by Candy Crum
Khia sighed as she looked back at Carolyn. Must be done, she thought.
The Immortal’s energy flared as her spirits appeared and then surrounded the woman. Khia began to slow Carolyn’s blood flow. The pain must have been incredible because the woman couldn’t speak as she stared wide-eyed at Khia.
“I need you for something,” Khia said flatly. “Shh. It’ll be over soon.”
Carolyn gripped at her chest as she began to have a heart attack from working too hard to pump thick blood through her body. Within only moments, the woman choked on air before falling to the floor, her eyes closing. She was only moments away from death.
A chill passed through the room, though it wasn’t very strong. She’d felt stronger. The energy in the room was much different, but time had not stopped. She was hoping for a stronger Reaper, but this one would do.
Khia looked up to see a young Reaper, a few thousand years or less in age, standing no more than ten feet away. He was dressed from head to toe in black, and the clothing shifted. It seemed to be an illusion altogether.
One second it appeared to be a black suit with a black shirt and black tie, something somber one would wear to a funeral. The next second it would shift into black robes, though not anything close to those that Death wore.
He was tall, but not overly large. She thought he might have been six and a half feet tall, give or take an inch or two. He had the illusion of skin, though it was almost smoky, unstable. It was just as shifty as the clothing, and his facial features changed every few seconds. It seemed as though he had thousands of images of himself, but couldn’t truly decide on one.
“I’ve never seen one quite like you,” she noted out loud.
I am not a lord or god. I am a simple spirit taker, a Reaper. We do not have physical bodies, but adapt to suit those who see us.
“Seems like a waste of time and effort,” Khia said.
Why did you call me here? He didn’t waste any time. It was obvious the death had been a setup.
“I’ll save her life, but only if you stay while I do something,” Khia said. “We can see visions, but we have never been able to see around Reapers. I believe its because of the spirit inside of me. Anubis was never able to see around it, and in return, the spirit couldn’t see around Anubis. Reapers are like large black walls. If you’re present, you will block Sayen from seeing what I do, and everything will look safe and happy from her side.”
She could feel the Reaper’s disdain. We are bound by neutrality. We cannot interfere—especially with the likes of you.
Khia smiled. “And there is the loophole. You are here to collect a soul, a soul which has yet to be released because I am keeping the human clinging to the very last shreds of life. You are here to do a job, a job I am stalling you from. You’re not helping me.”
Your time will come, Immortal. The lords will share in the triumph of your death.
Khia laughed. “Oh, sweetie. We all die sometime. But today isn’t that day. So, shut your mouth and do the job you’ve been forced into servitude for.”
She didn’t bother waiting for him to respond. She quickly dove back into her mind and located Sam. Within a few short moments, she was able to connect with the man and give him instructions. If Kailah liked him, she could easily use him against her.
Compulsion didn’t work from that distance, but she could certainly get him to pick up a phone. Curiosity was one of the biggest downfall of humanity—and cats.
Once she was done, she pulled away and smiled at the Reaper still standing in the room. “See? That wasn’t so bad was it?”
She poured a glass of wine and took several drinks. Out of the corner of her eye, she though she saw something resembling a smile on the Reapers ever-changing face.
“What are you so amused about?”
Lord Death sends his best.
Her brows furrowed as she looked down at the glass and back to the Reaper. “What is it? Was there something in here?” She worried for a moment and then laughed. “Poisons don’t affect me. I can’t be killed by such things.”
He shook his head, the smile still on his lips. As I said… Lord Death sends his best wishes. When Death smiles…
“Look out. I know.” She looked around the room and saw her spirits screaming silently as they pointed to the glass. Khia laughed. “Magic. It’s poisoned with magic. Nice. Tell Death not to celebrate too hard. I’ll figure out what this magic is, and I’ll overcome it. I don’t give up easily.”
The sound of the Reaper laughing filled the room as he vanished. Khia grumbled as she set the glass down and scooted forward on her seat. Leaning down, she touched the woman’s shoulder and felt her magic swell around her. Heat passed through her hand as the collective power of the spirits around her pushed their energy through her.
