Death seemed to follow her. Her grandmother's passing was only the gateway to her own form of hell. Three years later her mother would follow; her death caused by an infections. A year after that her father went. Many said it was from an illness, but she knew the truth. Death broke his heart when it took his love. She was fifteen then and old enough to be seen as functional. She was taken in by her uncle, thankfully, but she had to pay her own way. She worked where she could, but not many wanted to hire a woman. By nineteen she had found her mark with a local doctor. He didn't mind hiring a woman and paid her well enough. All he asked is that she come in before dawn and leave after dusk. That was fair. Many times she even stayed all night helping him tend to patients that were worse for wear.
The death didn't stop however. Her aunt and three of her cousins were killed by robbers. The youngest was only a few days old. After that another of her uncles fell ill. He has fought it off so far, but everyone in their family can see his time is coming. At twenty-four she was sure she would see another family member fall. And he was so healthy only a few months prior.
"Nikoleta?" She was pulled from her thoughts when the doctor called her name softly. She whipped around with wide eyes. "Sorry, dear, but… the rag?"
Looking down at her hands she remembered the wet linen she was wringing out. She smiled brightly and handed it over. The doctor placed the cool fabric across the forehead of a young child who had come in with a fever. "How is he doing?" She looked over the boy's face. It was red yet pale all at the same time. His breathing was heavy and his flesh soaked in sweat.
"He'll be fine. Just needs some rest." Doctor Teige Buros was a gentle man. He was young and educated and many respected him. At this hour of the day his face was worn and his shoulders seemed heavy and yet he smiled easily. Nikoleta respected him for it. He then turned to the father of the child and instructed him on how to care for the boy and what to give him. When the two left he slumped where he sat. "It has been a long day, has it not? Why don't you head home now? I can clean up what's left."
She didn't argue with him or push staying to help. He knew she wished to be with her uncle as he struggled through his final days. He also knew she wanted to help her other uncle. Soon it would only be the two of them left. In a family once large and strong. It was sad and even the doctor took pity on them. Though the town saw them as cursed each person she passed on her way home bowed their heads. As far as they knew she was normal and so were her uncles. Her grandmother was the last cursed member. That's what they thought. They still feared the day another would be born and no man asked for her hand in fear her offspring would have to bear it. Yet they tolerated her. They acknowledged her pain and gave their condolences because as far as they knew she was normal.
The walk home that night seemed longer than usual. Her legs felt heavy and her heart felt tight. She could feel it. Her uncle wouldn't make it much longer. Atropos held his thread of life in her hands and was just waiting now. The woman knew this better than anyone. She could feel it. She always sensed the end. She always knew right before. And she always saw the spirit afterwards. But she was warned. She was not allowed to tell anyone. She couldn't let even the spirits know that she could see them. And she must stay away from Death himself. Her mother told her back when her grandmother died that if Thanatos knew she could see him he would take her soul then and there. Her mother explained all of the curse once she learned her daughter had it. But not even her mother knew how strong the curse was in her. No one else in their family could tell when the end was coming. She was alone in this.
"Uncles, I'm home." She called as she walked through the threshold of their family home. In the main living area her ailing uncle, Andor, lay on a cot. He spent every moment there since it made it easier for her and her other uncle, Nisus, to tend to him.
"Welcome home, Niko." His voice was weak yet his smile was bright. "How was the doctor today?"
"As fine as always." She smiled back as she kneeled beside him, fanning the fabric of her chiton out. "Have you taken your medicine yet? Let me help you." She placed one hand behind his head and allowed him to grab the other to pull himself up.
"Don't worry about me too much. I'm not dying anytime soon." His smile never faltered as he moved and spoke. It only faded when she lowered her head. Not another word was spoken, but the older man placed his hand on her head and smiled weakly at her.
That night Nikoleta stayed awake to tend to Andor while Nisus slept. She did not have to go into the clinic tomorrow so she would sleep in the morning when Nisus could take over. When twilight had come over them she walked out into the courtyard of their home and kneeled beside her grandmother's flowers. Somehow they still flourished even without her. Years had passed and yet they had neither wilted nor destroyed by her own lack of gardening skill. And though years passed they still calmed her better than anything. She needed that now. She could see the thread of Andor's life. Death would come before dawn for him. When she had checked on him last his breathing was heavy and he seemed restless, but at this point she could do nothing more than to ease the pain by adjusting his position and giving him a tea mixture that would ease his pain.
A chill ran down her spin. Death was coming she felt it. No matter how much she wanted to she could not be by her uncle's side as he passed. She feared looking at the god of death by accident. She feared her own mortality and let her own weakness and cowardice kept her from being there as he transitioned from this world to the next. Another chill. He would be here soon.
"Are you afraid?" A voice whispered around her. Nikoleta whipped around to see who the voice belonged to, but found no one. Once again it whispered. "Are you afraid?"
"Yes." Her voice shook as she answered. Was it a god or a monster? Was it a spirit?
"Why?"
"Be-Because…." She paused, thinking of why. "Because the hole it'll leave… I'm afraid of the loneliness once my uncle dies. I'm afraid Andor will pass but his memory will remain. I'm afraid Nisus will follow. I'm afraid… that I'll be alone… I'm afraid Death will take all important to me just to watch me suffer in my loneliness." He words broke as she spoke. Her voice ragged with emotion and realizations she wished she didn't have. Once Andor passed how long would it be before Nisus followed? How long before the world thought she was cursed in a different way. If she survives and no one close to her does people will know her other curse. The curse of death.
"Would you stop his death if you could?" The voice seemed emotionless. As if it was reciting a well rehearsed script.
"No one can stop death."
"If you could, would you?"
She was taken aback and stood there with her mouth agape for a moment before quietly answering. "Yes." Before her eyes a man appeared. His dark hair was tossed as if by a gust of wind, his pale skin reflected the moon and his eyes, which were covered by a thin piece of cloth, stared straight at her. The chills she had felt just moments before now ran down her whole body. What had she done?
This man she remembered though she spent years trying to forget. And the words he now spoke chilled her to the bone. "I will not take his life, but in return you must give me yours. I will come for it in two months time. If you want to spare his you will place a flower from that bush on your doorway before the night of the new moon in two months and a poppy on him. If you do not his thread will be cut and I will take his soul with me."
Nikoleta tried to gulp, but her throat was dry. She had allowed Thanatos to know she could see him. No… He knew. He knew didn't he? From that day? He took them away… He took them knowing she could see him. Was this planned?
