'Till Death do us Part (1x1 with Stardustblade)

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Miguel wasn't expecting such comforting words and gestures from Death. It provided Miguel with a feeling of... Hope. Miguel's father was in the sky. How could Miguel make his watching father strong? As Death said, it was by being brave.

"L-Live with you?" Miguel hiccuped. Honestly Miguel liked the idea. Even with his father gone, Miguel didn't feel alone. He still had two adults who loved him with all their hearts, and a brother who felt the same.

"S-Sí..." He whispered, looking to his father's body once more. "B-Be the man m-mi papa wants to be..."

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

Death nodded, kissing Miguel gently on his head as he turned with him. “This isn’t a goodbye, know that, alright? Only a see you later.” Death said, nodding at the Undertaker as he went ahead and covered Jorge back up with the sheet. Death carried Miguel outside, where he stood while holding him close in his arms, waiting for Undertaker’s work to be done. They waited for a while until Megara arrived with Grim, holding him by the hand as he carried a couple of flowers grasped in his fist. Both wearing black garments. Death handed Miguel to Megara, who held him ever so lovingly in her arms. Grim didn’t say much, as he was struggling to not cry. Later on Death and Undertaker, came out carrying Jorge’s casket, and the small group followed over to the cemetery, where a grave already dug by Santiago was at the ready. They lowered the casket and the priest from the church was called over, who walked over with sadness at the news. “Oh Jorge…you fought for so long.” He whispered, shaking his head a bit as he began to read a passage and a prayer for his passing.

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Miguel couldn't help but crying ever so slightly once he saw Jorge being lowered into the grave. Never in his entire life could he even think about such a scene, let alone imagine it. His father was in that casket being lowered in a grave forever. It all felt so surreal. How could this be?

"A-Adios, Papi..." Miguel whispered with tears in his eyes.

Meanwhile the young man with the horns stood by idyly as he watched the scene.

"And so it begins." He uttered to himself.

 

Years passed, and Miguel grew into a strong yet mischievous young boy. He was now ten years old, and was generally happy. He called Death Papa, and he called Grim his brother. He continued to call Megara 'Mama Mega.' It was just his tenth birthday that week, but it wasn't a time of happiness. Ever since he turned ten a few days ago, Miguel was plagued with terrible night terrors. Every night he would wake up crying and screaming. Currently he sat in the corner of the room he shared with Grim, rocking himself in the corner. He couldn't go to sleep. He wouldn't. The ordeal left him exhausted and terrified. It was midnight.

"..."

[Stardustblade358 806]

Though as tragic as Jorge's death was, they moved on. And so far, everything had gone rather nicely. Miguel was already like one of their own, and they grew closer as one big family. Death had finally managed to create the small garden out back solely for medical plants to use for medicine and was a kind father that would always teach them new things here and there. Megara was a loving and doting mother who loved both boys with all of her heart. Grim was growing up to become a smart young man that would read his father's books among others, and happily volunteered at the local church by delivering papers and whatnot, to which he was fast at. He had taken the habit of liking his hair long, and refused to get a haircut much to his father's dismay. Something about why cut it if it was going to grow again. Everything seemed so well until the night terrors started. They were violent and utterly terrifying to the point Miguel refused to get sleep. They were all worried, but there wasn't much someone could do when it came to the mind. Grim was asleep but quickly noticed his brother missing from the bed and looked around to find him in the usual corner. "Miguel." Grim crawled off the bed, carefully walking over to his brother, and sitting down next to him. "It happened again? What was it about this time?" Grim asked, snuggling up against his brother.

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Miguel was completely silent which was very unusual for the child. He hugged his legs tightly and rocked himself back and fourth nervously. Everything scared him, even a small tap on the door would almost give him a heart attack. His eyes were bloodshot, and there were terrible bags under them.

"I-I'm scared to go t-to sleep..." He uttered, shivering slightly to himself. When Grim first approached him he almost jumped. "I don't want to g-go to s-sleep... I can't..."

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Grim frowned and snuggled even closer. "But if you don't sleep you'll get sick..." Grim cooed. He couldn't possibly blame him however. If he had the nightmares he had he wouldn't want to sleep either. Grim pouted. "There has to be a way to get that monster that's bullying you out of your head." Grim murmured. He tried his best to brainstorm, but he was too tired to come up with a logical idea. "Hmmm I know. Miguel. Let's go find your happy place." Grim said, taking his hand. "That way when you have nightmares all you have to do is think of your happy place and it will go away!" Grim suggested. Of course this was only vivid imagination and speculation of a ten year old. He opened the nearest window, allowing the moonlight to shine in. "We'll find it and be back before mom and dad find out."

