Jack - A Grim Reaper Romance

by Calista Taylor

  And there, with her head on his shoulder and his arms holding tight, sleep enveloped her in its darkness, a small reprieve from her living nightmares.

  ***

  Dread filled Lilly and left her feeling defeated. “When must I start reaping again?”

  “Today. You’ll likely start to feel the pull of your reaps in the next few hours.” Mason shook his head with a sigh of frustration, weariness evident in his every move. “I’m sorry, love. I truly am. Though Damon said it was his decision, I’m convinced Nelson had a hand in it.”

  “Either way, it doesn’t make much of a difference.” Her gaze wandered, her thoughts already distracted by what would come.

  What unsuspecting souls would she deliver death to today? The young who had not yet had a chance to live a full life? The mothers who’d not get to raise their children? Or would it be the fathers who’d leave behind a family, their absence sending the rest of them into destitution?

  “I should go.” There was no point in putting off the inevitable.

  “Perhaps I should join you. After what happened yesterday with Stefan, I’m worried he’ll try and find you again.”

  When he ran a comforting hand down her arm, she turned away from his touch, distracting herself with getting ready. “Don’t bother yourself, Mason. I’m sure you have more important things to take care of.”

  “I know you’re still upset with me, love, but I only wanted to find a way to keep you comfortable—”

  “—so you could continue doing your job.” Lilly bit her bottom lip, angry that she let him get to her. She knew his priorities.

  “I’m not playing games with you, Lilly.” Fire sparked in his eyes as he stalked the floor before her. “As much as you despise my role as chancellor, it serves a purpose. Would you rather see another woman brutally murdered?”

  She was taken aback. “No. Of course not.” She shook her head, appalled by her own selfishness. Constantly dealing with death, she’d nearly forgotten that another woman’s life could be at stake—for certainly Jack showed few signs of stopping. With a sigh, she said, “I’ll do what I can to help.”

  Weariness set into her bones and her shoulders sagged at the thought of enduring yet another go of someone probing her mind. Though Mason was far gentler than Damon or Nelson had been, it was still excruciating. Perhaps Mason and Pierce had been right about taking a different approach.

  She knew full well what they had intended, and doubted herself capable of going through with such a thing. It was no wonder they’d intended on getting her drunk first, and with Viridis no less.

  Mason frowned, his eyes filled with worry. “We need not do it now, love. Tonight, perhaps?”

  She managed a nod, her head already starting to throb at the mere thought of what was to come.

  “I need to go take care of my reaps.” It would not be long before she felt their pull, and wanted some time to clear her head and mentally prepare herself. “I’ll see you when I return.”

  “Lilly… will you not let me join you? I’ll do nothing but worry.”

  She refused to look into his eyes, knowing it would only weaken her defenses. “I’ll manage just fine, Mason.”

  He went to a drawer, and pulled out a small pistol with a mother of pearl handle, the metal beautifully engraved. He checked the cylinder and then handed it to her. “You’ve used one before, aye?”

  The pistol felt heavy and cold in her hand. “Just because I have doesn’t mean I want to be carrying it around. I’m liable to kill someone with it.”

  Mason leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose, a teasing smile on his lips. “My dear, is death not what we do?”

  ***

  Lilly felt the tug of her reaps guide her through London, rich or poor it mattered not. She’d already brought death to an elderly man, a middle-aged woman, and a young maid, heavily pregnant. The last was by far the hardest, reminding her of her own demise. The girl’s kind brown eyes and pretty smile still haunted her.

  Lilly thought of the family she’d never have—and the child she’d never know. As a reaper, it just was not possible, and she’d come to accept it. However, on days like these, she could not swallow that pang of regret. She liked to think she’d have made a loving mother and a good wife, had she lived. Instead, she was a lousy reaper.

  The worst of it was not knowing how Emma faired, not knowing whether she was loved and cared for. Lilly had no idea what had become of her, and found it impossible to let her go. If only she had a bit of information on her whereabouts. She could then try and contact Corwin, for she knew he’d keep Emma safe. And yet… if she got caught, she worried what the Elders might do. She could not risk their wrath spilling over and affecting Emma or Corwin.

  Knowing it would do her no good to dwell on things that were out of her control, she pushed away her straying thoughts and got back to her work. She kept her pace brisk, her next reap leading the way. Occasionally, she’d glance over her shoulder to make sure she wasn’t being followed. Though she worried about Jack and Nelson, it was Stefan’s attack that left her feeling vulnerable. He kept turning up in places she didn’t usually frequent, and it left her on edge.

  The pull of her reap grew stronger until she knew she must be close. Letting it guide her, she headed for the public house. This close to dinner, there was barely a seat to be had, and she found herself squeezing through the crowd, drawn towards the dimly lit corner at the back of the pub. The tell tale glow surrounded a gentleman, his back to her. It’d be easy. With so many bodies in such a tight space, she could reap him, and he’d be none the wiser.

