Existence 03 - Ceaseless

up.
    “Dank, tell me what’s wrong,” I pleaded as he kissed me softly on the lips.
    “Nothing. Nothing that I can’t fix,” he assured me and pressed his forehead to mine. “Listen to me Pagan, you have no reason to worry. I’ve got this. Remember what I told you. What Death protects can’t be harmed and baby,” the pad of his thumb caressed my cheek, “you’re the only thing I protect.”
    The shivers I never seemed to be able to control when his voice dropped an octave and went all smooth and sexy seemed to make him happy. He always gave me a sexy smirk when I shivered.
    “Okay, but I heard a voice. In my ear. Like when you talk to me but you’re far away.”
    Dank tensed and he took a deep breath. “You did?”
    I nodded and watched as he closed his eyes tightly and an angry snarl vibrated against his chest.
    “No one gets that close to you. No thing gets that close to you.” He kissed the tip of my nose and then closed the door before appearing in the driver’s seat beside me. I sure hoped he wasn’t so otherwise occupied that he wasn’t paying attention to what my mother was doing. If she was looking out the window just now then things could get complicated.
    “She’s already closed off in her room writing,” Dank said as he cranked the Jeep and pulled out onto the road. I didn’t ask how he knew what I was thinking. I was used to this by now. I couldn’t worry about anything without him knowing. He was obsessed with fixing all my problems. Normally that would frustrate me but right now with the problems I had looming I needed him.
    “What did the voice say?” His voice was tense and I could tell he was trying to control the angry hiss that amused me when it was brought on because of jealousy. Right now it wasn’t amusing. At all.
    “It’s almost time,” I replied, studying his reaction. His left hand tightened on the steering wheel as he reached over and rested his hand on my thigh.
    “I’ll have this handled immediately. I didn’t see anything but I felt it. The moment you froze, I felt it. It isn’t a soul. It isn’t a deity. It is nothing that I’m familiar with but that leaves only a few things it can be. And I promise you Pagan that not one of those things is a match for me. So stop worrying. I’m Death, baby. Remember that.”
    I let out a sigh and covered his hand with mine.
    “I know,” I replied and began tracing hearts on his hand with the tip of my finger.
    “I missed you last night,” he whispered in a husky voice.
    I smiled down at his hands as he flipped it over and clasped mine in his. I liked knowing he missed me.
    “Good.”
    An amused chuckle was his response.

Leif
    By Abbi Glines

    Death was stalking her – Leif
    It was time. I’d let her grow up normally. I’d stood back and protected her and guided her silently. Now, it was time I mad e her mine. The soul that the Creator had made to be her mate was gone. He’d moved away. My path was clear. Finally. I’d been waiting a lifetime for her.
    I ignored the jealous glare from Kendra. She was annoying me lately. Once she’d been a good side distraction. Father had sent her to me as a form of entertainment. There were times she’d been useful but those days were over. Kendra knew her fun had come to an end. I needed to talk to Father about removing her if she was going to cause problems. Nothing was going to stand in my way now.
    I sat down in the empty seat beside Pagan. The excuse to be near her had been rehearsed in my head for over a year, when I’d started planning a way to ease into her life. She didn’t like me much. Once this amused me but now it worried me. I needed her to like me. She was my world. She always had been.
    “Hey, Pagan, Mr. Yorkley said I needed to come talk to you.” Pagan stared at me wide eyed. The shock in her expression was adorable. I’d been waiting to finally speak to her knowing that this time, she’d remember me.
    The shock was quickly replaced with an annoyed frown. Not what I’d hoped for but from what I could tell she really didn’t like me. Nervously, I rubbed my hands on the knees of my jeans wondering if I should have taken another route to get close to her. No, questioning my plan now was a bad idea. I had to m ake this work. “Uh, um, well,” I began, “I mean, that is, I need some help in Speech. It isn’t my thing and Mr. Yorkley said you were the one to talk to about getting some assistance.”
    “This is the first day of school. How can