Grim's resolve hardened until it became unbreakable. "I will deal with the Castoffs. I will care for my land and my people. I will be the king you want, and I will protect Nina." He looked into his father's eyes, mirrors of his own eyes, the exact same shade of blue. "I am not you, and I will not make your mistakes." 

Grim turned and acknowledged Morrigan, bending his head and feeling his hair slide against his cheek. "Mother." 

Grim turned his gaze to Tuoni and saw the widest grin splitting his face. He knew his father was off in another place. "Father." 

"I've lost myself. I'm out of time. I've lost myself. I'm out of my mind." The king repeated the chant, eyes burning feverishly. "You were never me, Grim. I died long ago, and you never met me." 

Biting the inside of his cheek, Grim turned sharply away from his father. He didn't want to listen to the words of a crazy king. He wanted warm sheets that smelled like milk and honey, and a supple and needy body that tasted like pure woman. 

He picked up his speed, flying with a power few creatures in the universe possessed to the side of the woman he loved; the one he would make queen. 

*** 

"Well, that was another fun adventure," Uri chuckled as he helped her out of the carriage. "You got to meet Iris again, and spend my money on new threads." 

Nina rolled her eyes and looked over at the dozen or so bags hanging off Uri's arms. "Don't you mean, you got to spend all your money?" Nina held up the single bag she carried. "I only bought a dress. Not a new wardrobe." 

Uri shrugged and gave her another killer smile. He could get away with treason on that smile alone. 

Nina thanked the driver and waved goodbye to him. The man was always courteous to her, and that was far more than she could say about the castle staff. Despite being in the castle for well over three weeks, they still treated her like a nuisance. Still, Nina forced a smile as she walked by one of the guards, only to get a murderous look in return. 

For the life of her, she couldn't figure out how she'd been rude to the guards. But almost every single one of them seemed to despise her, with the exception of one. But Tylend, the vampire guard as Nina had taken to calling him because of the super paleness of his skin, was nice to pretty much anyone who wasn't an outright jackass. But nice was relative, the reaper still never smiled at her. Goodness forbid any castle staff actually smile at Nina, or even acknowledge her beyond a glare. That would just be audacious! 

Nina mentally chuckled as her internal Southern belle came to the forefront. Way too many late nights loaded up on energy drinks had caused her to turn to any and every movie on the Internet. Sad life of a college student. 

"But you did have fun, right?" Uri handed off their bags to a pair of waiting maids, and she caught what sounded almost like a soft, quick, buzzing noise from the pair. "Oh, and turn right, we're going to the throne room first. Someone's here." 

Nina frowned and switched direction. "How do you know that?" 

It wasn't like there had been another carriage when they rolled in, or a bunch of scurrying maids. Everything looked exactly the same, and if Uri hadn't told her someone was there, Nina would have never guessed. 

"The maid just told me, and I can feel a different power in the castle." Uri tucked his hands into his back pockets as he strolled. "See, a reaper's power is their signature. The more powerful the reaper, the easier they are to identify." 

Nodding absently, Nina thought back to Iris, who had about as much power as a human. In a twisted way, it made sense that power would define a reaper. It defined most of their world, why not themselves? 

"So, did you have fun?" Uri fished, casting Nina a sidelong glance. 

"More fun than the last time, that's for sure." The last outing Nina had taken with Uri and Iris had been fraught with tension, most of it she caused my her own insecurities.This one had been much smoother, and Nina had been able to enjoy herself and get a better feel for the Underworld and its inhabitants. 

The town of Elysium was a clash of different cultures and time periods ranging from England's Elizabethan Era to a somewhat modern day love child of a hipster, Middle-Eastern bazaar. The buildings all looked like something Sheiks and Arab princes should live in, complete with pavilions in the center of the houses and water fountains everywhere, but the stain glass windows looked like something out of a centuries old church. 

The streets were made of cobblestone, while the buildings were laid with brick and mortar, cool sheets and painted scarves dancing in the breeze. The people had been dressed completely different from the castle staff. Some women wore colorful head scarves and long flowing dresses, while others wore pants and jeans. 

One thing Nina had noticed, or rather what Uri and Iris had explained to her, was that fashion was dictated by wealth, power, and convenience. The more powerful a reaper the more likely their clothes were at least closer to the current century, and the same applied if they were Collectors. Collectors traded goods they took from the human world after reaping a soul with merchants for material possession. 

The same applied for the language. Uri had been able to converse in at least ten different languages effortlessly, switching between them without any difficulty, because he had wealth, power, and could go and collect souls wherever he wanted. 

Nina had understood why Messengers were on the low end of the totem pole. They never left the UNderworld, relied solely on Collectors to provide them with souls, and were unable to move up unless their Collector counterparts allowed them to, which would never happen because, like most people, the rich liked to stay rich, and the powerful liked to stay powerful. 

To say Nina had felt out of place in the century clashing town, would be an understatement. But the people had been fairly nice, catering to the three of them as if they were royalty, which was true of at least one of them. 

The only thing that had been weird was the utter lack of restaurants or food. There wasn't a coffee shop in sight, and forget about fast food. Uri had said it was because reapers didn't eat human food, but feasted on the lingering emotions and power of souls. That was why instead of grocery stores and the like they had power exchanges, aptly named Power Houses. 

Uri also explained why certain reapers looked so different from others. Some were Messengers, and didn't have to leave the underworld at all. They could be told apart by the gold and red sashes they wore around their hips with different emblems sewn onto them sort of like Girl Scout patches. The patches were demarcation marker to show whether that Messenger took the souls of Sunflowers, tigers, or whatever. Others reapers had red crystals on their hood or forehead and books in their hands; they were called Watches. Uri explained the different markings and reapers, but eventually Nina became overwhelmed by everything and tuned him out. 

The experience of seeing the town, and semi-interacting with the people had made Nina appreciate Grim more. Since coming to the Underworld, Nina hadn't gone without anything she wanted or needed. Things she took for granted like a bathroom or a meal had been provided at the castle, but weren't exactly readily available in the town of Elysium. 

Elysium was truly a town to behold. Uri told Nina that the town was part of the Ferri province of the Underworld and was one of the largest cities in the Bloodspurn Kingdom, and also the closests to the castle. Though close was relative; the carriage ride had taken at least an hour, and with the tension in the carriage it had felt close to three. 

Still, finding out the Underworld, well, the Bloodspurn Kingdom at least was broken into sixteen provinces ruled by the Council of Guardians was interesting to say the least. Nina still didn't fully understand all the titles and jobs, but with Uri's explanation it seemed that the Guardians were sort of like governors of the different provinces, and aside from governing their respective areas they also advised the king. 

It was not simply the city or the people or the system, it was the entire world. It was one thing to hear about it in Greek mythology, but quite another to experience it first hand. The Underworld, or at least what Nina had seen of it, wasn't dark and dreary. There wasn't a creepy river of souls, and pitch black night wasn't a constant. Aside from the occasional cloak and scythe totting reapers and the language and cultural clashes in the town, it was almost exactly like her world. In fact, being in the city had been the warmest reception she'd gotten as a human in the Underworld, and Nina had felt almost... at home. 

"And Iris did a 180." Nina cracked a smile and a hint of proudness infiltrated her words. "I remember the first time I met her she was so meek and timid, but this time? Wow." 

It was like the docile governess she'd met had flown out the window the minute she'd seen something she wanted. Then the devil haggler had come through, and practically robbed the owners blind with how little she was willing to pay. But she'd still gotten her way, and in the end she'd come out looking strong. 

Uri's voice was soft, his face a mix of sympathy and pity. "Did it take your mind off of it?" 

Nina nodded her head and mimicked his killer smile. "Nothing can really take my mind off my death, Uri. But it helped." Nina pushed back a strand of her hair. "So, how was—" 

All of a sudden Uri stopped and held still. Nina stopped a second later and looked at Uri over her shoulder. His lips were set in a grim line and his green eyes looked like a stormy sea. Whatever he'd sensed had set him off, and if it spooked Uri, that it was probably going to terrify her. 




Can't Fight Time Ch. 11



"What is it?" she asked quietly, barely above a whisper. 

"The beginning." The words seemed to slip out before Uri could help himself. Nina watched his eyes harden and his lips pull into a thin straight line, before his expression shuttered and went back to its usual facade of urbane indifference. 

The mood shifted suddenly and left a feeling of dread in the pit of Nina's stomach.. Surprises had become normal, a consequence of living in the Underworld. Still, Uri's look didn't exactly leave her with the usual amount of curiosity mixed with shaky anticipation. He didn't look happy, relaxed, or anything like his usual carefree self. And, if that hadn't warned her that something was definitely amiss and that the proverbial the shit was about to hit the fan, Tylend stepping out from the shadows to cut off their path sure did. 

The guard bowed formally in that weird way of his. "Your Highness, Ms. Nina." 

Nina felt Uri's power flick over her consciousness before he reigned it in. "Tylend." 

Tension pulled the air around them taunt, but Nina snapped it immediately with a soft, breezy laugh. "Come on, Len. I told you to just call me Nina. And you don't need to be so formal." 

Tylend turned his pale green eyes on her and Nina had to bite back the comment on her lips. The guard really did look like a vampire. Extraordinarily pale skin, shaved head, and eyes that just screamed: "I vant your blood." A chuckle tried to escape her lips but she stuffed it back. Tylend was more or less her shadow, a guard assigned to her by Grim that was their when either Uri or Grim were unavailable. It had become a pastime of Nina's to try and make the ridge reaper smile. 

"Of course, ma'am," he responded easily. "You can explain why I should address you so informally in his majesty's sitting room." 

Want me gone, huh?As if him blocking her path with his large body wasn't answer enough to that question. 

"Nah, I think I'll just head wherever Uri's going." Nina put the brightness of the sun behind her smile. "But thanks, Tylend. I'll take you up on that offer another time." 

Uri covered a laugh with a cough beside her, but the guard in front of them never even twitched a muscle. "I must insist... Nina." 

Wow, but be really bad if he dropped the miss. 

"It'll be fine, Tylend," Uri interjected smoothly, resting a hand on the guard's shoulder. "This day was bound to come." 

Tylend eyed the hand like he wanted to cut it off. Uri must have seen that look too, because he removed his appendage immediately. Than Uri turned to Nina and smiled slowly, reassuringly. "Everything's fine, Nina. Isn't that right, Tylend?" 

'Fine' in Nina's life was relative to time and place: anywhere her father wasn't trying to kill her was a fine place. Uri's words of reassurance did the exact opposite, and for once in her life, Nina wished she had a weapon, or power. She was a pacifist by nature, by nature wasn't helping save her butt, Grim Reapers were. And those reapers had wicked looking scythes and the power to choke a person with a simple thought. 

Tylend hesitated but then stepped aside. "Yes, Highness. Everything is fine." 

That, more than anything, freaked Nina out bad. Right then, she would have traded her first born child for a suit of armor and a sword. But, with a brief nod to Tylend, Nina and Uri continued their walk until they came to stand in front of two thick doors with the Bloodspurn insignia carved on the handles. 

Her palms were sweaty, and Nina was pretty sure her middle name had just been changed to 'fraidy cat. The only thing that made her feel marginally better was the power coming from behind the doors. She could recognize at least one of the power signatures sliding against her like gentle but firm currents. Grim. 

Ever since their first time together, Nina had been able to feel his power. It was like Grim had placed a lojack in her body that went off whenever he was near. She could feel him: under her skin, in her body, he was always there. It was both a comforting and terrifying thought, but one she didn't usually dwell on too long. 

Time was still not on her side, and as much as Nina enjoyed her day out with Uri, she'd still rather be with Grim. As much as Nina hated to admit it, she craved Grim; craved him as a mouse craved cheese or a lion craved meat. And that thought alone was enough to convince her to face whatever was on the other side of that door head on. 

Nina forced a cocky grin as she summoned up her courage and reached for the handle. "You alright over there, Uri?" 

"I'm doing just fine, Nina." Uri's voice didn't hold the usual sauciness that he seemed to have in spades. In fact, he sounded a bit guarded, maybe angry. 

She twisted the knob and gave him a weary smile. "Sure you are." Taking a deep breath, Nina opened the door. "Don't worry, Uri, I'll protect you." 

Uri's strained chuckle helped ease some of the tension gripping Nina, but not by much. "I'll hold you to that." 

Throwing the door wide, Nina entered first, and took a quick glance around. Luxury didn't begin to describe the place. Everything seemed to be custom made, from the drapes to the marble floor to the gruesome paintings lining the walls. The entire room was straight out of a warlord's castle, with hints of a sophisticated monarchy just hidden underneath. It was barbarism for the 21st Century. 

"Uriel!" A voice that sounded like that weird bone whistle snapped loudly, and forced Nina's attention to the four people on the other side of the room. Two were sitting on what looked like stone thrones, surrounded by twinkling glass. Nina didn't really have a chance to look at them, before all four were suddenly in her face, and she was partly behind Uri. 

Crap, they move fast! Again, Nina wished humans had some sort of supernatural power. It would have helped her blend in with the reapers crowding her space. 

Two looked human, and two didn't. It was still strange for Nina to see a reaper that looked like a human one minute shift into skull and bones in the very next. Grim spared her the gruesome transformation, but she'd seen it in the town a couple times. It was like the skin, well, melted from their bones, sort of like wax figurines that had been put in a microwave. The transformation to a human wasn't much better, their muscle, tissue, and skin seeming to knit over their bones. Both processes took less than a few seconds, but for Nina some seconds felt longer than others. 

