by Nadirah Foxx
On foot, it took longer than usual to reach Creekwood Estates. It gave me plenty of time to think. For starters, I never thought Senora would have cared one way or another if I lived or died. Outside of my helping her out during that nonsense with the Collector, we didn’t know each other. We weren’t friends, but maybe that was what I needed—a stranger to slap some sense into me. Perhaps it was time to stop letting life pass me by.
Baba opened the door before I rang the bell. The old man didn’t speak. He simply turned and shuffled down the hall. I followed him into the great room.
“Have a seat, Montezuma.” Hunter’s grandfather had a colorful rug spread in front of the fireplace. A ceremonial pipe and a round ceramic container lay beside it. “I’d hoped you would come.”
My gaze lingered on the tools. “A vision quest?”
His faded blue eyes swept over me. “You seek an answer that I can’t give. Embrace the vision and learn from it.”
I sat cross-legged on the floor and watched the man prepare the instrument. His stiff fingers fumbled with the lighter before the scent of sinsemilla filled the large room. He lifted the pipe and inhaled from it. He held onto the smoke for a few seconds, then passed the pipe to me.
When I turned sixteen, I took my first vision quest. Grandfather took me to a cabin up on Mount Alexa. We fasted for two days before entering a tent. I remember sweating and lots of hallucinations. A day later, I woke up at home. Grandfather told me that my spirit animal was a jaguar. It made its appearance that evening. I didn’t recall whether weed was used during that journey.
Baba waved the pipe in front of me. If I wanted answers, I could either get them his way or do it on my own. If I stayed on my course, I’d only be tired and frustrated when the end arrived. Hesitantly, I put my lips on the device and inhaled.
“Close your eyes, Montezuma. Envision your dreams. Find your answers.” The man chanted in his native tongue as my body relaxed and the spirit of the jaguar guided me.
A thick mist surrounds me.
When it parts, the gorgeous woman stands there. She runs a hand through her black wavy hair. “We finally meet.”
“You’re . . . Who are you?”
“An escort for Madame Death.”
My heart falters a beat. “So, it’s true? I’m going to die.”
Her plump lips part. “One day, but not soon. I won’t allow it.”
I cock my head to one side. “I’m confused. If you work for Death, don’t you have to do your job?”
“I don’t work for Death. Unless you are of Asian descent, I won’t be sent for you. Besides, I’ve been searching for you all my life.” She steps closer and touches my face with her cold hand. “I have dreamed of you for years. It’s Samhain. We must meet, but I don’t know where to find you.”
“A place called Havenwood Falls.”
“I know of it.”
The woman is astonishing. Her eyes are like brilliant green gems while her skin is so pale, it’s almost transparent. I lean into her palm. “What’s your name?”
“Pandora.” She smiles, and I’m filled with warmth. “See you soon.”
Before I can ask her anything else, the mist returns. The jaguar appears and nudges my hand.
“Montezuma.”
I blinked and saw Baba staring at me.
“Did you find what you were seeking?”
“Not sure.” I scrubbed my hand over my face. “The woman said she was an escort for Madame Death.”
“Madame Death?” Baba parroted. He lowered his eyes, and his brow wrinkled. After a moment, he looked at me. “Japanese legend speaks of death spirits called shinigami. Essentially they’re reapers, but aren’t created by Death. They also behave a little differently.”
“She said she wouldn’t allow me to die. How is that possible? If she’s one of these spirits, isn’t her job collecting for Death?”
Baba gestured for me to help him up. After I assisted him, we walked out to the deck. The man gazed up into the sky and said, “I suspect that this female has a special connection with Death. Maybe she will utilize it to save you, Montezuma.” He looked at me. “Go home and prepare yourself. I felt a sincere concern for your well-being just now. Sleep. Eat. Make peace with this life. Change is coming.”
Humph. Yet another person suggesting a change was coming.
If that was true, would I like the person I’d become?
