Trap

by Mary E. Twomey

  “So you’re extra useful now. Is it really that big a deal that you can help two Omens? The workload isn’t the same as it was for Mariang. She was run into the ground because there was no other choice. There was no way she could’ve kept up. Now there are two Omens with double the Pullers, and far less work demand than ever for them.” He shrugged. “Don’t pull for Allie.”

  Mason’s bitter attitude came out in his voice. “I don’t get a choice in it, Ollie. If we don’t pull, they could die, and all of Terraway dies with them.”

  Ollie jerked his thumb in my direction. “Only pull for this one. Von’s right. You can be a backup, sure, but I doubt you’ll ever need to do it. October only has to reap one person a day to keep Terraway going. I vote you go on a tear and rip through a dozen bodies a day a piece for a week straight, and then take a month off. Go fight zombies during your time away. Shoot, I might even go with you one of these days.”

  “Bite your tongue,” I snapped. “It’s bad enough Mason goes back to that. I won’t let you risk your life so you can live out your zombie apocalypse fantasy. You’re not Bruce Campbell.”

  “That’s the meanest thing you’ve ever said to me. I would never tell you that you’re not Bruce Campbell.” Ollie wrapped his arm around my shoulders, ignoring my warning completely. “Oh, so you’re the only one who gets to fight an army of zombies?”

  “Yes. That’s exactly right. It’s me and Bruce Campbell, and the list ends there. You can make us tea when we get tired of kicking butt.” Ollie grumbled under his breath, but I ignored him. I squeezed Mason’s hand and slipped my other one into Von’s. “If I have my way, Allie won’t reap a day in her life. I only wanted her awakened so she could break out of that coma. Graham, Allie and Boston? They’re backups. Allie’s been through enough. So’s Graham and Boston, for that matter.”

  Von brought my hand to his cheek, leaning into my palm. “That’s all well and good, but we can feel her. You’ve no idea what it’s like to feel bullet-taking loyalty to two people like this.”

  I raised my eyebrow, stiffening. I reached out and snatched at both of their chins roughly, bringing their faces closer so they didn’t have any room to look away. I didn’t mean for my words to come out in a slow building seethe, but I was too incited by them to talk myself down. “Oh, I don’t know what it’s like to give myself to two people? I do it every stinking day with the two of you, you know. My heart’s divided, even when it belongs to you, Von. Even when I was with you in the beginning, Mason. I can feel when Mason walks into a room. I know when Von needs more blood sometimes even before he even does. I can tell when either of you are staring at me without turning around to look. I live with my heart in two places every waking moment. It’s hard, but you’re both worth it.”

  Von’s mouth dropped open, a thousand unreadable thoughts flickering across his face. “This is what you feel all the time? I hate it already, and it’s barely been a minute.”

  I leaned forward and sunk off of the bench to kneel between them. I kissed Mason’s cheek and then Von’s, looping an arm around each of their waists. “Yup. And I wouldn’t trade either of you for the world.”

  Though I could feel their nerves, they both leaned their foreheads to my temples, holding onto me even when life turned us on our heads yet again.

  Forty-Five.

  All You Need

  It was an entire week before we were allowed to take Allie home, and even then, there were specific instructions with plenty of physical therapy scheduled. She hadn’t used her muscles in three years, so we all knew not to expect her to be jumping around any time soon, though I was jumping enough for the both of us.

  “You don’t have to make a fuss,” Allie insisted. Her voice was the sweetest sound to me. It was gentle and temperate, and filled with a caress of love in everything she uttered. It’s hard to explain to people who haven’t experienced that kind of acceptance before, but there was a sweetness in everything Allie did.

  “This is part of your rehab, Al. If you want to smoke Ollie in a race anytime soon, your circulation needs to improve. Hence, the foot rub.”

  “But you don’t have to sit on the floor like a dog. My feet feel just fine. Come sit up here, sweetheart.” She patted the empty spot on her right on the King-sized bed, while Graham carefully rubbed her left arm. He’d been attached to her side since the doctors had let him into her room when she’d been in the hospital, and hadn’t left her since. Ezra had one of the larger guest rooms remade into a suite for her, Boston and Graham, and though the yellow daisy touches were lovely, she had yet to see the rest of the mansion.

