Death's Daughter (Book 2)

Chapter 5

Death's P.O.V

I read the paper over and over again. Why? Why does it have to be my daughter? Was all I could think about. Why did she have to be the one? I felt the burn in my eyes. I lost my mate, now I have to lose my daughter? No. There has to be another way. I reached into the shadows and left the paper on my bed. She has time yet. I have to find another way. "Dad?"

I looked at her and smiled just for her. "It's alright, Princess. It's nothing you need to worry about." She gave me a skeptical look, but shrugged. Good. I have two years, maybe less. I have to find another way. She will not do this. I can't. I will not let her.

"Ava, your father is a liar." My father spoke up. I felt my heart stop. I could hear Luke whimpering in fear. That never happened with him.

"That's okay. Because he's a whole lot better than you'll ever be. You are an asshole to my Daddy all the time and you killed my Mom. Now, get on your knees, Murderer."  Oh s**t! She meant what she said! 

Ava's P.O.V

I watched as his face turned up in laughter. He thinks I'm joking. Seems like everyone else but Dad does too. I growled harshly. "I mean it, asshole!" His laughter stopped and he glared at me, but I glared right back at him. Zuri growled in my head.

"You cannot tell me what to do, little girl. I am--" Nana punched him in the face.

"Get. Down. Now!" Her words were stern and he dropped to his knees.

I willed my claws to extend, but retracted them. "Someone turn him to a dog, please." Nana touched his head and instantly, he was changed to a dog. His fur looked like s**t. He smelled terrible too. "Thank you." I shifted quickly. I hadn't cared much for putting Henry's shirt back on.

Murderer growled at me, but I growled right back. Mine was stronger. I was an alpha after all. Aunt Solar stepped between us. "Outside. Now."

I turned and strode out with my head held high. "A fight to the death." Zuri growled. I agreed with her on that one. Mom would still be alive right now if it wasn't for him.

I opened my link to Dad. "One of us will die in this fight. Tell that to Aunt Solar, and now, I will not change my mind."

Dad looked sad for a moment, but nodded and told her. Aunt Solar smirked and stood between Murderer and I. "This fight will be to the death. Little Brother will be taking the looser to the land of the dead. No cheap shots from either of you." She paused and looked at each of us. "Good. Fight!"

He instantly went straight for my throat. Too easy. I rolled to the side and lunged at his side. Make you opponent weak, then go for the kill. Henry taught me that. I tore at the flesh on his side with my claws and fangs. His yelps filled the air as he struggled to get away from me. 

He managed to get away and land a good hit on me. He clawed at my face. I yelped at Zuri took over. She made quick work of fighting him. She also toyed with him too. That landed us a few bites and a few slashes from his claws. At the last second possible, she let me take control. He lunged at me, I bat him away with my paw and went right for the kill. He was already getting tired and slow. He jumped out of the way, making me stumble. Murderer took advantage of this and locked his jaw around my throat. He was going for a slow kill. Stupid move. I took the risk to my jugular and turned so that I was on my back. With my back paws, I clawed open his stomach. Hot blood and intestines spilled out on top of me, but I didn't stop. I kept clawing at him until there was no more pressure on my throat anymore. He stumbled away from me and whimpered once before falling to the ground.

"At least everything he made is self sustaining." Nana laughed. I tilted my head at her. "He created me. I have no love or need to be with him. I love my children and grandchild. That's all I need." She smiled at the four of us.

I shifted to my human form. I was already healing. but they were going to leave scars. "Oh f**k finally!" I turned and looked at Mom. "Sorry. Haunting him for fourteen years was boring work. He really doesn't do much." I burst into laughter. Dad did too.

"Penelope is still here?" Aunt Luna asked. I nodded. "Penelope, do you want to live again?" I can't tell if Aunt Luna was being serious or not.

I watched as Mom furrowed her brow. "How? My body is long gone and Snow is in the land of the dead."

I repeated what she said to Aunt Luna. "Big Brother, go get Snowflake. When you get back, I'll have everything ready."

I furrowed my brow this time. What was she going to do? I looked at Mom and Dad, but they shrugged. I sighed and watched as Dad gathered Murderer's soul and opened what looked like a door in the shadows. "You want to come with me, Ava?" I nodded and slipped Henry's shirt on that Aunt Solar had grabbed from the living room. "Stay close. If you get lost, you'll be stuck in there forever." I grabbed his hand and smiled. I can't get lost if I was holding onto him.

Dad and I stepped through the door. What I saw, was nothing like I had imagined. I thought it would have been an open field with people running around with animals that had died. No. I looked around at the aisles of souls sleeping. "D-Dad?"

