Liana barely remembered falling asleep. After the confrontation with the Watchers and Lucien's sudden disappearance, her body had given in to exhaustion. But her mind did not rest.
She dreamed of black feathers, falling slowly through a sky that never ended. Of Lucien's hand reaching for hers, then pulling back at the last second. Of a voice—soft, broken—whispering her name.
When she awoke, sunlight spilled across her face. For a moment, she thought maybe it was all a dream. Maybe she had imagined the man with no soul, the shadows, the threat of the Reaper's world invading hers.
But the moment she sat up, she knew better.
In the chair by her window, he was there.
Lucien. Again.
He looked… different.
The cloak was gone. He wore a simple black shirt now, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Human. Almost painfully so. The only hint of his true nature was the way the shadows still curled at his feet, reluctant to let go.
"You're here," she said groggily.
He didn't look at her. "I said I would be."
She pulled her blanket tighter. "You look… normal."
"I'm trying," he said flatly. "To blend. To keep the others from finding me."
She bit her lip. "And how's that going?"
Lucien finally turned toward her. There was a strange tightness in his expression. "Not well."
"They'll come again, won't they?"
He nodded.
"They won't stop."
"No."
Liana let out a breath. "Then we have to do something. I can't just wait here like some fragile little doll while death knocks on my door."
Lucien studied her quietly. "You're not fragile."
"I feel like I am."
"You saw a Reaper. You didn't scream. You didn't run far. You're still breathing. That makes you stronger than most."
It wasn't much, but coming from him… it meant something.
She stood, brushing her fingers through her hair. "Then help me fight back."
Lucien's brow furrowed. "You don't fight Reapers, Liana."
"I don't care," she snapped. "I never asked for this. But if I'm part of your world now, I'm not going to sit still and wait to be erased."
Something flickered in his gaze. Admiration? Fear? It was hard to tell with him.
"There's a place," he said slowly. "A crossing. Between the living world and the realm of the dead. If we go there, I might find out what they plan. Maybe even slow them down."
"Where?"
He hesitated. "It's not safe."
"I wasn't expecting it to be."
Lucien gave her a long, unreadable look. Then, without another word, he stood and extended his hand.
"Come with me."
The Crossing wasn't a place found on any map.
Lucien led her into the woods outside of town, deep into the ancient trees where even birds stopped singing. The air grew thick with mist, and the temperature dropped with every step.
Liana clutched her coat tighter, but didn't complain. Her fingers brushed against Lucien's once, and even through the cold, his touch was colder.
"You're freezing," she whispered.
"I always am."
"But… you feel warmer than before."
He looked down at their hands, then away. "That's because of you."
She didn't reply. Didn't need to.
At last, they reached a circle of stone markers, moss-covered and ancient. In the center, a tree grew — leafless and black, its branches curling like claws.
"This is it," Lucien said.
Liana stared at it. "It doesn't look like a portal."
"It isn't," he said. "It's a wound. Between this world and the next."
He raised his hand. Shadows gathered, spinning around his fingers. The wind howled. Then, with a crack like lightning, the space between the branches tore open.
Liana gasped.
Through the rip, she could see… something. A realm of grey skies and flickering lights. Shadows drifted like smoke across the ground. It looked like a dream. Or a nightmare.
Lucien turned to her. "Stay close to me. Don't touch anything. Don't speak to anything."
She nodded, heart racing.
They stepped through.
The Reaper Realm was silent.
Not quiet. Silent.
No footsteps. No wind. Just the ever-present hum of stillness.
Liana clung to Lucien's side. Shadows watched from the distance — some with forms, some just floating masses of grief and hunger. She couldn't help but shiver.
"Why do they stare at me?" she whispered.
"You're not supposed to be here," Lucien said. "They're waiting to see if I break."
She looked up at him. "Haven't you already?"
He didn't answer.
They moved deeper into the realm until they reached what looked like a ruined temple — a dome of bone-white stone, half collapsed, covered in ghostly vines.
"This is the Archive," Lucien said. "Where the deaths are written."
He stepped inside, and she followed.
In the center of the temple, a great book rested on a pedestal. It glowed faintly.
Lucien approached it, shadows peeling away from his skin like armor.
"Names," he muttered. "Dates. Places. Every life, every death… recorded here."
He ran his hand over the pages, and they flipped on their own.
He stopped.
"Liana Evans," he whispered.
She stepped closer. "That's me."
He pointed. Her name was there — glowing, etched in silver ink.
But beneath it, the death date… was blank.
Lucien stared at it. "This is why they fear you."
"What does it mean?"
"No Reaper can claim a soul without a marked time. Yours is missing. That means…"
"I'm immortal?" she asked, half-joking.
He gave her a grave look. "You're an error. A ripple. And ripples… become waves."
Suddenly, the book slammed shut.
Lucien pulled her back.
Three shadows dropped from the ceiling — Watchers. Again.
One pointed at Liana. "She must not remain."
"She hasn't done anything!" Lucien shouted.
"She exists. That is enough."
They moved forward — but this time, Lucien was faster.
He stepped in front of her, shadows exploding from his back like wings.
"Touch her," he growled, "and I will shatter your essence."
The Watchers paused.
"You threaten us?" one hissed.
"I warn you."
Then the world ripped. A scream echoed across the temple. Light — real, golden light — spilled into the dark.
From it stepped a woman.
She was radiant, tall, eyes glowing white. A Seraph. A higher being.
"Enough," she said.
Everyone froze.
Lucien lowered his arms, though his shadows remained.
The Seraph looked at Liana. "You are the living girl who saw what should not be seen."
Liana swallowed. "I didn't mean to."
"No," the Seraph said. "But you did. And now balance falters."
She turned to Lucien. "You are Death. You broke your purpose. What do you say in your defense?"
Lucien stood tall. "I felt something. I chose to feel. That is not a crime."
The Seraph tilted her head. "But it is a change."
Silence fell.
Then the Seraph spoke again. "Very well. I will offer one chance."
"To her?" Lucien asked.
"To you both."
She held out a hand. "If she can survive in the Reaper Realm for three days without protection, she will be allowed to remain untouched. Her life her own. If not… she will be taken."
Liana's blood ran cold.
Lucien growled. "She won't last three hours here."
"Then teach her," the Seraph said. "Or let her be erased."
The light vanished. The Watchers disappeared.
And the temple fell silent again.
Lucien turned to her, rage and panic in his eyes. "What have I done?"
Liana stepped forward, trembling, but firm. "You gave me a chance."
He looked down at her, eyes haunted. "Three days in this place will destroy you."
"Then stay with me," she said. "Teach me. I'm not afraid of death anymore."
Lucien whispered, "You should be."
But he took her hand.
And for the first time, his fingers weren't cold.
End of Chapter