Deadly Kisses (11 page)

“You know he’s dead, right?”

“I might have heard that, but things are never what they seem. The spirits are always restless around Halloween.” She fumbled through a drawer across the room. White ash fell to the ground. “I’m glad he found real love before he died though. I always pegged him for the family type kid. Groupies were too wild for him.” She handed Bee a vial.

“I’m not Aiden’s girl.” Bee handed her a twenty.

My heart broke hearing the words spill from her mouth, but I understood that I was only here temporarily. In a couple of days this would seem like a dream. Bee would go on with her life, or go to Heaven and forget I ever existed.

“Darling, you are whether you realize it or not.” She leaned into Bee’s ear and whispered. “He’ll hear, all spirits do.” She winked and slammed the door in Bee’s face.

We stood there staring at the red, paint-chipped door. The light on the front porch went out and that was our cue to leave. When we went back into the truck, I felt her anger override all emotion. She threw the vial at me.

“What did she whisper to you?” I said.

“Nothing! It wasn’t true anyways. End of discussion.” Bee’s face was pinched.

“She’s always right. Tell me it could help.” She wouldn’t and I didn’t want to push her to tell me. Bee, would tell me if she wanted me to know, or if it could help us.

“She’s one hell of a girl, very classy.” Bee started the car and backed out of the driveway. Dirt spit up.

“Bee, just trust me. This will help Jaleb. I know she seems odd, but Marlin is harmless.” I tried holding her hand, but she pulled away.

“My stomach, Bee.” Jaleb said. His hand grasped her elbow.

“Sorry I woke you, Jaleb. How are you feeling back there?”

Her gaze sent my stomach popping like fizz rocks and I itched to touch her. My soul demanded the contact, but I didn’t listen.

“I hurt all over. I think they are somehow draining me. I can feel them in me cold, and evil. I don’t like it. I’m scared.” Jaleb moaned.

“Me too, Jaleb, and I’m even more scared for the twins. What if they’re the next target?”

“Drop me off at the town historical society. I need to research your family,” I said. I couldn’t let innocent kids be targets of the Ancient’s vile plan. The twins had strong energy in their auras like Jaleb.

“You’re so elusive.”

“About researching your family? That’s not elusive, it’s practical.” It was my nature to not volunteer information, and it was hard to change that about myself.

She leaned over and whispered, “You can know everything about me and my family, but gosh darn it if you tell me anything about you and your new lifestyle of being an Angel of Death without me prying it out of you. I had to yank off your hood just to see your face. I’m so mad right now I could combust to fire.”

Bee had never been mad at me. My eyes widened and my emotions went blank. I centered on them and hid them from her, and she shrank away from me. I picked that up quick. I wondered how much more I could do using my scythe’s power.

“Are you blocking me? That’s never happened.”

I shrugged. “I just read the whole section on using the scythe to a Grim Reaper’s advantage. It can do way more than I expected.”

“And you’re not going to answer my questions?”

“After.” I didn’t want to say anything that would get her more upset. I wanted the facts first. I looked into the mirror. The Ancients were still there. I had to get them away from Bee’s family, and I needed answers. I put up a full block.

“Fine, go hide in your cave by yourself for eternity, see if I care. Just be warned, I’m not staying with you after you reap me, even if you beg me to. I’m going to be with Sabrina.” She gripped the steering wheel.

“I don’t want you to stay with me. You’ll go with Sabrina because it’s better in Heaven.” Her words tore a hole in my heart. “Just stop the car. I’ll walk.” I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.

“What about the creeps following us?”

I looked back. They wouldn’t be following her once I made a deal with them. “According to Reina, once they mark someone, they can follow but not touch until Halloween. Jaleb is safe, but they still might draw life from him. Give him some liquid from the vial every two hours or so.”

“I’m giving him nothing until you tell me what it is. It could be some super-secret elixir that will kill him. That girl was a weirdo.”

“Weird yes, but I knew her well. She makes herbal tonics. Everything in it is natural.”

“Jaleb won’t touch this without a more detailed explanation. I’m sure you of all people will understand why.” She knew of Jaleb’s past drug problem.

“Stop the car,” I said in a hushed but frantic tone.

Bee braked and looked back to see if the hearse was going to stop.

“I’m sorry, Bee, I don’t want to hurt you, but no matter what I do I’ll hurt you. It’s killing me inside. I’ll meet you at your house, but I need to go. Trust me to fix this for your family. Give Jaleb the tonic because it will work.”

She reached out to stop me, but I was already out the door. I felt her frantic need for me, to be close to me, but I couldn’t give myself to her—not now, not ever.

“Go right home and stay inside until I get there. The Ancients can’t enter your house because I’m your Grim Reaper.” I pointed to my chest and cracked a smile, but it faded as fast as it came. “I can’t promise you any more time. I wish there was a way to divert death, but taking a gamble is not worth jeopardizing your soul. Go before they catch up to you. I need to do some research. And you know how I hate history.”

I closed the door and waited for the hearse. The Ancient Grim Reapers wouldn’t be following Bee home. The cold in me grew the further away Bee drove. Trees engulfed her truck as she disappeared around the corner. I stood awaiting my fate.

I shook my head, rejecting the drink, so he took a sip instead.

Erik glared at me with his disjointed eyes. “What do you want?” he asked.

“I want you to leave them both alone, and I’m willing to pay any price.” They stared at me. If they had skin, I could imagine their lips quirked up in a deviant smile. I was the mouse being hunted by three alley cats in a dead end alley with nowhere to go.

