Raven's Breath (The Women of Purgatory)

by Tish Thawer

  She tilted her head and frowned. "Digger's?"

  "Yes, it's a restaurant here in Purgatory." I laughed.

  "Really? I didn't realize there were places to eat here. Death always takes me topside for dinner."

  Excellent! This was the type of info I needed. If Garrett had discovered Death's dirty little secret, then so could I, even if I had to come at it from a different angle.

  "Well, it's a great place and I'm headed there now if you'd like to join me."

  She hesitated, looking back into the small room behind her. "I'm sorry, I would love to go with you, but I'm actually not allowed to leave without Death's permission."

  "Are you kidding me?"

  "No. As I've told you, you're the only person I get to see." She smiled like the fact didn't bother her in the slightest.

  "Doesn't that upset you? I mean, being a kept woman?"

  The blank look on her face was so innocent it caught me off guard. I could feel my feelings about her shifting, sliding from annoyance to pity.

  "Never mind. How about I come in and we can chat in your room instead?" I asked.

  "Actually, no. You can't come in."

  I jerked my chin, her rebuff smacking me in the face.

  "Oh no...it's not because I don't want you to. You literally can't come in. Death spelled my room and is the only one who can enter."

  Wow. What a sick bastard Death was turning out to be.

  I opened my mouth––planning to offer another alternative––when the door to her room opened behind her. Death's silhouette filled the space, the invading light spilling around him. I could only imagine the look on his face.

  I flared my wings to maintain my position, then took off like a bat out of hell. I wasn't going to push my luck with him any further tonight.

  I landed outside of Digger's and walked in, rushing to my regular booth in the back. I'd begun to devise my next move when a set of broad shoulders––accompanied by a bad attitude––appeared at my table.

  "What the hell's wrong with you? Someone ruffle those precious feathers of yours?"

  "Fuck off, Krev."

  I hadn't seen the bane of my existence since the last time Garrett and I had gone to the bar.

  Garrett.

  Thinking of him made it hard to breathe.

  I sat quietly and stared at Krev while he appeared to contemplate what his next insult should be.

  "Where's your boy toy? I figured since you can't defend yourself, you wouldn't go anywhere without him these days."

  There it was. Lame, to the point, and at the moment the perfect thing to say to piss me off.

  I leapt from the booth and wrapped my hand around Krev's neck.

  "How about you get smart for once in your life and leave me alone?" I snarled.

  "Whoa, whoa. Calm down, beautiful. Or were you just looking for a way to get your hands on me?"

  "Sure, we'll go with that."

  I punched him in the face...repeatedly.

  Digger was at my side, grabbing my arm and pulling me back before I could land another hit to Krev's jaw. The feel of my fist against his nose was satisfying but didn't relieve the anger that had built up within me.

  "Enough!" Death's voice boomed through the room. All the Reapers, including me, stood silent while Digger handed Krev a napkin for his bloodied face.

  "Raven. Come with me."

  Whispers filled the air and assumptions about my punishment floated through the room. Everyone's eyes were on me as I followed Death out the door.

  "I'm sorry, Krev just..."

  Death waved his hand to silence my explanation, grabbed my wrist, and teleported us back to his chamber.

  Sweat beaded on my skin when he stalked to his throne and retrieved his scythe.

  Oh shit!

  What was I going to do if he came at me with that damn thing? I wasn't ready for my final death.

  I blew out a faint breath when he sat down and placed it across his lap. His cold stare bore into me and an overwhelming desire to spout all my sins overtook me. My mouth opened, but again, he raised his hand for my silence.

  "I don't want to hear your excuses. Not about your fight with Krev, or why you accused me of hurting Garrett earlier. What I do want to know is exactly what you said to Holli?"

  Damn. How was I going to play this? Defiance was my first instinct, but the pull in my gut and the look on Death's face told me that that would be a mistake. So, I took a deep breath and confessed.

