Deadly Kisses

Twenty-One





She had my heart long before I knew I had to reap her. But having her close to me and not being able to kiss her was my personal hell. I wanted to pull out my hair with frustration. My heart was conflicted with what my brain told me I couldn’t do. I wanted to hug her and give her the comfort she needed, but I was afraid.

Bee opened the door to the underground room. The smell of parchment poured out into the small hallway. The air was dry for being underground. Old wooden shelves lined the walls, and a thick layer of dust coated every inch of space.

The beam of light from her flashlight emanated the specks of dust thick in the air. I couldn’t see the back of the room.

“It’s chock full of records and preserved well because the room is almost air tight. It’s time to investigate. Although, I can’t see how that has anything to do with me seeing the dead.”

“In the Reaper Manual it talks about humans who bargain with the devil. We’re not really a part of Heaven or Hell, but the messengers for in between. So you can see how we could be used as pawns for either side. Those Ancients who marked your brother work for the dark side.”

“Those Ancients are freaky.” Bee pulled a stack of brittle papers off the shelf and blew dust off them. She shined the flashlight at the papers and skimmed through a stack of documents.

“They are more than freaky. I wonder why no higher power is keeping tabs on them.” I flipped through papers, wondering where I should begin.

Bee went right for a stack of papers, scanning each page. “Hey, here’s a reference to my family. It’s an old newspaper with a picture of my relative. It says that Hunter Flynt was selectmen for the tenth year in a row. There is a picture of his wife and kids below. He was convicted of stealing from the town funds and using money to build their house. That’s my house!” She pointed to the picture. “See, that’s my door. It was the original living area, but in the 1930s the addition was built to it, adding on to the back; and the second story was added during this summer. Let’s see what else we can dig up.”

“Abe would love you.” I walked to a different shelf, careful to be gentle with the paper. I scanned for any reference to Bee’s family. “This isn’t exactly my idea of a first date. I would have brought you to a movie and slipped my arm around your neck.” I laughed when I shined the flashlight on her and she made a face.

“A movie is not my idea of a first date. Totally cliché.”

“Here’s another reference.” I pointed the light to the paper. “Hunter Flynt’s brother Jaleb Sr. house burns down during a hot debate to move the center of town. The folks are convinced the town of Kells Haven is cursed and their children are dying because of it. Jaleb’s vote stopped the move to a spot in the valley near the river and the town rebelled. There is a picture of the cemetery in the back of your house and this church. Hmm, your family were troublemakers.”

“The only thing my grandparents told me about our family history was that we settled here to escape religious persecution, which is funny because my parents are far from religious. Who knew they were so influential though. By the way, my idea of a first date would consist of riding on the back of a Harley and having lunch at a museum near a water fountain.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. At least your family has a history. I don’t even know my grandparent’s names.”

I chuckled to myself with low snorts reading an article.

“What?” Bee asked, moving to the next shelf.

“There are juicy tidbits about my Reaper Abe. I bet he would get a kick out of reading what Granite Staters thought about him.”

“Aiden, look at this.” She pointed to a picture of boys dressed in military uniform holding guns. “In April 1812, Congress passed an act and President Madison made a requisition to New Hampshire for militia. Then on May 29, Governor Langdon issued troops to organize for immediate action. Some of my family went to Portsmouth. Every one of them died of suspicious causes while waiting for further orders.”

“It was a war, Bee. I wouldn’t read too much into that.”

She held up another paper and shined the light on the date. “But it was exactly one week after the town relocated, abandoning the original town location. See this paper. The town’s people rebelled against my family and half the town burned, sparing only a couple of buildings. They lived at the Actead church, which was being built in a secret location, until their new houses were finished. Look at the houses that remained from the old location; not even damaged, and the house next door was ash. It could be connected.”

“It could be totally coincidental. Keep digging.”

I watched her periodically, so intent at finding the truth. She blended into the room with her dark hair and dark clothes. We weren’t finding any concrete evidence to link her family to something being wrong with their land, and I prayed that we would find something soon. I’ve never been the prayer type, but I figured it never hurt to try. Maybe the big guy would forgive someone like me.

“These fell apart when I picked them up.” She sneezed with little chirps from the dust.

“I’m not finding much more, just vague mentions about the old town, the obituaries of some of your family, and articles on the war. All these records are of the old town, but there is no in depth mention, or any history, of the relocation.”