Chapter 4
Pandora
I bolted upright in bed and ran a hand over my face. Whatever that was—vision or premonition—totally freaked me out. In all the years that I’d dreamed of the handsome stranger, we’d never spoken. I was grateful that we did, since it gave me a location for him. Too bad I didn’t get a name.
I swung my feet to the floor and stared at it. Samhain was that evening. If I were going to Havenwood Falls, I had better hurry, especially since Death expected me to join him for—
My chirping phone stopped my thoughts. The only time it made that aggravating noise was when Madame Izanami summoned me. I accepted the call, thinking it would be my boss.
“Hello, Takara,” the familiar voice rumbled through my device.
Shit! How did he get my number?
“H-hello.”
“Am I disturbing you?”
“No.” I slid out of bed and went straight to the closet for my suitcase. “I just woke up.”
What should have been a quick trip was fast becoming a great escape. If I found what I was after, I didn’t plan to return. If Death or Madame Izanami caught up with me, returning to the shadow realm would be the least of my concerns.
“Good. I’m looking forward to dinner this evening.”
“About that . . .” I haphazardly grabbed outfits and tossed them onto the bed. “I’m not—”
“You’re not denying your future husband, are you? I look forward to getting to know you before we are wed.”
“And when is that exactly?”
“A week from today,” he said with a hint of joy in his voice.
Nerves crawled through my gut. There was no way in hell (pun intended) I would marry Death. “I’m sorry, but I—”
“Need time?” The entity cleared his voice. “Very well, Takara. I will wait on you, but don’t take too long. I expect you by my side in twenty-four hours.”
I swallowed hard. “What happens then?”
“If you are not with me, I will be forced to send out my demon sentinels.”
I envisioned demons hellbent on destruction, but were they worse than shinigami on a mission? What could happen?
They could end me . . .
Or Madame could evaporate me . . .
Or Death might come for me himself.
I was willing to chance it.
“Good to know. I’ll see you soon,” I lied.
Before Death disconnected the call, he added, “Oh, Takara, remember this.”
“Yes?”
“I always get what I want, and my sentinels don’t fail.” On that note, he ended the call.
I tossed my phone onto the bed. Common sense dictated that I keep my ass in Yomi and prepare for a wedding. Problem was, I firmly believed that shinigami should have the possibility for love and happiness. If we could give it, we should be able to receive it too. And I wanted the opportunity.
Getting to the town hidden in a box canyon would be relatively easy. Death spirits only had to picture where we wanted to go, and we’d transport to our destination. Which was a good thing, since I needed to leave the realm without fanfare.
Zipping up my bag, I checked around the room, making sure I didn’t forget anything. I’d left Hope a text message she’d receive upon waking. The female would be pissed because I didn’t say exactly where I was going. I had no choice but to keep her in the dark. If Madame summoned her, Hope couldn’t be forced to divulge the information.
Minutes later, I stepped from the shadows and stood in a town square surrounded by quaint storefronts. Each one was decorated for Halloween—a bi
g deal in a location full of supernaturals. It wasn’t my first time in Havenwood Falls. Hope and I had an assignment there a few years ago. But it was my first occasion as a visitor. Which meant adhering to the guidelines protecting those who considered the town a safe haven.
Anticipating that a member of the Court of the Sun and the Moon would soon find me, I crossed the square and entered Whisper Falls Inn. It, too, was decked out for the holiday with cobwebs, pumpkins, skeletons, and decorative lights.
“Can I help you?” The voice was attached to a beautiful woman with amazing gray-green eyes. She had that distinct otherworldly fragrance.
Approaching the desk, I said, “I need a room if you have something available.”
“For how long?”
Good question. How much time did I need to find the mystery man? “Maybe a couple of days?”
The woman peered over at a computer screen. “You’re in luck. Your name?”
“Pandora.”
Her fingers paused over the keyboard as she studied me. “Last name?”
