Death's Daughter (Book 2)

Chapter 3

Henry's P.O.V

Big Sister was bleeding so much. She didn't look well at all. I did as she asked and pushed on her belly as hard as I could. I looked over to the blood on the towels, and there was Ava laying on them. I picked her up and looked over at Big Sister, but she wasn't awake. "Big Sister, look. Ava is here." I paused and shook Penelope. "Big Sister! Please wake up!"

I took the scissors and cut the cord that Big Sister told me to cut when Ava got here. Ava was crying and so was I. "Penelope! Please! Wake up!" She looked so pale. "Daddy!" I cried out. Where did he go? Where was Big Brother Death too? I kept Ava to my chest and snuggled up to Penelope. "Please.... Please wake up. I don't know what to do. Big Sister, please tell me what to do." I sniffled.

A moment after I stopped begging Big Sister to wake up, I heard feet running up the stairs. "Penelope!" Big Brother Death was shaking her. "I will not take you! Not yet!" He was yelling at her. I started crying again which made Ava start crying too. Death didn't bother with us, as there were more feet running up the stairs. A strange man with a black bag came into the bathroom then Daddy after him.

Daddy took me and Ava out of the bathroom so that the strange man could work. "It's okay, Henry. The doctor will take good care of your sister." Daddy didn't look like he believed his own words. He looked sad. 

"Daddy, did I hurt Big Sister?"

He looked at me. "Why would you say that?"

"She told me to push on her belly as hard as I could. I said no at first, but she said that I wouldn't hurt her or Ava." 

"No, that wouldn't have hurt them. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Than why won't she wake up? I tried, Daddy. I tried, but she wouldn't wake up. There was so much blood and Sister looked so sick. I did something wrong! I know I did!" I cried. Ava didn't like that I was crying, so she was crying too.

"I cannot save her here. I have to take her to the hospital. Her heart is beating, but barely. She needs a blood transfusion and surgery. Your kind doesn't take well to human blood. I need a donor. A few of them actually." The strange man said. I had no idea what he was talking about, but he said that Big Sister's heart was beating. That meant she would wake up.

That night, I was sent to stay with Uncle Wolf and cousin Oliver. "No share!" Oliver screamed. He was only two, but he was a bully already. Ava had to go with Big Sister to the hospital. I didn't like that very much.

"Uncle Wolf?" I pulled on his shirt to get his attention.

He looked at me and smiled. "What's the matter, Henry?"

"I want Ava. She's crying and  Big Brother Death and Daddy can't get her to stop."

Uncle Wolf furrowed his brow and knelt down in front of me. "Ava has to be with her Mommy right now. You'll get to see her soon, alright?"

I pouted. "No! I want Ava!" I ran away crying. I wanted Ava and I will have her. She is my Little Sister!

I ran right out of the house. I don't know where I was going, but I don't care. I wanted Ava. "Do you want her that much? She's just our sister." I heard this voice once before, but I couldn't remember.

"Who are you?" I looked around for whoever was talking to me.

"You don't need to be afraid of me. I am your wolf half, Henry. I am inside you."

"Like Daddy and Big Sister?" I must have looked pretty crazy talking to no one. 

"Yes. My name is Kane. I've been with you since you were born. We only come out before the age, when our human half really wants something or needs to protect something. I know you want to protect and be near Ava."

"Can I shift like Big Sister?"

"Yes, but it will hurt the first few times. You will have to grit through it." Kane sounded like he didn't want to put me in any pain, but I don't think I'll be able to get out of it. I wanted Ava. I wanted to protect her, play with her, and teach her how to walk. I know that she is just my little sister, but I named her. I helped Big Sister give birth to her. I saw things that I wasn't supposed to yet, but I didn't care.

"I don't care about the pain. I want Ava." I was determined to get to her and stay with her.

"Henry!" I heard Uncle Wolf calling for me. I ignore his calls and kept walking. 

"It's now or when I am bigger, Kane. Uncle Wolf is calling for me."

"Alright. Picture yourself as a wolf. Picture yourself changing into one." 

I followed his instructions. At first, there was nothing, then the first bone snapped. I didn't realize how bad it would hurt. I screamed in pain until my screams turned into howls. By the time my shift was complete, I was panting. It didn't hurt as much anymore, but my clothes were torn to shreds and I could hear Uncle Wolf running toward me. "Thank you, Kane." I thought.

"You are welcome. Now run if you don't want to get caught." Uncle Wolf was getting closer. He hasn't shifted yet, so I was faster. I pushed myself to stand on my paws and took off, following Big Sister's scent.

