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

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

The woman didn't bother to respond. She didn't try to argue, to defend herself. She didn't get mad at Grim, only stood silent. There were grief in her eyes. Eyes that told that she was a tortured soul- not because of her fate, but because of what she had done.

"Yes..." Game her ghostly whisper, followed by raspy dry pants. It was almost as if she was going to turn into dust any second. "I did that... To my son..."

Danté stood in silence, staring at the woman. After a few moments however, he spoke up. "What was the deal you made with him?" He asked. "What did you want?"

The woman went silent, growing distant to remember her past. "I... Could not bare children... I always wanted a child..."

[Stardustblade358 806]

Grim listened, trying to remain calm enough to simply listen and understand. But the more she spoke, the angrier he seemed to get. "...you couldn't have kids...so you offered his own soul if he could only just be born?" Grim asked. Now this was confused. By all means, in his head, it was a dumb idea. You couldn't have children, so you would risk their soul just to be able to hold them? Maybe Grim was too young. He didn't understand how far many, especially women, would go to have children. To have a child to call their own. To have a child they could hold and raise and watch them grow. Yet it didn't make sense. "...why...how...what kind of deal did you make?" Grim asked, walking closer to the woman, past Dante. "Miguel was found by Jorge before he could even open his eyes, and he was killed by Cabra a few months ago, he hadn't even turned 16! We were going to celebrate his next birthday by going to the beach for the first time!...what happened?!" Grim demanded.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

The woman didn't even fight. She only listened to Grim, allowing him to yell at her as if she knew it was her punishment. She accepted it. She wanted it.

"I... Could not bare children..." She whispered. "I came to Cabra asking for help... I had nothing to give him other than charms I make. Cabra said he would give me a child so long if I payed him back in the afterlife. And so I accepted... I wanted children oh so, so badly..." The woman whispered. "And soon I became pregnant. I was so happy... But then Cabra came. I found out I was to have twin children... And Cabra said I was only to have one child... And..." The woman's voice cracked. She had to stop for a moment to speak. "He threatened to kill my twins for breaking this deal... So I made him another deal. I would give him the soul of my first born child so long as he spears all other children I have. I gave birth... Only to find out I never had twins. Miguel was my one and only child. But Miguel wasn't even mine anymore... He belonged to Cabra. Feeling so miserable for what I have done, I left Miguel in hopes of someone finding him not knowing he was my son. I killed myself so that I may offer my soul to Cabra in exchange for my son... But he said no and stole my soul as punishment for what I have done..."

Danté stood there in silence, taking all of this in. "So he tricked you, saying that you were to be having twins when in reality you were only having one child. So you had to pick between one child or the other."

[Stardustblade358 806]

Grim listened, and slowly his anger turned into anguish and pity. From all this time of thinking that this was Miguel's mom's fault, that she had purposely done this knowing all of the consequences that would happen. Now he realized it wasn't fully like that at all. She just wished to have children, and when her children were in danger, she offered more in order to save what she considered to be the only family she would have. She even gave her own life in hopes of freeing Miguel...to no avail. She wasn't the evil witch that the rumors spoke, hiding in the woods and eating children. She was just lonely. Grim pursed his lips, thinking of what to say as he heard her. "...my name is Grim. I am Miguel's brother. When Jorge died, my mami and papi took him in and we became family. Miguel died a few months ago and is now with Cabra...so I decided to kill myself so I could travel here and bring him home." Grim said. He reached out to the witch's hand, gently taking her hand, even as it felt that it would have turned into dust at any given moment. "Miguel has a big family waiting for him home! And lots of presents for his birthday! I'm going to take him away from Cabra, if it makes you feel any better."

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

It wasn't fully visible, but for the first time pure happiness filled the woman's heart. She held onto Grim with both hands, almost throwing herself at Grim's feet for his words.

