Chapter 3: Traveling To Their Demise

SHANE CAN'T understand how Mara can stay calm despite knowing the situation. If they were to visit the lost tribe in his province, he might not be able to go back in this place and continue his studies. Mara's title may be stripped of her or worse, she might die.

Shane kept on stealibg glances at Mara while the latter is helping Shane pack his things.

He wondered why Mara wasn't packing her things until Shane realized that Mara doesn't own anything in this world.

"We're leaving tomorrow, after my mom's burial," He said and then glanced at his mom's coffin in the living room. "We're going to stay there for three days and we must make it possible."

Mara knew that Shane never wanted to go back to that place. After all, the demon who made a contract with Shane's ancestor can successfully devour his soul if he ever make a one small mistake.

"Do you know how you can cut your ties with them?" Mara asked.

She doesn't know what to do. In fact, she doesn't have any idea about their contract with the demon because no matter how hard she dive into Shane's past, the barrier made by the demon is strong enough to repel a grim reaper. The chain's strength attached to shane to fairly strong too, despite being severed when she interrupted the demon's ritual on Shane's body.

"My mom used to utter something before we sleep. That was before the accident happened," Shane said.

Mara just looked at him in the eyes as if she's telling the lad to go on.

"With the depths of heat, sing thy lullaby. Dark shall perish, ties will be severed," Shane said without any emotion which sent shivers on Mara's spine. "That was what she used to say."

That line feels awfully familiar for Mara. Suddenly, she felt her head aching. She could hear some things she can't explain.

Her lip were parted and she could feel an unknown feeling swelling inside her.

"Shane, did she ever mentioned anything about a relic?" She asked in a nervous manner.

"Yeah," Shane replied. He then brought something out of the box. "Mom said to never lose this relic. I'm not sure if it is a relic though."

It is a star-shaped rock with an eye engraved in the middle. It is bloody red and just looking at it makes her want to vomit due to the heavy aura it displays.

"She's right. No matter what happens, never ever lose that Shane. Never, unless you're free. You hear me?" Her lips were trembling as well as her hands.

Shane immediately hid it and went closer to Mara. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"Of course," She said when she really is not.

Looking at the relic, especially in the eye, breaks something inside her.  It is fighting the spell Azrael has placed on her. It's as if the relic's eye is breaking a barrier which is responsible for sealing Mara's memories.

SHANE FELT responsible the moment Mara fell onto his arms, unconscious. The lady looks peaceful in her sleep, however, Mara's temperature is dropping.

No, it's not her temperature that is dropping. Mara is starting to turn into her grim reaper form. Her lips started to regain its usual tint which is dark violet. Her eyeliners got a little thicker. A black cloak suddenly wrapped her body, the one she was wearing when he first see her.

When the lady opened her eyes, something seems unusual. And then seconds later, a man wearing the same cloak barged in.

"Shane Hoseinzade, your time is up," The man said.

And just like what happened when Mara attempted to take his soul, the man's scythe just passed through Shane's body.

The man was shocked and confused at the same time. He tried again but still, nothing happened.

"Stop it, Damien. You can't take this young man's soul. None of us can. Now, at least," Mara said in a stern voice.

The man Mara called Damien removed his cloak and stared at the lady with disbelief visible in his eyes. He looked at Mara's scythe and back to the lady's face.

"You're alive," The man said. "Oh! Thanks God, you're still alive!" He exclaimed.

Mara tilted her head and furrowed her eyebrows. "What are you doing here?" Mara asked, not entertaining what he just said.

"They sent me to get Shane Hoseinzade. Why are you still here? It's been three days since you left," His gaze then turned to Shane. "And what are you doing here?"

His glance went from Mara to Shane repeatedly until his eyes widened upon realizing something.

"You were sent to take him before me, were you not?" He asked.

Mara sighed. "The Heads of Eternal haven't confirm this case, I see," Mara said. "The rumors about a rare case with demons involved are true, Damien. Can you still reach Eternal? We badly need back ups for this case."