Penelope's P.O.V.

I slowly opened my eye. The scent around me was too sterile to be Dad's bathroom. I looked around. I could see Death and Dad in the room with me, but they weren't looking at me, or Ava. They were looking at something else. I turned my head and there stood a small grey wolf pup. I sniffed and I knew who it was right away. That grey pup was Henry. "Hen-ry." My voice was raspy and barely above a whisper. 

He looked at me and his tail wagged. "Big Sister! You are okay!" His voice was in my head. Good. The link worked. I smiled.

"Yes Buddy, I'm okay. Shift so that Dad can hear you. I could only link Death and myself before Ava was born." I purposely spoke out loud.

His shift was slow and painful right now, but it would get easier. Once he was back in his human form, I looked at Dad who was smiling like a fool. "Are you proud of me, Daddy? I shifted to my wolf form and got here all by myself." Henry smiled. 

I watched as Dad ran to him and hugged him tightly. I think I heard him say something along the lines of 'I'm so proud of you', but I couldn't quite tell. His words were muffled because he kept giving Henry kisses on his forehead while trying to speak. I smiled and looked at Death, he was looking at Ava now and smiling. "Can I see her?" I smiled at Death, hoping that would be enough to give her over to me.

"Yes. She's beautiful." Death placed her in my arms. I couldn't stop the tears when I saw her. She had light red hair like her Daddy. She had my nose, but her eyes were something else. She had one emerald eye, like her Daddy, and one blue eye like mine. I looked up at Death. "I don't know. They may change in the future."

"No. I love her eyes. She looks gorgeous." I quickly wiped my tears away before they dropped on Ava.

"Big Sister, can I hold Ava again?" I smiled and nodded. Henry climbed onto my bed and I handed Ava over to him. "Hi Ava. I'm your Big Brother Henry. I helped Big Sister give birth to you." Ava cooed and smiled. It was an odd sight. Normally, babies at this age only smile when they had gas, but Ava was smiling for Henry. Even so, I was still smiling. My little girl already loved and knew who Henry was. I would have to stay with Dad, or Dad would have to come with us. I already knew Henry was going to follow us, simply because of Ava. 

A gasp sounded through the room. I turned and saw a nurse standing in the doorway. She was looking at Death, like she knew him or something. She did that cross thing Christians do and dropped to her knees. I furrowed my brow and looked at Death. He shrugged. "Nurse? What is the matter?" She looked up at me with pity in her eyes.

"Oh Dear child. I am praying for your baby. Death is in our presence. I can feel it. Our God in Heaven, hear my prayer, do not let Death take this new born child from her family. I offer myself to save this--" 

"Stop! I'm not going to take my own daughter's soul!" Death looked hurt by the nurse's prayers.

She looked up. "You? You are Death? You are the Grim Reaper?" She looked like she was going to faint.

"Yes, I am. This baby is my daughter and I will not take her soul from her. She will live her half Goddess life to the full extent." Now Death looked angry. Plus on top of that, he was growling at the nurse. "Leave and do not return, before I end up killing you myself."

The nurse scrambled out of the room and I burst into laughter. Everyone looked at me like I had grown three heads. "I'm sorry." I paused as another fit of laughter rolled through me. "That was funny. I mean, did you see the look on her face when she found out who you  were, Death?" That made Death smile and Dad chuckle.

*Time Skip*

Death's P.O.V

Ava was now almost two years old and Penelope is pregnant again. This time around, it's a whole lot harder on her. She's hardly eating and only sleeping. She's spending a lot of time with Ava, which is good, but she's lost weight and looks really sick. I fear that her faded name on my list will become bold again. I've delayed taking her for a long time, but now, I can't. Dad already yelled at me for neglecting my job. He said that he will make me mortal if I continue down this path. I sighed and watched as Ava snuggled with a sleeping Penelope, on the floor. Penelope was only thirteen weeks pregnant. My second child still had no soul. Nor would it ever. This child was not meant to live. I hate being who I am. I can see the timeline of people. It hovers over their heads like a timer. My unborn child, only had four hours and ten minutes remaining. Penelope will not be happy about this. She asked me how long Ava would live, but I can't see it. She's half Goddess. We can't srr when each other will die.

I've refused to look at Penelope's time, but now I have to. I love my family more than anything in this world. If I have to hurt my Daughter to protect her, than so be it. Dad said that if he made me mortal, Ava would have to take over my job that same day. I won't allow that. I took a deep breath and looked at Penelope's time. I felt my heart stop and my eyes burn. "No." I muttered to myself.