“Just Pandora.” I glanced over my shoulder and was grateful to see we were alone. I’d been in the woman’s company long enough to detect that she was a moroi—a mortal vampire of Romanian ancestry. “And your name?”
“Michaela.” Her eyebrows knitted together as if she picked up on something. Lowering her voice, she said, “Forgive me for saying it, but you’re not human.”
“No, and neither are you.”
The woman crossed her arms. “Due to some trouble here, we’ve been scrutinizing everyone closer. What exactly are you, Pandora?”
“A death spirit,” I murmured.
Her eyes widened as she leaned over the desk. “Is somebody about to die?”
“No. This is purely a visit. Call it a vacation.”
Michaela pursed her shapely lips. “A reaper on vacation. That’s a first.”
“Reapers and shinigami aren’t exactly the same. We have different employers and inhabit different realms. I primarily escort souls of Asian descent.”
“So Death discriminates?”
I sighed. “Hey, I didn’t make the rules. It’s all based on a person’s particular religion. If you’re a follower of Shinto, you’ll eventually see one of my kind.”
Michaela gave me a hesitant nod like she wasn’t quite convinced. “You’ll need to register with the Court and get a temporary tattoo.”
“I’m aware of that and have no issue with your rules. Anything else?” I tried hard to sound pleasant, but Michaela was starting to irk me. Discussing inane facts wasn’t the best use of the little time I had.
“Since you know so much,” she said in a snippy tone, “you won’t mind staying put until my friend arrives. She’ll do your ink and get you registered.” Michaela pushed a key across the counter. “Your room is on the third floor.”
Suddenly, it occurred to me that I had to smooth things out with the female. Otherwise, I was in for an unpleasant visit. Retrieving the key, I said, “I apologize for my bad behavior. This is an unsanctioned trip. The sooner I can find who I’m looking for, the sooner I can leave.”
Michaela’s icy attitude thawed. “Next time, lead with that. Addie Beaumont will be here as soon as she can. Care to tell me who you’re looking for?”
“A man who rides a motorcycle and wears a leather jacket.”
Michaela laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’ll need more of a description than that. We have a motorcycle club in town. All the members of SIN wear leather.”
“Oh.” I hadn’t considered that the jacket was part of a uniform. “He’s tall and quite handsome.”
“Still fits a lot of the members. Where did you meet this man?”
“That’s the thing. I’ve only dreamed about him. Recently, his dream crossed over into mine.”
She gasped. “You’re the one.”
“The one what?”
“I might know . . . Hang on.” She pulled a phone from her jeans pocket. After a few minutes of viewing the screen, she turned the device toward me. “Is this him?”
Staring back at me was the stranger from my dreams—tall, slight build with dark hair and eyes. He was dressed in a black tuxedo. My heart stuttered when I considered the reason why his picture was on her phone. Hesitantly, I said, “Yes. And how do you know him?”
She smiled. “Monte and I are friends. I know his best friend’s wife, Izzie. That picture was taken at the wedding.”
Not convinced, I asked, “How did you know I was referring to him?”
“His friend, Hunter, told Izzie that Monte was having a hard time sleeping. She might have mentioned something about a dream to me on date night.”
“Date night?”
Michaela returned the phone to her pocket. “My fiancé and I went out with Hunter and Izzie.”
The joy of living in a small town. I sort of missed being in Yomi, where individuals minded their own business. Most of the time.
The door opened behind me and in walked a girl with a beanie covering her long dark hair. She carried two disposable cups in her hands. The rich smell of coffee tickled my nose as she came closer. “Michaela, I was coming out of Coffee Haven when I noticed—”
“Addie Beaumont, meet Pandora. She’ll be—”
“Who died?” Her brown eyes widened behind a pair of black-framed glasses. “Please tell me—”
“No one’s died,” Michaela said. “Pandora’s visit is—”
“Personal,” I said.
