Passing Over

Unimaginable pain came upon Merope. It was like being in a nightmare with faceless figures screaming all around her. Thankfully it only lasted a moment when a dark hooded figure came by her side. "Mother," she breathed her last mortal breath as she gazed upon the same jade eyes they both shared. Someone was screaming 'no Azaeil!' when her 'mother' kissed her forehead she slipped into darkness.

Just like the pain after birth the darkness was temporary. She opened her eyes to a room beautifully decorated in red and gold. The bed she was lying was wonderfully soft she was tempted to fall asleep again until she heard a door open. "Lev….where am I?" she asked sitting up on the bed gazing upon her lover.

"You are in one of my many chambers. This one in particular is meant for healing a soul freshly departed."

"What do you mean 'freshly departed'?" she asked, her very being rising alarm. Merope knew what it meant but she didn't want to believe it yet she could read the sad truth on his face. Merope watched him walk over to a counter pouring a brandy in two glasses then handed one to Merope. Leviathan took the drink in one shot while Merope's glass was still full. He knew she wasn't into hard liquor but with the news he was about to give her she might need it.

"Meaning you died," he said the silence was upon them for a brief moment till Merope took the swig of brandy. If this was a happier moment he would have laughed at how she was gesturing him to give her another but as of right now she would also need the second drink. There was more bad news to tell her.

"I didn't want you to die Mimi but I couldn't bare the idea of Azaeil taking you away from me," he said pouring the second drink.

"You mean my mother?" Leviathan laughed humorlessly, handing her the second drink.

"That wasn't your mother. Azaeil, the Angel of Death, only took a form of the person you treasure the most which was your mother. It was planning on taking you to a place to be reincarnated, a place where I wouldn't be able to touch you," he said brushing her hair to the side. Merope knew that he truly loved her by the sorrow in his eyes, a rare thing for anyone to see. Merope came closer kissing his lips. He might be pale as death but he was hot to the touch.

"I'm here, I'm not going to go anywhere," she said against his lips. With her being so close he was tempted to take her after the close call the night before. He practically begged Death itself to give her soul to him, to bring her to Hell as a companion. As much as he wanted to make love to her now it had to wait for now. She needed to hear the news sooner or later.

"Mimi," he said, pulling her back. "The reason why you are here is because I made a deal with Death."

"What kind of a deal?"

"That you marry me."

Merope got out of bed staring at her lover speechless. Did she hear him right? Her marrying the God of Flesh, Hunger, and Desire? A part of her was screaming yes while another part of despairingly saying no. If she said yes she thought about the possible scenarios of them hating each other while if she said no Death might come for her. She'll never see Leviathan nor their son again if she said no. She couldn't bare the thought of being apart from them nor could she bare the thought of being forced into a loveless marriage like with Tom.

"What are you thinking?" he asked coming toward her, his hands on both her shoulders. He knew exactly what she was thinking, she was torn apart by the lesser of two evils. A tear fell from her eyes as she looked up at him.

"What if you don't love me anymore? What if we start hating each other?" Leviathan pulled her closer to him, his handing feeling the soft curls of her hair. He kissed her head and gave the best answer he could, "If I didn't love you I would have let you go with Death. Whatever choice you make I'll understand." Hearing the honesty in his words she looked up at him and made her choice that sealed her soul forever.

"Yes."