This could be fun!!

Since y’all were so good at asking, here is another installment of Nearly Departed.  Hope you enjoy it!!  And please, leave a comment at the bottom of the page!!

Lisa’s head was spinning as she exited the elevator.  There hadn’t been any music to distract her today, so she kept playing that damn “angel” thing over and over in her head.  It made sense in a twisted type of way, his name was Lucifer after all.  The Bible called the fallen angel Lucifer, and Momma Fred had called him an angel.  But damn, THE Lucifer??  That was way too much to deal with.

And that “one of mine” statement.  Not to mention the “still alive” thing.  What the fuck did Momma Fred mean by that?  Was it because she had brought Lisa back from the dead?  Or was it something else?  Lisa had never heard Fred claim any of the others, and there were plenty of others.   And none of there were actually “alive” just reanimated.  Sort of.

Looking around for a ride, Lisa wondered where Death and his cab was.  Public transportation had never been easy in this town, there was never anything around when you needed it, and when you didn’t, they would literally run you down.  Lisa knew that for a fact, seeing as how her death was at the tires of a city bus.

Heaving a sigh, she started walking toward the bus stop.  She hated to ride the damn things, particularly since losing her life to one, but it seemed like she had no choice.  There was no way she could walk the twenty blocks to her apartment in these heels.

Almost as if he knew she would need him, Death pulled up to the curb in his disturbingly colored cab.  Like most Supernaturals, Death was flashy.  His cab would appear to be whatever wild mixture of colors that fit his mood, she had seen it look like a Madi’ Gras float on more than one occasion.  Today, however, it was a sickening mixture of rust and lime green, not something to look upon if you have a weak stomach.  The passenger door opened silently.  She stood staring at the disturbing sight for a moment, shrugged and climbed into the front seat.  After all, she was already dead, it’s not like he was hunting her for her soul or anything, he was just being a friend.

Sinking into the luxurious leather seat, Lisa closed her eyes for a second and enjoyed the absolute silence.  It only took a few seconds for it to hit her that she had never heard silence in Death’s cab.  Twisting to her left, she glanced at the incarnation of Death.  His long dark hair was tousled, giving him that ‘just got out of bed and don’t give a damn’ look that she so loved.  One errant strand hung down over his eye, hiding his expression from view.  His hands were encased in black leather driving gloves that strained to meet the cuffs of his muted black silk shirt.

She sat there staring at him, thinking that he was one perfect specimen of sexy. Neither of them spoke as he eased away from the curb and slid into traffic.  She figured he was taking her to her apartment, maybe they would be able to talk there since he didn’t seem to want to now.  But when he took a left at Madison, instead of the right that would take them to Pine Street where her apartment was, she realized that he had something else in mind.

She knew it wouldn’t do any good to demand to know where they were headed, so she relaxed and sank deeper into the leather seat.  She dozed off in seconds.
Death relaxed when her breathing became even.  He always had a difficult time relaxing around her, he couldn’t help the attraction he felt for the little ghoul, her scent had always intoxicated him.  And now that the crazy Voodoo bitch had pulled her dirty trick, Lisa was even more desirable.  She no longer smelled of death and the grave, no she smelled of flowers in sunlight, rain on a green field, life.  She smelled of life.

She hadn’t realized that she was no longer technically dead, that she had to breathe and eat real food, not just the carrion sandwiches she despised so much.  He was sure that she felt different, she had to.  It wasn’t every day that a not so dead thing became an honest to goodness living creature.  There would be seven different types of hell to pay for that one, but it was already done and now they had to do the best they could.

The traffic had thinned since they left the city behind.  He took a second to glance her way, taken by the beauty that even the grave couldn’t hide.  Her hair was even more luxurious, falling in curls and waves around her heart shaped face.  There was a faint line, a scar that ran across her left eyebrow, he had watched over her when she fell as a child and bashed her head . He was supposed to take her then, but he refused, he knew that this one was special. 

His back still ached from the lashing he had taken all those years ago.

It had been worth it.

And now here she was, alone with him and headed to his country home.  The only place the others wouldn’t find him, he had made sure of it.  Years of conjuring, more years of study and the lives of thousands had been risked to ensure that he had a place where no one could ever ferret him out, a place he could finally be alone with the woman who had stolen his heart when she was just a child.

Turning off the highway onto a two lane road, Death was alert to anyone following them.  He wouldn’t put it above those two idiots at the office to send someone to watch Lisa.  When he realized he was the only one on the road he gassed the Death-mobile (as he called it) and shot off into the falling dusk.

Within minutes he was at the entrance to his estate.  The large iron gates responded to his mental order to open and he maneuvered the cab off the road and onto the private drive.  The gates slammed shut behind him, locking Lisa and himself from the view of any other creature in existence.  He had planned for years to get her here, and now that she was with him, he was scared to death.  Which was funny, seeing as how he WAS Death.

Smiling at his thoughts, he slowed as the house came into view. The lights blazed in joy at the arrival of their master, he didn’t visit as much as he once had. 

Easing to a stop, he turned to look at Lisa.  She was still sleeping, her hair tangled around her face, her eyes moved under the lids, tempting him to touch her so he could see if she were dreaming of him.  He resisted only because he feared her dreams were of a much darker being, one that desired her as much as he did.


“Lisa?” His voice was soft, almost as though he didn’t want to wake her. “Wake up honey, we’re here.”

