Deadly Kisses

Thirty-Three





REINA SAID THAT AMERICA’S STONEHENGE, AKA MYSTERY HILL, WAS NO MORE THAN A GRIM REAPER CITY PUSHED ABOVE GROUND BY AN EARTHQUAKE. IT WAS NOW THE PLACE TO HOLD THE ULTIMATE GRIM REAPER ALL HALLOWS EVE PARTY.

The dock for the Salem cemetery was jammed with gondolas. Grim Reapers crammed into the narrow cave exit. Some brought their assignments. Their humans followed obediently. A death dog sat at the entrance, waiting for trouble.

Jaleb and Bee huddled together in my gondola, sensing the end.

I felt Bee’s internal struggle and tried to comfort her.

“Jaleb, I can’t imagine you as a Grim Reaper. Once it’s over, you can ascend.” She looked to me, pity on her face. I concentrated on finding a spot to park.

“Move it Reaper. I have a hot date.” A middle-aged Grim Reaper almost rammed us. I clenched my teeth, letting him pass.

“Bee,” I whispered, “the cloak you were sitting on earlier. Put it on. You won’t be noticed because technically you aren’t marked and you feel like a Grim Reaper. Kind of glad you held my soul hostage. It came in handy, eh?”

I watched as she took a deep breath looking at the heavy drab fabric, slipping it over her head. She pulled the hood to her eyes.

Jaleb shook so hard the gondola vibrated. Bee placed a hand on him, but he only shook more.

I found a spot down river and eased the gondola to the shore. There was a welcome banner strung on the wall to the entrance. Bunches of black balloons were anchored around rocks.

Bee clutched Jaleb’s hand. “This is it, brother. Remember, we have to do this for the twins. We have to restore balance for our family.”

“Yup, this is it. No matter what happens, we tried, okay?”

“Okay, and no heroics. I go willingly,” Bee pleaded.

“No! Let me take care of you for once.”

“You look like hell.” She squeezed his hand, waiting for me to get off the gondola first.

“Yeah, and you look like a Grim Reaper,” Jaleb said.

“What about me?” I said.

“Weird, but you are like an angel with all that blond hair and blue eye stuff going on. No wonder they want to kick you out of here,” Jaleb said.

“Thanks, I think.”

I made sure Bee stayed close to me. Jaleb was near her like glitter on white glue as we walked through the crowd and out of the crypt that led into a small cemetery. We followed the arrows that led to the main entrance of Stonehenge.

“Mommy, why can’t we have a balloon?” A child stomped and pouted near the sign.

Bee stopped, seeing a Grim Reaper family. “How can that be? She’s around nine years old. The woman looks like she’s ninety.”

The increased thumping of her heart echoed off our souls.

I whispered to her. “They all held on to their regret. They live like humans that are still alive and seem happy. We all have to die sometime. She looks nine, but is probably way mature for her age if she’s been here awhile.”

“She wants a balloon, Aiden.”

“And I want you. We want what we want. The heart has its own agenda.”

The Reaper family walked into the entrance, and I held Bee tight as our turn came next. I handed the tickets to the Grim Reaper at the entrance. The death dog stood and sniffed the damp air. He got up, circling around us. He smelled me. Bee stiffened when he was next to her. I felt her freak out. The dog put his nose to the air ready to bark.

“Bee,” I whispered. “Put your hand on my scythe.”

She did and the hound moved on to Jaleb. He immediately sent a howl into the confines of the cave. The eerie howl reverberated, traveling throughout the cavern.

Everyone turned. So much for inconspicuous.

Jaleb stepped closer to me. Bee and I formed a protective circle around him. The other Reapers bowed to me. I guess I was the hero of the party, bringing my victim. Lucky me. “I think we’re getting an escort and maybe the royal treatment.”

“Great, a royal send off,” Jaleb mumbled.

The Reapers moved aside to let us through, and we followed the mutt as his bony tail whipped in the air. The sunset cast shadows off a small building. We walked around it until we were on a path, going uphill to where the reapings would take place.

It was dark outside when we entered the main site of Stonehenge. Flames flickered around the stone walls like someone had snapped their fingers, immobilizing the light. In the center of the party on a large, flat, sloped rock was a bonfire. Reapers huddled around it for warmth. I had my warmth right next to me.

We walked up a marked path, past alcoves. The death dog led us to a drab, flat stone adorned with black roses. A Reaper sat on the stone wall next to it. His bony finger rapped on the table, making a clank.

“Name, young Reaper.” He stood, coming to my chest.

“Ad Grant.”

“Ivar!” He looked up into a raised gazebo. Ivar sat with his hood down and a Viking helmet on his head. A girl belly danced around him. Her cloak was fashioned into a two-piece outfit. “Ivar!”

“What? Can’t you see I’m busy?” His red disjointed eyes rolled in their sockets, following the Reaper girl.

