Deadly Kisses (4 page)

I stayed close to Reina because I couldn’t stand the thought of all these bodies crammed together in such a small place. “Do you come here often?” I yelled.

“Most nights. Eternity is a long time to be alone, Ad.”

On the stage, colored lights flared and a red-skinned girl with a long black braid that hung over her shoulder was singing. I couldn’t help but smile. I knew a good band when I heard one. My fingers twitched as if I was strumming the guitar myself.

“Who’s the band?” We stopped in the back of the dark cavern. There was a couple making out against the wall. Reina rocked in place and then waved to a small group who walked by.

“Lucinda and the Hellfires. Rumor is she came straight through the dark door from the pit of Hell,” she said, and actually cringed. Her head shook, sending her hair in disarray.

“No one comes back from the point of no return! That’s a crazy rumor.” I winced. I was scared to death when my assignments were destined for Hell. I think Abe knew I purposely avoided learning about demons so I could elude the place—well that, and learning about history sucked.

“Is it? You’d be surprised the dirty politics that go on down here.” She waved her arm in the air. “Bob, hey Bob. Two please.”

A short, stout Reaper nodded and walked toward the bar. Reina twirled and danced while I leaned up against the wall watching the band on stage. The only time I had danced was in middle school when I promised to dance with Sabrina to get Dan Frey’s attention. It worked, and I was stuck sipping juice alone in the back of the gymnasium while Sabrina was off with Dan.

I closed my eyes and felt the beat of the drums hum through me. Bee stirred in her sleep and then became frantic. Her soul reached out like invisible hands grasping thin air. I inhaled a deep musty breath and let my emotions reassure her that I was far away. A tepid stream of warmth flushed my cheeks. She was addictive.

Shouting broke through my trance. I opened my eyes. Reina was dancing close to some guy, and she had an angry scowl on her face. Her brows crunched together as she hollered into his ear. I took a step to rescue her, but the guy let go.

He handed her a thick envelope. Reina slipped it into her cloak, pushing the guy away. He had a devious smile and when he turned the flesh on his face was peeling like paint on a wall. He had to be a really old Grim Reaper. The bartender approached Reina and gave her two cups. The liquid slopped over the sides as she walked toward me.

She smiled as if nothing had happened and handed me a cup with thick red liquid that swirled with orange. “What was that all about? The guy looked as if he was going to bite your head off and then some.”

“That? Just an old flame bent on making my life miserable. He’s a sweet talker, nothing more.”

Unease settled over me. “I was in a band and saw a lot of sweet talk from the guys, and that was not sweet talk. Whatever it was, it was intense. Are you in trouble?”

She took the cup and brought it to her lips. The liquid flowed out smooth and disappeared. “No! I told you, an old flame. Nothing more.”

“Just because I’m a newbie doesn’t mean I’m dumb. Did you forget I’m bonded to Abe and Abe is bonded to you? So, all his Reaperlings are also bonded and so on and so forth. Shall I continue, or do you get the point that I can feel your emotions? I want to help you.”

“And let’s get off the subject of me. What about you? You’re at a crossroads, Ad. Are you going to go through with your assignment? You’re sending out vibes like a Mack truck. I could track you from another continent.”

I remained calm, afraid my fury would send the sleeping girl into a nightmare. “What’s in the envelope? Hmm, maybe Abe would like to research the matter thoroughly.”

“Don’t worry about what Abe knows, wonder boy. If you don’t want to dance, fine, but you can’t scare me off. Don’t worry, I still like you. Maybe next time kay?

Reina kissed my cheek with her icy lips. When she pulled away, I noticed the black of her eyes now covered the brown. I clasped her arm. “What’s this drink?” My nerves jittered. I didn’t want problems of the dependent nature again.

She stiffened. “It’s firewater. It makes you tipsy, but there’s a preservative agent in it. I’m sick of rotting like a corpse; it’s the only drawback to getting to walk amongst the living.”

“You don’t need that. You’re not decaying that much yet, and you look nice the way you are.”

