Chapter 7

The Horror in Confusion

          Death awoke with a start; sitting upright in bed, she was drenched in sweat, gasping for air.  She dreamt that the demonic Shadow, lurking inside of her was suffocating her, taking over her body.  It was only a dream she told herself.  Death looked around to take in her surroundings, and she realized she was in her own dimly lit room.  She also noticed her hand felt extremely warm and restricted, and when she looked down, to see Ssnare sitting on a chair at the side of her bed.  Ssnare’s vibrant red head was resting on his hand that clasped Death’s in a comforting and relaxed grip.  Death also saw his sword in his other hand, the knuckles white from the strength of his grasp. To her horror the sight of the sword brought back a steam of repressed memories from the arena. 

“What have I done?” Death weakly whispers into the silent room.  She subconsciously clenched Ssnare’s hand tighter and starts to shake, as Death unwillingly remember the fear, the panic she brought upon many, the last time the demon was released. 

          Awakened from his light slumber by the sence of extreme hysteria, Ssnare raised his head to see Death sitting straight up with a look of terror plastered upon her paled face.

“Death?” asked Ssnare.  The response he received was one utterly astonishing, she propel herself into Ssnare’s arms and drove him backward knocking his chair over.  Weeping pathetically she struggled to find words, “I-I wan-,” she buried her head into his leather jacket, “Thank you!”
“N-not a problem!” he said, distracted by the rising sensation in his body, and feeling her tremble in his arms.
What am I going to do? Why does she have to torment me like this? If I don’t get her off me soon, then I’ll… “You should get some sleep,” Ssnare said wiping a tear from her pale rosy cheeks, “You need your strength.”
Death nodded her head like an obedient little child and laid back down in her bed.  Ssnare rose and started to leave, but Death grasped his arm, “Please don’t leave!?” she said pleading with her teary silver eyes.  

“It wouldn’t be proper—”, Ssnare argued, but he could feel his resolution weaken, as he stared deeply into her desperate eyes.

“Please!” Death asked, on the verge of tears again.

I am going to regret this later! Ssnare thought as he let out a sigh of defeat. Death moved over on the bed and he got in it with her, but while she was underneath the covers he was on top, not wanting to do anything he would be questioned about later.

Chapter 8

Regulations of the Challenge 

          When Death awoke she was really warm and comfy, and as she opened her eyes she realized why.  She was cradled in Ssnare’s strong arms, so lovingly it made her want to stay like this forever.  She stared at Ssnare’s red hair covering his delicate closed eyes, he was so close to her leaning on her, his body covering her was so protecting, and she felt so safe.  Death knew it couldn’t last, she had to face facts, she was a danger to the demon and human world, and she didn’t like it one bit.  

          Death reluctantly slipped out of Ssnare’s arms and got dressed, getting ready for the school day.  As she moved she felt her muscles tighten and cramp, causing her to fall heavily on the floor. Death grunted in pain as she hit, slightly waking up Ssnare from his slumber. Death then noticed that his shirt was, sometime during the night, taken off and he was also under the covers.  He moaned, grumbled something and reached out for his hands seeking his previous bedmate.  When he found no one he shot strait up and looked at Death sitting on the floor with her pinstriped black and red sports jacket crooked and her skirt rumpled and only one sock on. Ssnare just laughed at the upset Death, as he pushed the covers away from him and went to go help her.

“Aren’t you Miss Grace in the morning?” he asked with a smirk on his face.

“Shut up!” Death remarked sticking her tongue out at him, a tear of pain forming from her eyes.

He tenderly wiped away the tear from her eye, but he didn’t take his hand away. Instead he stared intensely into her eyes, thinking about pressing his lips onto Death’s own tender glossy red lips. Before he knew what he was doing he did just that, and to his surprise Death did not push him away, she closed her eyes,

THUNK!!!

The door swung open when Ssnare and Death weren’t even a half inch away from each other when Thatch exploded into the room. 

“HOW AVE YOU BEEN MY LOVE!” asked the rambunctious Thatch.

Death and Ssnare didn’t pull away like most people or demons did when caught doing something you wouldn’t normally do, instead Ssnare just helped Death rise to her feet, steadying her by the forearm, with his own strong grip.  

“I’m fine. Now shut up and go away,” Death said annoyed.

Thatch just realized Ssnare was in the room, “Vot are you doing here Ssnare?”

“Helping her out,” Replied Ssnare innocently.

Catching on Thatch looks at them both incriminatingly, “Vas I interrupting someting?” he asked.

“Yes!” they both yelled.

“Fine!-sniff-sniff-I vill leave you two be!” he sobbed.
Thatch was waiting for someone to tell him different, but when he received no complaints he left in a huff, slamming the door behind him.

