Chapter 7
Bruce burst into the apartment,his face grim. "Drogen, you've been summoned. By him."
Drogen stilled. Even he wasn't immune to the weight of Drake's summons. Drake wasn't just any grim reaper; he was an underworld judge—one of the ten who governed the delicate balance between realms. Known as the Judge of Pacifism, Drake was the one who had cursed Drogen centuries ago, condemning him to immortality. His wrath was legendary.
Bruce paced nervously. "You know this is about her, right? You brought someone back, Drogen. Drake's not going to let that slide. He could detain you for a century, maybe longer."
He and Drogen were trying to figure out a plan to keep her safe while he was away, although Bruce was mad at him for acting recklessly, they were still best friends and have known each other for centuries.
Ten years in the underworld was equal to 1 day in the human world, so if Drogen was detained for a hundred years, that would equal 10 days in the human world. The vast time difference didn't mean time went faster in the underworld, it was actually still the same 24 hours.
Drogen took a deep breath"You know about the blood pact right?"
Bruce's eyes widened"Are you crazy? That's forbidden!"
"But I'm immortal, remember" Drogen replied
If a human and grim reaper made a blood pact, the human could summon the grim reaper by calling their name three times, anytime anywhere, but there was a price to pay...the grim reaper's life span would be tied to that of the human and when the human dies, the grim reaper will also pass on.
Grim reapers have existed for centuries, whenever a person dies, they are given the chance to either work as a grim reaper for 600 years or reincarnate.
Within those 600 years, they are able to maintain their memories and also watch over their loved ones, but its prohibited to interfere with their lives or bring back the dead.
After 600 years or maybe less, they can finally reincarnate and be reborn again.
And there was Drogen, he wasn't given an option, but was cursed with immortality, to exit forever and collect the souls of sinners which was the most tasking job there was for grim reapers. He was stripped of the ability to fall in love but at the same time, that was the only way to end his curse. Being immortal, he could never be reincarnated and even if there was someone he grew to care for, he would have to watch them grow old and die before his eyes, what other punishment could be more cruel.
"You mean you are willing to make a blood pact with her?" Bruce asked, exasperated.
"Well, do you have a better idea?"
"I still want to get why you are so determined to protect her, she doesn't seem that special to me, besides, I doubt she can give you what you are looking for" Bruce said
Drogen smiled, his eyes gleaming."I'm yet to find out, besides, she's not willing to grant my request, so I'll play her little game for now"
"Wait, did you just smile?" Bruce asked, stunned. He rarely saw Drogen smile except he was genuinely amused by something.
Drogen cleared his throat awkwardly to brush it off as he adjusted on his seat
"Who did the old man send to come get me?" Drogen asked
"Oh, it's Zeus"
"Well, I'd better get going before he shows up, I don't want to see his annoying face" Drogen groaned.
He stood up and headed to Natasha's room, pausing a few seconds before knocking on the door
Natasha woke up from the noise, the room was still dark which meant it wasn't yet morning, she groaned with frustration as she checked her phone for the time
"3am? what do you want from me at 3 am for goodness sake" she grumbled as she made her way to the door.
Drogen's face was tensed as she opened it "I need to do something urgent before I leave" he said
"What could possibly be so urgent that it can't wait till morning" she snapped, rubbing her eyes
"I've been summoned, and the moment I leave, they'll come for you" I need to do a blood pact with you to protect you while I'm away "
"Hell, no way I'm doing a freaking blood pact with a grim reaper " she said, her eyes widening as the remnants of sleep disappeared from her eyes.
"What, so you prefer to be taken to the afterlife... alright then, if that what you want" he said and started walking away but she immediately stopped him
"Wait...on a second thought, it doesn't sound like a bad idea" she grinned... Drogen had his back facing her so she couldn't see the brief smile that plastered his face.
He turned around and hurriedly grabbed her hand, he brought her hand to his mouth and slightly bit the tip of her index finger to draw some blood, Natasha barely felt any pain because her eyes were focused on his face, his lips and the way he bit her finger, he looked so sexy doing that, damn, her blood left a red stain on his lips and she so badly wanted to kiss away the stain, she realized her heart was racing and she felt hot...she shook her head to brush off the thoughts
'he's a grim reaper, he might be hot but he's still a grim reaper ' she reminded herself
Drogen was too busy to notice her, after biting her finger, he bit his too and merged their bleeding fingers together
"Repeat after me" he said, voice steady.
"With this blood we are bound, through realms both far and near,
Summoned by call, you shall always appear,
To guard, to protect, as long as I live, our fates now tied, our blood now give."
Natasha repeated after him, feeling an odd tingling sensation as they completed the ritual. Drogen released her hand, his face as calm as ever.
"With this blood pact, you'll be able to sense when grim reapers are close by. Try to hide if that happens, and if things get out of control, call my name three times and I'll come. Got it?"
She nodded, still a bit dazed, Drogen gave her a small grin. "Good, I would try to be back as quickly as I can...don't get in trouble while I'm gone" he teased before disappearing like smoke.
Natasha felt an odd sense of loss at his absence, she hopped he wouldn't be severely punished
"Why am I even worried about that....that... ugh" she groaned as she buried her head on the pillow, trying to brush thoughts of him away from her head.
Suddenly, a memory flashed in her head, her in a purple gown and drogen, they were holding hands and walking, laughing and they both seemed like lovers.
Natasha sat up, shaking her head trying to figure out what was that she just saw, that had never happened, so what was that memory she just saw?