Death sat in a recliner; his feet propped up on the coffee table while he ate his sandwich until a groan from the couch caught his attention. Brown eyes fluttering open slowly.

"There's soup on the table." He said before taking another bite of his food.

Bella startled by the voice sat up so quickly it made her dizzy and her head pound. She grabbed her skull and groaned.

"You should move slower." Death said between bites.

"No shit." She grumbled then looked at the man in her father's recliner. Surprised to see a rather thin man in an all-black suit with a cane leaning up against his seat. He smirked at her sarcasm as he continued eating and Bella couldn't help but think there was something oddly attractive about the older man. She couldn't decide if it was the dangerous aura he seemed to exude or the fact that he just pulled off a suit really well.

Her eyes then spotted the soup he had mentioned and her stomach growled. Bella couldn't remember the last time she had eaten anything so she grabbed the container happy to feel that it was still warm and a spoon was also there for her to use.

She took a couple slow bites savoring the flavor and warmth on her cold empty stomach before speaking. "Who are you?"

"Death." He answered before slurping his drink.

Bella snorted, "Suuuuree…" She went to lift the spoon to her lips only to have it slip from her hand and land into the bowl with a small splash when his face flashed to that of a skeleton before returning to normal as he took another bite of his meal.

He shrugged nonchalantly and continued to watch her face flick through emotions. The first shock followed by recognition of the truth before landing on understanding.

"I'm dead… "

"Actually you are not."

"What? Then why are you here? I thought Victoria killed me."

"Victoria? Is she the one that had chained like an animal?" He sneered in anger his eyes flashing white for a moment.

She was flattered that he was angry on her behalf and nodded. "Yes. She's been torturing me for a while so I figured she must have finally gone too far and that's why you're here."

"It was actually the cold that had gotten to you the most. I did in fact come for you because it was your time. Imagine my surprise when my touch did not kill you. That's the first time that has happened since I came into existence. Care to wager why?"

Bella shook her head confused before gasping. "Does it have anything to do with the weird gift I seem to have?"

"Gift?"

"My ex…. He could read minds but not mine."

Death narrowed his eyes. "Was he human?"

"Vampire."

He hummed. "Cold one I'm guessing."

"Yea why?"

"They are the breed of vampire that have 'gifts. Though I've never met a gifted that's ability could stop my touch from killing them. It works on all humans and supernatural's."

"Wait are you saying there's more than one kind of vampire?"

"Mmmm." He hummed crumpling up the wrapper from his sandwich and placing it in the empty bag.

"Are you sure your touch just doesn't work anymore?"

Placing his drink down on the table, he sat back tapping his finger on the armrest. "Yes, I killed the delivery boy who brought our food."

"What?! Why?"

"Firstly do not act surprised. It is my job to take lives. Secondly to make sure my touch still worked because if it didn't that would be a huge problem at keeping the balance in the world and lastly to keep the balance."

"What do you mean?"

"Well my dear it was your time but not only did my touch not work on you but you also refused to die. Said so yourself in a daze. Someone had to die so you could stay alive to keep the balance."

Bella paled. "Someone is dead because of me?"

"Had to be done."

"Will….. someone else have to die? I mean for me to stay alive?"

"No. A life for a life."

Bella leaned back into the couch; her shoulders slumped. "I don't want anyone to have to die for me… "

Death was shocked by the girl's compassion. It was a feeling he was unused to.

Sighing. "If it's any consolation, he was going to die within the next year anyway. I only sped it up a little."

Bella knew that shouldn't make a difference but she found herself releasing a deep breath and relaxing. "Actually that really does. Thank you. Can I ask who it was?"

"Mike Newton."

Bella scrunched her nose. "It's probably horrible of me but now I feel even better about it than before."

Death was surprised by her statement but the words and her facial expression was too much for him and he found himself laughing loudly for the first time… ever.

His laugh was so deep that it felt as though it vibrated through her. Bella smiled at the sound and ended up joining him herself. Giggles bursting out as she tried to cover her mouth to stifle them but it only caused Death to laugh more.

After several minutes the laughing died down but Death still chuckled as he leaned back further in his seat. His entire body relaxing more than he could ever remember before.

His eyes softened in her direction. "Please finish eating my dear. If you're going to stay alive you need to recover."

Bella sent him a grateful smile and continued to sip at her soup slowly.

Death watched her as she ate, this time with a twinkle in his eye. She was unlike anyone he had ever met before and he found himself invested in making sure she continued to get stronger. He would help her do so.