Mors, Amor, et Fatum

Chapter 8

Dmitri was putting his violin in its case when Lex walked in. He looked up.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, why you ask?"

"You just seem a bit frazzled is all."

"Oh, it is just exhaustion." Lex didn't know how to tell Dmitri. She wasn't even sure that she would even Black Ravens. So why worry him? "Your performance was incredible, I'm so proud of you." Lex then hugged him. He smiled.

"Yeah, I'm proud of myself too. I wasn't sure if I would be able to pull the last song off. It felt truly cathartic. Like I am ready to let go."

Lex couldn't help but smile and give him another hug.

"Do you want to hang out a bit before you head out later?"

"Yeah, we can hang out at my place while I pack. Don't have much to pack, so we can probably watch a movie."

"Sounds good to me."

Dmitri then walked out the backstage door, making the rounds of thanks and compliments before making his way to his parents. His mother squeezed him tightly, tears streaming down her face. Nothing needed to be said, she knew. Angie came and hugged him.

"I'm so proud of you. I know how hard that was. Sally would've loved it."

"Thanks, Angie." 

Her parents both hugged him. They stood there in silence for a beat. Finally, Sally's mother spoke. "Congratulations. It felt like it was just yesterday that you were playing tableside as our girls did their homework."

"Yeah" He smiled, reminiscing on those times. "Now, I can professionally play tableside."

They all laughed. Dmitri finished his rounds before he left with Lex.

When they arrived at Lex's place, Lex changed into some sweats and handed Dmitri a pair to change into. They chilled in her room as she packed her suitcase for her flight. The conversation and laughter distracted Lex from the conversation she had with Azrael. Why me? I don't want to leave my life. What would happen to Dmitri? She took a deep breath and continued with her packing. They ended the night with a comedy and Dmitri went back home soon after. Lex then headed to bed for a fitful sleep.

The next morning, she was on a plane sitting next to a man around his mid-sixties. He was talking about how he was heading to England to visit family.

"Any special occasion?"

"It's my granddaughter's birthday and I just haven't seen them in a while. I have been traveling quite a bit."

Though she knew he was lying. There was a hue about him, suggesting that he was slowly dying, specifically of cancer. She didn't know how she knew this, but she was confident that she wasn't wrong. But she wasn't going to let him know, so she played along. 

"I understand. I had a similar issue when I was working in England most of the year and was unable to see my family in New York."

"Ah, you are from the big apple! You are probably used to people getting excited about that."

"Yeah, it happens quite often when I am abroad." She laughed.

He laughed and coughed. "I could imagine. It was my second time visiting, quite an extraordinary place. I guess people assume that those who live there must also be extraordinary."

She chuckled. "I guess so."

The pair kept talking until he fell asleep. Lex decided to check out the in-flight movies, opting for a rom-com. It distracted her from the current situation, or so she thought. Midway through the rom-com, she saw the man standing next to her side, looking down at himself.

"Am I dreaming?"

"I don't think so."

"Then how is this happening?"

She looked around. Can no one else see this? Ensuring that no one else is paying attention, she continued.

"I think you're dead."

"Ho-w? No one can see me. Ho-w can you? I feel cold."

"One of those extraordinary New Yorkers I guess. I guide souls to their final resting place. Though, to be quite honest I didn't know you were going to die so soon."

"Makes two of us." There were tears in his eyes. "I thought I had more time, you know one last birthday party. That's what my doctor said anyway." He looks at me. "Is my family going to be ok? What happens now?"

"They are going to miss you, but ultimately, yeah they will be." She didn't know how to take him, but somehow instinct kicked in. She opened a portal and beckoned for the man to follow. The portal opened to a field with bare trees and grass as far as the eye can see. Everything was gray except the man and Lex. She looked back at the man, he was shocked, to say the least. She took his hand and walked through the field. The field started to shift to a street that led to a suburban neighborhood with houses that were close together, with mini gardens behind black, wrought, iron fencing. The man looked around the neighborhood in awe.

" This is my street."

He walked up to a house with worn brick, a garden filled with flowers, and music coming out of the windows. He knocked on the door and a little girl came running at him.

"Caroline!"

He picked up the girl and held her close. Lex watched the scene with total shock. That was the girl she saw at the cemetery weeping. How is this happening? The little girl turned to her.

"Thanks for helping my grandpa. I'm glad he didn't get lost."

Lex blinked. "Sure, no problem."

The man put down Caroline and told her to run inside.

"She died in an accident. I didn't think I would see her again. Thank you for bringing me home."

The man then entered the house to cheers and hugs, laughs and music filling the air. From the corner of her eye, Lex saw a portal open and Azrael stepped out.

"I thought you wanted a normal life?"

"I didn't plan for this to happen, but he died on my plane and I didn't want him to be alone."

"Ah. So how do you feel now?"

"Happy. Which is weird because you are supposed to be sad that someone died, but he's reunited with some of his family and he is at peace. Is this what you do?"

"Yes, though usually, it isn't this nice. Every once in awhile though, you get a happy ending. But whatever the ending, we are here to help them through it."

"I understand."

"How did you know where to go, by the way?"

"I didn't. It was like instinct. Beginner's luck I guess. How come I was able to see his granddaughter before meeting him?"

Azrael put a finger to her chin in deep thought." I guess. That doesn't happen very often, but families sometimes break through when they have a close bond. Even then it takes someone really powerful to see them."

"I see. So I'm not normal."

" Not exactly. But we will figure that out later and I would need to get you a cloak. Now, you best head back before someone notices that you are missing."

Lex then made her way back through the neighborhood, leaving Azrael with more questions than answers.

When Lex finally got back to the plane, everyone was still engrossed in their own world, failing to notice the fact that she was gone. Lex then put a hand on the man's arm. It was as cold as ice; he really was gone. At least he's not alone. Lex then screamed for help. Within seconds, flight attendants and a doctor surrounded her and the man. The doctor declared him dead.