Turning to the reapers around her, she at least recognized two. The hissing black cloak Nina assumed was the Queen, Grim's mother, and the slightly chilled finger-bones that rubbing against her arm was probably Grim. The other two were a man who looked to be in his late thirties with the lithe body of a swimmer, and a child who looked like a gothic version of Shirley Temple complete with jet-black ringlets, a too-short dark purple dress, and one obnoxiously bright smile. 

"Hello, Father, Mother." Uri had been in front of her in an almost protective stance, but moved to Nina's side. For some reason the air in the room was filled to the brim with tension, and Nina was pretty sure her presence had only made it worse.  

The thirty-something year old man clapped his hands excitedly, and Nina turned to him, both put off and intrigued by his strange behavior. The situation was laden with tension, the emotions so thick in the room a person could probably swim in them. Yet the man looked unaffected, almost carefree. 

Nina turned to Grim, about to ask who the wacko was, when the man suddenly spoke, his words almost lyrical. "See you soon, my son, but now I must run. Because this time is no fun. It's the future. It's the past. Spinning, spinning, crash." 

Nina cocked her hand and watched the man's head rotate around, his eyes lit up. He looked like he was on some kind of demented rollercoaster ride, and it creeped her out. 

But just as quickly as the craziness started, it stopped, and the man looked right at Nina. It was like he saw inside of her, found all her darkest secrets, ones she knew and ones that she didn't. Never had someone looked at her like that—even Uri and Grim, with their weirdly intense gazes, didn't look at her the way this man was looking. It didn't exactly creep Nina out, but it didn't make her want to strike up a friendship with the guy either. 

Flourishing a bow, which looked oddly like it was directed at Nina, the man turned and practically skipped out the door. For a moment, the entire group stared after him, wondering what the hell had just happened. 

"Who was that?" Nina whispered, blowing out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. 

The tension in the room seemed to skyrocket until Nina could almost feel the pressure pushing at her chest. It was suffocating, and all she'd done was ask a simple question. 

"My husband." The words were angry, clipped. 

Nina turned to the black cloak and shining bones that she knew to be Grim's mother. Her cloak shook as the queen seemed to bristle with indignation, then she raised her hand and a wicked looking scythe shot across the room into her waiting grasp. Nina flinched back at the easy display of power, the elemental grace Grim's mother used when dealing with a weapon that was taller—and in her current form—probably heavier than she was. Nina could only imagine how easy it would be for the queen to let the blade slip from the her hand and cut Nina's throat. 

Reflexively, Nina swallowed and touched her neck, making sure her head was still on her body. If skeletons could smile, the queen definitely would have. But the woman just swept her cloak in a wide circle and exited the room without a backwards glance. 

Man, Grim's family is weird, Nina thought a second later before she realized how ironic the statement was. Grim was a reaper prince, about to be king, with a reaper princess as his fiancée and a human as his mistress. She mentally snorted. Given everything, I still think I take the weird and crazy trophy. 

Uri spoke first, relieving the awkward tension that had descended after Grim's parent's abrupt departures. "Our father suffers from, uh, old age. Living too long has caused him to lose his mind. And mother... She's always been like that." The gothic Shirley Temple lookalike murmured in understanding. 

Nina sort of understood what Uri meant. His mother was, well, his mother. And Grim had lived through the Roman and Hittite empires, so she could only imagine how old his father was. 

"Well!" The girl standing next to Uri clapped her hands excitedly, her crimson lips turning up in the fakest smile Nina had ever seen. 

Apprehension raced down Nina's back and infused her blood. Instinctively, she took a step closer to Grim, simultaneously relying on his strength and staking her claim. In that moment, she totally understood territorial animals. 

It was irrational that Nina would have such mistrust, anger, and ever loathing for a girl that she'd never met before. It was even stranger that she felt so protective of Grim; no doubt her reaper beau could protect the both of them a million times over before Nina even saved him once. 

Still, there was just something about the girl in front of her that rubbed Nina the wrong way. Thinking on it, she decided it might be that mysterious sixth sense people had, the one that told them something was wrong before their brain could process it. 

Whatever it was, it was ringing warning bells in Nina's brain that she'd be an idiot to ignore. 

"Felicia Anvi'ras Castoff, Princess to the Castoff Kingdom, and fiancée to the Heir Apparent of the Bloodspurn Kingdom. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, human," the gothic girl introduced herself with a curtsey that looked cute and deadly all at once. 

Nina's lips twitched as she mimicked the motion, her tone was just as uppity and obnoxious as the girl's across from her. "Nina Marie Strathmore, full time college student, coffee-holic, and driver of the struggle bus. And the pleasure is all mine, reaper." 

So this is Grim's fiancée? She raked the child in front of her with an assessing look. Her waist was maybe as wide as Nina's hand, and the girl was only a few inches shorter than her. Most of her height was just smooth legs encased in shimmery black nylons. Felicia's make-up was also done to a tee; while not overly dramatic, it made her cerulean eyes sparkle, her snow-white skin shimmer, her cheeks flush a delicate peach, and her lips glossy and kissable. 

Biting her bottom lip, Nina tried not to look down at herself and critically examine her body and choice of wardrobe. She'd never been upset that she was a few pounds heavier, or that her skin was dark with slight imperfections. That was what being human meant, anyway. Not Felicia's airbrushed perfection, but hair that wasn't always manageable and an occasional zit or two. 

Felicia's smile dimmed a bit, but did nothing to diminish her beauty. "It is strange how you clutch onto my fiancee; are you not Prince Uriel's pet?" 

"I am no one's pet." 

The princess laughed softly, the sound more delicate than falling snow. "Yes, you are. " Her eyes widened in naive curiosity. "That is, at least, what everyone calls you." 

"Oh?" Nina's voice was saccharine sweet as she tapped her chin and smiled wide. " Then you must be a pedophile's wet dream. From your outfit, I can only assume that's what everyone calls you." 

If steam could have shot out of the princess's ears, it would have. But then reapers didn't have steam—they had power. Felicia's power exploded from every pore in her body and began to fill the room. Nina felt it aimed at her, as if the power was going to take her and drown her. But Felicia's power was different from anything else she'd felt, because while it felt dense and very nearly tangible, it held the taint of something else, something dark. Though that could've just been Nina's overactive imagination coupled with paranoia telling her that. 

A part of Nina, that she'd thought she'd buried, slowly began to leak to the surface of her consciousness. One that, at ten years old, she'd shoved deep and banished. It was the part that had taken over and beaten a girl within an inch of her life; the other girl had had to recuperate in a hospital for nearly three months with internal bleeding, several broken bones, and a serious concussion. It had been a bad time in her childhood, when she'd been extremely violent, uncontrollable, and had nearly been sent to a juvenile detention. Fun times. Fun times. 

"Beautiful and lovely princess, are you really going to fight with a human?" Uri interjected, smoothly stepping in front of Nina as Grim pulled her back and into his arms. 

Felicia's power slowly dissipated from the room, and the red haze of violence once again buried itself deep inside of Nina. Never had she felt such bloodlust and rage against another person. It had felt so encompassing, like she could do anything and be anyone. Her rage had felt right and good, and Nina realized that that was its purpose. It felt good to be angry, to feel the endorphins and testosterone flooding her system. Otherwise, why would there be so much violence in the world? It was fun, it was dangerous, and most importantly, it was power. 

Laughter greeted Uri's words, as the princess sighed softly. "Of course you are right, Your Highness." Felicia plucked at a curl and delicately scratched at her collar. "I cannot believe I was almost sucked into its irrational behavior." 

Anger arched through Nina with the "it" comment. It was only Grim's cool hand at her waist that kept her from launching herself at Felicia and ripping the girl in half. 

In the back of her mind, Nina realized that Felicia was trying to antagonize her, goad her into doing or saying something she'd regret. A part of her realized that, and Nina thanked her lucky stars that that part of her had enough common sense to keep her silent and still. 

Calmly drawing in a breath, Nina turned and looked at Grim, momentarily forgetting that he was in the cloak and bones get up. She was so used to Grim that no matter what form he took, she still felt safe with him. He was her rock, her anchor. 

"I want to leave, Grim." 

Starting something with the princess of a neighboring kingdom whom Grim was going to marry would be many things, not appropriate being one of them. And even if Grim might consider her his ex-fiancée, it was quite obvious that the princess didn't consider their business finished until a ring was on her finger with a marriage certificate in her hand. 

"Give me a second, Amica," Grim's voice was once again that whistling bone sound, but it didn't bother Nina nearly as much as it had before. "Felicia." 

Felicia turned to him and clasped her hands to her breasts, giving him a wide smile. "Yes, my future king." 

"You seem to have forgotten the conversation from a few moments ago." Grim's voice was deadly calm. "I will not marry you. I am no longer your fiancée." 

The girl's smile turned into a moue. "I thought you were joking, Grim. You cannot break off our engagement only weeks before the date. I have plans." 

"I will compensate your kingdom, but my decision is final." Ice would have taken notes from Grim's tone. "Uriel will escort you to your room. Stay as long as you like, but understand that you are a guest—nothing more." 

Felicia seemed oddly unfazed by the statement. She just smiled and flipped her hair back, fingers scratching against the high collar of her dress. "I will stay for as long as I must, Grim." 

Nina didn't get to hear any more as Grim wrapped her in his cloak and pulled her into the shelter of his body, er, bones. She felt the smoothness of his ribs under her fingertips seconds before they were flying from the room. 

The feeling of resting against Grim's bones should have frightened Nina and freaked her out worse than any horror film, but it didn't. Nothing about Grim scared her anymore, but she hadn't exactly been frightened at the beginning either. Nina felt was an overwhelming feeling of trust, security, and maybe something else, something almost... peaceful. 

Closing her eyes as the world rushed by around them, Nina tried to think of something else. Affection was good and well, but anything deeper could destroy her. Humanity was the crutch that reapers saw, but that she appreciated. From what Nina had seen of the Underworld, eternity was plenty of time to either turn completely nuts, or into a complete jackass. 

Nina could only count five reapers who didn't fit that category, and she'd had interactions with over a hundred reapers to date. Even though human lives were short, and perhaps wasted on a few, they were still crammed full of, well, life. It was because humans knew that, at any given point, they could die. Reapers didn't have that same sense of urgency, because they were... infinite. 

"What are you thinking about, Amica?" Grim whispered low into her ear, and strangely enough it sounded erotic. 

How could ivory bones and a black cloak look hot as hell? Nina wondered as she mentally shook her head and chastised herself. Somehow Grim pulled everything off, while Nina was just rocking the flesh suit. Not that he'd complained, but still, it made more sense for him to be with Felicia. 

Even as Nina wanted to stab her brain for even thinking about that gothic Lolita bitch, she knew it had to be done. Time was running out, and in a few weeks she'd be facing Grim's wedding, her death, and an eternity of whatever was on the other side. 

As much as she hated to admit it, letting Grim marry Felicia would be for the best. She didn't doubt for a second that it was an arranged marriage for some kind of political power. She might have been brainwashed with princes and happily-ever-afters when she was a kid, but as a jaded college student Nina knew better. People didn't really marry for love, they married for security and companionship. She didn't think reapers were much different. 




Can't Fight Time Ch. 11



"Nina?" Grim said softly again, before she heard a door open and slam shut. A second later she was backed into the wall, cold stones cutting into her flesh. 

There wasn't much she could say to him. They'd had this discussion time and time again. And even now, it wouldn't change. "You should marry her. It would be the..." Nina searched for the word that wouldn't destroy her to say, but decided against it. It had to be said, no matter what the cost to her emotions were; "... right choice." 

She felt something slithering around her ankles and looked down to see a thick fog climbing up Grim's form. Nina blinked in surprise and the fog was suddenly gone, along with the cloak and bones, leaving a hard man in jeans and a tight, black t-shirt. Grim had never looked hotter. 

"You want me to marry another woman, and let you die?" 

Nina reached up a hand and traced a finger down his cheek. His skin was so like Felicia's, that brilliant and flawless diamond like quality; except his held a hint of something spicy and Mediterranean, just like his birthmother. 

"Marrying her would be good for the kingdom, right? Political alliances and all that. If you marry me, Grim, you get more headaches. I'm not worth that." Her voice said that she knew her worth, and she wasn't worth a kingdom. 

Nina wouldn't flatter herself in thinking she had some magical powers that made her the hottest thing since smartphones. She was a human, which almost all reapers ironically—given their professions and entire purpose for being—disliked. Whether or not Grim accepted that, it was the truth. 

Grim's blue-diamond eyes sparked with too many emotions for Nina to count, and some she really didn't want to. "I am king, ruler. The Castoffs will not start a war over this, Amica. Things may be a bit strained at first, but it will settle." 

Nina wasn't sure if he really believed that, or if he was just trying to convince her. "Grim—" 

A slow kiss sizzled through her body, cutting off whatever else she was going to say. Nina didn't have a chance to escape the addiction that was Grim before he had her completely pinned against the wall, his hands under her thighs, slowly lifting her up. 

The floor was an illusion; Grim, his mouth, and his hands were all that existed for her. "Marry me, Nina." 

She heard the fabric of her skirt rip, and then a second later her panties sailed to the ground. Nina desperately wanted to say yes, wanted to pretend that this was a fairytale and she could live forever with her prince charming and overcome any obstacles thrown in their path. 

Fantasy was the ultimate escape, but an escape that could sometimes do more harm than good. They were living in a fantasy if Grim thought everything would work out, and Nina was just enabling him. 

"No," she panted as she slid down his zipper and reached past the fabric of his boxers. "Stop asking." 

"You will marry me, Amica." He knocked away her hand and gripped her hips hard. "Of that, you can be sure." 

