Autumn wandered the city until night felt upon it. She found a very small shop with a big sign "UNDERTAKER" The sign had a skull on it, it was a brown brick building.

Autumn knocked the door.

The door slowly opened by itself, it was very dark and Autumn couldn't see inside, no one came to receive her either, she took a deep breath and entered the small shop.

The air there was heavy and veiled with a strong chemical smell. Autumn couldn't call for anyone, so she inspected the room that had entered. There were…Coffins. Many coffins pilled one after another in the floor and walls, in many shapes and colors. She heard a giggle from the back of the room, and walked further inside. At that moment a lightning shone through the window and a thunderous sound was heard. The horse that was left outside started to neigh loudly and Autumn tried to run. Before she could exit the door slowly closed and behind it there was a shadow figure, smiling in the darkness.

Autumn became restless as the horse Neighed a second time.

"Shhhhhh" whispered the voice. Immediately the Horse outside calmed down, autumn could see through the windows it was still there but it was not agitated anymore. Autumn Relaxed and bowed to the shadow in front of her. She heard a giggle and the shadow got closer to her with strange movements as it walked. Autumn stepped backwards.

Autumn remembered she had no weapon "How fool of me" She though. Slowly and illuminated by the only candle in the room the shadow came to sight. It was a tall man with silver hair. His eyes were covered by locks of hair. She noticed the man had a big scar across the face.

The man approached her and by Autumns surprise, he made a quick movement as he giggled to place himself behind Autumn. He placed his finger on Autumns neck and slowly brushed the long scar on her neck. Autumn stood motionless. She looked around and bowed to the man a second time. She felt a cold sweat on her back by some reason.

"Ah!" Finally spoke the man with a laughing voice "The guest that never came finally showed up, a bit late I might add" He laughed somehow madly, then both stared at each other, Until the man cracked another huge grin "Serafina, you got no manners whatsoever!"

Autumn jumped on her spot at this words…"Serafina… so he knows…" she though.

"I will tell you what you want to know IF you can give me something in exchange"he said peeking into Autumns eyes. He placed special attention on her green eye.

"Give him what he wants?" she asked herself. Autumn slowly removed her cloak and placed the bag packed in the manor on a coffin on the floor. There she spilled the contents there: A carrot she brought as treat for the horse, a couple of apples and a bottle of water. She placed a pair of coins she had on her dress on the coffin as well, and a pocket sized maze of cards she forgot to take out of the bag. She signaled the man stating it was everything she had.

"I don't want any of this, laughed the man placing the contents back on the bag as he smiled, "what I want is for you to Show me a first rate laugh of course!"

Autumn pondered at his comment. She was an entertainer after all. She took the two apples and the carrot and started juggling with them, the man seemed amused by it but was not really laughing.

"Come on you got to try harder"

Autumn took the pocket maze of cards and started to do tricks of sorts for the man. She was focused seeing the man reactions and didn't notice how tense the cards where flexing in her hands. Without advice, one of the cards snapped and hit her right on the nose. "Ah, I made an amateur mistake…This is embarrassing" She though.

There was a moment of silence between them, then the man started to laugh very loudly. Autumn stood there half surprised half embarrassed for being mocked at her failure; she pouted turning her face away, which caused more laughs to the man.

"Well done! Very well done" said the man when he finally was able to speak. "Now why don't you follow me this way" he said as he guided Autumn to the back of the shop. She was served a tea with herbal essence and some biscuits, bone shaped biscuits that politely, the red haired left on the table as she drank her tea.

"You left me waiting for 13 years, they just told me you woke up and disappeared! I was so very disappointed as I heard your case was a medical paradox, I wanted to open you and see myself what the whole mystery was about but there you are now all alive." Said the man giggling as he stuffed one of the biscuits. "You are a gorgeous accident", he said as he gazed at Autumns neck "This beautifully stitched skin, as white as wax…" He continued without moving his gaze from Autumns neck "Your mouth cannot clamor noisily or tell lies. You are as striking as a doll, a wonderful mistake that shouldn't walk among the living." He finished

Autumn looked at the man with a serious expression.

"I know what you came looking for, all this time, ever since I got those 2 bodies, one which I knew from my previous...vocation. It's a shame poor Serafina ended up dead, but she deserves it in a way. A reaper is not supposed to have feelings nor delay the death for humans, lucky for you and for her, she still lives…. in a way" he giggled "I take for granted you come for the bear ring"

"A ring" though Autumn. "There really was a ring" she though as she nodded.

The man placed on the coffin-table a small velvet bag and signaled Autumn to take it "It's a very potent charm, as long as you wear it thy soul will not leave the body, not even if a demon tried to take it... You might find a use for it soon enough" He added

Autumn took the small bag and opened it. There was a silver ring on it; it was shaped like 2 bears holding with their muzzle a strange green gem, with faint traces of raspberry red.

"Its Alexandrite" added the man. "A very symbol of the Russian royalty…"

Autumn took the ring along with the silver chain that came with it and placed it on her neck. The girl finally had the ring. She wondered what to do now for a moment, deciding to return to the manor. The storm outside was strong but she couldn't wait for it to finish.

"The Gran Duchess was buried on her land. You might want to visit your mother's tomb someday."

She nodded and bowed to the man, Autumn placed her hooded dark cloak on top of her and bid good bye to the strange man, petted her horse that was still tranquil but soaking wet and returned to the Main road , to the Trancy manor.