The Healer (Death/Muerte x Female!reader)

Chapter 16: Bad People

"Why are you guys in our house?" Julie's sweet little voice asked innocently as the blonde haired woman in black leather armour forced Julie's mothers into the pantry. While being ruthlessly demanding and threatening, Gretel never put her hands on either of the women. Hansel walks over to Julie and picks her up, shifting her weight onto his hip. "Liebling, we don't want to hurt you or your family. We're after a different person. While my sister is mean, we don't hurt innocent women or children." Julie looks up at him confused. "Then why are you putting my mama's in the pantry? Can't they sit in their room?" He chuckles and sets her down. "Actually, one of them has a baby in her tummy and the other wants to get mad and fight. We don't want either of them getting hurt, so we're putting them somewhere safe, yeah?" Julie's eyes go big and she smiles big. "One of my mommies has a baby in her tummy?!" Clearly not understanding the situation, the little begins to clap her hands and jump around excitedly. Hansel just laughs at her, patting her on the head. Night was fast approaching, so he let Julie into the pantry with her mothers who hugged her tightly in relief she was unharmed. "My apologies for my sister. She can be a bit over the top." Hansel says with as much kindness as he could as he sets a small pile of pillows and blankets in front of them. He turns away and leaves, shutting and locking the pantry door, leaving them in darkness. 

Cody gently placed the bloodied letter into your shaking hands. The corners of the envelope are slightly bent and crushed, yet still unopened. Your eyes fill with tears. "W-when was the last time you guys saw them? How did they get this?" Corlis cups your face in an effort to calm you. "Calm down, hija. We personally hand delivered that to them. We watched Julie open it and read it." You look at her, tears pouring down your cheeks. It didn't make sense. How could they do it? Looking at the letter in your hands, a thought crosses your mind. You gently pull away from Corlis and go to Maori. "Mama, has somebody tampered with this? With magic I mean?" Her eyes fill with tears at hearing you call her mama, though she quickly shakes this away so she can help you. Grabbing the paper from your hands, her eyes start glowing pink as a black tendril like smoke engulfs the envelope and starts snaking up Maoris' arm. She screams and drops it,her fingers looking like she dipped them in tar. Her right eyeball turns into a solid black sphere before an inklike substance gushes from her eye socket. She shrieks, holding her hand tightly to herself as she shakes in pain. Corlis runs over to her and goes to grab her, only for Maori to back away from her. "NO! Stop, it's black magic! Don't touch me, it could kill you!" She grunts, gritting her teeth as she whimpers in pain. "Maori, it could kill you! What should I do?!" As panic sets in for Corlis, Muerte walks over to Maori. "Please give me your hand!" She looks at him, scared. "But-!" "Please trust me!" He offers his paw, a desperate almost scared look on his own face. She looks at his paw, shaking in agony. "O-okay." She places her hand into his paw, which he immediately folds his other paw over as well. He closes his eyes for a moment, folding back his ear in concentration. Corlis stands by, trembling as tears fall down her face. You and Cody hold her, watching and hoping Maori would be okay. Muerte's eyes open and turn black. He then pulls his paws away from Maori, he hand no longer black though her eye remains the same.Just as he lets go, she collapses to the floor, just barely being caught by Cody. Muerte falls to one knee, panting heavy as his eyes slowly turn red again.  You go to his side, putting your hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" He turns to look at you, a tired smile on his face, "I'm fine, she should be too. I couldn't save her eye though, it is scarred. I'm so sorry-!" Corlis, who was holding Maori while Cody went to get a cloth to wet, put her hand up to silence him. "Please don't apologize. You saved her, that's more than enough. Thank you, Muerte." She looked at him with tears in her eyes, nodding at him respectfully. He nods back before turning to the letter. He grabs it before standing up. He walks to a candle and holds the paper over the flame. The entire envelope turns black but doesn't burn. Running a finger over the paper, soot comes off showing it's unharmed. "Why would they go through the process of putting a charm on something like this?" Muerte questions, confused. Cody returns with a damp rag and places it over Maori's forehead. Corlis had cleaned the black ooze off of Maori's sleeping face before leaning back and closing her eyes. You crouch down next to Maori, looking down sadly. "I'm so sorry-." Corlis placed a finger over your lips. "Please. It's not your fault. You would never hurt us, we know that. I promise, nobody's upset with you hija." She smiles at you, patting your shoulder. Smiling sadly at her, you stand up and go back to Muerte. "Mi amor, can we talk?" He had put the envelope in his poncho and looked up at you. Nodding, he gently grabs your hand and walks to the guest room with you. 

"No! You're fucking loca if you think I'm letting you leave here alone!" You flinched, not used to him raising his voice. "Honey, please just listen-." He turned away from you, yelling and cursing in Spanish. He turned back to you, growling. You look up at him, trembling slightly. Despite being scared, you weren't about to budge. The atmosphere in the room was tense, neither of you willing to speak. You gently set your hand on the side of his face. "Mi amor. People are getting hurt because of me. I don't want to be the reason somebody dies. Please let me do this." He looks deeply into your eyes, placing his paw over your shaking hand. After a pause, he sighs. "What kind of mate would I be if I let you do this alone? What would I do if something happened to you? What would Maori or Corlis do? Please. Let me help you." You hug him, tearing up. Letting out a sigh, you cup his face. "Okay. But you're not allowed to get hurt, got it?!" He chuckles, kissing your nose. "I won't get hurt, mi vida. Nor will you." 

Muerte had decided that you two would leave at dawn to get to Julie as fast as you could. You had discovered a teleportation spell that you'd planned on using to your advantage. Corlis had mixed up a bunch of potions and things for you so you'd be able to protect yourself. She and Cody were staying to watch over Maori and the village. After everybody had gone to bed that night, you stealthily started packing your travel bag. Tying it shut before throwing it over your shoulder. You went to Muerte and planted a gentle kiss on his forehead. "I'm sorry, amor. I won't put you at risk." You back away from him. Your eyes start to glow (f/c) and you run your fingers along the wall in the shape of a doorway. A portal that looked like a galaxy opened before you. Taking one last glance back at Muerte, you put the hood of your cloak up and step through.