My Tethered Soul: Volume 2 (Reaper's Rite)

by Dorothy Dreyer

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The author makes no claims to, but instead acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the word marks mentioned in this work of fiction.

  Copyright © 2014 by Dorothy Dreyer

  My Tethered Soul (Reaper’s Rite 2) by Dorothy Dreyer

  All rights reserved. Published in the United States of America by Month9Books, LLC.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Published by Month9Books

  Cover by Gina Gibson

  Cover Copyright © 2014 Month9Books

  PRAISE FOR MY SISTER’S REAPER

  “A Zany and Fun YA Paranormal Novel!”

  – Stephanie Wardrop

  “Kept me up at night.”

  – Sher A. Hart

  “Man, this book... SO AWESOME! The magic, the myths, the romance... I loved it all!”

  – Lili Lost in a Book

  “…a really fun and quick read!”

  – Angie

  “A fresh paranormal read.”

  – Cornucopia of Reviews

  “I always love a good horror/thriller type book. Especially this time of year around Halloween. This book truly delivered that need for me.”

  – 1bookloversopinion

  For Kirsten, my lovely daughter,

  and Rebecca, my loving mother.

  Chapter One

  The eyes staring back at me were pitch-black and void of life. Tunnel vision overwhelmed me, its biting grip piercing my brain. My knees buckled and my blood turned to ice. I tried to turn away, but was frozen in place. My eyes locked with the Reaper’s, and his gray, skeletal face twisted into a sneer. Where’s the crossbow? My breath came in short, erratic pulses. I was just about to scream when something hard slammed down on my shoulder.

  “Zadie, what are you doing?”

  I blinked. I wanted to answer Mara, but the Reaper’s gaze held me. The face in front of me morphed. The Reaper’s sneer slowly disappeared. Light trickled in and erased the blackness. Onyx eyes turned hazel. And I realized I was looking at myself.

  “What—?” I blinked again. My fingers flew to my cheeks and then to the cold glass of the mirror. Had I been dreaming? I watched in the reflection as Mara came closer.

  “Are you all right?” Mara moved her hand on my shoulder.

  I winced as her fingers brushed the scar that still stung on contact. Nope, not dreaming. The pink, jagged remnant of the wound left by the Reaper’s knife last fall tingled uncomfortably.

  “Sorry,” she said, retracting her hand. “So why are you staring at yourself down here?”

  I turned to my sister, her eyes almost-glowing in the darkness of the living room. There was a time I had been deathly afraid of Mara—and standing in the dark alone with her would have totally freaked me out. But now it wasn’t Mara I feared.

  “I don’t know.” I swallowed and wiped sweat from my forehead. A dull ache snaked from my eyes to my neck. “I guess I was walking in my sleep.”

  “Well, I’m just getting some juice.” Mara studied me for a second more before heading to the kitchen.

  I ran my fingers through my hair and followed her. Juice sounded good, especially with the dryness scraping at the inside of my throat. I didn’t remember coming downstairs. I could barely remember what I was dreaming before I imagined the Reaper in front of me.

  Mara handed me a glass of juice. “You okay?”

  We eyed each other. Was she thinking the same thing I was? I closed my eyes as I swallowed my drink, hoping it was merely a stress-induced dream that led me down the stairs to stare in the mirror. Praying it wasn’t some supernatural power seeking revenge by controlling my actions.

  “Yeah,” I said, more to convince myself than her.

  It was just a dream. That had to be the explanation.

  “I can’t sleep so well either.” She took our glasses and set them by the sink. “Worried about finals. Wondering if I’ll get asked to prom.”

  I had to laugh. Here I was, worried about an angel of death stalking me, and the biggest concern in Mara’s mind was whether or not a boy would ask her to go to a dance.

  Or maybe she was just trying to lighten the mood.

  “But we only have a few more weeks, then you’ve got summer break and I graduate. So that rocks, right?” She winked and softly touched my arm as she walked past me toward the stairs.

