Death has a Daughter (DHAD Series) (12 page)

We ported
into a cabin in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  As soon as I showered off the Demon goo, I found the closest couch near the bathroom and sat down.  It didn’t take long to notice that I was surrounded by bears.  They were literally everywhere.  It had been a while since I’d been to this place and I’d almost forgotten about the decor. 

The ceilings were high, and in the front
-center of the room was a tall stone fireplace.  At the foot of the fireplace sat a solid oak base, whose ends were carved into bears.  My eyes bounced from the fireplace to the end tables that were at each side of the couch across from me.  The lamps on the end tables were meant to look like trees with baby black bears climbing up them.  On the floor, in between the two couches, lay a large bearskin rug.  Even the blanket on the couch had a picture of the mountains with bears at the cliff ends.  Whoever owned the home had to have a thing for them, and have a huge family, as the place was huge.  It had a large wrap-around bar that extended into the living room, and a large dining room on the opposite end of the bar.  The dining room had a ten-person solid cherry dining room set.  This, of course, had a bear as the centerpiece that was on its back, holding a wine bottle out of its mouth, all paws attached. 

Lacie
ran upstairs when we got there, probably scouting out the master suite.  Good pick, considering it had the comfiest bed.  Not that the other rooms were bad, but of the six-bedroom home, that room was the largest.  If I’d had the energy, I would have attempted to make it to a bed, but the couch, a few steps from the bathroom, looked comfy enough. 

This place had to fit
twenty-four people comfortably, not counting the couches.  I’d always wondered if this place was one of those rental vacation homes that humans stayed in.  It would explain why there were no family pictures anywhere, and also the overdoing of the bears.  I’m sure the rental owners overdid them to really give the people who stayed here the ‘mountain’ feeling.  This really wasn’t necessary, as all you had to do was step outside on the deck and look around. 

The place was qui
et, meaning Lacie was still busy getting ready for bed, and Trevor left to do who knows what.  He hadn’t said a word since the Demon sprayed all over him.  Hopefully he was showering.

My eyes were almost closed when I heard the faint sound of footsteps walking down the carpet stairs.

“
Good evening, Cendall. Where is Trevor?” said Lacie as she sat on the couch across from mine.

“
Hello, and I haven’t a clue, probably sulking somewhere,” I said as my eyes struggled to stay open. She laughed.

“
Yeah, who knows about what, but at least he’s starting to trust you.  This is the first time he’s left me alone with you,” she said, and I nodded.

“
It could be that, but I’m betting he was just so frustrated he forgot.  He’s probably thinking of the best way to tell me the big
‘I told you so,’
because he didn’t want you to go in the first place.”  Lacie laughed.

“
Yeah, probably.”  She agreed.

“
Was he always this cranky?” I asked.

“
No, not really. I mean, we didn’t speak a whole lot, but he is—what do they call it—First Guardian, or something like that.  I think it means he’s my main protector and the other Guardians have to listen to him.”  She nailed it.  When multiple Guardians were put on a soul, they were always ranked.

“
Must just be my presence then. Can’t say I blame him.  I did try to take your soul when I first met you,” I said, and watched her eyes.

“
Yeah, that’s true, but you’re not now,” she said with confidence, which confused me.  I mean, she was right on that—I didn’t go back on deals—but she should be afraid of me.

“
Why are you not afraid of me?” I asked.

“
I don’t know; I’m just not.  I guess I see how you guys serve a purpose, so you don’t scare me.  You’re not like those Demons that came after me.  Worse case with you, I die and then you take me to my judgment, and I go to heaven.  Well, I hope heaven.”  She chuckled.  “With them though, it’s much, much worse.”

“
You’re correct on that.  Well, at least from what I’ve heard.  Why are they after you anyways?”  This was something that had bothered me from the beginning.  It really didn’t make sense.  Her soul being on my scroll didn’t make sense at all, considering how much protection she had.  If she was supposed to appear on anyone’s scroll, it would have been a top-ranked Reaper—not one right out of training.  Why even give her that much protection?  I mean, okay, so she can see all of us—was that the real reason she had so much protection? There had to be more to it.

“
I’m not exactly sure.  I know it’s because I can see all you guys—which, I guess, I’m one of the only people who can—without you guys revealing yourselves.  Other than that, all I can get from the Guardians is that the Demon who came from the sky the day you saved me, needs my soul for leverage in gaining more legions or something.  This Demon apparently thinks I’m a part of some prophecy.  He thinks I have special powers, and would be able to travel to all realms,” she said.

“
Which prophecy?” I asked.

“
I’m not sure; that’s all they say, and since I can remember, I’ve been surrounded by Guardians.  My parents used to think I had a lot of imaginary friends, since I would talk to them all the time.”

“
What do they think now?” I asked.