"It's okay. This is just what we see. They actually see something completely different. This is just so we can find what we are looking form easily." 

I didn't say anything, but i looked closely at each name. It seemed to be in alphabetical order. Ron, Ren, Randal, Rokin. "The second letters aren't in order. Why?"

"First letter, then when they died. That way, when I do all the paperwork at the end of the year, the dates are in order." I looked at Dad and watched as he threw Murderers soul into the air. It hovered for a second before shooting off. "Alright. I've traded the soul of a God for a wolf. Let me have her. Snowflake is her name." I gasped as everything shimmered and changed.

"D-Daddy.." I clung to his arm.

"It's okay . Look, Snowflake is right there." He pointed to a pack of wolves. Gray, brown, red, black fur and finally, a wolf with snow white fur. She was lying under a Willow tree watching the other play. At first glance, she looked happy, but looking closer, I could tell that she was sad about something. Could she be missing Mom? 

Papa told me that Mom and her wolf were inseparable when they weren't one. Then when they were, they could be seen talking to each other all the time. "She's our Mother." Zuri spoke, making me nearly jump out of my skin.

I looked at Dad, who was smiling sadly at her. "Let's go get her." I was gentle with my words, because he looked like he was going to cry. He nodded and started walking toward her.

"Snowflake!" Dad called out to her.

Instantly, she looked over and I swear, if wolves could smile, she would have. She yipped and ran right to us. "Luke!" She yelled. I knew who that was, so I stepped away while they had their moment together. "And who is this?" I turned and looked at her.

"This is Ava. She's our daughter. She's sixteen now."

She looked at me with love shining brightly in her eyes. "Your wolf has woken, yes?" I smiled and nodded. "Good. Now, what are you doing here?"

"My father is dead. I can now let you and Penelope live." Her eyes brightened even more at the mention of moms name. "Do you want that?"

"I do! It's been too long since I had someone to talk to who doesn't yip at you."

"Let's go that!" I jumped up and down happily. I was going to have my mom back.

Penelope's P.O.V

I floated around for a while before Luna came back. I knew she couldn't see or hear me, but it was still fun to try. "What have you got there, Luna?" I floated around, watching her place what looked like a doll, onto the couch. Odd. It doesn't have a face or gender.

"Okay. I hope you are here and can hear me, Penelope." She paused and looked around. I let out a sigh and made the strap on her dress fall, showing her that I am here. "Okay, when Death gets here, I want you to hold Snowflake's soul in your arms and enter this doll. I've perfected it to never need outside help. It will make you alive again. I guess you can call it your new body. You'll have to eat like normal and use the bathroom like normal. It will age like a normal human, or werewolf in your case. You'll remember that you died, but that's okay because you'll remember becoming alive again. I hope you got all this because I feel stupid talking to someone I can't see or hear." I giggled and made her hair move. She let out a sigh of relief that I was still here. I mean, why would I leave? She was telling me something important.

"I wonder if it has the ability to have babies."

"She wants to know if the doll body can have babies." I turned to see Death and Ava. I smiled at them. Ava was holding a ball. I knew who she was holding. That was Snow.

"Oh yes! It's just like a human body but, it has no soul, gender or brain. Those three things are what Penelope will give it. The doll will be her completely." Luna smiled happily. I could see a glint in her eyes though.

"Are you sure this isn't another one of her experiments?" I eyed her suspiciously.

Ava laughed. "I don't care if it is. I'm finally getting my mom back!"

"Is she asking if I'm experimenting on her?" She quirked an eyebrow.

"Yes." Ava and Death spoke in unison. I couldn't help but laugh. Ava looked just like her father, but her personality was just like me. I have been watching her from afar all her life. I have to admit, I was excited to finally get to hold her again.

"Mama? Are you listening?" Ava brought me back from my thoughts. 

"Huh? What? Yeah, I'm listening." I paused. "What were you saying?"

Death chuckled. "Luna needs you to take Snowflake now." I took Snow from Ava and turned to Luna.

"Okay, now go into the doll. It will make you tired at first, but fight it. I need you awake to make sure that it won't reject you." I didn't bother nodding or saying anything. I held Snow close to my chest and entered the doll.

It was a heavy feeling at first, then as I adjusted to my new body, I began to feel tired. I still couldn't feel Snow, but I was sure Luna knew what she was doing. I gasped for air and sat right up. I blinked a couple of times then looked around. Everyone was looking at me. Wait, when did Mom and Solar come into the living room? How long did it take? "Slow down, Pen. If we push too hard, we might get hurt." Snow's familiar voice sounded in my head. I smiled. I missed her so much.

