Dead Love (Part 1)

“Never would I have thought Peter would bring home a girl she likes. What a wonder this is.”

Peter blushed at the words of his mother. Mira had to lower her head, too. It has now been almost three months since she first arrived here. And Peter's mother and youngest brother Milkowere supposed to be dead for more than a month now, but here they were, sitting on the bench and enjoying their short life, while it lasted.

Mira thought she had everything under control, but looking back at the previous months, she couldn’t be more mistaken. She was planning to leave, maybe after a day or two, but in the end, she stayed. They took her in, even though the hut was too small and they had barely enough to feed themselves. What was even worse, she grew to like them. Now she was feeling there was a reason she was summoned to this world, a dangerous thing.

So when her contract was near the end and almost a full month had passed, she made another deal with the souls swirling around them. She had no idea what to do next month, so this time, she gave two months of her lifespan to both of them, the mother and the youngest.

Now, she was short six months, but she did not even know if that was a good thing. If she was going to live until sixty, she could spare half a year for now, maybe even a year or two, but what if she is destined to die within a year in this world? Then this is not helping.

Another thing was, she cut out a big chunk of memories just to be able to give her lifespan to these two people. Now she understood why the warlocks were trying to find a way to immortality. Bartering with the souls was too expensive.

She needed time to think.

“I am going for a walk now,” Mira said. “It is already dark outside, so no one should be able to see me.”

“Just be careful,” said Peter's mother.

“I won't go far.”

“I will go with her,” Peter stood up from the chair.

“Don’t go!” Anna pleaded.

His little sister was sitting next to him, holding onto his hand. The tears welled up in her eyes quickly.

“Why are you like this, Anna!” her mother scolded her.

“Because she is scared of Mira,” Tomas poked at his sister. “Scaredy cat!”

Mira did not say anything, she just left the hut instead, ignoring them. Little did they know that the little sister in this family was the only sharp one. Even after almost three months, she was still scared of her and refused to be left alone with her. Mira did not care. After all, they all should avoid her.

Mira was strolling around their garden. She went to the back, where the numerous fields of wheat were, surrounded by the woods. Here, Peter saw her for the first time when she came running, trying to delete from her memories what she had just done.

The night was quiet and bright thanks to the big full moon glowing in the sky.

Mira raised her head and looked at the moon, thinking about her future. Should she just stay here and exchange all of her lifespan and memories for them until they all die? Three months ago, she thought it impossible. Now she was eager to try.

It was much simpler to give the souls of the dead her memories from her previous life than to cut out an additional chunk of her lifespan. She could choose what to give them, discarding memories she did not want to remember anymore. What a barter! The thing was, she did not even remember what she gave them. But if she was willing to let go of it, it surely was not very important.

But, would the souls be willing to take her memories instead of her life if it really wasn’t so important? Severian told her that many warlocks lost their humanity after using the forbidden magic for too long. But she was only giving them memories. That shouldn't harm anyone, right? She couldn’t shake off the bad feeling inside of her, but she put it into the back of her mind.

She heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Peter going after her. Anna probably lost her fight and is now pouting in the hut. And he was now here, with her. During these three months, they spent a lot of time together.

Peter reached out and held her hand. She looked at him, a hint of a smile showing on her face.

They walked a little bit farther from their garden hand-in-hand. This town was very peaceful and quiet at night, especially its borders, where this family lived. She heard that the mother is helping with Peter in a house of a merchant, but she never visited the town. Maybe, if more time passes and she is sure, no one will be looking for her, she would ask him to give her a tour.

“Mira,” Peter said. “I need to tell you something really important. And… I am not sure how you will take it.”

She slowed down and turned to face him. She wondered what he was going to say to her. Was he going to ask her out? Kinda late at this time. Even though he was holding her hand now, and it was their first physical touch, his mother was already talking about the wedding, making her both uncomfortable and strangely happy at the same time. She could already feel that Peter harbored feelings for her. He didn’t need to say it out loud for her to understand it.

“Do you want to date me?” she asked. “I already know. I am not blind, you know.”

He got flustered like a young boy. She found it adorable. “That is the part of it, yes,” he agreed. “But… there is something else. Something, only you will understand.”

He still held her, his thumbs drawing small circles on the back of her hand. He was making her nervous now. Is there a way he realized that she was a necromancer, her body etched with spells?

“The thing is… I was reincarnated here,” he said.

She felt a weight lifted off her chest. She had to smile. There was someone here who was like her. She was not alone in this world anymore. This had to be fate!

“What is your real name?” she asked him.

