A Reaper Made (24 page)

He waved his hands, wincing as he stopped to clamp a hand on his wounded shoulder. “No, I already told you! I thought the spell broke if Alistair died. I don’t know the magic that wakes the Reapers.”
 

“The spell should’ve broken with the caster’s death,” Tessa said. “Remember what I found in my book?”
 

I turned to see her walk up to us, cleaning Rhys’s golden blood off her hands with a few wipes from her bag. At my worried glance, she nodded. “He’ll be okay, just caught him off guard. It’s probably been a few years since someone got the upper hand on him.”
 

I sighed with relief, glad we’d thwarted yet one more thing in Alistair’s plans. “What kind of magic are we talking since they’re still not awake?”
 

“Some seriously bad mojo,” Tessa admitted, looking around the room. “He’s made it so they can’t wake unless he allows it. Now he’s dead, so everybody’s still stuck here.”
 

“That’s not entirely true,” Rhys said, walking up behind her. He looked good as new, despite his bloody shirt. It was hard to miss his respectful glance down at Tessa. “I can help your souls move on.”
 

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

I took a deep breath out of habit. “Let’s get these souls outta here then.”
 

Tully hesitated. “According to the prophecy, you will depart with them. Are you ready to say goodbye?”
 

The question caught me off guard. I took a look around, forgetting that Tessa had magicked Allison out of the tunnels and away from danger. I wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to my sister. Tully seemed to read the question on my face.
 

“There is no time,” he said, regret clear in his tone, “we must help them before too many of them are stuck here.”
 

“I know," I said thickly. “Tell her goodbye for me.”
 

His lips pressed together, but he nodded. That reminded me — Brady still stood there, covered in blood and slack-jawed at what had just happened. I cocked my head at him, wondering what Tully would do with him. My mentor raised an eyebrow at the half-witch.
 

“You should be going,” Tully told him. Brady gazed at him, wide-eyed with shock at the reprieve.
 

“That’s it?” Brady asked.
 

“You should assume I’ll be keeping an eye on you at all times.” Even Tully’s Irish inflection couldn’t disguise the danger in the threat.
 

Brady nodded, hands coming palm up in truce. “Like I said, done with all of that. I’ve had enough of it to last a lifetime.”
 

“Sure you can handle being a half-witch?” I asked him.
 

“I don’t even want to be that anymore, not if it means demons and Reapers.”
 

“First thing you should do is throw out all your tricks and tools,” Tessa said, referring to all the witchy materials in his room. He nodded fervently; despite all the problems we’d had with him, I believed him.
 

“You saved Allison,” I reminded him. “There’s hope for your soul yet.”
 

“Think she’ll ever forgive me?” he asked, eyes going down to the floor in shame.
 

“She’s pretty pissed,” I said, unsure of what to tell him. “If it were up to me, you’d be gone from her life. She might want that, too. But you saved her from Moloch and she won’t forget it.”
 

I couldn’t answer his question for sure. It wasn’t my place to make decisions for Allison and only she would know if Brady was someone she wanted in her life. Despite his actions, I knew he loved her. He’d proven it the moment we’d come back down, when he’d made sure Alistair wouldn’t go anywhere near her. Even though he’d brought her here, I knew he hadn’t wanted to involve her. He’d never wanted to win, not really - I’d probably known that ever since he’d given us a way out of the musty tunnels when we first discovered Alistair’s plan.

We quickly bid Brady farewell; he magicked himself out of the tunnels without another glance back. I didn’t know where he would go, but at least I knew Tully would keep him in his sights. I straightened, remembering that it was time for me to go.
 

“You already know what I want to say,” Tessa said to me. She came in for a tight hug instead. “I’ll miss you.”
 

“Thank you for everything.” My own whisper came out choked up despite the fact I couldn’t cry.
 

Rhys simply nodded at me; I returned the motion, glad he’d helped me prove a stereotype wrong. At least we had one angel on our side.
The
angel, according to the fortune cookie prophecy.
 