  Von sat with his knees open on the chair, chewing on a cinnamon stick. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to introduce her to the council today.”

  Levi was leaning on the wall, dressed in the black pants and matching t-shirt that were typical of a Terraway soldier. “I agree with Von. It’s too much too soon.”

  Von grinned up at Levi, the stick hanging from his mouth and bouncing as he spoke. “Aw, thanks, Daddy. Good to know you’ve got my back.”

  Levi groaned and rolled his eyes. “I wish you’d stop calling me that. You’re not married yet.”

  “But you already think of me as your son? You love me.”

  Levi jerked his thumb at Von and huffed at me. “This guy? Seriously? I could find you a better suitor. I wonder if Uriah’s got any great-grandsons I could find for you. He was a good man.”

  Allie laughed, the light and gentle sound feeling like a butterfly in my heart. “Von’s perfect for October.”

  “Really, any suitor at all would be better than this fool.”

  Von frowned, and then laid his head to rest on the back of his chair. “So long as I get to have sex with her, she can marry whoever she likes. That’s really all I’m in it for.”

  Levi shot me a warning look that said he wasn’t above laying Von flat out for his smart mouth. Von had taken a liking to Levi, taunting him when he grew bored of being cooped up. I think he was venting a little of his own daddy issues, as well. “October,” Levi threatened.

  I held up my hand to stem the flow of their ongoing needling. “I’m all set on suitors. Thanks, though. Von’s permanent, so best get used to his terrible jokes now. Otherwise it’ll be a long ride, if you plan on sticking around for it.”

  Levi’s eyes softened. “Oh, I’m not going anywhere. I’ve finally got my children all in one place. Not even the worst decision of your life could keep me away from you kids.”

  Von clapped his hands and laughed at the ceiling, relishing Levi’s blatant hatred for reasons no one understood. “I was thinking of going commando on our wedding day. What do you think, love? You’re always trying to charm my nickers off of me. Now you won’t have to work so hard to take my virtue.”

  “That’s it! Outside now!” Levi pointed to the door, fuming at Von’s wicked grin.

  Von stretched his arms over his head in anticipation. “This should be fun. I haven’t fought a Matruculan since Mason and I last got into it.”

  “Sit down, both of you.” My eyebrows furrowed. “Um, the last time you fought a Matruculan? When was that?”

  “Oh, last week.”

  Mason rolled his eyes, cradling Anastasia as he sat on the foot of the bed. “It was barely a fight. Don’t worry about it. We never tell you about them because you worry too much. It’s good for us to get it out every now and then.”

  “‘Them’? You two’ve had multiple fights? What the crap? Never again.”

  Von blew Mason a kiss, which Mason caught midair and cradled to his heart like it was a precious gem, making the two laugh in unison. “See? Now we’re all right as rain again.”

  I switched to Allie’s other leg and rubbed the thinned muscle gently, showing Graham so he could mimic the strokes when I wasn’t around. He’d been the perfect help to her. Whenever I had to leave the room, I breathed easier knowing he was by her side.

  Of course, Allie’s face was crimson at a near stranger massaging he
r calf. Every now and then Graham would look down on her with devotion I hadn’t felt for Mason or Von until weeks after I’d been awakened. Allie would look away bashfully, picking a point on the ceiling that was particularly fascinating, but the blush was always ready for him. “I can’t get over this mansion. I mean, seriously. We really live here?”

  I nodded, working on her forearm. “For now. Our house isn’t big enough for the three of us, my two Reapers, plus your two Pullers, Levi, Danny and Ana. You, me and Ollie need to have a sit-down about what we’re going to do.”

  She straightened her cream-colored pillow that had delicate yellow daisy patterns scattered on the edges. “What are the options?”

  “We could move in here,” Von suggested, stating his preference. “What? It’s not like Ezra doesn’t have loads of rooms to spare.”

  I nodded, my brain turning over the possibilities. “Or we could put an addition on our house. The other option is selling our place and buying a bigger one.”

