Winged Reaper

by Shelley Russell Nolan

  ‘Packing?’

  ‘Easton is no longer safe, Connor. Malia and Almorthanos know I betrayed them. And Cade’s promise to protect us will hold little weight in the middle of a warzone. We need to leave, start new lives somewhere far away from here.’

  ‘You’re kidding me? I can’t just walk away. I have a life, a job, friends.’

  ‘You can find a new job. Make new friends.’

  ‘I’m not letting those arseholes run me out of my own town.’

  ‘Rhonda is right. Easton isn’t safe for you anymore. You should go,’ I said.’

  ‘What about you, and Dad?’

  ‘I helped create this mess. I can’t just walk away.’

  ‘You could, you know. You could leave. Become a different person, like Bradbury did.’

  I spun around to face Sam. ‘I am not going to pretend to be Emily.’ My stomach burned at the thought, making me regret downing so much scotch in one go.

  ‘It’s just an option. Or you could go with your family, all of you starting over together. Let those winged bastards fight it out amongst themselves.’

  ‘What about you? Are you going to walk away and let Almorthanos and Malia turn Easton into their own personal playground?’

  He slowly shook his head. ‘I have to make sure they are brought to account for their crimes.’

  ‘So do I.’

  ‘No, you don’t. You’ve done enough.’

  ‘I’m not leaving, Sam. Cade said my part in this wasn’t done, and he’s right. I have to make sure no one else gets hurt because of me.’

  ‘I’m not leaving either.’ Connor put his hand on my shoulder. ‘You can run away if you want, Mum, but I’m staying here.’

  ‘Connor, no, you don’t understand how bad it will get. I’ve lived through the horror of war once before, when I lived in Angellin. Almorthanos and Cade will turn Easton into a wasteland, thousands will die.’ Tears streaked Rhonda’s face, her eyes filled with dread.

  Connor moved to her side and placed his arm around her shoulders. ‘Mum, it will be okay. No more running away.’

  Her shoulders slumped and Connor led her over to the couch. She sank onto it, hands kneading her skirt.

  ‘Are you going to be okay for a while?’ Sam touched my elbow. ‘I need to go to the station. They’ve called half a dozen times, but I didn’t want to leave until I knew you were okay.’

  I forced a smile. ‘I’ll be fine. I’ll probably just go to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a big day, with Andrew’s funeral and finding a way to put an end to a war that’s been going on for centuries.’

  His mouth curved into a crooked smile as he leaned forward and kissed me on the forehead. ‘Sleep well.’

  He said goodbye to Rhonda and Connor and left. Chris hadn’t come back from the kitchen and I cowardly retreated to my bedroom. I huddled under the covers, trying not to think about being in Emily’s body. Every muscle pulled taut, it was impossible to sleep and I lay awake in the dark staring at nothing.

  How was I going to fix this?

  I closed my eyes and the last image I had of Emily filled my head. She’d been at peace, the light of her soul as bright as her personality, but it didn’t give me any comfort to know she had accepted her death and moved on. She didn’t know I’d taken over her body. I didn’t want to die, again, but the thought of remaining as I was made me shudder. I couldn’t live like this.

  I drew a shaky breath. No matter how much I hated being trapped in Emily’s body I couldn’t do anything about it until after I had taken care of Malia and Almorthanos. Almorthanos had been free for mere hours and already people had died, with worse to come according to Rhonda.

  I had no idea how to deal with a centuries old war and stop it spilling over onto Easton’s streets, and with the necklace destroyed I wouldn’t be able to use aether. If Grimm sent more Wraiths, the only way to stop them would mean reaping their souls and earning more penalties. I’d do it if I had to, but hoped it wouldn’t be necessary. Somewhere, someone had to know of a way to stop them that didn’t require me staying a reaper for all of eternity.

  I closed my eyes, willing my muscles to relax so I could at least grab a few hours of sleep.

  The bedroom door opened and closed. Soft footsteps approached the bed and I sat up. ‘Who’s there?’

  ‘You’re supposed to be asleep,’ said Sam, husky voice little more than a whisper.

