My Beautiful Death

Five

Mitchell finally had a night without dreams. Her eyes slowly opened as she woke up with a smile on her face. The sound of Alexander's gentle laugh cut through her peaceful bliss. Her eyes began to focus on what she assumed was a pillow she was holding, just to see that it was Alexander's chest under her. "Good morning, Mitchell."

She jumped up, stumbling out of bed. "Oh good lord! Get out of my room!"

Alexander stood slowly, pulling on his shirt as he walked out of the room, still laughing to himself as his foot steps could be heard going down the stairs.

"I can't believe this is happening to me," Mitchell moaned as she searched for clothes in her closet. She pulled out a basic tank top and some jean shorts, shrugging as she changed. "I can't believe him-"

The doorbell rang, echoing through the house. Mitchell hurried out of her room just to find Alexander opening it and introducing himself to a visitor. A tall, curvy woman with rainbow hair walked in, smiling and waving up to Mitchell. KayCee. She stood only a few inches shorter than the already giant Alexander. "Good morning, Mitchell!"

"I'm so done hearing that already," Mitchell said as she hurried down the stairs to hug her best friend. "But I'm glad you're here. I need some girl time."

Alexander walked into the kitchen, calling out "I'm making coffee."

KayCee wiggled her eyebrows, obviously in a s****l manner. "Some girl time to tell me about this Greek God? Have you seen his ass? In jeans it still looks FAB! Even the front is showing a little something someth-"

"Long story dude," Mitchell interrupted. "But no, haven't seen it in person and I don't plan on it."

KayCee leaned back awkwardly, continuing to look at Alexander as he made coffee. "I'm off today, so I have the time."

The front door flung open and in stepped Lunaire and Elysia, bags of food in tow. "We brought food! I was browsing through your cabinets and boy, Mitchell, you eat like you don't care about your health! It's never too soon to care about your health!" Lunaire paused for a brief second, looking KayCee over before tossing the bags into the kitchen. "And who might this young beauty be?"

KayCee's eyes widened, looking between the three beautiful men and Mitchell. She smiled her biggest smile, reaching her hand out for Lunaire. "I'm KayCee, Mitchell's best and used to be only friend. And you are?"

Lunaire took her hand, raising it to his lips to kiss. "Lunaire," he said in a sultry voice. "This is my brother, Elysia," he said as he waved his hand over towards him. "I'm sure you met the eldest, Alexander." He shrugged his shoulder towards the kitchen.

Elysia slowly moved his way into the house, feeling his way around with his feet. Mitchell quickly moved over to him, helping him get to the recliner. "Still sorry for the intrusion, Mitchell," he whispered to her.

Mitchell smiled and chuckled to herself. As much as an inconvenience as it was to her, at least she wasn't the one in a new place without vision. It was nice having someone around that seemed to be as helpless as her. "You're fine, Elysia," she replied as she glanced over to KayCee and Lunaire. Lunaire was busy flirting his heart out with KayCee, and she was loving it. "At least KayCee is here for everyone to bother. I may finally get a break. How did you sleep?"

"I don't," Elysia stated.

Mitchell sighed. "I'm assuming none of you do," she said quietly to herself. She walked over to the kitchen to find Alexander leaned against the counters, zoning out as his eyes fixated out the window. "We need a new sleeping arrangement."

Alexander jumped with surprise as life came back to his eyes. Even with him focused, they looked so sad. "Good, you drool when you sleep," he said as he pointed at his chest. "We can move the recliner into your room."

"Unless your brothers leave, that is Elysia's spot," she said as she reached into the cabinet for a coffee cup. They were barely out of her reach, even with her rising up on her toes. She could feel Alexander's firm chest against the back of her head as he moved over to help her. His hair fell over both of their shoulders as he stretched his arm out, grabbing the cup and passing it down to her.

"Then get a bigger house," he said as he placed his hands on the counter on both sides of them, closing her in in front of him. His breath was slow and steady, tickling her ear with each gentle exhale. Mitchell quickly grabbed the coffee cup as she pushed her way out from in front of him. Her face was beat red as she poured her coffee, keeping her back toward him.

