The Mirror

Chapter 7: Truce

Chapter 7:

  Truce                

            Selene had fallen into a pattern the next week when she would return to the land of the dead with Dante. She would eat before she left, nod to Death as he sat behind his desk, and then retreat to her room for the rest of the evening, leaving a note on her door for whoever came to retrieve her for dinner. When the next week came and Selene began to this pattern again Death began to grow very irritated. Every evening he would watch her exit the mirror, each day tripping and stumbling less than she had the first day, and retreat to her room. His reason for forcing her there was not for her to lock herself in her room every night or to treat him like he was an insect that needed to be squashed. He was the king and would no longer allow such behavior.

            When Selene returned in the middle of the second week and tried to open the doors of the king’s office she was shocked to find them locked. She tried numerous times to pry them open but each attempt failed miserably.

            “You won’t be able to open those doors,” Death stated nonchalantly from behind his desk.

            Selene turned towards him with knitted brows at the king as he looked over his paper work. “Unlock them,” she demanded.

            Death’s red eyes looked up from his paper work towards the mortal girl before him and quickly returned to whence they had originally been employed. His facial expressions remained blank, showing no hint of the utter smugness that he felt within at the wrench he had thrown in the mortal girl’s plans. His plan was simple. If the doors were locked then there was no way for her to leave until he opened the doors for her, which wouldn’t be until dinner was served in the main hall. At that point he would “escort” her there himself, carrying her there if he had to do so.

            Selene’s irritation grew when Death ignored her command and she took a step towards his desk. “Let me out of here now,” she warned as she continued to advance on the king.

            He finished signing a document and looked up at Selene who was standing next to one of the chairs positioned in front of the king’s desk. His long arms reached upwards in a large stretch before he became more comfortable in his chair and stared at the girl before him.

            “I don’t think I will,” he stated, his voice even and blasé as he stared Selene dead in the eye.

            “I have homework I need to get done that’s due tomorrow,” She stated simply.

            He shrugged. “Then do it here,” he stated simply.

            Selene sighed and allowed her things to fall to the floor at her side. “So you’re just going to keep me locked up in here then?”

            Death nodded, sitting up straight in his chair once more to look over another item of paperwork. “Since you insist on locking yourself in your room for the evening being locked in here shouldn’t be that much of a difference.”

            Selene glared at him form where she stood. “And just when do you plan to let me go?”

            Death didn’t look up from his paper work. “Once dinner is over you will be allowed to barricade yourself in your room till your heart’s content.”

            “I’m not hungry so if it’s all the same I’d rather just go to my room now and finish my work,” she stated.

            “It doesn’t matter what you want,” Death stated. “You’ll still remain in my office till dinner. Whether you accept it and get your work done or continue to throw a tantrum is your choice.”