by Nicky Graves
“Well, I know I haven’t heard the last of Azrael. You might still get rid of me.”
Treble shook his head, his beard swaying back and forth. “He cannot kill you. You are linked. His scythe did not work. He will have to find another way.”
“What was the mark he was so insistent on finding? Is it really the mark of the heir? What would that even look like?”
“No more questions. I must think.”
The fog evaporated, and I was left alone again.
And where was Ranger?
Some watchdog.
27
I didn’t sleep after Azrael’s I-am-your-father bomb, but I did wait until the sun rose to go check on Lawson. Now that I was still among the living for the time being, I didn’t want my mom’s wrath as well as Azrael’s.
However, when I peeked inside my bedroom, Lawson was gone. In his place was Boomer who was sprawled on my bed and drooling on my pillow.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, shaking him awake.
He peered up at me. “Why aren’t you dead?”
I didn’t want to explain everything to Boomer. He wouldn’t be able to help me anyway.
“Where’s Lawson?” I asked.
“Home. He said I had to watch over you until ‘it’ happens.”
“Then why are you waiting up here when I was downstairs?”
“I didn’t want to see ‘it’ happen.”
“You’re a reaper. You’ve seen death before.”
“You’re tangling with Azrael. I want none of that.”
“Well, it looks like I’m off the hook for a while.”
“He took back the curse?”
“No. I’m going to die,” I said with a sigh. “Just take me to Lawson. I need to talk to him.”
“He didn’t look like he was up to talking.”
It was true. Lawson had looked horrible. He probably couldn’t help me in his current state. But then who could?
“Take me to the library,” I said.
“I’m not a taxi.”
“No, but until I get my reaper powers, you’re stuck with me.”
“I could just kill you and be done babysitting you.”
“Treble would beat you up.”
Boomer scratched his head. “Then how will you die?”
“I don’t know. And I’d rather not know ahead of time. How did you die?”
“I choked.”
“You choked?”
He nodded. “Steak.”
“I wasn’t expecting that.”
He shrugged. “Some people die gloriously. I died from something lower on the food chain.”
“Sorry.” I’d make sure not to eat steak.
“I’ve never eaten it since.”
“I don’t blame you. So, you going to help me out?”
He groaned. “Fine. I’ll bring you to the library, but I’m not coming in.”
“Okay.” I glanced at the bed where I had set my phone down. It wasn’t there any longer. I had told Lawson I wouldn’t need it anymore, so he must have taken it with him. “Lawson has my phone. Can we stop at his place first?”
Boomer hunched forward as if I had asked him to move the Empire State Building by himself.
“It’ll only take a second,” I said. “The sooner you help me, the sooner you can get rid of me.”
He sighed and then reached out to touch me.
“Wait!” I said, but we had already shifted. When we reached Lawson’s pod, I said, “I wanted to change first.” I was still in my clothes from last night.
“Too late,” Boomer said, placing his hand on the pod. We walked in a second later.
“Lawson?” I asked.
There wasn’t an answer, so we walked toward the bedroom.
“I don’t get how this pod works,” I said. “Is there a permissions setting? Like once he allows you in, you can just come in even if he’s not here or passed out?”
“Seriously with the questions again?”
“Sorry. I just don’t understand how we can be in his pod.”
“I don’t know how it works. It just does.”
I knocked on the half-open door and then peeked in. Lawson was lying on the bed, but it looked as if he had barely made it. His legs were draped off the bed as if he had sat down and then fallen back.
“He doesn’t look good,” I said.
“He’s been moving and talking, so he’ll be fine. It’ll just take time.”
I grimaced. I wished I could do something to help, but it seemed like I caused more problems than not.
“Where do you think my phone is?” I asked.
Boomer glanced around the room. “I can’t see it in here. I’ll go check the other rooms.”
Not wanting to lurk at the bedroom door, I followed Boomer.
The phone wasn’t in the living room or kitchen.
“Do you use your kitchen?” I asked out of curiosity, especially after learning how he had died.
“Sometimes,” he said. “Some reapers don’t have them. After a while, you stop caring about food.”
“Do you have a favorite food?”
He shrugged. “I grew up on meat and potatoes. But I’m digging falafel right now. Still have to order it. Mine doesn’t turn out.”
“Do you get delivery in the dead zone?”
“Don’t be an idiot.”
“I’m not trying to be. I don’t know if you have restaurants here.”
“We have a few bars that serve some food. But it’s mainly just alcohol.”
“Do you have to be twenty-one?” I asked, wondering if I’d ever be legal to drink.
“The dead zone doesn’t have laws.”
“Is there more crime here?”
“No one is that stupid,” he said. “Pissing people off here will get you killed or exiled. Find your phone. I don’t want to waste my entire day with you.”
“I don’t know where Lawson put it.”
“It might be in his pocket,” Boomer said.
We both returned to the bedroom to look at Lawson.
“Go check,” I said.
“Guys don’t go digging around in other guys’ pockets.”