  Allie shook her head. “Both of those options are out of the question until I get a few paychecks in on a job. That might take a while, since I can’t do much walking yet.”

  Graham tugged on her big toe to garner her attention. Every time she looked at him, she blushed. It was totally precious. “You already have a job. Reaping is a full-time gig, and pays better than you can imagine.”

  “It doesn’t feel right, taking a paycheck for a job I don’t think I’ll be able to do. I mean, kill people for a living? You have to know I can’t say yes to that.”

  I swallowed, trying to be patient when delivering the explanation Ezra had already given her, and the one I’d needed to remind myself of over and over. “They’re already dying with or without you being there. All you’re doing is giving them a peaceful death.”

  “When you say it like that, it doesn’t sound so terrible, but I can’t shake the Grim Reaper feeling it gives me. This is all kind of a lot. I mean, when Thomas was in my head, he said he was from Terraway, but I didn’t know what that meant. I thought it was like, Narnia or something.” She shuddered each time she thought of Sama, who’d introduced himself as a Romeo named Thomas. “I can’t believe he was real – that I wasn’t crazy.”

  I shook my head. “I can’t believe you left us because you thought you were going crazy. We could’ve helped you.”

  Allie resituated herself, leaning on her elbow. Graham and Levi rushed to her side and helped her to sit up straight, leaning her to the headboard. Graham’s hand lingered on her shoulder, and then fell to his side, like the professional he was trying to be. He glanced furtively at Levi, whose scrutinizing gaze made him nervous.

  Allie frowned at me. “I couldn’t do that to you and Ollie. After all we went through with Bev? I wasn’t about to put a burden like that on you two.”

  “You’re nothing like Bev.” I’d explained how the stone had warped Bev’s mind, but the whole giant ball of Terraway magic was pretty much crushing Allie with too much information. A lot of the explanations were falling through the cracks in her mind that wasn’t quite healed yet. She often had bouts of spacing out, which the doctors said might happen for the first few weeks. I rubbed lotion into her leg. “I would’ve taken care of you. I wouldn’t turn my back on you just because some madman infiltrated your brain. I love you, Allie.”

  A meek gentleness touched her lips. “It broke my heart to see you chaining yourself to Bev, looking after her like you did. I wouldn’t be that to you. Ollie and I didn’t go through all we did so you’d be held back by us. What kind of a life is that for you?”

  “You don’t get to decide how good I get to be to you. I decide that. Don’t you dare run out like that again. The next time you think you need to save us from you, that’s when you get your head checked for brain-eating ticks.”

  Von and Mason let out loud barks of bitter laughter. “I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t heard it myself. She’s actually listened to us, Von.”

  My nose crinkled as my head turned to take in their mocking smiles. “What are you talking about?”

  “We pretty much say the same thing to you on a daily basis. You spewing the same speech to Allie? Now there’s no excuse for you to ever run out on us again.”

  I glowered. I didn’t like them thinking they could team up on me. “Unless you both become insufferable assjacks, which you’re on the brink of.”

  “Only on the brink?” Von scratched his head. “I wonder what it would take to tip me over the edge of being unforgiveable. Ah, well. Plenty of time to test the limits after we’re good and married.” An evil smirk played on his lips as he held his cinnamon stick like a cigar. “I adore playing with limits. I think we should start testing yours on our honeymoon. My safe word is ‘Daddy’s Little Girl.’”

  Levi pointed to the door. “Out you go. The room’s too crowded as it is, and I’m afraid if you stay in here a minute longer, I’ll knock that smug smile off your face the fun way.”

  Von clapped his hands at having met his mark by pissing off Levi yet again. I don’t even think his sleazy comments were for my benefit, as much as they were fodder for fighting with the dad he never had. He was having too much fun pushing Levi’s obvious buttons. “Oh, Daddy dearest. Not to worry. Your youngest is safe in my bed.”

  “Out!” Levi insisted. “Make yourself useful mowing the lawn before I murder you. Out you go.”

