***Contains spoilers for A QUEST OF DEATH: SHADOWS NEVER LIE***

This is the Epilogue of the previous version (first draft) of SNL. This is no longer gonna appear in the book since the new update (currently published version) has a much interesting, brand-new storyline (of course a better one). Therefore, here I'm posting it in my collection (couldn't make up my mind to banish it from existence). I highly recommend you read SNL as well. Enjoy ❤️

"Now, that's new... She really can see me.."

I had no idea why I was getting to see her so much. Wherever I go, she was there.

"You're no human, are you ?"

Of course, I am not. But she had no clue. It's amusing to see how her forget-me-not eyes widen at anything she was unfamiliar with.

"You followed me without even knowing that, did you?"

She had the gut to follow me after seeing me at the bus stop that day and sensing I was a bit unusual for the usual type of men she used to see. I was just doing my job there as the omen of death. That was my duty.

"You-B-but..who are you ?"

Who? Well, that's probably not a pronoun I go by.

"Who? .. I'm not an exact 'who' though"

"Then-then-- what are you ?"

Stuttering, are we? Cute.

"I can be whatever you expect me to be. But I would prefer to go with what you humans call, a demon'... maybe .."

Well, I am cursed to be one. Though I am still unaware of what act of me made me. There's only one thing I was bound to. I was bound to see death.

Does she know her mouth is agape? Woah was the news that surprising?

"Why so surprised? You knew that already, didn't you ?"

"Never "

"Huh ?!"

Now? So, she did follow me without knowing who I am. Looks like I'm gonna have a guest at home today.

Jade.

Like that she came into my life.

A girl with the attitude of a Rhino, the magic of a firefly and the beauty of a goddess. The most amusing fact about her was she had signed a deal with Satan himself.

And she was probably the only human that I didn't meet to inform me of her death.
The first time I met her was the time I got summoned into a place unknown, even without having a deal. And that too was because she was in a danger. A wraith came from nowhere after she and I who was on my way to submit my monthly progress profiles to the HQ of the Death suddenly got sucked into thin air to be dropped in that abandoned alley.

Knowing that she was the one who saved me once I was left to death was one shock of a day. And learning Eligo was after she was not helping my situation.

"Was that you ?"

"Um--probably.."

"But do you remember me?"

"Well, I mean.. all the ravens look alike to me..."

"How about you? Remember me?"

"Nah..not much. I just have a faint memory of rising on a windowsill somewhere in the morning and seeing someone sleeping nearby. I don't know how I managed to escape the window at least."

I honestly was not expecting to open my eyes for another day, back then. The day I fought with Eligo the last was the rainy day she found me. I don't know how I managed to pull off a dragger out of my heart or fly with a broken wing. But I was so grateful to her that she saved me. No matter what I have said to her about this but I know I couldn't pay her even after sacrificing my whole eternity of life doing labour for her.

"And as you already know I'm not a GuArdian ANgle. I am a DEMON! I don't like this, not at all. So here's the deal. Just tell me what you want from me exactly as the return of favour and let's put an end to those ridiculous meetings, Okay ?... I'm sick of them! "

"I didn't want you here either. I didn't summon you in the first place."

"But I've got summoned anyways.."

I sharpened my glare but she didn't even flinch.

This is ridiculous.

"Make a wish.."

I muttered taking a deep breath.

"Anything would do?"

"Yeah..anything."

She looked around probably trying to figure out something that could become a wish.

"How about changing that bulb for me."

Aren't I getting too much disrespect for someone who deals with death? Well, the very omen of death on that.

"What am I again?"

"A--demon--?"

"Then from where on the earth did you learn demons go around doing manual labour for you weak humans?!"

"Um. Don't you?.. I mean I have read such things in those books.."

"In which books !?"

"Um. Fairytales like stuff.."

"Stupid. Here I don't know about others but I don't do. Got it?"

And probably she was the only one who didn't fear me.

"Demon!?"

"Yes. And...why are you sitting on the ground?"

"I tripped. I guess.."

She pouted pointing at the low stair nearby.

Oh, how clumsy those humans could be. Sure I do have to interact with mortals a lot but believe me as I say, she was the weirdest of all.

"You cut vegetables or yourself with that knife ?"

She pouted and continued to wash her now bleeding hand. And believe me when I say by then I had taken an interest in her pout. Blood was still drooping even in a stream of cold water coming from the tap. I waited till she finish. She grabbed a cotton wipe from a drawer and dried my finger a bit. The cotton got stained as the wound was not clotted yet. Though the cut seemed to be small guess it's rooted a bit deep. She whined in pain.

What a weak creature.

I grabbed her hand and did the best I could be doing.

Not gonna lie but her blood was too sweet. I was not that type of demon who fed on blood but hey, I am a 'demon' after all.
Her eyes popped out with my sudden attack. After a few silent seconds of staring she quickly pulled away.