  "I didn't say anything to her, really. I just asked if she'd like to join me for dinner. I wasn't aware you had spelled her room or that she couldn't go out without your permission. I'm sorry. With Garrett missing, I felt lonely and thought she and I could spend some time getting to know each other better. That's all." There...that was mostly the truth.

  Silence reigned while he processed my answer. I prayed he didn't have a way to tell if I was lying or not. Finally, the grip on his scythe relaxed.

  "Thank you for reaching out to Holli. I know she appreciates it and so do I."

  Yeah right, sure you do. A slow smile crept across my face. I lifted my chin and squared my shoulders. "May I ask, why you've decided to keep her separated from the rest of the Reapers?"

  "No, you may not."

  I nodded and turned to walk away, but Death continued.

  "I won't allow Holli to join you for dinner, but I'll modify the spell on her room to grant you access."

  "Thank you. I'll visit her tomorrow morning, if that's all right."

  "Actually you'll be spending the next two days with her."

  My eyes widened.

  "I can't have the other Reapers thinking you got off scot-free after your little outburst with Krev. This way you'll get to spend time with Holli and I'll get to keep things in order without anyone being the wiser."

  "Thank you?" My response came out more like a question than a statement. I didn't know what else to say. On one hand I just got a two-day girl's retreat with the one person who had inside details about Death; on the other, I just got punished with a two-day lockdown with Death's girlfriend. Yay me!

  He rose from his throne, scythe in hand, and gestured for me to follow him. We walked through the main halls of the castle, catching as many eyes as possible. Once we reached the passage that led to the dungeons, the whispers of my punishment had grown wildly, exactly as Death had planned, no doubt. He dismissed the stragglers and waited until we were alone before reaching for my arm.

  We reappeared outside a small door in a thin, empty hallway. He motioned for me to stand aside, then placed the tip of his weapon against the wood. His chest rumbled when he began chanting under his breath. The tip of cold metal flared with a sudden burst, revealing hidden sigils that were magically etched all over the entrance to Holli's room. As they faded, Death removed the scythe then turned to me and smiled.

  "You're now able to enter the room, but due to your punishment, you can't leave until I release you."

  My breath hitched. This is not good.

  16

  Holli beamed as we entered her room. In two seconds flat she was in Death's arms, thanking him for allowing me to come visit her. His eyes caught mine over her shoulder and I assumed the serious lift to his brow indicated I was supposed to keep my mouth shut.

  "You're welcome, my sweet. I thought the two of you could spend the weekend together."

  I cringed, her squeal piercing my eardrums.

  Death continued, effectively cutting off any questions Holli was about to pose. "Food, drink, and entertainment will be provided for you here, and there shouldn't be any outbreaks so neither of you will have to worry about leaving."

  I practically had to bite my tongue to stop myself from asking exactly how he knew that. But again, the stern look he shot in my direction made it clear I needed to keep my mouth shut.

  My nostrils flared and I could feel my inner light starting to build. My anger was rising and I was in serious need of a distraction.

  I turned to take in
the tiny room and quickly wondered how I was going to survive the next two days trapped within these cold stone walls. I was suddenly very grateful for my modern apartment and all the conveniences it provided, because living in a castle like this was something I would never be able to do.

  Already stifled, I moved towards the balcony. I looked out over Purgatory and my insides tightened.

  Where are you, Garrett?

  I was still sure Death had something to do with his disappearance, but was now confused by the fact that he'd just shut me in with the one person I was certain could spill his secrets. Maybe he didn't have anything to hide after all. Nevertheless, I planned on spending my "punishment" hunting for information.

  "Raven, I'll have Drey send over some of your clothes."

  I spun around, tilted my head and smirked. "Thank you. That will be great."

  Death placed a kiss on the back of Holli's hand before leaving the room. The instant the door was shut she spun around and skipped in my direction. I smiled and shrugged. I wasn't sure what to say or do next, but luckily, Holli wasn't afflicted with my shyness––she babbled incessantly.