I supposed he was right. Still, I’d hate for Lawson to wake up with my hand stuck in his pocket. I walked over and touched Lawson’s arm, shaking him. “Lawson, wake up.”
He didn’t budge.
“If I had a marker, I’d color a mustache on him,” Boomer said thoughtfully.
“That’s mean.”
“That’s entertaining.”
Hesitantly, I skimmed my hand along the front pocket area of Lawson’s jeans. He definitely had something in his right pocket.
I looked at Boomer. “I think it’s in his pocket.”
Boomer leaned against the door jamb. “So, what are you waiting for?”
“Courage,” I admitted.
“Then we’ll be here all day. Just stick your hand in his pocket. I guarantee he won’t mind.”
“Why not?”
Boomer quirked a brow. “No guy minds when a girl feels them up.”
“I’m not feeling him up,” I stated.
Boomer simply smirked.
“I guess I don’t need my phone,” I said.
“Chicken.”
“I’m not chicken,” I lied.
He raised a brow. “Just do it.”
I looked back at Lawson. I really didn’t want to be without a phone in the dead zone, especially since Boomer was going to abandon me.
Slowly, I placed my fingertips under the seam of his pocket, waiting for him to wake up and accuse me of groping him. But he didn’t move. I slid my hand in farther, trying not to think about anything but the phone. However, thoughts began to stray and turned slightly naughty. He was warm, and his thigh muscles were strong and lean. Firm. But just as I felt the top of the phone, my hand yanked out and slapped Lawson.
The crack of skin against skin was loud in the quiet room.
Lawson groaned and blinked awake, starin
g at me and then at Boomer. He brought his hand up to rub his cheek. “What the hell?”
“Dude, you just smacked the crap out of Lawson,” Boomer said with a laugh.
“It wasn’t me,” I said.
Treble materialized. “Intolerable. No touching.”
We all stared at Treble, who was visibly upset. Even his beard bristled.
“I was only getting my phone,” I said. “You didn’t have to slap him. He was passed out.”
“Intolerable feelings,” Treble said. “No more.”
Boomer grinned. “Getting all hot and bothered touching Lawson?”
I couldn’t look at Lawson. I already felt my face burning in embarrassment. Yes, Lawson was cute. And yes, my heart was skipping like a kindergartner playing hopscotch, but that didn’t mean anything.
“Treble, you can’t slap or punch people unless I’m in danger,” I said.
“No more kissing feelings,” Treble stated.
Boomer snorted a laugh.
I rolled my eyes. “All I wanted was my phone.”
Lawson groaned into a sitting position. “I think I missed a step. What’s going on? Are you alive or dead?”
“Alive for now,” I said. “And Azrael is my dad.”
Lawson’s expression looked as if I had slapped him again. “What?”
“He came to kill me when you were passed out. He couldn’t. One thing led to another and he figured out I’m his bastard child. His words, not mine. I’m thinking more like he’s my bastard father. But I don’t have the mark he claims I should have, and he said he’s still going to figure out a way to kill me. Like dead, dead. Until then, the curse still stands and then I’ll be a reaper. I was going to head to the library to figure out the mark thing.”
Lawson’s expression still held shock. “What?” he asked again.
“She’s screwed,” Boomer said. “End of story.”
“Thanks,” I muttered. “But until it’s legitimately the end of my story, I want my phone back.”
Lawson took it from his pocket and handed it to me. “Did you talk to Ranger?”
“No, I haven’t seen him. I thought he was supposed to watch over my family.”
“He is.”
“Well, I have no idea where he is.”
Lawson attempted to stand. “I’ll go to the library with you.” He then sunk back to the bed. “Just give me a minute.”
“You’re in no shape,” I said. “Boomer will take me to the library. I’ll call if I find anything useful.”
Lawson looked at Boomer. “Stay with her.”
Boomer’s expression fell. “Do I have to?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.” He looked sullenly at me. “Let’s get this over with.”
I grinned and held out my hand.
After we shifted to the outside of the library pod, I placed my hand on the wall and we walked inside. I headed to the table.
Without hesitation, I jumped into my questions. “Librarian, can the Grim Reaper have an heir?”
“It is possible. One has never been recorded,” the librarian said.
“What is the mark of the heir?”
“The mark of the heir is a marking that designates the heir.”
“You just talked in circles,” I said. “What does the mark look like?”
“Unknown.”
“Does the heir have to kill the Grim Reaper to take over?”
“Unknown. It has never been done before.”
“Obviously,” I muttered.
“This is useless,” Boomer said. “Can we go now?”
“Almost,” I said. “I just have one more question. How do I get rid of the stone stuck in me?”
“Specify stone,” the librarian said.
“A life stone.”
“The only ones known to have reclaimed life stones are the guardians.”
“Where do I find them?”
“Unknown.”
I sighed. “Is there anyone who might know this information?”
“Information might be found with the Elder Council.”
“Boomer, let’s go to the Elder Council.”
“You can’t just go to the elders,” he said. “If they want to talk to you, they’ll summon you.”
Interesting. “How do I get them to summon me?”
Boomer shrugged. “Never had to find out. Don’t want to find out.”