“Yeah right.” Reina flipped her hair. “Have fun waxing your gondola. Maybe if you do a real nice job it will hug you back.”

“Come on Reina, come back. I’m sorry. I can’t help it. You know crowds make me crazy! And you do look nice!”

“Call me when you get over your claustrophobia.” Reina walked further into the crowd.

“You call me if you need a lift home,” I hollered.

I left the dingy club and returned to my gondola. Bee’s warmth was gone, and I wanted it back. So much for fun.

A dark shadow formed in the crypt, walking toward me. It was Abe. His sharp jaw and serious eyes pierced into me.

“Boy?” He walked forward with his scythe in hand.

“Abe listen, something is going on with Reina. I needed to clear my head so I went with her to this club and she had some kind of altercation. Look, I know I’m not your best pupil, but I know when something is off.”

He put his large bony hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry about her. I know what she’s doing. Just be her friend and worry about your own assignment. This must be difficult for you?”

I stared ahead, a blank expression on my face. “I’m managing in my own way.”

“Does that mean you’re giving everyone the silent treatment and acting cold and distant?”

I growled. “I’m fine! I just need to know how to get our soul’s in their right places. I can’t reap her if she has half my soul.”

Abe let me go, dropping his hand to his side. “I must say, it’s a weird request to bargain with the Dark Lord for. But I’ve heard of stranger things. You can get her to break the deal.”

“I’ve heard of a Grim Reaper who helped his sister break a deal so she could pass through the Golden Gates. I’ll do that!” Hope filled my heart.

“Just don’t give her the Kiss of Death again because you could lose all of your soul. If that happens it’s considered a big mistake on the job and you’ll get sucked into the river.”

A Grim Reaper security task team has the power to control the river. If I failed an assignment, they would send a tornado of fine glass to strip me down to a skeleton, carry me to the river, and bind me to it forever. Grim Reapers try to get out, but they never do. I shuddered.

“Do me a favor, boy?” Abe tapped his finger on his scythe.

I stiffened, afraid what he would ask. “As long as you don’t give me assignments that are going to Hell, I’ll do anything.”

He clasped his scythe. “You have to get over that fear if you’re planning to stay.”

“I will. So, what do you need?” My voice shook.

“Find out if the girl knows why she can see us? It could mean the end of Ivar’s control over us, and it could mean everything. I have a suspicion about her.” Abe didn’t elaborate, walking back into the crypt, dissipating in a plume of smoke.

I would go to Bee. Staying away was causing me to ache. I needed her and deep down I knew she sensed it was me.

I left my scythe locked to my gondola. I didn’t want to scare her, and I didn’t want her to try to take it again. Knowing her, she would try. I could still call on its power as long as it was close by.

Moisture in the air made the forest smell fresh and crisp as I walked the path to her house. Dry leaves rustled in the wind and the sun’s rays shone through the naked branches. I liked walking in the forest. I had spent my whole life living in it, in a trailer that was nestled in a cove of trees near the center of Acstead. I also spent my life avoiding my home thanks to my mother.

I was almost at Bee’s house. I could see the back of it. It was a mish mash of an old farmhouse with a modern addition on top. The old weathered shingles on the original section stood out from the beige vinyl.

The curtain that hung in front of the door that went into her room was pulled back. The waves of warmth washed over me, like I had never died. I pulled my hood low over my nose.

Without knocking, I opened the door. It was unlocked. I expected it to be locked, dead bolted, and barricaded. I sucked in my breath when Bee turned to face me. She had on a pair of faded blue jeans with a band sweatshirt. Her black hair hung in messy strands over her shoulder. The blood drained from her face as fast as water went over Niagara Falls.

She stood frozen. I remained calm. If my emotions went haywire she would know. “Can I please come in?” I asked.

She pulled the sleeves of her sweatshirt down so her hands were cupped inside. “Do you plan on reaping me today?”

“No,” I croaked, trying to disguise my voice.

“Are you going to reap me sometime soon?” Her fists clenched.

“Yes.” I remained still and maintained my cool.

