Sera assumed the house was on fire. Firefighters gathered out front, giving grim details to the paramedics. He’s unresponsive, one of them said, before a man in dark blue pulled her to the side.
“Did you see anything?”
Sera froze, thinking about the previous night.
Curled up in the corner, she listened to the door rattle, threatening to burst open into the only safe space she’d known at twelve years old. The best chance of escaping unscathed was to stay silent and pray the door held strong against the beating of fists. It would be a matter of time before the bottle sent her father to bed.
The air in the bedroom weighed heavy on her lungs, as if the pressure of the ocean had claimed its place. Sera pulled the blanket down from over her head when the Death God appeared, cloaked in darkness. He remained silent until all her tears were wiped away. A sliver of moonlight highlighted his sunken jaw and his smooth voice offered comfort.
“I could help, child.”
The chaos beyond the door continued to rage on down the hall, inviting her mother to join the liquid diet dominating the house. Death waited patiently for a response.
“How?”
“Make a deal.” The chorus of shouting ended after the front door slammed shut, prompting Sera to shake. “Agree to join the Reapers and I will deal with him.”
