Lucas didn’t want to lose Belle like this. She would have been safe if it weren’t for Winston’s thirst for power when it came to the forbidden magic. He had lost her once in the past and he didn’t want to lose her again to only wait for decades before he would be able to reunite with her again. 

“What do you mean?” asked Crane on what Lucas just uttered. 

“Belle is my soulmate, Crane. We share a bond with each other, the irreversible bond,” revealed Lucas. Crane turned his body to face his favourite Grim who was holding the mortal’s body in his arms as she continued to cough. The Hawvert could tell that the girl was losing her soul because of her face that was revealing the nerves beneath her skin. There were barely a minute or two left before she would finally turn dead. 

“So that is why you were able to bring her back, or more like she came. How strange,” Crane thought out loud, “Even though I didn’t know about my past, I put a rule so that I could keep you all safe from the emotions that could destroy you. But it seems like two out of four decided to walk in my path.”

Though Wrath had not given out his reasons for why he had turned to a fall Grim, Crane had somehow sensed it to be the reason. 

“I broke rules only because I thought I had to bring some matters to light. You know that too,” replied Lucas, “You let her die, I will end up deteriorating and the cycle is forever going to repeat. Please save her,” Lucas asked Crane. If there was one person who could save Belle right now through the forbidden magic, it was Crane. Not done speaking, Lucas said, “Also…the Grim reaper has married a mortal. There have been witnesses to it, who have agreed to side on our relationship.”

Crane’s eyes narrowed at Lucas, “And who are these people? You do know the mortals don’t count and it was only the creature of the dead who can be counted.”

Lucas nodded his head, “They were Grim reapers. The people who were present there were Edith, Wrath, Greed, Barron and the gatekeepers, Edgar and Moore. If you go through the majority, they are all on the side to agree with my love for this girl, Belle to be true and right.”

Crane had a look of annoyance in his eyes. The Hawvert was built on rules and discipline who didn’t let his own creations step out of line. Turning around, he looked at Edgar who shook his head. 

“I frankly did not agree to whatever Guilt is saying,” said Edgar. 

Lucas’ lips twitched, “I got engaged to Belle in the room and you worded the agreement along with Moore while eating blood ice.”

“Sir Crane, I was tricked!” Edgar defended while throwing a dirty look at Lucas for pulling a trick like that on them. When they had entered the Adams’ mansion, the gatekeepers had no clue about so many Grims residing in the house. The only person they knew was Edith and they thought it was a normal celebration. 

Crane returned his gaze to Lucas, ��You have played too well, Guilt.” Lucas wondered if Crane was praising him right now. The Hawvert’s eyes didn’t waver as he continued to speak, “I will let the girl live, but there’s a condition for it. She won’t be a mortal like she used to be. Her body is already corrupted and it’s only Winston’s bone that is keeping her still going. I will remove the corruption that she feels but in return, she will be bound to this world. The land of the dead like the rest of you.

“What do you mean?” asked Lucas, wanting to know the whole deal before he or Belle would agree to it. 

The Hawvert said, “I believe there’s a position in the cards that has been left vacant for far too long thanks to you.” Crane then walked towards where they were, looking at Belle to question her, “Belle Adams, are you willing to pledge your life on being a Grim reaper?” 

Belle, who had been hearing only the words in pieces because of her blackout stared into the empty eyes of Crane. The Hawvert was offering her the position of a Grim reaper? 

“If you’re wondering why, like Lucas said, it would be a cycle and I am too tired to look at repeated things and have more Grims created when it’s just one Grim,” Crane looked at Lucas when he said this, “Not to forget, you are very different compared to the other mortals who walk in the land of the living. You seem to have potential which can be put to use rather than wasting it.” 

She didn’t know if she was ready for it. 

Belle had imagined a lot of things. She had imagined her getting married to Lucas, at least before she knew about who he truly was, she had also imagined to have his children. But to be a Grim reaper, she didn’t know. She felt a pang of pain that shot up through her heart making her flinch. 

“What is it going to be? Time is ticking,” Crane reminded her. 

Blood had dried on the corners of her mouth and there were traces of blood on Belle’s lips. Parting her lips, she asked, 

“What about the life I had in the living world?” Would she be giving it up? Though there weren’t many people whom she knew, there were still some she would like to be around, to meet them. 

“You’re bargaining for more than what I am offering you,” Crane’s lips twitched. 

Of course, she was. It wasn’t everyday someone was offered to be a Grim reaper but what choice did she have? If Crane didn’t help her right now, she would turn to one of those creatures of the dead who walked in the forest. Creatures who were not only looked down at, but the kind that had no purpose. One or another day, she would be killed and her soul would disappear from this place.