There was no response from Bee. When I turned around, she stood in the doorway. Fear and excitement surged through her. “Hey, you okay?”

She was statue still. “Do you see her?” She pointed.

“See what? There’s nothing there except cobwebs and dirt.” I squinted.

“Sabrina. She’s standing right there.”

I inched forward but still saw nothing. “Are you feeling good? You warm or tired? If she was there then I would see her because we’re both dead.”

“Seriously, she is standing right there, Aiden. I think she wants us to follow her. Come on.”

If Sabrina really showed herself to Bee, who knew what she would say to her. I was amazed my prayers were answered. Sabrina would show us the way.

“The door, Aiden. If you leave it open, these records will be ruined.” I shut the door. It was dark and she didn’t wait for me. I followed her trail of vitality.

“Hurry up! Sabrina’s waiting and is more impatient than usual. You think she can hear us?”

“I sure hope not,” I mumbled, but Bee didn’t hear. She already had the ladder propped up and was crawling through the hole.

“Make sure you place the ladder to the side so we can jump down again without landing on it.”

“I know, I know. Go follow her. I’ll be right behind you.” I watched her run into the woods and I placed the ladder back carefully. I unlocked my scythe from a tree and pulled it out of a tangle of dry grass where I had hidden it.

I jogged along the path. At least I was free of the long cloak. A coyote howled in the distance, raising goose bumps on my already icy skin. Coolness raced through my veins the further Bee went from me. It urged me to run full force to be with her again. The thought of the warmth diminished the pain of burning in my muscles.

Bee was in the clearing ahead, like a dark angel standing in front of a corroded gravestone. Dead weeds enwrapped it. She peeled each layer away. I went behind her, wondering where Sabrina was.

“Aiden, Sabrina’s standing behind the stone.”

“What happened, what did she say?” I prayed for help, not a lecture on why I shouldn’t be a Grim Reaper. I hoped Sabrina would understand.

“Sabrina is helping us, but can you cut the rest of theses vines with your garden tool? You can’t see her because she hasn’t earned her wings yet.”

I walked toward the stone to see the best place to cut. I placed my blade and sliced through the dead vines. They fell to the ground.

“Kessler Flynt? I thought he was buried in the crypt?” I looked, afraid we were being watched by the Ancients, but the night was quiet. Even the coyotes moved on. “I guess Kessler Flynt moves to the top of the list for our research.”

Bee extended her arms out in front of her and cupped her hands. A necklace fell into them. The chain was made from a thin vine and it entwined around a red ruby stone. The same white glow that came from Bee when she healed ebbed around the trinket. Bee closed her hand around it and clutched it to her heart.

“What is it?” I asked, my eyes glued to the necklace.

“This is the key to stopping the Ancient Grim Reapers and establishing order again.” She opened her hand to show me the red stone. “Kessler Flynt is a Grim Reaper. He made the deal. It’s my family’s fault the afterlife is a mess!”

“Is she positive about that?”

“Yes. Sabrina told me that Heaven has a plan. I can use the blood stone to bind Kessler to the ground to restore order.”

“Oh, yeah, well that sounds simple. I can do that, right?” My brain wouldn’t stop thinking of solutions.

“Not exactly. Only a Grim Reaper blood relative of Kessler Flynt’s can bind him to the ground, and Ivar needs to be stopped first.”

“Can Sabrina tell us anymore?” Jaleb had to stay and help break the curse. I had to make him understand. No way did I want Bee involved in tracking down her relative. He wouldn’t go down without a fight. That much I suspected.

“Sabrina has already said too much.” Bee tucked the necklace in her pocket and patted it to make sure it was snug. “She wants to talk with you now before she leaves.”

I sucked in a breath and stepped forward. “Where is she?”

“Directly behind the gravestone. She wants you to put your hand out.”

I did.

“She said she misses you, and she loves you,” Bee repeated.

Tears filled my eyes and hope filled my heart. I wanted so bad to see her again. “What did she say that has you giddy?”

Bee smiled. “She gave me permission to take over for best friend status. She begged me to look after you and keep you from hiding in caves. I guess I’m not the only one you hid stuff from.”

Crazy talk. Grim Reapers can’t have mortal friends. “I can’t be your best friend if I’m dead, Bee. We won’t see each other ever again after Halloween. You know that.”