  I learned how much she loved being Death's "personal" Reaper, as she put it, along with the fact that despite my disgust, she and Death were involved and apparently he was a decent lover. Gag. Was I missing something? I couldn't understand how someone as beautiful as Holli could be attracted so someone as revolting as Death. We were only three hours into my sentence and I already wanted to scratch out my eyes and rip off my ears. Heaven save me. I jumped up from my seated position on the bed and began to pace, desperate to change the subject to something far less personal and disturbing.

  "Do you like living here? In Death's castle, I mean?"

  "Yes. I absolutely love it."

  I involuntarily scrunched up my nose. How in the hell could she love it here?

  Holli must have sensed my confusion because her knowing smile became almost sympathetic. She didn't say another word but walked towards a section of the wall where a tapestry hung from ceiling to floor. When she pushed it aside, the wall was the same gray stone but appeared to have a lucidity about it.

  "I want to show you something," she said.

  With a light touch of her fingertips, a portal shimmered and became a doorway. The long hallway I saw beyond the molten wall looked bright and welcoming.

  "Let's go." Holli walked through the mercurial substance and merged into the scene beyond.

  I stepped through, following her lead.

  "This is where I live," she explained, like I was supposed to understand.

  "What is this place?" Where is this place?

  "Death created it for me. It's an extension of the castle but exists in an alternate dimension. No one in Purgatory can see it or sense it and no one but me, Death, and now you have ever been to it."

  My heart leapt, knowing I'd just hit the jackpot. "Why would you need an entire castle in a different dimension to live in? Why couldn't you just live in Death's castle like normal?"

  "I don't know. Death just said that he wanted a place where we wouldn't be watched and where I could be safe."

  Eww. That sounded sexual and gross, and possibly ominous. Why would Holli need to be kept safe?

  I halted the barrage of questions flooding my brain and looked around at the structure. I needed to find a clue as to why this place existed. The hall was tiled with white marble and the walls were made mostly of glass. The view beyond them was that of Purgatory, but seen as if you were looking at a watercolor. No grays and blacks, but instead reds, blues, and purples all smeared together like a Monet painting.

  Holli beckoned me to follow her and I did, eyes wide and ears open. We continued for a short stint, then turned into a large room. The area was enormous and had a high ceiling that featured a massive tangle of thin metal beams that twisted and seemed to creep up the walls, coming to an inverted point that hung down towards the floor.

  "Wow. What is that?"

  "Oh, that's where Death pulls the phenoms inside."

  My jaw dropped. "What do you mean? Why would he need a way to pull them inside?" My tone was far too demanding and Holli paused before responding.

  "Um...I'm not sure if I'm suppose to tell you or not." She started to turn away, heading back towards the hallway that led to the portal.

  "Wait. Holli, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry. I'm just so surprised at the grandeur of this place. It's so beautiful. You're lucky to be able to live here."

  Holli lifted her chin and shifted her shoulders, her proud smile evidence that I said the right thing.

  "Thanks. It's not as big as Death's actual castle but it has a lot of fun things for me to do when I'm not working with you."

  I shook my head and struggled to maintain the smile I'd plastered onto my face. Using the words "Death" and "fun" in the same sentence went against the natural order of things. Then again, I wasn't the girlfriend he was trying to impress. Maybe Death pulled the phenoms inside for Holli to fly with––this room was certainly big enough for her to do so, and that was certainly something I considered fun.

  "Would you like to see the gardens?" she asked.

  "Absolutely!" Flowers? In Purgatory? This I had to see. My mind rejoiced at the prospect and my smile turned genuine. I hadn't touched or smelled a real flower since before I died.

  We walked away from the "Phenom Room," and continued down the hallway towards another section of Holli's castle.

  The level of kindness that Death had shown her boggled my mind. I couldn't imagine the amount of magic it took to pull off something like this. I swallowed hard and a sinking feeling settled in my gut.

  I knew all of this was somehow related to the increased number of phenoms and Garrett's disappearance. Now, if I could only figure out how they were connected.

