The service lasted two hours. Two whole hours I prayed Ana would sleep through. I didn’t want her seeing any of this, and since she was a colicky baby, I worried about Von having to miss the funeral if she woke. Two whole hours I willed with everything in me that Mason and Ezra would have the strength not to shapeshift with a new baby so near them. Ezra was more controlled, his years giving me a little solace that he wouldn’t lion out and try to eat my niece (I really hope that was the weirdest sentence I’d ever thought). Mason and Carter’s chairs had been strategically placed at the far end by Kabayo, keeping as much distance as possible between the fresh newborn and my favorite Viking.
Finn had been assigned to watch Ana and me for the duration of my time in Terraway that day. The council worried that Sama’s spirit or his whole friggin’ army might make an appearance, since I was in Terraway, ripe for the abducting. It made for a tense funeral, as if we didn’t have enough to stress about. Had I a solid two hours of consecutive sleep in the past month, I might’ve been able to be worried about Sama, but lucky for my sanity, I couldn’t feel much.
I didn’t understand the different steps of the ritual, but I managed to stand when the other council members did, and murmur the things I was told to say. Finn was my coach at my side, making sure I didn’t embarrass Ezra or the council.
I was pretty sure I was blending in until the grand wizard in charge announced the procession of the hiya. I didn’t know what that was, but I knew I was not all that comfortable around the guy doing the funeral. Von had informed me he was Mangkukulam, which I knew was what Sama was. While this guy seemed on the up and up, I was positive I’d never be comfortable around any of the few warlocks of Terraway.
The Grand Mangkukulam in charge of the funeral raised his arms, allowing the last row of civilians to make their way past the casket to pay their respects first. I bowed my head and paced myself for the first of millions to make their way past Mariang in all of her sleeping ballerina beauty. What made my chin jerk up with sudden rage was when I heard the distinct sound of spitting as they walked by.
Two.
Over my Dead Body
“What the...” I whispered when I saw residents with brown skin and muddy clothes from Sakuna bowing their heads to Mariang, and spitting on Danny as they crossed the stone dais. Danny stood at the head of the casket like a soulless sentry, not reacting to the disgraceful affront. My head jerked to Finn for an explanation, or I don’t know, a spare knife so I could threaten those jerks right good.
Von placed his hand on my shoulder while Finn touched my arm. It was like they were both trying to anchor me to the fancy carved seat that was much too big and grand for me. “This is all part of burying an Omen,” Finn explained. “Respect for the Omen and cursing the Reaper who let her fall. Danny’s being shamed now. It’s part of the ceremony.”
Ceremony or not, I wouldn’t sit back like a cold queen and let something so horrible happen to my brother. When I bit it someday, this would all be happening to Mason and Von, who didn’t deserve that. Over my dead body would that happen to my guys, and I sure as Sunday wasn’t about to sit back and let it happen to Danny, who’d been through enough.
When a woman my age who should’ve known better spat into Danny’s face while he just took it, I knew I couldn’t endure another second. “Dad, can I borrow your handkerchief?” I asked Ezra quietly.
“Of course, dear.” It was already in Ezra’s hands, wet from his own tears. He handed it to me, and I stood from my throne, ignoring Finn who barked a whisper at me to come back and sit down.
Without a word, I stopped the procession of respect and mockery. Sliding in front of Danny, I wiped his face with Ezra’s handkerchief and dabbed at the few gobs of spit on his beautiful black suit with gold cuffs that matched Von’s and Mason’s, uniting us as a family. “Go sit down,” Danny whispered, his eyes meeting mine. When my face filled his vision, he was finally able to focus on anything other than his perpetual misery. “It’s what’s supposed to happen. I let her f-fall.”
“This stupid tradition stops today.” I wrapped my arms around Danny, proud of myself for so many things with that simple hug. He was spattered in germs, for one, and I didn’t shy away from the mess. Secondly, I was publicly hugging someone while standing up for what I knew was right, without apology. Without turning around to check, I knew Ollie was proud of me.