She was ready for him, all slick and needy, but still, the moment he entered her always surprised her. Nina had never felt the overwhelming need to let herself go and give herself to another person like she did with Grim. And that scared the crap out of her. 

Ever since her dad had decided to join the crazy, murderous train, she'd had a fear of trusting people. If she gave herself completely over to Grim, what would happen then? Would he hurt her? He had that power. Or would he do something— 

Who cares? her consciousness laughed softly. 

Nina reached forward and grabbed onto Grim as he seated himself fully in her body and she felt every ridge, every dip, every muscle, and every drop of sweat that was her reaper prince; overwhelming, consuming, controlling her. 

Let go, it whispered as Grim pulled out and thrust back in. The sensation made her cry out, made Nina rake her nails across his back. 

The thought was so tempting, so very, very tempting, that she couldn't help but give in. 

Because who did care? No one was with them; no one was in their bed. The only thing that resulted from her continually thinking during sex was loss of pleasure. And she didn't want to lose an ounce of the pleasure Grim was giving her, especially with the limited time they had. 

So Nina gave herself over to it, let the passion and the feeling of heat just before freezing to death consume her. 

"Marry me." Grim jack knifed into her, pushing further than any man had ever gone. 

Pleasure consumed her, and nearly made her laugh. Nina might have lost herself and her mind in their lovemaking, but she still had a shred of common sense. Throwing her head back she thrust down on him, and screamed into the darkness of their bedroom, a long sound that wasn't a yes... or a no. 

*Please tell me what you thought about this chapter. If you liked it, if you hated it, and how you think the story is progressing. I love feedback, and critical feedback is the best!*



Can't Fight Time Ch. 12



Hey Everyone!

So, I'm very excited! I get to do an interview with Lit's own JazCullen! What?! Crazy, right? Check out my profile page for more info about it. I'll also be doing two Author Spotlights this week! I'm beyond excited. Now here is the next chapter, and this is by far one of my favorite chapters. After this one, my chess game starts moving rapidly. You've met all my characters, my kings and queens and pawns, now let's watch them move. But keep this is mind: who is moving the pieces? 

Awh, I just like messing with everyone. But seriously, I hope you enjoy!

-Rosi 

***

Grim paced the length of their bedroom like a caged lion. "Give me one good reason you won't marry me." 

Nina was on the bed, laying on her side with her ankles crossed and a book under her nose. Candlelight played against the sheer red curtains surrounding their bed, bounced off the ancient carvings in the dark wood frame, and painted Nina in a soft pink light.

Grim loved how she looked in his bed, in his room, in his home. She fit in the castle. Surrounded by tapestries, candles, and furniture older than he was, she fit. It was the way her feet hit the stone floor, dancing around places where the stones dipped and shifted unevenly. It was the way her fingers traced the edges of the paintings and tapestries, eyes gorging on the scenes depicted, curiosity turning her chestnut eyes a deeper chocolate. 

Curling up with her on one of the chaises in his library and listening to her read, answering her endless questions, pulling her down and making love to her when he didn't want to hear anything but her cries and moans of pleasure. 

She fit him. He knew she did. He just needed to make her see that, make her understand. 

Grim watched Nina look up from the novel and roll her eyes at him. He thought he might just snap.

They'd been fighting about his desire to marry her for weeks now. Grim had offered her the world—his world, but she'd repeatedly shot him down, continuing with the 'no future here' nonsense.

His power crackled in the air with his anger, but Nina seemed to barely recognize it. Maybe she'd gotten used to it. After all, the only time he seemed to be unable to control himself was around her. She drove him absolutely insane. One minute he wanted to kiss her and screw her up against the wall, and the very next he wanted to shake and scream at her.

Grim watched Nina lever herself up on the crimson and gold counterpane, cross her legs, and flip the book over onto the bed. "I'll give you three."

Holding her hand up, she began to tick off her fingers as she listed the reasons. "One: I have a contract with Uri that says I have to go back in three months. Two: I'm pretty sure you keeping me here as your wife is going to piss a whole bunch of reapers off, most of all your actual fiancée. Three: I have accepted that I have to die, because I'm human."

Grim stopped at the foot of the bed and glowered at her. "You're being idiotic." 

He watched Nina's jaw lock and her eyes blaze with fury. Grim flexed his fist as he watched her calmly crawl from the bed. Where does she think she's going?

"When you've calmed down, you can come see me." The words were forced out through gritted teeth as she shoved her feet into a pair of shoes and sailed past him. "I'll be back in my room."

A flick of his power sent her careening back onto the bed. Another flick had her spread wide, held in place by invisible restraints. With Nina restrained, the beast within him—that wild part that decided to break all the rules and screw the consequences—relaxed.

"Let me go, Grim." Nina bit off, straining her body against the restraints. "You're being an asshole again."

Grim snorted and came around the bed to sit near her. She was beautiful when she was angry, fire sparking her eyes, skin flushed and tight. So similar to the way she looked when he made love to her. "Half the time I'm an asshole. The other half I'm an uncaring dick."

It was true; which was why he was trying to change. Nina made him want to change. She made him want things he wasn't supposed to want. "I'm trying to be the man you need, Amica. I'm trying."

Nina stopped struggling and looked at him with those big chestnut-brown eyes, so intelligent, always seeing more than he wanted her to see. Then she blew out a gusty sigh and most of the tension that had been holding her left. 

"I know you are, Grim." Her voice was soft. "I know you are."

The conversation with his parents had made him realize something, while seeing Felicia and speaking with the council had set it in stone. This was his—immortal—life! Politics aside, he saw how his parents lived; his father in a quick descent into madness and his mother hating her life and being miserable all the time. Honor, duty, and political alliances had driven them to that. Grim refused to follow the same path, refused to sacrifice centuries of living for an alliance that wouldn't even hold.

His feelings for Nina would hold. That, Grim knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, was true. He might be a possessive asshole, haunted by ghosts, but he needed Nina—needed her like he'd needed nothing else.

"Marry me." The words were spoken softly as he flicked his power and released her.

A soft palm caressed his cheek, and Grim grasped it instinctively, turning her hand to place a kiss in her palm his thumb passing over Uri's mark as he stroked the top of her hand. "Please, Amica."

"Grim..." A soft sigh. "Why?"

I love you. The words rested on his tongue, but he knew the walls had ears. "I can't let you go. You mean more to me than you know."

For a few tense moments, they stared at each other. Nina looked at Grim, trying to decide what to do, while Grim looked at Nina, hoping she would finally say yes. He wouldn't force her, but he also couldn't lose her.

"Come lay beside me, Grim." 

He was beside her in a second, reaching out for her and pulling her against him. It felt right to have her against him, with him. Grim tipped her face up, looking into wide brown eyes dancing with a hint of curiosity. It was one of his favorite faces, one that most assuredly spelled out trouble for him. It was one of the many things he loved and hated about her.

He pulled her even closer. "I don't want to lose what we had in the beginning." 

Her lashes lowered, shielding her eyes for a second. "We will always have that first conversation, Grim." Nina raised her eyelids and looked at him. "We won't lose that."

But already he felt the easiness between them slipping away and becoming something else. Grim wasn't sure what it was, or even if it was going to be good for them, but it was there in every word and touch.

Turning away from her, Grim forced a smile and retreated into the past. "Do you remember the second time we met?"

Nina swung her leg over, straddled his hips, and placed her ear against his heart. "Of course," her voice rumbled through him. "You appeared out of nowhere and claimed to be my boyfriend, then commanded the detective to leave. I was so freaked out."

"You didn't show it." Grim stroked a hand through her hair, twining the curls around his fingers. "You kept a level head, and didn't as much as let out a peep when I told you I was Death."

Nina laughed the sound carefree and young. He'd forgotten what it sounded like to hear her laugh, really, truly laugh. Grim hadn't realized how much he'd missed the sound. He didn't realize how integral Nina had become to his life after only a few weeks, just a little more than a month. It was amazing the difference time made.

"Yeah, well, what was I supposed to do? Faint? Scream? Go into 18th Century female hysterics?" She snorted. "Give me a little credit, Grim."

His lips quirked at her indigent tone. Sometimes she forgot how small and fragile she was, but he never did. Not even for a second. She was a mouse around lions, and unless she suddenly changed her species, that was all she would ever be.

Still, he loved her. A lion loved a mouse.

Grim looked down at her bent head; her ear rested on his heart, her other hand rested across from her, the same hand that bore his brother's mark. Jealousy flooded Grim's veins and soaked into his bones. Uri had constantly pushed him, gotten under his skin and made him wonder how much he needed a brother.

"Give me your left hand." 

Nina lifted her hand and looked quizzically up at him. Whatever she saw in his eyes made her lever herself into a sitting position, and with a tiny bit of hesitation, finally give him her hand. Uncertainty furrowed her brows, but steely resolve hardened her body.

She wasn't afraid of him, and Grim wondered if she'd ever been. Nina had always been strong, and perhaps whatever power he had over her had just been an illusion. She held all the power, and always had.

Laying a gentle kiss on the inside of her wrist, then her palm, Grim turned her hand over and stared at the intricate mark there. The seal was only as big as his thumb, and could be completely overlooked as a birthmark to humans, but the swirling patterns and complicated spells were more than visible to him. In the heart of the contract, written in a language only ancients could read, was Uriel's seal.

He would wipe the mark from her body, take away everything that was his brother. Nina had given her consent thus far, or the seal would have repelled him. It was a small dose of Uri's power inside her body, but Nina didn't know that.

Rubbing his thumb across the mark, Grim looked up into her eyes. So beautiful, so captivating. Everything about her was captivating. The tight, dark brown and red curls, her soft raw-sugar skin, the curves that kept him locked to her, drowning in her—addicted, that's what he was.

Grim kept his voice low, so the walls didn't hear. "Do you trust me?" 

Something clouded in her eyes, maybe uncertainty and fear. But it was gone and Nina was leaning down and kissing him like he was a life raft in a tsunami. "I trust you, Grim." 

He knew how much it cost her to admit that, and he couldn't be any more thankful. Rubbing his thumb against the mark again, Grim gathered a bit of his energy and forced it into Nina, past Uri's mark, until the seal broke, faded away, and created a new contract.

Nina's body tensed and she bit out a small cry. He knew the pain she was feeling was intense, but it was also fleeting. It was much easier to remove or apply a contract then to override one. However, at the time contracts had been used reapers died more often, leaving the woman contracted to a dead reaper. That was why the contracts had been remade, the ability to override another's claim insinuated into the fine print.

Grim slid his other hand into her hair. "Amica, look at me."

Wet eyes met his, clouded with pain. Grim hated to see her in pain, hated to think that she might have to experience something worse when she returned to the human world. He couldn't let her, he loved her too much.

"Marry me." Grim pulled her down to him until their foreheads touched. "I love you."

Silent tears fell on his cheek as she cried, but he didn't push her, didn't force her any further. He just held her; arms locked tight, and let her cry. Let her work out the guilt and the pain and all of the other emotions coursing through her. He was her rock.

Seconds stretched into long minutes before Nina finally calmed. She hadn't made a sound, hadn't wept hysterically, or raged. The tears had been an outpouring of frustration, a feeling he understood all too well. He'd shed those same tears a very long time ago, when he'd been in a very dark place with no exit.

"It'll never work, Grim," Nina said, so softly he thought he might have imagined it.

Grim drew her closer to him, became everything she would ever need. "We'll make it work."

"We fight a lot. I'm constantly negative. You're going to be a king. Then there's the—"

"Yes or no, Nina. Just one word." 

"I..." Nina paused, and Grim looked down at her, saw her bottom lip worried between her teeth.

He leaned down and used his tongue to take away the sting from her lip. "One word."

"Yes." ***

"Damn it!" Nina cursed softly as she turned and looked at Grim, relaxed and sleeping peacefully.

Why can't I be like that? She wondered, feeling a bit jealous of her lover—correction, fiancée. Reapers didn't really need to sleep, but some enjoyed the act. Grim said that reapers who were born from a human enjoyed the act because they dreamed, and they could escape into another place.

Sighing softly, Nina slipped out from underneath Grim's body and swung her feet over the side of the bed. The carpet was soft beneath her feet as she wrapped a cotton nightgown and robe around her body.

There was no point staying in bed if she wasn't going to sleep, and she refused to stare at Grim like some freaky stalker. So she left, closing the door softly behind her, and nodded to the guards stationed outside of their room as she began her walk.

As always the hulking trees ignored her, and only the angry curl of their lips reminded her that they still saw her. But Nina couldn't care about them at the moment, her mind too consumed with Grim.

She'd said yes. Against all of her better intentions, she'd said yes. But did that really change anything? For her, it didn't.

"Hello!" A cheery voice that reminded her of a jovial Santa Claus called out from the darkness.

Hand pressed against her chest, Nina whipped her head around and saw an older man with wavy black hair and pale silver skin wiggling his fingers at her in welcome.

"Who are—"

"Tuoni Bloodspurn, King of this fair land." The man spread his arms wide and turned in a slow circle, eyes closed with a bright smile on his face.

Nina frowned as she remembered the crazy man from the throne room. And with him so close, she couldn't mistake the resemblance to Grim. Blue-diamond eyes met hers, and aside from a thin scar just underneath his five o'clock shadow, his slightly shorter height, and his pale skin he could have been Grim's twin.

Just as quickly as he began spinning he stopped, whipped his head to Nina and in half a second was nose to nose with her. A scream jumped to her throat but she refused to let it out. It didn't seem like this man would hurt her, but there was definitely something off. But then again, there was something off with everyone in the castle, a sort of detached coldness that permeated the halls.

"Would you care to take a walk?" The king asked suddenly, as he took a step back and gave her some space.