Shane and Mara watched Damien flinch and struggle until he gave up.

Seems like he also lost connection to the Eternal.

"I have a theory, Damien, Shane," The lady said and then stood by the window. She thre her gaze outside and then sighed. "Once a grim reaper's scythe makes a contact with Shane's chained soul, they loses connection to the eternal. Then, people from Eternal assumes we died... or vanished when we don't make it in a day."

The lady faced the lads behind her and then tucked her lips in.

"I think we won't be able to go back to Eternal, Damien. We're stuck in this mission," She said.

Damien gulped upon realizing they can die.

Demons are involved, after all. They are superior to grim reapers.

And since they've lost contact to Eternal, they won't be able to seek help from the Higher Angels.

"Then what are we going to do? Mara, we both know that grim reapers cant stay in the land of living for a long period of time! It is forbidden."

AS THEY prepare to leave, chaos seems yo be knocking on Eternal's door.

Day after day, names of some people in the land of living has been erased from the sacred book.

"This can't go on," Azrael mumbled to himself. "It has only been a week and tons of events has already happened."

Azrael didn't even flinch when the door flew open, revealing a grim reaper who's as pale as a paper as he pants.

"We just lost connections from seven reapers, Sir. Another one from the Philippines, two from Dubai, one from Afghanistan, one from Canada, and two from Greece."

Azrael massaged his temple as he thinks of a possible solution. It's still too early to conclude but it seems like the gates of hell has been popping out of nowhere somewhere around the world. Human vessels keeps on increasing. What in the world are these humans thinking?

And what's more alarming is that the Angels are still denying this issue because of some treacherous folks.

As Azrael sits on his chair, he can't help but think that if the demons successfully open the gates of hell permanently, then the end of the land of the living will be doomed.

"We can't have the demons start dominating the world," He mumbled.

"I BOUGHT some clothes for you guys to wear," Shane said as he puts all the paper bags down the table.

They just got back from his mother's burial.

Damien and Mara's eyebrows furrowed while looking at the clothes Shane has given to them.

"Why would you trouble yourself buying us these stuffs? We don't sweat nor emit body odors," Damien said in a serious manner which contradicts his actions. He immediately removed his black clothes and wore something casual. "Thanks though," He followed up.

"These will be useful. It didn't cross my mind but since your family is familiar with us, the grim reapers, they'll probably notice everything and will immediately get rid of us as soon as we step a foot on that town," Mara said and the took everything Shane has given to her to change her get up.

"Makes sense," Damien whispered.

Shane nodded and went into his room in a quiet manner. He seems lost in his thoughts. Well, he really is.

Shane worries a lot as the time runs. He is a hundred percent sure that even if they haven't set a foot in the town yet, his grim reaper companions' foot are already six feet under the ground already. Just like him.

He shake the thought off and focused on using his ability to see unearthly things. The demon's nails are pointed on his throat so why not take advantage of their effects on his body?

The chain attached to his ankle is starting to taint his skin with dark inks, forming a pentagon shape with unknown accessories. It's as if the demons has already claimed his soul as their property.

His forehead creased when he realized that he has seen something like this in some points of his life.

"Are you lying to us?" Damien asked with his hands crossed under his chest. He's leaning on the wall while staring at Shane as if he's ready knock him down any time now.

"Why would I?" Shane retorted.

Damien let out a sarcastic smile. "Just so you know, I do not trust you, Shane Hoseinzade. Why would you want to die when every human wants to live forever?"

"That's none of your business," Shane replied and turned his back. He threw his gaze on the distant scenery as Damien approaches from behind.

"It is my business, Shane Hoseinzade," Damien replied in a serious manner. "Several grim reapers has been tasked to takt your soul and yet you're still here. Shane Hoseinzade, you do realize that if it is proved that you lured all the grim reapers to your scheme which led to their disappearance will give you eternal suffering, don't you?"