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Miguel shivered in fear when Grim opened the window. The sound of the window opening alone startled him. Miguel was too terrified to even move. He didn't know which was worse; leaving the house or trying to go back to sleep. He just wanted the sun to come up again.

"N-No!" He squeaked, curling himself up into a little ball. "C-Close the window p-por favor! I-I just want to feel better..." His voice broke and he began to sob. He didn't know why he was feeling this way. Nor did he even understand it. He just was and it scared him. He just wanted to go to sleep in peace and to dream of good dreams again.

"M-Mama... P-Papa..." He cried.

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Grim pouted as he closed the window. It pained him to see Miguel this way. He was just about to say something else when the door opened up to show their two guardians. "You boys are awake?" Death asked, murmuring as he rubbed his eyes. "Miguel had a nightmare again!" Grim alerted. Megara quickly walked over to Miguel and scooped him up in her arms. "Oh my Miguelito. Again?" Megara asked as she cooed at him and wiped away his tears gently. Death walked over and frowned at Miguel's state. "He can't possibly last much longer with such lack of sleep. It won't be long before he gets sick." Death warned. "Can't you give him some of your medicine?" Megara asked. Death hummed. "Well I have one that should knock him out like a light but..." Death began as he then walked off to find the medicine. Megara sat with Miguel on the bed. "Don't worry dear. I'm here. Do you want me to tell you a story to calm down?" Megara asked, Grim climbing up on the bed as she spoke.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Miguel shivered and shook slightly as Megara held him. He was scared to the core and all he wanted was to go to sleep and forget all this existed. Forget about whatever was causing this fear. He had nightmares but couldn't even remember them. All he knew, was that he woke up feeling scared. Terrified. He couldn't take it much longer. Luckily he always felt safe in Megara's arms and be began to nod his head sleepily even though he fought it with all his might. He shouldn't go back to sleep. This desire failed, for already Miguel was drowsing off.

"N-No..." Miguel whined, already half asleep.

[Stardustblade358 806]

(The foreshadowing this story has lmao)

 

Megara cooed and rested back on the bed, holding Miguel in her arms as she laid down between Grim and Miguel. "One story, alright? This one my grandma told me every night before I went to sleep." Megara began. Now this was curious. Grim didn't thought he had heard this story before. Megara cleared her throat slightly. "One time long ago there lived two best friends, a boy and a girl. They grew up to be inseparable and always by each other's side. However one day the girl was bitten by a snake, and because of it died in the boy's arms. The boy was saddened and wanted his friend back. That's when he was visited by a figure that told him 'Not all hope is lost. You may still reach her again. All you have to do, is to reach the Land of the Dead'. The boy agreed, and finding the same snake, had it bite him, and he too died of the venom. When he woke up he found himself in the land of the Dead. It was the most beautiful place he had ever seen. It was full of people from the past who had died before him, all cheerful and always lively and celebrating parties almost every day. With balloons and food and all kinds of music." Megara explained. Grim's eyes gleamed as he heard the story, about how these two friends journeyed to a land where the dead reunited with their loved ones and partied every day, a place more cheerful than in life. Megara went on to tell how the two friends encountered each other again and together they traveled to search for a way to return to the world of the living. The story ending that they had found Lady Death and that they had a choice to either stay here or return to the living world. "What did they chose?!" Grim asked. "I don't know. What do you think they chose?" Megara asked. Grim pouted at the question, slowly falling asleep next to his mother and brother. Just then Death walked in holding a tiny cup filled with bitter tasting medicine. "Here Miguel, drink this up. It should help you sleep." Death asked as he offered the cup.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Miguel was basically snoring already by the time Death came in. He didn't even need the medicine. Megara was enough to calm his pained heart.

"B-Bien..." Miguel muttered as he slipped into slumber. He didn't even want to go to sleep. But he couldn't help it. Megara was just so warm and loving he always felt safe in her arms.

A few hours later, it was about three in the morning. All seemed well until Miguel was torn out of his sleep yet again. It was terrible this time, for he woke up screaming and crying almost as if someone came into the room.

"A-Ayudame!" Miguel screeched. "M-Mama!! P-Papa!!!" He was caught in the covers, and frantically moved his arms around.

