The Reaper Child: Book III [Child!Reader Protagonist]

~Chapter 19~

Your stroll came to a halt. You turned to face the display window and confirmed that the teacup really was identical to the one you chipped yesterday. According to the sign above, the name of the shop was “Haven of Antiques”. There was a sign resting in front of it that said “HALF OFF! Limited Time Only!”, but a frown fell on your face when you saw the discounted price. Even with the generous allowance you received, especially from your Uncle Ronald when you did favors for him, there was no way you could afford it. You silently cursed yourself for all the times you spent your money on snacks and candy.

“Something got your eye, (Y/N)?” Undertaker curiously asked when he noticed you staring through the window. He stood next to you.

“That teacup right there.” You pointed to it. “I know it sounds strange but I need to get it. There is no knowing how much longer it will be here. It’s important.”

“Do you have a big fancy tea party coming up?” Undertaker asked hopefully. “If so, I do hope I’m invited!”

You shook your head. “No tea party here.” Undertaker looked momentarily disappointed. “The cup isn’t for me. It’s for my dad. You see…” You went on to explain the full story of last night’s incident, starting from the misunderstanding to how the cup, and wall, got damaged.

Undertaker's smile never left his face as he listened to your story. But when you were done, he did cover his mouth with his sleeve to conceal a snicker. “I see… That poor little teacup got sentenced to some wall bashing, did it?”

“When you put it that way…” While it may have been hilarious to him, you couldn’t help but awkwardly rub the back of your neck. “The problem is I don’t quite have enough money on me. And I don’t know how much longer this cup will still be here.”

“Well, good thing ONE of us has an income, hmm?” It was hard to see through his long strands, but he gave you a wink.

“Wait… are you saying…?”

Undertaker smirked and nodded slowly, as if he were plotting a mischievous stunt.

Your eyes widened. “Oh, Uncle Adrian, but you’ve already done so much today, spending all that money-”

He casually waved his hand dismissively. “Now don’t you worry about that. Tell me: Have you had a nice day so far?”

“Of course!” You responded without hesitation. “Probably one of the best, honestly.”

“Then it was worth every coin! I am feeling rather indulgent, so if I’ve got another coin to spare, I might as well spend it on redemption, hmm?”

“I really owe you one,” you told him.

Undertaker chuckled, flashing his white teeth. “Well, if you REALLY want to pay me back, I don’t want you to give me a single pound. Instead…” His face suddenly appeared inches away from yours. You could feel his breathing. He brought his hands together in a pleading motion, interlocking his fingers. “I want to hear a good fight story!”

“A fight story?” You looked at him blankly. The thought of trying to fight both of the twins at once caused a knot to form in your stomach. There was no way you had a chance of winning against them. Recent events have confirmed that.

“Now it doesn’t have to be the ones who gave you those bruises, although, it would be quite extraordinary. It could be a bear for all I care!” When you gave him a confused stare, he cackled and ruffled your hair rigorously enough for you to almost lose your balance. You closed your eyes and scrunched up your face, which only further amused him.

“Well, what do you say we go on in before someone else buys this cup, hmm?”

You nodded as you desperately tried to fix your locks with your hands, and followed him into the shop. Undertaker turned to rotate the worn door knob that had chipped paint. When he pulled, the door creaked at its hinges. As you and Adrian walked across the dark oak floorboards, your footsteps amplified and resonated throughout the building. There was a smell of old books and wood.