"Um..." She didn't know if she could refuse a king, but she really didn't want to spend more time than she had to with the man.

His smile softened as if he could sense her distress. "I'm going insane, my dear," the king said quietly as he looked at a point just behind Nina, maybe a place in the past. "I've lost myself. I'm out of my mind. I've lost myself. I'm out of time."

Nina listened as he muttered to himself, trapped somewhere else. It almost seemed to fit that the Bloodspurn King would be going mad. They were born from Death, and so Death couldn't steal them.

It sort of explained why Grim was becoming the king now. His father wasn't able to rule because he was losing himself. "Your Highness?"

The man blinked and seemed to come back from whatever ledge he'd been on. "Tuoni, please, my dear. After all you're going to be my daughter soon."

"How do you—?"

"The walls have ears, my dear. Never forget that." Tuoni held his arm out for her in the way a knight might for his lady. "Shall we take that walk now?"

For a second Nina assessed the situation rationally. Grim didn't know where she was, and the castle was big enough that the mad king in front of her could take her to the BDSM room she'd seen. It was all so strange, that Nina felt she couldn't do anything else but go along with it. What did she have to lose, anyway?

"Alright, Tuoni." Nina took his arm and they began to stroll down the hall.

She could feel the barely leashed power under his skin, moving faster than the blood in her veins. "Are you really okay with me marrying Grim?" she asked, curious about his position on the issue.

Tuoni patted her hand and turned a corner. A sudden burst of wind sent them flying down the corridor, like they took one large step, the transition was seamless. Then they were turning another corner.

"My mind flickers like a flame on a wick. Answers come to questions unasked. And I am nearly dead." Tuoni's voice sounded far away, in another world. Nina tugged at his sleeve until he turned and smiled down at her, showing that he was still with her.

"Do you know what makes a truly good story, Nina?" he asked suddenly.

Nina could tell that he was in another place. She decided to treat him like she treated her father, with the sort of patience and softness a parent had for a child. Smiling gently, she shook her head and waited for him to continue.

"One that is both fantasy and reality. In a world that mirrors ours, so we can understand it, see it, but never go there. But you have gone to that world, my dear." He turned and smiled widely at her, like she'd just told a very funny joke. "I'm not sure if you're human."

Nina felt her spine stiffen. "I don't understand what you're talking about."

He turned away and looked straight ahead, repeating the chant: "My mind flickers like a flame on a wick. Answers come to questions unasked. And I am nearly dead."

The king paused, almost like he had no choice, like an invisible tether cut him short. "You are nearly dead, Nina, and yet you know so much more than you should.

"My opinion is irrelevant. It is like a mouse having an opinion about a lion—" He turned and bared his teeth in what only a fool would call a smile. "You could crush all of us under your paws."

Nina studied his profile, wondering if he was absolutely brilliant or completely bonkers. She decided on the latter. "Tuoni, I—"

"We're here," he interrupted, letting go of her hand to push open a set of double doors.

Nina hadn't even realized they'd still been walking until he stopped. The doors spread wide and lead out to a balcony the size of a small room, shaped in a half circle. "Come," Tuoni beckoned.

Her hands closed around the railing of the balcony, her eyes stretching wide to see the town, quiet and dark, then further to a forest so thick, that light couldn't penetrate its canopy. "It's beautiful!"

Tuoni chuckled softly as he came to rest beside her, elbows on the railing. "It is, isn't it?" His voice held a note of longing.

"Tuoni..." Nina paused, not sure what she was asking for, not sure if she had the right to ask it. 

There were too many questions buzzing in her head, some she couldn't even put into words. Instead of trying to narrow it down, search through her chaotic thoughts, she asked the first question that came to her lips. "What's happening?" 

There was something mysterious, yet comforting about the crazy king. Nina had a niggling feeling that he wasn't really crazy, but rather trapped in a place where time blurred together and spun out until it eclipsed everything—consumed as it destroyed.

"We're a dying people, my dear." The king blew out a tired breath he hadn't needed to take and gave her a waning smile. "Our blood has been left too long, never leaving, always the same. Humans were our only ties to keep us from the past, and without them we are slipping, falling back."

"What?" Nina asked softly when he didn't continue after a few moments.

The king's blue-diamond eyes flashed with something like loathing, but Nina didn't feel like it was directed at her. Still, the intensity behind it made her shiver and draw back.

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

The man spoke in riddles, and it was driving Nina up the wall. One minute she'd think he was sane, and the next they'd be back to square one. She didn't even know why she bothered. Nothing she learned now would help her anyway. Reapers, crazy kings, and mad scientist gods. None of it really mattered. Sure it made for a great story, and a pretty cool autobiography, but that was for people who had time.




Can't Fight Time Ch. 12



People who had a life. Why bother with it all? Why bother with anything that wasn't Grim?

Shaking her head, Nina returned her gaze to the softly glowing city. "I don't understand what you mean."

Tuoni's voice seemed far away, once again in another time and place. "We are dying because we have nothing to bind us. Our humanity was stolen through time, because we stole humanity's time. Circles." The king's voice became almost lyrical, his eyes glazed over; "We crave nothing, but there can never be nothing. The void is filled with power, absolute and corrupting, destroying everything like it used to. We slip back into the past and we die."

Nina felt a shiver of apprehension slide up through her spine. Again, she couldn't determine if he was crazy or MENSA smart. For some reason his lunacy reminded her of Uri. The way he spoke reminded her of the way Uri sometimes spoke one word but it sounded like he was talking about something completely different. It was funny how much Uri and Grim were like their father.

"You're laughing." The king ran a hand through his thick black hair and smiled wide.

Nina shook her head, crossed her arms on the railing, and sat her chin on top of her them. "You remind me of your sons."

"Ah," he said, like he knew exactly what she was talking about.

For a few minutes they leaned against the railing, a companionable silence stealing over both of them. Nina was still trying to decipher what the king had said, not because she thought it meant anything, but because she liked a good puzzle and perhaps he wasn't crazy but, as he'd said: lost in time.

Time. Nina knew the word well, had been playing it over again in her head until it became the background of her thoughts. A self-deprecating laugh escaped her as she stared at the crazy king and saw herself reflected in his eyes. They were both out of time.



*For more information about the characters, check out my blog and Lit profile page. Also, if you haven't already, check out So I'm Not a Vampire? It's completely different from Grim, but super funny!*



Can't Fight Time Ch. 13



Hey Everyone!

So, this is my favorite chapter featuring CFT. I know, I have a lot of favorites LOL but seriously, I thought Grim's part in this was great! I had a blast writing it, and I hope you will enjoy it. On a side note, I'm currently writing the next book in my Mystery Girl series starring Peaches and Bane (if you haven't read So I'm Not a Vampire? I highly recommend doing so), finishing up the last half—okay that's a lie, but I am writing Can't Fight Fate and I've gotten about 100 pages done, and I'm going back and editing Lunar Dance. 

Lunar Dance was my first story on Lit, and really the first story I ever thought was good enough to type up. I have journals filled with my writing, some if it horribly bad and others laughably horrible. But Lunar Dance is my baby. I'm only mentioning it, because I'll be taking them down, and putting up the new versions in September after I've written all my stories. 

And I've totally been spazzing on my acknowledgement duties. ALL MY CHAPTERS HAVE BEEN EDITED BY: Archangel_M (check him out, he's amazeballs!), myself, my peeps at my university writing center, my mom (yup, even her). CHAPTERS 1-6 HAVE BEEN BETA TESTED (meaning someone got to read them for free before everyone else and tell me what is wrong and what I can do better) BY: Lit Fans (to a degree), my mom, peeps at my university writing center, and my good friends Mary and Nancy. 

Okay! So, here it is, the thirteenth chapter of CFT. Get excited people! Yay!

-Rosi

***

"I think we have been more than reasonable, Your Highness, but their latest debacle?" The council member scoffed. "We will not stand for it!"

A murmur of agreement went through the room, and several heads nodded. "Six more are dead. Three found in Elysium. And yet you sit there and ask for our blessing on your marriage to a human?"

The word was whispered with such contempt it seemed to join the ranks of rapist, murderer, and pedophile. It amused Grim to some degree, the blatant hatred for creatures that they all needed to exist. He'd never held the same emotions many reapers did for humans, that wasn't to say Grim loved the creatures he needed to survive, but neither did he reviled them as so many other did.

Was it because they were wild and reckless? Barely contained by their own world's dictates. Or was it that reapers lived so long, progressed so much, and yet could not see the same in humans? Grim didn't know either way, but the discussions of Nina and the Castoff Princess and his duties had grown tedious.

It had been two months of mindless conversation. Two months of trying to convince Grim to crawl back to the Castoffs and beg for their mercy. He would never crawl to anyone, never debase himself as a reaper or a king. Prideful though it may be, it went deeper than that still. He was his people, just as his people were him, and though there was not a rousing cheer coming from each city in his kingdom, neither was there seething hatred. Over three thousand reapers under him had accepted his pronouncement, had even been glad to hear that he would not be marrying a girl many of them considered the enemy. Why couldn't fifteen of his closest people do the same?

Grim uncurled his body much like a lion waking up from a nap. "I don't seek your blessing, Leof." His smile was cold and precise. "Need I remind you that I am king?"

The council member stood up and slapped his palms flat on the table, brazenly continuing on. "Then you are making a poor choice as king."

As soon as the words escaped the man's mouth, a look of utter regret and fear crossed his face. The apology couldn't tumble fast enough from Leof's lips: "I apologize, Highness, it was—"

"How many of you agree with him?" Grim interrupted, glancing around the room.

No one spoke.

Grim sighed and put his power into the words, making them a command. "How many of you agree with what Leof has said?"

Every hand except one went up. Grim did not allow any of the council members present to see how much of a blow that was. He was far more active than his father, far more involved in the running of his kingdom. Since Nina had arrived he'd stepped up as king, went to see his people and the plights they suffered. He lent his shoulder to a grieving widow whose husband had been one of the people murdered. For weeks he had tried to be the king, not only in name, but in action. Yet, with all of that, they still judged him by the sins of past kings.

Grim placed his elbows on the smooth, oval table and linked his fingers beneath his chin. "I am not a king of the past, council members. I am the future."

"Then why are you repeating their mistakes?" Krithi's soft voice asked, always one to play Devil's advocate.

"What are my mistakes?" Grim returned. "Have I murderer for power like my forefathers? Suceded control like my own father? Have I left my people to their own devices while I sat on a throne? Tell me, how have I repeated their mistakes."

Leof spoke again, anger flashing in his eyes. "You will repeat their mistakes with the human by your side."

Grim sighed loudly. "Did you ever think that Nina might be the inspiration for this change? That she might be what all of us need?"

Again, the council members remained quiet.

"I can't say anymore. Therefore I will let my previous actions speak for me." Grim bit back a sigh and rose. "I have a wedding to prepare for."

With those final words, Grim exited the council room with Tylend at his side. He did not turn to the guard when he addressed him. "I consider you a friend, Tylend. Tell me what I am doing wrong."

The guard snorted. "You are changing rules that have existed since the creation of the Council of Guardians and giving them no way to manipulate you into the king they want."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No."

The men walked in silence before a slight breeze and a lithe form stopped in front of them. Tylend nodded his head to the council member, while Grim waited for her to speak. "You could have come to my sitting rooms, Krithi. What is it?"

The woman looked around, peering into the shadows and than spoke in the first language, one Grim had had to learn as a prince, but not one commonly spoken. "They are planning a coup."

A deadly smile curved Grim's mouth as he quickly translated her words. "They will not succeed."

The council member looked unsure. "It seems they have a benefactor."

They were speaking quickly, in hushed tones, so even if someone heard the words, the words would still be hard to decipher and even harder to translate. "What would you have me do?"

"Nothing." It was Tylend who spoke, surprising both Grim and Krithi. The man gave the briefest of smiles. "My father is one of the oldest Watchers. He taught me the old language."

"He can't do nothing," Krithi hissed, turning back to Grim. "You must put an end to it."

"And how do you suppose he do that?" Tylend rejoined. "By sending them away like he did Raeborn? You need to let it play out, learn who your enemies are. If you strike now it will only cause more strife between the council members, and—if it hasn't already—cause contention with the rest of the factions. Doing nothing is in your best interest."

Grim listened to both sides. Attacking the council outright would be a risk to everyone and even Krithi herself, but doing nothing had risks of their own. He needed another player in the game, one who had remained on the side lines up to this point.

"Tylend, Krithi," he addressed them both, setting his voice even lower. "I want you to go to the Darklore Queen. It is time she becomes included."

"Why?" Tylend asked at the same moment Krithi did.

"Because I want to know if she is my enemy or my friend, and I want to know where she stands with the Castoffs in her own words."

Krithi frowned. "Then send an envoy."

Grim shook his head and looked them both in the eyes. "I am finding it hard to trust my people. This is important, so it has to be you two."

The words were hard to say, if only for the weight Grim lent to them. He was asking for help, relying on other. He'd never done that before, never done that with anyone but Nina. At times, he didn't even trust his own brother, and yet he was trusting what could be the deciding factor in the continuation of his kingdom to a Royal Guard and a Council of Guardians' member. He just hoped his trust wasn't misplaced.

But another thought occurred to Grim, one that had been roaming the recesses of his minds, but one he feared to ask because it left him vulnerable. Still, he could not fight without allies, and could not lead without advisors.

"Do you two agree with what I've said? What I've done?"

It was Krithi who spoke, dark brown eyes gauging Grim's reactions: "Do you agree with yourself, Highness? Do you think what you did today was for the good of your people, and will ultimately have a positive effect?"