  I sighed and followed her, fiddling with the pendant at my collar. The agate stone from Lilura Black—my mentor—slipped smoothly between my fingers. I wondered if there was any trace left of the spell she’d cast upon it the year before.

  “Is Naomi still planning her annual School’s Out party?” Mara asked through a yawn.

  “Bigger and wilder than the year before. Especially since her brother’s graduating.” I stopped in her doorway and leaned against the frame.

  “Tell that best friend of yours I’d like an invite.” Mara grabbed a brush from her dresser and pulled it through her strawberry-blond hair. It was a strange sight to see her brushing her hair in the dark. Almost eerie.

  “Can I ask you something?” I bit my lip, waiting for her answer.

  “Sure. What’s up?”

  “Have you tried…lately?”

  Mara’s gaze met the floor and she replaced the brush on her dresser. She knew exactly what I was talking about. Vila powers. Our ability to make things happen. When I defeated my sister’s Reaper seven months ago, Mara was stripped of her powers. Lilura told us there might be a chance for Mara to regain them, but there was no way to know for sure. Mara tried to will something—anything—to happen the first two months after her Reaper’s demise with no luck. I hadn’t asked her since if she tried again. Until now.

  “No,” she said.

  “But if you haven’t tried, then you don’t know for sure. Maybe you can—”

  “Just drop it, Zadie!”

  I flinched.

  Mara quickly regained her composure, closing her eyes and holding her hands out as if to steady herself. “Sorry. I just don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Like you don’t want to talk about going to visit Mom?” It came out of my mouth before I could stop myself. But I didn’t regret it. I had been holding it in too long. Our mother had been locked up in a mental institution for the past four years, since I was thirteen. It wasn’t until I found out about our family history—our half-faery/half-witch history—that I learned the real reason she lost her mind. If a Reaper couldn’t take a Vila’s soul, it could take her sanity instead. Mom’s Reaper was still out there, probably searching for her so he could finish the job he started. But there was a chance to save her from him. I vowed to help her defeat her Reaper. To finally bring her home again.

  Dad and I visited Mom at least once a month, but Mara never made the trip with us. Not since before her accident last fall.

  “I’m not ready.” She turned away from me and crawled into her bed.

  “Why not? I don’t get it.”

  Mara shook her head and shrugged. “I just…I know what it’s like to be haunted. To feel like there’s literally no escape from a demon. To have no choice but to give in. And knowing Mom is still… Zadie, it terrifies me to even think about being around that.”

  A small, electric chill swept over my skin. I stepped into her room. “But we have
to help her.”

  “I know. And I am. I’ve been reading every book and journal Lilura puts in front of me. We’re getting closer. I just have to know for sure. Only then will I feel comfortable seeing Mom.”

  I sat beside her on her bed and took her hand in mine. Mara’s episode with her Reaper had changed her. She used to be fearless, adventurous, full of life. I could see now that she was still recovering from the Reaper’s hold on her.

  “I’m here for you, Mara. You know that.”

  “Of course I do.” She squeezed my hand. “You saved my life twice. That kind of clued me in.”

  I let out a small breath of a laugh that turned into a yawn.

  “You should get some sleep,” she said.

  “Yeah. You too.”

  “Good night, Zadie.”

  I smiled at her and headed for the door.

  “Well, look at that,” she said.

  I turned to face her. “Look at what?”

  Mara pointed at the clock on her nightstand.

  “It’s after midnight. Happy birthday.”

  I swallowed hard, eyes wide and teeth piercing my lip. But Mara didn’t notice, turning over in bed and pulling the covers over her shoulder. My skin felt cold and prickly as I wandered across the hall to my room, wishing I could dismiss the feeling of dread. My fist closed around the agate stone at my neck, the one Lilura had cast a spell upon. The spell that would help keep me safe from Reapers, from the evil shadows wanting to claim my soul. Lilura’s spell protected me while I was sixteen. But my birthday was here. I was seventeen. And out of time.