  I sighed. ‘I can’t shut off my brain. I keep thinking about all the mistakes I made and how –’

  ‘Shush.’ Sam placed a finger over my mouth and then he gently pushed me down before he climbed into bed beside me. Then he pulled me against him, arms wrapped around me, my head resting on his chest.

  ‘Go to sleep, Tyler.’

  I closed my eyes, breathing in his fresh scent, comforted by the rise and fall of his chest.

  Safe in Sam’s arms, the questions and doubts melted away, the sound of his even breathing a lullaby that soothed me to sleep.

  31

  Clouds billowed above the cemetery, dark and threaded with menace – a fitting send off for a man who ruined so many lives.

  Denise, Andrew’s mother, leaned on my father’s arm. Every now and then she would dab at her eyes with a neatly folded handkerchief, careful not to smudge her perfectly applied makeup. I was pleased to see her artfully styled hair being blown every which way and the veil attached to her perky hat whipping around in the wind.

  She’d run out on Dad when Andrew was four, declaring motherhood was not for her, and made little effort to see her son in the years since. Yet here she was, playing the grieving mother to an audience who knew it for a sham.

  It was a pitiful audience at that. Sam and Chris had planned on attending, for moral support, but they’d both been called away by work. Rhonda, Connor and I were the only other people at the gravesite, apart from the celebrant Denise had paid to say a few words on Andrew’s behalf. The celebrant’s voice was stilted, no doubt aware of the true nature of the man he was currently extolling the virtues of.

  The celebrant fell silent and took a step back so Dad and Denise could scoop up a handful of dirt and scatter it over Andrew’s coffin. The celebrant invited the rest of us to do the same. I moved forward, tears in my eyes. Despite everything, Andrew had been my brother.

  Denise blocked my way. ‘Not you,’ she said, briskly wiping dirt from her hand with her handkerchief. ‘I don’t know why you even bothered to come.’

  ‘I’m sorry?’

  ‘You should be sorry. You have no right to be here.’

  Dad stepped up beside her, glaring at me. ‘Why did you come? You’re not part of this family. You’re not my daughter anymore. I disowned you.’

  Eyes stinging, I sucked in a breath. ‘I .., ah …’

  I gazed over his shoulder, watching the celebrant as he retreated through the cemetery with unseemly haste. Not that I blamed him for getting as far away as possible from our family drama.

  ‘I disowned both of you,’ said Dad, shifting his glare to Rhonda, ‘when I kicked you out of my house.’

  Rhonda shot in front of me and poked Dad in the chest. ‘You didn’t kick me out, you miserable bastard. I left you, and it was the best day of my life.’

  Dad’s face went red and his shoulders stiffened. ‘You are nothing without me, just a worthless female, useless.’

  ‘Hey, Dad, steady on, you can’t speak to Mum like that,’ said Connor.

  ‘Don’t tell me what to do.’ Dad rounded on Connor. ‘I told you not to have anything more to do with either of them.’

  ‘I am not going to wipe Mum and Tyler out of my life just because you’re pissed at them.’ Connor, expression serious, shook his head. ‘I am never going to turn my back on Mum, and Tyler is the best sister a guy could have. She was willing to die, to save me. You’re making a huge mistake shutting her out.’

  ‘The only mistake I made was not getting rid of her after her mother died.’ Dad whirled around, hate contorting his features, fists cl
enched as he loomed over me. ‘You have been nothing but trouble from the day you were born. You killed your mother, and now Andrew is dead because of you. You’ve poisoned my wife’s mind, turned Connor against me, and now you stand there –’

  ‘That’s it. I’ve had it with this crap.’ I shoved Dad in the chest, making him stumble backwards. ‘All my life, all I wanted was for you to accept me, be proud of me, treat me with respect. I’m done with that. I’m not wasting any more of my life worrying about what you think, or how to make you love me.’ It felt good to finally say it, to break free from the mould Dad had cast for me, to be my own person regardless of what others thought. Liberating, intoxicating, I felt the best I had in ages.

  Chest heaving, Dad pointed a shaking hand at me. ‘You are evil.’

  ‘Your daughter is less than perfect, but I wouldn’t go that far.’ The amused voice came from behind me and I spun around, gasping when dozens of Tr’lirians stepped out of the astral plane, Almorthanos in the lead.