The good of the people. Grim had heard the line almost as long as he'd heard he was going to be king. The two went hand in hand. But he could not answer the question because he did not know himself. He cracked a smile and looked regarded Krithi. "What is the line from that human book? Ah, yes. 'The best laid plans of mice and men go awry.'"

Grim turned back around and let out a short, hollow laugh. "I can't say I agree with myself because I have no precedent. I am not a murderer like my forefathers, and neither am I insane like my own father. I can't say if what I'm doing is for the good of the people or my own selfish reasons. I can only hope that in one way or another it will all work itself out, and by the end, I will still be on my feet."

"Than I will be beside you, King Mictlantecuhtli Jallgrímur Bloodspurn," Tylend intoned solemnly as he formally bowed once again.

Krithi dipped into a deep courtesy her hands held up in front of her in supplication: "As will I, Your Highness."

Grim's words were soft, too soft for human ears but still heard by the other reaper. "Thank you, Tylend, Krithi. I shall try to be a king worth standing by."

***

"Shouldn't you be getting ready for the wedding?" Uri asked as he casually strolled into the library.

Nina looked up from her book and slowly closed the tome. There was no useful information in it anyway.

Rearranging the patterned throw around her hips, and curling her feet under her, Nina leaned over and patted the seat next to her. "Come sit by me."

Uri smiled wickedly before coming over and pouring himself in the chaise, arms draped over the back. He always looked good in that effortless sort of just-got-out-of-bed way. In another life Nina would have probably dated him, maybe even married him and had cute little biracial children with red hair and chocolate brown eyes.

That wasn't her life.

Her life consisted of a serial killer father, a fiancée who was heir apparent to a reaper throne, and a very brutal death looming on her horizon. That was her life, and she accepted it.

Nina turned and set the book of reaper history down on a small side table, running her fingers over the gold and red veined marble. She'd noticed the colors before, dots and flashes in the art work around the castle, embedded in the stone, displayed on the uniform bands of guards and maids.

They were the Bloodspurn Kingdom's colors, carefully woven into the castle, into the people, into Grim.

Nina nudged Uri playfully. "It's more like Grim's wedding, and you know it."

Uri smile's was mischievous with a hint of devilishness. "Love makes you do crazy things."

That it does, Nina thought as she felt a grim smile twist her lips. Love made the best people stupid. She was stupid, and Grim was stupid; the entire reason for their wedding was stupid. She hated saying it, would've loved to sugar-coat it, but ignoring the truth helped no one and hurt everyone.

"What happens when my time is up?" Nina asked suddenly, her fingers running over the mark still imprinted on her hand, Grim's mark.

Slowly Uri leaned over and tugged her feet out from underneath her, propped them on his lap and quietly began massaging them. Heat slid into the soles of her feet, relaxing Nina. She was struck by the intimacy of the act, but not completely put off by it. It was comforting.

"Your time will never be up if you stay here. The balance will simply shift." Uri replied, his thumb rubbing circles into her ankle.

"What do you mean?"

Uri had always been straight with her, and Nina respected that, though she wasn't fool enough to think he didn't keep things from her. Grim and the others might see him as a spoiled prince who did whatever he wanted and had a who-cares attitude, but Nina knew better. The old adage 'never judge a book by its cover' rang like warning bells in her ears.

Uri's voice was soft, almost like a whisper, "The truth?"

A lump lodged in Nina's throat. The moment was weighed, and Nina felt yet another turning point in her life. It was like she'd walked a mile only to come to another fork in the road. She only wondered if these forks truly took her to another place, or simply created a complex labyrinth that ended exactly where she'd started.

Steeling herself, she nodded.

"No one can outsmart Death, not even Death himself." Uri's fingertips flirted with the pulsing veins on her feet. "Even if my brother keeps you here, marries you, and all-that-jazz, you're still human. The need to be able to die is still ingrained within you."

He paused and smiled sadly at Nina. "Humans might fear their deaths, but they also accept them as inevitabilities. They simply curse them when they feel they have not lived long enough. But every single one of them knows that Death will claim them."

A sudden déjà vu struck Nina as she remembered a book of famous quotes. In particular she thought about the Mark Twain quotes she'd read, those being her favorites. Nina had no clue why that quote stuck with her. She didn't doubt that there were hundreds like it, but there was something about that one in particular, something in the words that resonated with her.

All she'd wanted when she'd come down to the Underworld was just a little more time and a chance to live before she accepted her death. But never had she contemplated the concept of never dying.

Death was an inevitability for her, just not for Grim.

"I will never die here, but I will die in another sense." Nina lowered her lashes to hide her eyes. " That's what you're saying, Uri?"

"What I'm saying is if you chose to stay here, you will not live—not like before. And if you chose to leave, you will die like you are supposed to."

Turning away from him, Nina looked into the fireplace watching the flames leap and dance. Any room she went into now had a roaring fire in it, a testament to Grim always being with her.

It had taken her a while, but Nina finally understood why Grim would have let her die. It had been a bitter pill to swallow, but like most truths, it was necessary.

Even now, looking at Uri, watching him rub her feet and sit with her, Nina didn't doubt for a split second that he'd take her soul. She had no doubt that he'd deliver her to the human world and let her father kill her. Not because he was cruel, but because it was what had to happen. Death was a part of life, and life a part of death.

Swiping at the moisture in the corner of her eyes, Nina turned back to Uri and slowly moved her feet out of his grasp. "Will you do me a favor?"

"Anything."

Nina knew he didn't mean it, knew there was more hidden behind that one word than in the whole castle. "When the time comes, will you take me back to my world?"

The look Uri cast her was one she couldn't decipher, but Nina was pretty sure she saw pride in his eyes. Closing her eyes, Nina bit her lip but still forced a watery smile. "'The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.'" She recited the words like a prayer.

Nina kept her eyes closed, too afraid she might break again if she saw his gaze. And she'd broken enough times in her life—she refused to do it now. A strong hand closed over her tightly fisted ones, giving her strength that she didn't need.

Power curled around her like a comforting hug as they sat in complete silence for a few moments, the only sounds from her every-so-often heartbeat and the roar of the fire.

"You are strong, smart, and beautiful, Nina. I'm glad that I was able to meet you." Past tense.

The words hurt more than they helped, but Nina nodded, knowing it was the right thing to do. But that didn't it made it any easier.

*I love receiving feedback and I do read it! Feel free to contact me directly with a message for more updates, to become a beta tester for my other stories, and find out more information about pretty much everything. Thanks for reading!*



Can't Fight Time Ch. 14



Hey Everyone!

I'll make it short. Thanks go out to my beta testers: fanfare, M, A, and my mom. Thanks go out to my editor Archangel_M. And for those of you wondering about Peaches and Bane in my Mystery Girl series, you'll be seeing them next week so check back regularly! I hope you like this next chapter!

-Rosi

***

Grim adjusted his tie as he gazed in the mirror. For the first time in years, he was wearing the Bloodspurn insignia carved into the ring on his index finger. It was the ring given to every Bloodspurn King upon succession to the throne. Sure, it was a little early, but given the circumstances, his father had decided it was time.

Grim turned away from the mirror and toward the man in the corner. "Thank you for your support, Father."

Tuoni smiled brilliantly at his son. For the first time in centuries, Grim saw his father for the man he used to be, before the whoring and madness had taken him. "You never need to thank me, Grim. We are family, and family, is everything."

"He's right, you know. Family makes you do things you never thought you would," Grim's mother said as she walked into the room, her tone filled with distaste.

Grim turned his head to face his mother, and blinked in surprise at the olive-green dress she wore, covering most of her skin. How long had it been since I've seen her skin and not bones? Grim wondered as went to greet her.

"Morrigan!" his father announced pleasantly as he went over to his wife. "You look beautiful."

His mother smiled sadly and reached out to grasp her husband's hands. They kissed cheeks briefly before she pulled back and turned to Grim. "Would you give us a second, Tuoni? I want to speak with my son."

"Of course, my dear. I feel my mind slipping away, so it's probably a good time to leave." The king squeezed her hands before saluting Grim and heading out the door. But his father was always like that, there one moment and gone the next. Grim just hoped he wouldn't adopt the same trait as he grew older. He hoped he wouldn't inherit a lot from his father.

Grim stared at his mother for long moments, only able to see his brother. They both had the same red hair and myrtle-green eyes. When he was younger, it used to bother Grim to look at Morrigan in her human form and see no connection between them.

Even at a young age, he'd known the difference between Morrigan and Ivona—it was the way his father spoke about each woman. Love and longing reflected back in his eyes when he spoke of Ivona, and pride and power reflected in his eyes when he spoke of Morrigan.

But Morrigan was the only mother Grim had, and no matter how hard she'd been on him or how coldly she'd treated him, he couldn't say he hadn't started it. She'd been a stranger and for the better part of a century he'd treated her that way, and perhaps they'd just fallen into that pattern. But Grim never doubted her love for him; for all her faults it was obvious that she held affection for her sons.

"It's your wedding day." Morrigan began with a sad smile as she glided over to one of the floor-to-ceiling windows and gazed out to the courtyard.

Grim went to her, the sounds of his footfalls absorbed by the thick rugs. "Yes it is, Mother." He stood beside her and looked out at the hundreds of carriages lining either side of the drive. Some of the guests had come to see the human, others to show their support, but all had been expecting this to be a political marriage between the Castoffs and the Bloodspurns. Now that it wasn't, they were all curious as to what would happen.

Grim was wondering the same thing. The Castoff King had yet to respond to the letter he'd sent, and he'd received no word back from Krithi and Tylend. It had been weeks, and with every day that passed Grim wondered if he wasn't starting a war with his actions.

"Mictlantecuhtli?" Morrigan said tentatively, turning away from the window to face her son.

For once Grim didn't cringe at the use of his birth name, but he did take note of it. "Yes, Mother?" Grim's voice was soft but held a note of censure. This was his wedding day, and he didn't want it to be ruined by his mother badmouthing his fiancée. He would take her criticism and commentary to a point.

"Let's put down our swords, shall we?" Morrigan gestured to the crimson chaise and two armchairs. "I want you to sit and listen to a story."

Grim's lips twisted as he remembered a time when he'd said the same thing. He mimicked the motion of sheathing a sword before going to sit in one of the armchairs. "Fine, mother, the swords are away. What is it you would like to tell me?"

Morrigan arranged her skirts in a fan around her ankles as she sat opposite him in one of the chairs, hands resting in her lap. "You know that I don't have the greatest... affinity for humans, Mictlantecuhtli." Morrigan began softly. "But you don't know the story behind my feelings."

Grim nodded for her to continue, and after a deep sigh, she did. "Your father and I did not marry for love, but for power and allegiance. You already know this."

Grim nodded, and folded his hands in his lap. "Yes."

Myrtle-green eyes met his, but darted quickly to the side before he could read them. Then her voice shifted, became lower and softer, and she was suddenly speaking in a dead language that she'd taught him as a child. "That was a lie, Mictlantecuhtli." Morrigan paused and sat up straighter. "When your father and I married, I was a maid; in fact, I was Ivona's maid."

Grim's jaw clenched, as he searched his mind for the language and the words he needed. "You're lying. You are the niece of the Darklore Queen, fifth in line for the Darklore throne and queen of the Bloodspurn kingdom. I know who you are, Mother." 

Morrigan shook her head and clenched her fingers tight until her knuckles turned white. "The Darklore Queen is one of our greatest supporters. She was desperate to keep the peace between the kingdoms, and your father was too distraught to marry anyone. I was just the logical and available choice.

"I married him quickly, and I let him grieve in any way he wanted while I raised you. Ivona wanted it that way. She trusted me, and wanted me to be the one to raise you, just perhaps not as your mother."

Morrigan paused, and took a shaky breath in before blowing it out. "Only a select number of people know what I'm about to tell you, Mictlantecuhtli."

Grim didn't know the woman sitting across from him. Where was his mother; the woman who was constantly hysterical, hated humans, and was always disappointed with her sons? The woman in front of him now seemed scared, fear in her eyes. Whatever secrets she carried with her weren't easy ones.

Grim didn't speak, didn't so much as twitch a muscle. All he did was wait for her to continue, wait for her to tell him the deep, dark secret she kept so close to her.

"Your mother went into premature labor because one of the Castoff royalties attempted to assassinate her. We were never sure who exactly it was, but we knew they were exceedingly powerful."

"How did they do it?" Grim interpreted.

"Poison."

Red curls bounced as Morrigan turned away from Grim and seemed to look into the past. "You see, Ivona wasn't just the Bloodspurn Queen; she was everyone's hope.

"Your father had been working with Yin and Yang to try and come up with a way to keep her alive after the birth. They were close too, but she went into labor after the assassination attempt and died."

If what she was telling him was true, then he might not have been the cause of his mother's death. If Yin, Yang, and his father had been close to discovering a way to prevent her death, then she might've still been with him.

Clenching his fists tight, Grim locked his jaw. He leapt his voice low, with just a sliver of hope embedded in the words. "Yin and Yang are forbidden to meddle in reaper affairs.You're sure it was them father was working with?" 

"I'm sure, Mictlantecuhtli." Morrigan nodded as her eyes darted around the room. "Yin and Yang were trying to find a way for humans and reapers to have children without the human dying. Because if they did..." 

Grim knew the answer. It was the reason reapers and humans had first mated. Reapers needed humanity, because humanity kept them from being lost and consumed by their own power. When the power had consumed reapers in the past it had led to battles, wars, senseless murder, and had almost destroyed them all. It was a symbiotic existence for both species.

"Why would the Castoffs want to stop this?" 

