The In-Between (Book 1 - Death, Demons and Mere Mortals)

Chapter TWENTY-EIGHT - Blue Vines and Red Light

Their bags sat packed upon the beds which were tightly made and tucked in. The pillows were fluffed and neatly laid out. They were stood before the desk staring at the crown. Emma shuffled to her bag, picking up the Sword which was just a plain shoebox to the others. She stared longingly at it, wishing she had more time to discover her mother's past and find the missing jewel that would complete it.

'Keep this safe.' She whispered, laying the box on the bed. 'It's the Sword, no one will ever know.' She stepped back, staring at it with a clenched jaw. Blake and Jen looked too; their eyes full of sadness as Emma prepared to never return. Hollow holes were burning in their stomachs and Jen's hangover was no match to the misery that churned inside.

Blake felt the guilt nibble at his core. He would live on; he would help Death in whatever he'd planned to use the crown for. He was always in the dark when it came to Death's plans, it didn't matter how loyal and obedient he was. His body sagged; his shoulders slumped as his head hung low. He looked at Emma, her eyes were hard and unfilled, her body was tall, but he knew that she was scared.

Her eyes cast up to Jen, her lip caught between her teeth as her face sunk. Emma had finally got her back; they were becoming close again and now she would lose her all over. She nodded, sending a tight smile of encouragement. 'Everything I have is yours.' She said, looking to her suitcase full of clothes, money, the journals and soon, the Sword.

Just as Jen opened her mouth, a cloaked figure appeared behind her. She let her mouth hang, feeling the chill explode on her skin as Emma's eyes rose upwards. Jen slowly turned, the skeletal figure looking down at her wasn't as scary as it used to be. She'd started thinking of it as a 'he'. If it weren't for him, she'd be dead.

His blue eyes were clouded and murky, his face seemed darker. The skin discoloured and loose on his face. He swallowed, narrowing his eyes in on Emma. 'It's time.' He growled, his fingers tightening around the scythe.

Emma inhaled deeply, her lungs expanding as much as they possibly could. She nodded, looking around Grim's head to Blake who had already picked up the crown, staring at her with remorse in his dirty brown eyes.

'Jen's coming.' Emma demanded, worried that Grim wouldn't let her. His eyes cast down to the black-haired girl before him, his eyes studying her. He nodded, looking back to Emma in agreement. He lifted the scythe, letting it drop down before him. Blake walked around, standing beside Grim and wrapping his hand around the handle of it. He breathed deep, looking up to Grim and sending him uneasy stares.

Emma followed, standing as sweat erupted in her palms. Jen reached out and wrapped her hand around it, gasping at the feeling. It was like pins and needles, sparkles stabbing at her palm and rushing through her pumping veins.

A sharp stab hit Jen's thigh, the crown. Blake pursed his lips, looking down at it with impatience. Emma lifted her hand, wiping it on her jean leg as she did. She curled her fingers around the tangles gold, taking it gently from Blake's hand and holding it by her side. She stared at it, the last one to lift her hand. She felt them watching, but she just needed a moment to think. She raised her head, her eyes hard and faking the emotionless look as she slid her hand around the dark wood underneath Grim's nimble hand.

The world became a blur as everything began spinning around them. Darkness devoured everything as Emma felt her feet rising off the ground. She was flying, at least she felt like she was. Suddenly, her feet touched the ground and the darkness that swirled around her faded to the ground, gradually showing the new world around them.

They stood around Grim, Emma and Jen feeling fear grip them tight. Their hands stayed tight on the scythe, scared that if they let it go, they'd be alone.