Death's Bride (Book One of Death's Trilogy)

"Isn't he cute?" Monica said and I looked at Luke.

"I guess."

"You guess? He's a living work of art. So perfectly, so-"

"I will like to know how God made him perfect, but I already heard it too much." She giggled.

"But it's true."

Marc then walked by and I said, "Now that's a work of art."

"I agree, but it doesn't compare with Luke."

"Whatever."

Luke is the "most wanted" guy in the school, that already makes me not like him. He's arrogant, selfish, and I find no attraction towards him.

On the other hand, Marc is mysterious, smart and handsome. He has dirty blonde hair and the greenest eyes you'll ever see. He's one of the smartest kids in the school, a musical genius, and a baseball player. He's the 2nd most wanted guy in the school.

I was too busy drooling over him to realize Death was across the room, staring at me. I felt the sudden change in tempurature and the atmosphere becoming tense and froze.

Death's here.

I didn't dare look back to him. I continued to talk to Monica, very nervous.

What the heck is his problem? Does he need to find a bride? Can't he skip this one until the next time the planets align? This is so not fair.

Lunch ended and when I looked back, Death wasn't there.

Maybe it was my imagination...man, Lily, you're getting paranoid already.

I almost laughed to myself as I entered the bathroom. After I came out of the stall, I washed my hands.

Looking up at the mirror, I almost had a heart attack. Death was right behind me, staring at me at the mirror.

I froze, not knowing what to do, but slowly looked down and continued to wash my hands.

The waster splashed into the sink, the sound slicing the silence and giving this moment more suspense. I could feel the pounding of my heart in my ear.

Boom-boom, boom-boom.

I then felt a soft cold breeze next to my ear and for the first time, I felt a voice (yes, felt).

"I know you see me." He breathed into my ear. I kept a pokerface and reached for a paper towel.

"Ignoring me won't help at all." Death said.

I turned around, smiled sweetly and said, "Good day to you, too." and walked off, not really looking back because I was really scared.

After I reached where Monica was, I realized my grave mistake.

Sorry grandma!, I thought as I chewed on the pencil's eraser, a habit I have when I'm nervous.

Death is so cold, I shivered, regretting I left my jacket at home.

Mr. Cornik kept droning on about history, but I didn't pay attention. I started doodling on my paper, thinking about Death.

His voice can cut right into diamonds, that's how sharp it was. I shivered again, finding it hard to forget his presense, my 6th sense tingling.

The rest of the day came without problems.

When I saw grandma that afternoon, I was scared to tell her.

"Grandma?" I said, poking my head into the room.

"Hm?" She asked, squinting at the easel, paint on her cheeks, clothes, and hands.

"Um...I want to say to you..."I saw her painting, "Wow, what's that?" She instantly covered it before I could sink it all in.

"Part of the classified, honey."

Grandma paints in three different catergories: business/comissions, personal/potraits, and classfied.

The classified paintings are kept hidden from any other eyes but Grandma's. She won't tell me what it is, although I've pestered her many times.

The painting was unlike any other I've seen her paint, which are colorful and happy. This one was dark and depressing.

She placed the paintbrush in its place inside the jar filled with muddy water and turned to me, smiling.

"So, what's wrong?

"Why would you assume that?" I asked.

"You always bite your lowerlip when you're upset." I sighed, Grandma knows me too much, even more than my mom.

"Grandma...it's concerning...Death..."

Her eyes widened and she looked around carefully before saying, "What happened?", her eyes piercing unto mine, trying to take the truth away from them.

"He knows." I simply stated and Grandma looked pained and she said to me, "Oh no." and started pacing back and forth.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no."

"Grandma, calm down."

"I'm calm." She snapped at me and grimanced, "Sorry Lily."

"Don't worry Grandma, you're under stress." She sighed.

"I don't know what to do, Lily."