Grim Girl

by Nicky Graves

  “Lawson said you have an admirer.”

  Since Larue didn’t seem to notice the arrival of the man standing beside her, she must not be able to see him.

  I picked up my phone and texted Boomer. I’m not talking to you unless everyone else can see you. Larue already thinks I’m crazy.

  “When did you get that phone?” Larue asked.

  “Oh, it’s a hand-me-down from Mom,” I lied.

  Boomer read his text, sighed, and then shifted. A moment later, he walked into the café like a normal human. When he sat down at our table, Larue looked at him questioningly.

  “Weren’t you in study hall the other day?” she asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “But you didn’t return.”

  “Changed my class schedule.”

  Larue looked at me. “You know him?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  He gave me a flat stare and then told Larue, “I’m her cousin.”

  “Another cousin I don’t know about?” She looked at me questioningly.

  “He’s a reaper,” I said, deciding the truth might be better. The lies were beginning to compound. And the truth was, I wanted at least one person to know what I was dealing with. Even if she decided I was nuts and wanted nothing more to do with me. “The other ‘cousin’ was a reaper too.”

  Boomer’s brows rose to his hairline. “You can’t tell people that,” he said.

  “Larue is my best friend. I want to tell her.”

  “Reapers aren’t allowed to tell mortals.”

  “I’m not a reaper,” I said. “Not yet anyway. And I’m still mortal. I don’t have the same rules.”

  He paused for a moment as he thought about it and then shrugged. “I guess you found a loophole. Lawson will be mad though.”

  “He’s obviously too busy. He sent you when I had texted him.”

  “Oh yeah. Where’s that guy you were talking about?”

  “He’s in the old blue car parked just outside.”

  He shifted out of the café in plain sight of Larue. Did he forget he was visible?

  Larue blinked at his empty seat. “What just happened?”

  Well, maybe now she would believe me.

  18

  I glanced around the café to see if anyone else had noticed Boomer vanishing. Dane looked at me oddly, and I suspected he had seen. Great. I had just been hoping for Larue to understand what was happening. I didn’t want questions from other people.

  “He was sitting there, and then he disappeared,” Larue said. “How did he do that? Is he a magician?”

  “No, but if anyone else asks, he’s my cousin and he’s a magician.”

  “But he’s not?”

  “Larue, this is what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

  “Reapers? They exist?” She stared at me as though wanting me to deny everything.

  “Yes. Reapers exist. There’s a whole universe out there that humans don’t understand.”

  Boomer shifted back. “So, do you want the good news or the bad news?”

  Larue squeaked.

  “Boomer, you’re visible and shifting.”

  He cursed. “This is why I don’t show myself.” He looked at Larue. “It’s just a trick of the lights.”

  “She’s not stupid,” I said.

  Boomer glared at me. “How else am I supposed to explain it?”

  “Just tell me the news.”

  “Good news. The guy is gone.”

  “And the bad news?”

  “That wasn’t just some guy.”

  I stilled. “Azrael?”

  He nodded.

  “But how? He was all cloaked and scary before.”

  “He can take different forms. His cloaked figure is one of his original forms. But he can shapeshift.”

  “Can all reapers shapeshift?”

  “I wish,” he said, a sudden smile growing on his face, which I thought was odd. What exactly did Boomer want to shapeshift into? “But no.” He became serious again. “He’s the only reaper known to have that capability.”

  “Now what?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” he said. “Azrael gave you a countdown. We wait until then.”

  “We have less than twenty-four hours.”

  “Lawson will have enough reapers rounded up by then.”

  “I hate waiting.”

  Boomer gave a grim smile. “Azrael knows that.”

  “Who is Azrael?” Larue asked. “What’s going on?”

  Boomer shook his head. “I wouldn’t tell her. Mortals don’t understand our world. I tried it once.”

  “You just scolded me for telling Larue yet you had told someone too?”

  He shrugged. “We’ve all done it. We’ve all tried to go back to a normal life. It doesn’t work.” He stood. “Lawson wants you to go home. He said you’ll be safer there with Ranger.”

  “Ranger is still there?”

  “Never left.”

  I frowned. “I didn’t see him this morning.”

  “He’s there. And don’t worry about Vance. Lawson knows a few people who bend the rules when it comes to hunting vampires. Vance won’t come back.”

  “Great,” I muttered. I had nearly forgotten about Vance. Not in the sense that last night had never happened, but in the sense that there were so many other things happening, he was pushed far from my mind.

  “I’ll take you home,” Boomer said.

  “I’ll walk.”

  “Lawson insists.”

  “I’m not leaving Larue with Azrael out there.”

  “I can’t shift her,” he said. “She’d die.”

  “No, but you can walk us to my house.”

  “Walk?” He said it as if it was a foul word.

  “Yes. Walk.”

  He groaned. “I knew ever since I met you that you’d be nothing but trouble.”

  “And I knew as soon as I met you that you’d be a headache.”

  “What’s going on?” Larue asked, her voice shrill.