Carolyn gasped as she inhaled sharply. She clutched at her chest as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’m alive.”
Khia rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair, propping her feet up again. “Ugh, mortals.” Carolyn looked at her with obvious shock, but Khia blatantly ignored it. “One of my nails got messy. Fix it quickly so we can get the other hand done.”
The terrified and angry employee shakily pulled herself up to sit in the chair. “I just died. How can you be so cold?”
Khia continued to stare at her nails. “I’m going to chalk that little comment up to a momentary lapse in judgment after almost dying. You were never dead, you dramatic wretch. Relax. You’re alive.” Khia waved her hands in the air in sarcastic excitement. “Woo. Now get back to work. Otherwise, I’ll make death a more permanent fixture in your life—and this time I won’t be so gentle.”
The woman swallowed her anger, allowing her fear to better control her. Khia smiled as she sat back in the chair and dampened a warm cloth before laying it across her forehead and eyes. She had done quite a lot of work for a relaxing spa day. She deserved a nap.
Chapter Five
Casi stood in Jeff’s parents’ home, staring at their dead bodies lying in awkward positions on the floor. She shook her head, tapping her foot nervously as she looked into their lifeless eyes. Jeff was humming a tune as he sat at the kitchen table, only a few feet away as he continued to write down notes and plan.
He didn’t seem to care at all, but Casi for some reason did. She wasn’t sure if it was the dangerous possibilities of killing humans—the chance they would be found or lose their safe space—or if it was some lost, far away piece of her conscience returning. The one thing she was absolutely certain of, however, was that Jeff had officially lost his mind.
Byron, the oldest Rogue in their group, had gotten a bit heated in an argument with Jeff about what needed to happen next. For once, Casi had agreed with Jeff. He voted they hold tight a little while longer while Byron wanted to locate and grab the Elysian as soon as possible.
They’d hired a witch to find and poison Khia, effectively causing the Immortal to lose all ability to see Casi or Jeff. Khia wouldn’t be able to see them in visions or locate them with her own magic. Casi was much older and obviously wiser than Jeff, so it shocked her that he’d been able to come up with such a plan when it hadn’t even occurred to her sooner.
When Jeff and Byron argued over their situation, Byron attacked Jeff’s parents to teach him a lesson. He’d torn their throats out and left them bleeding out on the floor. He’d never anticipated Jeff’s lack of give-a-damn. Jeff was gone. He only laughed and sat down at the table to plan more.
The only Vampire not afraid of Jeff and his insanity was Jacques. He was older than Byron and far more powerful than anyone there, so there wasn’t much that could scare him. At least, that was what Casi told herself. He seemed rather nice as well, which was strange given his involvement with Jeff.
Regardless of the fight earlier and who was right or wrong about their future problem, the immediate problem right then was Jeff’s parents. Casi could already smell the stench of decay, and they’d only been killed an hour before. They would need to quie
tly get the bodies out without being seen and dispose of them in a way that would keep them from being found.
“Ugh, Casi,” Jeff grumbled as he looked up at her. She turned to face him and saw his dark eyes appeared a little darker that night. “I can hear your brain twisting and turning non-stop. It isn’t hard. Most of their blood is on the floor there. Byron did us a favor. Rip them into pieces, bag them, take them to a funeral home, and compel them to cremate the bodies.”
He turned back toward his notebook on the table like he’d just given her a recipe to apple pie.
“And what of the remains?” Casi asked.
He shrugged and didn’t bother to look up. “Drive them south and throw them in the Ohio River. Be done with it. We have work to do.”
“Byron,” Casi said, knowing there would be no more discussion on the topic.
“Fuck you,” Byron spat. “I’m not doing shit. You can clean that.”
Casi’s eyes narrowed as she stepped forward. “You made this mess. I’m sure as fuck not cleaning it.”
