MATEO WAS GONE BEFORE she could even say something, having disappeared into the shadows as fast as Logan had. Jonathan was still waiting for her to answer, but she was too busy focusing on the Reaper. He let his scythe rest against his shoulder, absentmindedly nodding at the wisps of silver which danced around him, before waving them away with a hand. Somehow he looked even more tired than before, like he hadn't slept in ages, but it still suited him in a way.

"Is it your break already?" she asked.

"I was exaggerating when I said that," he replied," I never take breaks." He frowned, looking around. "Talking about work, I'm sure I heard another soul here just now. It's a bit hard to sense them somehow here, finding this one took some time as well. It's like you're jamming my usual signals."

"I think you're just imagining it," Delilah said," but speaking of the ghost you just caught, can you give him back for a second? He wanted to say his final words to his friend."

"I didn't catch anyone," the Reaper frowned," I am not some hunter, I gently guided him into my scythe to transport him to his preferred afterworld."

"Can you gently transport him back?" Delilah said, eyes big as she interlaced her fingers in a pleading move," pretty please?"

"No," he said. Without any further explanation he turned away from her, peering at the ceiling. "I'm sensing a soul again, so I'm off."

"Who do you keep talking to the whole time?" Jonathan said, gaze flicking from her to the spot she was staring at," what's going on? Tell me -"

Delilah was too busy focusing on the Reaper to really notice Jonathan and when he moved to go through the ceiling, she grabbed his wrist without thinking. There was no way she would let him catch Mateo, even if he seemed really kind. Right at that moment Jonathan let out a scream though, her gaze immediately snapping towards him as he stared at her with a look so horrified it almost seemed like he had seen the sky melt down.

"Where the hell did that man come from?" Jonathan said, trembling as he pointed at the Reaper," he wasn't there just now, I'm sure of it. And is he holding a fucking scythe?" His eyes widened as he slowly took a step forward, extending his hand to the Reaper in an attempt to touch him. "Wait, are you Logan?"

Shock was clear on the Reaper's face as he looked at her and then at her hand holding his, like he had never seen her before.

"I knew you seemed powerful," he said," but how did you undo my invisibility cloak? What are you?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Delilah beamed at him," but you're too kind! I wouldn't call myself that powerful to be honest, I think Mother Nature is the source of all our strength -"

Jonathan interrupted her by stepping closer, not seeming to have caught their conversation at all with how lost in thought he was. His gaze was fixated on the Reaper, who looked back at him without any emotion.

"You changed so much," Jonathan mused, looking him up and down," is this what happens after you die? Do you become all goth?"

He tried to touch him again and the Reaper grabbed his hand this time, politely shaking it as he nodded at him.

"Human," he said," I have no idea who you are, so I can assure you I haven't changed at all. I am a big fan of consistency."

"Why are you calling me human?" Jonathan blinked.

"Speaking of," Delilah piped up," what is your name? Can you tell me?"

"I will not answer both of those questions," he replied matter-of-factly, turning towards Delilah after," I need you to come with me though. This matter has turned more serious than I thought."

"First you give me back Logan," she said," just for a few seconds, after that I'm all yours."

"Does this man have Logan?" Jonathan said, looking more confused than ever," wait, he didn't kidnap him, did he?" Before she could answer him he held up a hand, shaking his head. "Don't answer that, my stupid ass forgot he was... well, dead."

The Reaper's attention was on her as he deliberated her offer. With how busy she had been with him she hadn't realized how many people were beginning to stare at them, even though the shadows covered his scythe. She never really had cared for what others thought, but she didn't want Jonathan's last memory of his friend to be a tainted one, so she grabbed both their wrists, ready to pull them to a more secluded corner.

"Delilah? Who the hell is that maniac?"

When she looked up she locked eyes with James, who looked confused as hell. He never had liked parties that much, so she felt bad for leaving him alone for this long. Roshan was nowhere to be seen, but knowing him he most likely was either socializing or flirting. She wouldn't be surprised by either, he was a Libra after all.

