'Til Fear Do Us Part (A Grim Awakening Book 1)

by Michelle Gross

  Movement in the middle of the lake caused me to look up. Ripples started from the middle, spreading across the lake. A large tentacle darted out from the water and latched onto my arm, pulling me forward. Grim was there before it could and tossed me backward. He moved in front of me, putting himself between me and the water. And whatever was in it. “Water demon,” he answered my unspoken question as he studied the water.

  Bubbles rapidly popped in the middle and a woman rose out of them. She was stunning. Red hair, green eyes, and scaly skins. Then I saw the rest of her body. The lower half of her body were tentacles. Green and slimy looking, like an octopus.

  “Grim, what brings you here?” She smiled at him with wander and glee.

  “Pearl,” he answered by reaching out his hand.

  “You want my one and only pearl?” she laughed and he nodded. “I'm afraid I can't do that. But, what did you bring? Smells delicious.” She sniffed the air and licked her lips, her eyes landing on me. I took a step back.

  “Nothing of your concern. Tonight, you die.” Her smile faded and her eyes narrowed. A tentacle shot out of the water toward Grim. His scythe appeared and sliced it in half. She screamed. “You bring a human with you, disgracing me and all demons, and ask for my pearl!” she growled.

  “My scythe demands your life, demon,” Grim spoke with a thunderous command. “All the humans you ate, the souls you trapped, I demand their release.” His scythe turned into a spear. She hissed at the weapon. “Your soul shall become one with my weapon.”

  She cowered back, anger and fear marking her beautiful face. Grim threw the spear at her chest. Her tentacles went up to block it, but it went through all ten of them and straight to her heart. With one last shrieking cry as she fell backward under the water. The water turned black, the color of her body fluids. It was as if she was rotten. The spear appeared from the water and came back to its owner. A black cloud followed behind the spear. “Death is only the beginning of your suffering.” He spoke to the black cloud hovering in front of him. The spear became his scythe again and the cloud was sucked into the scythe before disappearing.

  “What did you do?” I stood behind him.

  “I saved countless lives by taking one. She will suffer eternally now.” Something glowed in the black water, soon the water was clear again. Grim dove into the lake. I held my own breath until his head appeared above water. He strode out of the water, slipping something white and shiny into his dark jeans. He moved toward me, grabbed my waist, and tossed me over his shoulder.

  “Now, what are you doing?” I jerked around on his shoulder. We entered that certain darkness again—then light, I knew he was using his power to take us somewhere else. He dropped me on my butt when we arrived at the new destination. We were at a hospital. It was crowded, nurses and doctors ran around frantically. I blinked my eyes, adjusting them to the bright florescent lights. Machine noises, doctors yelling, and the steady ‘beep’ of someone's lifeline filled my ears. I pinched my noise, I was never able to handle the smell of a hospital. It smelt of death, disease, and cleaning supplies.

  I watched as people walked by, never even looking at us. It was as if we weren't there. “They can't see us?” He nodded. “What are we doing here?”

  I followed through the halls. He looked back at me once. “I showed you the bad. Now I will show you the good.” I frowned, confused. I couldn't see anything in the hospital being good. He stopped at room 303. I watched him go through it. I looked around and studied the door. Could I do that too? No one could see me. I decided to test it with my hand first. I gasped when my hand went straight through the door. So, this was what it was like for ghosts. I slipped into the room.

  My smile dropped when I entered the room. It was easy to see what was happening. Several family members stood next to an elderly man lying in the hospital bed. A middle-aged man and two women. The women were crying. The doctor stood on the other side across from them. They all waited as the old man's breaths grew further apart and more faint. He was dying.

  That was when I noticed someone else in the room. She too was old. She stood next to the doctor, tears were in her eyes as she gazed down at the man. They were happy tears yet sad. She was already dead.

  Grim moved until he was next to her. She didn't even mind that he was standing next to her. The doctor stepped away to the give the family privacy. One of the women grabbed the old man's hand and smiled, despite the tears falling down her cheeks. “You will be with Mom soon. I'm sure she's waiting for you.” I stood amazed when I realized who the old lady was. She was his wife. I watched as she smiled at her children.

