Deadly Kisses

Twenty-Nine





I turned away from Bee because my kiss was more lethal than before thanks to my deal with the Ancients. “I’m afraid even my breath would kill you now.”

“We have to stop ending up like this.”

“I know. Let’s talk. It’s time I tell you everything about the night I got into the car with the Ancients.” I waved to Jaleb. “Come here, Jaleb.”

Bee sat on the log with Jaleb. They could have passed as twins. They sat identical, leaning on their knees with their heads resting on their hands.

There was no nice way to say this. “I have good news for one of you. I bargained with Ivar for one of you to live. It will keep your family off the List of Death for a while. I saved the twins from the same fate. I wish I could have done better, but I did what I could.”

“The twins are safe? That’s the best news I’ve heard all week . . . wait, what’s the price? What did you give the Ancients as a payment?” Bee’s eyes seared into mine.

“Notice anything different about me, Bee? Feel a little more evil, a tad bit colder; do you feel it deep in you?”

She rubbed at her chest. “I thought you were mad at me or something and it made your emotions more intense. What did you do?”

“I bargained my soul. It was the only way.”

Anger flashed across her pretty features, she stood up and came at me fast. A small fist made contact with the side of my face.

“Damn it. I already have a crooked nose for eternity. I’m not looking for a hole in my face.” I rubbed at the sore spot. It was a good shot.

Jaleb stood, pulling on his shirt. “I so taught her that.”

“What do you mean you bargained with your soul? Are you crazy? What does this bargain with Ivar entail? He’s powerful and scary.” She paced with her arms crossed over her chest, kicking at rocks.

“I gave him a piece of my soul. He can call me at any time to do his dirty work. I’m basically his puppet, along with anyone else who is bonded to me. It was the only way. I couldn’t put your little cousins at risk, and worse, lose you both.”

“We would’ve thought of something, Aiden. Kessler is a Grim Reaper and we have the blood stone. All we have to do is find him.”

“It’s not going to be that easy. I don’t know where he is and our time is running out. He was the one who bargained with the Dark Lord, causing the town to suffer and your family to be stuck living on the old Kells Haven land. And we don’t know how the blood stone works.”

“Sabrina said to use the stone by placing it around Ivar’s neck, so that’s what we’ll do. One problem at a time. At least after tonight your family will be back in balance, and then we’ll find Kessler.”

Jaleb asked, “So we draw a number to see who lives or dies? No way. I choose to go. Remember what you promised me three years ago. You promised and you swore you would never go back on your word.”

“What are you talking about, Jaleb?” Bee asked.

We both turned and said “Nothing” in unison.

I should’ve planned better. I knew they would argue—probably until the Ancients came back and took them both. “I know what I said, Jaleb. Like it was yesterday. Come on, we have a party to get ready for and you need to sort things out to determine who will be reaped.”

“Yea, get out the streamers.” Bee said in her most monotone voice. “Where is this shindig going down?” She rubbed her arms, the cold getting stronger in us both.

“It’s always held at America’s Stonehenge. Who would’ve thought the Grim’s Ball was in our backyard.”

“Where the heck is that?” Jaleb asked.

“Salem,” I said.

“It used to be called Mystery Hill.” Bee playfully punched Jaleb in the arm. “Well, bro, looks like we have hours to live.”

“I have hours, you have a lifetime,” Jaleb corrected. “Hey, Aiden. Are you up for trick-or-treating with us? One last hoorah for old time’s sake before I bite the dust.”

“Sure, but shouldn’t you be freaking out about tonight? I am!” I think Bee seeing Grim Reapers had rubbed off on the rest of the family.

“I’m expecting you guys to come up with a solution before we get there, right?” Jaleb had two sticks, tapping them together.

“I’m going to try.” I was ashamed to say, but I couldn’t see any way out of this mess.

We walked back to their house to check on Bee’s bird, Lucky. It sang and chirped like it had not almost died. I smiled at how wonderful Bee was. It was even more wonderful to spend the whole afternoon like a normal teenager. The only thing missing was Sabrina.

Jaleb went into his room. Bee skimmed through her closet to find the perfect outfit. She finally chose her black jeans, a long plushy green sweater, and her black boots.

“No costume for Halloween this year?”

“Nah, I already played dress-up at the concert and look how that ended.” She changed as if I wasn’t even in the room. I kept my eyes on the bird.

“You’re going trick-or-treating as a super model.” I watched the way she fitted the belt over her hips.

“I wish.” She brushed out her hair in the mirror.

My eyes never left her. If I could spend eternity with her, I just might do anything.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

Bee’s mom walked toward her. Her shoes squeaked when she walked across the room. “Aunt Anita called to say the twins are ready. Are you sure you can handle them both on your own? When Hope has a tantrum you know Faith will chime in.” Her mom played with her hair. I was envious of the family they had.

“It’ll be fine because Jaleb’s coming with me. We’re going to use Auntie’s car so we don’t have to move car seats around, and I doubt we’ll last long. Take bets we’ll be back in an hour because they go to the bathroom every two seconds.”

Bee took a gadget that looked like a cross between a clothes iron and pliers. She ran it down the length of her hair.

“Let me straighten the back for you.” Her mom took the hair gadget, doing the back of her head. “I hope you see some of your old friends when you go into town.”

“They think I’m crazy. They’re afraid of me and call me a witch. I can’t blame them, seeing what happened when the Grim Reaper almost got Sabrina in school. Look at me. I’m homeschooled now because of it.”

“Oh God, things got so messed up. I’m sorry, I know how hard this is for you, but you can be homeschooled as long as you want. Sabrina will always be with us and she lives on in her sisters. I’m awful at saying the right thing about death.”

“Mom, there’s nothing you can say that will make me feel better. I’ll always miss her.”

“Are you sure everything is okay, honey?” Bee’s mom kissed her cheek.

“Fine, thanks Mom. Love you.”

“Love you, too. Have fun tonight and be careful driving with all those kids walking around.” She left her room and Bee came to me. She reached up and looped her arm around my neck. I lowered my head, so it almost touched her forehead.

“Aiden, I want you to ascend when this mess is over. You don’t have to wait for me.” She looked deep into my eyes. Her hand ran through my hair, entwining her fingers around it.

“I’m waiting for you, and I’ll help you until this has finished.” Our breaths clashed and I drowned in her. I was going to reap Jaleb tonight, and all I cared about was kissing her.