Styx & Stoned (The Grim Reality Series Book 2) (12 page)

That did seem pretty unlikely, but
he’d been running the river for millennia. “No, but let me get used to steering
this thing before I start slacking.”

“Fair enough.” She turned and
pointed down river. “Styx stays like this for quite a while. It’s wide and
deep, so a good place to get your bearings and figure out how the ferry works.”
Then she straightened. “I’m going to sit over here. Yell if you need me.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “Good idea. I’ll
practice.”

I spent the next half hour or so,
who knew because there was no time in this dimension, trying different steering
techniques. Right off the bat it became clear that the wheel was strictly for
show. No matter which way I turned it, the ferry continued on course. At one
point something along the far shore caught my attention. As I concentrated on
the spot, the ferry began to turn in that direction.

“Thought-controlled.” I refocused
on the river, and again the boat slowly veered back on course. “Brilliant.”

There went the nap I’d been
planning on taking, and I’d have to limit my beer consumption or we’d end up
parked on the left bank having a beach party. Feeling more confident, I focused
down river and kept that course fixed in my mind. Then I slowly backed away and
sat on the leather chair. Mara watched me with a querying expression, but didn’t
say anything. I counted to twenty and then stood to check our course.

“We’re still headed in the right
direction.”

“I take it you figured out how this
thing runs?” She stood and followed my gaze.

“Thought. If I keep focused on our
course then the ferry stays on course.” I sat down again. “Once I know the
river better and with a little practice, I should be able to relax more.”

“What about the wheel?” Mara took
her seat again. “Is it important?”

“Only to Charon’s ego.” I propped
my feet up on the coffee table, resting my elbows on the wide rolled arms of
the chair. “It’s for show—doesn’t guide anything.”

“I wonder if he’s overcompensating
for something.”

“No doubt.” Still not completely
comfortable with putting the ferry on autopilot, I stood and took my place at
the helm again. “Considering how many reapers there are in the world, I think
he overcompensates in a lot of areas of his life.”

“I don’t even want to think about
that.” Mara rested her hand on the front wall and pointed down river. “Around
that next bend the waters become more turbulent.”

“Are there rapids or rocks I need
to watch for?”

“No, nothing like that, but…” She
shifted from one foot to the other, her gaze darting downstream and back to me.
“Don’t slow down. Actually—” She hesitated a second. “—if you can speed up some
after we turn that would be best.”

“Why?” My heartbeat quickened. The
small amount of calm confidence I’d gained evaporated. “What’s there?”

“It’s nothing, really. I mean…I’m
not a hundred percent certain. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in this
area of Styx, but I think—” She swallowed hard. “I think that’s where an abyss
of lost souls is.”

“An abyss of lost souls?” Panic
raced through me. “Is it dangerous?”

“Ehhhh.” Her face scrunched into
an,
I don’t want to lie, but I don’t want to tell you the horrifying truth,
either
grimace, and her shoulders shrugged, holding near her ears. “Maybe.”

“You mean yes, don’t you? When has
an abyss not been dangerous?” I gripped the wheel, my breath coming in short
pants. “You can’t say the word abyss without it not being scary. Abyss of Lost
Souls—terrifying. Abyss of Magic—nope, not going to mess around in there. Abyss
of Kittens.” My voice grew uncontrollably loud. “Still scary!” I glared at
Mara. “How did those souls get lost anyway?”

“I don’t think we should get all
caught up in how those souls got sucked into the abyss. She patted my hand and
her voice took on a soothing lilt. “Let’s just maintain a positive attitude and
keep this ferry moving.” Her petting stopped and she squeezed my fingers. “As
fast as you can, because I’ll be honest, there is no coming back from that.”
She pointed toward the water. “Once lost, always lost.”

My grip tightened on the wheel.
“Like…forever?”

“Forever and ever.”

“Right.” Even though the gigantic
wheel did nothing as far as steering the ferry, holding onto it helped me focus
on our course. “I can do this.”

“Maybe I should warn the passengers
and ask them to stay calm.”