His mother shook her head softly at him. "You can't think of the reason?"

Grim stared at his mother for a long second. Slowly the pieces came to him. Why she'd married his father and claimed to be part of the Darklore Kingdom. Why the Castoff Kingdom had tried to assassinate his mother. It all came to him slowly, but clearly.

"They think that if we mate with humans too much, then we would become humans ourselves and lose our power," Grim said lowly, realization dawning on him.

Morrigan nodded, her hands clenched tightly in her lap, bunching the fabric of her dress. "They fear losing power. They fear change they cannot control. Can you then understand why we wanted you to marry the Castoff Princess?"

The change to Felicia didn't surprise him. It was all connected, had been in play before he'd been born. "Keep your friends close..."

"... and your enemies closer," Morrigan finished with a proud smile.

"This game is very old, Mictlantecuhtli." Morrigan continued. "And while the players might have changed, the positions and stakes never did. It goes back to our history, to the founding of the three kingdoms."

"Why does any of this matter now? Why should I trust anything you're saying, Mother?" Grim asked, more out of curiosity than because he thought she was lying to him.

Morrigan reached forward and gripped his hands. "If you believe nothing else, believe that I love you.

"And it matters now, because I—I feel something in the air," Morrigan sucked in a shaky breath and looked around the room as if there were spies in every shadow. "Something is about to happen. I don't know what it is, but I can feel it. Trust me on this."

Grim felt her hands shake in his grasp and he raised her fingers to his cheek. "I trust you implicitly, Mother."

Grim opened his mouth to say more, wanting to know more, but a knock on the door interrupted him. "Grim? Do you have a second?" Felicia's girlish voice asked from the doorway, as she peeked into the room.

Turning away from her son, Morrigan rose from the chair. Once again the haughty mentality he'd see her wear since he could remember was in place. She turned and smiled at Felicia, and switched to English. "Dreadful business, this wedding; I am truly sorry, Felicia. I would have loved to have you as my daughter and not some... human."

Grim now understood his mother's hate over the wedding and Nina. It wasn't that she hated humans, but that she was worried about the past repeating itself. She didn't want Grim to fall into the depression that his father had, to repeat his mistakes, or worse.

"And the swords are back up." Grim rose from his seat.

A harsh laugh greeted his ears, before cold lips pressed against his cheek. "I will see you later, Mictlantecuhtli. Hopefully by then you will be dressed properly." Morrigan turned her nose up and left the room in a swivel of green skirts.

Closing his eyes to compose himself, Grim turned and smiled politely at Felicia. "Come in."

"Thank you, my king."

Grim paused as he went back to the mirror to fix his tie. Did she just sound condescending? he wondered as he looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Dressed in a pink and black striped dress with random bows everywhere, Felicia couldn't have looked more like a child. Her gentle, but pale makeup also made her look exceedingly young and vulnerable. Grim's lips twitched; Nina had been right, she does look like a pedophile's wet dream.

"What can I do for you, Felicia?" Grim asked as he slipped his tie pin into place. He switched his thoughts from the centuries-old game played with reaper and human lives to the woman he loved. He wouldn't let anything ruin this day, not even his own dark thoughts.

"I just wanted to wish you a happy wedding. I did not want there to be any bad blood between us," she said calmly, scratching delicately at her covered wrists.

"I appreciate you coming to tell me that." Grim acknowledged as he turned to face her. "It is very mature of you."

Felicia smiled a bit too brightly, her tone just a bit too sweet. "You are far too kind, Grim." She rose from the chaise and smoothed her pink skirts.

"Good bye, Felicia." Grim said with finality as he turned his thought over to his most important person.

Felicia smiled as she sailed past him, a cloud of black stripes, black ribbon curls, and pink bows. Her voice practically dripped sugar. "I'm sure I'll see you soon, my future king."

***

The wedding was more spectacular than Nina could have ever imagined. It was a bona fide royal wedding, one that even the Queen of England might have blanched at.

The ceremony was held in the great hall, which was about the size of a football feild, with ceilings at least three stories high. Down the center of the room was a red carpet, while on either side of the aisle were seats for guests, hundreds of seats for guests. The ceiling was a beautiful display of sheer gold linens, draped and styled so they looked like flowers hanging from the rafters. Nina hadn't been able to see much of the room, before she'd been placed at the entrance by the Bloodspurn queen and told to greet guests with Uri. 

The only she'd noticed was that everything, from the heavy drapes covering the windows, to the flowers wrapped with thread on guests seats, was that everything was in deep reds and glittering gold, colors of the Bloodspurn kingdom. It was strange to see such intense colors in such a bleary and dark place, but Nina supposed she shouldn't be surprised because the Underworld itself was intense.

The only thing that ruined the event were the angry vibes she got from the guests. No amount of color could replace the black hatred almost every reaper shot her way. Nina couldn't hold the small shiver that wracked her body as she stood by Uri in the hallway and smiled to the people as they moved to sit down.

Reaper custom dictated that she greet her guests in her wedding dress before the ceremony began, and Nina didn't see any reason not to. Besides, they were breaking enough rules by getting married, the least Nina could do is at try to participate in the customs.

Uri tried to lighten the mood. "Don't worry about them; they're just jealous because you look so hot."

Nina hid her laugh behind a cough as she clutched Uri's arm and tried not to trip on the train of her dress. Careful, careful, she counseled herself over and over as she tried not to fidget and teeter in her heels.

Looking down at herself in her scarlet mermaid gown with an inverted flange skirt, Nina couldn't help but amaze at how stunning it looked. The dress was accented by dozens of teardrop-shaped pearls sewn into her hair, a matching necklace and earring set, and a pair of gold pumps with flames licking up the sides of the shoes. They'd been a gift from Uri, one that Grim had nearly killed him for giving to her, but one that she'd appreciated nonetheless. 

Fingering the pearls, Nina looked towards the quickly filling great hall, transfixed by the glass crystals hanging all around the thrones.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Nina turned to Uri and gently tugged on his sleeve. "What are those?" She nodded her head to the vials.

"Trophies," Uri whispered back. "They're the ashes of the people old Bloodspurn kings have killed."

Nina's smile cracked for a moment as she nodded to a reaper dressed as an Egyptian pharaoh before she regained her composure. Grim's words resonated in her mind: The Bloodspurn kingdom has the fiercest warriors. He hadn't been kidding.

She could understand why Grim had always seemed reluctant to talk about the kingdom and his role as its king. From the first moment she'd met him, Grim had tried to conform to the rules, tried to keep himself and his kingdom in check. Now it made sense why he was so stringent about rules, why he'd tried to keep himself away from her. He didn't want to repeat the past. Grim didn't want to be the cause of another battle or war. It was in the teardrop vials hanging behind the throne, like a mother's tears forever falling: Grim didn't want that to be his legacy, didn't want murder, mayhem, and death to be his signature.

Then why is he marrying me? Nina had been wondering about his motives for a while, but love... Well, that emotion had no rhyme or reason, did not know right from wrong. But she'd been wondering for a while why Grim didn't just bequeath the throne onto Uri, give the prince the power. Or why didn't uri just marry Felicia and still keep the connection?

Out of the corner of her eye, Nina regarded Uri. "Why don't you just marry the Castoff Princess? Wouldn't that solve the whole thing?" 

Uri turned his head and smiled at her, and for the entire world the smile looked pleasant and doting, but to Nina it looked strained. "That's not how it works here."

"What do you mean?"

Uri cocked a brow at her, and Nina had the sudden urge to roll her eyes. Grim's comment, 'curiosity killed the cat,' came back to her. It wasn't her fault that she was forever curious, wanting to know as much as she could. Maybe it was something in her genes.

"The marriage itself doesn't matter, it's the power the position allows. Any second born child holds a lot less power both as a reaper, and for myself, as a prince?" Uri turned and nodded to a reaper who was rocking the whole skull-and-bones look.

"So?" Nina got the less power thing, but the other kingdom would still have a foothold in Bloodspurn politics, still create an alliance. Didn't that count for anything?

"You have to understand, Nina. These alliances never last long. They're only as good as the power they allot. The less power the less stable the hold. Even if I did marry the girl now, it would have little to no hold. It's all a game, Nina." Uri gave her one of his winning smiles. "That's all it ever was and all it ever will be."

Carefully, Nina transformed her face into a mask of neutrality. The way Uri had said the last part disturbed her. It was as if he knew something they all didn't. Her eyes caught on a glint of glass, the vial. She could understand Uri's explanation, understand that the rules that governed his society were different. But Nina wanted to know more, wanted to understand the power they all spoke of, the illusive thing that allowed them to be, but also ruled them. She wanted to understand the culture, understand why things were what they were and why they didn't change.

But then the music started. Uri turned to her, winked and extended his arm. Another reaper custom, Uri would walk her down the aisle. A hundred plus eyes fixed on them as Nina placed one foot in front of the other and told herself she couldn't fall. 

"Uri..." Nina started, wanting to give him some sort of assurance, and maybe take a measure of it for herself. She'd been too naive in accepting Grim's proposal. He was a king, after all. No matter what her plan past this point was, if she went through with it, she would be a princess and then a queen, if they followed human rules.

Could she really take on that burden? Did she even want to?

"Everything is going to be fine." Uri squeezed her hand comfortingly. "Don't worry about anything else past this moment. Right now, just be happy."

Looking dead ahead, she spotted Grim standing beside his father. Tuoni spotted her and gave a wiggle of his fingers and an exaggerated wink. Again Nina wasn't sure whether he was crazy or absolutely sane. They were at a beautiful but gloomy wedding, and the king was smiling as if he was at the carnival.




Can't Fight Time Ch. 14



Do reapers ever have carnivals? Nina wondered, then realized how stupid that was. Here she was, seconds away from marrying Death, with her homicidal father on the other side of a portal waiting to kill her, and a pissed-off ex-fiancée who looked like she wanted to rip Nina's skin off and make a coat... and she was thinking about carnivals. Would wonders never cease?

Turning away from her chaotic jumble of thoughts, Nina tried to bring her focus back to Uri. There was something different about him, something had changed ever since the Castoff Princess had come to town. It was that sixth sense feeling again, clawing in the pit of her stomach, warning her. 

Swallowing down her panic, Nina saw the altar looming in front of her. She only had a few more seconds before she sealed her fate. "Uri, if you know something's going to—"

He squeezed her hand a second before they stopped. Uri drew Nina aside and bent down to her and cool lips brushed her cheek; "Try not to worry. Don't stories with princes and princesses always have a happy ending?"

Nina laughed softly, and returned the kiss he'd given her. Amongst the swirling of her violent insecurities, Uri was there to bring her back and reassure her. If she'd met him first, maybe she would have fallen in love with him. Maybe. But right now, she was just happy to call him a friend.

Nina smiled up at him. "Thank you, Uri," her voice was soft, and held only the slightest tremble, "I'll see you later."

Nina pulled back only to feel strong arms grip her and spin her around. "Thank you, Brother," Grim growled warningly as he tucked Nina's hand into the crock of his arm and walked them up to the alter. 

Grim was decked out in full Bloodspurn regalia: pressed black pants, a stark white shirt, black silk tie, crimson waistcoat, and a gold and red threaded cloak on top. Nina hadn't seen anything like it, and wondered if she could actually get it off of him.

As if Grim couldn't get it off himself. She mentally chuckled, feeling a flush of heat run through her body.

The king didn't look much different, aside from the gold crown on his head embedded with the same vials behind him, and a broach, with the Bloodspurn insignia on it, secured to his cravat. Talk about a king who cleans up nicely, Nina whistled a mental catcall.

Beside the king stood an exquisite woman, dressed in a flowing green gown that looked like it had been poured over her body, and a green velvet choker with a brooch carved with the Bloodspurn insignia hanging from it. Thick, wavy red-locks flowed down her back, and a crown similar to the kings, but more feminine and delicate, was on her head.

"Is that—?" Nina began to ask, but Grim bumped her hip and the queen shot her a look that clearly said "eat shit and die painfully."

Nina bit back a smile, having never seen Grim's mother in anything other than a black velvet cloak and ivory bones. The transformation was truly shocking, though the queen looked less than pleased.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome, friends!" Tuoni spread his arms wide, swaying a little, with his voice in a sing-song melody. "I am so pleased you all could be here on this auspicious occasion to witness the marriage of my son, Grim."

Tuoni smiled a bit too widely, and Nina felt Grim's muscles harden beneath her hand. But then the queen stepped forward and smoothly interrupted whatever Tuoni was going to say. And he let her.

"The service will begin. Everyone please take your seats." Her voice was a sultry purr, even if her tone and her eyes were a bit hard. Nina couldn't help but be proud of Grim's mother, despite her own reservations about the marriage, she was still here and willing to help.

Taking a calming breath, Nina tried to focus as the ceremony began. Grim had told her that the ceremony wouldn't be anything like a human wedding ceremony and he hadn't lied.

The entire process was extremely intricate, and between the exchanging of blood and power, Grim turning into his skull and bones look, and Morrigan calling on the Bloodspurn ancestors, Nina got lost. Her head was practically spinning when they finally got to the actual ring part.

Morrigan turned to Nina and then to Grim; "The rings, please."

Though Nina had been able to choose her own bridesmaid, the selection had been scare. She would have liked to have had Krithi, one of the Council of Guardian members that had been nothing but nice to her, and iris beside her, but neither of them could be found. Which had left Nina with a maid that didn't exactly hate her guts acting as her bridesmaid and maid of honor. 

Mentally shaking her head, Nina tried to remember the name of the reaper maid that was standing in as her entire bridal party, but she just came up with a blank space. How sad was it that she couldn't remember the only bridesmaid she had?