“Call off the bounty for Ad. He came, no need to torture him.” The Grim Reaper looked at us, laughing.

“Does he have the girl? He was supposed to bring her, too,” Ivar said.

I had to steady the scythe because Bee’s hand shook out of control.

“Ad, I don’t feel her through our bond. You play with me, and I’ll make sure you have the most unpleasant experience being my Reaperling.”

“She’s here, Ivar!” I shouted to him.

“Then she can give me fresh skin on this glorious night. I want to look dashing for the ladies. Unless you want to share her with me, Ad. The more females the better.”

“No. I don’t share and sloppy seconds don’t look to be your thing.” The hairs on my neck rose when he seemed to look through me.

“Bring her to me. I want to soak up some of her life energy from her aura.”

“No, please don’t make me go, Aiden. I’ll do anything. He scares the hell out of me.” Bee clutched my cloak.

“Just give him what he wants. I’ll be right next to you.”

I walked with her up the stairs to the gazebo. Erik walked in with his human sacrifice. Everyone bowed.

“Call off the bounty for Erik, Ivar.”

“Yes, yes,” Ivar said, staring at Bee with his yellow chipped teeth.

The Ancient stood towering over me and I was almost six feet tall. He yanked off Bee’s hood, looking to her hand that tightly gripped my scythe. “Well, well, how interesting. Seems our little life tree is bonded to your scythe, Ad.” His red eyes darted to me. “Care to explain?”

I shook my head. “Not really.”

“We’re going to have so much fun together.” Ivar leaned forward. “Bring the girl now.”

I turned to Bee, sending her every ounce of strength I could gather.

“I’ll give him the skin he craves. Just stay next to me.”

My brave Bee placed her hand over the hole of his nose. She drew her energy inward, and then out toward her hands. Everyone turned and stared. The party and music all stopped.

Dead silence swept through Stonehenge. Ivar had new flesh covering his face. His red eyes were now brown. Eyebrows sprouted into one big, bushy uni-brow. The hair on his head grew back thick, curly, and brown. It came down from under the helmet. He smiled wickedly.

I caught Bee as she collapsed. Grim Reapers started to charge with their hands reaching out for her. I picked up Bee, looking for an exit.

Ivar raised his scythe and slammed it to the ground, sending stones vibrating. The Grim Reapers stopped, looking to him.

I looked to Jaleb, his mouth gaped open.

The crowd backed up, one step at a time. “Feel the young Reaper. He is bound to me. One hand.” Ivar turned and dragged a Reaper from the shadows. He held something to his throat. The crowd inhaled together and could have created a vacuum. “Now enjoy the party.”

Ivar came to us. “All you have to do is threaten their boss and they scatter like rats in the sewer running from water. Stick with us, kid, and you’ll achieve great things. When we summon you, bring the Flynt you choose to reap.” He walked away.

“Is she okay, Aiden? You’re connected to her, right? Feel her. She’s not gonna . . . oh God!” Jaleb bit at his bottom lip.

“She only passed out. Her aura is flickering, but it’s recovering and getting bright.”

“Damn, this is messed up. I can’t believe you didn’t ascend for this.” Jaleb furrowed his eyebrows with his lips in an angry line.

I gave him a dark look because he was choosing the same fate. I looked back to Bee.

“Don’t you put those lips on her, man. We had a deal.”

“I’m not. I had no idea about this part. I was happy being a Grim Reaper for the past two years. I did what I wanted, had a boss that texted me, a job I liked, and then they wanted to test me using Bee. It all went downhill from there. So give me a break.”

“Okay, sorry you’re right. You’re doing your best. Let’s just keep her alive. Once I become a Grim Reaper like you we’ll find a way to rid the Ancient scums. It seems like you destroy the boss, you destroy the Reaperlings. Look at the way they responded when bone head dragged that Reaper to the stage. We’ve become nonexistent and they’re leaving us alone.”

“I think you’re right.”

Bee moaned and her eyes fluttered. “Bee, open your eyes. I’m here and so is Jaleb. You’re okay. It took a lot of energy to heal an Ancient Grim Reaper. You’ll feel better once you have some sugar, and Jaleb brought your favorite jellybean flavor.”

Jaleb put his hand on my shoulder. “For what it’s worth I’m sorry you will lose her again. I’ll always regret keeping you two apart.”

“That’s good Jaleb, keep that regret flowing,” I whispered.

“What are you two whispering about?” Bee had her eyes open and her lips were in a pout.

Jaleb put a handful of jellybeans in her hand. “Nothing.”

“Run through our situation, Aiden.” She curled in my lap, putting all of the jellybeans into her mouth.

“Well, I bargained with Ivar to keep one of you alive. We need to destroy Ivar, and find Kessler Flynt. And I’m about to sentence one of you to the same fate that awaits me with bone head.” I sighed, “Who says you float on clouds in your afterlife?”