Danny kept his stiff position while I turned to face the next person in line with an “I friggin’ dare you” face, my chin raised defiantly. The man who easily could’ve been Ezra’s age paused, unsure what to do. He couldn’t spit on Danny without getting me, which I knew wasn’t kosher. His confused bronze face looked to the Grand Mangkukulam Wizard for direction.
The Grand Mangkukulam made his way to the foot of the casket, whispering over Mariang to me. “You’re to sit in your seat of honor, Lady October. They can’t curse the Reaper if you’re in the way.”
I raised my voice, not bothering to hide my anger. “Anyone who curses Danny, curses me. He’s my brother, and your fallen Omen would cry for a hundred years if she could see how you’re treating him. Danny gave up his life for Terraway, too. This tradition is terrible, and it ends right now. You’ll show my brother the respect he deserves, or I stop reaping today!”
Scared and confused murmurs rippled through the crowd. The millions of faces gaped at me like I’d just stolen their puppy. I heard one common thread rise above the din. “Can she really do that?”
I pressed my fist to my chest. “You’d best believe I’ll make good on my word. I’ll go on strike before I sacrifice myself to save a world who treats their heroes like this. No one spits on my family!” Though I was standing up for Danny, that one truth rang through me like the reverberations from a gong. I met Ollie’s eyes, allowing his proud nod to fuel me. I wasn’t just standing for Danny. I was declaring my unswerving loyalty to the whole Vandershot clan, the Reeses (those dead and alive), and the Manauls. Somehow we’d become one family, and I knew better than to throw something valuable away.
Before I knew it, Von was at my side, holding Ana and standing in front of Danny with me to form a wall of protection between his brother and the people. He yelled out so everyone could hear his defiance of tradition. “This is Lady Mariang’s daughter – a future Omen! This is Terraway’s daughter – your daughter. If you spit near Danny, you’ll be cursing Lady October, and Lady Anastasia! I dare you to see how well that goes over with the council.”
Mason stood and moved forward on his side of the stage, still too afraid to come near the baby, but unwilling to stand down and let us face the whole of Terraway without him. He pounded his fist to his barreled chest. “I belong to Lady October, so I would think twice before spitting near her and facing my wrath.”
I turned my chin to look at Mason, meeting his eyes and tapping my chest to show him where his home truly was. He nodded solemnly, fists still clenched in a dare for anyone to test him.
That was all it took for the Vandershot brothers, Ms. Vandershot, Lynna and Ollie, who were front and center on the grass, to run up to stand in front of Von, Ana and me to form a more solid wall to protect Danny. Ms. Vandershot wept quietly into her handkerchief at the display of her family standing together as a united front. She reached behind her and gripped my hand tight in a silent thanks that both scared and humbled me. I didn’t have much experience getting moms to like me, and hoped this was a good sign.
Seeing the brothers all lined up in their black fitted suits, staring out at the millions with jaws and fists clenched made my heart swell. I knew Mariang would be proud of the family who loved her even after death.
Finn and Ezra stood to unite themselves with us. Finn and Mason directed the line on the left of the stage to bypass our family after paying their somber respects to Mariang. Ezra stood behind Von and me, wrapping his arms tight around Danny, who I could hear sobbing in his gentle father’s arms.
“Thank you. Thank you for standing up for my brother. I’m furious
I didn’t think to do it,” Von said out of the side of his mouth, glancing at me from the corner of his eyes as he faced the masses. “I love you, you know.”
I ventured a smirk on the dark, awful day as I looped my hand to clutch the crook of his elbow. “I don’t blame you.”
Three.
Evil Little Ghoul
The funeral lasted hours. I don’t know how long it was that I stood in front of Danny, but my whole body was yelling at me to go to sleep when the procession continued long after the suns went down.
I nearly jumped when Ezra placed his hand on my shoulder. “Darling, can you take Anastasia Grace for a walk? My self-control is waning.”
It was only then I realized he was breathing through his teeth, and no doubt holding onto his human side for dear life. “Of course. You guys got Danny?”