"What the? What's that you crazy demon?"

I smirked raising a brow, gesturing for her to look at the wound.

She should be thanking me.

After draining blood and sweat for some good days I could finally agree with her to make an official deal.

"As per the rules I accept to grant your wish and accept you as my master till your wish is granted. It may take some time but I promise you your brother's return with my life."

She was in my hold, eyes wide on me. Well, she was gonna a trip for the hundredth time ever since we met so I had to hold her pity ass again. I could see Flitch the dwarf falling into a fit of giggles at the end of the kitchen. Looks like she has a good roommate.

Bringing her brother back was my task. And that too was from Eligo's place.

"Finally it's done."

I sighed in relief shoving my hands back into my pockets and shutting my eyes. Even if that means I will have to encounter Eligo again I would choose it than coming for this human.

"Not quite yet."

"Huh?"

She took my hand out of a pocket and unclenched the fist placing a silver chain on it.

"Wear this"

I took a minute to analyse the silver metal.
I sure as hell have seen this before. Isn't this? Isn't the snowflake? But how on the earth is it with her? Isn't that got exploded when Eligo lost his body? That day when he encountered that girl--J-Ja--. Oh, right it was a JADE!

The snowflake was the reason for our fight. I mean the fight between Eligo and me.

"Promise me something."

"Mmm?"

She was sitting a few feets apart from where I was sitting. Before she reached out and grabbed the metal snowflake resting on my chest. I was pretending to sleep but as feeling her movements I got to open my eyes to know what she was doing. She was fidgeting the pendant soulfully looking into it. An expression that I wasn't much used to was abandoned on her beautiful face.

"Protect this with your whole heart."

She muttered almost inaudibly even without sparing a glance at me.

"Why did you give it to me if you don't believe that I can protect it."

"I don't know. Just saying. Not like I think you can't protect it. Just a reminder."

What if she knows that I am after this? Just as Eligo is.

"Well, I'm just wearing it till the deal ends, aren't I?"

"Yes. And by the time our deal is done the only threat this has will disappear."

I could always sense when a soul is weak. But her vulnerability somehow made me want to protect her. I don't know what had gotten into me back then. But every moment with her, mostly attacking each other on a grand scale, guess I started liking them. Maybe that's why I didn't hesitate in getting into a deal with her after avoiding anyone who tried to get me into deals for around a thousand years.

"We call it destiny, don't we ?"

A voice echoed in my ears.

The fat fluffy lady in a green gown and round glasses, sitting across the low Chinese tea table I was sitting at smiled brightly. I really can't understand how she could be smiling. Her granddaughter is been tortured by Eligo in outer space and here she is brimming tea for me.

"Ever heard about the prophecy ?"

"What prophecy ?"

"The one about the Raven and the Winter Primrose"

Say what now? My eyes widened in surprise. She just kept staring at me before serving me the tea.

"Drink it while it's hot."

I look at the cup in front of me. It was steaming and tea leaves were still storming inside in circles after the stirring.

Perfectly straight jawline, even straight enough to cut through a hard rock itself...

"How was it today?"

Plump lips, slightly reddened to be pleading like sweet strawberries...

"It was nice. The teacher asked us to write an essay on how we spent the vacation."

I replied munching a big bite from the yummy meal, and continue swinging my tiny legs which were dangling from the edge of the concrete stair. The figure of my favourite person sitting next to me imitated my motions as his black robes too were swinging in sync.

Puffy cheeks with a hint of slight pink which was noticeable even in the dim light...

"So.. What did you write ?"

And of course beautiful amber eyes...

"I wrote how I went to a beautiful summer camp in the hills, how I enjoyed listening to birds singing every morning, how I enjoyed swimming in the lake and how I was going to draw."

Hot flames in orange and gold...

I paused taking another bite while he observed me with his usual mild smile.

"Ah and I wrote how frightened I was and how I screamed aloud but no one heard me. And I wrote how you saved me, emerging from the deep waters on time.. like a guardian angel."

---dancing around.

I shifted my gaze from the meal box to him just to see the most pleasant smile in this world that I could only see from him. And most importantly that smile used to form only when I was around. That was totally for me.. from my guardian angel...El..and I'm his...

"Primrose.."

---the gawking figure of me in them...!

"We call this destiny. Chose wisely. I believe there can be powerful things, more powerful than the magic she holds."

Her words are piercing. I probably wasn't true to myself. I surely wasn't true to her either. I knew she alone could face Eligo and send doom to his death. That's what I wanted her to do. I could have saved Luke long back but letting her solve her problems seemed much more profitable for me.

"Now go. I have another guest. Being the one who is responsible for the birth and fate is not an easy duty you see ?"

The lady smiled again.

"Save her. She worth to be saved."