Tears pricked the back of my eyes. “No.”
“Aisling, I swear that I’m not about to fall on my sword and sacrifice myself,” Griffin said. “I’m the most athletic. It will be easiest for me to get on the other mausoleum. Once I’m up there, all I have to do is lean over and start stabbing heads.”
That was the most ridiculous plan of attack I’d ever heard. “No. I can’t … no.”
“You left your mother,” Griffin pointed out. “You trusted her to do the job. Do the same for me.”
“It’s not the same.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t be without you.”
“Oh, baby.” Griffin rested his forehead against mine. “You’re not going to be without me. I promise. This is the smartest plan of attack. If things go wrong, at least your father and brothers will be out. They’ll be able to help.”
“He’s right, Bug,” Jerry said. “We need to get the others out. To do that, someone has to draw them away.”
Even though the argument made sense, I wasn’t in the mood to agree. “Then I’ll be the one to draw them away,” I suggested. “I’m the one they want anyway. They might not react to seeing you.”
Griffin tilted his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that they’ve been cursed to go after reapers,” I replied. “Those other bodies – those fifteen other bodies you told me about – they were all located near reaper homes. That can’t be a coincidence.
“When the zombies attacked in Madame Dauphine’s shop, they paid zero attention to her,” I continued. “The one was interested in Dad and me. The other went for the book. Neither one of them cared about her.”
I didn’t add that I’d wondered several times since then if that was because Dauphine was involved in this mess. Dad didn’t think so because he had fond memories of his good friend Evie. I wasn’t willing to rule it out, though. She recognized me as a reaper. She told Dad she didn’t realize I was his daughter, but given how much I look like him and her close personal relationship from decades past, that didn’t make much sense.
“You didn’t tell me that.” Griffin’s tone was accusatory.
“I didn’t have time. Mom showed up for dinner. We were trying to pretend we weren’t the type of family who breaks into vaults to look at bodies. I was very busy.”
It was a serious conversation, but Griffin cracked a smile all the same. “I see.”
“I need to be the one on the mausoleum,” I argued. “They’ll come for me because of what I am. Once you get my Dad and brothers out, you can take out the zombies and then we’ll go to the parking lot together.”
Griffin didn’t look convinced. “Aisling … .”
“If it was a good enough plan for you, it should be a good enough plan for me,” I argued. “We can’t guarantee that the zombies will go for you. They will go for me. They were created to do just that.”
“I hate it when you have a point,” he muttered, rubbing his hand over his chin. “Can you get up on the roof without help?”
“I grew up with four brothers,” I reminded him. “I know how to climb things.”
Griffin was reluctant, but as I watched him scan the scene a second time, I knew that I’d won.
“Okay,” Griffin said after a beat. “You don’t get down from that mausoleum until I tell you it’s okay.”
I bobbed my head in agreement. “Okay.”
“Your word on it.”
“I promise.” I fluttered my fingers over his cheek, cold skin making contact with cold skin even as a small ember of heat flared between us. “It’ll be okay.” I parroted his words back to him.
“It will,” Griffin agreed. “We’re going to plan the perfect wedding. We’re going to have a great marriage. No swing band, though.”
“Definitely no swing band.”
“I hate you both right now,” Jerry grumbled.
“Be careful,” Griffin intoned. “Don’t do anything to endanger yourself. If you need me … .”
“I’ll call,” I finished, forcing a smile for his benefit.
“Okay.” Griffin pressed a soft but insistent kiss against my mouth. “I love you so much.”
“I know.” I grinned as I pulled back. “I love you, too.”
THE WALK TO THE second mausoleum was nerve wracking. It took everything I had not to look over my shoulder, to make sure Griffin was watching my back and no zombies were creeping up behind me. I knew he was. I didn’t question it. That didn’t stop me from wanting to see it.
The zombies seemed obsessed with the Santiago tomb, which gave me plenty of time to hop on a headstone and jump to the mausoleum roof. It wasn’t a normal mausoleum, the roof only about five feet off the ground compared to the Santiago mausoleum, which had seven-foot-tall ceilings. Once I was settled on the roof, a minor scrape on my wrist serving as an annoyance before gripping the sword in my hand, I looked in Griffin’s direction for reassurance.
I couldn’t make out his features. It was too dark. I could see his hand move from the spot above his heart to his lips, though. He pressed a kiss to his fingers and raised his hand in the air, giving me strength as I swiveled to face the zombies.
First I tried to whistle through my fingers. It was a trick Dad taught me when I was a kid. He regretted it soon after because I spent two straight weeks letting loose with ear-splitting whistles whenever I wanted to irritate my brothers. I ended up irritating Dad more than anyone else.
Sadly, it was too cold for the whistle trick, so I had no choice but to yell.
“Hey, jerkwads, I’m over here!”
At the sound of my voice, the zombies raised their heads. They didn’t stop hissing or moving their feet, but something about their demeanors shifted.
“Come this way.” I waved with my hand even though I was certain they couldn’t actually see me. They were moving on instinct, a spell or curse fueling them. Nothing more. “You want to come this way, boys. Oh, sorry, I see there are a few girls. I didn’t mean to be sexist. Come this way. That’s right. Over here.”
