Deadly Kisses

Twenty-Four





Bee wanted more proof she wouldn’t get hurt before she touched my scythe, so I left with Reina to find her proof.

“We made a pact and are good friends, right?” I asked Reina.

“More than good friends, Ad. What are you getting around to asking me?” Reina was waiting for me at the edge of Bee’s yard.

We walked into the cemetery, toward the crypt. “I’m just curious at what regret is keeping you a Grim Reaper?”

Reina kicked at a gravestone. She let out a long whooshing breath. “I want revenge on the Reaper who marked me for kicks and took me before my time. I was in my prime, and the eighties were a great time to live. There was a Halloween party at a bar in Concord. My fiancé wanted to go. He dressed up as Zorro. I was an Egyptian princess.

“He had just proposed to me and I got real drunk celebrating. He left me outside to get the car and the next thing I know I’m in a hearse, dead. Leif told me I was marked for sport and pushed me in front of an oncoming car. He bragged to his buddies at how easy it was. I will never forgive him. Never.”

“I’m sorry, Reina. That’s awful. I’m going to help you. Not just because we made a pact, but because you’re my friend.”

She smoothed her hair down, smiling. “Thanks. We should go to Grim City to see what more we can find out about this blood stone, so we can learn to use it to bind Kessler to the ground. Yes?”

I didn’t want to go, I wanted to run to Bee and apologize. I wanted to take her in my arms and put my lips to hers. I wanted to hug her and run my hands through her smooth black hair. Worse, I wanted to save her. “I’ll go, but in my gondola. Do you have an extra cloak I can put on?” Reina threw one at me and I slipped it over my head, but it was short.

“Ha. You lead and I’ll follow you in my own gondola, thank you very much. I just had it redecorated in pink. There is no way I’m leaving it docked in countryville.”

“Fine.” I tapped my scythe twice and the door opened to darkness. Dampness rolled out of the crypt door as we entered. I walked past the stone coffin and down a hill before getting to the rocky shore. Moans erupted from the river, and I stepped into my gondola. “Try to keep up, Reina.”

“Please, I could beat you blindfolded, mister. I can’t believe it took you this long to figure out how to use your scythe and to materialize. Isn’t materializing into a house way better than breaking into one?”

“I wouldn’t rub it in because at least I don’t go rowing around in a pink gondola and have rainbow streaked hair. Your poor souls must want to jump out and get pulled to the bottom of the river rather than sit in there with you.”

“It’s very fashionable.” Reina smirked.

“Only to Paris Hilton. You would be a perfect Grim Reaper for her.”

“Paris who?”

“Sorry, after your time. Google her on your phone sometime.” We rowed past the quartz rock formation and went left to dock at the city. The water lapped at the edges of the shore. Other gondolas were docked for about a half mile down the river.

I liked materializing. I envisioned sneaking into concerts. “So, I should only materialize at night to blend in, but it can be done during the day and only into buildings?”

“Yup, and trust me when I say a tent does not count as a building. We are talking about wood or rock, that sort of thing.”

“Thanks for the tip. While we’re at the archives I have to look for more information about intertwined souls.” I followed Reina off the dock into the city.

“There is a book there that might help you. I’ll show you. I told you I’ve been researching for you,” She said, staring into the water.

I had never been to Grim City. Its name suited it well. It was carved from granite rock and was dimly lit through quartz stone. There was no color throughout the city, just shades of gray and black. Small cave structures lined narrow streets.

The close confines sent a clammy sweat that spread over my skin. Reina came next to me.

“Like the view? I’m still considered a newbie so my place is at the end of the cave, up against ‘the boulder,’ as we call it. When it rains above it seeps down the walls, but if you roll old cloaks and line them against the wall, it ain’t so bad.”

My brow furrowed at the drab rock. “Nope, I’ll take living in solitude. I have to say this place is the pits.”

“Like it or not, it’s a Grim Reaper’s home. If you lived here you wouldn’t have to deal with Abe every two seconds. The older Reapers teach you things at the academy a book can’t tell you. They have the Art of Death classes once a month where we practice new techniques.”

“I think I’m doing fine on my own.”

Reina laughed an annoying cackle. She clutched her stomach. “Okay, you keep telling yourself that. I’ve never heard of a Grim Reaper accidently trapping his assignment’s soul in his body. Kudos to you, ancient one.”

I threw my hand in the air and took my hood off, staring at her. “I didn’t ask to die, I didn’t ask to kill someone I know, and I certainly didn’t ask to be tangled up with the Ancients.” I pushed back hair that clung to my sweaty face.

“Hence, why you’re a Grim Reaper. Come on, follow me and I’ll get you a drink. And don’t worry, I won’t take you into crowds,” she said and pretended to shake.

Reina crawled under my skin like worms because she was always right. “Can you see why we would never work out? You’re driving me to drink and I had an alcoholic mother, so I’m not keen on the stuff. Besides, I don’t like you drinking that firewater.”

“Oh, you know you love me. Opposites attract.” She looked toward a larger cave dwelling, trying to avoid my gaze. “And I haven’t had firewater since you got angry with me. You’re right not to go near it. It lets the darkness completely in. The preservative agent in it isn’t worth the aggravation.”

I didn’t expect that response. “I’m glad.” I followed Reina into a narrow alley with a cobblestone walkway. “And don’t kiss me again unless you’re asking for trouble.”

“Noted,” Reina rolled her eyes.

A short stout Reaper waved to her.

“Hey Earl, I heard your mother’s haunting you from the other side.”

Earl snorted. “After three hundred years, she still won’t get the hint that I’m not joining her in Hell.” His laugh echoed off the stone buildings.

Reapers walked everywhere, like in a mall. I cringed when a guy with half a face passed us. His brain was rotted and exposed.

I nudged Reina. “He’s a sight.”

“That’s Half-Faced Bob. His brother blew his face off with a gun. Stay away from him. He’s always bargaining with Death Dealers.”

“This was a bad idea coming here. Maybe I should go back to Bee and make sure those creepy, ancient, aura thieves keep away.”

“They can’t touch the marked ones yet, so chill for now. Grim City isn’t as bad as it looks. You’ll get to know everyone.” An old lady about one hundred walked by, holding the hand of a ten-year-old. Reina waved.

“Is that allowed?” I pointed to the kid.

“Anything goes, so get used to it. Don’t tell your assignment anything about your bargain with the Ancients because she has you whipped. It’s sickeningly gross if you ask me. She’s a busy body, and you don’t want her to know too many secrets that she could tell the other side. You know they’ll find a way to make us do evil things.”

“I’d rather be bribed by a demon than an Ancient any day.” I looked around the small space.

“True. Sucks to be you, buddy boy. I’m trying to help. Anyway, here’s my place. Come in, have a drink, and then I’ll show you the Grim Reaper archives.”

Reina went to a wooden box and took out two glass bottles of cream soda and handed me one. I hadn’t drunk soda since the night I died.

“You never did tell me what you bargained with to get the Ancients off your back.”

I took a big gulp and looked past her. “I gave Ivar my soul.”

Reina dropped the bottle, shards of glass scattering on the floor.