The maid reached into her gold clutch and pulled out Grim's ring. Nina smiled at the small creation: it was a platinum band with the words 'forever and always yours' carved into it.

Uri had helped her commission it and make sure it was Grim's size. It looked absolutely perfect, and Nina hoped Grim would love it as much as she did.

"Thank you," Nina said softly as she took the ring in her hand and turned back to Grim.

They'd agreed not to show each other the rings, but Nina had made the platinum band a rule. Of course, their engagement had been a little different: instead of proposing with a ring, Grim had opted to give her both the engagement ring and the wedding ring at once. In fact, the man had been so confident that she'd say yes that he'd started making the ring a couple days before she'd said the word. Talk about cockiness.

"Mictlantecuhtli Jallgrímur Bloodspurn, first and only son of Ivona Eir Bloodspurn and Tuoni Erlik Bloodspurn, Heir Apparent to the throne, do you take Nina Marie Strathmore to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Morrigan asked and then followed it up by asking the same thing in a language Nina had never heard and she was pretty sure had died a long, long time ago.

Morrigan had been doing so most of the ceremony, switching between English and the other language. She wasn't sure if that was because the other language was more common, or because it was part of the ceremony; Nina assumed the later, because every reaper she'd spoken to knew English and about a hundred more languages.

Nina would have liked to know what exactly Morrigan was saying, but she knew she had to put her curiosity on hold until later. It was, after all, her wedding.

"I do." Grim said loudly and clearly.

A thought struck as Nina slid the ring on Grim's finger and felt his power curl over her and stroke her body. Even if the man wasn't touching her, his power always was, stoking the flame within her to a roaring fire. At one point, Grim's power had actually brought her to orgasm, one of the most intense ones of her life. Screw knowing how to use his hands, the man knew how to use his power.

Giving herself a mental shake, Nina came back to herself. Morrigan hadn't asked if any one opposed their union. That was the big thing in most of the television wedding shows Nina was addicted to, but the queen seemed to have just skipped over that part. It was a little strange, considering she'd mentioned just about everything else.

Lifting her head, Nina met Grim's blue-diamond eyes and her question was instantly answered. Reflected in those depths was the assured knowledge that anyone who disturbed their union would have to deal with Grim. And Nina doubted the way Grim would 'deal' with them would be humane.

It sent a chill down her spine, knowing that the man—reaper—in front of her didn't conceal his lust, rage, murderous intent, or love from her. All of his emotions were laid out for Nina in the hard gems of his eyes.

"Nina?" the queen asked her impatiently, using her name for the first time.

Turning away from Grim, Nina looked out over the sea of reapers. Dark, gloomy faces stared back at her, eyes devoid of any kind of happiness or encouragement. No one looked like they were actually happy about the wedding, and she wondered if that was because they were reapers or because of Grim's choice of bride.

It couldn't have been more than a couple of seconds, but for Nina it felt like forever. She was fighting with herself again, wondering if she was making the right decision. What was the point of the wedding? What was the point of doing all of this if the end result would always be the same?

The memories that she always tried to forget began to creep up, wanting to overwhelm her. Those visions wanted to break her, drag her down to a place she never wanted to go. Nina was spiraling, being sucked down by her own negativity and worry. She needed an anchor, something to pull her back from the brink, something to remind her why she was going through with this debacle.

Grim was there, drawing her back with the cool comfort of his hand, his power rushing over her, curving around her like a security blanket. The memories faded, until they became dust.

Pulling her gaze away from the sad faces, Nina spied Felicia smiling wide and waving at her. The girl was probably a few lifetimes ahead of her, but she dressed like she was her junior. Still, even with the friendly wave and the innocent clothing, something about Felicia left a bad taste in Nina's mouth.

Gripping herself, and steeling her resolve, Nina turned away from the distraction. It was now or never, make or break time. Before it had been one word, and now it was two. Nina blew out a breath to calm herself before turning back to Morrigan. "I do."

How she managed to get it out, she wasn't sure, but the words were food for the wind now. She'd said them, she'd meant them, and there was no way Nina was taking them back.

Cool metal slipping onto her finger brought her back to Grim as he slid on the rings. Nina looked down at the blue diamond cut in the shape of a heart and set on top of a platinum band. She barely recognized the other ring as she looked up into eyes the same color as the diamond on her finger.

Grim raised her hand to his lips and kissed the ring. "So you can always have me near you."

Tears gathered in the corner of her eyes and threatened to spill, but Nina blinked them away. She didn't want to ruin her makeup; it was immaculate, and if any pictures were taken she wanted to look stunning.

Morrigan began speaking again, and before Nina could blink she was suddenly wrapped in Grim's arms, being tilted backwards. In the distance she could hear Morrigan switching to English, but then Grim's lips were on hers and she didn't care anymore.

It was just like that first kiss, just as intense, if not more so. She couldn't breathe past Grim, couldn't think past him. He was everything to Nina, all she'd ever wanted, and the only thing in the world she couldn't have.

She gave herself up to the kiss, gave everything she had to the man she loved, even though she'd said she wouldn't. My father might take my life, but Grim will get my heart.

"...kiss the bride." Morrigan finished as Grim tilted Nina back up and let her breathe.

Grim pulled her close, blue-diamond eyes dancing with barely contained heat. "Ready to start the rest of our lives together?"

"Yes!" Nina didn't hesitate, didn't show any of her sadness or remorse over the lie. She loved Grim, probably more than she'd ever loved anyone. That was all that would ever matter. 

He'd never let her go voluntarily, no matter how right it was. This needed to happen. Time wouldn't stop for them to have a honeymoon, start a family, and grow old together. There was no point in trying to deny it, trying to fight it and call it by a different name; she couldn't fight fate.



*Hope you liked this chapter! Only two more to go! Yay!*



Can't Fight Time Ch. 15



Hey Everyone. 

Short and sweet. Big thanks to Archangel_M! 

Rosi

***

"It's time." Uri's voice was soft, his footsteps quiet on the rugs scattered around Grim's study.

Nina looked up from her spot on the couch, seeing Uri a few feet away from her in a grey button down and black jeans, his red hair slightly mussed as if he's just woken up.

Pushing away from the couch, Nina ran her fingers over the crimson upholstery, tracing the intricate patterns there. Over the course of a few months, the study had become like a second home to her. She spent most of her time scouring through books, learning as much as she could. Not that there was a point to the information, it was just for fun, a thing to pass the time.

Shaking her head Nina spun in a slow circle, keeping the tears at bay as she tilted her head further up until her muscles strained from the effort. Millions of books lined the walls, climbing so high she couldn't even see all of them. It was amazing and useless.

Nina hadn't really realized what she'd been doing every time she opened a book, every time she scoured through pages; she'd been trying to find a way to stay with Grim, a way to stop time. It all seemed so silly and useless now, all the knowledge crowding her brain made her almost angry.

Sighing loudly, she dashed at the tears leaking from her eyes and steeled herself. Her voice was resigned but strong, "I'm ready."

Turning away from the library, she stepped into Uri's arms and felt them close tightly around her. Unlike the other times, she was prepared for the sudden roller-coaster-flight that took them from the study to the portal room in less than a second.

For a few stomach-churning moments, Nina held onto Uri and felt all her organs fall back into place and the bile that had coated her throat disappear. "Never gonna get used to that," Nina muttered, the words tasting like sawdust as she let go of Uri and took a few steps back.

The first time she'd come to the Underworld, she'd been too concerned with Grim not killing them to really take inventory of the room. Surprisingly the portal room was small, about the equivalent of a walk-in closet lengthwise, with a giant mirror thing in the center.

"It was meant to keep a hoard from trying to jump through the portal. The kingdom wasn't always this calm." Uri smiled, trying to break the tension between them.

Nina turned and smiled reassuringly. None of this was his fault. In fact, she was grateful to Uri. The prince had given her something she'd never thought she'd get—even in the human world—a chance to love, and be loved back.

"I'm fine, Uri." Nina looked back at the mirror. It was about fourteen feet high and oval-shaped. Around the frame were shimmering designs in a language she was sure she'd never heard of. The entire piece thrummed with a sort of power, an otherworldliness that called to Nina.

She ran her fingertips against the frame lovingly. "Who made this?"

"Yin and Yang. Every kingdom has one, so that royals can move between worlds." She felt Uri's power slide over her back as he drew closer. "Pretty, isn't it?" 

"It's beautiful," Nina whispered reverently, tracing the language.

Pulling her hand back, she turned away from the portal and looked directly at Uri. It was time. "Everything has been arranged?"

Uri nodded and reached inside his pocket. "Yup, everything is taken care of. Here."

Nina accepted the phone and slid it into her skirt pocket. Her hands slid over the fabric reverently, the simple gesture giving her strength. It was her first present from Grim, along with a full wardrobe and half of his closet. She could still remember his sultry voice whispering to her from their bed: "I was serious about wanting you, Nina. Not just in my bed, but in my life. I can give you everything you will ever need."

A sob stuck in her throat as Nina pulled away from the memory and felt the material crushed between her fingers. You're doing the right thing. She reminded herself as she forced her hands to unclench. "Great, Uri. Thank you again."

Before she could blink, she was suddenly engulfed in a bear-hug, its force almost painful. Nina didn't think twice as she wrapped her arms around Uri and hugged him back fervently. "I'll miss you bossing me around," he whispered into her hair, the words lost in the tangle of curls and coils.

Nina felt Uri's arms close tighter as he shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Nina. If there was another way..." he let the sentence trail away as his emotions took over. Nina felt his power all around them like they were in an ocean, the ebb and flow reminding her of waves.

Squeezing him tight one last time, she drew back and slowly, Uri released her. "It's not your fault." Her voice took the edge of a steel blade, "Besides, I refuse to give my father the satisfaction of killing a broken girl. I've come too far, done too much, to let fear consume me."

A flash of pain and shame crossed Uri's face, but it has gone too soon for Nina to be sure she hadn't just imagined it. "But if it does... Just know that this will always be your home. You can come here anytime." 

Nina nodded, her throat constricting tightly.

"Well, if my father suddenly has a change of heart and decides not to kill me, I'll definitely come back. Then you can finally show me where that reaper bus is." 

Uri visibly relaxed and showed his first genuine smile of the night. "Sounds like a plan."

Turning away from the prince, Nina went to the mirror and placed her hand against the cool glass... only it wasn't glass, but some other material, almost gel-like. Below her fingers the portal began to shift and move, like small ripples and waves, and then suddenly her hand went all the way through and Nina gasped and snatched her limb back.

"You okay?" Uri blurted out.

Nina rubbed her hand, and laughed nervously. "Oh! It startled me." She gulped and clenched her fists at her side, head held high. "I'm ready."

Forcing her feet to move, Nina pressed her body against the glass and let it ripple and give way. She pushed forward as the gel-like-substance closed around her hands, arms, chest. Taking a deep breath, she dove in.

Nina thought she heard Uri mumbled something, but she couldn't be sure. Than, suddenly, it didn't matter as she was hurtled through time and space. The first time she'd done it, she had her eyes closed and had hung onto Uri like a baby koala, but now she was alone, and the feeling was completely different.

A blinding light flashed, just before a stygian blackness enveloped her. It all happened so fast that her eyes couldn't process the change—then just as quickly as it all began it stopped.

Nina's eyes adjusted to the darkness around her, and brought the landmarks surrounding her into focus. A stone-bench, a bubbling water fountain, Nina recognized it all and knew instantly where she was. She was in the maze inside the chapel, exactly where she'd been when Uri had first marked her hand.

Gasping in cool, crisp air, Nina looked at the maze. It was completely different and exactly the same, all at once.

She brushed invisible mirror-stuff off herself. "Well, okay then." 

A sudden disturbance behind her made Nina whirl and come face to face with...Uri? "What are you doing here?" 

Uri reached for her hand, and raised a questioning brow. "Forget something?" 

A sharp pain seized her. Air rushed back into lungs that had barely been working, and warm blood flowed heavy through her veins. Every muscle jumped, spasmed, her fingertips—ones that had been chilled for months—burned. She gasped, clenched, reached out for Uri and felt a cold so poignant she screamed, reared back, and fell.

A few minutes past, her body turning back to what it used to be. She realized her body was shaking, and she was cold. Nina looked down at her hand, trying to find where Grim's mark was. It was gone. 

"How?" Her teeth chattered, the words hurt coming out. Only reapers stronger than each other could remove the marks. Was Uri stronger than Grim?

He smiled down at her. "I storred up the energy. You needed the mark removed."

For a long second, Nina stared up at Uri. He always caught her off gaurd, did something... different. His reasoning made sense though. Grim's power would have probably, protected her in one way or another. But there was something off in the moment, something that Nina was only starting to realize had been off from the start.

Uri had been the one to take her to the Underworld, and he was the one who'd taken her back to the human world. What had been his goal? Motivations?

Something cut into her palm and Nina looked down. Her wedding rings had become twisted, turned inward to her palm. It was yet another reminder of her impending death. But she was happy for the rings, they didn't make her feel so alone. She rubbed her fingers across the diamond reverently. 

"I don't think I'll ever figure you out, Uri." Nina climbed to her feet and forced back the tears that were clawing at her eyes. "But that doesn't matter now. Thanks for everything"

—she paused, looked at his myrtle-green eyes— "little brother."

Uri flinched back, opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but he just gave her a rueful smile, turned sharply, and disappeared. The portal closed behind him, and the silence rang with a finality Nina didn't need.