He hesitated. “Please, tell me you won't overreact once you hear that.”

“Why should I?” she smiled. “It is just your name.“

“My real name is Kasian,” he said after a while.

He was expecting to see a glimpse of realization in her eyes, a sudden outburst of anger, but nothing like that happened.

“Should I call you Kasian or Peter?” she asked him, her expression calm.

Was she pretending she didn’t know him?

“No one from my family knows my secret,” he said. “You are the first one I told that. So when near them, call me with the name of this body. If we are alone, please call me with my real name.”

“But why me?”

“Because I thought you were kinda similar to me. You are behaving differently from people in this world. You are speaking and thinking differently. I knew right after we talked for a while, that you must have a similar fate as I.”

“Yes, you already guessed correctly, I am the same. But I was not reincarnated, I was summoned here. So you already know my real name. I am glad. I can finally talk with a normal person.”

“But that is not the only reason, I told you. But you already know the second answer. I… like you.”

Her heart swayed. How could it not?

This was like something out of a fairy tale. Damsel in distress transported into another world, trying to run away, and then finding her soul mate in similar conditions. At this point, they had to be together, right? She won't be able to understand another person from this world to live with him.

Kasian leaned in, closer to her lips, hesitating. His purple eyes glazed over her lips, locking with her gaze. He was giving her time to decide what she wanted to do. Mira closed her eyes, giving him permission.

Their lips finally touched.

Her heart beat so much that she was unable to hear anything else. Never did she realize she was this lonely in this world until she felt his hands pulling her into a hug. She opened her lips slightly, letting him in, leaning on him.

She was not summoned here to be punished, after all.

Kasian felt his chest hurting. After so many years and so many strong emotions, they had to meet in another world to be able to be together. In his previous life, he decided to abandon her. Now, he decided to hold onto her. Realizing his strong feelings opening up inside him now, he wondered how he could be so stubborn.

Kasian stopped and looked at her, trying to catch his breath. He thought his heart was going to jump out of his chest.

“Mira. Do you really not remember me?” he asked her. “From your previous world.”

“No. Have we met somewhere?”

“Really?”

“Strange. Your real name sounds kinda familiar to me, but I cannot remember anything. My head hurts.”

“That’s okay, you don’t have to force yourself. Maybe your memories were not summoned with you, that could happen. I am sure you will remember over time,” he comforted her.

Mira did not reply. She was hoping she did not give the souls of the dead something, which she shouldn’t have. Her memory was hazy now. She remembered giving them memories, but surely, she would choose something that shouldn’t burn her.

Kasian held her hand again.

She was not remembering him. That would explain why she was not snarky or angry. Realizing she behaved differently now, he wondered. Would it be okay if they put their past behind them and build a new future? Or should he force her to remember, so she could make a proper decision to be with him? That was the right way, no?

He turned to her, ready to tell her the truth.

No!

Something inside him stopped him. If she remembers, she will never want to date him. They had a difficult relationship in their previous life, and if she knew about that, why should she choose to date him? He was the same person, after all, and she too. What if he just creates new memories for her? He will be the perfect boyfriend. Then she won't break up with him even after she remembers. Why should it matter that they were always arguing in their original world? Now they are behaving differently.

His mind was racing. Trying to come up with many reasons why he should move ahead with this lie, not realizing the contradictions in his thinking. He made his decision now, why hesitate?

He scooped her up into his hands again, his lips touching her neck. She shivered under his touch, and he could feel his desire burning in him, spreading slowly through his whole body.

Mira opened her eyes, looking at him. What she saw had the same effect as a cold shower. A soul was floating above Kasian, looking at him.

It was the soul of original Peter, the boy who had died in this house in fever, leaving his body empty for Kasian to possess. He was now hovering around them, his face out of dark clouds, frowning.

Mira gently pushed Kasian away, looking at the soul.

“Why are you here?” she asked him in her mind.

“He is no longer me, and he is not my family. But if he dies, my family will suffer greatly. Necromancer, you are able to see me and hear me. I came to warn you that his end is near. If he won't stop what he is doing, punishment is awaiting.”

“No!” Mira exclaimed, forgetting Kasian was next to her.

“Sorry,” he said. “I won't force you, if you want to take it slower,” he said, still oblivious to what was happening now.

“No, you fool, I didn’t mean that,” she said. Turning his back to him, she looked at Peter’s soul. “What do I need to do to prevent this?”

“I already told you. If he persists, he will reap what he sows.”

“I will trade. I will trade months, no, even years.”

“It is not in your fate to give out your whole years for him. You shall be the one to bring about his doom.”