Reset

Showers and Contracts

Water gushed over my body as I scrubbed at the dirt and blood on me. Pale skin was hidden under the layer of dirt I had gathered from visiting the pigman. Red stained water pooled at my feet and my vision returned in my left eye. I sighed and mentally began planning for the week I would spend avoiding anything to do with the Prince. 

Part one had gone partially smoothly, I had stirred a storm that would be released later but now I had to create the calm. No major killings, no fighting, and no 'playing' with the guards. 

This week was set up to be boring. 

Turning the water off, I stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel which I wrapped around my body. Grim's healings had removed multiple scars from my body which I was thankful for. Drip. Drip. Drip. My wet hair was hanging loosely and making a puddle on the floor even though I had wrung it out in the shower. 

I padded over to the door and let my hand rest on the handle for a few seconds. If my appearance was released to the public... Before I let the thought get to me, I pushed down on the handle. The door squeaked as I pushed it open. Grim was lying on the bed with a magazine in his hands, waiting for me to come out. 

"Any clothe-" A bundle of fabric hit me in my face and muffled the end of my question. The bundle fell to the floor and I had to awkwardly kneel to pick them up. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Grim's eyes never left his magazine as he continued to flip the pages. Making sure all the clothes weren't going to fall onto the floor, I re-entered the bathroom. I let my towel fall to the floor and picked up my underwear. 

"Have you got my watch?" Once again I was out of the bathroom, only this time I was fully clothed. Grim was still reading and simply held out his hand with my pocket watch sitting in his palm. Tick. Tick. Tick. I snatched it from his hand and proceeded to sit on the end of the bed. "What are we going to do today?"

"The watch tower needs some more fixing and there's a party tomorrow night at the bar." I began to feel a pressure on the walls of my mind whilst Grim talked about our options for the week to come. Prodding and poking searched the wall for cracks and it irritated me. 

Get out Owen. I forcefully shoved the prince from my mind and absentmindedly traced my contract. I wondered if Owen had a contract with anyone yet or if he was still hanging in the balance between heaven and hell. I had been in the same place once. Before I almost died at the hands of an angel. 

Reapers ferryed the Runed to the underworld where demons sorted through their souls, whereas angels transported the Miaths straight to the overworld. I was caught between them and ended up in a fight where a deranged angel tried to forcefully take my soul to the overworld without consulting the demons to decide if that was where I belonged. Grim incidentally came for my soul on the same day. If Grim hadn't showed up when he did, I wouldn't have left alive. 

To save my soul, Grim made a contract with me; I work for him and help kill those due to die. In return, I could have my life.