  "So, Holli. You said that Death takes you topside for dinner every night. What is your favorite place to eat?"

  "Oh wow. That's a tough question. We've been to so many great places. Le Meurice in Paris was amazing, but I also really enjoyed Antoine's in New Orleans."

  Dammit. I refused to let the green-eyed monster rear his head, but I'd never been to either of those places when I was alive, let alone once I'd died.

  "I've been wanting to go to back to the French Quarter, perhaps I could ask Death to take us both there tomorrow tonight."

  A wide smile layered my expression and my excitement rivaled hers. "That would be fantastic!"

  Now maybe I'd get some answers.

  17

  We didn't see Death again for the remainder of the night and when Holli had tried to go find him to discuss our dinner plans, we found that she too was unable to leave the room.

  No surprise I suppose.

  After wriggling the door back and forth for at least a full minute, the innocent shrug of her shoulders portrayed a habit of accepting odd things without a second thought. Something I'd NEVER be able to do.

  "Hmm. I guess Death wants us to stay in." She gazed toward the balcony, which was also blocked by an invisible barrier.

  "Clearly," I responded, flopping down on the bed. "Holli, can I ask you something?"

  "Sure."

  "Do you know why there has been such an increase in phenoms lately? I mean, there have always been a few that figure out a way to run, but nothing like what's been happening since your arrival." I was sick of getting nowhere and figured I might as well just ask.

  "I'm not sure, Raven. Like I explained before, Death told me that my only job here was to help you gather the phenoms, and protect him whenever necessary." The crease to her brow made it obvious she didn't like being blamed for something she didn't understand.

  "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to imply it's your fault. It's just confusing to me, is all."

  Holli didn't respond, but turned back towards the balcony, flaring her snow-white wings ever so slightly. I needed to tread lightly here. If Holli got mad, all it would take was one word from her and I would end up in the dungeons for real.


  "Don't worry about it," I offered.

  Her shoulders slumped and she blew out a shallow breath. I couldn't quite decipher if this was her way of relaxing because she truly didn't know anything, or if it meant that, in fact, she did.

  I was almost grateful when Death opened the door, disrupting our awkward exchange. Holli smiled at him, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

  "What's wrong, my dear?" he asked, his gaze shifting to me.

  I swallowed hard when Holli squinted in my direction.

  "Nothing. I was just trying to come find you to ask if we could take Raven to the French Quarter for dinner and found that I couldn't leave my room."

  "I'm sorry, darling. Raven isn't allowed topside unless she is on a retrieval or gathering mission."

  "Oh, all right. Forgive me, I didn't know." Her voice was timid but held an edge.

  Death leaned down and kissed Holli on the cheek while his eyes remained glued to mine. "It was nice of you to want to include her."

  He pulled back and smiled down at Holli, then pulled her to the edge of the room. With a swipe of his scythe, a small round table dressed in white linen and surrounded by three wooden chairs appeared out of thin air. Holli squealed and I could only assume it was a table setting from Antoine's restaurant.

  "Will this do, my love?" Death asked Holli.

  "Oh yes. This is wonderful. Thank you so much." Her giddy response pulled a wide smile from his lips.

  He motioned for us to take a seat then uncovered the silver domed serving dishes to reveal our Southern cuisine. My mouth watered as I took it all in. We enjoyed an appetizer of Huitres Thermidor; a plate of fresh Louisiana oysters baked on the half shell with a bacon and tomato sauce. The main entrée was Cotelettes d'agneau grillées; a prime center cut lamb chops grilled and served with mint jelly. Dessert, of course, was the highlight. The Omelette Alaska Antoine was a special presentation of baked Alaska and something I would never forget. I closed my eyes letting the meringue, cake, and ice cream melt on my tongue.

  "Are you enjoying your meal, Raven?"

  I opened my eyes to Death's hungry stare. I straightened my spine and lifted my chin. "Yes. Thank you. It was delicious," I stated flatly.