I nodded, but didn’t take my eyes
off the river. “Good idea.”

Mara opened a small door near the
stairs and extracted a microphone. “Attention passengers.” Her voice
reverberated from speakers placed around the ferry. “In a few minutes the water
might become a tad rough. We ask that you remain calm and seated until we’re
through this turbulent stretch of river.” She sounded like a flight attendant.
Her smooth announcement even calmed me slightly. “When we’re safely through,
I’ll let you know and you’ll be able to move around the cabin again. Thank you
for your cooperation.” She replaced the mic and smirked. “Like a pro.”

“Warning the passengers was the
easy part.” I flicked my head toward the bend. “Now it gets tricky.”

She joined me at the wheel. We each
gripped a spindle and leaned forward, stretching to get a glimpse of the river
ahead. When the ferry began its slow turn I expected to see roiling water.
Instead, Styx was glassy calm. I gave Mara a questioning glance, but she shook
her head.

“They’ll come,” she whispered.
“Wait for it.”

“Okay, that was super creepy and
not helpful at all.” Refocusing on the stretch of river, I slowly blew out the
breath I’d been holding and urged the ferry faster. “Go baby, go.”

The pontoons split the water,
gliding almost as if on top. Neither of us spoke, each waiting for the
slightest hint of turbulence. Mara hadn’t expounded on what connected rough
water and the abyss, but I’d seen enough movies to figure it out.

A muffled thump sounded from the
underside of the right pontoon but the ferry didn’t so much as rock. The breath
froze in my throat, and both of us inched forward to peer down at the water
slushing between the floats. Thankfully, unlike a catamaran, the ferry had a
two-foot wall around the deck. Anything trying to get on the boat would have to
climb over the sides.

Another thump resonated from under
the pontoon, and then another. My hand shot out and I gripped Mara’s arm, but I
couldn’t take my eyes off the river. The water began to roil, both around the
ferry and up ahead. In the overcast light, I thought I saw an arm reach out of
the water and then disappear into the inky depths.

“Holy crap.” I released Mara and
latched onto the front wall. “Was that a person?”

“If you can call them that.” Mara
pointed to the left pontoon. “And there’s another one.”

Before I could utter a curse, two
more arms shot out of the water and grabbed onto the ferry. Though subtle, I
felt us slow down. “No—no—no.” I leaned over the edge. “They’re trying to get
on board. We need to get them off.”

“I’ll do it.” Mara grabbed my
shoulders and gave me a solid shake. “You need to make us go faster.”

I nodded and moved back to the
wall. Instead of using the stairs, Mara vaulted over the front wall and landed
on her feet. She broke into a run, snagging a spiked pole from its holder
against the left mast, and jogged to the front of the ferry.

“Man, that was so cool,” I
muttered.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her as
she spun and jabbed at the ghostly white and blue mottled limbs. The heavy
thuds hammered the underside of the ferry, making it rock. Cries from the
passengers erupted every time we were knocked to the side.

“Lisa!” I focused on Mara, but was
having a hard time breathing—or thinking. Nearly paralyzed with fear, I
couldn’t move, let alone focus. “We need to go faster!” Without looking, she
swung the pole, catching one of the invaders across the throat as it rose above
the wall. “Snap out of it!”

Right, I needed to shake it off,
and we needed more speed. My breath huffed out of me but at least I was
starting to think clearly again. I picked a calm spot on the horizon, and
leaning forward over the wall’s edge, willed the ferry faster. The pull on my
body was instantaneous and the boat surged forward. I could do this. We were
going to be okay.

Mara’s scream wrenched the air. My
gaze snapped to her an instant before the white hand that was wrapped around
her wrist yank and pulled her over the side.

“Mara!” Desperation and panic
propelled me down the stairs and to the spot where she’d disappeared. I leaned
over the side, not considering that I could meet the same fate. Among the
chalky wet limbs, fighting to keep her grip on the edge of the ferry, glinted
blood red fingernails. “My God, Mara!”