"I can't live without her, Death. I can't lose my mate. We have to do something. Anything." Luke begged and whimpered in my head.

 "There isn't much I can do. Either lose our mate, or lose our mate and pup. I'm sorry, Luke. I can't lose my daughter too."

Luke's howls of pain rang through my head. My chest felt heavy, like there was an elephant standing there. The pain of losing your mate was terrible and long lasting, but just the thought of losing both of my girls, hurt more.

"Death? You look pale. Is there something wrong?" Penelope had woken up before I could push my sadness and pain away.

"Yes, Penelope. I am fine. Would you like anything to eat?" I smiled for her. She always hated it when I wasn't smiling. 

"No, my love. I'm not hungry." She shook her head. 

"My Queen, you haven't eaten in days. It's not good for the baby." Damn it! I shouldn't have said anything about the baby. She's probably going to ask now.

"Our baby." She placed her hand on her belly. "How long will this one live?"

Fuck! I walked over and sat beside her. I want to lie to keep her happy, but she hates liars. I let out a sad sigh. "Four hours from now, our baby will die." I heard her heart skip a beat.

"No. No, Death. Please, read it again. He can't die in four hours. Please tell me you are lying. I won't be mad. Please, Death." She had tears in her eyes that threatened to fall. 

I couldn't say anything. I held her close to me as she cried. She punched my chest and called me a liar. My own tears burned my eyes, and I didn't bother to stop them.

After a little while, she fell asleep. Hear tears still stained her cheeks. I had to go see Dad. I can't take her soul. I would break. I slipped into the shadows and shifted, letting Luke take over. He knows where we have to go. Luke was bigger than a normal wolf. Roughly the size of a horse, and as black as a shadowed alleyway. 

Luke slipped out of the shadows and let me take over again. Dad was standing on the front porch. I shifted and took the cloak in his outstretched arm. "What have you come here for, Death?" He was always so cold to me. Oh well. I had Mom's love. That's good enough.

"I can't take her soul. I can't do it, Dad. I ask that you do so."

"No. You will do your job. No one will do your job so long as you live. You will take her to the land of the dead, along with the unborn child. If you fail to do so, Death, I will make you mortal and Ava will take over. No matter what her age is. Do you understand me, boy?" There was no hesitation, not even for half a second.

Luke was growling in my head, threatening to take over. I growled. "You will not touch my daughter!" I raised my voice. Dad never liked that I wasn't afraid of him.

Mom must have heard because she came out of the house. "What is going on here?" She looked between Dad and I. We were staring at each other. He may be strong and proud, but so was I. I wasn't going to let him treat me like this any longer.

"Father will not help me. He says that I am to take my mate and unborn child to the land of the dead, on my own." I never broke my stare with him.

The stare was only broken when Mom punched Dad in the face. "You cruel hearted bastard! How dare you treat your only son like he is a piece of trash! You will not only accompany your son to the land of the dead, but you will love and support him if he needs it! You are in the doghouse for one week! If I so much as hear a whisper, that you didn't help him, you'll be in there for a whole month! Do you understand me!?"

I watched as he shrank back. "Yes, Darling." He knew not to fight with Mom. Dad hated the doghouse. Mom would literally turn him in a dog and chain him up in the yard. He had to eat dog food and on the last day of his punishment, he had to clean up after his own droppings. "When, Death?"

"Three hours for the baby and--" I paused and looked down at my feet. "And three hours and thirty seconds for Penelope." Luke howled in my head. "Luna needs to remove Luke from me after Penelope is gone. I will take him to join his mate."

"I'm sorry Big Brother, I can't. I've tried, but it's not possible. I have made a mistake. Please forgive me." Luna looked upset that she couldn't remove him from me.

I let out a sigh. "It's okay, Luna. He will have to learn to live for Ava now." 

"Big Brother, I can give you a second chance mate. Please, let me do this for you." Her eyes pleaded with me along with her words.

I didn't want to hurt Luna, but I am nowhere near ready or willing to have another mate. "No Luna. At least, not right yet. I am not ready or willing to have another mate. Maybe when Ava is all grown up." Luna nodded and ran into my arms for a hug. She didn't care much that when I shifted, I lost my clothes. She said that she did that on purpose.

"Big Brother Death, if you need anything, I will help you." 

"I agree, Little Brother." Solar paused and glared at Dad. "Even if Father will not care for you, our Mother and your Sisters will. I will make sure your next mate is perfect for you."

