Deadly Kisses

Twenty-Three





I entered Jaleb’s room, using my scythe to let the darkness blanket me. It made my stomach uneasy the way it slithered over me, shielding me from the living.

A branch hit the window. Bee and Jaleb jumped and laughed nervously.

Bee had the blood stone in her hand, rubbing the shiny surface. The more she rubbed the blood stone, the brighter it became, almost glowing. White light crackled around her, fizzling out. The air was charged, sending healing vibes through me. The stone seemed to be magnifying her healing power.

Jaleb said, “Funny, Aiden could pass as an angel just by his looks alone, but if you were a Grim Reaper, I bet you would just appear and scare them to death.”

“What is that supposed to mean? That ugly, huh?”

He snorted. “If you’re ugly then I’m ugly seeing as we look alike, sis. I happen to think I’m dashingly good looking.”

“Dashing.” Bee rolled her eyes.

“Yes, dashing. I’m just saying that it’s weird how all of our family has jet black hair and eyes. We look how I envision a scary Grim Reaper to be, you know?”

Bee sat up, her body went stiff. The features of her face distorted.

“What’s wrong?” Jaleb propped himself on the pillow.

“I think it might be related.”

Jaleb shifted, uneasy.

Bee placed the blood stone on the bedside table. “No, hear me out. Sabrina said Heaven had a plan. What if Hell already knew of Heaven’s plans and created their own plan? I bet you the Devil knows and wants us.”

The thought of that raised the hairs on the back of my neck and it reminded me of what Ivar had said. He was convinced that Bee already belonged to them. If that was true, why did he make a contract with me?

“All we know for certain is that in a couple of hours we’re making Halloween costumes with the twins and tonight the Ancients are coming for you. I technically have only four more days until Aiden’s clock expires. We’re in a heap of trouble.” Bee sighed.

I focused on letting my shield down, unblocking my emotions. The darkness slid from around me and I appeared in the room.

Bee gasped. “You almost scared me to death. I thought you were Ivar.” Her aura cooled, returning to its normal color.

My eyes were fixed on hers. Could I convince her to touch my scythe?

Jaleb got up and left, but not before giving me a stern look.

“About before, when we were at the cemetery, I’m sorry I lost it and scared you. I would never hurt you. I just wasn’t sure what was going to happen and I didn’t want you to see it.”

“I know you would never hurt me. I was more upset you didn’t want me there to help you.” She looked away.

I lifted her chin until she looked into my eyes. “I’m sorry. That won’t happen again. I always want you there. Please, please forgive me.”

“Only if you explain to me what happened when I left.” She started folding up fabric that was lying on the bed.

“May I?” I pointed next to her.

“Sit, but don’t crinkle the fabric. It’s for the twins costumes. Jaleb and I are going to help my aunt make them. It’s our goodbye to them.”

I sat down, rubbing her back. “I’m sorry. When Sabrina forgave me at the cemetery, I lost it, I almost ascended. I didn’t want to ascend. I want to stay here and help you. I won’t leave you alone. We’re in this together.”

“You should ascend,” she mumbled.

I took her hand in mine. “No. Not without you. I promise you this. I’ll wait for you when it’s your time, and I won’t ascend until you’re ready. You hear me?” I kissed her hand frantic, but her skin went pale and my breath was too cold.

“I’d . . . I’d like that. I’d like it a lot. Now help me fold the rest of the fabric.” Bee handed me black fabric with hot pink polka dots, smiling.

“I learned how to materialize.” I gave her a lopsided smile.

“I saw that. Well, I’d say you’re becoming a real Grim Reaper then. There’s nothing like traveling like a super star. If only we could all travel like that.”

“Bee, there’s something you need to do for me and don’t overreact.” My hand shook, making the fabric look like a lumped ball.

“Spit it out before the cows come home.” She laughed, taking the fabric from me, shaking it, and refolding it in a square.

“Reina thinks you can use my scythe. It must have happened because our souls became tangled. I want you to touch it again, fully powered, to see if it’s true.” I bit at my thumbnail watching her face distort in worry.

“If you’re wrong, I’m toast! I knew when you came to reap my soul you had turned down the power of your scythe. I knew I was only likely to get a tiny zap, which I did.”

“I turned it down because it was you. I wasn’t thinking, and I wanted to prolong the Kiss of Death.”

“How nice that you wanted to kiss me to death.” She laughed.

“How did you know my scythe was lowered down?” I questioned.

“I don’t know they just hum with energy, I guess. I figured that out when I was about ten. I startled a Grim Reaper. He was sitting eating an apple under a tree. It was when I wanted answers to my questions. I asked him if he was real. He grabbed his scythe, and the hum got louder. I ran away from him.”

“Huh, you’re full of surprises.”

“Back to the point. Why risk me touching your scythe? Does it have to do with our souls or with Jaleb being marked?”

“Both.”

She stood up her eyes fixed on me. “How do you mean both?”

I pulled her down on my lap cupping her face in my hand. “If you can touch my scythe, we can unravel our souls and then I can save one of you.”