Death’s lover: The Object of Death’s Desires

Morian swung open his apartment door, flooding the living room with light as he flicked on the switch. There, sitting on his couch, was Delilah. "What are you doing sitting here in darkness like a specter, my love?" Morian asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. Morian's laughter subsided, replaced by a sigh of relief. However, Delilah didn't laugh along. Her face remained stoic, a deep frown etched upon her features. "I'll ask you just once. What are you, Morian?" Delilah's voice was serious, her arms crossed defensively as she awaited his response. Nervousness knotted in her stomach. "My love, what's gotten into you? What are you talking about?" Morian scanned her troubled face, his own brow furrowing in confusion. Approaching her, he closed the door behind him and set his briefcase on the floor. His eyes caught sight of her blood-soaked clothing, instantly sparking a multitude of dark thoughts. "What happened to you, Delilah? You're covered in blood," he exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear and concern. Ignoring his questions, she persisted, her tone unyielding. "I implore you, Morian, don't lie to me anymore. What are you?" Morian met her gaze, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Delilah's demeanor had grown cold and distant, a stark contrast to the affectionate woman he had known. It seemed she had discovered his hidden secret. "Are you certain you want to know?" he asked, cautiously. "Yes," she replied, swallowing hard. "I am Death." Delilah's stomach dropped, a sense of foreboding washing over her. Her body tensed, struggling to breathe as she instinctively clutched her chest. The truth was far from the reassurance she had anticipated. Days of contemplation had led to this moment, and yet nothing could have prepared her for the overwhelming rush of emotions. "My name isn't Morian; I am called Mori," he continued. "Oh God, so it's true? Everything is true," Delilah murmured, sinking back onto the couch. Dizziness swept over her, as if her world had been upended. The man she had fallen in love with stood before her, but now he was a stranger, an entity hidden within a human facade. Fear gripped her, something she hadn't experienced since the beginning of their relationship. There had always been an unexplained darkness surrounding Morian, and now she understood why. Although the revelation terrified her, she still loved him, despite the fact that she had fallen for Death. Hearing those words from his lips tore a hole in her heart. Part of her wished it weren't true, yearning for it to be a dreadful nightmare from which she would soon wake, safely nestled in the arms of the man she was about to marry. Morian stepped closer, but Delilah screamed, raising her hand to establish a barrier between them. "No! Stay away from me!" Her voice trembled with fear. Morian halted, frozen in his tracks. The situation was spiraling out of control. He had hoped to reveal the truth to her in due time, but now everything seemed to be slipping through his fingers like spilled milk. Delilah's accusatory words pierced the air. "When did you plan on being honest? Before or after we bound our souls for eternity?" Morian swallowed hard, his heart sinking. "You don't remember, Delilah, but in every lifetime, after your death, I have been there to guide you through the transition and help you navigate the afterlife. I have longed to be with you across countless lifetimes, but my destiny prevented it." He moved closer, but Delilah, trembling with fear, retreated. He continued to advance until there was little space between them. "Now, I can finally touch your skin, kiss your lips, and hold you in my arms. After eons of yearning for you, you have no idea how much I love you. There is no other soul in existence like yours," he confessed, his words dripping with seduction. With closed eyes, he savored her scent, relishing in her presence. Every fiber of Delilah's being fought to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions and to resist the allure of love. As she looked into his eyes, she saw the face of her lover, her fiancé, but it felt like staring into the eyes of a stranger. She struggled to comprehend this new reality. The man she had fallen in love with had become an enigma, and she couldn't fully grasp his intentions. "Don't run from me, Delilah. You have nothing to fear. I am the same man who made love to you, and knowing the truth changes nothing. I will never harm you. You are safe with me," Morian assured her. Tears streamed down Delilah's face as she trembled under his touch, eventually stepping back as he kissed her forehead. Finally finding the courage to speak, her voice cracked with emotion. "All this time, I thought I was losing my mind, but I trusted you. I thought I had found safety from the monsters that haunted me, only to realize that the one monster I should have feared was you. You are so cruel, Morian." Her words were punctuated by tears, her voice filled with anguish. "You don't mean that, my love. I have forsaken everything and defied the laws of nature. I would have destroyed the universe itself to be with you. Can't you see, Mortala, the power you hold over me? That's how much I love you." "I gave you my all, and you lied to me. Nothing about you is real, Morian, or should I say Mori? So don't use love as an excuse for what you've done. Do you even understand what love is? Love doesn't involve lies or betrayal. You are incapable of truly loving anyone, Morian." Delilah's words were laden with pain as she touched her engagement ring, her voice breaking with each tear she fought to suppress. Morian stood there, his heart shattering into pieces, as she removed the ring and placed it on the couch. "I can't do this, Morian. I can't be with you or marry you anymore." Morian dropped to his knees, the thought of losing her too agonizing to bear. "I know there is no excuse for what I've done to be close to you. These past few months we've spent together have been the most precious gift I've ever received. Delilah, please believe me when I say I never intended to hurt you. All I've ever done is love you." Delilah's voice trembled with pain as she responded, "Is that your justification for your actions? Listen to yourself! If this is what your love entails—betrayal and deceit—then you are a cruel being. I don't want a love that inflicts this kind of pain. Only a monster could do what you've done. How can you justify this evil and the suffering you've inflicted upon a soul for countless eons, Morian?" "The soul I've punished?" Morian stood up, his fists clenched, as he finally realized what she meant. He whispered, "Ciaran?" "You hurt him. He has endured needless suffering because of your cruelty," Delilah uttered, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her cheeks. Morian's tone changed, his eyes glowing with rage and jealousy. "How do you know about Ciaran, Delilah?" Feeling a shift in his demeanor, Delilah instinctively took a step back, a sense of terror washing over her. As she looked into his eyes, she saw Death for the first time—not the Morian she had fallen in love with, but Mori, the lord of the Nether realm. He frightened her beyond words. "Tell me how you know about Ciaran," he demanded, his jaw clenched, his voice firm and unyielding.