“Keep walking, old man. That’s right.” Boston’s fists clenched as he snarled at a man who walked by with a glare aimed at Danny. “Not a problem. I could do this all night.”
Von and I moved into the castle, gusting out a deep breath when we were finally hidden from the public eye. I fished through my purse that I’d stashed just inside the heavy wooden doors. “I’ve got you, baby doll,” I offered as I shook some formula up with the bottled water I’d brought for her.
Ana had just started fussing, so I sunk to sit on the floor and held my hands out for her to give Von a break. He’d been the one ducking into the castle to feed and change her today, since I couldn’t leave my post. “I’m sorry. Your arms must be so tired. Let me have a turn.”
“Thanks, love. Easy with her. I know we said we wouldn’t use pulling on her, but I couldn’t very well let her scream throughout the entire service.”
“You’ve been pulling this entire time?” My eyes went wide as I cradled the sweetest sweetness in my arms, feeding her the bottle I knew she was hungry for. She was pleasantly staring up at me, making precious cooing noises that erased the memory of the hours of screaming she’d done all night long. She was magic incarnate, bewitching me at every turn; Von and I were completely enamored of her.
“I wasn’t pulling the entire time. Just when she starts to go on about the sodden state of the union.”
“You must be starving. Do you need to refuel? I brought a blood bag in my purse.”
Von’s black eyes softened as they fell on my face that held no condemnation of all that he was. “You love me.”
“Can you blame me? You’re doing that suit all sorts of favors.”
Von offered up a silent snort, trying to hold onto a sense of humor that had served him so well until today. Today was simply bleak, and there was no painting a happy face on the frown. “I can’t believe we’re here, that this is happening. It doesn’t feel real.”
“If only it wasn’t real. What happens after the hiya procession?”
“Terraway watches while the Mangkukulam burns her body. Then Kabayo gives an address, and that’s that.”
My mouth gaped. “Burns her body? Why can’t Kabayo just bury her in his crypt?”
Von swallowed hard, running his hand through his inch-long hair. “It keeps her body from reanimating. So much goes on in an awakened Omen’s body. It’s not safe just to bury her. Omens who’ve been awakened have a lot in them that regular Terraway residents don’t. We can’t take the risk of her turning.”
I chewed on my lower lip, forcing out the image of my sis coming at me with skin patches missing and jaw slack, like the residents of Terraway did when they weren’t buried properly. “Oh. Well, I guess we don’t want Mariang reanimating. That wouldn’t be good. We wouldn’t want her walking to Sombi.”
“She has too much magic to turn into a zombie.” Von waved his hand like this was all no big deal to be discussing. “That’s for the commoners like me and the rest of Terraway. She wouldn’t do that. She’d turn into a Woman in White.”
“Huh? Like a bride?”
“Not exactly.” Von sunk down next to me, his back against the stone wall as his knee rested against mine. Not to oversell the Omen-Reaper bond, but I could practically feel his exhaustion through the small contact of his knee on mine. I kissed his cheek as he explained. “A Woman in White is a sort of apparition. She appears to desperate men and beckons them to her. Eventually they succumb, and usually they die.” He unscrewed the cap on the blood bag, wrapping his free arm around my shoulders to bring both of us closer. “You have to burn her whole body, otherwise her spirit will cling to her remnants. Then she’ll turn into a Woman in White who roams near where her body remains. Utter havoc.”
My mouth fell open. “Bruce Campbell never had to deal with crap like this. He just got to deal with demons and call it a day. Take ’em out with his boomstick, and that’s that. Now we’re all burning bodies and dealing with ghost-zombie nonsense.”
“I’m pretty sure none of this would’ve thrown your first love. Bruce’s got a chin that could conquer anything.”
I leaned my temple to his shoulder and sighed in the quiet of our little huddle. “You’re so sexy when you talk like that. When you love Bruce Campbell, it only makes me want you more.”