"Thank you, Big Sister, but I am not ready nor willing, to have another mate." Solar gave me a nod and walked away. She didn't like men much, so she didn't go near them.

I sighed. "Son, one hour remaining." I felt my heart sink. Luke was silent now. I could feel him close, but he didn't say anything. "Let's go, son."

I let the cloak drop and shifted. Dad was a tall man, but in my wolf form, I was taller. I turned and offered him a ride. Dad accepted and climbed on. Once he was settled, I took off into the shadows. 

Penelope's P.O.V

I woke to a sharp pain in my belly. Something was wrong, very wrong. I was only thirteen weeks pregnant. I opened my link to Death. "Something is wrong! Death, something is wrong with our baby!"

There wasn't a response for a moment. I went to speak again, but Death spoke first. "The baby is dying." I felt my heart stop. He hadn't lied when he told me. "I'm sorry, My Queen. I have to take the baby to the land of the dead."

"No! Please Death! I'll do anything to save him! Take my life! Please!" I begged and cried. I don't know how long I had left, nut i was willing to give it to my baby.

"No, Penelope." Was all he said and cut the link.

I felt my tears flow down my cheeks. Why won't he give our baby my life span? Was he just being cruel? No, I won't let my baby die! I'll make Death give our baby my life span! Not a moment sooner, Death and his father stepped out of the shadows. "You will give our baby my life span! I will not take no for an answer! Do you hear me, Death!?" I screamed the second I saw him. Death whimpered and looked away.

Death's father came toward me. "He may not want to tell you, but I don't care. He can't give the baby you life span. You will die thirty seconds after the baby does. There is nothing anyone can do. You are already on borrowed time as it is. Continue with this begging and screaming bullshit and I'll kill you here and now." His eyes were cold and filled with hate.

"You shut the hell up and get out of my house!" I growled.

He scoffed. "You don't scare me, mutt. I've live a hell of a lot longer than you have. You will die in five minutes, then, Death will take you over. A hinderance you will no longer be."

With a growl, I shifted and went straight for the kill. I was not fast enough. He shot his hand out and buried it deep into my chest. I yelped and looked at his hand as he slowly pulled his hand out. My blood dripped onto the floor. I watched as Death's father pulled my beating heart out of my body. "I swear, I will haunt you for all eternity, Monster." My legs gave out and I hit the floor. 

Death's P.O.V

Pain shot through my chest. it felt like someone ripped half of my soul out of my body. I never thought that losing you mate would physically hurt, but it did.

I watched as her soul stepped out of her body, then Snowflake step out. They both looked at me. Penelope smiled for me then glared at my father. I shifted to my human form. "Penelope."

She shook her head. "Death, I can't go to the land of the dead."

I looked down at the floor. "I know."

"You also know that once I attach myself to that f**k, you won't see me anymore." I nodded. She touched my arm. "Take Snow. Her family is waiting." She let go of my arm and walked straight to Dad. "I'm going to make you regret ever hurting me." I watched through blury eyes as Penelope attached herself to him.

"Come, Snowflake. Your family is waiting for you." She didn't say anything, but the look in her eyes told me that she wasn't ready to go. "I know. I'm not ready either, but we have to." She nodded and slipped onto the path with her ears flopped.

I closed the pathway and turned to my father. "They are both gone?" He didn't care about hurting me. He never has. 

I steeled myself. "One is, the other isn't." I glared at him with cold eyes.

"Which one and where?" Dad's cold voice always scared me, but not this time.

"Penelope, and I'm not sure where she is. I can't see her." Part of that was true, but the other part was a lie. 

"Time for me to go. I feel tired. Take me home, boy."

I scoffed. "Get there yourself, old man." I turn away from him. He hated it when someone turned their back on him. 

"Don't you turn your back on me, boy!" Father yelled, making Ava jump and start crying.

I faced him, giving him the same cold eyes he's always given me. "I hereby banish you from my home. I hereby forbid you to see my daughter. You are nothing to me and my daughter. Leave and never return." I growled. 

"You will regret this, boy. I will make your life a living hell from this day forward!"

I could tell that I hurt him by telling him that he's not allowed to see Ava anymore. "You won't. I know this. Plus, Penelope will not allow you to. Goodbye, Father."

He glared at me, then vanished. "Daddy! Mommy no wakey!" 

I turned and picked Ava up. "I know, Princess." I slipped into the shadows. " You're going to live with Henry and Papa now. They will take care of you." I left her in Hank's living room and vanished into the shadows.I will see her again one day.