  The monitor bottomed out, the man's heart stopped beating. It didn't matter how much time you had to prepare yourself, the moment you lost a loved one, your heart literally breaks. My chest tightened, remembering the moment I lost Dad the same way. The room was quiet before the sobs broke out in the room. I felt emotional—sad for these people that I didn't even know. The old man rose from his body as a ghost. He saw his children first and his eyes filled with tears. His wife gently touched her ghostly hand over his, that's when he looked at her. He wore the biggest smile. A tear escaped my eye at their reunion. It was so easy to see how strong their love for one another was. He moved away from his corpse so that he could stand beside her. They embraced each other with a hug and kiss. Then they turned to Grim and nodded to him.

  It made me wonder just how long the old lady waited for her husband so they could leave this world together. They gave a silent farewell to their grieving children although they couldn't see. Their goodbyes were over. Grim's scythe materialized in his hand. He pointed it and a bright circular path formed beside them. So bright that I couldn't look at it directly. I squinted my eyes trying to focus on the couple. They walked hand and hand in it together.

  The path closed. I stood amazed. I just saw the gateway to Heaven. Grim walked to me. He reached for my hand and I already knew he was going to take us somewhere else. The darkness always came before the light and we were standing in the middle of the road in front of Deb's. The sky boomed with thunder. It was raining and coming down hard. We were already soaked, and by we, I meant Killian and I. He had changed back. Our hands were still entwined. I smiled, still feeling the emotions from everything I just witnessed. I pushed my hair out of my face with my free hand, not wanting to let go of his. He used his hand to help me move it behind my ear, not letting go of my hand either. “I didn't know death could be so...”

  “Beautiful.” His eyes met mine. The rain rolled off his cheeks, dripping from his chin. His dark hair clung over his forehead, hiding part of his eyes. I wanted to move it out of his eyes... His hand tightened over mine and the other lazily touched my cheek. “So beautiful.” I could barely hear him over the rain. Rain dripped in my eyes and I had to blink. I had to let go of his hand to wipe my eyes.

  “Why are we standing in the rain?” I asked. Thunder boomed causing me to jump against him. I grabbed his leather jacket. Then everything that happened next spun me out of my own control. His hand gripped my waist, pulling me in when I could already get no closer. I sucked in air as his face loomed over mine. The features of his face matched the storm. Wild and always unexpected. He pressed my chin up with force from his thumb. His mouth crushed over top mine. I could only sigh into his mouth because nothing felt so perfect. His hand left my cheek and tangled itself in my hair. My hands found his shirt. I gripped his sides, melting into him.

  This wasn't kissing, his mouth continued to devour mine. He pushed onward, my inexperience didn't slow him. His hand found my chin again and forced me to open to him more. Our tongues collided and my heart hammered. I felt my mind slipping. Heat pooled through every part of my body like nothing I felt before. It felt amazing. It felt dangerous. I loved it.

  The door to Deb's opened and a group of teenagers ran out in the rain, laughing, hurrying to their cars. His kiss slowed until his lips hovered near mine. Not touching, but not wanting to part either. I felt his breath fan my ch
eek. Which caused an ache that I'd never felt before spread in the pit of my stomach. It was a dark pleasure that threatened to shatter me to the core. He kissed my nose before leaning away, putting some distance between us. I could finally breathe, but the loss I felt made me wish he never stopped. His lips were swollen and red, the tip of his nose was also. The kiss still imprinted itself on him causing me to smile. He smiled back at me, lazy and sweet, exposing himself to me even more. Thunder crackled.

  “You are dangerous, Melanie Rose,” he whispered. I shook my head and laughed. I never knew what actual happiness felt like until that moment.

  We parted after he walked me to the car. He disappeared in the rain once I was safely in my car. I stared at the rain, smiling but also disappointed that he left me. I noticed the light blinking on my cell phone when I started the car. I was freezing and soaking wet. I hoped I didn't get sick. I grabbed my phone from the passenger seat. Twenty-three missed calls. All of them were from Ryan. I sighed, dropping the phone back on the seat and drove home.

