Plague Doctor (special preview)

I furrow my brow. He completely avoided me. “Will you ever take off your mask?” I ask him. “Even if I said I would kiss you?”

“I uh,” Todesengel stammers. He takes a deep breath and turns towards me. “It would not be safe, my Branwen,” he says. 

“But I am better!” I gasp. “You healed me. If it isn’t safe here, then-” I stop and look down at my hands. “I want to see you.”

Todesengel touches my cheek. “My darling,” he whispers, “do not break my heart to bend my will.”

I frown at him. “Is it wrong that I want to kiss you?” I whisper. “That my heart is growing stronger because of you?”

“No,” he whispers. “But, you must understand,” he grunts and takes hold of my hand. “I have to do what I must,” he tells me. “For the good of the world.”

I look back up at him and tug the beak of his mask, making him lean forward. I place a kiss there and smile at him. “Forgive me. I’ll try to tolerate your methods.”

Todesengel laughs. “My love,” he whispers. “Once the world is quiet, I will share with you my complete heart.” He taps his beak to my cheek and I giggle. “For now, this is all I can offer.”

As time goes on, I’m able to leave the house and go out with Doctor Todesengel to assist him. Most of the town is empty and everything feels hollow and deserted. The stench of death wafts through the air, making me feel sick.

“Here,” Todesengel fashions me a mask with a small beak filled with mint and lavender. “Hopefully, this will help,” he says as he fastens it to my face.

I breathe in deep, the scent of the herbs makes my nostrils and lungs feel cold. “Thank you,” I sigh.

Even still, the putrid smell of death lingers in me. With every breath, it grows a little fainter, but it is still there. I feel as if it will stay with me for the rest of my life.

We go into homes, looking for the sick and possibly still alive. We’re able to save a few people and get them somewhere safe. Todesengel has had to talk people away from their loved ones. Mothers from children, husbands from wives, daughters from their parents. It is hard seeing the grief and loss, but it is all part of trying to save their lives.

There are times when we come into a place and the stench of decay and death is so thick I have to leave. Even with the mask on, I cannot breathe. I do not understand how Todesengel can stand it. He will stay with the dead, saying a prayer over them as a kind gesture. 

There have been times we have found someone who is at death’s door and Todesengel stays with them until their last breath has been taken. He has me leave and shuts himself away with the dying. I don’t understand why. I mean, it is never easy to watch someone pass away, but if it helps to stay, then I want to help.

“You narrowly escaped death,” Todesengel tells me one night as we’re sitting by the fire. “I don’t want you to come close again.”

“Why are you so fascinated with it, then?” I ask him. “What makes you stay to see the soul evaporate and leave this world? Does it not hurt you as it would me?”

“My love,” he says. His voice sounds as thick and heavy as syrup. “It isn’t my pleasure to see these final moments. It is something I must do. I know you have seen your share of sick and dying, even before all of this, but this is something I must do alone.”

I take his hand and squeeze it tight. “I want to share your burden.”

He chuckles softly, bringing my hand up and placing the beak of the mask in my palm. “It is not a burden that is meant to be shared. It is heavy, but having you near makes it lighter.” He then looks up at me. “The love I have for you makes me think I am stronger than I really am.”