Blessing_O

Born with an unusual birthmark, the shape of a skeleton’s head with rose patterns round about it on her neck, many believed she would only bring bad luck to those around her. This belief was solidified when two of her suitors died unexpectedly right after a visit to her home.

Such a thing should come as a bother to any woman but the same could not be said about Nyx. She didn't care if the beliefs about her were true or false. She never liked any of her suitors. Her heart had always been longing for a certain man whom she was very familiar with in her childhood but ceased to appear before her the moment she entered adolescence.

Since she knew him one thing was very certain about him, he was not human since he never aged.  Not even once. Believing he would one day come again, Nyx was prepared to wait until the day they would meet again. 

But not everything goes as planned. Having a sickly mother whose only wish was to see her daughter get married and an influential suitor who didn't mind the deaths around her, Nyx soon found herself married off and her mother passed away leaving a father who dreaded her existence and a husband she never loved.

****

From a distance he watched her grow, keeping his distance from her, staying within the shadows. As she aged slowly into adulthood, the mark on her neck became more prominent and so was her scent. He wanted her to grow, but when she finally came of age, he thought she would be better without him. But as time wore on and other men began to show interest in her, he could not hold back nor could he let them have her.

He discarded those who had an interest in her but one of them slipped through his fingers while he was away and took her. He waited to see if she was happy with her life, with that man, if she was, then he would let her be. She would be able to live a happy life this time unlike the previous one, but everything changed when the forces from the underworld learned of her existence and her connection with him.

Her husband was killed which he permitted and her life was in constant danger. Keeping the distance was no longer an option and he once again appeared before her.

DEATH'S OWN

"It's nothing, I'll be sure to thank him." Nyx said. There was relief in her voice, and Beth knew that her friend was indeed connected to that man somehow. "But are you really okay?"

"Still shaken, but I am alright. Can't sleep but alive, thanks to him," Beth replied, and Nyx hummed.

"He saved you, so they won't come after you again," Nyx said with so much certainty and believed in her voice that it left Beth perplexed. "You can sleep and not worry. Whoever Death refuses to take won't die so easily."

"What did you just say?" Beth was no fool. Those words she knew now were not just a figure of speech but the actuality. "Death…?"

"It's fine, Beth, go to sleep, we will talk some other time," Nyx said without replying to her questions. She hung up before Beth could ask any more questions, leaving Beth staring at her phone with knitted brows.

52. There Is Always A Price To Pay