Deadly Kisses

Eighteen





I stood in the middle of the road. To the left of me was Dublin Lake. The lights from the hearse became brighter, blinding me. My hair and hood blew in the wind. The hearse stopped mere inches from my shaky knees. I knew what I was about to do. I was going to give up my afterlife for Bee. She was in my blood and now, my very body.

I continued using the technique from the Manual of Death that would block my feelings from Bee. The back door to the hearse opened and I went in. Seats rounded the inside of the vehicle. At least it wasn’t a coffin transporter. The three Ancient Grim Reapers sat in the back with their decrepit hands folded in their laps. I couldn’t read their expressions as there were only patches of gray skin left on their skulls. I shuddered. No wonder they wanted Bee to heal them.

Ivar moved over and made room for me next to him. “I’m glad you’ve reconsidered. Please come in and have a seat. Don’t get your scythe tangled with ours. We wouldn’t want to cause a fire now.” I sat down and Ivar held out a glass. It was the firewater that Reina drank at the club. “Meet my associates, Erik and Leif.”

I shook my head, rejecting the drink, so he took a sip instead.

Erik glared at me with his disjointed eyes. “What do you want?” he asked.

“I want you to leave them both alone, and I’m willing to pay any price.” They stared at me. If they had skin, I could imagine their lips quirked up in a deviant smile. I was the mouse being hunted by three alley cats in a dead end alley with nowhere to go.

If I lost my regret and ascended, I would leave this plane. Bee and Jaleb would then be in the hands of Reina, and the Ancients. I had to stay and see this out, no matter what the price. I wouldn’t leave them. I couldn’t.

They whispered to each other as I watched the darkness blur out the window.

“You can’t save both Flynts. Why should we bargain with souls that are already ours?” Ivar laughed.

“You don’t own mortals.” My heart raced as I waited for a verdict.

Ivar wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “I like you, young Reaperling. We can come to an arrangement, but I warn you, cross us and your eternity will be spent in the fiery pits of Hell. Our Dark Lord would singe every molecule of your body day after day, and I promise he would make you his little puppy dog.”

I tried to breathe at an even rate. I couldn’t show fear. I owed it to Sabrina to save a soul to keep her family in balance or a Grim Reaper would be back collecting, killing someone else in their family. Worse, I was in love with Bee and had to protect her. She was worth it, even if it meant I lost myself. “I will serve you.”

They all started laughing until it filled the car and my ears wanted to burst. “I said I would serve you. What more do you want?”

Ivar leaned in close to me, his cold breath hitting my face. “I want a chunk of your soul, and in exchange I will let you choose which Flynt to reap—the brother or sister, letting the other cheat death. The family would be balanced. In return, you will do everything we say, including be our messenger boy for Hell. You will become a Death Dealer. You’ll be perfect for the job. Forget all about the Golden Gates, because you will never be welcomed there.”

I slunk down in the leather seat. My breath came in short gasps. Ivar sat up straight. Erik pulled out a long roll of parchment, handing it to Ivar.

“What’s that?” I asked.

Ivar sipped his drink and clutched the scroll in his other hand. “We need to make it official for the Dark Lord. He wouldn’t want you to break a deal with us. He thrives on that. All you have to do is sign your afterlife away.”

“I want some things put into the contract also.”

Ivar slammed the cup down, the red liquid sloshing over the sides, and waggled the scroll in my face. “We don’t make arrangements until I’ve claimed your soul.”

Bile burned my throat. I thought how desperate Bee was to become a vet. I could picture her caring for animals with her black hair bundled in a ponytail. I could see her with her twin cousins. The love poured through her when she cuddled them in her arms. “Okay.” I gulped.

“Shall we?” Ivar tapped his finger on the scroll and then rested it in his lap.

“Yeah. I’m ready.”

Erik moved over and Ivar pulled me to him. My mind became fuzzy. Images of Bee danced between the white static. She was the girl who stole her brother’s matchbox cars and gave them to me under the slide when I cried from my mother hurting me. She loved school and her friends. Her zest for life remained, even when she saw Death around her. I would get her off the List of Death.

Ivar grabbed my face and put his mouth to mine. An icy tear streaked down my cheek. I didn’t try to pull away. Ivar’s dark soul entered me like rotten decayed matter on the forest floor. It crept down my throat and I gagged.

My death flashback began as my body shook. Sabrina and I were laughing and then we fought for our lives. The Cold River had surged with an unconceivable rage. I reached out for her; I couldn’t help. The flashback faded and I was freezing.

Ivar’s soul took me over until it peaked into a blinding blizzard. He took his mouth away from mine and a part of my soul went with him. I felt emptier than before. Pain turned to a continual prick of ice, a reminder I would do anything Ivar asked. I screamed, gasping for breath. My long fingers bunched a fistful of my cloak. I pressed it into my chest.

“Now that’s taken care of, we can talk about the contract. You’re on our side now, kid. You better not disappoint.” Ivar unrolled the scroll.

Erik handed him a pen.

Slowly the pain stopped, but something dark and evil was inside of me. It was so dark that it could consume me. My temper flared and the darkness exploded. It ran through my body until a red haze filtered over my eyes. My nerves jittered and if Ivar asked it wouldn’t take much convincing to do something wicked. I wouldn’t be able to help it. I tried to take deep breaths to shake the bad feelings.

When that didn’t work, I thought of Bee and it went away, hibernating. What had I done?