  Von stood, confusing me with his obedience that was so out of character. “Are you sure about that? Whenever I do housework, I get all sweaty, and this one can’t keep her hands off me.” Then he grinned and slowly started lifting his shirt over his head, doing a sexy dance with his flexed abdomen, showing off his stripper-like moves with a wide grin. I catcalled, which I’m guessing didn’t help matters any.

  Levi shot me a glare, which was covered when Von’s shirt was thrown in his face. He extricated the material that no doubt smelled like Von’s delicious armpits, and thrust the garment into Von’s stomach a little too hard. Von doubled over with an “oof!” His bravado-laced smile fell to the wayside.

  “Dad!” I shot to my feet and stood between the two, scolding Levi while comforting Von. “You’re not allowed to hit my boyfriend.”

  “Fiancé,” Von corrected me, straightening slowly as he rubbed his stomach. “Which means you’ve got a whole lifetime of me making babies with your daughter.”

  Levi’s eyes widened in time with his flaring nostrils. “October, I’m warning you. I was never known for keeping my temper, and Von’s long surpassed my short fuse.”

  I cast an exasperated look up at Von. “Out you go, you monkey. Go check on Danny. Boston probably needs some relief.”

  “Sure, love.” Von gripped my hip and kissed me just to be a jerk and piss off Levi. He seemed to derive some small pleasure from having a dad who gave a crap about his antics. It was so childish, pissing off the dad who stuck around because the one who took off wasn’t there to tell you to clean your room and brush your teeth. Von was having a ball breaking in his new family member.

  Levi? Not so much.

  Our kiss was broken when Levi shoved Von out the door, shouting behind him all the way through the hallway and down the stairs. Turns out Levi had a bit of a temper, but only when Von was involved. Other than that, he was an absolute puppy – no pun intended.

  Mason glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s almost time, hani. We should probably get to the conference room first, so they don’t see that Allie’s not up to going for a run yet.”

  “Could you give Anastasia to Lynna instead of putting her in her crib? She just screams in there, and patient as the council is, I don’t think they’ll be too thrilled with that.”

  “I don’t need to be there. Von can go instead. I don’t mind holding her a little while longer.” Mason smiled down at Anastasia, who gurgled at him contentedly. “Look how happy she is. I think she likes me.”

  “She’s a smart girl, then. You’re the representative for Sombi, though. Attendance is nonnegot
iable.” It was because of my many insistences that Sombi was finally recognized as its own country. Mason was granted royalty status, speaking for the country he’d set his heart out to redeem. He’d insisted he didn’t want a formal coronation, but I’d had Ezra get him a crown anyway. Mason was a king if I ever saw one. “Let’s get to it, King Mason.”

  Mason grinned at being reminded of his new title. “Oh, right. I’ll take her to Lynna, then.”

  “Cool. I’ll ask one of the guys to help us get Allie down the hall.” I poked my head out the door. “Dad!”

  When Ezra and Levi both responded, my heart melted. Though the pieces were still shifting, and not everything was perfectly in place, with that simple act I knew that eventually everything would work itself out.

  I had a family – a big one, actually. Sometimes we made sense, and other times the dysfunction ran too deep for even the most qualified therapist to muddle through without a road map. But we had each other, and after everything that had tried to tear us apart, I came to understand that the family you don’t run from is sometimes all you need.

  Epilogue.

  “Ouch!” I flinched for the third time that morning when Allie jabbed me in the skull with yet another bobby pin.

  “I’m sorry, but this curl’s just not sticking where I’m putting it. Hand me another pin?”

  “Are you sure there are any left in the universe? I mean, my head’s half metal now with all the ones you’ve already used.” I handed her one from the diminishing pile.

  “Just sit still. I’m almost finished. Do you want your hair to fall down in the middle of the ceremony? I don’t think so, kid.” She jabbed me again, but I think my scalp’s nerves had dulled in that quadrant of my head because they knew no amount of fussing would help. “There. I think it’s done. Oh, it’s really perfect! Better than I imagined it. Hold on.” She picked up the can of hairspray and went to town, slicing a new hole in the ozone layer and turning my hair to hard plastic not even a Ken doll could rival. “There. Now it’ll stay through a hailstorm.”