  He stalked towards me, eyes locked on mine, and I fought the urge to drop to my knees. In the Underworld the stench of Demania had emanated from him in sickening waves, but it seemed he’d left that behind with his old body. Now nothing detracted from the sheer presence of his soul. Dark, forceful, it called out to me, demanding my surrender.

  He cast an eye over my frozen family, who were all down on one knee, their heads downcast. ‘Oh dear, am I interrupting?’ He waved a hand. ‘Please, carry on. Listening to you people and your petty squabbles is the most entertainment I have had in decades.’ He lifted one eyebrow. ‘I can hold off on exacting my revenge while you lot rip shreds from each other.’

  ‘Who the hell are you?’ Dad pushed himself to his feet, wheezing at the effort it took. His face was pale but determined as he puffed his chest out and thrust his shoulders back.

  Almorthanos waved his hand and two of his people sprang forward to tackle Dad, twisting his arms behind his back and forcing him back to his knees.

  Ignoring Dad’s outraged yells, Almorthanos leaned close to murmur in my ear, ‘I was going to slaughter your father first, as punishment for your defiance, but from what I just observed you might be grateful if I did.’

  ‘Leave my father alone.’ I glared at him, fists clenched.

  ‘So you do still care for him, despite your words to the contrary.’

  ‘What do you want, Almorthanos?’

  ‘We’ll get to that in a moment.’ He grinned, exposing perfect teeth and a glittering smile. ‘First I’d like an explanation for how you managed to escape the Underworld and take over your cousin’s body. Malia was most put out to discover you had escaped. She’s quite taken with your young man and intends on creating her new dynasty with him.’

  ‘That is never going to happen. Sam would never touch her.’

  ‘He’s not going to have a choice, and I’m sure she’ll make it most pleasurable for him. He’ll soon forget all about you, which is for the best as I have plans of my own.’ He lifted his hand and stroked my cheek. ‘It truly is remarkable how much you resemble my sister’s original form. I didn’t get the chance to appreciate it when you were in the Underworld. But to see you now, it warms my heart to know our daughters will share Malia’s true face.’

  ‘What?’ I recoiled from him, vigorously shaking my head. ‘That is never going to happen.’

  ‘It will be as I wish. But first I have some business to take care of.’ He looked over my shoulder, his face hardening. ‘Rallani,’ he said, shaking his head, brown eyes cold, ‘you were one of my favourites. I never dreamed you would betray me, your own flesh and blood, and side with Godden.’

  Rhonda’s head flung up, eyes wide, chest heaving. ‘Malia left me no choice. She was going to kill my son.’

  ‘Do you really believe his miserable life is worth more than mine?’ Almorthanos straightened to his full height, words booming in the air. ‘I am the head of Clan Davila. You should have been thankful we chose your son’s body to be my vessel. Instead you betrayed me and for that you will die, along with your precious son.’

  ‘No, please, not Connor.’ Rhonda shot to her feet, fear etched on her face, and launched herself at Almorthanos. ‘Kill me if you want, but let my son go.’

  Almorthanos caught Rhonda and spun her around, hand gripping her throat. ‘I have no mercy for traitors.’ He shoved her away from him and she stumbled, dropping to her hands and knees.

  He turned back to face me, lips curled up in a smirk. ‘You defied me, conspired with my enemy.’ He gave a nod and the Tr’lirians, black wings unfurled, surged forward and took hold of Connor, Rhonda and Denise, forcing them to their knees. ‘As punishment you get to watch everyone you care about die.’

  Dad was wrestled over to join the others as four Tr’lirians without wings marched over to stand in front of each member of my family, swords in hand, poised to do Almorthanos’s bidding.

  ‘Say goodbye to your loved ones, Tyler. From this moment on I will be your entire world.’

  I instinctively reached for my necklace, ready to draw in as much aether as I could hold. But my fingers found bare skin. My necklace was gone, destroyed when I’d set Almorthanos free. Without it I would never be able to stop him from killing my family.

  He caught me around the waist, pulling me against his chest. I twisted so I faced him, one hand coming up to clutch at his neck.

  Please let this work.

  ‘Kill them and I’ll reap your soul.’ Voice as cold as I could make it, I glared up at him.

