This is it, right in front of her. Death was directly in front of her, and it was not the Lord of the Underworld who had captured her soul for a long time. It is this, the shadows. She will die in a cold, dark place, far away from anything, everything, and everyone she cares about.
“I will…I will…” the rest of Natasha’s words garbled, and her tongue felt numb.
“Do you want to say you’ll be a lost soul?”
Natasha nodded, finding it difficult to think.
“Not yet; you still have an hour,” He stated dryly “if you can return, You are free,” He shrugged. “Do will have a deal?”
“Do I have a ch- choice?”
“No, but saying it is disrespectful,”
“How do you want to die?” He asked
“Leave me here for a few more moments; my heart will ultimately fr-f-freeze,” she sneered.
“No! Is that not clear? You can’t die from this cold; it makes you wish for death, but it never comes.”
“I am not…an-an an idiot.” “Why should I believe anything you’ve said?” It was getting increasingly difficult to speak, think, or breathe. “Death is inevitable, dear,” a knife appears in his hand, “you think simply because the Lord of Death will not reap you, you will never die. Don’t you think it’s a little narcissistic?”
“What exactly do you mean?”
“Soon, your body will disorient on its own, every organ will fail, and if Azrael continues to resist, he, too, will face punishment,” He loops about her as though studying her.
“What retribution?”
“When he claims he’s cursed, he means it. Whenever he refuses to take a soul, the underworld burns, and he burns with his realms. “Alas, he has never refused to take a soul since this curse was placed on him until now,” Sahir said, looking at her.
“Will he burn because of me?”
“For all eternity,” Natasha recalls the flames in her dream. Could it be for him because he did not reap her?
“You see when you die…”. The shadow king extends the knife toward her. “You help everyone, myself, Azrael,” Natasha says as she takes the knife.
“No!” The knife was knocked out of the way in a flash of light. Aris’ glowing wings first materialized, and she stood between her and Sahir.
“You said that you would not harm her!” She pushed him.
“Relax, Red, you’ll be exposed.”
“That’s why I agreed to assist you!” Aris completely disregarded him.
Natasha shivered as she felt the cold penetrate her bones; she had no idea what was happening. Aris… Aris is familiar with the Shadow King. She had only recently met her, but she assumed Aris was a friend. Was what she said true? Can I believe her now?
“Stay away from her,” Aris says, pulling out a blade. Sahir holds her wrist and looks her in the eyes with nonchalance.
“Calm down; where is Azrael?” He inquired.
“I’m not going to help you!” He twisted her arms, turned her body, and trapped her neck in an armlock when she tried to kick him.
“Tell me where Azrael is!” Aris looks down at the blade he’s holding to her side, and she looks at Natasha.
“The celestial armies have arrived, and he is dealing with them,” Aris responds between clenched teeth.
“You left him with celestial soldiers,” he snarled, “and he’d be here in no time!” He lets her go, pushing her out of the path.
“You will not-” Sahir’s eyes flash menacingly at Aris as shadows appear from nowhere, tangling her in their grasp.
“What do you want? Leave her alone!” Why don’t you go into the shadows yourself?” Natasha clenches her teeth, attempting to suppress her body’s chill and think clearly. Trying not to think of Aris’s reason for being here. If nothing else, Aris knew Azrael. Aris was his friend, but now she doesn’t know her all that well, and Aris could not do it willingly.
“I have my reason, and you have a reason to die,” Sahir said as the knife flew back into his grasp.
“Don’t do it, Natasha!” “Killing oneself is a huge crime; it marks one’s soul; you must not do this!” Aris strained in her bonds.
“Even if she doesn’t, her soul is doomed,” Sahir explained. “I’ve already told you, remember Azrael, he might suffer for your cowardice,” Sahir said as a wall of shadow descended on Natasha and Aris like a dark tsunami. Natasha had dodged death many times; one day, it would all catch up.
“How will this work?” She asked.
“No, Natasha!” Aris yelled.
“You stab yourself, you die, and typically it would be a guardian of death or Azrael, but today I am at your service, having the advantage of being the Lord of the Lost Souls, I reap your soul, and you will go into the shadow.” You’ll have an hour; there’s a spark inside that I can’t reach, but you can. All you have to do is look for it and bring it back.”
“A spark?”
“It might be anything, like a stone,” Sahir said.
“What makes you want it?”
“Does it make a difference?”
“Yes!” Natasha hissed.
“I’m providing you with everything you need,” he sneered.
“If you do not follow my instructions. I’ll be here, I’ll find another soul on the point of losing itself to find this, but you… you’ll lose the one thing you have,”
Natasha looked at Aris, who was shaking her head. A chance for the afterlife with Azrael.
“Was what you said about Azrael and me true?” Natasha wasn’t sure why she asked, but Azrael had been doing everything he could to keep her away from all of this. She does not know this world or its dimensions yet has been walking between them. How was she supposed to get through this?
Aris looks down. Natasha stumbled upon seeing her expression.
She lied.
Natasha’s hands reached for the knife, but a scorching feeling caused her to cringe.