KayCee walked into the kitchen, grabbing a cup easily and smiling at Alexander. "Thanks for the coffee!" she exclaimed as she waited by Mitchell for her turn at the pot.

Alexander smiled as he turned and strolled out of the room. "Not a problem, KayCee."

Mitchell quickly exhaled, relieved as the tension left with him. "KayCee, what am I gonna do? I have way too many people in my house, no personal space, and I can't ask them to leave."

"Are they threatening you?" KayCee asked as she quickly turned to the doorway, peering out at the men, studying their every move as they chatted away in the living room. "I'll kill them. Just say the word!"

"Not even close," Mitchell replied as she sipped her coffee. "They're actually helping me, but you know me. I hate everyone and I like being alone."

"Ahem!" KayCee cleared her throat, over-exaggerating.

"Besides you, you dork!" Mitchell laughed. "Alexander mentioned getting a bigger home, but I don't want to need their help for much longer."

KayCee shrugged. "We can always get a big place, and when what ever they are helping you with is done, which now I'm curious so we will have to get to that, but one crisis at a time-" KayCee started before Mitchell cut her off.

"I don't want you involved in this. It's utter nonsense that I don't fully understand myself," she said lowly. "My mom is convinced Alexander and I are sleeping together."

KayCee cackled, holding her stomach. "Oh, yeah, like you would ever hook up with anyone." She paused, laughter dying off. "But if you were... I would hope you would go for Blondie out there."

"You would be the first to know if I was sleeping with Alexander," Mitchell laughed. "He's arrogant, bossy, pushy-"

"Sexy, tall, muscular," KayCee continued, shooting her friend a coy smile.

Mitchell rolled her eyes. "Because that is exactly what matters. You can have Lunaire, I'm good."

KayCee shrugged, taking a long sip of coffee. "Don't act like you two weren't having a moment over a coffee cup. I saw everything," KayCee said as she shook her finger at Mitchell. "It was so hard not to interrupt, you know me and my coffee..." she trailed off before taking another sip. "Mmm, that's way better than you make it. I could get used to this."

"We're not getting a house all together and being one happy family," Mitchell pleaded. “It’s like you and Alexander have hive-mind.”

"We're all going to be roommates?"

The girls turned, finding Lunaire leaning against the arch to the kitchen. "That would be wonderful! It's not fair that we get the couch and the recliner while Alexander gets to cuddle up to our little Mitchell," Lunaire said as he strode quickly over to KayCee, sighing pathetically for pity. "Must be nice being the oldest, getting first dibs on all the good things. Find a place and let us know the damage. Money isn't an issue."

KayCee looked over the Mitchell and raised a brow. "So you have been cuddling with someone besides me," she said as she put her hands on her hips. "So what do you boys do for a living to just up and buy a house?"

Mitchell's face grew bright as she quickly left the kitchen, leaving KayCee with Lunaire. Elysia's fingers moved quickly over a braille book, reading away with a smile. Mitchell quickly sat in the corner by the recliner, hiding behind Elysia. "Elysia, I don't know how much more I can take of this. You have to be the voice of reason," she whispered to him.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not," he replied. "I'm sure you've noticed by now how strong headed they can be. Did you talk with Alexander, yet?"

"About what is entirely going on? No," she said as she gently grabbed his hand, stopping him from his book. "Can you tell me anything?"

Elysia sighed as he folded the corner of the page, shutting the book as he turned to Mitchell. "So, we've already told you about how your family stole our personal Bible among other things, how your step-father acquired it was from your father's secret storage unit. He knew about your father having certain... things... and wanted them for himself to try to save your family after the loss of your father. He did it to help spare your mom from more death," he said as he tried to recall every moment of last night's conversation. "The penalty for stealing from ang-" he cut himself off briefly "from us, and anyone like us, is to face the plagues, ultimately killing the first born. You're getting close to the age where something horribly convenient will happen to you and you will die. Yes, we finally have the Bible returned, but it's going to continue through your family, over and over, until your bloodline is cut off. You are the oldest, you have no children, once you go the price will be paid."

"And, even with you getting the Bible back, I'm screwed? I didn't even take it!" Mitchell exclaimed.