"Snow." I linked her. "I've missed you so much."

She giggled. "I have missed you too. I feel wonderful. I feel alive, Pen." 

"Mom?" Ava said. I turned and looked at her.

"My baby." I stood and hugged her tightly. "You have no idea how much I've wanted to hug you. It's been so long. Too long."

Ava giggled, but I could feel her tears on her cheeks. Death joined in on the hug. I was happy that I could hold them again, but I was still f*****g pissed that he left her. "Death and Luke left our pup with Dad?! Why didn't her care for her like a father should have!?" Snow yelled and growled in my head.

"Death, you still have yet to receive your punishment." He looked at me, confusion clear in his eyes. "You left Ava to be raised by my Dad. That wasn't right and you know that."

"Mama, it's okay. I loved being close to Henry. We needed it. Plus, Papa always told me that Dad had a very important job to do, so, he couldn't take care of me. Don't be mad at Daddy please." Her eyes were pleading with me more than her words were.

I sighed. "Fine. You get off the hook this time, but only because Ava begged me. Next time, you won't get that lucky." I made sure he got my warning by glaring at him. "Now, I it's been a long time, but I'm tired and I want to go home."

"Wait! I still have to run some tests." Luna piped up. I had forgotten all about the tests she needed to run. I sighed again and nodded. 

Luna had me sit down on the couch. She ran a scanner over my body to see if I too to it. I did. She then took some of my blood. Not sure what it was for, but she said I passed it, so that's good. She asked me about my past and how I died, I answered everything correctly. Luna smiled and said that I was good to go and that if I had any problems in the future, she'd have no problem helping me.

I was too tired to shift, so I rode on Death's back all the way home, well, that's where I thought he was taking me. We left the shadows and we were now in Ava's room in my Dad's house. "Papa! Henry! I'm home!" Ava yelled out of her door. I could hear Dad's feet running up the stairs.

"Ava! Do you--" He stopped dead when his eyes landed on me. "Penelope?" He looked like he was about to pass out. I smiled and nodded. "So this is where you have been for the past week?"

Ava nodded. "Yes. I killed the man that killed Mama and with Aunt Luna's help, Mom came back to us. Papa, this was the best birthday I have ever had." I smiled as Ava hugged Dad. He looked older now. I guess that's what happened when you've been away or rather, dead, for fourteen years.

After a long family meeting, Ava headed to bed. Apparently she had been gone for a whole week and Dad had gotten calls from her school about her not being there. Not too long after Ava went to bed, I started to feel tired again. It had been a long time since I felt tired. With a yawn, I drifted off to sleep on the couch.

Ava's P.O.V

I woke up the next morning and bounced out of bed. Mom was home and so was Dad. I couldn't wait to say good morning the them. I know it's a childish move, but what can I say? I am only sixteen. "Mate!" Zuri yelled and howled in my head.

I rolled my eyes. "I will not have him, Zuri. He's picked on me too long for that." I looked in my mirror to fix my hair. The scar across my face stood out just as much as my eyes did. I smiled at my trophy. I liked it. Even though Papa didn't like that my face was scared.

I dressed quickly and ran down the stairs. Mom was in the kitchen growling at Papa, who was cooking. Why? Papa isn't a bad cook. "The last time I ate your food, I was sick for a month! I'd rather eat from a garbage can than let your food enter my stomach again." Seriously? Papa hasn't made us sick before.

"I've gotten better! I promise you! I haven't made anyone sick in a long time!"

"I don't care! Get the hell out of this kitchen! It's mine now and you will listen to the cook!" I giggled and they turned to me. "Good morning, Baby!" Mom's chipper voice made me smile even more.

"Good morning, Mama!" I ran and hugged her. I heard Papa gasp and fake being hurt.

"What am I? Chopped  liver? I see how it is! I raise you for fourteen years and now you leave! What's next? Starting a pack with your future mate?"

I giggled. "I already know who my mate is, and trust me, he's not having me. Never!"

Papa looked at me. "Why, Aviator? Your mate is your other half. You know that."

"I know, but it doesn't stop the fact that he picked on me for so long and now that I'm his mate, I don't want him. I never did before, so why should I now?"

"So reject him. Luna probably doesn't know he picked on you. If you reject him, Luna will notice and see what he's done to you. My little girl will not be forced to be mates with a bully." Mom wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I couldn't help but smile. I've wanted my mom for so long, now, I have her and she won't be leaving me again.

I felt Zuri try to force her way through to get to her mate. I pushed her back. "Mate!" She growled as a knock on the door sounded through the house. I felt Mom's growl vibrate her chest. I went to answer the door, but Dad was already there.

