Lyric sat on a stone and drank a sip from the leather bag Tori had given him. His gaze fell on the hourglass and he saw the last grain of sand detach from the ceiling and begin to float. Warm arms snaked around his naked upper body.

"Soon it's time," Tori's soft voice whispered.

With a gentle movement, the god stroked Lyric's long hair out of the neck. They now reached up to the shoulder blades and were just beautiful. Like a waterfall, they fell over his chest and his bright neck was exposed.

"Not much longer and you're finally mine," he whispered to Lyric's neck and pressed a gentle kiss on it.

Lyric looked down. "It's not time yet. He will come," he said in a firm voice.

On the one hand, Tori admired Lyric's unshakable faith in this man, on the other hand, these words were like a knife ramming into his heart. Not much longer. I wait patiently. Tori had concealed the fact that Nix couldn't find him. He knew it wasn't fair, but after all this time, Fate had finally sent him a companion and he wouldn't let him go. He stroked Lyric's soft skin and breathed in his scent. Rose water with autumn wind. Silently, Tori took the soft silver hair and braided it into an elegant braid that fell over his right shoulder.

When the god was done with it, Lyric rose. "I will wait for the last moments in the temple to receive him," he said. Tori looked after him.

"He will not come, Lyric," the God said.

The rune demon turned around and smiled at him. "He will." Then he went up the stairs to the transition to the intermediate level, in his right hand the small hourglass that sealed his fate.

Should the last grain of sand touch the ground, Lyric would belong to him. He would finally make him his mate. Tori had waited patiently for two years. It had been two years since he had met Lyric here and tied him to this place. Ever since he first saw him, he had known that his prayers had been answered. They had sent him a companion. So he had done everything to ensure that he stayed with him. The only thing left between them was the demon with the red eyes. But that would not be the case for much longer. He followed his demon upwards, his eyes fixed on the hourglass.

A year, three hundred and sixty-four days, twenty-three hours and thirty-two minutes ago...

Lyric fell. He closed his eyes and got ready for the hit. He had no orientation. Something snaked around his body, his arms were pressed to his body and he gasped. The wind subsided and the surroundings became clear.

When he opened his eyes and saw a yellow bird's claw wrapped around his body. Slowly they sank to the ground and the guard carefully placed him on the floor of the temple. Lyric sat up, searched the surroundings for Nix. He's gone. They had been separated. Nix had returned to the world of the living and he had stayed behind.

A deep grief struck him and a tear rolled down his cheek. He put his forehead on his knees and tried to calm down.

Why are you crying? the voice of the guard asked him. He carefully wiped away the tear.

"What happens now?" he asked him.

You will spend the rest of eternity here.

Lyric looked at him stunned. He knew he had made this decision, but only now did he realize the extent. Forever, without Nix. No, he wouldn't stand that. Before that, he would end his life.

The guardian demon seemed to notice his inner conflict and screeched quietly. His figure began to shine and he became smaller. His wings and dog's head disappeared and changed their shape. Lyric watched in amazement as his body changed.

When the light sounded, there was a slender demon about 5' 11'' tall with long, silver hair that reached up to his hip, pointed ears and mercury-colored eyes. He had fair skin and, except for white pants, he wore nothing on his body. His muscles were defined and his upper body was covered with intertwined black marks, but they changed colors. Once they were deep red, the other moment they were in a bright green. Like a rainbow.

His gaze wandered back to the demon's eyes. These weren't normal eyes, these were the eyes of a god. No mortal being could possess such eyes. He looked like Lyric's carbon copy. "Are you a rune demon?" he asked, trembling.

The guard stepped up to him and got on one knee in front of him. "No," replied a deep, melodic voice. Once again, the word God came to his mind. "I am not a rune demon, I am their creator. I created your people in my image," he told Lyric.

Lyric swallowed. Trembling, he found his voice again. "Who are you?" Expectantly, he held his breath.

The red lips of his counterpart turned into a smile. "I am the Father of birds, the guardian who guards the entrance to the realm of the deceased, the Creator of the race of the demons of your people. In your language I am called Tori."

Lyric exhaled. I am facing my Creator right now? His heart beat so fast that it jumped out of his chest. Fear and reverence spread throughout him.

"Calm down, Lyric. I don't intend to do anything to you. Quite the opposite," Tori said. The words didn't really help.

"But if you are a Creator, then you must be a god," Lyric said, and the mercury eyes sparkled.

"That's right."

