Marcus held Mila close and took to the air, passing through the ceiling as if it wasn't there. Mila squealed and wrapped her arms and legs around him, still not used to the sudden sensation of just flying up into the air so quickly.

"Where?" Marcus asked, his wings flapping as they hovered over the building.

"The hospital five blocks down," Mila answered, inclining her head in the direction of the hospital.

Marcus said nothing but started that way, passing warmth to Mila as she shivered from the cold air whipping around them in the quick flight. Marcus descended towards the back of the hospital so no one would see when he made her visible again. Once his feet were on the ground, he loosened his arms and Mila stepped back, fussing over her hair for a minute before composing herself and checking the time. She raised her eyebrows in delight. She was early. For once, she might've actually beat Terry there.

"Hey thanks," she grinned, adjusting her strap over her shoulder. "I gotta get in there."

Marcus was unsure what to say so just nodded curtly. "Good... Good luck."

It was the best he could come up with. Mila's smile saddened but she nodded and turned, making her way to the front of the hospital. She paused when she reached the corner and glanced back, seeing Marcus still standing there.

"Hey devil-boy," Mila called back. Marcus looked at her expectantly and she smiled. "Thanks for the ride. And the muffin."

Marcus nodded and watched as she rounded the corner. He stood there for several moments, unsure what possessed him to do any of the things he'd done that day. They were all out of character but her smile before she passed out of view made him want to do more things like it.

Marcus prepared to take flight again but paused. There was a familiar presence nearby and considering how close he was to the hospital, he knew who it was.

Death.

It didn't take long for him to locate her. Her presence was undeniable, even amongst the many deaths in the building.

Marcus walked into the ICU room, seeing Death sitting on the edge of a bed with a body completely alone. Her white hair blocked her expression from him but he recognized the posture and the sigh of sadness that left her lips as she reached forward, setting her hand on the man's chest. A ball of white and blueish feathery light emerged and she cradled it in her hands, bringing it close and murmuring something to it before releasing it and watching it ascend through the ceiling.

"It is sad, is it not?" She asked. She didn't need to look to know Marcus was there. "Some people reach the end and they are all alone. No one to hold their hand as they take that step into the unknown, no one to murmur reassurance and love while they leave their mortal life behind. It is a pity," she sighed, bringing her gaze to Marcus. "What brings you here? You already know how you became a demon, I cannot give you more."

"I only wanted to ask you about someone," Marcus said, stepping into the room.

"A soul that has passed?"

"No, one that is still here but can see you."

Death stood, her black dress flowing around her ankles almost more like a light cloud than a dress. "Is this about the human you are temporarily bound to?"

"You know her."

Death laughed breathily, taking quiet steps and inclining her head for Marcus to follow. "I know her."

"Everyone thinks she's crazy," Marcus commented.

"You do not."

"I know better," he countered.

"Oh, Marcus, what would you like me to say?" Death asked, offering a hand. Marcus looked at it curiously but considering there was no distrust with Death, he set his hand in hers and they descended to another floor where another body laid. This one not alone. Marcus tried to ignore the cries of the loved ones while Death made her way over to the body and again, set her hand on their chest. "You know she is not crazy, so what is it you want to know? If it is about the people she has lost, I cannot help you," she said, raising the soul from the moral body and watching in sadness as the light plummeted down. "Like I said, you were granted your one memory and it is the only one you get."

"I'm more curious as to why she can," Marcus said, not thinking twice about taking Death's hand when she offered it again. They ascended levels this time, arriving in a room of a much younger person. "I know others who have near death experiences and they've never been able to see you."

"That is because Mila did not have a near death experience," Death said, approaching the bed and gently taking the hand of the passed in her own. "So young," she murmured, moving her hand to the boy's chest.

"She did," Marcus argued. "At the lake."

"No, Marcus, that was not a near death experience," Death said, releasing the soul and watching it ascend. "Mila died that day. Scientifically, biologically speaking, her body was in a state of death for nearly ten minutes. It is not the same as coming close to death," she explained. "Mila experienced death for an extended amount of time and came back to the other side. That is why she can see me, and that is why she can see others but does not realize."

"Others?" Marcus asked, frowning.

"One of the other reasons her family had her admitted for psychiatric care," Death said, stepping back from the body and taking Marcus's hand as they passed down two more levels. "I am certain she left that part out of whatever she told you because she does not realize. When Terrence found Mila at the hospital, she was talking to ghosts that he could not see. They were freshly passed, wandering around in confusion, and Mila cannot tell the difference between a living being and one in their waiting period because she is human and was never meant to see them. It is rare a human truly dies and then comes back. She is an outlier, an exception, not our normal."

