Chapter 32: Burn the World for You

DANICA

I wandered aimlessly through the park, but Death was nowhere to be found. I paced, waiting, hoping for a glimpse of him, but he remained elusive. With a heavy heart, I trudged back home.

There was nothing else to do, really. I needed to see Death. That was my only focus, my only need.

Without him, I was lost, unsure of my next move. The transition was unbearable, and I wasn’t sure I could survive another day of it.

Suddenly, as I walked along the sidewalk, a figure fell into step beside me. His sudden appearance startled me.

“What can I help you with, love?” he asked, sensing my desperation. “I felt you were looking for me.”

I kept walking, not wanting to appear as though I was talking to thin air. “Can you talk to the dead?” I asked, cutting straight to the chase.

He seemed intrigued by my question. “There’s a chance I can bring back a soul for a short time. Why?” he responded, his voice curt.

“I need you to ask a few things to the last celestial ruler, Eudora Atlas,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I can try to let you speak with her yourself, but I can’t guarantee success,” he warned. “She died a long time ago and the longer someone is dead, the further they travel.”

“Then what about Elena Atlas? She died pretty recently,” I suggested, a glimmer of hope in my voice.

“Danica, even as Death, I can’t just summon any soul you ask for. It’s risky, and it’s not my purpose. I’m here to safeguard souls, not disturb them. You have to choose one. I’ve only brought back a handful of souls in my time, and it’s never well-received by the powers that be. I’ve seen too much to defy them,” he explained, leaving me in a quandary.

Elena hadn’t completed her transition, but she could communicate with me. Eudora had completed her transition, but she was far away…

Death watched me wrestle with my decision. “I’ll bring them both in an hour. Until then, you have time to decide. Ask Celeste and Hugo what they think,” he suggested before disappearing into the crowd.

I continued my walk home, my steps unsteady, my mind racing. The fear of choosing the wrong one was overwhelming. This could be my only chance. And time was running out.

I pushed open the front door, noting Daisy’s car still parked outside. Hugo and Celeste approached me, trying to appear nonchalant, but I knew they were just as anxious as I was.

I didn’t say anything, just walked into the living room and collapsed onto the couch, exhaling deeply.

“Did you see him?” Hugo asked, Daisy hovering nearby.

I nodded. “He said I can only speak with one soul,” I admitted.

Daisy looked puzzled. “Did you need more?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.

“Apparently, if I want to speak with Eudora, it will be extremely difficult and might not even work because she died a long time ago. It’s still worth the risk, but I thought I could also speak with Elena.” I buried my face in my hands, feeling the weight of the decision. “I really need to speak with Eudora, but what if it’s all for nothing? I think Elena knew something more too, but how much would she actually tell me? Eudora could tell me more…”

“You could speak with Elena?” Daisy asked, stepping closer.

I looked up at her and saw a spark of hope in her eyes. Elena meant a lot to Daisy, and I knew choosing Eudora would hurt her.

“It’s not a family reunion,” Hugo snapped, causing Daisy to lower her gaze. “You still wouldn’t be able to see her, it doesn’t matter anyway.”

“But she could relay a few things…from me,” Daisy murmured, her eyes downcast, clearly uncomfortable with her request. I shouldn’t have mentioned it in front of her.

“It’s Danica’s choice,” Hugo retorted, his irritation evident. He had no reason to be so hostile. He clearly disliked Daisy and made no effort to hide it.

“But I don’t know what to do,” I interjected, cutting Hugo off. He was mistaken if he thought I was capable of making the right choice. “This could be my only chance. I need to figure it out because Death will be here soon.” I stood up and began pacing, tugging at my sleeves nervously. “What would you do?” I asked, turning to Hugo.

“Eudora. But I also don’t know how it’s even possible to talk to her, I don’t even know how it works,” he admitted, his confidence wavering.

But before he could say more, Celeste stepped in. “Why throw away your shot on something so uncertain? Eudora might be unreachable, and Elena might not have any more information than we do…” Celeste’s words weren’t exactly comforting.

I glanced at Daisy, but she just nodded, understanding that her decision would be based purely on her own desires. With a frown she tried to hide, she left the room.

Suddenly, the sound of unfamiliar footsteps echoed in the room. I looked up to see Death standing between Hugo and Celeste. “It’s time,” he announced.

Hugo’s gaze followed mine, and even Celeste took a few steps back from where I was looking.

Hugo cleared his throat. “Is that…?” he asked, pointing at Death, though I assumed he was just pointing at thin air.

I nodded in response. I turned to Celeste. “Can we use your study?” I asked.

“Of course, darling,” Celeste replied, avoiding my gaze and the spot where Death stood.

“I thought she’d be more welcoming, maybe offer me a sandwich. I guess I’ve lost my charm,” Death joked.

I wasn’t in the mood for humor. I led Death to Celeste’s study, making sure the doors were securely closed.