  As she walked by, she let her hand brush across his back, the golden glow changing to grey. She continued to move past when a voice stopped in her tracks.

  “Miss Hancock?” It was the name she used amongst the living.

  The familiar voice and lilt were like a knife to the heart, her feet frozen to the spot. She slowly turned, and came across her worst nightmare. Tears slipped down her cheeks as choked back a sob.

  “Are ye alright? I’d not meant to startle ye. Perhaps ye dinna remember me? It was years ago that we last met.” He reached out to touch her, but she stepped back, even though it was clear the damage was done. The gold light that had surrounded him was now grey.

  “I’m so sorry.” She barely got the words out. “So very sorry.”

  Unable to come to terms with what she’d done, she fled the pub, her heart shattering in a million pieces.

  Chapter Twenty

  Mason grabbed Lilly’s fists as they flew at him, tears streaming down her face in a flood of grief. “Lilly, please stop and tell me what’s happened.”

  “I hate you!” She struggled to get free of his grasp, but when he didn’t let go, her struggles eventually turned to aching sobs.

  He held her to him, rocking her back and forth in an attempt to comfort her, though he knew not how to keep her from hurting. “Lilly, love, please tell me what has you so upset.”

  She pulled away from him, the anger in her eyes shining through watery pools. “Who picks my reaps? Is it you? Did you do this to him?”

  “Me? No, love. The reaps are determined by the Fates.” Mason had no idea what occurred or who she was referring to, but a sick feeling settled in his gut like a lead brick. “Tell me what happened, Lilly.”

  She shook her head and looked away, her gaze wandering as the tears rolled down her cheeks. “I didn’t realize it was him until it was too late. He had his back turned to me and in the dim light of the pub I didn't recognize him from behind. I’d not have touched him had I known.”

  “Who, Lilly?” He could barely take a breath, his chest tight with dread.

  A sob escaped her as she spoke his name. “Corwin.” Her betrothed.

  “I’m so terribly sorry, love.” Mason’s heart broke, unable to imagine such hurt. He shook his head as anger sparked deep within him. “You should never have been assigned his reap.”

  Mason had no doubt that if he went digging around
, he’d find Nelson behind the whole sordid affair; probably his retaliation for that fist to the face. But would he be able to influence Corwin’s time to die? He thought not, though the coincidence was too great to ignore.

  He took her hands in his and kissed them. “I swear, Lilly, I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

  “Can we stop it from happening? Please tell me he doesn’t have to die.” She grabbed at him to plead her case, but there was nothing to be done.

  “I don’t think we can change it, though I’ll speak to Damon. I promise to do all I can to make this right.” Guilt nagged at him. If she was forced to live with reaping her own fiancé because of his feud with Nelson, he’d not forgive himself. Even worse, he did not think she’d forgive him either. He had to find a way to reconcile the situation.

  He ran his thumbs across her cheeks to dry her tears and then kissed her, his lips lingering on hers. “I’m going to see Damon right now. I’d not leave you like this, but time is of the essence.” There was no way of knowing when in the next week Corwin would die. It could already be too late.

  His words had her squeezing her eyes shut as tears escaped, and she bit back an anguished cry. She managed a nod, and with a final attempt to comfort her, he kissed the top of her head before leaving.

  Mason took the stairs to Pierce’s room and with barely a knock, let himself in. “Get up.”

  Pierce slowly sat up, shaking the sleep off. “What’s happened?”

  “I need you to keep an eye on Lilly while I go and throttle Nelson.” Mason paced the room, resisting the urge to kick something.

  Pierce hopped out of bed, his naked form padding across the room to the wardrobe. He kept his gaze on Mason, while getting himself dressed. “Are you going to tell me what’s happened?”

  Mason could barely unclench his jaw long enough to speak. “Lilly just reaped her fiancé, and if I had to guess, Nelson had a hand in it. He’d have known about the lad from being in her head, aye?”

  “Oh.” Pierce shook his head in dismay. “Would you rather I go and question Nelson so you can stay here with Lilly?”

  “No. I’ll also need to speak to Damon and perhaps even the Fates. Just do your best to keep her calm and distracted—whatever it takes, aye?”

  Pierce’s eyebrows widened in surprise, but only for a moment. “As you wish.”

  ***

  “Everyone dies, Mason.” Damon stretched out his legs in front of him, and took a sip of his cognac. “Do you have proof Nelson had a hand in changing the time of the man’s death?”

  “Not yet.” Mason threw back his drink, annoyed. “How is this different to those women being dead before their time? We’re hunting down Jack Torrington, yet Nelson’s free to do as he wishes.”

  Damon scoffed in response. “Are you telling me you don’t see the difference between a woman getting gutted and a man getting reaped? Do I need to worry about you?”

  “Where we’re concerned, there’s little difference between them. The nature of the person’s death matters not to us, but dying before their time, does. And I’m telling you it was not the man’s time to die.” Mason pushed back the anger building within, for it was clear he was trying Damon’s patience.