"My son...." She whispered, only dust coming out of her eyes instead of tears. "Has... A family....." For the first time, the woman felt a weight lift off her shoulders, as if all her inner sins were forgiven simply due to the few words that left the boy's mouth. Suddenly she grew weak, letting her self fall back against the wall. She could no longer move, only smile.

"My son...."

Danté placed a hand on Grim's shoulder. He didn't want to ruin the moment, but they were I a dungeon.

"Cabra... He will do everything in his power to get the last laugh."

[Stardustblade358 806]

The fact that it appeared that Cabra would always win, regardless, ticked at Grim. There had to be a way to win against Cabra. Otherwise everything would have been for nothing. No one is unbatable! Well, except grandpa. Grandpa could totally kick Cabra's butt. But grandpa wasn't here. There were only Cabra and souls and demons...wait...demons! Grim looked up, turning over to Dante as he came up with a question, and possibly a plan. Though if Grim thought that it could work, it was most likely near impossible to actually do. "Dante. There are demons here. Cabra is the most powerful demon, right? Is there a way for a demon to become more powerful than him? In any way?" Grim asked as he gently held the witch's hand. "Maybe you can try and become stronger than Cabra and beat him, and win Miguel!...or...what if I turned into a demon and try to beat him?" Grim asked. Now he was just trying to grasp at straws. Anything possible. He just wanted to get Miguel and get back home with him...but there was no way he would leave this place without him.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

The witch was stunned by Grim's determination to save Miguel. Such love brought tears to her eyes. It made her soul happy to know that her son has a loving family.

Danté listened to Grim's words. At first he was deep in thought, but when Grim offered to turn into a demon and fight, Danté shook his head.

"No small fry. If you become a demon and challenge him, Cabra will squash you like a bug. Cabra is one of he most powerful demons and other demons leave him alone. Not all demons are bad. But everyone is afraid of Cabra and what he could do. Hm..." Danté held a hand to his chin. Grim did have a point.

"There are many demons though who hate him... He is notorious in the Land of the Living as well. Rumor has it Xibalba helps him, while lying to Madre Muerte that he doesn't."

[Stardustblade358 806]

Grim walked over to Dante and grabbed his hands. "Dante, you know this world better than me. You know how Cabra works, and how the other demons work. There has to be a way to save Miguel. There has to be someone who is strong enough to beat Cabra, or at least, someone who is willing to become strong enough to beat him. If I have to beg to Xibalba to help us defeat him then I'll do it!" Grim asked in desperation. Miguel was so close and yet so far. It was painful. "If Xibalba helps him, then maybe Xibaba knows a way to defeat him, right? Maybe we can do a deal with him to teach you how to defeat him or something. We need to help Miguel...por favor, Dante." Grim asked as he shook the demon around as much as he could, even though it wasn't much compared to the taller and stronger demon. "Do you think making a deal with Xibalba would help getting Miguel back? As far as I see it the only one stronger or equally as strong as Cabra is him..." Grim said as he felt the last bit of hope fading, even as he held onto it for the dear life he didn't have anymore.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

"Don't call me Danté..." Danté whispered, still shocked to even hear the name in the first place. He tried to calm himself however and only looked to Grim with narrow eyes.

"Xibalba..." Danté had to admit Grim had a point. "He's the ruler of te Land of the Forgotten. He has to be stronger than Cabra. But Xibalba won't just help us... He doesn't even like deals... But... There is something he likes..."

"Bets." Miguel's mother whispered, struggling to even breathe.

"Sí. Bets." Danté said. "Xibalba makes bets all the time with La Muerte. The bigger the bet the better. But before anything like that, we have to get out of her first..."