The more I talked, the more interest the zombies took in me, most of them immediately abandoning their attack on the Santiago mausoleum. “I have something shiny to show you.”
The zombies didn’t move fast, but once they turned to face my direction they didn’t hesitate to begin their plodding walk away from the place where my family hid. They didn’t so much as look back over their shoulders to see if anyone exited the other mausoleum. Now that they heard my voice, it was as if I was the only person in the world. They shuffled in my direction, single-minded in their attempt to track me, and opening the path behind them so Jerry and Griffin could get to my father and brothers.
I watched Griffin cut across the field, giving the zombies a wide berth. His eyes constantly tracked back so he could see me, his expression cold and immovable. I raised my hand, feeling a bit silly and sheepish, and waved so he knew I was fine.
Then I focused on the zombies.
I didn’t hesitate as they grew close, kneeling on the right side of the mausoleum roof and shoving my sword into the first head that appeared. The sound was one I wouldn’t readily forget, twisting my stomach as I attempted not to regurgitate the piles of food and cake from dinner.
I steeled myself and continued working, stabbing five heads before I realized that the falling bodies were cutting off the rest of the zombies from their approach. I switched sides, forcing myself to remain focused on the immediate enemy and trusting Griffin to get my family out of harm’s way.
I stabbed another two zombies and then waited. The location of the mausoleum – on a small, rolling slope – prevented the zombies from getting closer because the fallen bodies blocked their path. I was essentially safe, but I also couldn’t reach the zombies to decrease their numbers without risking toppling off the roof.
Griffin, breathless, jogged to a spot behind the zombies. They didn’t immediately notice, but when I saw he was about to open his mouth I shook my head.<
br />
“Don’t talk. Did you get them out?”
Griffin snapped his mouth shut and firmly nodded.
“I have a problem.” As long as I talked, the zombies kept trying to get at me. They never even glanced in Griffin’s direction. That was exactly what I wanted. “They can’t get any closer.”
Griffin opened his mouth again, but I shook my head to keep him quiet. “Don’t ruin things. I’m the only one who can talk.”
Griffin cracked a smile and rested his hands on his hips, his chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath in the cold.
“They can’t get closer and I can’t risk leaning too far over to stab them,” I said. “I wanted to take out more of them, but I don’t think that’s possible.
“You need to point Dad and the others back to the cars,” I continued. “Do you see that hill over there?” I pointed to a steep incline to my right. It was behind a stand of leafless trees. “I’m going to hop off the back of this mausoleum and go up the hill that way. Do you see how they’re confused and can’t climb? I’ll easily be able to run from them.”
Griffin looked as if he wanted to protest, but he could tell by my expression now was not the time.
“Get to the top of the hill,” I ordered. “I’ll draw them over to the left here and then jump off the back corner right here. Then I’ll run up the hill and give you a big hug and kiss.”
Griffin grimaced, unsure of my plan.
“It’s the best way, and you know it,” I pressed. “I probably won’t be able to run up the entire hill – it’s really steep – but I will be so far in front of them it won’t matter. Go on. I’ll be with you in three minutes. I swear.”
Griffin exhaled heavily and then nodded, as he began running. I watched him turn his head every few steps, and smiled as he disappeared around the bend. I knew where he was. I knew he was waiting. All I had to do was get to him.
“Come here, you little maggots,” I ordered, moving to the front left corner of the mausoleum and banging my sword against it, making a ton of noise to draw the horde. “Fresh meat! Come and get it!”
I did this for a full minute before turning and jumping off the back corner of the mausoleum. I didn’t give myself a chance to think about it. I simply jumped.
I hit the ground hard but kept my footing, breaking into a run as I started up climb the hill. I was out of breath quickly, the cold squeezing my lungs. I was almost parallel to one of the maintenance sheds when I noticed more movement ahead of me.
Thinking it was Griffin, I increased my pace. I wasn’t watching close enough. A figure hopped out from behind the shed and slammed a fist into my face before I registered what was happening.
The figure was dark, shoulders slouched, and the face covered with a knit mask. I was desperate to call out for Griffin, but I couldn’t find my voice.
My vision grayed around the edges as I hit the ground, my head spinning as I desperately clung to consciousness. I realized I was in trouble – real trouble – seconds before my mind went blank.
My last thought was an obvious one: This isn’t good.
29
TWENTY-NINE
I woke in a small room, the only light coming from a naked bulb at the center of the ceiling. I glanced around, rubbing my sore face where the punch landed and scowling. I’d been knocked out twice in two months. I was going to start getting concussion syndrome at this rate. I might as well be a professional football player if this was going to keep happening.
A hint of movement at the corner of the room caught my attention, and when I looked in that direction I found Madame Dauphine standing in the corner next to the cemetery’s lawn supplies. She looked amused, for lack of a better word. She also looked agitated.
“I freaking knew it!”
