The Price to Pay

Chapter Four

"What you possess in the world will be found at the day of your death to belong to someone else. But what you are will be yours forever."

- Henry Van Dyke

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Adeline

Waking up I found myself alone once again in this room. I thought I heard someone talking outside the door, then slowly retreating away.

He was gone, Death, he must have left sometime after I passed out. Groaning, what the hell did I get myself into? That man was Death himself, I was a succubus, and a weird snake creature most likely is the one who stripped me of my clothes.

Unfortunately, they didn't dress me while I was asleep, for however long, my head started to ache. Crawling to the edge of the massive bed, I wasn't able to wiggle free of the blankets, spinning I threw myself off the bed with a loud thud. Ow. Breaking free I stood naked by the bed, retrieving the sheet from the bed I walk to the intricate wooden wardrobe which sat in a corner, opening several of the drawers and also the large doors I found nothing.

I groaned, "I just want some clothes damn you." I leave the wardrobe only to get my sheet caught on the door handle. As I rip it away, the door opened revealing clothes, clothes that were not there a minute ago.

I skim my hands across several shirts and pants, finding them to be exactly my size. Picking a pair of black skinny jeans and a plain white t-shirt, I pulled open a drawer to find all the necessary undergarments, like underwear and bras, oh and socks.

This is insanely weird but so useful right about now, I mean it's a magic wardrobe. Instead of Narnia, I get clothes. I quickly dressed, surprised that the clothes fit perfectly, just as I finished a brisk knock came to the door.

Smoothing down my clothes, I lifted my chin, expecting it to be Death, I opened the door, "Oh...hello." I murmured. It was the snake-like woman. Backing away from the door, I granted her access, it's not like I couldn't say no.

She bowed before she entered, which was way too formal and weird, "Expecting someone else."

"No of course not, please come in..." I hesitated not really daring myself to say her name, I was afraid I'd say it wrong and she'd eat my head off. "Meeksha." She finished for me.

"Nice to meet you, Meeksha and thank you." I tried speaking sincerely, she really just terrified me.

"For what child."

"Well, Death said you were the one who healed me and watched over me as I recovered," I stated, he didn't really say that but implied.

"I merely healed your broken body, Master observed." She noted. Huh. He watched over me, I contemplated, Death didn't seem like the person to do that sort of thing.

"Yes well, I was to briefly check on you and also to bring you a gift, from the Master." She withdrew a small vial from her pocket. "Here child, take it?"

Retrieving the small vial from her long black claws, I held it up to my face, inside was a pale blue almost silver-like liquid, it had a slight shine.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Moonlight tea, it will help control your incandescent eyes, dimming them to its original state."

Peering down at the small object I shook it, watching the colors swirl, "How long does it last?" She didn't seem to mind answering my questions.