Scooting forward, I grappled for
her wrist but the lost souls blocked my attempts, clawing at me. Sharp nails
gouged deep furrows in my arms and blood trickled down my wrist. Pain shot
through my arms, but I ignored it, bending lower. “Hold on! Don’t let go!”

Tears burned and filled my eyes. I
blinked them away, not wanting to give into the fear and desperation. The long
spear rolled toward me and knocked against my boot. I wiggled back enough to
grab it, and then swung it over my head, bringing it down hard on the white
arms. The sickening crunch of bone meeting metal ricocheted through me. My
stomach heaved and vomit rose up my throat, but I didn’t stop. Again, I jabbed,
sending one of the lost souls melting into the blackness.

Enough space cleared for me to
reach Mara. Not waiting, I tossed the pole aside and clamped my hand around her
wrist, bracing my knees against the wall. I threw myself backward. She lifted
from the water, but grotesque white hands clawed at her, wrapping around her
neck and threatening to drag her down again. My legs burned with the effort of
holding steady.

“Don’t let go, Lisa!” Mara’s face
crested the edge of the ferry, real fear mirrored in her eyes. “Come on. Pull!”

The fact that she was a demon and
scared shook me to my core. My footing slipped and we both scream as she
dropped into the water. Adrenaline surged through me. I would not lose her.
With every ounce of strength I had, I heaved back and dragged her chest level.
Her arm released the edge of the boat and clamped on to the low wall.

I dropped to my knees, first
wrapping one arm around her torso, and then released her wrist to grab her with
both hands. She was soaked and my fingers slipped, loosening my hold. I jerked
her against my body and locked my hands around my wrists. Dragging her out of
the water was like trying to land a halibut. Unseen hands below the water
yanked at her legs and it was all I could do to hold on.

Inch by inch, I worked her over the
ledge. Her waist had just cleared the wall when two pale bodies burst from the
water and latched onto Mara’s thighs. I fell forward, my hips smashing against
the edge of the wall. A jolt of fire spread across my hipbones and down my
legs. If we got through this, I’d have some war wounds to show for my efforts.

Lower and lower, they dragged her.
My cheek pressed against her as I struggled to hold onto Mara. When my grip
slipped, a panicked cry whimpered from her. I wouldn’t lose her. Determination,
fear, and anger swelled inside me. My vision narrowed on my friend. A surge of
power I’d only felt once before sparked through me, setting my skin on fire.

I. Would. Not. Lose. Her.

Ribbons of black vapor swirled
around me. They extended and thickened, arching to the front of my body. Fear
and desperation drained away. My only thought was saving Mara. When the sooty
veil brushed across one of the arms holding tightly to her, blue-black fire
burned across the marbled skin. Screams erupted from the creature and it
released her, sinking back into Styx.

I slowly rose, bringing Mara with
me, burning away the remaining lost souls that held on to her legs. We stood,
gazes locked, the black cloak inching around us. Ageless and dark, her soul
called to me for release and I needed to reap her, because that’s what I was
meant to do. She opened her mouth as if to speak but the words strangled in her
throat. No more loneliness. Sweet oblivion.

“Don’t.” The single word, spoken so
quietly by Mara, snapped me out of my trance.

Though I couldn’t look away from
her, my mind screamed at me to let go. I would not reap her soul. Inch by inch,
I forced my hands to loosen, and finally fall to my sides. The black garlands
of vapor thinned and evaporated, releasing me from its hold. I took a step
back, my breathing still shallow, but my thoughts a lot clearer.

“Sorry.” I filled my lungs and
slowly exhaled. “That happens sometimes with paranormal beings.” Actually, it
had only occurred one other time when I was reaping the soul of a rather nasty
vampire. She, however, did not get away. I propped my fists against my hips.
“Whew.” A weak chuckled warbled out. “That was close.”

“Yeah, it was.” She shook her head.
“I don’t know what scared me more, thinking I was going to be dragged into
abyss by a horde of groping spirit zombies, or getting reaped by you.” Wariness
lingered in her gaze even though she didn’t move away from me. “You were
seriously spooky with that black cloak stuff and eerie silver glowing eyes.”