[Stardustblade358 806]

Grim nodded. Xibalba it was. If he couldn't find a way to deal with Cabra, he would have to do a bet with Xibalba...and hope that it would work out. "Right...a way to get out of here." Grim murmured, looking around. The place seemed...well, like there was no real exit. Only a few candles to light within the darkness and that was it. A perfect place to drive someone absolutely insane after death if anything. "I bet Cabra is listening to us as we have been talking. He dropped us in here in the first place, didn't he?" Grim said as he walked up, looking up at the sealed cieling from where they had fallen through. As far as it had been proven, Cabra was similar to a god down here. Everyone feared him and there was no one strong enough who cared enough to fight against him. Grim would just have to find a way to become stronger than that and a bit more in order to regain Miguel back and head home. "Cabra! Can you hear me?!" Grim screamed, his voice echoing. "Let us out! I have a way to make your time a little bit more fun! Let's have a game!" Grim screamed, cupping his hands around his mouth. "I'll leave your world, and the next time I come back, I'm going to fight you, and whoever wins, gets Miguel! How does that sound?!"

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Danté stood in silence, listening to Grim's bold words as he waited for Cabra to respond. Finally after what seemed like forever, a loud cackling could be heard echoing throughout the cell. It was Cabra.

"How cute..." The demon mused. His powerful voice boomed throughout the halls. "The child wishes to challenge me... I will accept your challenge. But if you loose, I will take your soul as well. Since I only want one pet, I suppose I'll just curse Miguel's soul to suffer from all eternity. He will be born to numerous mothers... Only to die a newborn. And that is how Mighel will spend the rest of his eternity. Born then death over and over again. So many women will suffer."

Danté placed his hand on Grim's shoulder. He had heard of souls suffering such fates; it was something he couldn't possibly imagine. Given life, only to have it taken away over and over again, causing mothers to suffer in the process.

"It's your choice." He whispered to Grim.

[Stardustblade358 806]

Grim gulped. What could he possibly say? What could he possibly do? He had already decided that he would refuse to return to the world of the living without Miguel. But to get Miguel was a risk all on its own for Miguel and himself, all over. He could either succeed and bring Miguel home...or fail and send Miguel to an even worse fate, a fate not even demons would wish on others. Grim pursed his lips, glancing over at Dante, and then looking over at Miguel's mom. How could he even try to be strong? He was fighting against something that could be the equivalent of a god in this world. Even as he proudly said many things on the inside he shook and ache. There wasn't much he could do, but mo forward. He breathed, putting up a brave face at the darkness ahead. "We have a deal, Cabra. I will fight you once in my immortal lifetime, and if I win, I get to take Miguel home. If I lose...you get my soul along with Miguel's and do whatever is it that you feel that is fair." Grim said, gripping his fists. Stay strong. Stay strong! You had more than one lifetime to prepare down here. You just have to make sure that you could do it right!

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Cabra listened in silence, this silence painfully filling the cell around them. A moment later Miguel's mother began to weep, consumed by pure despair and anguish at the thought of such a fate for her son.

"I did... This to him..." She whispered, no tears escaping her eyes; only dust. "My son... My son..."

Cabra began to chuckle, his powerful voice booming throughout the room.

"Very well." He replied simply, snapping his fingers. A small part of the cell wall infront of them sank into a small exit to go outside. As this new door formed, the chain connecting to the mother's neck tightened. She wasn't to be leaving anywhere anytime soon.

"I look forward to having you as my new pet." He said with a chuckle.

Danté gritted his teeth, not liking this bet one bit. He always made a bet almost exactly like this once before. It was obvious that the bet didn't go well at all. But what made it worse was the fact that this outcome could be much more dangerous than the outcome of him and his brother.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Danté asked, a hand on Grim's shoulder. "I don't want to scare you... But if something goes wrong, not only would you be Cabra's pet, but Mighel will suffer a much worse fate for all eternity. A worse fate than the empty husk you saw at the throne."