Tully looked to the souls, many of them relieved they would soon be free to pass over. His gaze flicked over to those who would remain behind as spirits. His sad smile made me feel even worse about ascending. I didn’t want to leave Tully behind; if anything, he should’ve been going instead of me.
 

“Is there nothing we can do?” I whispered to him. I half hoped he’d misunderstand my question.
 

He paused to consider the options. “We may be able to grant them ability to leave this forsaken place.”
 

He referred to the lost souls. My brow furrowed. “Help them cross over?”
 

“No,” Tully said, looking around the dismal stone room, “outside this particular space.”

I gave him an astonished look. “You can do that?”
 

“No, but he can,” Tully said, motioning to the angel in the room.
 

Rhys gave him a little bow. “It is the least I can do for them.”
 

Tully and Rhys went to the souls; Tully whispered reassuring words in his Irish lilt. A few of them nodded, their expressions even a little relieved. I guess if I were a roaming soul,
out there
would be better than
in here
anytime.
 

Rhys grasped their hands; when he pulled away, a golden handprint remained on their forearms. My mouth fell open, having only heard of that magic. His power gave them the ability to walk over the earth without boundaries. Talk about old magic. Rhys had been holding out on us.
 

When he and Tully took a step away from the group, the souls murmured their thanks. Several exchanged glances; perhaps they’d remain together, at least for a while until they could get their bearings. Maybe in this situation it was better that way. A few popped out of sight, the others catching on and following out. Within seconds, the souls now destined to remain on earth had all left the tunnels.
 

The others looked to us, eager to be on their way. I stepped up next to Tully and Tessa joined us.
 

“Wait,” Rhys said, holding up a vial in his hand, “I made something.”

“You do spells now?” Tessa asked, annoyed.

“Not that I doubted you, love,” he said, throwing an apologetic look her way, “but this contains a couple ingredients only an angel has on hand.”
 

“Like feathers?” I asked.
 

Rhys winked at me. “Can’t buy those in your local magic shop.”
 

“What does it do?” Tessa asked, eyeing the small glass piece.
 

“Amps up the soul-releasing power,” he said. “Gets all the souls out at once instead of one at a time.”
 

I brightened. “That prophecy was spot on with the helpful angel thing. Tully, take my hand. They aren’t our souls, so we may need the extra boost.”
 

He took my proffered hand. He looked like he wanted to say something, but turned his attention back to the waiting souls. Rhys allowed Tessa the honors, handing her the potion.
 

Tessa threw the vial onto the ground. Tully and I held our free hands up, warm light surrounding us. The souls looked around, more curious than frightened. Their relieved expressions made me smile. With so many of them leaving at once, a blinding light emitted from the center of the group. As if to say goodbye, Tully’s hand tightened a fraction around mine. I realized I hadn’t gotten a proper goodbye with him.
 

I stared into the bright white light, determined not to look away. I braced myself to leave this world behind, fear tight in my chest. Within seconds, the light faded, leaving the four of us alone in the stone room. My ears strained to hear noise, but only silence replied. I couldn’t help but look around in confusion. Was that supposed to happen?
 

The souls had ascended, but I was still here. Had we gotten the prophecy wrong? I glanced at Tessa and Tully, a little baffled. Even Rhys looked surprised. My arms went up in confusion. They both shrugged.
 

“What gives?”
 

“Maybe the Oracle got the prophecy wrong,” Tessa said.
 

“Nonsense,” Tully said, eyes cutting to her in annoyance. “Perhaps Grace is meant for another prophecy.”
 

A bark of laughter escaped me. “That one was pretty specific. Hard to think it applies to some other major event.”
 

I went quiet again when Tully said nothing. His serious expression had me on edge. My stomach flipped when I thought about the decision to stay on Earth to reap; could I truly stay here forever? I wasn’t ready to make this decision. Maybe that was why a shiny bright light hadn’t appeared. I doubted I’d have much longer to think the idea over before it expired.
 