[Stardustblade358 806]

The scream shook Grim more than it should have, the child jolting awake before falling off the bed in surprise. Megara and Death woke up with a start, Death grabbing the nearest broom as they entered the room, expecting to fight any intruder that dared to harm their kids. However it was worse; Miguel was in a frantic state of nightmares again. More violent than the last. "Miguel!" Megara ran over to the side of the bed, Death hurrying as well as Grim crawled back on. "Miguel wake up! It's ok! You're safe!" Megara called, carefully helping the frantic child to get freed from the bedsheets, before pulling him into an embrace along with Death. "It's just a dream! It's just a dream!" Death cooed, rubbing Miguel's head. Grim frowned from the edge of the bed. It hurt to see Miguel this way. What the hell was happening to his brother?

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Miguel continued to scream and cry, squirming around in Megara's arms. Even his clothes were all over the place as he struggled. On his stomach however, was a bloody bite mark which stained a small portion of his shirt red.

"M-Mama! P-Papa!" Miguel cried once more, before he slowly began to realize where he was. He opened his eyes and looked into Megara's, eyes wide and full of fear.

"M-Mama..." He hiccuped, shaking in her arms.

[Stardustblade358 806]

Megara cooed as she held Miguel in her arms. "I'm here Miguel, you're alright." Megara assured. Grim was the first to notice the red stain on the white pajamas. "Mama, papa, his tummy..." Grim murmured while pointing. Megara gently raised the clothing, and once she saw the blood bite mark she screamed in horror. "Muerte!" "What the hell?!" Death quickly inspected the bite mark. It didn't look human, so it couldn't have possibly be Grim. He stood up and looked around the room. Under the bed, in the toy chest, every nook and cranny of the room was inspected for any animal or that could have attacked Miguel. He didn't see any. "Muerte, what did this?!" Megara asked. "I don't know." Death hissed. He would need to look over his book later for any similar bites. He quickly walked out of the room and came back with some medical materials. He cleaned the bite mark, disaffecting with a bit of alcohol as he bandaged it up. "Did you boys see anything that would've done this?" Death asked. Grim shook his head. "I didn't see anything..."

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Miguel began to cry again once Megara began to freak out over the bite mark. It startled Miguel to see his mother or father scared. With the situation, it only made it worse.

"W-What's wrong?" Miguel peeped, looking down at his stomach. He began to freak out a little too. "Mama, papa, I'm scared! I'm so scared..." He whispered. He began to quietly sob, making small whimpers here and there as Death cleaned the wound.

"I-I don't know what's going on..." Miguel hiccuped.

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

Death patched up the bite mark. It appeared it was merely a surface wound, thankfully. “There we go. It should start healing up soon.” Death said as he glanced around the room once more. “Megara, stay with the children. I’m going to go around for any sight of activity for any insects or wild animals around the house.” Death said, getting Grim back on the bed as he kissed Miguel’s head. “Don’t worry Miguel, I’m going to find out what’s going on, and I’m going to fix it, alright?” Death assured. Miguel was his son, and if anything messed with him, it would have to go through Death first. “I’ll get going.” Death said as he hurried out of the room. Megara changed Miguel’s bloody pajamas for a new, clean one. “I’m going to stay with you boys for the night, alright? If anything ties to bite you I’m going to bite it back.” Megara said, sounding genuinely serious about the whole biting thing. “If it shows up I’ll bite it too!” Grim declared. Death pulled up the first scarf he found, wrapping it around his neck before he headed outside and began to walk around the property with a lantern. What the hell was going on?

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Miguel sniffled and clutched tightly on Megara's shirt. Her hold did comfort him however, for he knew very well Megara would take out anyone that tried to hurt him or Grim. Megara would wipe the enemy off of the face of the earth.

"S-Sí..." Miguel whispered softly.

Meanwhile, outside the horned man stood, lounging around as he leaned against the tree.

"What, you seriously expect you're going to find something out here?" He mused. "You're not going to find a think that marked your boy... He IS ten now, after all. Oh! In speaking of which, I hope he had a wonderful birthday. Hopefully he'll have many more."

[Stardustblade358 806]

 

Death’s muscles tensed at the voice of the horned man. He hadn’t seen him in a very long while. Since the funeral, actually. However him showing up around could only mean trouble was on and about, much to Death’s dismay. He slowly turned to the man, somewhat glaring as he raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? Are you saying that the creature ran away…or that it’s something that I can’t see with my mortal, closed eyes?” Death asked, almost hissing as he walked closer to face the man properly. “What are you doing around here? Whenever you show up problem follows…you aren’t the cause to my son’s problems…are you?” Death asked with all seriousness.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

The man looked to Death, looking very insulted. It looked as if Death just shot a bullet in the young man's heart.

