n

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nBefore another pain could shoot up through her body, Belle heard Crane say,

"You can continue living your life in the land of the living. Lucas appears to have mastered the art of the living, I will expect him to train you on how to not get caught by the living?

"

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"I will take care of it,

" Lucas answered readily.

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"Okay,

" Belle answered before slowly nodding her head.

nBelle closed her eyes this time as the blackout continued to increase in her eyes where she couldn't see anything. At the same time, Crane raised his hand to place it on the side of Belle's face.

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"You are neither my creation or Winston's creation, but as you have created a bond with Lucas,

" said Crane, his voice loud and clear. Gorron had just reached the scene and his eyes widened in shock of what was going on. The look of shock didn't disappear from Edgar's face as he looked at Crane and the mortal girl with his mouth slightly left ajar,

"You will take his previous position. You will be the Grim reaper that is of card twelve.

"

nThe light around them that was coming from the circles that Belle had previously drawn increased, almost turning blinding as the wind around them increased. Belle could feel something change within her body and soul. Her body was turning lighter and lighter, the pain that she had been feeling a few seconds ago started to dull down until she felt nothing.

nThe creatures around them tried to look at what was going on where Crane, the Grim and the mortal girl were standing. Belle's form turned to a reaper, bones coming to be visible which was her reaper form. The light decreased around them but it emitted out of her neck until it left marks there, a cross and two lines next to it to represent the number she belonged to.

nCrane finally pulled his hand away from Belle's face.

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"I don't think I can release the other creatures...Belle,

" the Hawvert used her name for the very first time. Belle was in awe as she looked at her hands that were bones. She was in her skeleton form earlier, but this felt different.

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"I am in my Grim reaper form,

" said Belle. Even to her own ears, it felt strange that she was a Grim reaper now.

nCrane said,

"Then turn back to your mortal form,

" he took hold of Preciosa's body in his arms that had been floating in the air,

"I have other things to do.

"

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"Crane!

" Gorron came forward, his eyes wide as it darted from Belle to his fellow Hawvert.

nCrane's lazy eyes looked at Gorron.

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"These Grims of yours and Winston! They have been trying to create havoc in the land of the dead!

" Gorron glared at Lucas and Belle,

"Winston said they stole-

"

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"Winston was lying,

" Crane interrupted Gorron,

"He has been lying to all of us. We can speak more about it later. Hm, I forgot to ask something,

" and he turned back to look at the couple,

"Where are the other reapers? It has been truly strange that we weren't able to spot them.

"

nLucas was hoping Crane would not question him about this. It was because it was Lucas who had been gathering the reapers and having them under the same roof he and Belle lived.

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"Rower, Greed are here,

" answered Lucas,

"Barron, Beezlebee did something to him. We don't know where he is. Baltimore is in the land of the living, and so is Warth.

"

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"Are we not going to punish them?!

" Gorron asked with an incredulous look on his face, who had missed a lot of things that happened after he had been put to sleep by Rower.

nCrane gave it a second,

"Maybe later. If you could be kind enough to get Barron back from Beezlebee, Gorron.

" The other Hawvert didn't look one bit pleased, especially considering how he was subjected to being thrown water on the face by Crane's Grim reaper,

"Also, Lucas,

" said Crane before leaving.

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"Yes?

" asked Lucas, wondering what more Crane wanted to know.

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"There's an empty spot in the Hawverts. If you are interested, see me tomorrow in the high tower,

" and with that, Crane disappeared in a blink of an eye with Preciosa in his arms.

nEdgar was too in shock but when he tried to step away from the circle, it felt like he was walking straight into a wall,

"Hello! If you could let us out and even hold the end of your deal,

" said Edgar to Belle who was still processing what just Crane said to Lucas a second ago.

nBelle at first concentrated to get back to her mortal form which needed less effort than before. Her corruption had stopped and her body was healthy again. Bending down, she placed her hand on the ground and said,

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"Release.

"

nThe light that was emitting from the circles and lines reduced until the atmosphere turned back to normal.

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"Edgar, come with me,

" ordered Goron and Edgar who felt like he was torn finally left with Goron.

nDid everything end? Asked Belle to herself.

nBelle turned to Lucas, putting her hands around his neck and Lucas circled his arms around her waist. Pulling her to him, he kissed her like there was no tomorrow. He had almost lost her in his arms and Lucas didn't know if he would be able to take it in the way he did the last time he had seen her die in front of his eyes.

nShe pressed her lips on his, her body almost moulding with him while Lucas held her in his arms protectively.

nPulling away, Belle looked into Lucas' eyes that had turned gold somewhere in between the time the fight was taking place with him and Winston. Seeing Crane and Preciosa die again in front of her eyes, Belle realized how painful it might have been for Crane to witness something like that. She remembered a few things from the time when she died in her previous life. Belle was the first one to die and Lucas was the one to witness her leave.

nHer hand reached to touch his face and then settle on his neck. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed him again. Belle didn't want Lucas to feel that way ever again. She didn't want to leave him alone by himself and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

nCrane made it possible in a way where Belle would never have to part away from Lucas. She hoped one day, she would be able to bring his lost love back.

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