  I went to my room once I was home before Mom took notice that I was drenched. I forgot to stop at the library. It was already closed by the time I got back with Killian. I grabbed some clothes and went to take a long hot bath. I turned the radio down low. I grinned to myself as I swayed my hands around in the soapy water. I thought of the kiss and touched my lips. I giggled and realized how silly I was acting and stopped. What in the world is wrong with me? I slid my head under the water and came back up.

  When I thought of Ryan, I felt guilty. We were only friends. That didn't matter, I knew his feelings and I thought mine were once the same. Things were changing—things were getting complicated. I wasn't sure how I felt. I moved my legs around in the water. What did that kiss mean?

  I let the water out of the tub and stepped out. My mood was ruined with doubts and worries. I thought pushing Ryan would keep him safe. I only hurt him and I justified that by telling myself he would be safe. I've always knew my feelings for Ryan, then why....

  Why did I kiss Killian? Grim Reaper took my first kiss.

  I dried myself off and put on my pajamas. When I entered my room, my stomach did this crazy flop when I saw Killian laying across the foot of my bed. He opened his eyes when he heard the door shut. “You're in my room.”

  “Yeah.” He rose. He whistled as he glanced around the room like he never been here before. “Nice and cozy.” he added. I rubbed my neck and Killian eyed the spot I rubbed. He was acting different and I wasn't sure at all how I was supposed to act. He let out a sigh. “What's wrong? Is there any particular reason why you're suddenly so shy?” he asked, arching his brow. He moved his hand to his side and gave me a devilish smile. “I think I might have the imprints of your fingernails on my side.” I blushed, remembering the way I had been clinging to him while we kissed.

  “Will you stop?” I glared, wanting to hide my embarrassment. I was so nervous.

  “Stop what?”

  “Stop teasing me. You're the one that kissed me.”

  “Relax. We won't do it again.” He surrendered his hands in the air to make his point. I was disappointed that he said it so easily. “Unless, that's what you want then by all means, kiss the Underworld out of me.” Something dangerous flickered in his eyes. A dark promise. The spiraling heat that I felt in the pit of my stomach came raging back at his words. I swallowed hard, looking away.

  “I'm going to sleep,” I said quickly, hurrying to my bed and hiding under the covers. My foot touched his side where he sat at the edge of the bed. I let it linger close to him. I closed my eyes and tried to think about sleeping.

  He moved. He felt closer. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. I held the cover over my face, squinting my eyes shut. He left the bed. I heard his boots glide across the floor. What was he doing? He went quiet several seconds before he moved again. I jumped up and sighed. “I can't sleep with you making noise.”

  He paced the room, raking his hand through his hair. He looked a little more out of control than usual. He stopped and glared at me. I moved my legs under the cover trying to get comfortable. He eyed the movement. “Will you stop moving around so much? You're the one making all the noise.” I looked at him funny.

  “You're the one stalking around my room like a panther,” I growled back.

  “You're killing me,” he grumbled, giving me a pitiful smile.

  “I'm not doing anything.”

  My door opened. “Why are you yelling?” Mom stood in the doorway. I looked to where Killian was. He already disappeared. I sighed.

  “I thought I seen a bug,” I grumbled. “A very big bug.”

  Chapter Twelve

  I moaned as his fingers brushed over my belly. His body laid between my legs as he planted kisses on my belly. When I tried to wiggle free, he tightened his grip on my hip. His fingers traced over my waist, traveling down to my thighs. Pleasure I'd never known caused goosebumps to breakout all over me.

  “You're so sensitive, I'm barely touching you.” He gazed up at me, mouth hovering above my navel. Then he continued with his kisses, intoxicating my senses until his mouth found my panties. There was a lustful look in his eyes as he admired them. “You're so beautiful,” he whispered, his breath heating my panties. He was too much for me. I moved beneath his hold. His words were too much. His touch was setting me on fire. I wanted to escape this beautiful agony. But the thought of breaking free of the pleasure his touch promised... I couldn't. I could only whimper in reply.