"Are you saying I have something to do with this?" He asked, placing a hand on his heart. "I'm trying to help you though this, even though I do admit I'm kinda annoying. I'm not a harbinger of death. I'm a... Warning ally. You think you're going to find an animal out here. But are you sure it was animal that bit the boy? If you ask me, that bite mark looks... Humanoid. And I say Humanoid. Not human."

[Stardustblade358 806]

The word sent shivers down his spine. Humanoid. Not animal. Not human. Something in between...and it was targeting Miguel. To top it off he was talking with limited information. Holding back information on purpose for one reason or another. He sighed. It was too late for this, but he wasn't going to give up. "Then explain to me, ally. Why is it targeting Miguel? He's had enough with these night terrors, and now he's being physically attacked, Grim unscathed despite being next to him. Is this because of the chance that he might be the witch's son?" Death asked. It was almost official that he was the witch's son. But part of Death still wanted to believe otherwise until proof was shown.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

"Well, if you ask a villager why they would say because the boy is a demon. Because the boy is the witch's son. Either way, that's it the reason if it was true or if it was not true." The man mused, walking around the area. The nighttime was just so interesting. All the boring people were asleep. Usually the interesting people were away. Many interesting things happened at night.

"But the reason is... There's a deal. And that boy is a part of the deal. Sometimes... 'It' gets bored with his pets... So he goes out to get new ones. But these pets... Aren't exactly doggies and kitties. Anyway, your boy is okay for now. His terrors should be over now. He can enjoy a goodnight's sleep~"

[Stardustblade358 806]

A deal? Pets? Humanoids? It? When Death thought things couldn't get stranger, they took a turn for the worst. But now it made Death wonder; what exactly did he got himself into that night he saved Miguel's life while in Jorge's arms? What happened before the small child was found, and what...could he possibly be to beacon all of this down to him in the end? How this would most likely hang him for years to come. "When I figured that Miguel was special I now think that the meaning to it is much deeper than I anticipated." Death spoke, staring tiredly into the horned man's eyes. To think all of this happening to Miguel in the mere stages of a child...would he even live on to reach adulthood? "Deals or not...the devil himself could not make me care any less. I just want my son safe." Death confessed. He sighed, rubbing his eyes slightly. "I'm heading back." He said, but before leaving, he gave a soft pause. "...if anything is going to happen to Miguel...please warn me. I don't think...we could possibly handle losing him to something we couldn't even fight against." And with that he was off, returning home to watch over his family, his beloved sons and wife. They would be a happy family...as long as they were allowed to be one.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

The man's face seemed to soften as he heard Death's words, as if those words struck a personal chord within the man's body. He really wasn't sure of what to say. With a small sigh, be rubbed the back of his neck. This was such a sticky situation.

"Even I don't know the future..." The man uttered. "I can predict it. But honestly... The future can go both ways." A part of him wanted to be blunt and outright say that Miguel was probably going to die, but he couldn't just bring himself to say it. Yes, it was a high probability, but it wasn't a certain one. He couldn't tear Death's life apart like that. Why was he feeling so... Sympathetic?

"Just... Live life." He uttered softly before disappearing.

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Death returned home, turning off the lantern and removing his scarf before heading back to the kids' room. "Did you find it?" Megara asked. "Eh..." How the hell would he explained what he just heard? Or how would he explain the man's existence at all? "I couldn't find anything. Whatever it was must be long gone and away." Death said, not sure of his own words. "But just in case, we'll sleep together. Scoot over." Death said, getting on the bed as Megara slept in one corner, and Death in the other, Miguel and Grim in the middle. "Now if it returns they'll have to go through us first." Death said with a , gently rubbing Grim and Miguel's head. "Good night everyone!" Grim squealed, snuggling against his brother as he fell asleep. Such a happy family. Clueless of the journey to come.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Miguel sighed softly as he snuggled up to Grim. He was still a little bit shaky and fearful to go to sleep, how er with his family by his side he felt much better. Within the next fifteen minutes he was already fast asleep.

-

The next two years went by rather nicely. Nothing too bad happened. Miguel was made fun of and shunned by the rest of the village as usual, but he still didn't understand why. Currently the boy was twelve years old and often left the house during the evening to get some goodies from a nearby field. Cherries grew there and Miguel just loved to pick them and munch on them at night. Again for the fifth time that week, Miguel decided to leave Grim and everyone back at the house while he went to pick some more cherries. Perhaps he could pick some blueberries as a surprise for Grim.