5 Welcome to the world of death

"What!?" Both of them exclaimed at the same time looking at Schoel and then at each other.

Azrael glared at him with the most hostile look ever as if she would throw him into the pits of hell and let every force torture him.

The thought of him having the most torturous second death, made him shudder. August shook his head to not imagine further. He gave Schoel a questioning gaze, he didn't understand why someone would make such an absurd order. Was he doing it purposefully to give him hell for his sin? Was it because he stole fruits from his neighbour's garden?

"No, it's not because you stole fruits from your neighbour's garden," Schoel replied, shaking his head. A small sigh left his mouth before walking up close to August. August flinched, a bit scared that Schoel might send him somewhere if he doesn't agree.

"Relax." He grabbed his arm seeing him stressed out. "Here is a deal for you," Schoel spoke, moving a bit closer, his eyes narrowed and serious.

"You can either marry her and get five more years to live and change your fate or accept your present." He explained, looking at Azrael once and then continuing. "Just to be clear, self-harm is a pretty big sin…"

Schoel moved closer to him and whispered in his ears,"...and I know self-harm is not the only sin you committed." Finishing his words he walked back off, with a polite smile reappearing on his face.

Whereas August's eyes broadened in disbelief. Those last words were enough to make him fear each and every bone of his. He looked at the man, face turning ghostly pale as if life sucked out of him.

'He knows!' Those two words repeated in his mind. Again why was he surprised, how can secrets like those be hidden from Schoel?

"This is absurd!!" Azrael rebels brought him back to his senses but he remained silent. He has no say in it, if he doesn't agree his sins will be out if not…

August shifted his eyes towards Azrael, he had not seen someone so furious. Her grey eyes turned darker than ever. She was somehow holding herself from not spilling blood.

"Then tell me how can someone without a soul fight the oldest vengeance spirit ever to roam the earth?" Schoel coldly asked. He was neither angry nor tried to point it out.

Azrael gritted her teeth at his question, answering nothing. Clasping her fingers into a fist, dissatisfaction was clear in her eyes but she had no counter-attack.

Satisfied by Azrael's silence, Schoel turned back to August with a sweet smile. "I think you agree with my plan or we can spill…"

"I agree!" August cut him off in between. This was his last chance to hide the truth and if it means signing a deal with him or marrying a grim reaper, he agrees. He has the burden of changing one's sin and he would do anything.

A satisfied smile appeared on Schoel and ignoring Azrael he announced, "Good then. I will ask Cora to prepare for the wedding. After all, a grim reaper should look like a bride too." Saying that he walked away without even listening to Azrael's pleas.

Once he left, Azrael glared at August, she was storming. Walking closer to him, she pinned him onto the wall with one hand around his neck and the other on the wall.

"Do you even know marrying a grim reaper means sharing your soul with them? And if I die you too!" Azrael's grip hardened as those words came out of her mouth.

The last thing she wanted to do was put one more person in danger. She was dead, anything she does will only bring demise. He and even…them.

Her face turned scared, she glanced at struggling August. 'He will die too like them.' She bit her lips, unknown of what to do to make him change the decision. Dejected with no idea she let go of him. Maybe he will change his mind when he sees her life.

August may have heard of grim reapers but he still doesn't know who, what or how they are. They take away the dead. But they also have secrets, powers, and curses in the darkness.

And being a groom or bride of a grim reaper meant they will be exposed to those curses and the world unaware of mankind.

Hellfire was just an example of it and it was nothing in front of their other powers. But, the bond between the grim reaper and their significant other was like give and take. They share one soul and the other one gets to use their powers. It didn't sound bad until those powers became a curse.

"I am already dead. If I get a chance to live and even if it means marrying a supernatural being I agree." August spoke out in a serious tone. Just moments ago he was accepting his fate but he still hoped for a miracle and knew that it came, he was not going to let it go or that's the lie he wished to go with.

Azrael scoffed, not even wanting to believe his words. A guy who killed himself still wishes to live, it's a lie. She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him. She was wrong, humans will always be fools, lusting on greed. She despises them more than anything.

Her gaze veered upon him cold as a glacier. Her grey eyes sucked his soul, "Fine then. Since that's what you want, better brace yourself." Azrael coldly warned him. August feared those eyes of hers, yet he still managed to nod to her.

"Welcome to the world of death." Azrael let out an evil smile before walking past him to her table and picking up one of the books she walked up in the other direction. Just before reaching the large door, she turned back.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up!"