  He pressed his face into my core, I arched my back just as his tongue swiped over my panties. I cried out. His hands held down my hips and his finger twirled under the string before yanking them off. He wasn't gentle, he was rough. My legs were lifted in the air so that he could slide the panties off. He tossed them in the floor. When I tried to place my legs back down, he held them up. He traced them with his eyes, sliding his hand down until he found my butt cheek. He cupped one side of it before smacking it. I whimpered, not use to the sting. The feeling also caused a reaction between my thighs. I felt the trickle of something wet escape my sex.

  He spread my legs apart. His eyes devoured my nakedness. He moved his hand between my thigh, I found myself lifting my butt off the bed to meet his touch. Once he did, I felt as if I dissolved into a puddle at his feet. “You're so wet.” My cheeks flushed but not from embarrassment, I was too far gone for that. I lifted my hips, pressing myself into his hand, needing and wanting everything he offered.

  He dropped my legs down and bent over my stomach, trailing kisses down until he was between my thighs. When his mouth came down over that part of me, I went wild for him. It felt amazing. I grabbed his hair, raking my nails over his scalp. His finger slipped inside my most intimate place and I exploded in a million pieces.

  “Killian,” my voice laced with pleasure.

  “It's not over, Love.” He leaned over me. I reached out and touched his chest, something I couldn't do when he was between my legs. He was sexy. And powerful. My body almost came undone again at the mere sight of him. “You're mine,” he growled. I closed my eyes and moaned.

  “You're mine,” he spoke again, but his voice was somehow different. I opened my eyes and saw the horror. Grim lay above me, in Killian's place. One of his boned fingers raked against my naked chest before pinching my nipple.

  I screamed, eyes opening. I found myself floating in the air above my bed. Everything in the room was floating. Killian's hands made contact with my waist and everything fell to the ground, including me, I fell on my bed. He moved on the bed next to me. I looked around at the mess in my room. But worst of all, Mom might have heard. The thought of her witnessing something like that again made me sick.

  I finally noticed the glow on my skin. “That's not possible.” Killian spoke, looking both shocked and worried.

  “What's happening?” I gawked at my arms. I feared what was happening to me. The glow underneath my skin seemed to dim until it completely faded away.

  “The Vessel.” He stared at my arm
as he spoke. “It's like it's been awakened.”

  “That just now.” I looked around the room before adding, “That was the Vessel? The power that's inside me?” I whispered.

  He nodded before a frown appeared on his handsome face. “This shouldn't be possible. It doesn't make sense.” He shook his head. He brought his hand up to touch my cheek. I flinched when I remembered the dream I had. My cheeks heated. Jeez, one kiss from him and I'm already fantasizing about him. “Are you okay?” He looked worried.

  “Yeah.” I spoke too soon. The mark on my chest burned my skin and I winced. Killian quickly tugged at my shirt, exposing the X. It glowed crimson red.

  He cursed and met my eyes. “He knows.”

  __________

  Killian told me it was best not to go to school. I called Mom while she was at work and faked a cough. She believed me. No, she never thought not to believe me. I realized I was lying a lot to her lately. Not something I ever did besides hiding the fact that I saw ghosts.

  I stepped in front of the mirror in my room and knew the girl I was looking at was completely different than two weeks ago. It was sad yet funny how almost getting killed repeatedly, meeting Grim Reaper, and finding out that my life was this way because a demon was after me, changed a person. The Melanie from two weeks ago was timid and afraid, not sure of anything. Or why her life was this way. She lived in constant fear every day and never knew why. And how ironic that the thing that wanted her went by the name Fear? But I wasn't her anymore.

  Now, I was sick and tired. Sick of this never-ending fear of the future. And so tired of being controlled by it. I wasn't completely clueless now. Which made things easier to accept. I finally felt like I could understand. I saw ghosts because of the contact Fear made with me when I was a child. Fear wanted me because I carried a power within me. One that I never knew about until now. And it had started to awaken inside of me. A normal human girl. That shouldn't have been possible—according to Killian. Not until my death should it had been activated.