Note: This chapter might be a bit dark, just a warning. Some crazy M-rated stuff in a flashback with Death and Jovanna. Can't say I didn't warn you. Thank you, Lena for helping meeee!


Strife watched Jovanna clean and rebandage Claire's head, listening to them talk to each other.

He couldn't help but notice that Jovanna was to beautiful to be fully human...

"Strife, you alright?"

His head shot up at hearing Claire's voice, "Yes. I'm fine, darlin'"

"So," Claire looked up at Jovanna when she started wrapping the new bandages around her head, "You and that Death guy look perfect together."

"I could say the same about you and Strife. Are you two going to be joined as mates in the ritual, too?"

"Wait, what? A ritual?"

Jovanna laughed, "For humans it is a little more complicated but its kind of weird."

"How weird? Crazy, demon sacrifice, weird?"

"More like insane, vampire sex, weird."

Strife listened to the two of them and tried not laugh.

"The pain was horrible but when I looked into his eyes, all I saw was love and the pain seemed to ease up."

Claire looked up at Jovanna after she finished wrapping the bandages, "What did you have to do, exactly... In this ritual, anyway?"

"Uh... Well..."

...

Jovanna nervously sat down nervously in the pentagram that had been drawn on the floor, candles at each point.

Death stood over her and looked down. The mask he wore seemed to glow in the candle light, though all she noticed was his eyes; as gorgeous as ever.

"Are you certain?"

"I am." She exhaled a shaky breath, "But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid."

He kneeled down and took off the mask, pressing his lips against hers in a gentle kiss. With their lips still locked together in that sweet kiss he would carefully lay her down, his hands starting to wander and remove her clothing. He tugged at his own clothes, having to break the kiss. Finally they laid in the middle of the start bare bodies pressed together.

He cupped the side of her face with one hand as his other wandered down to brush over her sex, she relaxed some, letting her legs open wider for him. He stared down to her, watching her face for any negative reaction. He saw the nervousness that she was trying to hide, but more than that he saw the love she held for him.

The candles wavered in their holders, the shadows they cast grew for a moment making her shrink with fear and uncertainty. Death whispered in her ear words of love and comfort to soothe her worries. When she was calmer once more the silence of a big decision to be made hung in the air.

"I'm going to ask you one more time. Are you certain? This is powerful black magic."

"I want to be with you forever, so yes. I am sure." Jovanna said, looking into his eyes where he saw fear but also love and trust that it would be alright.

Knowing she was nervous Death was careful to keep his rougher side put away, it wouldn't do for this to be a traumatic thing when she was already so nervous. Gently he started, teeth grazing her neck while his fingertips skimmed over her body. Investigating her curves and the bone protrusions of her ribs and hips. Slowly his lips moved wandering down to her breasts to lightly aggravate her nipples to increase her arousal. It worked, she gasped from the attention to the sensitive flesh he took the moment of distraction to push into her, still being gentle even though he wanted nothing more than to continue as he normally would. She shivered at the feeling of him filling her up, it was always incredible.

Jovanna moaned, a quiet encouraging sound that rose from the depth of her throat. Death had to clamp down on his self control, the noises she made always drove him crazy, normally he would increase his speed but not this time.

Instead of the normal romance, this time there was important work to be done, so he pressed deeper into her. She began to squirm in protest but he held her tight, murmuring softly, trying to comfort her as he reached her cervix. Blood started seeping from her depth, dripping slowly as Death tried to keep her calm.

Her face leaned into his hand, forcing herself to relax in his embrace.

"I love you, Death."

"Jovanna.." Death hesitated unsure what to say exactly, so he just repeated the words, "I love you, too.."

Tears spilled from her eyes as he spoke those words, he was taken aback for a moment but recovered leaning in to her face. She went to wipe them away, though he caught her wrist and delicately lapped the salty liquid up with his tongue. It made her cry more, a bit overwhelmed by it all. The pure emotions, the pain she had to endure, and yet a voice whispered in the back of her mind 'it is worth it'.

He thrust into her more quickly, the pain of it making her cry out, the pleasure making her moan. His motions lubricated by her blood. He glanced at the athame the would pierce her heart. He laced his fingers through hers so both their hands were intertwined, carefully he stretched her arms out to match two of the points on the ritual's base. His inky black hair fell forward over one of his powerful shoulders as he checked to make sure they matched. He looked down into her eyes as he summoned skeleton hands to restrain her wrists where she had placed them.

A mild panic rose in her chest knowing what was coming. He hesitated slightly, one hand wrapping around the dagger's handle drawing it closer as his free hand stroked her cheek, leaning in he kissed her deeply, full of passion. His tongue pressed into her mouth making her gasp one last time before one quick motion brought the blade into her side, between her ribs. He withdrew himself from her so she would be able to heal.

The sudden feeling brought a stunned stillness to her, Death felt the tight and twisted pain in his chest. He had caused her pain, and now he hurt. He whispered to her dying body.

"It is nearly done, now on the edge of the world of the deceased, you must take my blood into you. Return from the realm by the power of the Horseman with you and be healed." Death removed the dagger and used it on himself, slicing his palm open to let the fluid of life drip into her open mouth. "Drink, and return to me my love," Death urged softly.

Cupping his hand he let the blood drip slowly, till she came round enough to drink well. He let the dark fluid flow down into her mouth, watching intently to mind how much she got.

Once he was sure she had taken in enough the pentagram started to glow, a slow steady light that increased as she started to transform. He held himself over her with his elbows, fingers stroking through her hair while the blood took effect. Jovanna laid on the floor silent and even though she didn't move the skeleton hands didn't let go.

Her hair gained a shine as her skin remained pale. She shifted slightly in Death's hold as her canine teeth sharpened slightly and the stab wound healed, the muscle and flesh weaving back together just as her cervix did.

Death put a gentle palm against her cheek, thumb stroking the skin, "Jovanna?"

"Ugh... I hurt..." She gasped, leaning up to meet his lips with hers.

Her eyes opened and Death saw they were brighter with more of a supernatural glow.

...

"And... You two still kept having sex after all that?!" Claire asked with wide eyes.

"...Maybe."

Strife snorted a laugh behind his mask, not wanting to hear about his brother's sex life. But this was the ritual he had thought of, though he had no idea it involved such a gruesome act.

There was no way he could ask Claire to do such a thing. Immortality wasn't that special, anyway... Was it?