“Fine come in, but don’t come near me because I won’t let you kill me just yet. I know your rules. I have six more days!” She watched as I walked through the door and closed it. I picked up a blanket and held it out to her. Little bumps pricked up on her neck and her teeth started to chatter.

“Thanks.” She draped it over her shoulders, but made sure her hands were accessible if she had to fight me off. “What do you want?”

I gazed at her. My eyes had missed out on her beauty for two years. I gathered up courage because I had a job to do. It wasn’t in me to quit. “We have a little problem, and you have complicated things.”

“For the record, you complicated your own life by making me a target, but enlighten me with why I’m to blame.” Her anger caused her to buzz with adrenaline.

My mouth twitched. “When you punched me it interrupted me from collecting your soul. A part of you stayed trapped in me and a part of me was trapped in you. I want my soul back and I want to know why you would make a deal with the Devil that would do such an awful thing.”

She didn’t respond.

“My soul can’t stay with you.” I walked toward her, sucked in my breath, and put my shoulders back. She did the same. Bee was brave when it came to something she believed in, like saving herself from death.

I stopped in the middle of her room, between the end of her bed and the pink fuzzy rug. Her aura blazed a deep red with a muddied red that clouded it. Orange speckled throughout it like splatters of paint. It indicated strong-will, confidence, anger—survival.

“Let’s get one thing straight, death boy.” She poked me in the chest and jabbed a rib bone. “I’m going to set the rules here. Got it?”

“Listen, girl, my name’s not death boy. Don’t call me that, and if I were you I would be doing everything I could to stay on my good side.” A spear of pain hit me. I backed away. My cold soul in her swirled in anticipation, empowering her with energy, and it purred the closer I got. I didn’t understand why our souls reacted with fireworks, but they ached for physical contact. Bad.

“If you’re going to kill me, at least tell me your name.” Her legs shook. I couldn’t believe she was trying to make deals with a Grim Reaper.

I didn’t mean to growl, but it came out in a deep rumble. My plans for being impersonal were going down the drain—fast. “Ad.”

“Is that your name? Ad? That’s a strange name.”

“Whatever.” My heart raced in panic mode. She couldn’t know who I was. I couldn’t let her get close to me.

“Fine, be rude. It’s so not nice to meet you.” She tucked the blanket under her armpits. The cold she felt was coming from my soul inside of her. “You want your soul back, and I’m not going to give it to you.”

“You shouldn’t act so tough. It’s not like you, and it makes your cheeks puff out like a blowfish. Death is at your door and waiting around every corner. Just keep in mind that I’m your Grim Reaper. I hate to brag, but I’m damn good at it, so don’t think you can run from me or something.”

“I don’t look like a blowfish, but you look like a soulless, hollow sack of bones. Don’t ever associate
us
in the same sentence.”

I walked to her, my six-foot height hovering over her. I knew she could taste my black licorice soul on her breath. We were so close my cold breath brushed up against her pale skin.

“You wouldn’t.” Her voice cracked, fear pooling her brown eyes to almost black.

Of course I wouldn’t, but she didn’t need to know. I pulled my hand out of the sleeve and she gasped. Brown and reddish ligaments wrapped around bones and a rotted meat smell seeped into my nose. I brought my hand close to her and she moved back. Her body pressed as far as it would go against the wall. “Don’t you dare, or I won’t tell you anything.”

I had to try to get my soul back and she had to tell me why she could see Grim Reapers. Maybe some fresh air would make her relax. “Let’s go for a little stroll.”

I grasped her arm and pulled. Bee staggered before catching her footing. She shuddered when she looked down at the hand that touched her.

“No! You said you weren’t going to kill me. You even try and I’ll never give you your soul back.”

“I changed my mind. I don’t want my soul back right now. Keep it safe for me, will you, honey? Slip those boots and coat on near the door. It’s not cold out, but I assume you feel like it’s the dead of winter. You argue, scream, or do anything to piss me off I’ll haul you over my shoulder and carry you out. I would probably like it. Got it?”

The real me, would never call a girl honey so casually. I hoped I could carry out the façade, but deep down it killed me to make her sad.