"Is there a way she can learn?" Marcus asked, following Death into yet another hospital room. Marcus had enough experience with death it didn't normally bother him but the weight of Death's responsibilities felt heavy. He almost exclusively dealt with evil souls and never with the aftereffects. Death had to see the mourning and grief.

"I am afraid not," Death sighed, setting her hand on another mortal's chest. "If she could, I would have taught her a long time ago. She is human, Marcus, she cannot see things the way we do, but she is also a mortal that died and came back, meaning she sees things other mortals cannot," she explained, releasing the soul and turning to Marcus. "Mila is not crazy," Death chuckled. "She just looks at the world at sees it exactly for what it is, instead of what she wants it to be. Most humans see their version of the world, through their filter, through their experiences. Mila can see all of it. She is painfully aware that death can appear any time, and so she lives freely, loudly, and bluntly, so that she has no regrets when the time comes we meet again and I am there for her instead of someone she loves."

Marcus swallowed at the comment of 'someone' she loves. He didn't want to hear those words, especially not inside a hospital where Stella was present for a doctor appointment.

The comment did remind him of something else he was curious about and so he continued following Death to her various floors, freeing souls from their mortal bodies sand releasing them to their resting place.

"One more question," Marcus said.

"Proceed," Death said, sighing as she cradled the tormented soul of a person still in confusion, the soul bouncing around erratically in her hands. She murmured something to the soul and it slowed until it came to a halt in her hands and it was only then she released it.

"If it's just Mila that can see other things," Marcus said, watching the soul ascend up and disappear. "Then why could her sister see me?"

"I beg your pardon?" Death asked, her brows knitting together.

"Her sister," Marcus repeated. "Her younger sister could see me even though I was hidden. Mila couldn't but her sister did."

"Estella," Death commented. Marcus nodded. Sadness passed over Death's face and she walked over to Marcus, setting a hand on his shoulder. "This, I cannot answer for you. It is not my place. If you want an answer for that, you will have to ask an angel."

"Those fuckers are the worst," Marcus groaned.

"Keep in mind two of them are the reason your friends are happy," Death countered.

"And one of them is the reason my other friend is being tormented in the Praeteritus," Marcus countered.

"Lucian made his choice, Marcus," Death said, smiling sadly. "I am sorry for your loss, but he made his choice with love of his friends in his heart. Do not assume because he is lost, he is miserable and tormented. And before you ask again," she said, interrupting the question Marcus already had queued and was ready to ask. "I cannot bring him back, you know I cannot. You must find a way to make peace with it."

Marcus did not respond. Death's hand fell away from his shoulder and she sighed. "Was that all? Or do you think you can handle doing this for the rest of the day?"

Marcus didn't want to admit if given the opportunity, he would never trade places with her. Killing and tormenting evil souls was one thing, but watching the grief surrounding it was another. He wondered how in the world she stayed sane.

"Do you know why Estella can see me?" He asked. "Do you know why and you just can't tell me?"

"I know why," Death confirmed, clasping her hands together. "I have a lot of souls to tend to, Marcus. Two people die a second. Unless you are going to fade into my surreal form with me, this is where we part."

Marcus nodded in understanding and stepped back. "Thank you."

"A bit of advice before I go?" Death asked, raising an eyebrow. Marcus shrugged and nodded. "Patience is a beautiful thing. People that have experienced death to the levels that Mila has, there is a weight in them that nothing will ever be able to ease. Do not assume because you do not understand her motivation that it is something trivial. I think you will find that if you take the time to really see her, to really understand why she does the things she does, you would not be so quick to shut down her request."

"You think I should kill her?" Marcus frowned.

"No, I do not," Death said. "But understanding her motivation can help you guide her in a different direction, one that is better for both of you."

"She won't tell me her motivation," Marcus pointed out. "I've asked."

"Have you asked as a friend, or a frustrated demon that could not care less and just wants to go home?" Death challenged. "Have you asked with an open mind and compassionate heart, or demanded?"

Marcus snapped his mouth shut, feeling ashamed as he looked away. He didn't mean to do that, he was just used to a different world. A much rasher world where there was no time for not just being honest an upfront, for keeping secrets or anything like it. Dealing with humans was something he only experienced with Kat, and Kat and Mila couldn't be more different.

"Take care of yourself," Death said, offering a smile before she sunk down to another level, leaving Marcus alone in the room with a mourning family, wondering how Stella's appointment was going.

❤️