I didn’t want everyone knowing the reason I was in Havenwood Falls. This matter was between Monte and myself. Besides, there was a reaper in town—Shade StormIron—who worked for Death. It wouldn’t be good for me if Shade reported back to his employer.
Addie blew air from her cheeks and placed the cups on the desktop. She patted the satchel strapped across her body. “Good thing I carry this thing. Why don’t we go to your room, Pandora? We can take care of a little business and have a discussion.”
The room assigned to me was quaint but comfortable—a suitable queen-sized bed with a floral covering, the standard chest of drawers and a dresser, a small sofa and matching chair.
Addie tested my blood sample, and then laid out her tools for the tattoo on the coffee table. “Can I ask a question?”
I leaned forward on the chair. “Does that count, or did you want to ask another one?”
She shot me a curious stare. “Did I say something to offend you?”
“No. I’m sorry, but I don’t have a lot of time here. If my boss—”
“Death.”
“No. Madame Death. Different entity. Different realm.”
Addie held up a palm. “I get it. You want to hurry things along.”
I nodded.
“As much as I can appreciate your predicament, I have to follow the rules. We’ve had some issues in town with unwanted guests, for lack of a better word, coming and going. Not following—”
“Say no more.” I removed my jacket, leaving my arms bare. “This is a temporary design, right?”
“Yes.”
The girl pulled out a sketchbook and pencil. “Any thoughts on what you’d like and where to put it?”
“A lit candle.” I pointed to my shoulder.
Addie tilted her head to one side.
“It signifies the difference between shinigami and reapers. The latter harvest souls. shinigami escort. We make sure that people die when they’re supposed to. A candle symbolizes our purpose. When the candle burns out, your time is up. We have no say in how fast or slow it burns.”
“Interesting.” She prepared her tattoo gun. “Actually, you clarified some things for me. Not too long ago I did a design for a reaper. How is it that you’re not just a skeleton?”
“Another difference between shinigami and traditional reapers. We can maintain a corporeal form. It’s a lot easier to help a soul cross over when they’re not scared. We find this appearance more humane.”
Addie shrugged. “I guess that makes sense.”
“What will this tattoo do for me besides track me like supernatural GPS?”
The girl smiled. “You’ll feel more human and have basic human needs.”
“Like?”
“Eating, sleeping . . .” She tucked a strand of hair behind an ear. “Desires.”
I arched an eyebrow. “But I already have those things.”
“But do you always act on them? What about the desires?”
Without explaining myself, I said, “You’re right.”
As Addie prepped my skin with a wipe, she asked, “So tell me, if you’re not here on a mission, what brings you to Havenwood Falls?”
I reminded myself that she wasn’t my enemy. News of the Collector traveled as far as Yomi. We knew of the turmoil the being created in town. If the havoc had happened in my realm, we would’ve been just as cautious. “I’m seeking someone I’ve being dreaming of for a century.”
“That’s a long time to have the same dream. Do you know who it is?”
“Thanks to Michaela I do.” I flinched as the needle touched my flesh. “Where do I find SIN?”
Addie chuckled. “You mean the MC clubhouse? It’s about a block south from here, off Tenth Street and Petran. Are you sure you want to go there? It’s not the most savory of places.”
“That doesn’t matter. My curiosity won’t let me rest until I find Monte.”
Addie finished up her design with a huge grin on her face. “You’re looking for Monte? I could ask around for you. Find out where he might be.”
“Thank you.” I touched her forearm. “I really do apologize for my rudeness. I’m normally polite, but—”
“Understood. But why the rush?”
“I’m supposed to meet him tonight.” I shrugged on my jacket and stood. “Madame Death doesn’t know where I am. Making matters worse, Death will be looking for me too.”
Addie shuddered. “I don’t envy you. Whatever happens, Death can’t come to Havenwood Falls.” She gathered her gear and then added in a less stern voice, “That reaper I mentioned is still in town. Maybe he can be of some help.”
