He guided Willow through the bustling mall, passing by an array of shops while she looks around curiously. They had to meet up with a witch as she had something Dauði wanted, which was the reason Jack had pulled her along to the mall in Denmark where they would meet her.
He said they usually tried to get what they want this way, by working with the supernatural before just grabbing it by force. Supernaturals were already deadly afraid of reapers, and with good reason. Which is why the reapers sometimes, at times like this, reach out an olive branch, so reapers can, if ever needed, have someone to reach out to, for whatever they may need. Willow guessed it was just to make things easier than having to just take it, cause it seemed like reapers rarely would have the need to get help from other supernaturals.
"How long is there before the meeting?" Willow pulled her gaze from the clothing store he had stopped in front of to Jack.
"About half an hour," he looked around shortly before locking eyes with her as he smiled. "Wanna go around a little beforehand? I have something I need to find anyway."
"Sure, can we find something to eat? That toast with chocolate cream we got at Mia's earlier did not hold for long," Willow suggested, her gaze already scanning the bustling mall for food options. She quickly spotted a little food stand tucked away in a corner. Approaching the stand, she looked at the menu and pointed to one item. "Should we try a ristet hotdog?" She pointed at the picture of the open hotdog with pickles and onion.
"Sure, two please." He nodded at the young woman who stood behind the cashier. In a matter of a few minutes they wandered around with their sausage in a bun, looking at shops. Window shopping or not Willow just enjoyed being outside between normal humans again."Hey, can we go in here?" He pointed at a toy store, making Willow frown.
"Sure, what do you need?" She walked in after him as he headed straight for the plushies.
"Mia's birthday is the 17 next month," he mentioned casually as he scanned the aisle.
"Funny, my brothers is the 8." Willow replied, her mood dimming momentarily at the mention of her brother. Jack glanced at her briefly out of the corner of his eye before selecting a sloth plushie from the shelf. He then proceeded to the cashier. Willow looked at the polar bear plushie adorned with a red ribbon and she couldn't resist picking it up, marveling at its softness. "Cute," she mumbled to herself before gently placing it back on the shelf.
She waited for Jack outside the store, leaning against the railing as she watched the stores on the lower levels of the mall. When he eventually emerged, carrying a sizable bag, she pushed herself away from the railing.
"Any place you wanna go before we head to the meeting spot?" Jack asked as they strolled down to the lower level of the mall. Willow shook her head in response. "We're going to meet at a cafe, so if you like you can buy something to eat. Just be careful." he extended his hand toward her, and a black card glittered between his fingers.
"So you get paid?"
"I wish," he groaned dramatically. "That card to the island's bank account is so not enough for the amazing work I do," his words dripped with sarcasm, making them both chuckle.
"Anything you want?" She called out over her shoulder as she headed into the cafe.
"Anything with strawberries." He yelled after her, as he positioned himself with free view into the cafe.
A few minutes later, she came out of the shop with a cookie between her lips. Leaning against the wall in the corner, Jack nodded at her and pointed at the phone as she walked towards him with a strawberry smoothie in hand. Surveying the crowded cafe, Willow realized that all the tables were taken. With a sigh, she settled down between Jack's legs, waiting for him to finish his conversation. "Yes, Karla, I'm in the mall, are we gonna do this exchange or not? We can easily find another witch willingly." He sighed, leaning down and gesturing towards the drink with his head. She reached it up so he could take a sip. "So, are you going to come out of that bathroom and face us or not?" He gestures at the bathrooms on the other side of the cafe with a clear view from where they are.
The door to the cafe bathroom creaked open, and a young woman emerged, her eyes immediately locking onto Jack and Willow. Even from her seat, Willow could see the tremble in the woman's fingers as she stashed her phone into the bag clutched tightly against her chest.
"She's terrified,"
"I'm a reaper, I would be concerned if she wasn't." Jack grunted, as he gave the woman a nod towards a table that just got free. Willow almost felt sorry when she saw the woman fumble her way towards them. Once they were all seated, Karla's gaze remained fixed on Jack, interrupted only by a few confused glances in Willow's direction. " You know, I know I'm handsome but even I will get embarrassed if you stare at me so intensely."
Karla's face contorted slightly, and Willow noticed her grip tightening around her bag. "Just-just so you know I have a knife." She stammered.
He leaned forward with a raised brow. "Yeah, and I have an attitude, how about we both for the time being act like they don't exist?" He leaned back in the seat, his posture relaxed as he waved at her bag, but Willow felt his hand against hers the second she said knife. "Do you have it or not?"
Karla pulled three round glass bottles from her bag, each containing a greenish substance. She placed them on the table, her uncertainty palpable.
"As-as promised, they will hide any soul as a human one for three days," she pushed them across the table, while Willow frowned confused. A potion that can make your soul appear electric blue like a humans? How is that even possible, and what does Dauði want with them? "You will hold your end of the deal if I provide these, right?"
"Of course, the deal was a favor of your choice for deliveries of these every month for the next 16 months." Jack pushed one towards her. "Drink it."
"What?" Karla looked at the bottle with bewilderment.
"I know the sacrifice for having to be able to make the potion, and know you know how to do it due to knowing Nadia who invented this potion, which is the reason we reached out to you specifically. But that doesn't mean we don't wanna make sure you actually did it properly." He raised a brow, waving at the bottle. "Drink it, prove you did it correctly."
Karla hesitated, licking her lips nervously. With trembling fingers, she removed the cork and, after a brief glance at Willow, brought the bottle to her lips, draining its contents. She grimaced and then placed the now empty bottle on the table. Jack studied her for a moment before letting out a satisfied grunt and stowing the remaining bottles in the bag.