  “I’ll tell you when we get to my house,” I said, standing and pocketing my phone.

  “I wouldn’t tell her,” Boomer said.

  “But she will,” Larue said, coming only up to Boomer’s shoulder. I had never realized how petite she was. And here everyone was calling me little.

  Boomer frowned at her, but she stood her ground.

  “Let’s go,” he muttered.

  “I need to say goodbye to Finn,” Larue said.

  “Text him,” Boomer said.

  “He just introduced me as his girlfriend. We are in a fragile stage. If I don’t say goodbye he might think I don’t want to be his girlfriend.”

  Boomer rolled his eyes.

  “I saw that,” she said. “I’ll just be a minute, and then I expect answers.”

  “Is she always like that?” Boomer asked as Larue hurried away.

  “She has her moments.”

  He was about to touch my shoulder, but I dodged. “You can’t strand her here.”

  “She has her boyfriend to console her.”

  “She’s my best friend. I’m not ditching her when Azrael is out there.”

  “I hate to break it to you, but he’s always out there. You’ve probably crossed paths before and never knew.”

  “That’s not a comforting thought.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be.”

  Larue returned. “Okay. You may escort us to Riley’s house.”

  “Lucky me,” he said and walked to the door. We followed him.

  On the way, I watched for Azrael, but unless he had shapeshifted into a light pole, I didn’t see him.

  As soon as we reached the front door to the house, Boomer shifted.

  “Where did he go?” Larue asked.

  “Probably to complain to Lawson about me.” I opened the door and walked in, wondering where Ranger might be. He wasn’t in the living room nor the kitchen. I could hear David playing video games in his room.

  “Let’s go to my room,” I said.


  “Yes, and I want answers.”

  “Are you going to believe them?”

  “I’ll try,” she said. “After meeting Boomer, I’m more inclined to believe you.”

  It was a start.

  When we were in my room, I closed the door. “Ranger?” I asked.

  “What?” Larue asked.

  “I’m wondering if Ranger is here.”

  “There’s no one here,” she said. “Oh, is it another reaper that can become invisible?”

  “He’s not a reaper. I’m not sure what he can do.”

  “Ranger, if you’re here, can you show yourself? Please. She’s already met Boomer.”

  Nothing.

  “I guess we’re alone,” I said. “Ranger is supposed to be here, but I don’t know where.”

  Larue sat on my bed. “I have a thousand questions, but I think you better start at the beginning.”

  The beginning? That seemed like ages ago. But if it helped convince Larue, then I would.

  “I guess that would be when they installed the stoplights in town.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “It’s the starting point. Remember when I told you about that really bad accident?”

  “Yeah, vaguely.”

  I sat cross-legged on the bed and tried to recall everything that had happened at that event, along with everything that had happened after. I’m sure I missed things, and I never bothered to tell her the time I was stuck on a deserted planet, which was the first time I had seen Azrael.

  “So, there’s more than just one reaper and you’re supposed to be one when you die?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “And you have a stone that seeped into your blood?”

  “Yes.”

  “And the reapers are getting together to protect the stone and you from the Grim Reaper?”

  “Yes.”

  “I feel like one of us has lost our mind.”

  “You don’t believe it?”

  “The problem is that I do believe it. I just don’t understand it.”

  “Me neither. I’ve been trying to train with Boomer and Lawson. That’s how this all started. Training has not gone well.”

  “So when does this fight happen?”

  “I don’t know if it’s an actual fight or just a show of unity against Azrael. But tomorrow at noon is when my time runs out. I’m going to have to fake being sick so I get out of school. The last thing I need is for this to go down at school.”

  “That would be interesting.”

  “I’d get detention.”

  She shook her head. “For bringing a reaper war to school, that’s most definitely a suspension.”

  We looked at each other and began laughing. It wasn’t that it was funny, but it felt good to laugh with my friend again. It was a laugh that dispelled the nervousness, dread, and confusion. At least for a moment.

  “Thank you for not thinking I’m nuts,” I said.

  “Oh, you’re a little nuts. You always have been,” she said with a smile.

  And just like that, I felt better. Maybe not tomorrow at noon. But for now.

  That night I hung out with my mom and brother, which was something I rarely did. It took patience to spend more than twenty minutes with David.

  “Stop making fart noises,” I said as I tried to concentrate on the horribly dramatic movie Mom had picked out.

  David grinned and made more noises with his armpit. He flapped his arm like a demented chicken.

  I couldn’t take it anymore. I had tried. That’s what counted, right? Heading upstairs, I shut myself into my room, snuffing David’s noises.

  I didn’t expect to see anyone in my room, but Ranger was there. He was sitting at my small corner desk, looking overly large on the slim chair.

  “Couldn’t stand the movie?” he asked.

  “That and my brother,” I said.

  He gave a nod.

  “What are you doing in my room?” I asked.

  “Waiting.”

  “Waiting for what?”

  “You know what.”

  “I do. But why here in my room?”

  He gave a shrug.

  I sat on my bed and stared at him. “Did you know that this would happen?”