If I lost my regret and ascended, I would leave this plane. Bee and Jaleb would then be in the hands of Reina, and the Ancients. I had to stay and see this out, no matter what the price. I wouldn’t leave them. I couldn’t.

They whispered to each other as I watched the darkness blur out the window.

“You can’t save both Flynts. Why should we bargain with souls that are already ours?” Ivar laughed.

“You don’t own mortals.” My heart raced as I waited for a verdict.

Ivar wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “I like you, young Reaperling. We can come to an arrangement, but I warn you, cross us and your eternity will be spent in the fiery pits of Hell. Our Dark Lord would singe every molecule of your body day after day, and I promise he would make you his little puppy dog.”

I tried to breathe at an even rate. I couldn’t show fear. I owed it to Sabrina to save a soul to keep her family in balance or a Grim Reaper would be back collecting, killing someone else in their family. Worse, I was in love with Bee and had to protect her. She was worth it, even if it meant I lost myself. “I will serve you.”

They all started laughing until it filled the car and my ears wanted to burst. “I said I would serve you. What more do you want?”

Ivar leaned in close to me, his cold breath hitting my face. “I want a chunk of your soul, and in exchange I will let you choose which Flynt to reap—the brother or sister, letting the other cheat death. The family would be balanced. In return, you will do everything we say, including be our messenger boy for Hell. You will become a Death Dealer. You’ll be perfect for the job. Forget all about the Golden Gates, because you will never be welcomed there.”

I slunk down in the leather seat. My breath came in short gasps. Ivar sat up straight. Erik pulled out a long roll of parchment, handing it to Ivar.

“What’s that?” I asked.

Ivar sipped his drink and clutched the scroll in his other hand. “We need to make it official for the Dark Lord. He wouldn’t want you to break a deal with us. He thrives on that. All you have to do is sign your afterlife away.”

“I want some things put into the contract also.”

Ivar slammed the cup down, the red liquid sloshing over the sides, and waggled the scroll in my face. “We don’t make arrangements until I’ve claimed your soul.”

Bile burned my throat. I thought how desperate Bee was to become a vet. I could picture her caring for animals with her black hair bundled in a ponytail. I could see her with her twin cousins. The love poured through her when she cuddled them in her arms. “Okay.” I gulped.

“Shall we?” Ivar tapped his finger on the scroll and then rested it in his lap.

“Yeah. I’m ready.”

Erik moved over and Ivar pulled me to him. My mind became fuzzy. Images of Bee danced between the white static. She was the girl who stole her brother’s matchbox cars and gave them to me under the slide when I cried from my mother hurting me. She loved school and her friends. Her zest for life remained, even when she saw Death around her. I would get her off the List of Death.

Ivar grabbed my face and put his mouth to mine. An icy tear streaked down my cheek. I didn’t try to pull away. Ivar’s dark soul entered me like rotten decayed matter on the forest floor. It crept down my throat and I gagged.

My death flashback began as my body shook. Sabrina and I were laughing and then we fought for our lives. The Cold River had surged with an unconceivable rage. I reached out for her; I couldn’t help. The flashback faded and I was freezing.

Ivar’s soul took me over until it peaked into a blinding blizzard. He took his mouth away from mine and a part of my soul went with him. I felt emptier than before. Pain turned to a continual prick of ice, a reminder I would do anything Ivar asked. I screamed, gasping for breath. My long fingers bunched a fistful of my cloak. I pressed it into my chest.

“Now that’s taken care of, we can talk about the contract. You’re on our side now, kid. You better not disappoint.” Ivar unrolled the scroll.

Erik handed him a pen.

Slowly the pain stopped, but something dark and evil was inside of me. It was so dark that it could consume me. My temper flared and the darkness exploded. It ran through my body until a red haze filtered over my eyes. My nerves jittered and if Ivar asked it wouldn’t take much convincing to do something wicked. I wouldn’t be able to help it. I tried to take deep breaths to shake the bad feelings.

When that didn’t work, I thought of Bee and it went away, hibernating. What had I done?

I walked in, following the stream of emotions that were anxious and un-nerving. I knocked on the door to her brother’s room.

“Come in,” Bee said.

She sat next to Jaleb. His face was pale but not blue. Bee had given him the herbs. He slept, and I wondered what Marlin had put in it to calm him.

Bee stood and approached me. She jabbed me in the chest, pure fury on her face. “What’s your excuse for going in the Ancient’s car? I saw you before I turned the corner. Are you outing us to them?”

I tilted my head to see into the depths of her soul while holding my scythe tight. It was as if a barn caught fire, spreading to the hay. I couldn’t help but chuckle, but she wasn’t amused. “The last thing I’m doing is outing you.” I took my pointer finger, brushing it down the center of her nose.

She swatted my hand away and stepped forward so her shoes bumped into mine. “Should I believe you?”

I tilted down until we were nose to nose. “Yes, you should. I’ve done nothing but keep my word.” As I breathed in her air, my icy breath mingled with her warm, creating puffs of fog. If I leaned in, our lips would touch.

“You’re right. I think you were trying to help, but what could you possibly do?” Bee put her hand over my heart.

“I
was
helping. How’s Jaleb?” Our souls were taking advantage of the close contact. Mine warmed and the fog breath stopped.

“I had to tell him that you’re my Grim Reaper so he would take the herbal tonic. Once he knew it was you, he drank half the vial.”