Ssnare and Death breathed a little easier when he left, but then the door burst open again and in came the calming Thatch, “You really hurt my feelings, my darling but I forgive you because I know you are playing hard to get!” he declared.

“I’M NOT PLAYING ANYTHING WITH YOU, PEABRAIN!!” Death said, but as soon as she was finished yelling she received a spitting headache. She felt like a hatchet had been thrust into the top of her skull. She swayed with agony unable to retain her composure with the dizziness she was experiencing.  If it hadn’t been for Ssnare’s sturdy and well-built frame supporting her she would have likely fallen.

Taking no notice to the hurting Death, “That hurts my Darling. But you say that out of the love within you, for me!” Thatch said with fire in his eyes.

“Whoever told you that is out of there mind!” Death said to Thatch’s def ears.

“Inside of you there are a thousand fires burning from the love you carry for me, as there are in me!”

Death was about to respond to that when Ssnare shushed her and motioned for the open door, planning to get away from the raving lunatic, or face the consequences of being late to class. Tip-toeing out into the hall they breathed in relief, and started to run down the hall.  Just turning the corner out of the dorm area they heard Thatch yell, “HEEEYYYY, VAIT UP!!”

Both laughed at the stupidity Thatch was showing as he ran after the two. 

          Ssnare and Death made it to their first class; Weapons Training, with only seconds to spare, while Thatch was two minutes late and was getting chewed out by the angry Lithnar.  Later after the instructor calmed down a bit he told the class of a competition coming up in two weeks, that all Dragonfanged ranked students’ participation is required.

“The rules are simple. Number one; All weapons will have the dull edged spell placed upon them, so they will not be so harmful. Second; If hit you will immediately bow down to your superior and be teleported to the stands. Third; You may work in teams, but know this, only one will come out on top. Any questions?” Lithnar looked over the sea of students, with his glaring eyes showing no emotions other than rage.  No one dared to move or ask a question except…

“What do I get in return for your amusement?” asked Death with sarcastically.

Lithnar growled at her, “You get the Championship title…” he answered gruffly.

“And….” Replied Death.

“And five thousand gold pieces!” Lithnar yelled quickly running out of patience for this girl, who by the way was the only girl in the whole Dragonfang rank, he realized.

Murmuring started up in the class when he mentioned the money, all but Snare, Death, and Thatch.

“My Darling Angel, Will you be—!” Thatch started on his knees like a proposal.

“No,” Death said without thinking about it twice.

“I didn’t even ask you—!”

“No,” she repeated.

“HUMF! That’s not vair!” Thatch pouted.

“Who says live is fair?” Death asked.

Ssnare just laughed at the dumfounded Thatch. 

“Vot are you HaHa-ing, about?” said Thatch angrily.

“She shot you down and rubbed your face in it!” Ssnare said continuing to laugh.

“I bet you can’t do any better!” exclaimed Thatch with the look of a challenge in his eyes. In response Ssnare looked at Death, “Will you be my partner?” he asked elegantly, bowing before her.

“It will be my pleasure!” Death said curtsying.

“VAT!?” shouted Thatch, “B-But you—!”

“To put it simply Thatch,…I don’t like you!” said Death slowly.

Chapter 9

The Restless

          After Weapons Training was over the rest of Death’s classes went by like a blur, time seemed to stand still for her. Classes where boring and uninteresting, she almost fell asleep many times during the day.  Her eyelids heavy from exhaustion drooped slowly closed, Death blinked the sleep away determined to stay awake.  But once again she closed her eyes……… 

          An excited knock sounded unexpectedly from the classroom door, startling the students.  Without waiting for an answer Ssnare entered the room, sweeping the student’s faces for one in particular he found Death staring at him with a dumfounded look plastered upon her face.  He strode determinedly over to her side and roughly grasped her wrist pulling Death up to her feet.  Ssnare then headed towards the door and out of the classroom, with the teacher screeching her protests behind them. “What’s going on?” asked Death worried, Ssnare ignored the question and suddenly stopped at a classroom door.  Dragging her into the room with him, Ssnare locked the door behind them and drew Death towards him enticing her into his arms.  Ssnare kissed Death’s lusciously red lips, and when she unresistingly kissed back he began kissing her more urgently. He kissed her on the lips, the chin, the neck, and his hands moving like liquid over her body exploring every inch of her wondrous frame.  Death did not resist or complain, all that escaped her lips was a soft groan of longing.  Ssnare forced her up against the door, unbuttoning her shirt and slipping his hand in between the folds and cupping her supple breasts. 

“Death…” Ssnare whispered in her ear, Death groaned in response to his voice calling out her name so alluringly, almost asking her permison.

“DEATH!!” screeched a woman’s voice in her ear. Death awoke with a start blinking at the swirling images in front of her.