  Even as chancellor, he was not immune to the consequences, should he anger the Elders. They’d give him some leeway, but it’d end there. He could easily be replaced, and it’d serve him well to not forget it.

  Damon tilted his head in acknowledgement. “You still have no proof of that; although she never should have been assigned his reap.”

  “Can you stop it? There must still be time.”

  Damon swirled the amber liquid in his glass. “You know there’s little to be done once his soul’s been touched. Even if we stopped his death, he’d be worse off in the end, for his soul would never fully be anchored to his body. As for Nelson, if he is behind this, he’ll suffer the consequences. Of that you can be sure.”

  It was a small consolation when he’d still have to go home to tell Lilly her betrothed would die. “Is there nothing we can do?”

  “There is one thing.” As the grin spread across Damon’s face, a feeling of dread settled over Mason. Damon’s sense of humor was never good if you were on the receiving end of his amusements. “We’ll see just how important the girl is to you. Consider it done.”

  Damon steepled his hands before him and spoke words in a language not even Mason understood.

  A shift of energy took place, the wave of it washing over Mason and leaving his hair standing on end. “What have you done, Damon?” He could not mask the panic in his voice.

  “What with Jack gone, you’re short a reaper, are you not?” Damon laughed as the blood drained from Mason’s face. “You’ll be glad to know that’s no longer the case.”

  ***

  Mason was numb, unsure of how he would tell Lilly. She despised being a reaper and now the person she’d loved in life would suffer the same fate as she. Or would she see it as an opportunity to reunite and live the life that had been stolen from them when she died?

  Though Lilly said she cared for him, Mason wondered if it would be enough to keep them together. He now regretted all the times he’d antagonized her, all the times he’d put his work first. Would she continue their relations? He wasn’t sure she would, not when she could be with Corwin. Had she not told him that neither he nor Jack would ever compare to what she’d had with her betrothed? Had she not risked it all to spend a single evening in the man’s company? And then there was their child, a link between the two of them that could not be broken.

  He could make Corwin’s life miserable—make him regret the day he became a reaper. But what would that accomplish? Not a thing other than to garner her hatred. The thought made him laugh in despair. He’d finally given in to his feelings for her, knowing full well that she could shatter his heart, and now he risked losing it all.

  When he arrived home, his footman informed him that Lilly and Pierce were asleep. It was rather late, and upset as Lilly had been, he hoped sleep offered her a bit of peace. Mason found them both in his bed, though Lilly alone was asleep, curled against Pierce’s side with her head on his shoulder, his arm draped across her back.

  “How is she?” Mason carefully sat on the edge of the bed, and ran a gentle hand over her loosened curls.

  “I plied her with brandy so she’d relax enough to sleep. It took her a while to finally settle.” Pierce reached out and took his hand. “I don’t think I’ve seen you ever look worse. What happened?”

  Mason shook his head. “Nelson couldn’t have made my life more miserable if he tried. In the end it was Damon who dealt the final blow. Lilly’s fiancé will become one of my reapers when he crosses over.”

  Pierce’s eyebrows shot up, and then he shook his head in dismay. “What will Lilly think?”

  “I wish I knew.” Mason ran a hand down his face, weary and exhausted.

  “I’m sure we’ll find out come morning. In the mean time, you should get some rest.” Pierce motioned to the spot on the other side of Lilly, the bed large enough to accommodate the three of them. “Or should I go?”

  Mason was too exhausted to care and with Lilly’s head on Pierce’s shoulder, he’d rather not wake her. “Stay if you want.”

  Mason stripped down to his undershirt and slid in under the covers behind Lilly. With his arm wrapped around her waist, he nestled up against her, their bodies molded to each other. He couldn’t help but wonder how many more nights they’d have together. He told himself it did not matter. He’d spent two hundred years without her and managed just fine. Now was no different.

  Yet it was. Even if he’d been fool enough to not admit before now, the truth was he’d fallen for her—fallen in love like a bloody fool. And he’d be damned if he was going to let her slip away.

  ***

  In the end, Mason had not a chance to tell Lilly, nor get much rest. He awoke at two in the morning, the pull of death tugging at the corners of his mind. Corwin would be dead soo
n, and it was now Mason’s responsibility to explain his new life to him. It was never an easy transition, though Corwin would have a loved one to cross over to—a rare gift.

  Leaving Lilly with Pierce once more, he walked out into the cold of night and sent his carriage into London. He directed his driver down some narrow streets, then opted to walk the rest of the way. Masking his presence, he shifted between the world of the living and that of the dead. The roads were deserted this late at night, so it was with little difficulty that he heard the scuffle. Following the sound, he came upon Corwin and three other men.

  Corwin was already bleeding from a deep stab wound, though he was still putting up one hell of a fight. Mason, however, knew how the fight would end, for he’d not be there otherwise. One of the men fell as Corwin fought to survive, but a knife to Corwin’s back left him bleeding from his kidney.