Von chuckled, draining the last of the blood bag. He crossed his arm over me to stroke Ana’s cheek. “It’ll be alright, yeah? You’ve both got me to watch over you until Bruce’s schedule frees up and he can guard you nice and proper, like he should.”
I closed my eyes and kissed Anastasia’s forehead, wishing she would never know anything about Terraway. “I don’t want Ana to ever have to be awakened. To think of her withering away like Mariang did? It’s eating at my guts just thinking about it. She’s so tiny.”
“You’re so tiny,” he commented, his arm tightening around my shoulders in protection.
“I was thinking maybe we should up the daily count of hearts we reap. I mean, now that Mason’s back, I think that’ll help me be able to reap more. Six a day isn’t cutting it.”
“Slow down, speedy. We need one soul per day. The six a day we’re doing is more than plenty. We’ve got a nice stock of souls built up for the occasional day away. Nice jaunt for holiday here, soul-crushing funeral there. We don’t need to do more than that.”
Ana felt so small and fragile in my arms. “But if I do enough for years, maybe even decades, then no other Omen has to be awakened in our lifetime. Anastasia can just enjoy a normal life Topside. She’s only a month old, and she’s already had a rough life.”
“No,” Von ruled. His usually relaxed tone was resolute as he planted his stake in the ground to show me how little he was willing to compromise on this. “I won’t sacrifice you like that. Danny had no choice in the matter. Mariang couldn’t keep up no matter how hard she worked. I want you to be the first Omen to see her forties. I mean it, Peach. I know how you get when you’re jonesing to work, but this isn’t an option. Anastasia will be awakened when she’s an adult and can handle such things. She’ll have to reap one person a day, which means that both of you could live to be old women.” He kissed my temple. “I want to see you with white hair all done up in a sexy librarian bun someday. I want you to take up knitting tea cozies and carry around sweets in your purse.”
“Well, I’ve got blood bags and formula in my purse now. Does that count?” I don’t know why I tried to make a joke out of his sincerity. It was such a beautiful thing for him to say – I didn’t feel worthy of so grand a compliment.
Von narrowed one eye at me, seeing right through my deflecting. “I love you, no matter how you try to make jokes to deal with that reality. Let’s just get through this, yeah? One day at a time.”
I nodded, but couldn’t help voicing the thing that had only just begun to plague me. “They’re going to burn my body.”
Von stiffened, his eyebrows tenting in the center of his forehead. “What? Who?”
“When I die someday. You’re going to stand at my casket with Mason, and they’re going to burn me so I don’t come back and haunt you.” I pursed my lips, unsure how to feel about it all. “I had bi
g plans for haunting you, too.”
“Then I’ll steal you away, and you can haunt me until I’m mad in my obsession for you. I’m near enough to the edge of sanity as it is. I’d love nothing more than a lifetime of your hijinks, you evil little ghoul.” Von gave me a light kiss that softened both of our dismal moods, but didn’t take us fully under with hallucinations. When we blinked away the trickling of blue and gold, the music that usually started lulling us blasted in our ears, making us jump. Anastasia startled and began wailing that we’d jostled her when she was trying to drink her bottle in peace. “What is that?” I shouted to Von, who stood to peer through the heavy wooden doors.
His eyes turned to saucers, and he backed up when Finn and Mason crashed through to join us in the safety of the stone castle. “The four of you are porting right now,” Finn declared with no room for argument, and no explanation. “Up you get.” He held his hand flat to Mason, who kept his distance from Ana as if her life depended on it, which it did.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong?” I stood with Ana in my arms and my purse (which was actually just a fancy diaper bag) slung over my shoulder. “What are the trumpets for?”
Mason looked at Ana with fear that was mixed with longing and self-loathing. “I’m porting Von and Danny to Ezra’s mansion now! I can’t be around the baby yet. She’s too fresh! Take October to her house so I don’t turn and... Just take her and the baby to her house and wait for Von there.”
Von opened his mouth to protest at our parting, but Mason was running out of self-control. He dragged Von out of the castle toward Danny so they could port together.
Trap Page 2