“DEATH!!” the lady shrieked once more.

“WHAT!?!” Death yelled in response.

The gray feathered bird lady, that was the History of Demons instructor, was astounded at the cheeky reply Death gave her she was at a lost for words. Never in all the 589 years that she has taught had, she ever had someone speak out against her.

“DARNIT LADY IF YOU’RE GONNA WAKE SOMEONE AT LEAST HAVE A GOOD REASON WHY!!” Death said annoyed because the dream had ended and with that she laid her head back down on her desk to salvage what little of the dream she had left.

‘Poop it was only a dream?!’ Death thought to herself as she slipped off to unconsousness. 

          Ssnare walked down the halls trying to clear his thoughts and prepare for his next class but his mind was straying to other things or more in particular to some one.  Her soft jet black hair, her red lips, her young innocent body that was much more mature than her years, the image of the beautiful Death was etched in his mind. Never had any other girl or woman alike made him feel this way, or made him think so much about any one person for a long period of time.  Was this love that he felt? No he was cursed; he can’t love or be loved! After all the time he spent stealing his emotions, building a stone wall around his heart. He cant he doesn’t want to love, he destroys what he loves. But yet a crack had formed in the wall encasing his numbed heart and Death had seeped in.  Ssnare was walking the hallways like a done, deep in thought, but he was suddenly distracted by the sight of Death walking out from her class, and heading strait for him.  Death spotted Ssnare in the thickly crowded hallway and diverted her way towards him. 

“Hey,” Death said.

“Hello,” Ssnare replied.

“So…what class do you have next?”

“Lunch,”

“Same here, you wanna eat together?” Death asked shyly trying not to think of the dream she just had.

“I don’t think that would be a problem,” remarked Ssnare.

“Great! Meet you on the roof?”

“I’ll be there,” said Ssnare, Death walked off in the opposite direction and glanced back and gave him a little smile and wave, before she disappeared into the crowd.  This was not helping him isolate himself from the world he wishes not to rule in place of his father. 

          As Ssnare entered the cafeteria he saw Thatch looking around for him, he ducked away behind a monstrous scaly creature; he didn’t think Death would appreciate Thatch tagging along. He figured it was to risky to get his food with Thatches all seeing eyes scouting the area around the cafeteria and headed back out the door, and up sixty flights of steps.  When he reached the roof he was out of breath and he saw Death sitting at the very edge of the building sipping a drink looking so tranquil.  With the stealth of a cat he silently walked over to her, but just as he was closing in on her she turned around and faced him with a gentle smile placed delicately on her face. Oh how he loved to see that innocent smile of hers that could light up the whole underworld, the playfulness that surrounded the corners of her mouth.

“You’re not eating?” Death asked concerned.
“Thatch stole my lunch,” Ssnare said not wanting to tell her that he just wanted to be alone with her.

“Well you can have some of mine?” she offered.
Ssnare smiled one of his disarming smiles and gracefully sat right next to her, “That would be most welcome,” he replied.

They ate a quiet lunch, occasionally talking about their classes and technique of weapon usage, when Death asked and unusual question.

“Do you prefer boys over girls?” She asked

Ssnare almost choked on the squirming red fireworm he was in the middle of consuming, “What gave you that idea?” he asked coolly, but really was a mess inside, ‘Oh no! I cant believe she thinks that of me, how can I show her I am not?!’

“Its just that…well…most girls would love to have a chance to go out with you and you just ignore them,” Death reasoned.

“Well I can assure you I am not interested in men!” Ssnare said defiantly.

“Prove it,” said Death with a sly smile on her face, she could tell she was getting Ssnare worked up.

Ssnare smiled again at Deaths boldness, one of the qualities he liked the most about her, and tenderly stroked a piece of her hair out of her eyes, “If I must,” he responded before leaning in to kiss her.  Their passionate kiss was interrupted by the sound of feet running up the stairs, Ssnare recognized the goofy plodding about as Thatch’s footfalls and, lifted Death up with him.  “darnit!” Ssnare said.

“What are we gonna do?” asked Death.

“We are leaving,” and with that Ssnare grasped Death around the waist tightly and spread his bat like wings, as Death watched in amazement.  Ssnare jumped off the towers, all that came from Death was a expression of wonder as they nose dived to the sharp rocks below.  He pulled up just seconds away from hitting the rocks, and looked down at Death expecting to see a scared expression; instead he saw a glittering smile upon her face that just made his heart melt. In fact all the reaction he got out of the terrifying feat from her was a tightening of her grip upon him, drawing him closer to her than ever before.  He liked this feeling, the feeling of Death wrapped around him like a warm and comforting blanket, and if he could he wanted this way forever.  In that realization he knew it wouldn’t last, but for now he was content.