[Stardustblade358 806]

Grim looked up at Dante, getting his own hand over his. "I don't have a choice, Dante. I am not returning to the world of the living without my brother. If this is what it takes, then so be it." Grim insisted, gripping his fists tightly. "Trust me. I won't lose. I refuse to lose to that monstro." Grim said as she paused, looking back at the mother. She frowned. "Don't worry, Miguel's mom...I'm going to free Miguel. I promise you." Grim said as he held Dante's hand and walked with him through the door. They stepped to the outside of the cell, the door behind them disappearing into nothing. "It's only going to be one and only one challenge. So I have to make sure that I win against him from the very beginning." Grim said as he looked up at Dante. "Dante, take me back to see Xibalba. I wish to speak with him. If he is more powerful than Cabra, then he will have the answers that I seek in order to be able to defeat him and get Miguel back." Grim said as he raised his hand, feeling the flower in his hair that was given to him by La Muerte. "La Muerte must have seen something, and if Xibalba is with her, the maybe he already saw some of it too. If anything, he could be expecting me." Grim said as he groaned to himself. This was...taking much longer than what he expected. "I hope mom and dad are merciful with me once I bring back Miguel. Otherwise I'll end up right back in here the moment I step in the door."

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Danté expected such a decision from Grim. Honestly, he saw himself inside the boy. So many years ago, he done basically the exact same thing for his own brother. The exact same impossible feat; taking on Cabra. But Danté... He failed. He just hoped Grim would be able to do what Danté himself never did.

"Xibalba..." Danté hissed. Honestly the demon didn't even want to see the fool. Many demons didn't like Xibalba just because of the way he acted. It was rather humorous actually, because many demons were infatuated with La Muerte.

"Xibalba knows." Danté confirmed, walking forward and expecting Grim to follow. "He plays in bets. Constantly Xibalba and La Muerte bet each other over the Land of the Living; they choose warriors that they bet on. The winner gets to rule the Land of the Dead. The looser gets to rule the Land of the Forgotten. I just hope that when we get there, he doesnt have a bet in mind..." He uttered, falling in silence as he walked with Grim. Danté began to lead Grim to the outskirts of town, back to where his dogs roamed around in the silent forest.

"...Grim," Danté began, breaking the silence. He was thinking of his words for a while, but was unsure on how to say it. "What if... What if you loose...?"

(Omg I'm so sorry I haven't been posting OTL)

[Stardustblade358 806]

(It's fine)

 

Grim stopped for a moment. He hadn't thought about it much. What if he didn't win? What if he lost? He couldn't exactly take it back now. The bet has been done and sealed. Contract done. "Well..." Grim started. He looked up at him. "Then I guess I won't lose." Grim said as he got his arms on his hips. "I refuse to lose!! I'll just have to win and take no other option other than winning." Grim added. His words sounded like something out of a madman. But before he could be interrupted again, he continued again. "I don't want to lose. I can't lose. It's not an option for me, Dante. I sound crazy saying that I won't lose, but if I think about all the ways I could lose, I'll be missing on all the ways I could win. So I have to focus on just that, winning." Grim said, admitting he did indeed sounded very silly. "But even if the possibility does come, and I do lose, then I guess I'll just keep fighting until I do win." Grim said as he stomped the ground. "He...made Miguel's mama sad. And she made Miguel sad too. He's made Miguel not Miguel anymore. So even if I do lose I'm going to make him pay for doing what he did." Grim said with a chuckle. "It might take a while...but when you're dead, you have all the time in the world, you know." He looked back around the forest. He had started to like this place. It wasn't that bad after all. Without the evil demons of course. "First I have to win against Xibalba. So let's worry about that first."

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Danté couldn't help but chuckle bitterly at Grim's words. He heard it all before; that was what exactly Danté told himself when Cabra first got a hold of Javier. Danté had the same exact determination, the same mindset that he was going to get his brother back... But he failed. Danté was cursed for all eternity alongside Javier. A part of him believed Grim would suffer the same fate.

"I said the same exact f****** thing..." He whispered to himself, biting back sudden tears. He shook the thoughts away and for a moment he looked to Grim.

"Let's... Go then." He uttered softly.