  “That you’d bond with the stone and Azrael would want it back?”

  I nodded.

  “Not for sure. But I had a suspicion.”

  “Why did the Supreme Elder give me the stone?”

  “The truth of the matter is Azrael is getting too close for comfort. The elders know it.”

  “Why would they give it to me? It’s wrong to give it to someone like me. I can’t use it.”

  “Exactly. Why would they want to give it to someone who can use it? They’d end up with another Azrael running amok.”

  I guess that made sense, but it didn’t help me.

  “So they had a plan when they gave it to me?” I questioned. “It wasn’t just about training?”

  “I think the Supreme Elder knew exactly what would happen.”

  “I’m a pawn,” I said as the realization dawned on me. At the moment, I was too shocked to be furious.

  “We all are. And it won’t stop with us, little reaper.”

  “What do the elders think of Lawson trying to round up reapers for tomorrow?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s not like I’m buddies with the elders. But they’ll be watching.”

  “Watching? On Earth? Won’t that attract attention?”

  “It won’t be on Earth.”

  “Where will it be?”

  “Lawson didn’t tell you?”

  “No.”

  Ranger frowned as he rubbed his jaw. “You’ll be in another realm.”

  “What realm?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “No. I guess not.”

  I was relieved it wasn’t on Earth.

  We were silent for a moment before he stood. “I’m going to ring the doorbell. Ignore it.”

  “What?”

  But he disappeared. A moment later, the doorbell rang.

  I walked out of my room to see my mom heading to the door. She opened it and smiled when she saw it was Ranger.

  “Mr. Ranger,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

  He leaned in and whispered something to which she giggled.

  He offered her a bottle of wine, which she accepted. “Thank you,” she said. “Come in.”

  As he walked inside, his gaze caught on me as I stood at the top of the stairs. His eyes flashed amber when he smiled. Apparently Ranger’s demon side was up to mischief again, and my mom was the target.

  I wanted to stop whatever he was up to, but the fact was that he was also protecting her. And she was happier than I had seen her in a while. I just hoped he didn’t break her heart. But until the issue with Azrael was over, I’d keep my thoughts to myself.

  19

  I had hoped to sleep a little that night, if for no other reason than to give my mind a break from the scenarios that swirled through my mind. But sleep didn’t come. By the time the sun crept up, I was exhausted from doing nothing more than lying in my bed with racing thoughts. I slipped out of bed before the alarm and dressed.

  I wasn’t sure how to get away with missing school. But I’d have to figure that out later. It was the least of my worries at the moment.

  Heading downstairs, I stumbled upon my mom and Ranger cuddled up on the couch asleep. I smacked him on the back of the head.

  He blinked awake and looked over at me. His amber eyes cleared to pale blue.

  I raised a brow.

  He grinned.

  “Don’t get too comfortable here,” I whispered.

  His irritating smile never faltered.

  My mom stirred next to him. She peeked up, looking disoriented. “Oh,” she said with a yawn. “We must have fallen asleep during the movie.”

  “It’s no wonder,” I said. “It was boring.”

  Mom
sat up, blushing when she glanced at Ranger.

  Heading to the kitchen to escape, I made breakfast. It wasn’t anything special. Just cereal. It seemed like I should make something more. Something like a last meal. But I didn’t want to think that way. This was just another day. An ordinary day.

  I knew that was a lie. I was just trying to make myself feel better, but it didn’t work. I sat at the table not even having the energy to lift the spoon to my mouth.

  Ranger walked in a few minutes after my cereal turned soggy.

  He sat down across the table from me. “You okay?”

  “Tired. Unlike some people in this house, I didn’t get any sleep.”

  He grinned again.

  “Stop smiling,” I said.

  It only made him grin wider. I scowled at him.

  He laughed. “Everything will be fine, little reaper.”

  I wanted to believe him. “How can you be certain?”

  “You won’t even see what’s happening.”

  “Why won’t I see what’s happening?”

  “Lawson has a plan.”

  “But I thought I would be there. What about the others?” I asked. “Are the other reapers going to be okay? I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

  “Azrael doesn’t want to kill his own clan. It’d make more work for him. But he won’t just step aside either. He wants the stone more. And he’ll want to stomp down anyone who gets in his way. It will take a bit of finessing on both sides.”

  “Will he summon the blank reapers?”

  “Maybe. But probably not right away. They’re his pocket aces. But what you really want to know is if Lawson will be okay.”

  I scowled at him again. “Of course I want Lawson to be okay. He’s helping to train me. Although I haven’t learned much.”

  “Not much to learn.”

  “I can’t shift yet.”

  Ranger shrugged. “You will when you’re ready.”

  “Like when I’m dead.”

  “Don’t obsess over it.” He stood just as my mom walked into the kitchen. He glanced at her and then me. “Ready for school?”

  I stood. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  I walked out, ignoring him as he leaned toward my mom, placing a light kiss on her cheek.

  By the time I reached the door, he was only a step behind me. As soon as we were out of view, he set his hand on my shoulder and we shifted to his home in the dead zone.