  ‘You’re not a reaper anymore. Grimm said your link to the Underworld was severed when you were brought back to life.’ Despite the confidence in his words, I caught a hint of worry in his eyes.

  ‘The necklace might be gone, but its power is inside me. How else do you think I escaped?’ I didn’t blink, hoping Grimm was wrong. Chris had no longer been a reaper when he got his new body but he had filled his soul quota, while I still had thousands of souls to reap. Surely I wouldn’t be let off that easy?

  I’d never wanted to be a reaper, but right then I wanted nothing more than to have the ability to rip Almorthanos’s soul out of his body.

  ‘You’re bluffing.’

  I sucked in a breath and closed my eyes, focusing on drawing his soul to me.

  Nothing happened. I couldn’t sense anything. He was right. I was no longer a reaper.

  I sagged in his arms as he gave a low chuckle. ‘Nice try,’ he said.

  No. It wasn’t going to end like this. I wouldn’t let it.

  I drew on my anger and focused on the beat of my heart, demanding his soul answer me.

  Heat welled in my body, burning through me and then exploding outwards, hitting Almorthanos. Light flared beneath my hand where I touched him and he roared in agony as his soul rose out of his chest. He collapsed to his knees, shuddering; the flimsy ribbon of light connecting his soul to his body the only thing keeping him alive.

  I gasped as pain flared at the back on my neck and I could feel a trickle of liquid run down my back as one of the Tr’lirians pressed his sword into my flesh.

  ‘Release his soul.’

  Teeth gritted against the pain, I said, ‘I’ll release it when he promises to spare my family.’

  For a long moment, no one moved, all was silent. Almorthanos groaned and dragged himself to his knees.

  ‘Promise me you will not attempt to harm my family and I’ll let you live.’ My voice shook. It was getting harder to resist the call of his soul, my body quivering as increasing waves of pleasure swept over me. It teased me, seducing me with its promise of even greater pleasure to come. All I had to do was take Almorthanos’s soul and I would be rewarded with mind numbing ecstasy. His soul was so rich, powerful, the desire to possess it so strong it smothered every other sense.

  I could see his mouth moving but couldn’t hear words, his expression growing ever more desperate as I didn’t respond.

  I dragged my mind away from his soul.

  ‘Yes, da
mn you. I said yes. Release them,’ he ordered his men, voice hoarse and shaking.

  I looked behind me and saw his men had obeyed, though they wore uncertain looks on their faces as they stepped back.

  ‘Get out of here, now.’ I watched as Rhonda dragged Connor away, Dad and Denise swiftly overtaking them.

  I turned back to Almorthanos, and it took every ounce of will I possessed to release his soul. My body protested as the pleasure from holding it dissipated. I ached, unfulfilled, struggling not to show it as he glared at me, the last vestiges of forbidden pleasure swept away by the rage burning in his eyes.

  ‘You will regret this,’ he said as his men encircled me, cutting off my retreat.

  Hand shaking, I called on his soul again. It responded immediately and I drew it forth just enough to make him uncomfortable, not enough to let the lure of promised ecstasy sweep me away.

  ‘Tell your men to back off or I’ll finish what I started.’

  Mouth screwed into a grimace, he ordered his men to follow my instructions.

  The sound of an engine came from behind me and I risked a glance to see that Connor had pulled up as close as he could get to Andrew’s plot, the back door of my Corolla open ready for me.

  I faced Almorthanos once more, making sure his men were still keeping their distance. All the while his soul sang to me and I desperately wanted to keep going, to rip it out of his body and feast on it. Before I knew what I was doing I had drawn it out of his body. It hung in the air between us, shining brightly, intoxicatingly beautiful, and he fell to his knees once more.

  I braced myself as I released his soul, letting it snap back into his body. Before he could recover I sprinted to my car, diving into the backseat. Connor hit the accelerator as I slammed the door shut, heart thudding as I peered out the window to see if they were chasing us.

  Almorthanos’s men huddled around him, helping him to his feet, and I collapsed back into the seat.

  Oh God.

  I had come so close to killing him, and for what? False ecstasy that would have been followed by agony?

  Body trembling, I dry retched as the horror of what I had almost done overwhelmed me.