Elysia nodded his head. "Pretty much. You were kind enough to return it, so we are kind enough to help. Every generation that has passed has refused to return it. Something takes over, makes you obsessed, and keeps you from doing the right thing. The one good thing that happened was your step-father acquired it before your family found out about the storage and stumbled upon it yourself to become just as obsessed as the rest did. You sold it to us, unknowing of the fact it wasn't yours to sell, but we can move past that. You've always been such a good hearted person growing up. We have loved seeing you become the woman you are today," he said as he patted her on her head accidentally. "Sorry, I was trying to comfort you, but as you know I can't see the difference between your head and shoulders.

Mitchell chuckled as she gently moved his hand down to her shoulders for him. Her hand resting over his. "It's okay. It's not your fault," she said gently back to him.

"It actually is. Like I said, we watched you grow up. I've seen you."

Mitchell looked up into his eyes, trying to see through the clouding. "What happened?"

"Ah, my dear, that's a story for another day. Just take in one thing at a time. For now, just know we are all here for you, and we will do what we can to stop this from happening."

Mitchell sighed as she stood up, gently sliding Elysia's hand off of her as she handed him back his book. "Thank you for being so honest, Elysia. And, to be honest myself, I thought you were the creepiest one out of the three of you when I first met you all, but now I get to kick myself in the ass for assuming," she said with a sad smile, still looking into his eyes.

"Makes an ass out of you and me," he chuckled as he opened his book back up and began to read. His fingers moved quickly across the braille as he relaxed back in the recliner, humming gently to himself.

Mitchell walked slowly up to her room, processing the information she was given. Angel. That's what he was saying. They said to think of them as guardian angels. She nodded her head in confidence with her thoughts. She opened the door to find Alexander gazing out of the window again, but this time with an overly attentive look in his eyes. "I hope you're happy," Mitchell said to him.

"I'm never happy," he replied, still focused on the window.

"You're never happy, you don't sleep," Mitchell mumbled to herself as she began to look around the room.

Alexander rolled his eyes, reaching into his pocket for his cigarettes. "These?" he asked as he tossed them over to her. “Wasn’t it just last night that you were telling me you quit?”

She exhaled in relief, pulling one out and placing it in her mouth. Alexander flicked his fingers toward her and her cigarette lit instantly. "I’m going to die anyway. That will never get old," she said as she inhaled. "KayCee and Lunaire are talking houses, so I guess that is something for you to be happy about. You'll get your own space. And now you've involved my only friend. It’s strange she would agree so easily... The only person in this world I truly care about-"

"No I won't, and neither will you. How will I protect you if you're alone?" he asked her as he held his hand out. Mitchell tossed his cigarettes over to him. "I told you you would have to get used to me. As for your friend, she's strong yet expendable. Sorry."

Mitchell groaned as she took another hit of her cigarette. "She is not!" she said to him as she closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. "I don't think I could ever get used to this."

Alexander lit a cigarette as he moved across the room to her. "You spoke to Elysia." It was a statement, not a question. He always seemed to know everything she did, even if he wasn't in the room with her.

"Yes," she said, moving to the bed to put some distance between them. It didn't matter, where she went he went. "I don't want to die. I want to live, I want to find myself someone special, and now with me knowing death is coming, I regret never wanting kids." She teared up, blinking quickly to hold back the waterworks. "I don't know why I'm so upset over this being my future when I was just talking to my family about me not wanting anything in the future."

Alexander sighed, sitting down with enough force to shake the bed. "I won't let you die. I already told you I would do everything I could." He awkwardly tried to put his arm around her shoulders, just to pull it back to his side. He patted her leg, his hand lingering for a few moments before he pulled away from her again. Both of their eyes focused on his hand. Silence filled the room as they just sat together, not saying a word.

"I need to call my mom," Mitchell said as she quickly moved off of the bed, grabbing her phone off the end table. Her fingers shook as she dialed her number. After a few moments of ringing her mother answered in a panic.

"Hi, honey, now is not a good time," she said.

"What's going on?" Mitchell asked, concerned.

Alexander motioned to his hair, making scratching motions. Lice.

"It seems like everyone here has a bad case of little friends in our hair. You better check yourself and your boyfriend's hair for lice, baby. I'm afraid we have to cancel tonight's dinner!"

