Through Death's Eyes: In Death's Grasp, #0

By Alyssa B. Cole

A short story based on In Death's Grasp - through an alternative point of view.

 

For years, he has watched her. 

 

Even though he can no longer remember his name, hers echoes in his mind.

 

He knows he will have her one day, but his patience is wearing thin.

 

It's time to meet his bride.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alyssa B. Cole
• Release date: Sep 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393295952

Alyssa B. Cole

Alyssa B. Cole is a teacher in Minnesota. She enjoys anime, true crime, and occasionally learning languages. You can follow her on Twitter @AlyssaBCole or on her Facebook Page Alyssa B. Cole.

Book preview

Alyssa B. Cole

Through Death’s Eyes

A Short Story

Copyright © 2020 by Alyssa B. Cole

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

First edition

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

About the Author

Also by Alyssa B. Cole

Chapter 1

Sometimes he wonders what it would have been like to meet her as a mortal.

Had they been born in the same era, in the same country, would he have noticed her as he does now? Would he adore her? Or would she just blend in with the other bright-flower women in a withering world?

He sees the mortals in their foolishness, a faint nostalgia tugging at him even through the icy disdain. They waste their time on such trivial things, enveloping themselves in fleeting passions and pleasures, drowning in small tragedies. Pointless—all of it. But perhaps he would be the same, were he mortal: be one of those men who walk by to follow a greater beauty and ignore the lovely little wallflower shrinking from the sun. Perhaps he would indulge in drinks and games and beddings and only see the bright things while missing what shines in shadows.

(Was there there a time once when he—)

* * *

He tilts his head, watching her sleep, considering. It’s a rare moment of peace for her; there are times when he sees her that she knows he’s there. When it first happened, he was almost as disconcerted as she was. Few mortals, if any, have indicated any knowledge of his presence. There were times when he was worshiped, sacrifices bestowed unto him in the form of slaughtered rams and pigs. There were times when pyres burned bodies and ancient funeral ballads were performed. He still remembers one:

"Thy lighted heart may beat no more

It ne’er again may ache with woe

Thy soul to rest in cool reprieve

In Death’s grasp may you sleep

"Forevermore in wakeless peace

Thy fear is cooled, thy rage is ceased

Now rest, dear one, in the same seat

So we again may meet

"Gone is now our waking life

Free of joy, but free of strife

I’ll join you, love, soon as it’s deem’d

In Death’s strange realm of dreams."

Mortals had once feared him and what he heralded, but in this day and age they are so adrift in willful ignorance that they don’t respect him as they ought. They always seem shocked when Death knocks, as if he hasn’t been prowling the whole time, harvesting souls and plucking them from their stem-bodies. He usually isn’t rough, but he can be, depending on how efficient he is or how irritable he is at the moment.

His love lets out an almost drunken huff of a laugh, which makes him blink in surprise. It’s rare he sees any real delight in her.

Right. This isn’t about those other decaying creatures out there. This stolen moment is about her.

He’d spotted her when