The chocolate bar abs

Valeria woke up to bright sunlight streaming into her room, casting dancing glimmers and rainbows on the immaculate warm mellow walls in her room. She stretched and sat up. The futon is so comfortable that she could safely say it is much better than her expensive bed at Brinstrone mansion.

She looked at Ari's corner. He is no longer there. His futon and blanket are folded neatly and placed at the corner with his pillow on top. Well, at least he is neat, she noted grudgingly. She wondered if he went back to hell or wherever demon reapers go when they are not here.

She clambered up, noticing that there were no aches and pains on her body and she had managed to get up so easily too. It must be the effects of the extra reaper powers she gained. It made her feel young and sprite and lively again. Briefly, she wondered if she gets to keep this much improved flexibility and strength after she completed her substitute reaper job.

"Hmmm..maybe I can ask to continue to do this and maybe level up for more powers…it's not all that bad anyway," she said out loud to herself.

She headed to the bathroom and opened the door. She almost walked into someone standing there. She gasped and backtracked. This also shows that she now has fast reflexes too.

"Never heard of knocking first? Jeez lady, how rude," Ari said. He glared at her.

"How would I know that you are in there you demon?" she retorted. "There's not 'toilet in use' sign on the door,"

"Not. A. Demon." He muttered and walked out. "I'm due for your drop of blood, if you don't mind," he added.

He lay on the beanbag and lifted his navy blue hoodie to reveal his wound. It looked like it is almost healed. From the looks of it, Valeria thinks it would be fully healed in a few more days.

"No, you are wrong, if it heals so fast, you wouldn't have to be my substitute," he pointed out.

"Well it does look much better, no gaping wound, it's neatly fused together, no black goo, all good," she said. She went over to stare closely at the wound. At the same time, she couldn't help but notice his sculpted six-pack abs. Previously she was so focused on the wound, she did not notice his abs. But now, under the bright sunlight, the six packs popped like a bar of chocolate. Wow. Impressive. A demon reaper with abs.

"Are you going to stand there and ogle at my abs like it's an art piece on display the whole day?" he asked annoyed.

She turned her gaze away and stood up straight. Touchy annoying demon. He opened his mouth to say something but she interrupted him.

"Yeah yeah not a demon, whatever, just get over it," she said.

Valeria walked back to the bathroom. "I need to pee, I need to brush my teeth and clean up so you can wait there, a few more minutes won't kill you," she said without looking at him. She went into the bathroom, closed the door behind her and locked it.

While inside, she hurriedly went through her usual morning routine. Wash her face, moisturise, - at her age, she needs to moisturise! - brush her teeth, take a brief shower, brush out her long silken locks and apply lotion. One must always be fully lotion up for smooth supple skin, she thought.

She stared at the many scars that marred her skin on her thighs and her back. The burn scar was a network of angry welts on both the top of her thighs. Her back and ribs are covered in purplish bruises from the kicking she got two days ago. There were other partially healed bruises on her back and legs and top of her arms.

"How did I get here? Why did I let this happen to me for so many years?" she thought to herself. If was as if she had woken up from a trance and suddenly realised that she has been abused and used by her evil in-laws and husband.

"Why didn't I leave?" she wondered. Her mind has never been clearer. She can see the abuse now. She can see the harm they had inflicted on her for so many years. She doesn't understand why she didn't leave.

Why she didn't pack up and go? She could have made a life for herself. She had a degree in multimedia and design. Sure, she's been out of touch but surely she could pick it up easily. Even Valeria couldn't understand why she didn't leave. It was as if she had been under a spell all this time and now that she is living outside of Brinstrone mansion, the spell is broken.

She will never go back there. She will never live with the Brinstrones ever again. She stared at her image. "Don't ever let them walk all over you again!" she told her reflection.

Unfortunately, she has to go back there later today which she is not looking forward to at all. She pulled up her reaping list in her mind.

Name: Neshi Brinstrone

Age: 30

Time: 2pm, November 8

Location: Bedroom, Brinstrone Mansion

Cause of death: Erotic asphyxiation

This is so annoying. Today's reaping assignment is the worst. First, she has to go back to the evil Brinstrone's home. Second, she has to witness her hated sister-in-law having kinky sex…no, she has to watch her die of kinky sex. Third, her evil sister-in-law might not even want to go to the after life with her.

Valeria slowly dressed, she chose a nice sky blue pant suit today, and went out. Ari is still lying on the beanbag but he has pulled down his hoodie to cover his wound. He was reading a book. She went nearer to look at it.

At first glance, the cover was covered in strange symbols and the image of a silhouette of a human shaped figure. She looked at it for a moment more and she can read the symbols easily. Another reaper power, not listed in her system.

"To hell and back" it read.

"Interesting, couldn't find your way back to hell?" she asked conversationally. She pricked her finger with a needle she had taken from a sewing kit in the bathroom.

"What do you know about reading," Ari snapped the book shut and it disappeared. "You probably have not read a book since you graduated,"

He lifted his hoodie to reveal the healing wound. She dripped her blood on it, watch it fizzle and smoke before he covered it back.

"I do so read!" she replied indignantly. "I read that book…you know the one on wizards and such,"

"You mean you watched the movie?" Ari asked.

Now that she think about it, he is right. She watched the movie.

"Well, I read that book about the vampires and werewolves that glowed…or was it the vampires that glows…" she said uncertainly.

"Again, you watched the movie," Ari said.

Right. She remembered it was a movie.

"Well, I am sure I read about the sinking ship and Jack and Rose," she said defensively.

"Nope. DEFINITELY a movie!"

"Okay fine! So I don't read. What's the big deal? Not like I have time to spare in between serving my husband and his demanding mother and sisters," she said defensively.

Ari merely shrugged. "None of my business and you have to go back to reap one of your slavemasters later too, I am sure you are beyond thrilled," he said.

"Ugh, can I switch with another reaper? I really don't want to go back there, I am already avoiding my husband's calls," she said.

"Sorry, no can do and you know this, it is in the rules I gave you, reapers can never trade or switch the souls there were supposed to be reaping," he said sternly.

Valeria knew that but she was hoping for a loophole. Looks like she has no choice. Then she thought of something. She can always use her Ripley Rose disguise.

No one will know. Except why would Erin Brinstrone let a total stranger enter the mansion and go all the way up to Neshi's room? Mark would let Ripley Rose in but he would wonder how she knew where he lived and if he lets her in, she knows the only bedroom she will be shown to would be his.

She is in a quandary yet again. What to do?

At this moment, her phone started buzzing again. Ugh. Will Mark never give up? She looked at the clock. It is barely 8am. She is an early riser due to years of having to wake up at dawn to get everything ready for the monster-in-law and her sisters-in-law.

She went to her bag and picked up her phone. True enough, it was Mark. She let it ring till it cuts off. Then she checked the messages he sent. The first 30 messages or so were repeated ''call me back" and "answer your phone". After that there were a few that doesn't make sense.

"Look, I apologise." One read.

"I should have appreciated you more." Another one read.

"I am sorry Val, please forgive me." Yet another one.

She stared at the messages as if she had seen a ghost. She checked the name of sender. Those were from Mark.

"What in the fish sticks is going on?" she said out loud in amazement.