"It was a pleasure doing business with you Karla. Remember, one favor," Jack stated, rising from his seat and gently nudging Willow to do the same. "Use it wisely." He placed a hand on Willow's lower back and guided her away, a satisfied grin dancing on his lips as they disappeared from Karla's sight.
"Oh, by the way," As they walked away from the cafe, Jack reached into the bag and pulled out a Cocio, handing it to Willow. She accepted it with a chuckle.
"I think I have to marry you now," she laughed as she took it. A little grin flashed over his face as he turned his head slightly away from her while shaking his head. "You better stop being so nice to me, cause I might start to think you actually like me."
"We couldn't have that, now could we, sunshine." He chuckled, taking the smoothie from her. She pondered slightly by the word sunshine but decided to let it go.
"Can the potion really alter the appearance of a soul?" She asked curiously, taking a sip.
"Yeah, a witch named Nadia Crowford figured out a way a couple hundred years ago, due to Lucifer asking her." He took a sip of the smoothie as he reached for her hand. " Nadia, until now was the only one who had ever made it, due to the sacrifice. Luckily for us she had once told Karla who was in the same Klóren clan as her how to do it."
"What sacrifice?" Willow asked curiously, as they headed for the exit. He squirmed slightly under her gaze before mumbling.
"Infertility, they will give up their fertility."
"Damn..." Willow looked back towards the cafe.
"Yeah, why only Nadia have made it till now," he leads her into the circular door and then towards the parking lot. "Anything you wanna do before heading back? We still have a few minutes left." Willow shook her head, and as they passed by a sizable car in the parking lot, she blinked, and the next moment, they were standing in the throne room where she had previously met Death. Ian was already there, awaiting their arrival.
"He's running late, he had some business," Ian said, resting his hands behind his back as he looked at the throne.
"Give me a sec, I have to pick something up from my room." Jack said, releasing Willow's hand before he vanished. She yawned and glanced at the clock on the wall, noticing it was already past eleven on the island. She absentmindedly twirled a lock of her hair while she waited.
"Tired?" Ian gave her a sweet smile as she nodded. "Don't worry, this should be a quick meeting, nothing to be nervous about." His eyes was on her fingers twirling her hair.
She gave him a quick smile, feeling slightly reassured. Even though she had met Dauði before, was it still nerve wracking to have to do it again. It had surprised her when Jack said that Dauði had asked her to be there under this meeting.
Just then, Jack reappeared beside her, holding the bottles in his hands with a pleased smile.
"Bring me the bottles," Dauði's command echoed through the room. Willow's head snapped toward the throne where Death now sat, his posture relaxed. Quickly, she followed the others' movements and bowed her head. Jack walked over to the throne and placed the bottles into Dauði's outstretched hand. "Good job, Jack," Dauði commended, and the bottles vanished from his hand. Jack bowed his head shortly once more before walking back to Willow's side.
"The CrÃdose witch has agreed to do the deal and will provide the potions." Jack reported with a serious tone.
"Of course she has, it would have been unwise not to," Death chuckled, rhythmically bobbing his foot. His gaze landed on Willow, sending a thrilling shiver through her body, just like the last time. Goosebumps formed on her arms. His eyes were as beautiful as she remembered, his voice equally alluring. "Hello again Willow, I take it you are getting along well with the others?" He titled his head slightly.
"Yes, my dark lord Dauði, thank you for asking." She avoided his eyes, knowing she would be sucked into the beauty laying hidden in them once again if she didn't. "And I would like to thank you for letting me see my family one last time."
"How about Jack, is he treating you well?" He leaned slightly forward, his tone curious as if he knew a secret the others didn't.
Before she could answer Ian said. "As good as any reaper would treat their companion."
Dauði's lips curled into an enigmatic smile as his eyes went from Willow to Jack, and then he leaned back.
"Ian, take Willow to her chamber, I have something to talk with Jack about, alone." His tone suddenly changed to serious.
The room fell silent before Ian with a nod said.
"Of course, Dauði." He reached for Willow with stiff movements. In the matter of a second they stood outside her room.
"Why does Death need to talk to Jack alone?" She frowned, as Ian slid his fingers through his hair, lips pressed in a grim line.
"I don't know, but I tend to find out. Go to sleep Willow and get some rest." Ian ruffled her hair and vanished. Willow touched the pendant around her neck, feeling a sense of unease due to Ian's expression. She shook her head, trying to ignore the feeling as she opened her door.
Inside, she found Jane and another girl tidying up her room. The younger girl spoke with a friendly smile,
"Give us a second miss Willow and we will be out of your hair," she dusted off her shelves.
"You know, I can do it myself, it's no troub-"
"It is our duty, miss Willow." Jane interrupted with a grunt. "Please refrain from making it any harder than it is."
Willow walked into the room, and something new on her bed caught her eyes. Between her panda and the old teddy bear now sat the polar bear she had admired in the store. She picked it up with wide eyes.
"Master Jack put it there, Miss Willow." The girl said, upon seeing Willow's surprised expression. A soft smile formed on her lips as she gently put it back in place, surprised he noticed her interest in it. "Have a nice night, Miss Willow." She bowed her head and followed Jane who was already on her way out of the room.
Willow quickly hoped in the bath.
About twenty minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom, feeling refreshed and ready for bed. She glanced briefly at the door leading to the balcony, considering going to see Jack, but ultimately decided against it. Instead, she slid under the duvet, holding onto the polar bear. In a matter of seconds, she heard the soft tunes of the violin, and with a little smile, she drifted into sleep.