Movement stirred around us; the Reapers were waking up. All five of them opened their eyes and sat up, taking in their surroundings. They stood and upon seeing Tully, guilt came over them.
 

“It is all right,” he reassured them. “We know the danger you were put in, at the threat that loomed over your families. Alistair cannot hurt them. They are safe now.”
 

Relieved, they all took turns thanking us. With their souls cared for, they bid farewell; surely there were plenty of souls that needed their help. They stepped out of their entrapment, leaving through the tunnel where we’d come in. The moment they stepped through the doorway, they faded out of sight, back to their fate of helping souls cross over to their destinies.
 

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Maybe leaving without talking to Allison had been the right decision. Saying goodbye to my sister proved harder than I thought. Tully had insisted we leave immediately, but I’d managed to stave him off for at least a farewell with Allison. It was only fair, I reasoned with him, to get a few minutes with her considering what we’d just done for the elders and fate itself.
 

Rhys left to go speak with the Oracle, while Tully, Tessa, and I popped back up to campus. Allison sat outside her dorm at the picnic tables, clearly waiting for us to return. Relief surged through me. She might’ve been dirty and disheveled, but at least she was alive.
 

“Keep it short,” Tully mumbled to me.
 

I tossed a glare over my shoulder at him. “Five minutes.”
 

“Five minutes,” he agreed. “Tessa and I will wait at this table for you.”
 

He pointed to a picnic table some feet away from where Allison sat. She couldn’t see us, but she could see Tessa, who gave her a kind smile. Allison cast a nervous look around, clearly hoping I’d appear soon. My witchy friend had a seat and Tully wandered off to join her. I hesitated, knowing once I appeared to Ally, I’d need to stay strong. This was proving harder than not getting to say goodbye at all the first time around.
 

I appeared behind her, clearing my throat so as not to give her a heart attack. She whirled around, stumbling to her feet as I got closer. When I was within reach, she flung her arms around me and buried her face in my hair.
 

“You’re okay,” she said. Her body shook and I regretted letting her get roped into this mess. Seeing Moloch would definitely give her nightmares for life.
 

Not wanting to waste any time, we had a seat side by side at the aluminum table.
 

“I’m sorry,” I said, the words spilling from my lips. “I’m so sorry for what you had to endure.”
 

“Don’t be,” she said. “It means that you’re okay. I finally have closure, you know?”
 

She smiled and I tugged on her ponytail. “You gonna get back together with Brady?”
 

Allison’s nose wrinkled. “He yanked me down there knowing I might get eaten by a demon.”
 

I shrugged. “Way I see it, he took you down there so that I would come down and save the day. He protected you more than you know.”
 

“Maybe. I’m not saying I’ll jump back into anything, but I guess I won’t punch him in the face if he shows up at my doorstep.”
 

I laughed, glad to see Allison still had her spirit. “For what it’s worth, he saved my life, er, soul, too. He killed Moloch and he swears he’s done with the witchcraft. Do whatever you want, but I can say for sure that he loves you.”
 

Allison hummed under her breath; she said nothing, but I didn’t miss the look in her eyes at my words. I left it at that, not wanting to persuade her either way. It was her life now and if she chose to give Brady another chance, I merely hoped he would make her happy. And not feed her to any lizard monsters.
 

“Weird question, but does Matt know anything about this stuff?” Allison asked me.
 

Pushing back the sadness at the mention of Matt, I shook my head. “He’s innocent in all of this, so please don’t let him know about it.”
 

“No problem. I guess there won’t be any more double dates,” she said.
 

“Guess not,” I said, looking down at my lap. My lips pressed together and she gave me a knowing smile.
 

“You really liked him, didn’t you?”
 

I couldn’t lie to my own sister. “Yeah, I did. He’s a great guy.”