“
I haven’t a clue. After the first attempt on my life failed, the Guardians shipped them off and erased me from their memory.  They don’t even know I exist.” Her face went blank.

“
I’m sorry. I lost my mother,” I said, trying to comfort her.

“
It’s okay.  I just hope all of this is eventually worth it.  As long as they’re safe, it’s for the better.” She smiled.

“
How many times have the Demons tried to take you?” I asked.

“
Twice, well, three times now, if you count the hospital, but I think that was a coincidence.  The first time, I was eleven.  They tried doing it the sneaky way, but the thing was caught.  Since then, I hadn’t seen them, not until the day that you saved me.  I knew they had to be coming, since I saw you, but I didn’t know it would be that soon.  I wish I would have known, then so many Guardians wouldn’t have had to die; but it is what it is,” she said, and it took me back.  She was much more mature than I’d originally pegged her to be.  “I’m just looking forward to being back in school; I miss my friends.  They’re basically the only family I have right now. It would be nice to see them.”

“
It shouldn’t be too much longer, Lacie.  That cranky bum has to heal soon, right?”

“
Right. Do you have friends where you come from in limbo?”

“
A couple, well, one that I would really consider a friend and the rest I’m not too sure.”

“
That’s how it always works.”  She laughed.  “Tell me about your friends.”

“
Well, there’s Dave.  He’s my BFF.  Always has been.  He’s my neighbor and is the only one who really understands me down there.  When everyone else started picking on me, he was there.  I haven’t got to see him much lately, because of all this going on, and I miss him a lot.  Then there’s Eddie, I could sort of call him a friend.  He hangs out with me and Dave sometimes, but not usually by invite, and come to think of it, he’s usually on Drake’s side of arguments.  So never mind; there’s just Dave.”  I laughed. It was odd to list your friends and realize you really only have one.

“
Who is Drake?” she asked.

“
Only my arch enemy.  He is this arrogant, cocky, asshole, who never leaves me alone.  Like he seriously, I think, makes it a point of his day to piss me off.”

“
Maybe he has a crush,” she said with a giggle.

“
Doubtful, and who would care anyway? He’s a dick.”

“
Girls like assholes they say,” she advised

“
Not that asshole.”

“
Is he ugly?” she asked

“
Well, no, quite the opposite, but I just... I don’t want to get into it.  He’s a jerk; end of story.”

“
Touchy subject, I see,” she giggled into a yawn.  “It was nice talking with you, but I’m going to hit the hay.  I’ll be in the bedroom upstairs to the right.  The bed is one of those memory foam ones—it’s so comfortable.  I’ll see you in the morning?” Lacie asked.

“
Probably not. The Demons shouldn’t attack during the day, and we’ve just moved locations, so Trevor should be enough,” I said honestly.

“
Yeah, I know that, but to be honest, he’s just not, ugh, much to talk to.  I would like it if you could stay some days, so we could talk like this.  It sort of reminds me of being back at school with my friends.  That is, if you’re not busy, uh…collecting souls?” she asked.  I was ahead of schedule.

“
Yeah, I could do that.  Goodnight, Lacie.”  My head laid back on the couch and I closed my eyes.  I needed some extra sleep anyway; I could stay one day.

*****

He leaned over and wrapped an arm around my waist.  He then pulled me back into his chest, and our bodies were connected as one.  I let out a deep moan as I grabbed his hand and our fingers intertwined, pulling our connected hands to my chest.  At this he started giving me soft kisses on the back of my neck.  I turned so his lips would meet mine. He paused slightly before his lips made their final destination, and I felt my heart race as I looked into Trevor’s deep-blue eyes.  He inched lower…and…

The stir of my stomach thankfully pulled me away from the ending of
my dream.  I didn’t even have time to contemplate why I was having that kind of dream, because something was going on.  I laid still with my eyes still closed; I could just feel something wasn’t right.  Something or someone was getting closer to me, reaching for me, and they were about to accomplish their goal.  When I felt that they were inches away, I grabbed his arm and shot open my eyes.  It was Trevor, staring down at me like he had just been in my dream.

“
Don’t move,” I whispered, as his eyes were wide with shock.  He was probably about to try and wake me up, but I could feel something in the air wasn’t right; we were not alone.  I let go of his arm and stood up, as I finally caught a whiff of what was in the house with us.  “Stay here or you will mess everything up,” I said before I started up the stairs.  Trevor, to my surprise, didn’t follow.

“
Don’t touch her,” I said coldly as I opened the door and saw Lacie pretending to sleep, while Drake hovered over her.  I could tell she was pretending, because of the small slit in her eyes and smile on her face.  As soon as the word ‘don’t’ left my lips, Drake’s hand snapped back and his head looked in my direction.  His eyes, to my surprise, went wide, as his cheeks turned red, like I’d just caught him looking at a dirty magazine.  He had been about to touch her.  Thankfully, he pulled back his hand or my life would have been over, as a single touch with Lacie’s skin would have revealed her entire life before his eyes.

