Ophelia awoke in what can only be called an empty void.
She looked around trying to find something - anything- but she saw nothing and heard nothing, that was until a voice called her name.
"Princess Ophelia," the voice called and she turned around rapidly, only to be met by a tall, pale man, who looked about ten years older than her but there was something about him that seemed centuries old. His black eyes stared at her with something she couldn't quite place and his shoulder-length hair was brushed back. He donned an expensive-looking black suit and his shoulders were held high with an otherworldly amount of confidence.
"Princess of Alervarn and Alkazar, daughter of King Arien and Queen Elara, The only Pheonix and dragon hybrid in all the realms. Born 26years and 3 months ago at exactly the 9th hour of the day, "The man said announcing her almost too detailedly.
"In the flesh," she said smugly, acting as if she wasn't the least creeped out about the way he just listed her title and identity.
"Who are you exactly?" She asked looking him up and down. It was one thing to know her title and it was another to know the exact day and hour she was born.
"I am Death," he said in a frighteningly monotonous voice.
"Wait so that means that..." she drawled.
"Yes Ophelia you are dead," he said simply like he was telling her the day of the week.
"Wow," she said awestruck.
"Why do you seem surprised, did you think you would survive being stabbed through the stomach with a scythe made entirely of darkness?" he questioned.
"Touché," she shrugged.
"Oh but did he die?" she asked hopefully.
"You did decapitate him so yes, yes he did die," he replied and she sighed, then they remained in silence.
"Let's make a deal," she said out of the blue.
"Which is?" he asked already having an idea of what she would say.
"Let me go back," she said.
"And what would I gain?" he asked slightly arching his brow.
"Anything you want," she offered.
"Except my soul," she said when she saw a glint in his eyes
"You will render me assistance in a matter of high importance whenever I request for you," he said in the most ominous and demanding manner she had ever heard.
"That wasn't ominous," she muttered.
"Deal?" she said stretching out her hand.
"Haven't you ever heard the saying 'Never make deals with the devil'," he said sounding slightly amused.
"I have also heard that the devil doesn't bargain but here we are," she countered.
"Touché Ophelia," he said, oh how the roles have been reversed.
"Now let's try this again," she said retracting her hand and stretching it out again.
"Deal?" she asked and he looked at her outstretched hand and back and her.
"Deal," he said shaking her hand with a smirk.
"Does everyone that dies come here?" She asked him, out of mere curiosity.
"No,"he revealed.
"How come I came here?" She questioned him.
"I made it happen."
"Why?" He just shrugged her off.
"Goodbye Ophelia," he said, returning to his monotonous voice.
"Bye death," she said, she wished farewell.
***********************************************
Ophelia's POV
I was flung out of the dark abyss and sat up panting, I turned my head to the right and saw Sage and before I registered anything that was happening he had already wrapped his hands around me.
"Princess, you're awake," he sounded relieved, happy and like a weight had just been lifted off his shoulders.
"I thought I would never see you again, I thought I would die," and I, as usual, cried my eyes out into his chest, but now I think it was justified.
I shook and sniffled in his arms and he rubbed me back.
I pulled away from him when I had finished crying and oh so beautifully realized my parents were in the room. Well this was awkward.
"Mother, father…Hello," may the ground open up and swallow me.
My mother ran to hug me and my father did the same, minus the running part.
"We are so happy you are awake," she looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"I am too," I laughed, not everyone can say they made a deal with death, even though death most likely used them. But that is a case for another day or year…or decade, I am really not opposed to never talking about it.
"And we already know," my mother added. I do not know if that was supposed to make me feel relieved instead I still wanted the ground to open up.
"O-oh,"heavens help me and my father and mother actually started laughing at my discomfort. Wow, I just came back from being dead and they were laughing. I am insulted.
"We'll leave you alone," my mother told me and she dragged my father out with her. They also left me with Sage, which I was not mad about but still.
"It feels good to be back to life," it genuinely did, I may have only been wherever there was for a little bit, but it felt off.
"I would have come and met you there," he shrugged as he stared at me and I realized that he was serious.
"What why?!"
"Princess where you I go. I wouldn't be complete without you. If you had left me I would have gone down to the land of the dead and searched for you even if it meant I couldn't come back. I would die for you, with you, on your behalf,I would live for you. Anything you want from me I will do and for the longest time that fucking terrified me, that I would do anything for you and all you had to do was ask. You are my life, you are engraved so deep into my soul, that when I'm not with you it feels like a piece of me is missing. You are my missing piece. I love you," I was shocked. I actually started crying…again.
"No princess, why are you crying?" He grabbed my face in his hands and wiped my tears with his thumbs.
"I don't know," I was a wreck.
"I love you too," I smiled.
I leaned in closer to him and kissed him, and before I knew it I was on his lap in his chair straddling him.
"You are going to be the death of me," he said when our lips were a hair's width apart and I giggled.
"Is that so?" I said as I got of him and sat cross legged on the bed. He just smiled. I have always loved his smile, there was something about it that just made me happy.
"How long was I out for?" I asked.
"3 days," my eyes widened.
"You have to eat," he told me.
"Yeah, I'm not really hungry."
"But you still have to eat,I will go get you food," and he up and left.
He came back with a tray of food and placed it on the table.
"I want to take a bath," I hopped of the bed and stumbled, before I could fall Sage caught me.
"Easy princess. Although I love watching you fall for me,"i rolled my eyes at how cliché it was.
"That was a little cheesy, no?" I asked him, though I was still in his hands. He just shrugged.
I stood up straight and went to the bathroom.
***********************************************
Sage's POV
My princess closed the door behind her and barely two minutes in I heard her scream.
I ran into the room looking around for the danger and no one was there. "What happened!" I looked around again.
When my eyes focused on her, her shirt was off,and she was staring at her stomach, specifically the dark scar that was now on her stomach.
I walked and stood behind her, "What's wrong?" I asked even though I had an idea what the issue was.
"What's- What's this?" I had no clue how to answer. Anything I said would tick her off.
"Why is it here?! I was supposed to heal," she was now hyperventilating.
"Breathe," I wrapped my hands around her from behind and her breaths became calmer.
"Why is it there?" Her breaths may have been calmer but she was still panicking.
"It refused to completely heal, we assume it is as a result of the darkness," I said softly.
"No!No!No,"she shook her head frantically.
"The one thing I had after everything he did to me was the fact that I had no marks. I can't have this. No! No!No," if she kept on like this she was going to get lightheaded and pass out. Tears were coming from her eyes now.
"Princess,calm down,"she kept on panting and hyperventilating.
"Princess,"no answer or acknowledgement.
"Princess! Princess!" Shit this wasn't working.
"Ophelia!" And her eyes shut up to mine, even though her breaths were still uneven.