“My eyes were glowing?” Obviously,
I’d never had a mirror handy when this paranormal phenomenon happened, so I had
no idea that I transformed. “I thought it was just the black, vapory thing.”

“No, they were shining like—” She
hesitated, her eyes staring into the distance.

“Like what?”

“Sometimes Cam’s eyes do that.”
When she looked at me, it was with an expression so filled with sadness a lump
formed in my throat. “It’s a thing angels do with demons, showing us what being
fallen
has cost.” Her voice dropped to a whisper and broke when she
added, “What we lost.”

Fallen? I’d learned stories of
fallen angels when I was a kid, especially Lucifer, but I’d never lumped Mara
into that group. She didn’t fit the stereotypical evil I’d believed demons to
be. Then again, a widowed mother of three bore no resemblance to Hollywood’s
Angel of Death. Despite her demon label, Mara was my friend and I could see the
regret she was battling. I’d also felt the desolation of her soul. So what
could I say in the face of such epic loss?

“We all have stuff, Mara. Things we
did or should have done but didn’t. Things done to us that we had no control
over. Regrets. Loss. Shame. I don’t know your story, but what I do know is that
you do have a soul.”

“No, I don’t, Lisa.” Her eyes bore
into me. “I lost it the day I fell.”

“No, you didn’t.” Seeing the
conviction in her eyes, I stepped toward her and took hold of her hands.
“That’s why I had that crazy reaper reaction. If you were an empty shell that
wouldn’t have happened.” I inhaled, shaking my head. “I’ll admit, your soul is
rather dark and desolate, but I think that’s because you have no hope.”

Her fingers tightened on mine.
“Hope about what?”

“Hope that you’ll be forgiven. Hope
that you deserve a second chance. But don’t you see, you’ve already got a
second chance. You’re doing good work with GRS. They need you and your unique
talents, and…” I gave her hands a shake. “You need them.”

“I’ve always believed when I fell,
I lost my soul.” Her grasp loosened and I let go of her hands. She turned and
walked to the edge of the ferry, staring down river. “I can’t believe it.”

“Well, believe it. I wouldn’t lie.”
I leaned forward and grabbed a handful of wet shirt, tugging her backward. “And
don’t make me save your life again just to prove it.”

“Good point.” Holding out her arms,
Mara looked down at her dripping clothes. “Damn it, those bastards tore my
pants.”

The seriousness of the moment
passed and I was glad. The whole regrets, lost soul, realization thing was
exhausting. “At least they didn’t get your boots.”

“I would have dived back in for
those.” She shook out her arms, flipping water everywhere. “You don’t mess with
my shoes.”

“The universal law.” I glanced
behind us. The river had settled back to glassy calm, the only ripples stirred
up from the ferry. Facing forward, I scanned the river ahead. Somehow, during
the watery attack, I’d managed to keep the ferry moving forward. Not very fast,
but enough to get us out of the danger zone. Maybe I did have a knack for this job.
“How far until we get there?” It seemed like we’d been on the river for hours
and I still didn’t know where
there
was. “And, are there any other hot
spots I should be aware of?”

“Not far, maybe another mile, and
not that I can remember.” Water splattered against the deck when Mara twisted
the bottom of her shirt. “Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other
obstacles.”

“All right, I’m going to the bridge
to get a better view. I don’t want any more surprises.”

“Good idea.” Mara circled her
finger over her head. “I’m going to do a walk-around to make sure nothing got
damaged.”

“Don’t get too close to the edge,”
I said, heading to the stairs.

While she made the rounds, I took
my place at the wheel and urged the ferry faster. A light breeze brushed across
me, bringing with it the fresh scent of rain mixed with the sharp tang of
sulfur. The only trees I’d seen reminded me of tortured souls, pleading for
mercy, their dark barren branches twisting upward from gnarled trunks. No birds
circled in the sky. This was the land of the dead, gray, and lifeless.

