Deadly Kisses

Fifteen





Bee’s soul rammed into every part of me in vengeance, demanding the Ancients release their hold on her. Her aura began to flicker and finally the Ancients unleashed their grip. I lowered her to the ground and Jaleb came running.

This must be what Reina was talking about when she explained how the Ancients fed. Bee’s aura wasn’t flickering anymore; its color was dull.

Sparks of light appeared when I picked up her limp body off the floor, cradling her to my chest. “Come back to me,” I pleaded.

The Ancients stood conversing in a circle, with muffled talk that I couldn’t hear.

I pressed my lips to her cold forehead rocking her, but she lay lifeless in my arms. Jaleb stood behind me not knowing what to do. He followed as I placed Bee behind a pool table for protection. Jaleb then went under the table, pulling his sister with him when everything in the room shook.

“Reaperling,” the oldest Ancient Grim Reaper called. “We’re not trying to harm her.”

A thin layer of skin covered his skull, but he was still a sack of bones. Fire swirled in my eyes. I picked up my scythe and walked forward, my intent to blow him across the world. My scythe warmed as I raised its power and I surged my energy forward.

He didn’t move as the lights swayed over the pool tables. Two light bulbs popped sending glass into the air.

Darkness coursed through my mind weaving into my soul. It came up from inside me. No longer feeling the need to suppress it, I let it overtake my emotions. I wanted to do harm, I wanted to kill.

I sent the negative energy at all three Ancients. They were lifted onto their feet and slammed back into the wall, making the pool sticks in the rack shake.

With Jaleb and Bee under the table, I was free to do as much damage as possible. The dark continued to course through my body, a wave of negative energy laced with fear and adrenaline. I wouldn’t lose Bee a second time, especially not to skin peeled and crusty Ancient Grim Reapers.

“Do what you want with me, but don’t mess with my assignments . . . ever.” I blasted them again. They only stood there and chuckled to themselves. They pushed back my energy as if it were dust. I stumbled back.

“The girl is already ours, but if you let her go willingly and come work for us, we can give you anything your heart desires from the mortal world. You will live the life of luxury, so let’s talk terms.”

“No way! I don’t make deals, especially over mortals.” I forced energy back at them. They didn’t move.

The oldest Ancient turned to the one with the orange beard, whispering, before turning back to me. His red disjointed eyes rolled in his sockets. “I’ve had enough of your girl punches. Haven’t you, Erik?”

Erik, the red-bearded reaper nodded.

“I can hurt you and make you do unmentionable things. Looks like the deal is off, comply or I’ll force you to comply.” Yellow corn teeth peered through the yellow-boned jaw of the oldest Reaper.

“You can’t have her!” I screamed.

“Oh, you really shouldn’t have said that to him. You do know that he is Ivar the Boneless.” Erik took a step back.

I knew I would feel his wrath, but I didn’t care. Ivar raised his scythe and a dark stream of light captured me in the chest, lifting me inches from the ground.

My head thrust back with piercing pain. Already decaying organs smelled of burnt steak, but I didn’t give in. When I thought my torture would never end, a bellowing voice from behind me echoed throughout the room.

“Enough!” Abe’s hand clasped my shoulders and the pain ended. I fell to the floor and Abe stood in front of me. Reina had materialized, standing silent near Abe.

“Need I remind you, Ivar, that stealing assignments is highly illegal according to the Grim Reaper code of ethics? The girl is the test that will make him stay a Grim Reaper, or make him ascend. You took an oath not to interfere with tests.”

My legs shook. I grasped my scythe for support.

“Abraham, when will you learn that I will never abide by the rules? Fine, I’ll leave the girl alone, but there’s no rule saying anything about not being able to mark her brother. You know there’s always a loophole I can slide into,” Ivar sneered.

“That’s what snakes do; they slither and slide spreading their venom,” I said, standing next to Abe.

Reina cowered behind him.

The Ancients walked past us in a triangle formation with Ivar in the lead. I saw the look on Ivar’s face when he glared directly at Reina. I felt her fear.

Ivar turned to me and his power seared into me again, pushing me forward. He was guiding me toward Bee and Jaleb. I slid on the floor to them so no harm would come to her. Before I could get to her, my hand grabbed hold of Jaleb’s wrist. Searing heat licked at my hand at the contact. Ivar disappeared, his low laugh echoing through the room.

I let go of Jaleb. A black burnt X remained where my hand had touched his wrist. What the hell had Ivar made me do?

Jaleb looked at his wrist, his brows scrunched together. Tousled black hair fell into his face. He put his finger in his mouth to wet it and rubbed at the black mark. It was engraved into his skin.

Bee was still slumped over on his shoulder. Sparks of life began to stir, and her fingertips emitted a low pale light. I sensed how she was doing the healing thing, drawing her energy from the ground.

“Abe, what did he make me do?” I asked, staring at the X.

“I figured he would do that, but there was nothing I could do to stop it. That is Ivar’s loophole. It is how he marks souls for his All Hallows Eve sacrifice.” Abe looked defeated; he always had a solution but not this time. “He takes the assignment’s family members, leaving them unbalanced.” Abe rubbed at his temples. His hollow brown eyes were sunken in more than they were yesterday.

Reina slouched down and clasped my shoulder. “I left to find Abe. He was our best chance to help them.”

“Ivar put you in an uncomfortable situation, Ad. On All Hallows Eve the veil drops between our planes. Ivar has made a deal with the Dark Lord to skip through the List of Death, choosing three souls to reap. He will reap the brother and you will reap the girl, so he can get them both.” Abe said.

“Ad, bring her back. She is really weak and out of it.” Reina’s voice shook.

Abe frowned and clasped my shoulder. I looked up to him with a desperate plea, but he only shook his head. “You can’t keep holding all your feelings inside of you or you’re going to explode. Don’t invite the dark, boy. Ivar wants you to go dark.”

“I’ll manage, Top Hat, don’t you worry.” I didn’t want to concern Abe, but I didn’t know how I was going to save them now.

“The brother will get a death fever and it will continue to get worse the closer we get to All Hallows Eve. Take care of him.” He sighed and left me by myself with the two marked souls. What was I going to say to Bee?