Deadly Kisses

Fourteen





Aiden? Aiden Grant! I knew it! But you . . . oh my god, Sabrina? Is she a Grim Reaper? Why didn’t you say anything? No wonder! How could I’ve not figured it out sooner? At least that explains things,” Bee said in a rush.

The world stopped suddenly and my heart beat frantic, threatening to lurch out of my chest.

“I missed looking at your blue eyes.” She stared wide-eyed then brushed my hair behind my ear. Her slender finger stroked down my nose, following the crook. “You stopped aging, so it looks like we’re about the same age now.”

I tried to put my hood back on, but she took my hand and clasped it in hers. I just wanted to disappear.

“Sabrina? And don’t you talk like an old man anymore.”

I cleared my throat. “We always knew how much smarter she was than me. Don’t worry, Sabrina’s in Heaven, so you’re stuck with me.”

“That explains why you know the song. You were the one who wrote it. Why, Aiden?”

I looked down at her, my face blushing to a pale pink. “Why what?”

“Why did you become a Grim Reaper? You were a good person and should be in Heaven.” Bee flung her hand out to my scythe before picking up the rim of my cloak with her fingers.

“It’s not your problem. Just be glad you get me as your Grim Reaper. Abraham Lincoln reaped me and now he’s my boss.”

“Well, if that isn’t the craziest joke in the history of crazy.”

Laughter rolled through her and my soul heated up and danced with hers. “Tell me about it. He’s determined for me to know every detail of dead presidents down to where they were born.”

“Huh, Aiden Grant the history buff and, apparently, actor.”

“So you’re not freaked out that your cousin’s best friend is dead, but not exactly stuck in the grave dead?” I wanted to pick up her hand, but I balled my hand into fist and thrust it inside my cloak. I could see her disappointment that I didn’t touch her. I still had to keep this impersonal.

“You really want the truth?”

“Just like in my song that Mad Dogs just played, ‘The Truth Will Set You Free.’”

“That was Sabrina’s favorite song.” Bee frowned.

“I know, I wrote it for her because she kept a secret from me. I guess if Sabrina told me you could see Grim Reapers, I would’ve called her a freak.”

“I’m sure glad it’s you I’ve been pressuring to kiss and not some stranger. I thought you made me want you with some kind of super power.”

“Sorry I didn’t tell you. Like I said, impersonal,” I mumbled and felt guilty.

“Forget about it. I’m just . . .well, I thought . . . I would never see you again.” Bee avoided my eyes. “I can’t believe Sabrina didn’t tell you that I could see Death. I thought for sure she let it leak out years ago.”

“Not exactly, but sometimes Sabrina said stuff that creeped me out. That, and she said I was a dead anti-social butterfly that would wilt at the parties you guys went to.” I watched Bee for an indication that she was freaked out.

The click clack of heels stopped our conversation as Reina stopped next to me with her hand on her hip. “Umm, I hate to break up your little high school reunion, but we have a problem . . . a very, very ancient problem. Why didn’t you read the manual?”

The fear in Reina’s voice made my nerves jitter.

Three tall, cloaked figures walked through the crowd unnoticed. Their shoulders were broad and pulled back. The one in front held a silver dagger tucked to his side.

“Crash course, Reina!” I demanded.

She pulled up her sleeves and my stomach went foul. Above her hand with the new skin were mangled bones. The radius bone twisted around the ulna like a Twizzler.

Bee looked away.

“I’m partially bound to the shorter Norse, Leif. He did this when he sacrificed me at their All Hallows Eve Ball. The door opens between our worlds for an hour. Within that time they are free to steal three souls to be minions for the Dark Lord.”

“You’re not working for them?” It scared me how much Reina knew about this subject, but the minute the words flew out of my mouth I regretted asking her. She had been through the Ancient’s game and I felt bad for her.

Bee looked around and protection swirled in her, and then into me. She didn’t trust Reina.

“Ask how it really is, Ad! Abe saved me and the two others, who ascended. I didn’t die because it was my time and ordered. I died a pawn in their game! They are drawn to life and if they find this livewire here, forget it! She’s yours now, but they can overrule you with a flick of their scythe. They find your weakness and use it against you. You don’t want to mess with powerful Ancient Grim Reapers.”

“Sorry, Reina. It must have been a horrible experience.”

“What if they get my brother? Aiden, I need to go warn Jaleb.” Bee was frantic. She pulled at me, but I didn’t move.

“I’ll find him for her. Just get her out of here. The Ancients feed off peoples auras. The brighter the aura, the longer they can use that energy to keep their skin. It’s what draws them to mark certain people over others. Bee is a river of energy. Now I’m no genius and reading auras is not my thing, but my guess is hers shines like a damn lighthouse beacon to them. Get her out of here.” Reina said, pointing toward the exit.

“Don’t touch my brother. I don’t trust you all the way down to your cheap red boots!” Bee ran forward before I could grab her, disappearing into the crowd.

She was screaming for Jaleb. Her panic set her aura to a bright metallic gold. Bee was a damn bonfire. The Ancients all looked at the same time and began walking toward her.

I ran, using my scythe to cut a clear path. Bee had found Jaleb in the pool room at the far end of the club. I got there just as she started to scream at him.

“Run!”

“There you are. I waited for you at the end of the bar, but then I saw you dancing with that guy. Didn’t want to interrupt. Nice job living it up.” Jaleb was about to sink the eight ball in the corner pocket.

“Jaleb, run! Now!”

The brown-haired girl playing pool with Jaleb was annoyed. “Sweetie, why don’t you go play with boys your own age?”

The Ancients were coming from the other door. I needed to get Bee out of here.

“He’s my brother, and I heard him say he has jock rash,” Bee said.

The brown-haired girl half gagged and gave Bee a dirty look before she stormed off. The poolroom was now empty of spectators.

“What was that for? I liked that girl.” Jaleb scowled.

“We need to get out of here!” Bee ran toward him. “Hurry! There are Grim Reapers after us!”

The Ancients turned to Bee and she froze. I bounced into her back and wrapped my arms around her waist. They were controlling her movements. Her body pulled toward them. I held tight.

The Ancients took off their hoods, and she screamed. They were skulls with red eyes. Skin pulled and then retracted over their jaws as they sucked up Bee’s energy. The cold took me over as they drained the vitality that she had been infusing into me.

“Young Reaperling, do give us your charge.” The Ancients came forward. Rotted flesh saturated the air.

“She could feed us for eternity,” The Reaper with strands of black matted hair on his skull said to the other.

“Help me, Aiden,” I hardly heard her whisper.

“Leave her alone!” My muscles bulged trying to hold Bee.

“Young Reaper, you don’t want to be on our bad side. One like her doesn’t come along often, maybe once in a millennium. If you play nice, maybe we’ll share. She can’t escape us because she was ours long before she was yours. It’s time she faces her destiny.”

Time seemed to freeze in place. “No!” I screamed.

They held up their scythes to me and her heart squeezed as if it were mine, life blood draining out. I pumped what little energy I could to her through our souls. She saw death. She wasn’t scared of death, but I didn’t want her to die at their hands.

My eyes closed and the music stopped, the world stopped, I had stopped.