"Here's the bottle of water, sir" Armel passed the bottle to Louis.
"What took you so long?" Louis was irritated, "And what the hell is that woman still doing in the washroom?"
Armel was anxious. He had taken a big step by trying to save the girl, but he had also just learned that the police were of no help and that he'd gotten his friends involved in this sticky situation. Now, all he could do was hope they pull this plan off that seemed more impossible as time passed by. He had to distract Louis somehow and get him out the limo. It was the only way he could get his friends to rush in and save the girl from behind his back.
Thinking on his feet, Armel did the first thing that came to his mind.
"Sir, do you want me to go check on her?"
"Yes," Louis scoffed, "I'm sure she's waiting for you to escort her back to the limo."
Cringing at that, Armel quickly nodded and walked towards the washroom. As he neared the Ladies Room, he heard the banging on the door that he was expecting.
"Let me out! Who locked me in here?" Marcie was screaming, trying to get someone to free her.
"Not so soon…" Armel whispered to himself as he turned on his feet and walked back to the limo.
As he reached, he saw Louis already standing outside the limo, probably awaiting the return of his wife and chauffeur so he could complete the crime he was committing. He was tapping his feet constantly and looking at his wristwatch every two seconds.
"Sir?" Armel panted, "ma'am wants you to meet her at the men's room."
"What nonsense is this?" Louis was furious, "We are running late!"
"I'm sorry sir, but ma'am could not zip up her dress and requested your help urgently."
Still furious, but knowing he couldn't have his wife walk to the car with an open back, Louis sighed and walked towards the men's room. Armel followed suit, pretending to escort him there. As they passed the women's room, the faint screaming and the banging on the doors continued, that scared Armel so much that he almost pooped his pants.
"What's that?" Louis asked.
"Looks like some woman is locked in there. Let me go help her, while you attend to ma'am." Armel quickly answered with a stiff smile.
"Okay."
But little did Louis know; his Marcie wasn't in the men's room. In fact, no one was in there and he was getting locked inside like his poor wife.
***
Life didn't understand what was taking so long. He knew the way to the hotel from the airport; even if they stopped at a gas station to use the washroom, they shouldn't be taking this long!
He tried calling Louis again, but his phone kept ringing and nobody was picking up. He tried calling Marcie and her phone was switched off too. Had that stupid woman forgotten to take her phone off the airplane mode?
As Life sat there in frustration and the anticipation of his special human guest's arrival, he thought he could pay a visit to his dear mother and check if she was okay and had caught a whiff of what he was doing under her nose, but also behind her back.
As he teleported to the moon, he saw his mother sitting there on the throne staring dead at the sun ahead. Sometimes he wondered what she did all day? Did she spend all this eternity just staring at the universe ahead and wait for it to order her around? Was she even as powerful as everyone claimed her to be? And why is she his mother when she did not even give birth to him?
Discarding all his thoughts, Life walked up to his mother. As she saw her son, a loving smile transpired on her face.
"You're here! I've been waiting to hear from you!"
"Yes mother, I've come. But I do not bring any good news, I'm afraid."
The Moon's loving smile was now replaced by a confused frown. Didn't Life say he had everything in control? Yes, Death and Shiuli were nowhere to be found, but Life had promised he'd find them for her.
"What do you mean?" The Moon asked, "Have we not tracked them down yet?"
"No. I'm 100% sure that Love and Faith are helping him hide his human lover. I cannot fully trust Time either."
"Why not? I trust Time! He'd never betray me or our kin. He's wise, he knows what's the right thing to do."
Life wanted to laugh at this pathetic creature. When it was forbidden for the creatures to feel romantic love, it should also be forbidden for them to feel any kind of love. Even the love for your kin can drag you down… just a look at the Moon herself, and Life knew that he was stronger than all the other creatures because he didn't feel any love for anyone. Probably his inability to love was the reason why he was never so close to his cousin Love. She always preached about the importance of love in the universe, but honestly, it was all bullshit to him.
The Moon got up from her throne and walked towards her elder son. Something about him was not right. He seemed anxious, yet calm… angry, yet delighted. One of the perks of being a mother is knowing your children's every move and mood. Cupping his cheeks lovingly, the Moon asked –
"What's wrong with you, son?"
"Wrong? I'm all okay."
"Are you sure you're not hiding anything from me? I see the same mischief in your eyes from when you were so much younger."
"Let's just say I'm using my methods to track my brother and his lover down."
A chill ran down the Moon's back. What did he mean by that? Searching his eyes, the mischief, doubts, and whatever emotions she'd earlier seen in his eyes were now turned into something evil. A glint that scared even the Moon.
***
Death walked towards the beach house, knowing the decision he'd made with Love and Time at the beach was right. Shiuli needed him right now, more than she needed anyone or anything. But the real truth was, he needed her more than she needed him. He wanted to hold her in his arms, kiss her sweet lips and rock her to sleep. To whisper sweet nothings into her ears until she fell asleep. To wipe all her worries away and tell her everything would be okay as long as they stick together.
After having the conversation about Amisha's kidnapping, Time and Love rushed to the gas station where Time could sense the traces of Amisha. While the two creatures set for Paris, Death was asked by Love to go back to the beach house and stay with Shiuli.
Honestly, knowing that the creatures were back was the most relaxing thing ever. They weren't alone anymore; they were a team who would fight this together.
As Death walked into the house, he could smell the delicious aroma of fish curry coming from the kitchen. Knowing that it was Faith cooking for the love of his life, Death walked towards the kitchen immediately.
"Fish curry? I hope you've made enough for me too!"
Shiuli's hands froze as the onions she was chopping, fell off the chopping board. She knew that voice better than she knew her own voice. It was the voice that filled her heart with calm and love.
She dropped the knife she was holding and rushed towards the voice. As soon as she saw him, she let out a deep breath along with all the worries and concerns she was holding in since he'd left.
"You're back?" she whispered almost to reassure herself.
"I am." Death walked towards his girl and hugged her tight, "I'm back and I'm here."
Faith watched the lovely sight from the kitchen counter. She couldn't believe the change this human girl had brought to this man she knew to be so cold. Love was right, this bond right here was something super special, beyond the understanding of any creature.
"Okay lovebirds, it is time to eat." Faith interrupted them to get them fed, "not to sound like your mom, but Shiuli needs to eat."
"Can we all eat together? Where's Time and Love?" Shiuli asked.
Death and Faith exchanged a look and they both knew instantly that they had to continue lying to Shiuli until they knew Amisha was safe. Refusing to have to give a solid answer to the human girl, Faith took Shiuli by the shoulders and sat her down at the dinner table.
"Don't worry about them. We, creatures, don't really need food anyway."
"But Faith, by that logic, I don't really need food either, right?" Shiuli asked with a grin.
"And how is that, my love?" Death walked over and sat down at the dining table, opposite Shiuli.
Death missed his playful girl since the relocation happened. Shiuli did crack jokes and tease him every once in a while, but this genuine happiness or content-ness (like Shiuli would call it) was something he was seeing after a very long time.
"Look, I'm an immortal too now, am I not?" Shiuli continued, "Shouldn't that mean I don't need food either?"
"You have a point there, but wouldn't you rather continue eating as humans do?" Faith asked.
"You're right. I surrender. The food looks amazing. Feed me."
Laughing at the girl's antics, Faith served them all the food she had prepared and sat down to eat with them.