He stepped forward and lowered his nose to hers. “Listen, sweetie, I ain’t doin’ nothing you tell me. You’re nothing more than his whore.”
Casi moved in the blink of an eye. The heel of her hand struck just under Byron’s nose, snapping it in several places. He fell off balance, and she rushed behind him using her increased speed. She punched him hard in the lower back, breaking his spine and rendering him paralyzed from the waist down. As he fell to his knees, she grabbed his head and twisted, snapping it before letting him fall to the floor.
Once he was down, she straddled him and leaned over, placing her mouth right next to his ear. “When you wake up, you’re going to show a bit more respect for me, or I’ll make this a little more permanent. Got it?” Byron didn’t move or speak. “I’ll take your silence as agreement. Don’t fuck with me again.”
She stood and looked over to see that Jeff hadn’t flinched. He didn’t seem even remotely bothered by what had just happened.
“Byron, while I am busy, you will listen to her and follow her orders. She is loyal to me, which makes her your superior. I expect compliance when you wake up.”
Part of Casi was moved by him sticking up for her, but the other part knew it was all for his personal gain. He wanted power, and he was convinced Kailah was the way to get it. He was convinced he could control her once she was on their side. Right then, Casi wished she was an Immortal. She would have given anything to see into the future and find out just how badly all this was about to bite her in the ass.
***
Kailah sat at the kitchen table with Rachel and Mary, talking and laughing as Aeric made dinner. She had learned a lot about them in the few days she’d been there, and it was becoming clearer all the time that she liked them. They were both sweet, hilarious, and polar opposites of one another. They had a wealth of knowledge and fascinated her, but it was still a learning process. She still had to process and fight the hatred she felt for them sometimes—but that usually just resulted in some really good one-liners every now and then.
Brett and Aeric were Romanian—which had made them the butt of a few Dracula jokes. And from the smell of it, Aeric was an incredible cook. Kailah, Mary, Rachel, and Amanda had all taken turns cooking as a way to say thanks for housing them. It was the least they could do.
That night, however, Aeric had demanded to have his kitchen back. While Kailah knew she wasn’t a bad cook, it was obvious from the smell that she wasn’t nearly as good at it as he was. So, she gladly handed the stove back over to more capable hands.
Aeric went to work creating the largest dinner she’d ever seen. It was complete with soups she’d never heard of, main courses made of incredibly expensive cuts of meats, beautiful and delicious looking vegetables, and even homemade ice-cream. When it was all said and done and Kailah was able to try it, she vowed that she would never step foot in that kitchen to cook again.
“This is embarrassing,” she said as she melted over a bite of the medium rare meat on her plate. “I feel so bad for the slop I fed you.”
He laughed. “Trust me—you’re harder on yourself than I was. You’re a very good cook. I’m just many times your age, so I’ve studied a few tricks.”
“Yeah, I hope you enjoy cooking,” Mary said. “I will never cook here again either.”
“Pretty sure you screwed yourself, Brother,” Brett said.
“Right, like you cook anyway. I’ve always been the chef around here.” Aeric’s tone sounded harsh, but his expression revealed just how amused he was with his brother.
Khanae, Sayen, and Amanda had gone out to get some supplies, including more clothing since no one had time to pack bags before leaving North Vernon and coming to Louisville. They’d grabbed a few items first thing that next morning, but it was time to get comfortable.
When they came back, Amanda had a guilty look on her face. “I’m sorry.” She sat down three large bags hanging from each arm. “They wouldn’t take no for an answer. I feel like puking.”
Kailah’s eyes were wide. “How the fuck much did you spend?”
Amanda shook her head. “There is about five thousand dollars’ worth of clothing, pajamas, underwear and bras, socks, hoodies, and hygiene products. I kept saying no, but between the Immortal who can look into your past shopping trip to see what sizes you bought and the Vampire who can see into your mind and pick out whatever information she needs, it was impossible. It’s like violence, forcing someone to do something, but for nice things.”