"Which one do you mean?" she asked.

Jonathan looked at her like she was crazy. "Why the fuck would he mean me instead of the guy with the scythe?"

"Don't talk to her like that," James snapped at him, voice softening once he looked back at her," and I meant the guy who dressed up as the Grim Reaper like it is Halloween already."

"That was what it was!" Jonathan exclaimed," fuck, I really don't have any brain cells left, I knew I recognized this whole look from somewhere. So you are the Grim Reaper?"

"Yes," the Reaper replied," but I will let you forget this altercation soon, Jonathan Hoffman, we are not yet to meet for at least fort -"

"Cut the bullshit," James said, rolling his eyes as he placed a protective hand on Delilah's shoulder," just because Delilah is kind enough to humor you, doesn't mean you can just go around scaring people, acting like some non-existent god."

"I am no god," he said.

"I know," James said, turning so he was standing in between her and the Reaper," because God isn't real. Now get a move on, find someone else to bother." He  waved a hand at the scythe, shaking his head. "And next time, find some better props, that scythe doesn't even look real."

Delilah stopped him before he could actually touch it and cut himself, grabbing his wrist just in time.

"James, he isn't a god, because he's the real Grim Reaper." She continued on, smiling. "You shouldn't worry though, he's really nice."

"This guy is scamming you, Delilah," James said, gestured at him. "What major are you even? Don't tell me you're a biology student out here telling people when they are going to die? That's morbid, you know."

"Nah dude," Jonathan said," I'm a biology major and I have never seen him before. Believe me, I'd remember him." He shrugged. "Besides, cruel or not, I don't care what you are, as long as you let me speak to my friend."

The Reaper looked from Jonathan to James, before deciding to ignore them.

"Anyway," he said to Delilah, as if nothing had happened at all," I hate crowds and there are way too many mortals gathering around me, so I'll be seeing you when you're alone tonight for an interrogation."

"Don't leave so soon," Delilah said, taking his hand in hers," I like having you close."

A faint pink tainted his cheeks as he awkwardly took his hand back, scraping his throat. James and Jonathan stared in shock at the spot where he was standing, but Delilah was too distracted with the way the Reaper's eyes flashed silver, snapping towards the ceiling.

"I sense another magical being closeby," he said.

"A ghost?" Delilah said, ready to stop him in case he tried to catch Mateo.

"No," he said, looking faintly confused," it's more powerful than that. But what is it doing here?"

"Where did he go?" James said," how fast did he escape through the shadows? I'm almost impressed."

"What are you talking about?" Jonathan frowned," he disappeared, dude. Like I said, he's the real deal." He waved his hands around blindly as he spoke up, voice loud. "Mister Reaper, I don't know where you are, but can you come back? I really need to talk to my friend."

"Don't call him mister," James said," he's literally a year older than us. Probably some sophomore who tried to prank you and succeeded."

"I don't know which us you're talking about," Jonathan said as he waved between him and James," but I am a year older than you, so talk to me with respect."

"Why?" James said," have you done anything to receive my respect?"

"I forgot how tiring humans were," the Reaper sighed," living humans, I mean. The dead ones always are way quieter after the initial surprise." He stared at her then, as if he could see the colors of her mind from her expression. "Except you, you stayed lively both times. Perhaps because you hadn't really died."

When he leaned forward, she caught the scent of lemons again, intertwined with something faintly reminding her of both the sea at dawn and rain in the morning at the same time. It was so calming she couldn't help but lean in as well, his dark hair so messy it almost covered his eyes, but the mesmerizing color of them still popped out. For the first time she noticed jet black swirls starting on his neck, hidden away with the shadows of his cloak. She was curious in what pattern it unfurled, but she'd ask later.

Her first mission was finding out his name.

But before she could even say something, he continued, his lips almost grazing her ear.

"Tonight your soul will be mine, Delilah."