Taking a deep breath, Nina went and sat on the stone bench beside the fountain. Reaching deep in her skirt pocket, she pulled out the phone and then dialed the number for Detective Thompson. Before Grim had come and worked that weird mind trick, the woman had given Nina her card and told her to call her if anything happened. Well, I know I'm about to get murdered by my father, so I think that counts for something.

The phone began to ring, and Nina hoped that the detective would pick up. She had no clue how much time she had before her father came. Every crime show Nina had ever seen had the murderer going back to the scene of the crime, and since he'd killed a girl here and also knew Nina hung out here, it was only a matter of time.

"Hello?" a groggy female voice answered.

Nina pulled the phone back and looked at the time. It was almost midnight. "Sorry to disturb you, but is this Detective Darcy Thompson?"

Some rustling, a curse, and then the detective spoke. "Yes, who is this?" 

"This is Nina Strathmore. We spoke a few... days ago about the murder at the chapel. Do you—"

"Yes, I remember you. What can I do for you, my dear?"

"I—" Nina paused. For some reason everything she'd planned to say, the lie that she'd crafted suddenly felt stupid. Truth was always stranger than fiction anyway.

Steeling herself she continued: "My father is the Sweetheart Killer, and he's planning to kill me. I have some important things to tell you, so please listen. My father's name is Lucian Strathmore, and..."

***

"Nina?" Grim mumbled as he came awake and reached his hand out for her.

Cool cotton sheets greeted his hands, and Grim shot up straight in bed. He cocked his head and listened for any sound that Nina was in the room. Silence.

He stretched his power out and tried to feel her presence in the castle, but he felt something else. A wave of barely suppressed power hit him, and Grim ducked and rolled off the bed as the doors swung wide and broke off their hinges.

Castoff guards began filling the room as Grim grabbed a sheet and wrapped it around himself, still crouched in a defensive position. His voice dripped venom. "What's going on here?" 

Tinkling laughter heralded Felicia's entrance, as the child entered his room. "Good evening, Grim. So sorry to disturb you and your—" she looked around, and a frown tugged at her glossy crimson lips. "Oh! Where is that lovely, charming human of yours?"

Grim growled warningly as more guards filed into his room. There were only two ways out of the chamber, and Felicia and her dogs were blocking one of them.

It was obvious enough that they were not there to protect him, but capture him. "Whatever you plan to do will surely start a war, Felicia." Grim's tone was severe. "Is that what you want?" 

All he needed to do was get to the fireplace on the other side of the room. There was a secret passageway that would get him to where he needed to go. Just a few steps, a flick of his power, and he'd be safe.

Felicia scratched lightly at her arm, a small frown marring her brows. "The war already started, Grim. It started the minute that your whore of a brother brought that human here." Her voice never lost its childlike cheeriness.

A reaper in full body armor with the Castoff coat-of-arms branded onto the sash around his arm stepped forward. The reaper looked suspiciously familiar, but Grim couldn't place him. "Mictlantecuhtli Jallgrímur Bloodspurn, by decree of the Castoff King, you have been charged with breaking the laws of the three sovereign kingdoms. You are hereby to be taken into custody by Her Highness, Felicia Castoff, whom you will remain with until sentencing."

Grim looked around his bedchamber and weighed his options. There weren't many. He could try and escape, but even he knew his limits. One reaper, even a king, managing to defeat and escape twenty-some guards and a princess successfully? No. Then again, he could always call his own guards. Grim frowned. Why hadn't they—

Snapping his gaze back to the Castoff guard, Grim finally recognized him. And, as he peered into the faces of the other guards, he knew that his choices were gone.

Almost every guard wearing the Castoff insignia was a Bloodspurn guard. Grim's nails bit into the flesh of his palms as he balled his fist and choked back his revulsion. Anger would solve nothing in this situation, and it might get him killed.

"Why now, Felica?" Grim asked, trying to understand her motive. It didn't make sense that she would attack now after Nina had been in the Underworld for nearly three months. What was the point?

The princess sauntered closer to him, her short lilac dress looking like it should have belonged on a doll. But then the woman herself looked like a doll: precise makeup, tiny body, and porcelain skin. If not for the deadly look in her eyes, and the dark aura that surrounded and suffused her clothing, he might have confused her for a living doll.

"Because it was my desire," she scoffed lightly as she came closer to him. Grim backed away slowly, and, like puppets on a string, every one of the guards moved in closer.

"What does your kingdom hope to achieve by starting a war that will drag on and kill hundreds of innocents?" Grim shifted left and back away, ever aware of the guards and the princess.

Maybe, just maybe, he could make it out of the situation. Hope loomed on the horizon, shining brightly. He could get out, find Nina and his family, and then head to the Darklore Kingdom for refuge. But Grim was assuming two big things: firstly, that the Darklore Kingdom wasn't in cahoots with the Castoffs, and secondly, that his family was all right.

Felicia lightly tisked, as if she was correctly a child. "The kingdom?" Felicia's tinkling laugh grated on Grim's nerves as he continued to inch his way to the fireplace. "Silly Grim, I am the kingdom. I am the law. I am absolute and unquestionable."

The girl was suddenly in front of him, and Grim felt his power flare out even as her guards started in on them. But Felicia did something that no one expected, not even her guards.

Twining her hands around his neck, she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed Grim. The princess forced her tongue into his mouth, forced him to take her. Everything in Grim revolted, and he tore himself away from her like she burned him, but not before she achieved her aim.

Very quickly he began to feel cold, to feel sick. Reapers didn't feel the cold and they never got sick. Those born of humans might feel those things initially, but that was before the shedding. Harsh shudders wracked his body as Grim collapsed on the ground, a bitter taste on the tip of his tongue.

"W-what did y-you do to m-me?" Grim forced out through chattering teeth as he gripped his chest where humans' hearts were. Pain shot through him, directly to the place where a heart would be, but nothing jumped in his chest.

Grim was still a reaper, but exuding symptoms of a human who came to the Underworld without a contract. Falling to the ground in a heap, his body began to shut down as the shudders became so bad that it felt like someone had set his body to vibrate. It was the most excruciating pain he'd ever experienced, and there was no way to stop it.

Felicia crotched down; her lavender dress rubbed against Grim's arm, and felt like a million tiny needles piercing his skin. "I gave you something to nullify your powers, my king. Now you have the same power as that sweet, little human."

Through teary, slitted eyes, Grim watched the child stare at him as if he was an exhibit at the zoo. Her chin rested in her cupped hands with her elbows on her bent knees. Then, she smiled at him, a wide, face splitting grin that was all the more terrifying for its sincerity. There was no malice in the smile, no ill will, just pure, unadulterated happiness.

"Do not worry, Grim." Felicia traced a line down his cheek with her index finger. "I will find that human of yours."

Her nails cut deep into the flesh of his cheek, and Grim bit his tongue to keep from crying out at the agony of it. "Guards!"

Felicia clapped her hands like a giddy child as the guards swarmed on Grim, beating him bloody before restraining him. Pain grew to a crescendo, and Grim wondered how his body could take any more. By then he was fading, losing consciousness, and he knew he'd reached his limit.

***

The waiting was the worst for Nina. Waiting meant she was able to think, and thinking for Nina was never a good thing. Thinking lead to questioning, questioning to curiosity, and curiosity to a place she could never go: back to Grim.

"Was the weather always this warm?" Nina muttered as her skirt clung to her thighs and sweat formed under her armpits.

She'd been feeling constantly cold, but it was nice. It was like the cold reminded her that she was safe, even though it should have done the opposite. The heat though...

A shiver raced through Nina's body and made her teeth chatter and ache. Antarctica in the wintertime sounded like heaven right then. Because all the heat did was remind her that, when her father eventually killed her, she'd start smelling bad fast in this heat.

Waiting was really not good for her.

A rustle of cloth and leaves were the only warnings Nina had before her father erupted from the maze. "Nina," his voice was soft and kind.

Nina looked at her father, a little taken aback by his appearance. Despite the heat he wore a fashionable long black coat, his hair was slicked back and slightly damp, he looked like he'd just shaved, and he had an air of happiness around him that would have been infectious if she hadn't known her future.

The man in front of her was the man her father used to be. And she wondered what had inspired the change in him. "Dad," she returned from her position on the stone bench.

The man in front of her smiled kindly and gestured to the spot beside her. "Mind if I sit?"

What? Polite conversation and then a knife through the heart? Nina thought with an internal laugh. She knew her future better than any crystal ball, but the asinine pleasantries surprised her. Whatever her father's plan, murder seemed to be on the back burner.

Nina shrugged. "It's a free country."

Another small smile, before he came and sat by her; "How've you been, little boo? I've been worried sick about you."

She couldn't help but roll her eyes, not giving a thought to her father's quick temper. If the man had been worried about her, it was because he'd thought she'd gone somewhere he wouldn't have been able to find. Nina doubted that the man thought about anything besides the need to kill, and the high he got from it. Murder was just another drug.




Can't Fight Time Ch. 15



Raising her eyes, Nina met her father's gaze. His eyes were slightly unfocused and dilated. Nina wasn't surprised that he was on drugs; if anything, it made the entire situation more believable.

Her eyes roamed his face, trying to find any resemblance of the man who had raised her, loved her, and loved her mom. She couldn't find it. All she saw when she looked at him was a bloody shirt, and a... Nina flinched back and jerked up from the bench.

"What?" her father asked, his eyes shifting from side to side, "What's wrong?"

Everything! Her mind screamed at her, as she tried to calm her raging heart. It took a few tries, but she was able to force out the answer. "There's a spot of b-blood right above your eye."

The need to vomit rode her hard, and Nina covered her mouth as her stomach heaved. But by some mercy she kept her composure, kept her food down, and kept the tears from streaming down her face.

As if in slow motion, her father reached up and wiped his brow, his fingers coming away stained red. The color was brilliant, even in the moonlight, an indisputable crimson that no one would refute was blood.

For a tense second, her father stared at his bloodstained fingers, and then, very casually, he wiped his fingers on his coat. The motion stretched his coat and revealed a bloodsplattered shirt underneath. "Thought I had cleaned all of that up; sorry about that." He said it as if he'd spilled spaghetti sauce and not human blood.

Nina took an involuntary step back and cursed herself. She remembered a time when she'd thought Grim was going to kill her, and she'd gotten in his face and lied her ass off. Where was that woman when she needed her, the one who told off a big, bad Grim Reaper without batting an eyelash?

"Nina, you don't have to be scared. I would never hurt you," her father said, with such compassion and sincerity that she almost believed him; almost.

Nina dug her nails into her palm to keep her composure from breaking. The pain kept her strong, kept her sane. "Whose blood is that?"

"Ah." Her father blew out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his damp hair. Nina followed the movement like a hawk and nearly screamed bloody murder when his hand came away red.

Nina's eyes zoomed in on his hair and saw that some pieces were drying, like there was product in his hair. Or human blood, her internal voice corrected her. But the usual sarcasm and sass wasn't there.

"Things happen, Nina. I didn't kill her at first." He shook his finger, like he was a teacher teaching her a lesson. "I knew she was your friend, and I spared her for you. But then you didn't come back. I thought she knew where you were, but after a while I knew she didn't."

Nina's voice was just above a whisper, her throat constricted with emotion. "You're talking about Nicole."

"I really didn't mean to kill her. You have to believe me!" her father pleaded emphatically, waving his hands wildly, revealing more glimpses of the bloodstained shirt underneath. It was only then that Nina realized he was completely covered in blood, from his black shoes to the white collar of his shirt. The darkness could only hide the man's transgressions to a point, but the moon clearly illuminated all of them.

"You are not my father." Nina's voice shook with fury, shook with sadness and a soul-deep pain. "You are not my family. You are nothing but a murderer."

Seamlessly and unsurprisingly, her father's face contorted into a mask of blind fury. "I have done nothing but love you! And this is how you repay me?" he screamed, face a bright red. "You ungrateful little bitch! You can't look down on me!"

"Down on you?" She laughed. "I'm not looking down on you, I'm looking past you."

His coat flew open and a glint of silver was her only warning before her father brandished a large kalapuukko. "You are mine!" he ranted, waving the knife wildly around. "Mine!"

Nina stared at the bloodsplattered shirt, her friend's blood. Nicole had been innocent, she hadn't done anything. No, she'd just been a casualty in her father's effort to have her. That had always been his goal, and all the women he'd killed along the way had just been casualties.

This was her life, narrowed down to the sharp point of a knife. This was her death, the end.

In the distance, Nina could hear the faint sounds of sirens, and she knew that it was time. In a matter of seconds, she would be dead. A sick smile twisted her lips as she shifted her weight and repositioned her feet.

"I was never yours," Nina whispered more to herself than him. "I was, and will always be, my own person."

Her father cackled loudly, and Nina heard the sirens getting closer. Watching the knife she waited for her chance. And then, she saw it.

"No, Nina! You. Are. M-ine," her father yelped as Nina lunged for him and drove the knife into her own heart.

Clenching her teeth, Nina forced her body to move and drive the knife deeper. Blood spurted around the wound and ran down the knife to the hilt, dropping off her father's clenched fist. Panting she reached up weakly, placed her hand over her father's. "No... my life... is my... own."

The irony of the moment wasn't lost on Nina. For the last three months she'd been sure—dead sure—that her father would kill her. No one had corrected her, and the thought of taking her own life hadn't even crossed her mind.

If she could have laughed, she would have.

But in those last few moments of life Nina found a realization: she finally realized why her mother had been smiling. Death was an escape from all the pain and torment her father had caused. It was also the ultimate "fuck you!"

Forcing her lids open, Nina looked at her father's wide, astonished eyes and his open mouth. Smiling through the pain, Nina robbed her father of the only thing he'd ever wanted, and the one thing he could never have, her life.