Thankfully, the rest of the trip
was uneventful. Nobody tried to kill us or destroy the ferry—not even an odd
ripple broke the surface of Styx. At the final bend I guided the boat around
the curve and sighed with relief when I saw the long dock jutting from the
point where the river split in two.

About a hundred yards from the
docking bay my mental control of the ferry faded. We glided forward, slowing
until the upward curves of the pontoons bumped against a row of floating wooden
barrels attached to the scaffolding of the dock, stopping us.

The clanking of chains and creaking
wood sounded behind the ferry, drawing us toward the noise. A plank walkway
extended along the back, in essence blocking in the ferry. Unsure what to do
next, I stopped beside the glass dome and waited for something else to happen.

When nothing did, I glanced at
Mara. “What are we supposed to do?”

She crossed her arms and leaned
against the bulkhead. “I have no idea.”

“Halt!” The word echoed through the
air, making me jump. I snapped to attention. Footsteps thundered against the
creaking dock and a few seconds later a beefy-gladiator looking guy stomped
along the walkway and stopped behind the ferry. A leather harness crisscrossed
over his hulking shoulders, and what I could only describe as leather briefs,
hugged his square hips. His head was bald, except for a top-knot ponytail, and
he glared at us from black, deep-set eyes. “Who are you?”

“Hey,” I plastered on a friendly
smile, giving him a little wave. “I’m Lisa and this is Mara. We’re filling in
for Charon.”

If possible, his scowl deepened. He
crossed his arms over his chest, causing his biceps to bulge, and settled into
a wide-legged stance. “Where is he?”

“In Vegas.” I made air quotes. “On
vacation.”

He harrumphed, stared for a few
more seconds, and then straightened. “Get those souls off the boat.”

“Uh-huh.” I nodded, as if I knew
what I was talking about. “How?”

“Normally, I do it for Charon.” I
think he smiled but it looked like he was baring his fangs at me. “For a
price.”

“How much?” I’d left my purse in
the hotel room but doubted I had enough, even with the extra six hundred
dollars still remaining. Did they even use dollars in the netherworld?

“A bag of gold.”

“What are we talking here?” I held
my hands a few inches apart. “Sandwich-bag size?”

His smile turned upward on one side
to a sneer. “Fifty pieces.”

The saying
you can’t take it
with you
didn’t seem to apply to afterlife employees. When I reaped vampire
souls in northern Alaska I had to give Hal gold to transport them. I think now
I was seeing the trickle-down effect.

“We don’t have any gold,” I said.
Nor did I know where I was going to get some. There was the big bowl of coins
at the arch entrance but doubted I could take what I needed. That seemed too
easy—and things were never easy. Still, I had no idea how to unseal the cabin
doors and release the passengers. He started to turn away and I panicked. “But
we’ll bring double on our next trip.”

I could feel Mara’s gaze burning
into me, but I didn’t look at her. If he agreed and opened the doors at least
I’d know how. Getting the souls ferried was our first concern. I’d worry about
paying him back later.

“One hundred pieces of gold?” He
asked. “On your next trip?”

“Actually, it would be one
hundred-and-fifty pieces, since we’d be bringing another load.” At this point,
I didn’t want to screw things up by lying. I was already vulnerable enough in
the netherworld, and adding a strike against me by cheating this behemoth
wouldn’t help our situation. “One hundred for this trip and fifty for the
next.”

His expression dulled a little, as
if doing the math in his head—or trying to. After several seconds he jabbed a
meaty finger at me. “One hundred and fifty, not a single coin less.”

“I promise.”

A grunt vibrated from him before he
tromped down the walkway and climbed a rickety ladder. Groans emanated from the
scaffolding when he hauled himself onto the narrow ledge. He turned sideways
and scooted along the foot-wide rise, rounded the corner, and stopped at an
opening in the framework, directly in the front of the ferry between the angel
and demon. Mara and I followed his progress. He knelt and picked up an iron
pole resting at his feet and then stood again. Holding on to the scaffolding
rail with one hand, he leaned forward, balancing the iron pole in the other,
and fit it across the palms of the statues. I waited for the doors to open but
nothing happened.