Alexander grabbed the phone from her, speaking in a cheery voice. "Hi, ma'am, sorry to hear about the lice. If the removal kits don't work, I'd try some tea tree extract. We will have to reschedule then."

"Good morning, Alexander!" her mother exclaimed, sounding happier than before. "Thank you so much for understanding, sweetie. You better check those long locks of yours! To be safe, maybe a hair cut would do you some good. I've got some stuff to do, so I will have to catch up with you two love birds later!"

Mitchell cringed. "Mooooooom," she groaned as she took the phone back. "Knock it off. I'll talk to you later. I love you, but seriously, stop"

"I love you too, sweetie! Have a wonderful day! DAMN these things itch!" she said as she hung up the phone.

"Bugs," Alexander said as he crossed his arms and nodded his head.

Mitchell shuddered. "You were right."

"I'm always right, Mitchell," he said as she moved next to her again. "You'll learn. You can tell your mom next time I won't be cutting my hair any time soon," He brushed against her before moving to the door. He looked back at her, smiling, before he exited the room. KayCee quickly entered the room as he left it, smiling as she looked back at him.

"He's just so pretty," KayCee said to Mitchell as she shut the door behind her. "Lunaire said he would take us house hunting since you have time now that you quit your job."

Mitchell sighed, pulling KayCee across the room and down onto her bed. "I was going to tell you yesterday, but with Alexander just showing up after work, my mom stopping by, and then Lunaire and Elysia coming in the middle of the night... It's been hectic. I'm sorry," she said as she reached under her bed, pulling out the bag of money. "I made a huge sale, they threw me a finders fee, so I have this. I don't need my old job now," she chuckled as she opened the bag, showing the twenty grand to KayCee.

"Holy s**t!" KayCee said as she reached into the bag, picking up and dropping all of the bundles of bills. "I would have quit that s**t shop, too! Now you can definitely work with me once they give you a start date."

Mitchell shook her head. "No, I'm going to hold off. I have to figure some stuff out for myself about my life."

"Hey, Lunaire said money wasn't an issue with your new hunk around," KayCee giggled as she knocked her shoulder into Mitchell's, playfully shoving her. “Still never told me what they do. Probably just trust fund babies.”

"No way! I don't think I can handle a man taking care of me financially on top of physically," she said, blushing.

KayCee wiggled her finger in her face. "I knew it! You have been getting physical! You crafty little minx, please share your secrets with me." She made a dramatic bowing motion to Mitchell. "I am ready, master."

Mitchell punched her in the shoulder. "Knock it off! I'm not blushing because I'm embarrassed of a relationship! I didn't mean physically taking care of me like that! I have some health issues I don't understand quite yet, so when I figure it out I'll let you know."

"Alexander in the kitchen." KayCee stated. "Physical over some mysterious health issue my ass."

"Not romantic! Not. Romantic." Mitchell whined. "I swear."

KayCee rolled her eyes. "I'm your best friend. I can feel the s****l tension. Your body is my body because we are the same. Just sisters separated at birth!"

"KayCee," Mitchell pleaded.

KayCee put her hands in the air. "Okay, okay. Whenever you decide if you're going to jump on that or not, just let me know first, okay? I feel left out now. Growing up without me..."

A soft knock sounded at the door. Alexander gently opened it, stepping in. "Just need to do something," he said as he went into the master bath. He shut the door behind him, and the shower started.

KayCee smiled and pointed over to the bathroom door with her thumb. "Gotta clean up, and maybe later you guys can get dirty."

"KayCee!" Mitchell yelled, face so red she looked sun-burnt.

Alexander cracked the door, looking out into the room to see what the yelling was about. His bare chest was exposed, scars and all, leaving the door to block his bottom half. KayCee looked him up and down as Mitchell covered her eyes and turned. "Everything okay?" he asked them.

"Oh, nothing! I spilled something on her. She might need a shower too," KayCee said as she winked at him.

Alexander chuckled. "I won't take long, plus I prefer showering alone," he said as he gently shut the door, leaving the girls in the room alone.

"I could kill you," Mitchell growled. "I could seriously, seriously kill you."