“
She’s young,” he said, taking a moment to collect himself as he came to stand next to me.  “At least a level four or five from the looks of her.  She doesn’t even look sick?”

“
She’s mine, Drake.  She is on my list.  Why are you even here?”

“
Strangely enough, I was in the area collecting a level three, when something was drawing me to this house.  When I got close enough, I could smell you were here, so I figured I would come and say ‘hello’.”

“
You were just in the area…this specific area with a population of only a 1,000 people?”

“
Yup.  Plus I’ve been wanting to check out what has been keeping you so busy.”

“
Keeping me busy?” I asked, trying to play dumb.

“
Oh don’t play dumb with me; it’s obvious now.  I should have figured out you would get a four or five level soul on your list.  After all, you did take that number one spot from me.  No one has seen you around, except for a brief ‘hi’ or ‘bye.’  I figured you were insane and knocking out your entire list with no rest, or that you had a difficult one.  If it were the former, you’d probably already be done.  As I can tell by the bags under your eyes, you haven’t slept a lot, and after seeing this girl, I’ll figure it’s a little bit of both.  I have to admit, I’m impressed and a little jealous.  We were about even in the amount of souls we’ve knocked off our list, but I don’t have anything higher than a level three, so you will win.  But, likely, with time you’ll get burned out.”

“
Don’t count on it, Drake,” I said while still watching his every move. I couldn’t let him touch her.

“
Did you tell anyone about your high level?” he asked with a raised brow.

“
No, and I would appreciate it if we kept this between us.  I don’t need any added pressure.”

“
I guess I can do that,” he said, to my surprise.  “So secretive.  So tell me: is she like suicidal?  It would be such a waste,” he said as he glanced another look in her direction.  “I’d even let her take me on a couple dates and maybe even fall in love with me.  We both know I’d have the time too, since you’ll never get her off your list.  Or, is there something making her more, at like, a level three?  Or is she really a level four?” he asked as he took a step toward her.

“
That is for me to know, Drake.  It’s time for me to get back to my scheduled monitoring and you are currently disturbing that.”  My hands gestured for him to leave.

“
Okay, I can take a hint.  You should really hang out in the realm more. I’m sick of hearing your dad and some of the others complain that they miss you.”

“
My dad, yes, but other than that, I highly doubt anyone’s complaining.”  I laughed. “Most of the people there think I’m a mutant.”

“
You’d be surprised.  But anyway, on a real note, get a work-life balance or you will get burned out.  Then I’ll have no one to compete against,” he said with a smile as he ported out of the room, and I finally let my breath go.

“
He is gorgeous,” Lacie said as she popped up from her fake slumber.  “Don’t tell me that is that oh-so-horrible arch enemy you were talking about?  He seemed really nice, to me.  Even sort of flirty; I may have been right—I think he has a crush on you.  You should move on that.  He seriously is the most gorgeous specimen I’ve ever laid my eyes on.  I can’t believe I pitied you for a moment when you were telling me about him.  He could tease me all day, and I wouldn’t utter any complainants.  Did you hear him say that he thought I was cute, too?” 

“
Go back to fake sleep.”  I laughed.  She was right on one thing though. Drake was being nice.  He was never that nice—something had to be up.  He didn’t touch her and find out my secret, because he would have flipped out, right?  He never could hide emotions easily, so surely he didn’t know.  Why was he so damn nice and almost normal just then, though? Maybe in our time apart he’d learned to appreciate me.  I laughed out loud at that.  He probably was just in a good mood because he’d guessed I’d have too much trouble collecting Lacie’s soul, so he would finish his list first.  That had to be it, because it was the only conclusion that made sense.  As I closed the door, I saw Trevor, who waiting for me in the hall.

“
Everything okay?” he asked.

“
Yes, the other Reaper is gone,” I advised him as I walked past and started down the stairs, and he followed.  I got to the couch, laid back down, and pulled the blanket over my body.

“
Well….” Trevor said awkwardly as he took a seat on the couch across from me.

“
Well what?” I asked in an attempt to avoid the million questions and accusations that I knew were about to come from his mouth.  After what just happened, and what dream I’d had, I wasn’t in the mood for anything.  My mind was driving me insane with conspiracy theories of why Drake had been so nice.  When I wasn’t thinking about that, I began to contemplate what my dream was all about.  Why would I have a dream in which I was making out with a Guardian that I would one day need to defeat? 

“
Nothing, you’re tired; we’ll talk about it another time,” Trevor said, like I needed that response.  He wasn’t getting anything out of me anyway.