“I’m just the messenger.” Her dark eyes were vast pools of love and I couldn’t help but do anything she asked. “Now is your chance, Aiden. Ask her.”

My eyebrows drew down. “Ask her what?”

“Ask her if she blames you for her death, so you can ascend.” Did Bee plan on finding Kessler Flynt by herself? I didn’t even want to ascend. I wasn’t going to let her put herself in danger. I know she was capable of taking care of herself, but I had gotten a taste of Ivar’s power and it was scary.

I looked to where Sabrina was supposedly standing my eyes wide, my heart racing. “I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?” Bee urged me on. Her warmth flooded me. She picked up my hand and held it. “Sabrina thinks we make a cute couple.”

She giggled. “Yeah, but he has the kiss of death now.” There was a pause. Bee’s face looked serious and stone like. “Your twin sisters are amazing, Sabrina. I promise to protect them.”

I stood in utter frustration. “What!” Now I knew how Jaleb felt not being able to see me.

Bee became quiet, too quiet. “She’s still here and she won’t leave until you talk with her. Sabrina knows something is wrong with you. It’s okay, Aiden, just talk to her like she was still alive. She can hear you.”

Bee came next to me and held my hand. It un-nerved me how quick I was to depend on her for comfort.

Bee’s soul surged me into an emotional pool of sorrow. Held in feelings began to escape in low sobs until words formed. “I miss you, Brina. I’m sorry! I tried to save you, but the tree was in me. I couldn’t move. I will never forgive myself for letting you go. I don’t care if I walk the Earth as a Grim Reaper for a million years. I would do it to redeem myself for killing you.”

Bee stared and I looked at her, anticipating what she would say. I crouched down with my head in my hands.

“She’s gone, Aiden. They called her back, but she gave you a message. She said she loves you dearly and she has never blamed you for her death.” Bee put her hand on my shoulder. I leaned forward, my hands still over my face.

“Just leave, Bee. I want to be alone. Go check on your brother. He could be waking up.”

Tears streamed down my face, wet and unforgiving. I couldn’t face her. A searing heat raced through my veins. Something was happening that I didn’t understand, until I realized my death flashback wasn’t coming like it should be after facing the girl I had killed.

I stared wide-eyed at the ground. Bee had made me lose my regret. I was going to ascend to leave her to deal with Kessler Flynt on her own. I started to hyperventilate as the warmth crept into my heart. I didn’t know what would happen and I didn’t want Bee here to see it.

“I won’t leave you like this. I know you’re feeling overwhelmed.” She leaned into me, but I couldn’t take her pity that seeped into my body.

“Go, I need to be alone.” The heat intensified, but cold laced the edges. I couldn’t ascend and leave Bee. I needed to see that everything worked out.

“I already told you, I’m not going to leave you here by yourself. Once I go, the cold is going to wash over you. Is that what you want?” She tried coming near me again, but I stood fast and grasped my scythe. I wasn’t sure if I was going to ascend, combust, or be dragged to Hell.

“Yes, it’s exactly what I want.” The dark and good in me was fighting for control. Thanks to Ivar, the dark won. I raised the power on my scythe.

“Aiden!” Bee screamed.

“Stop it! If you won’t go, then so be it I’ll kill you now. I don’t care if I go to Hell.” The sharp edge of my scythe glowed red down to the tip and the wood warmed. I almost forgot how it felt to collect a soul and revel in its warmth. I could take hers now and keep it for the remainder of the four days. I walked closer, my scythe burning under my grip. She backed up. The fear in her eyes made me move faster toward her.

I was lost to myself as black licorice flavor filled my mouth. It was a hand coming from the very depths of me trying to reach the girl. The girl’s eyes widened and I laughed at her fear. I may not look scary without my cloak but the way the energy swirled around me, I knew, Bee could feel it.

I pushed the part of her trapped in me down into the depths of my stomach so I couldn’t be influenced by her goodness. All I saw was death and I wanted it from her. I wanted to finish the job before Halloween. I felt new powers I didn’t know the scythe was capable of, and it was wonderful. The girl froze and I moved my scythe. She moved, my puppet.

“Aiden, this isn’t funny. Don’t kill me. What about my brother? Please I beg you. I trust you. I trust you with my life, Aiden!”

And like that the dark disappeared. I dropped my scythe. She ran for her life as new regret stopped me from ascending.