“Okay, then take me to the Lost King realm and I’ll ask.”
“No,” Boomer said.
“Why not?”
“For starters, I’m not your chauffeur. And because I want nothing to do with the elders. If you want to go, you’ll have to wait for Lawson to take you.”
“Maybe Treble will take me,” I said, wondering if he was paying attention to the conversation. He was eager to get rid of me just like I was eager to get rid of him.
“Great. Maybe Treble can take you home too.”
I sighed. “Treble’s stubborn. Just take me home and then you can go.” It seemed everyone wanted to get rid of me. It wasn’t flattering.
I wasn’t sure what I’d do at home. I still had the curse hanging over me, which made me nervous.
Boomer didn’t waste any time. He dumped me off in my bedroom and made a quick escape. I walked downstairs.
“Happy birthday!” Mom said as soon as I walked into the kitchen. It was still morning, and she handed me a large plate of pancakes with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles on it.
“Thank you,” I said, sitting down at the table. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was.
“Later, we’ll talk about the boy who was in your room. But what are your plans for the day?” she asked.
“I’m not sure,” I said.
“Any plans with Larue?” she asked.
“Maybe,” I said.
“I’ll take you out to lunch if you want to hang out with me today. We can go pick out a cake for tonight.”
“Yeah, okay,” I said.
“Great,” she said with a sunny smile. “After you finish your pancakes, can you drop David off at the Waltons’ house?”
“Boy Scouts again?”
She nodded as she scrubbed the pan in the sink. “He’s getting a badge today.”
While I avoided having to drive my brother anywhere, I figured I could do it this one time. Who knew what would happen after today. Maybe I’d never see my brother ever again.
My reaction to my annoying sibling made me wonder if I wasn’t a similar nuisance to Boomer.
David ran into the kitchen, smacking me in the back of my head as he sat down at his own plate of pancakes.
“Be nice to your sister,” Mom scolded. “It’s her birthday.”
He didn’t look as though he was sorry. In fact, he grinned at me right before he shoved an enormous chunk of pancake into his mouth. He could barely chew it, and all I could see were bits of pancake falling out of his gaping mouth. My mind strayed back to Boomer, who had choked on steak. Would David’s demise be pancakes?
But David survived, and nearly an hour later I dropped him off at the Waltons’. The goober even remembered I owed him forty dollars, which I promised to pay him that night.
On my way home, I headed through town, happy to see the new stoplight in town was green for me. As I drove through, I saw a vehicle that didn’t obey its red light. Gripping the steering wheel, I braced for impact as the van plowed into my door.
I remember the van crumpling my door. I remember it skidding me into a light pole. And I remember the airbags blasting around me like gunshots. I also remember a second vehicle crunching against the van, pushing it harder into my door.
And then my vision went black, which was odd since it was still morning.
Was I dreaming all in black?
I felt funny. As if weightless.
Slowly, I became aware of what was happening around me.
“Is she dead?” someone asked.
Pain. I should feel pain.
Blinking my eyes open, I squin
ted against the sun to find that I was wedged in the car. My door was smashed and pinned by the van. Judging from my collapsed roof, I must have knocked over the light pole.
Trapped in place, I couldn’t move.
Was this the curse or just an accident?
“Treble?” I asked. “Am I alive?”
No answer. Maybe he was knocked out, or maybe he didn’t give a damn. It was probably the latter.
My door was pried open, and then I found myself being hurried into the back of an ambulance on a stretcher. But I didn’t focus on the EMTs who blurred around me. I focused on Lawson, who sat off to the side looking as if he was about to pass out.
He gave me a half-hearted smile. “Congratulations. You’re a reaper.”
I stared at him. I was a reaper.
I wasn’t sure congratulations were in order. However, there was one thing I was sure about. Life was about to get a lot more complicated.
Epilogue
The Supreme Elder pushed back from his desk when black smoke twisted around him, the tendrils forming into snakes. He kept his fear at bay even as Azrael appeared before him. After all, there was nothing to be nervous about. The Supreme Elder had faithfully served Azrael all these years.
But still, Azrael wouldn’t be pleased about the girl.
The Supreme Elder stood and bowed before his robed master. “My lord, I wasn’t expecting you.” He straightened and kept his expression neutral.
“All these years,” Azrael said, “you have served me. Not once I questioned your loyalty to me.”
“Thank you, my lord. You know I only live to—”
“Until now,” Azrael said, sweeping back his hood to glare at the elder. “You betrayed me.”
“No, never.” The elder stepped back. “You know I would never.”
“You gave the life stone to the girl.”
“I couldn’t give it to you outright. I would be outcasted and then of no help to you on the council. I gave it to the mortal girl, knowing you could easily defeat her.”
“She’s no mere girl,” Azrael growled, making the elder wince. “She’s my heir. And you just gave her power beyond anything you can imagine.”
“Sir,” the elder gasped. “I didn’t know. I wouldn’t—” He stopped when he saw Azrael’s scythe form in his hand. “Please, I beg you. I didn’t know. I’ll get it back.”