I considered rolling to my knees, but that seemed like too much effort given the incessant throbbing in my cheek that I was certain would affect my balance for the next few minutes. We were clearly in the storage shed I’d walked past on my way up the hill. There’s no way Dauphine could drag me farther than that. Once I didn’t meet Griffin as he expected, he’d come looking for me. This was the first place he’d search.
“You knew what?” Dauphine asked, her voice laced with agitation. “What is it you think you know?”
“That you’re a crazy old bat,” I replied. “You’d better hope that Griffin finds me. He believes in law and order. If it’s my father, you’ll find out just how far your past relationship won’t get you.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. And, you’d better hope you don’t survive long enough for my mother to find out what you’ve done, because she already hates you. She’ll eat you for breakfast, pick her teeth with your bones, and then scatter your worthless carcass so her friendly wraith assassins can munch on what’s left.”
That sounded terrifying, right? There was no need to push things further. I did, though. That’s my way.
“And, for the record, I’m pretty sure my mother eats people, so you’re going to cry when she gets her hands on you. We’re talking big, fat girly tears here. The kind those Lifetime movies dole out like candy.”
Okay, that should do it.
Instead of trembling with fear, Dauphine merely shook her head. “Your mother is dead.”
“No, she’s not. The zombies you sent to the house weren’t enough to kill her. Slow her down, maybe. Kill? Absolutely not.”
“Your mother died almost eleven years ago,” Dauphine argued. “I read about it in the newspaper. Honestly, I wish I would’ve found out sooner. That would’ve made things easier. Unfortunately, the news reached me only about a year ago.”
She had to be joking. “Well, much like the things you keep raising from the dead, you can’t keep a Grimlock down. She’s back. She’s been back for months.”
“Is that a fact?” Dauphine didn’t look as if she believed me. “I think you’re simply talking to hear yourself talk. That shouldn’t surprise me. I’ve only met you a few times, but you’ve done exactly one thing each and every instance. Do you know what that is?”
“Figure out that you were a psycho?”
“Talk!”
“Oh, well, I’m good at that, too.” I sucked in a hissing breath as I touched my cheek. My face would be swollen and bruised tomorrow. I really hate that. “I have to give you credit. You pack quite the wallop. Who taught you to throw a punch?”
“I didn’t hit you. That’s hardly what I’m here to talk to you about.”
“You didn’t hit me?” That made absolutely zero sense. “Did you train one of your flying monkeys to do it? That was a nice trick, cursing a zombie to attack your store while we were visiting. It made you look like a victim. Unfortunately for you, I didn’t fall for it.”
“I didn’t do that either.” Dauphine looked bored with the conversation. “I would’ve done it if I’d thought of it, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t me.”
I started to feel as if I wasn’t getting a clear picture of the situation. That needed to be remedied. “What’s your plan here? You thought you’d be able to take us out by separating us, huh?”
“I didn’t care about taking you out,” Dauphine clarified. “I cared about keeping you occupied. You’ve been a bit of a pain in my posterior for the past few days. I thought if I distracted you that I’d be able to achieve what I started without ending you.”
“And what’s that?”
“Immortality.”
“Oh, geez.” I made an exaggerated face even though it stung to move my facial muscles. “What is it with maniacal nitwits wanting to live forever? It’s like you guys can’t find some new goal. Have you ever considered that there’s a reason people weren’t meant to live forever?”
“And what would that be?”
“Because life is meant to be finite,” I answered, not missing a beat. “You’re supposed to embrace it. You’re supposed to be afraid of death because you don’t want to lose what you have, like love and family. You’re not suppose
d to hold onto it like it’s some big prize. You’re not supposed to hurt others, kill others, to get what you want. You’re not supposed to sacrifice people to give yourself something you didn’t even earn.”
“Now you sound like a Lifetime movie.”
She wasn’t wrong. “That doesn’t mean what I said isn’t true.”
“And yet I still want to live forever.”
“Like Voldemort?”
“Who?”
“You’re probably too old to get the reference,” I muttered. “Like in Highlander? You want to live forever, even if it means cutting off other people’s heads.”
“That’s an interesting comparison, but I simply want power,” Dauphine countered. “That’s what we’re looking for here.”
“And you think reapers can somehow give it to you?”
“What do you mean?”
She was being cagey now. “I know that you’ve sent out, like, seventeen of these zombie things – that was before tonight, so the number will increase – and they’ve all been discovered near reaper homes.”
The look on Dauphine’s face was dark. “How do you know that?”
“The cops have the addresses where the bodies were found, and we have the addresses of where reapers live,” I replied. “It wasn’t hard to figure out.”
Sure, Cillian figured it out because he’s smarter than the rest of us combined, but Dauphine didn’t need to know that.
“Is your father aware of this?”
“He is.” I didn’t hold back my smugness. “He won’t be happy when he figures out it’s you.”
“I don’t think he’ll be happy regardless,” Dauphine noted. “You’ve put me in an awkward position, Aisling. I was hoping to make it through this without tapping a member of Cormack’s family. I wanted him to come through this unscathed.”
“Because you want to jump his bones.”
Grim Rising (Aisling Grimlock Book 7) Page 28