[Stardustblade358 806]

Grim and Dante headed back to the world of the dead. The cheerful and ever so colorful scenery helped cheer any spirits he had left. But it was far from over. They knew that very well. Grim was dreading it. Would it take years? Decades? Centuries? By the time that he got home, would mom and dad even be alive still? It just made him even more determined to get Miguel out of here and get back home as soon as possible! Though, that was very much easier said than done. He walked into the familiar hall, the scent of food in the air and the all to yummy food all over the tables torturing Grim's stomach. If Miguel saw any of these, he would have chowed down on them straight away. Then the two would most likely end up having a small food fight for all he knew. It didn't take long for them to encounter Rosenda and Jorge. Rosenda didn't hesitate to hurry over to her grandchild. "Grim! You're in one piece!" Rosenda gasped as she looked at him up and down. She turned to Dante. "He didn't hurt you, did he?" She asked. "Not at all! He helped me alot!" Grim assured, chuckling at his grandmother's attitude. Much more temperamental than his grandfather, but the fire and power surged all the same. His dad definitely had inherited her attitude, that's for sure. "Did you find your brother?" Rosenda asked. Grim paused. He didn't know if La Muerte had told them anything, and by all means, he didn't know himself how much he should tell anyone. Especially Jorge. The least he wanted to do was to bring more pain to him. "...I saw him." Grim said rather simply, his attention drawn away as he walked past her and towards La Muerte and Xibalba at the end of the grand hall. He didn't even look at Jorge in the eye. He was afraid to. He was afraid that his expression would tell Jorge all that he needed to know, and that he would find the truth. The pain that Miguel was in, and worse, the deal that he had dared to make. "Xibalba." Grim spoke, walking up to him. "Thank you for summoning Dante to help me find La Cabra. However, you must already know, I have more business to do...and a deal to make with you." Grim said, trying to sound brave, when on the inside he was trembling like jelly. "You like to wager, so let's wager something. If I win, you get to teach me and train me to be as strong as you, or at least, strong enough to beat La Cabra. If I lose...well, what would you like of me?" He had already thrown half his after life out in a bet in one hour, what could a second one possibly do.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Danté stood of in the corner of the room, not daring to partake in any of the events to come. He was too afraid of having contact with Javier who must've been somewhere. He didn't want to look Javier in the eyes. He couldn't. Just the thought alone scared him.

Jorge meanwhile was going to approach Grim, but when he saw the boy rush past he knew something was wrong. Grim would've immediatly told him what happened. To see Grim go straight to Xibalba... Miguel. The old man held two hands to his chest, not wanting to believe it. Maybe Grim was just so excited he wanted to tell Xibalba and La Muerte the good news first? No... No reassuring thoughts fooled his mind.

Xibalba meanwhile grinned as Grim approached him. He imagined how the meeting would go, how the victim would fall right into his trap. Before Xibalba could even begin however, La Muerte cut him off.

"Sweetie..." La Muerte began, looking to Grim. "I have a better idea. Xibalba. I will make this boy my champion and you just give him the ability to defeat Cabra."

Xibalba chucked. "Oh my... and if he looses~?"

"You get the Land of the Remembered." La Muerte answered.

[Stardustblade358 806]

Gasps filled the hall from all of those present who could hear. Some didn't seem too worried, as others had been around long enough to know that such deals are heavily dangerous for everyone. Rosenda was quick to respond to the situation. "Milady," Rosenda began, keeping herself from yelling. "This is much too dangerous...he's only a child." Rosenda, as much as she loved Grim as her grandson, knew what was at risk. Not merely just Miguel or Grim's fates, or La Muerte's rule as a whole, but the fate of everyone in the Land of the Remembered. Grim was surprised that La Muerte would stick her neck out of him like that. To put so much on the line due to a selfish desire as to save one's kin above the rest. "...La Muerte, are you sure about this? This fight, I got involved in it knowing well that the consequences would change me and Miguel...do you really trust me that much, La Muerte?" Grim asked, genuinely surprised that something so big would be put on the line. "...I already made a promise that I would defeat Cabra, no matter what...but to put so much on the line for my personal desire?"