Aeric laughed. “That’s about right. Besides, I know Sayen feels terrible about having to sit back and watch you grow up without being directly involved in your lives. And Khanae is just a giving spirit. She can’t handle people going without, especially if it’s under her roof.”
“She could have at least let me pay for something!” Amanda said.
Brett walked over and took Amanda’s bags. “I don’t want to come off sounding like a pompous asshole, because I’m not. If you put me on the street, I’ll live there. I’ve gone without, and living with Khanae has taught me how to live in luxury and spread it. But risking sounding terrible anyway, if you knew what that woman was worth, you wouldn’t question it.”
Amanda and Kailah both nodded at the same time. “Yes, I would,” they both said simultaneously.
Aeric smiled. “Khanae is the largest private owner of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world. When she, Sayen, and Aneksi chased Khia out of Egypt, Khanae took everything from the palace. She set the slaves free and gave each one enough gold to give them a start. Anything belonging to the royal family was special to her, so she kept those items and moved everything from location to location to keep them safe. In the nineteenth century, she began to send the collection from one museum to another. They would pay her handsomely for the exhibit because ancient Egypt is one of the largest attractions for historical museums. Documentaries and TV channels have used her collection as well. Combine that with everything she has invested over the years… Trust me. It’s fine. She loves to spend money on other people. It’s what she does.”
“I just think it’s better placed. We just needed a single set of pajamas and some underwear. We could have bought that ourselves and hit any normal store,” Amanda said. “She just refused to let us have anything less than the best. I always feel bad taking other people’s money, even though the gesture is appreciated.”
“I second that.” Kailah could hear car doors outside and could feel the presence of power.
Brett shrugged. “She’s a softie. She can’t help it. I’ve seen her find the people you see in sob stories on Facebook or other social media and pay for their medical treatment. She’s paid cash for new homes for people who have lost theirs to situations beyond their control. She’s donated money to keep veteran hospitals up and running. Created multiple scholarships for kids from low income areas. She just likes to help. With all her years on earth, she’s such a smart investor that she makes whatever she spends ba
ck in no time flat. On top of that, she taught us everything she knows. So, in addition to the wealth she has amassed, Sayen has her own, Aeric and I have our own. You’ll learn how to do it, too. Sayen started funds the second you were born. She knew you’d need a good start one day.”
Kailah’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry… What? She has a bank account set up for me?”
“Yeah. There isn’t much yet, but there’s around five million in there the last I heard,” Aeric said.
Kailah wanted to throw up. She was a millionaire and didn’t even know it. “I feel sick. That’s incredibly kind, but oh my God.”
The front door open, and Aeric rushed to help both women carrying in bags. Sayen and Khanae were both all smiles.
“Don’t worry about the money,” Khanae said, handing a few bags off to Aeric. “Those will go to Kailah’s room.”
Aeric turned and made his way toward the stairs, and Brett followed along with Amanda’s bags.
“You’re too kind, really,” Kailah said. “But this is a lot to digest.”
Sayen laughed. “You’re the future queen of the Shadow Realm. That’s okay, but a bank account with seven million dollars in it draws a hard line, huh?”
“Seven?” Kailah shrieked.
“No one is allowed to say another word about money or funding or bank accounts for the rest of the night,” Amanda said, throwing her hands up. “My guiltometer is at a twelve, and I’m going to need to get that back down to like an eight, max.”
“I agree,” Khanae said. “No more discussions of money. There will be plenty of time to talk about finances later. You have much to learn about that, but it’s the least of your worries. Kailah, why don’t you go take a hot bath in my tub? It’s beautiful.”
When Kailah had first arrived at La Casa Dei Vampiri, she had a feeling they were extremely wealthy. The décor was enough to give off that vibe. But their cars were upper-middle class. They weren’t super or hyper cars. No Bugattis or Lamborghinis. Just a Chevy Avalanche that belonged to Brett, a Dodge Charger that belonged to Aeric, and an old Dodge Challenger that belonged to Khanae. She had a thing for classic American muscle cars.
