The Day Death Died

The Day Death Died - Chapter 21

Edwin stared at the boots and hiking packs in my hands when he came back, his expression a mix of disbelief and resignation. With a heavy sigh, he took his pack and accepted his fate of trudging through the rugged wilderness.

"We could still take the portal," he muttered under his breath.

"No," I replied, firm. "For a few reasons. One, we'll end up scaring Nyx again. Two, it'll be fun."

"Fun?" Edwin raised an eyebrow. "I don't know about you, but hiking across an island to find the Goddess of Night and her mother, the Goddess of Chaos, doesn't exactly scream 'fun' to me."

I smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "It'll be good for us to get some sunshine."

He gave me a deadpan look. "Maddy, we're Grim Reapers. We're not meant to get sunshine and have fun. We have a job to do."

"We can have fun while doing our job." I turned to face him fully. "Look, I know this isn't what we're supposed to be doing, but after everything I've been through, I need a break. Just for a day. Maybe three. While we look for these goddesses." I sighed, realizing how much I was asking of him. "If you want to leave, you can. I won't stop you. I can figure things out on my own."

He rolled his eyes and shook his head, softening slightly. "No, I'm not going to just leave you. I'm sorry, Maddy. This... it's just not something I've done before."

"Thank you." I smiled, grateful for his presence.

"I got us a room," he said, gesturing to the side street. "Let's get some sleep before we set off in the morning."

Edwin led me to a beautiful hotel hidden away in the heart of the village. The sign above the door read The Olive Press, and I was instantly charmed by the rustic, old-world feel of the place. It looked like it had been standing there for centuries, sturdy and unassuming.

Stepping inside, the air was thick with the scent of freshly pressed olives, and the hum of quiet machinery drifted from some hidden corner of the building. Shelves lined the walls, filled with bottles of olive oil that shimmered with a faint, magical glow, jars of olives, and other local products that seemed to vibrate with energy.

The owners, an older couple with knowing eyes, greeted us with warm smiles. The woman held out a plate of homemade bread and olive oil, and I couldn't resist taking a piece. The rich, fruity flavor exploded in my mouth, and for a brief moment, I forgot about the looming mission ahead.

But only for a moment.

After settling into our room—a simple but cozy space with two beds facing a window that overlooked a vast olive grove—I collapsed onto the mattress, my exhaustion catching up with me. The second my head hit the pillow, I was out cold.

The sun was already high in the sky when I woke the next morning, casting long shadows across the room. I stretched, feeling more rested than I had in weeks. Edwin sat near the window, staring out at the olive grove below. His usual smirk was missing, replaced by something... softer.

"You okay?" I asked, my voice still groggy with sleep.

He nodded but didn't turn around. "Yeah. Just thinking."

I frowned, getting out of bed and walking toward him. "About what?"

His jaw tightened for a moment, like he wasn't sure if he should speak. Finally, he sighed. "When I was alive, I always promised my wife we'd go on an adventure together. Somewhere far away and... incredible."

I felt a pang of sadness in my chest. "You didn't get to?"

He shook his head, a shadow passing over his face. "No. The disease came too quickly. Took us both."