So I realized that if after this there was only two chappies left it would be 19 all together and that's just not a good round number. So I've decided to split the next chappy into two so we will have more time together and my OCD can be at peace.

Also... this chappy is pretty short so there'll be another one up tonight... I would be pretty pissed if I were you and I just got a chappy of about 1,100 words!!

ENJOY!

Chapter 17

The Promise

Luigi Lucheni sat at a table in a small café in his home town in Italy. He was no longer a boy, but a man- a man fighting for change. He had been seen as an anarchist, fighting against his city's government. But he did not consider himself to be an anarchist, but rather, a revolutionary. His city's government was corrupt and the people of the city were suffering because of it. He wanted to bring about change- a change for the better. He looked at the neighboring country of Austria and desired the success, freedom, and happiness the citizens seemed to have under the President.

President Joseph and his wife… Elisabeth.

Luigi smiled. It had been years since he had spoken to the beautiful woman at the President's rally in Lienz, but he had never stopped thinking of her. She was so kind and beautiful but had had such a tragic life. He had read of her son's death and her wandering around Europe for the last four years. He wondered what was going on inside her head. He wanted to reach out to her in her times of loneliness and need. He wanted to help her.

Finished with his coffee, Luigi stood up, left a euro on the table, and began the short walk back to his cramped flat. He looked at his feet as he slowly walked along the cobblestone street, the cold night air burning in his lungs. He walked up three flights of stairs and pulled his keys out from his pocket.

"Hello Lucheni," a cold voice said from behind him.

Dropping his keys, Luigi spun around raising his fists, ready for a fight. He was used to thugs coming around in order to harass or intimidate him. However, this person was different from the burly, dirty, dark haired, dark skinned men in jeans and filthy T shirts. He had a regal and commanding presence that would cause anyone to stand back in awe. He was tall and lean with golden blond hair that fell to just above his shoulders. He was dressed from head to toe in black, complete with an extravagant black coat that fell to the floor and theatrical black gloves. But what caused Luigi to lower his fists and stand transfixed, were the man's eyes. They were the bluest orbs he had ever seen- bluer than the sky on a spring day, bluer than the Mediterranean after a storm. They were as blue as ice and equally cold.

"Do I know you?" Luigi asked. He would've remembered seeing someone like this walking around town.

"Not yet. But I have a feeling we'll get to know each other rather well."

"How the hell do you know my name?"

"I know much more than that, Lucheni," the man said with a cold smile. "May I come in? I have something I need to discuss with you."

The young Italian slowly bent down to retrieve his keys, never taking his eyes off of the blond. He silently opened the door to his apartment and beckoned the stranger in.

"Do you want anything? Coke? A beer?"

The man smiled. "No."

After retrieving a beer for himself, Luigi sat in his armchair and motioned for his guest to sit as well. The man gracefully sat across from Luigi on his beige, worn out couch. Luigi had to laugh- the man looked out of place in his apartment. Like a prince among paupers.

"What is it you want to talk about?" Luigi asked as he took a quick sip from his beer.

"I need your help."

"Really? Do I know you?" Luigi asked, skeptically.

"I am der Tod. You may know me as la Morte or rather… Death."

Luigi looked at the man sitting before him, looked to his beer bottle and back again. He slowly put the bottle down and pushed it away.

"Um…" Luigi said, coughing into his hand. "Is this supposed to be a joke or something?"

"I don't joke," the man said shortly.

"So you're saying you're Death and you're expecting me to believe that?"

"Yes."

Luigi burst into peals of nervous laughter as he jumped up from the chair and began to pace. Who did this guy think he was? Was he trying to make a fool of Luigi? Intimidate him?

"You're Death, huh?"

"Yes," he said with a nod.

"Prove it. Tell me something about me that no one could possibly know."

"I know that you met the President of Austria and his wife over ten years ago…"

"Anyone could know that," Luigi objected.

"…And that you promised to do anything to make her happy. That is why I am here."

Luigi stood in the middle of his apartment, eyes and mouth wide open. He had never told anyone that. What was going on? Who was this guy?

"How do you know that?" he asked as he sat back down, staring at the man in wonder.

The man claiming to be Death simply stared at him with a confident, cold smile.

"You know about Elisabeth?" the young man asked Death.

"I know all about Elisabeth," Death said. "And she needs your help."

"Me?" Luigi asked, surprised. "What's wrong with her?"

"Well, you made a promise to her didn't you? You promised that if she ever needed anything, you would be there to help. You promised to help her be happy, no matter what. Well, she is unhappy, Lucheni. She is in pain and she needs your help."

Luigi looked down at Death's hand. His black glove held a small revolver. Luigi's eyes widened as he realized what Death was asking him to do. Luigi locked eyes with Death's penetrating stare. With a smile Death said:

"You know what to do."

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