"What do you want?" Dad's growl was harsh. I watched as Kai flinched back.

"I just wanted to talk to my mate. If that's okay with you, Alpha." Alpha? Since when was Dad the Alpha? Could it be because of the aura he gives off when he's pissed?

"Death, who's there?" Mom called out. I already knew she was playing a game with Kai. I watched them just out of view from Kai.

"Penelope, this is our daughters mate, Kai. He's been bullying her for a long time now."

"Is that so? Well, being brought back to life, she has both of her parents now. You'll have to get three different approvals before you get to be her mate."

Kai nodded and looked down at the ground. He couldn't make eye contact with either of them. I smiled. "Do I have your approval?" He spoke in a near whisper, but we all heard him.

Mom and Dad looked at each other. Their eyes clouded over. They were talking through their link. I watched as Kai began to fidget. I wanted to laugh, but I needed to keep quiet. I didn't want him seeing me, yet. "No. Neither Death or I believe that you are good for our baby." Perfect. I can do it now.

I stepped into view and looked dead at Kai. "I, Ava Windford, reject you, Kai." I spoke loud and clear. He wouldn't be able to ask me to repeat what I said. I felt a slight pinch in my chest and Zuri whimpered. The mate bond was broken. Good.

I smiled to myself and headed upstairs to get my backpack for school. I wanted Mom and Dad to take me there today. Yeah, I know. I'm in Highschool and I don't really need my parents to take me, but I wanted them to. I wanted the rumors of my parents coming back to spread like fire in the school. I rushed down the stairs and looked at them. "you want us to take you to school?" I smiled and nodded. I was way too happy to form words right now. 

I stood with Mom and Dad in front of my school. People came to school in both forms, human and beast. Dad was in his wolf form while Mom stayed in her human form. She said that she wanted to hug me not nuzzle. That was perfectly okay. I loved hugs anyways. "I hope you have a great day, Princess." Dad linked me.

I smiled. "I plan on it. Daddy." I gave him a hug and cuddled into his thick fur. I felt Dad's snout rub against my back. I let go and turned to face Mom.

"Have a good day, my baby girl. If anyone tries to pick on you, tell them that you are my daughter and that I've more than likely kicked their parent's asses." She winked then pulled me into a tight hug. "Don't be afraid of who you are. Stay true to yourself." She whispered in my ear. I smiled and took off into the school.

Already, i could hear the whispers of  the rumors about my parents. Some were speaking too low, so I used the shadows like Dad does. "I heard her and Henry say that her mother died when she was two and her Dad was too busy with his job to take care of her. He must be rich." I rolled my eyes. f*****g money grabbers.

"I heard that her Mom died and that her Dad just didn't want her. I mean.she's not even a werewolf like her grandfather and Henry. I think the woman that was with her this morning was her step mom."

I sighed. "She's my actual Mom." They jumped when I stepped out of the shadows. 

"How did you do that?"

"Where did you get that scar?"

"My Dad is the Grim Reaper. Using the shadows to move around is something he and I do, and my scar? Oh, right! I got this killing a Murderer. He put up a pretty good fight, but I won. It was a fight to the death."

"Wait, you actually killed someone?"

"Yeah. That's how I got my Mom back. She was haunting him for fourteen years. When i killed him, I released her. My Dad and I went to the land of the dead and got my Mom's wolf half. My Aunts Luna and Solar helped bring her back to life. Aunt Luna created the werewolves. Papa and Mom were the first ones, then Aunt Luna experimented on Dad and turned him into a werewolf. That's where werewolves came from." I smiled at their stund, blinking faces. It was kinda funny.

"How do you know for sure that your Grandfather and your mother were the first werewolves?"

"Ask my Aunt. She know." THe first bell rand and I stepped into my classroom that was just in front of me. 

"Alright class! Sit and open your books to page 184. Read it then answer it." My teacher wasn't the greatest at teaching if it wasn't noticeable.

By lunch time, I was already tired. I ate my lunch outside by the football field. I normally have Henry with me, but today he wasn't feeling well. I flopped back and looked up at the sky. Today was a wonderful day.  Zuri hasn't bothered me at all since this morning. I yawned and closed my eyes for a few minutes.

The lunch bell rang and I shot off the grass quickly. Had I really slept for a whole hour!? I didn't get to finish my lunch or even use the ladies room! Ugh! Why was I so tired? I slept great last night. I sighed and gathered my stuff. 

As I was about to reach the door to my classroom, a growl echoed through the hall. "Mine."