Hell. Lyric's heart almost jumped out of his chest. "If you are a God, then you can also grant wishes." Lyric didn't know what he was doing, what he was saying. Nix' picture appeared before his eyes and slowly he calmed down. He held on to it until his pulse had returned to normal.

The God looked at him questioningly, "What wish do you have, my son?"

Lyric clenched his fist and gathered all the courage. "I want to return to my beloved one, to the world of the living."

Tori's facial expression darkened and Lyric's throat clenched in fear. Is that impossible? Will I never return to him?

"Lyric, you broke a rule. I can't let you go easily," he replied.

Easily? Does that mean there is a possibility? Hope sprouted in Lyric. "What do I have to do?" he asked the god.

His face took on an unreadable facial expression. "You can't go back, I don't have any advantage over that," Tori replied.

The small flame of hope flickered and almost completely extinguished. Lyric now clenched both hands. "He will come and find me." He would believe that Nix would find him. At that very moment, he would be looking for him.

"Will he?" the god asked in surprise. He was fascinated by the demon in front of him. He was sincere and believed in the demon he had sent away a few moments ago. The demon with red eyes had narrowly escaped, why should he risk his life and return? "Then why did you let him go?" he asked the demon curiously.

Lyric was silent.

"Tori. When he comes, will you let me go?" Lyric asked with the last spark of hope still glomming in him.

The god put his fingers on Lyric's chin and stroked his cheek. He twitched under the touch. Tori could feel Lyric – his feelings, his faith and also his curse. Someone dared to stain this beautiful creature. Not that the curse has any effect on him. "Lyric, I have nothing of such an agreement. You have to offer me something in exchange for your life," he said in a soft voice. The demon looked at him with wide eyes and he saw that it began to work feverishly in his head to find a solution.

Tori had learned everything about Lyric through his touch. He knew about his past, his mission, his feelings towards the red-eyed demon and his curse. A curse that would bind him to the one who would taste those soft lips. "There's something you can give me," he said, surprised by himself.

Lyric looked at him questioningly. "What?"

The god gently stroked over Lyric's lips. "If your beloved one comes here to get you in a month of his time, I'll let you go."

"And what if he can't do it?" Lyric asked, whose chest narrowed.

"If not, you will become my mate."

The shock gripped Lyric's body faster than he could have reacted. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Everything around him became silent. Mate? He wants me to become his mate, the mate of a god... No, I cannot. I can't be anyone's mate except... once again, Nix's smiling face appeared in front of his inner eye. Nix. Will you look for me? Will you find me? Lyric remained silent for a while. But the answer to his questions was clear from the very beginning. He took a deep breath and looked the god in the eyes with a firm look. "I agree, because he will find me."

Tori laughed. "That's the way it is."

At that moment, Lyric's right palm began to glow. A small hourglass appeared over it and the first grain fell. It had begun. Nix, find me.

Tori stood up and Lyric did the same. "What happens to me until he comes?"

Tori was impressed by how deep Lyric's trust in the oracle went. He concealed the fact that he could never enter the empire again. "We go to the realm of the deceased. I want you to meet someone," Tori said. His hands lit up and in them appeared two hand-wide platinum rings with mystical symbols on them. The god held them out to him and said, "Put them around your upper arms. With these you are able to enter the realm of the deceased as a living person."

Lyric accepted it and asked in surprise, "Then this is not the realm of the deceased?"

Tori smiled. "No, it's the transition and I'm its watchman. The entrance to the realm of the deceased is in the temple behind me. Follow me."

Lyric nodded and put the metal rings around his upper arms. These nestled in his skin and a tingling sensation ran through his body. He felt his magic slowly return to his body. He silently followed the guard up the stairs to the temple. He looked at the room with astonishment.

In the middle of the temple was an altar with numerous decorations. Pictures and scenes of Tori were carved into the walls. But what fascinated him most was an archway covered by a rainbow-colored membrane. He went to it and touched it slightly. It moved slightly under his finger – it was a feeling he couldn't describe. Two arms snake around him from behind.

"This, Lyric, is the entrance to the realm of the deceased. Here and there time is different, slower. We will go there together."

The arms around Lyric retreated and Lyric carefully pressed his hand against the membrane until it gave way and his hand sank. It disappeared into it. After taking a deep breath, he finally stepped through.

_____________________________

Lyric has made a deal with a god.

Did you expect it?

Would you have made a deal?

Will Nix make it in time?

Now another part about Lyric's stay in the realm of the deceased will follow.

Your Mouse Goddess