The 'Rogue' at the End of the Tunnel

18. The Unpredictable Game of Fate

"What the heck just happened?" I complain looking at the Grim Reaper who was ready to get out of this place.

"What do mean? I have been crying for like forty-five minutes and you just go out like it's nothing without giving me an explanation?" I throw at him frustratedly at the turn of events. I mean I am happy that Linda is going to be around for some more time, but I needed explanation at least, on why my tears just got wasted, I felt my cheeks heat for crying like a fool. I mean I had no regrets though. 

"Ugh, one more reason to hate my job. Why do I even need to explain someone when the mistake was from the higher ups?" He looks at me annoyedly and then continues.

"Whatever." He shrugs before he continues.

"See little girl." He starts. It felt weird how a guy who looks twenty-three calls a nineteen-year-old me a 'little girl'.

"The thing is, I receive the letter that contains the info on the soul I am supposed take. It's normal how any new employ or intern or maybe an old experienced one, messes up the slightest detail and leads us to the wrong soul. This time, the letter gave me the wrong address, it was supposed to be a Linda Lowell, seventy-six years old, in some other corner of the world. The point is that this Linda Lowell is still six months away from turning seventy-six. Now, due to this little mistake the job was passed on to the Reaper who is located closer to the seventy-six-year-old Linda. Had I taken this woman's soul; I would have committed a grave sin and would have to face the consequences of changing the world's balance." He finally halts his rambling. 

The room goes silent. Of course, what do you expect, the atmosphere had grown awkward since nobody knew what to say or do anymore. 

"So, I get to live another day, well good for me." Linda comments uncertainly breaking the silence. 

"It seems so." Blade adds quickly before another silence follows.

"May be another ten years at most or two months at the least." Triston informs.

"You didn't need to say that." I mutter a little annoyed. 

"All's well that ends well." Blade concludes maturely.

I turn to look at him with a huge grin on my face. I hurriedly engulf Linda in a hug, relieved and all. We bid her goodbye since staying there would pressure her into cooking us a belated lunch. Also not before, Triston uses a spell to erase or more like alter her memories of him and my wasted tears. 'Perks', is how he words it.

Once we are out, my phone starts to buzz in my pocket. Ahh my phone, I missed it. When I take a look at the screen, I realize that I had also missed this one call. The screen read 'Ann'.

"Hello, bud. Missed you so much." I am greeted with a cheerful voice of Anna.

"Yeah, me to." I reply while Blade brings my stuffs out of my apartment. I look at Triston who spoke on the phone with someone, he watched me with a weird reaction I couldn't really comprehend.

"Well, I heard from Amelia that you went back to your apartment to get your things, coincidentally I was heading for quick lunch at "Olives", so I thought if you were still close by, we could meet up." She invites. I feel delighted at the thought of meeting her. The last time we met, I neither got a chance to bid her goodbye nor apologize for the ruckus I had created. Oh, and I had to ask about Ty's whereabouts. I look at Blade who was now standing in front of me. He nods in agreement as it was only about twenty minutes from here by car.

"Yep, sure. See you in five." I excitedly declare and put my phone in the pocket. Triston who seemed to have completed his discussion walks towards us. 

"This leads to a ton of paperwork. Another reason I hate this job of mine. I hate my life." He sighs. 
I look at him with pity, and a little curiously as I never knew Grim Reapers had it this rough. He seemed overworked and tired. 

"Have you had your lunch?" I ask him. 

"No, not yet. This was supposed to be fifth soul today. I thought of catching up on my lunch after this." He replies looking at his watch.

"You should join us; they really have the tastiest beef steeks." I invite him enthusiastically.

"Yes, sure." He agrees way too soon. I find it quite odd though. 

****

We arrive at the place; the car ride was noisy as I never seized shooting questions at Triston since I was curious about his job. It was quite nice how he didn't have that poker face on, and his answers were detailed. At one of point he even referred the Demon Lord attitude as 'insanely stupid' when he explained about how he became the captain. I learnt that, even a little expression during work hours could cost them their lives. He also told me that, after claiming a soul they had paperwork to do. However, a mishap meant a load of paperwork. Wow, he had it rough. Well, pay was something that kept them from complaining, it seems.

I liked this place a lot because it wasn't too packed, and atmosphere was calm, and everything here was made of wood. The walls, floor, the tables, the chairs and even the outside was all wood. It gave me a sense of home. The interior had a comfy look to it. 

As I enter, I take no time in finding Anna who had already reserved a table, and she was waving at me frantically. I start to run towards her, when Blade enters behind me. I reach the table, as I settle on the chair next to her, she suddenly sniffs the air. Her head snaps towards what she seems to have sniffed, I look at the one who made the entrance, to find Triston, who stared at Anna like he had found something he had been searching all his life. 

Blade takes a seat opposite me. He nonchalantly picks up the menu and starts flipping through it. I role my eyes at his attitude, so Rogue King like. 

Triston was the first one to snap out of his trance. He walked up to us with a straight face and took a seat next to Blade. That said, he sat facing Anna who seemed to have gained her composure back. Blade asks everyone what they wanted to have and ordered for everyone. Anna and Triston both played it off like nothing ever happened. They were so good at it that I was doubting myself. She had started rambling about the day's events, but her eyes would find Triston's every now and then. And that is when I decide to test it out. My theory of them being mates. 

"Oh, I forgot to introduce you. This is my mate Rogue King, as you know. And Blade, this is Evanna Hunter, my best friend since childhood." I speak. They hadn't met officially. They shake their hands. Triston's eyes rest at their hands for a second.

"And Anna this is Triston, a friend of Blade's also the Captain of Grim Reapers." I inform. 

I look intensely at every one of their movements as they shake hands. And Anna bites back an involuntary gasp that confirms my suspicion.

What's more, Triston's dark eyes glow and turn into a smokey greyish shade. 

"Mate" He growls lowly.

"Mate" I hear Anna agree, in a small but dreamy voice.

"Ahh, The unpredictable game of fate." My mate adds in a mature way as always, still looking as handsome as ever, flipping the menu never raising his head.