Shane just stared at Damien and then sighed. He did not bother replying to the man's childishness because he's too exhausted to even argue with such a daft.

He has a point though. He could be an acquaintance to the crime even if he knows nothing since he's the bait.

"You dum-" Damien was about to charge towards Shane when Mara entered the scence.

"Could you not cause further trouble, Damien? If we were baited then let's just fight back! After all, we're steps ahead of humans and an inch ahead of demons who can enter the land of the living temporarily."

Mara rolled her eyes and then walked towards Shane. She touched the chain attached to Shane's ankle and for some reasons, Mara's body slowly absorbed some of the chain's energy until it tires her.

She noticed that she's able to steal some energy from it when they were all sleeping and the chain accidentally grazed her body. She knew at that moment that weakening the chain ro bits before chopping it off is possible.

"Mara, are you okay?" Damien asked and then glared at Shane.

Mara looks pale and beads of sweat is rolling down her cheeks.

"Yes, I am," She said before shoving Damien's hands away. "Shane, how can we get there? Do you have any vehicle we can use? Are you going to call the jeepney we used the last time?" She asked in a serious manner, not know she's looking innocently cute in front of the two men on her side.

Shane chuckled. It's genuine and Mara found herself smiling as she stares at Shane.

She's never seen him laugh genuinely since they first met. It is kind of reassuring.

"Nope," He replied.

He started carrying his bags and gestured Damien and Mara to follow him. They traced Shane's steps and placed their things to where Shane told them to.

"I rented a car."

As soon as they've settled everything, Shane finally took a notice to his companion's outfit. The clothes he bought actually suit them. Though, his eyes took time averting his gaze when it landed on Mara.

She wore the black skirt and the white crop top. She looks simple yet gorgeous.

Mara sat on the back seat and Damien took the passenger seat. It was kind of awkward for both men because the other is being cautious and the other is thinking on what could he possibly do to assure Damien that he's not plotting anything.

"Damien," Mara called.

"Yeah? What is it?" Damien asked in a gentle manner.

"Do you mind touching Shane's chain? I forgot about it earlier."

Damien's face immediately turned sour and threw a secretive, dangerous glare on Shane.

"Sure," He said under his breath despite hating the idea of making a physical contact with the demonic asshole.

Before Damien could even reach an inch distance from the chain, it repelled his hand away and burned the tip of his fingers.

"What the f*ck?!" He exclaimed as he hiss in pain. "Just where did you came from? From the fire of hell?" He sarcastically said as he glares on Shane.

Shane responded with a sarcastic laughter which started another episode of them fighting over some small things.

On the other side, Mara keeps on thinking why was she able to touch it while Damien can't. Is it because she had a contact with a demon? Is it because she was the who made a small crack on it? Or was it because she stared at the evil eye?

Mara then stared at the back of Shane's head as if something interesting is stuck on it while Shane and Damien fell into silence out of fear of the aura the lady behind them is emitting.

WHILE THE TRIO are traveling to seek answers and stop Shane's sufferings, Rachel Hoseinzade's soul was pulled out of peace.

"What is this?" She asked herself in a whispering manner while staring at the dark violet chains on her wrists.

She surround her gaze to where she is and to her horror, she's standing on a summoning circle and the one's staring her are the people she never thought she'll see again. Bead of sweats starts forming on her forehead as her hands went cold.

"Dad," She called.

The man smiled in a eerie manner and then stood up. He's wearing a dark cloak and the seal on his right eye is almost completed.

"Remove this!" She screamed while moving like crazy.

Her folks started laughing. Purple smoke appeared behind each of them as if it's embracing them for something she can't imagine.

"The supposed to be gates is back!" Her dad announced and everyone cheered.

Tears pooled in her eyes when she met his gaze. She shook her head as her knees weakened.

Her dad walked towards her and grabbed her chin. He went close to Rachel's ear and said the words she's feared the most.

"And the successor will follow. Are you ready to see your son?"