“Have you made your decision?” he asked.

I hadn’t, but I knew I had to make a choice. He pulled out two clear glass containers from his coat, each filled with a nearly white mist and labeled with a name.

I met Death’s gaze. He knew I was torn. I took a deep breath and risked everything.

I reached for the container labeled with the name I was willing to risk everything for. Death glanced at me. “Are you sure?” he asked.

I wasn’t, but I needed her. “Yes,” I replied.

He gestured for me to sit at the table. He put the other container back in his pocket and began to unscrew the lid of the one I’d chosen.

“Don’t be scared, and try not to make any sudden movements. This is difficult enough as it is,” Death advised. He stood across from me, placing the container on the table and holding the lid with a trembling hand.

Suddenly, his face began to change. It morphed into a black skeleton with hollow eyes. I was frozen in place, unable to move.

This was Death. This was how I’d always imagined Death to look—dark, decayed, yet still my father.

His skeletal hand conjured a black mist on the table, and he slowly opened the lid. The room’s lights flickered on and off, and a woman materialized from the mist escaping the container.

Her form was faint, but I could almost make out her face. Death held her in place with chains made of black smoke.

The woman let out a chilling scream. I saw Death struggling to keep her restrained.

I knew I had to act quickly. I looked up at her, my hands gripping the armrests of my chair.

“Eudora Atlas!” I shouted.

Her eyes found mine. She looked me over, her screams subsiding, but she continued to struggle against her chains.

She leaned in close, her face flickering in and out of focus. But she was beautiful.

“Sky is falling,” she whispered.

“How do I survive?” I asked, but she didn’t respond.

“How does one endure the transition?” I yelled, desperate for answers. “Why did you die? Tell me!”

“You live as Atlas,” she replied, but it didn’t answer my question.

In a matter of seconds, Death had her back in the container. His face returned to its normal appearance, but he was breathing heavily.

She hadn’t answered my questions… She hadn’t helped me. I broke down, burying my face in my hands.

I felt Death’s hand on my back, comforting me. “I’m sorry, my love,” he said, stroking my back as I sobbed.

I had tried so hard to be strong, to be this brave girl I’d never been and maybe never would be.

The door opened, and I looked up to see Hugo, his face filled with concern, approaching me. I turned back, but Death was gone.

I stood and ran into Hugo’s arms.

“What happened?” he asked softly, stroking my hair.

“I’m supposed to live like Atlas?” I blurted out, tears streaming down my face. I was lost, confused.

Atlas bore the weight of the heavens on his shoulders, but how was I supposed to do that?

“I chose Eudora,” I confessed, my eyes wide with panic as I looked at him. “I screwed up!” I sobbed. “I can’t do this… I’ll never be able to do this.”

He held my trembling hands in his, trying to reassure me. “You didn’t screw anything up. It’s okay, we’ll figure it out,” he said, but I just shook my head.

“I’m terrified,” I admitted, my tears flowing freely.

Hugo didn’t respond, and I knew there was nothing he could say to make this better. There was no magic phrase to make me feel okay again… I was doomed…

His hands gently cradled my face, his eyes meeting mine with a softness that made my heart ache. “I know, I’m scared too,” he confessed.

His cologne filled my senses, intoxicating me. Or maybe I was just too weak to resist the feelings he stirred in me.

That’s why I didn’t want him close. He made me feel vulnerable and helpless.

I had a feeling he wasn’t too fond of the closeness either.

He pulled me into a tight embrace, my body pressed against his. As his face buried in my neck, I felt his lips press a single kiss that stole my breath away.

His lips moved to my ear, his words a whisper that sent chills down my spine. “If you had any other guardian, he would protect you until there were no other options. I’ll do it until there’s nothing left. I’ll burn the world and myself in it for you,” he promised.

“What about the rest of the world?” I asked, my voice shaky as I felt his breath on my skin.

“I never cared about the world. But you…you gave me a reason to pretend I did,” he admitted, his voice faltering. “You scare me. With your touch. If only you knew how easily you control me.”

A feeling stirred within me, a warning. “Hugo, you should leave,” I managed to say, even though every part of me wanted him to stay.

His grip tightened, only intensifying my torment, and his lips moved to my collarbone.

This was dangerous. Us. It wasn’t possible.

I grabbed his shoulders, pulling back with all the strength I could muster. I wanted nothing more than to be in his arms, but I was pushing him away.

His eyes met mine, disappointment clear in them, but he understood. He knew this couldn’t last.

Before he left, he leaned in one last time. “I love you, Danica Murrell, and no matter how far away I am, that will never change. I’ve been yours since day one,” he said, his words piercing me.

A bitter smile played on his lips. “You asked me about loneliness. I never knew what it was until I met you. Now I feel it all the time. Because that’s the price I pay to keep you safe. My loneliness for your safety. And I’d give so much more. Because no world will ever matter more to me than you.”