Deadly Kisses

Thirty





I was finally going to get my heaven as our lips gently brushed. The taste of vanilla made my mouth water and overpowered the licorice flavor coming up my throat. I closed my eyes, she moaned, and then we were torn apart as a gust of wind ripped between us.

Jaleb stood with his hands on his knees, breathing in heavy pants. “I had to jump a pile of laundry and a chair to get to you two.”

I stood in utter shock as the cold receded. I couldn’t let my emotions get the best of me. I’d take Jaleb’s soul. It couldn’t be Bee. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

“Yeah, right, dude! Leave my sister alone.” He turned to Bee. “You can’t kiss him unless you’re asking for a death sentence. Are you guys like serious? I know you’ve always had a thing, but that would be insane, you know that right?”

“You’re right, Jaleb. That should not have happened,” I said.

Bee rubbed her arms to warm them. “I can heal, so I doubt I would’ve died.”

Jaleb said, “Tonight we have to go to the Ancient’s Halloween party. If we don’t make a plan, one of us will be reaped. Let’s make a promise that whatever happens, happens and the other one will get Mom and Dad through a funeral. Do you promise?”

“I promise, but I also promise to protect you to the best of my ability.” Bee glowered.

Jaleb looked over to me and winked. We needed to make a plan without, Bee. She would be furious that I planned on reaping Jaleb and he had already agreed to stay a Grim Reaper to save his family.

“I need to talk with Aiden alone before we take the twins trick-or-treating.” Her jean pocket bulged from the blood stone that was inside of it.

“Wait, before I leave you two talking.” Jaleb looked to me with a stern stare and pointed. His lips then went into a goofy grin. “I have something for you, buddy.”

He left. I had no idea what he was up to. When he came back he carried something.

I jumped up when I saw my guitar case. “No way man! I can’t believe you have this. I thought for sure it would’ve been pawned.” Jaleb handed the worn leathered case to me. I smoothed it like I did to Bee’s hair sometimes.

“Your band and I stormed your house. Your mother didn’t know what to say, so she let us take some of your stuff.”

“I didn’t think I would ever see my guitar again. This is amazing. Thanks Jaleb.” I patted him on the shoulder, but I could have hugged him to death.

“Can you bring it to wherever you live?” he asked.

“Yes, if you’re lucky enough to get stuff from this world it’s a plus. Possessions need to be given to you, or you can’t take it.”

“Well, good luck trying to open it because we never found the key.”

I pulled the chain out from under the heavy cloak. I slipped it off my neck and my hair rumpled forward. The key fit snug into the case. The latch clicked open to reveal my acoustic guitar with a green pick nestled between strings.

Bee smiled as I took it out of the case, reacquainting myself with an old friend. I looked to her with a sparkle in my eyes. “Do you mind if I play while we go trick-or-treating? Only you two would be able to hear it, seeing I’m invisible to people who are alive.”

“I’d love to hear you play again.” Bee jumped, her straight hair frizzed.

Jaleb held up his hand to me, signaling he would give us five minutes. We had to go take the twins out trick-or-treating and bring them home as soon as possible.

I sat on the bed, plucking the chords, singing low. The sound of my voice lured Bee to the floor at my feet. She leaned her head on the clumped up sheets on her bed. Her eyes closed as she lost herself in the music.

I started into the song that Bee hummed—the song I had written for her—except now I had words to go along with the music. I sang of the girl who danced with bees in a field of daisies. The notes moved me to a happy place as she hummed along.

Bee didn’t even notice the song ended as she continued to sing its hypnotic melody. I slid off the bed and onto the floor beside her. She opened her eyes and I was there.

Our faces were inches apart again and she made a squeak when I drew in a breath too fast. I wanted to stare into her dark eyes forever. Tingles danced on my skin at our close proximity.

I clutched her hands and brought them to my heart. “I don’t want to lose you again. Say you’ll stay with me, let me take your soul instead of Jaleb’s. It wouldn’t be a glamorous life, but I would make you happy.” I don’t know what made me ask her that. It was stupid and selfish. I didn’t want her to die.

I was crushed when I felt her answer before the words formed on her tongue. “I would choose to ascend after we found Kessler Flynt. I’m sorry.”

“I shouldn’t have asked you that.” My heart shattered into tiny pieces.

“We better go before Hope and Faith take a tantrum messing up their costumes.” Bee wouldn’t look at me, and her voice was strained.

“Jaleb and I will meet you at your Aunt’s house.”

“Okay.” She put on a fake smile and walked out of the room.

Jaleb came in, pacing. We waited until Bee’s footsteps faded down the hallway.

“Jaleb, you understand what you want me to do, right? You will be reaped, and Bee will go on with her life. I need you to understand, so you won’t back out at the last minute. I can’t bind Kessler to the ground, ending his wrath, only a Flynt who is a Grim Reaper can.”

“I know what I have to do. I can’t let anything happen to my sister, but I know her and she will get in the way.” Jaleb sat on her bed and picked up a pink bunny.

“I have a plan A and B,” I said, walking over to her corkboard, looking at the years I missed. I took out my phone and began to take pictures. I wouldn’t forget her.

“What are they?” Jaleb flung the bunny. It landed upside down.

“Plan A, Bee will release my soul, step aside, and let me reap you,” I said.

“And plan B?” Jaleb stared at her photos.

“When I reap you, I’ll have to control Bee’s movements, using my scythe, so she doesn’t freak out and mess things up. It’s easy and Ivar does it to me. Then to become a Grim Reaper like me, find something you’ll regret and think of only that thing. Can you do that?” I put my phone in my pocket.

“Together we’ll fix this mess. I’m in.” We fist bumped and walked out the door into the backyard. We had a plan. Now we had to get through trick-or-treating with two toddlers. That would be interesting.