Lisa’s head turned and her eyes slowly opened.  As they focused on his face a grin played about her lips, giving him hope that he was the star of her recent dream. 

“Hi”, she said. “You’re not mad at me anymore.”

The vulnerability in her voice cut him to the quick.  The fact that she thought he had been mad was bad enough, but to cause her pain because he didn’t deny it was more than he could bear.

“I’ve never been angry with you.  You have my heart, Lisa, don’t you know that?"  His voice was laced with desire, his eyes almost black with lust.  “I have always wanted your happiness, no matter the price.”

Not knowing how to respond, she glanced out of the window and stared at the looming mansion in front of them.  The lights blazed in every window, giving off warmth and sense of peace.  The grounds were immaculate, every bush and flower perfect in its beauty.

“Where are we, Death?”  Her voice left breathless by the beauty surrounding them.

“We are at my home, Lisa. You will always be safe here.”  He sighed, realizing that she had called him by his title, not his name.   Perhaps she didn’t realize that he even had a name. “And please, call me Mitch.”

Surprise made her eyes open a little wider, she hadn’t realized he even had a name other than Death.

“I thought your name was Death.  You mean it’s not?” Lisa was clearly confused.  But then again, so were most people when they realized he was more than his job. “Why have you never told me?”

“Death is my title, it’s my job.  I am more than a job, Lisa, I am a man.  A strange man, but a man none the less.  My name is Mitch Michaels.  I was recruited to be Death over a thousand years ago.”  Mitch watched as the emotions played across her face, he hoped she could accept what he was about to tell her.  “I have been Death so long that most every being has forgotten that I am more than the soul snatching office I hold.  I didn’t tell you before because I had hoped that there would never be a reason to.  But now things are different.  Now you need to know.”

Lisa’s eyebrows drew down, confusion darkened her features. A s she started to question him, her phone rang.  The ring tone told her that it was Momma Fred, and the fact that she called the cell told her that the Voodoo Queen was pissed off.  The only time she would lower herself to use a phone was when she was pissed off, and a pissed off Voodoo High Priestess was NOT something to fuck around with.

As she grabbed her phone to answer it, Mitch snatched it from her hand.  She started to protest, but he placed his finger across her lips and she found herself silenced.

“What?” His voice was dark and dangerous as he answered the phone.

“Death?  What the fuck are you doing there?  Where is she? I need to talk to Lisa right this second!”  Lisa could hear Momma Fred’s voice from across the car. She was definitely pissed off.  “Put her on the phone. NOW!”

“Fuck off, you repugnant want to be!  You and that piece of shit you’re sitting beside of managed to totally screw the pooch.  If you think I’m going to allow you to fuck it up any worse, you are crazier than a bedbug!”  Mitch’s voice was heavy with sarcasm and anger.  His eyes flashed red and his hair seemed to move on its own.  Lisa knew she should be afraid, but hearing him say those things to Momma Fred made her feel better than anything had in the last twenty years.  “And stop looking around for us, we are nowhere you will ever find us.  Put the turd on the phone, I have something to say to him.”

Lucifer must have heard the entire conversation, because he snatched the phone from the hand of the screaming Momma Fred.

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Lucifer’s voice was dangerously soft.  His anger was out of control.  “Bring her back here. NOW!”

Mitch laughed.  His laughter rang out like a church bell on a clear night.  Lisa could hear Lucifer cursing on the other end of the line, but Mitch’s laughter drowned out most of the words leaving only the general feeling of anger and desperation. 

Finally getting himself under control, Mitch winked at Lisa and blew her a kiss.

“Look Lucy, Lisa is with me, she is safe and she is comfortable.  I am going to explain this mess you and that grave robbing bitch has gotten us into and then she can make up her own mind as to what she wants to do.”  Mitch was smiling as he cursed both Lucifer and Fred. Lisa was stunned.  “And, don’t bother trying to find us, even your minions won’t be able to pull that one off.  Tell that putrid bitch that I said to calm the fuck down and have a drink.  It’s going to be along night for the two of you!”

Lucifer screamed, a sound of pure rage poured from the handset, causing Lisa to cover her ears as tears of pain sprang to her eyes.

“ENOUGH!”  Mitch’s voice had changed to one of command.  “You two made this mess, now live with it! I am done!”

Without waiting for response he pushed the off button and threw the phone into the back seat.  Smiling at Lisa, he shut off the car, got out and walked to the passenger side.  Opening her door, he held out his hand to help her out.  Confused, she placed her hand in his and exited the car.

“Welcome to my home, Lisa.  You are the first guest I’ve ever had.”  Still holding her hand he led her toward the door.  “We have a lot to talk about, but first I think we should grab a bite to eat, okay?”

Lisa could only shake her head as she realized she was hungry.  Really hungry, like when she was alive type of hungry.

Entering the large foyer, Lisa looked around.  The marble floors gleamed and reflected the light from a thousand chandeliers, painting grace the walls and fresh flowers lightly scented the air.  If this was how Death lived maybe it wasn’t such a bad gig.

Turning to Mitch she smiled.  ‘This could be fun’, was the first thought that crossed her mind.

“Yes it could!!” He answered.

She had forgotten he could ‘read’ her. Smiling again, she thought about a glorious dinner, followed by hot sex.  Glancing at Mitch, she could tell by the red of his cheeks that he had caught that thought as well.

“Yeah, this could definitely be fun!”  She said as she started to explore her temporary home.

Stay turned for more of The Nearly Departed!!  Part ten is in the works as we speak!!