  Chapter Two

  I groaned at the large mass of clouds that veiled the morning sun. Not perfect birthday weather. Plus, I had a long day of school ahead of me. I kicked at a rock on the sidewalk and glanced at Mara.

  “Cheer up, birthday girl.”

  I adjusted the books nestled in my arm. “Can’t I just skip school today and go straight to Lilura’s?”

  “Straight to Lilura’s? So you don’t want to skip Vila training?”

  “Are you kidding me? I get to shoot a crossbow.”

  She nodded. “Guess that’s pretty exhilarating.”

  “Nothing quite like it.”

  “Except for maybe driving a car.” Her lips pushed into a pout. “I wish Dad would buy me one.”

  I raised a brow at her. “It’s a ten minute walk to school.”

  “Yeah, I know. But I’m eighteen. I’m about to graduate. I should have a car.”

  “Then maybe you should get a job.”

  She scoffed. “When am I going to fit that in? Between school and Vila research, I don’t have time for a job. Much less a personal life.”

  “Well, I’m just as busy as you are. Plus, I have a boyfriend.”

  Mara tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “Oh, boo-hoo.”

  I grimaced. “Yeah, okay. I guess that’s kind of a perk.”

  A smile flooded my face at the thought of Gavin.

  Mara held her hand out as we passed a yard with overgrown bushes, her fingers grazing the leaves. I didn’t think she was jealous of my relationship with Gavin, but it probably bummed her out that she didn’t have a boyfriend anymore. She broke up with her last boyfriend, Luke, just before the bus accident that landed her in a coma. Not to mention she almost killed him when she was under the Reaper’s spell. Was the reason she wasn’t in a relationship because guys were intimidated by Mara, or was it because Mara was afraid of what might happen if she got too close to someone again?

  We crossed the street to the school grounds, and I pushed all dark thoughts out of my mind. It was my birthday. My sister and I were alive and well. In a few minutes, I would see my boyfriend and my best friend, and after school I would indulge in some kick-ass Vila training.

  Naomi leaned against my locker with a container of cupcakes propped on one hand. Her oversized baseball T-shirt was hacked off just under her chest and draped over two brightly colored tank tops. She pulled her dark, razor-cut bangs across her forehead, then made a show of the treats once she spotted me. Holding the container in the air, she struck a pose usually adopted by sports car models.

  I laughed and shook my head. “You’re such a dork.”

  “But you love me, right?” Naomi threw her free arm around me. “Happy birthday, Zadie!”

  I squeezed her back. “Thanks.”

  Mara put a hand on my shoulder. “See you at Lilura’s after school, okay?”

  “Yeah. See you.” I gave her a small wave as she headed off.

  “So.” Naomi held the box up again. “Welcome to the ranks of being seventeen. These are from my mom.”

  I eyed the hot pink icing sprinkled with sugar confetti. “I’m going into a sugar coma just looking at them. Tell her thanks. But, um, I don’t know if I can carry those around all day.”

  “Do you not know the scavengers in this school? They’ll be gone before you get to first period. See, here come Danny and Gavin now. Danny will probably wolf down three before he even mutters a hello.”

  I followed her gaze and focused on my boyfriend and his best friend. It felt like Gavin was walking toward me in slow motion, as if I were in some cheesy high school movie where a luminous glow surrounded the male lead as he entered the scene. The silver chain of his pocket watch bounced back and forth with each stride. A slow grin spread across his lips. For a moment, I got lost in dark lashes framing deep sapphire eyes.

  God, he was hot.

  His hand reached for mine as he neared, and our fingers instantly entwined. I needed to kiss him. But I couldn’t kiss him the way I wanted to here in the school hallway. So I held myself back, only allowing our lips to meet for a second before I descended from my tiptoed stance. Greedily, I breathed in his delicious scent of peppermint and clean laundry.

  “Happy birthday.” The corner of his mouth went up in a half smile. “I got you something, but I want to give it to you after school.”

  “You didn’t have to get me anything.”

  “Are you crazy?” Naomi butted in. “Of course he did. That’s, like, rule number one in the boyfriend rule book.”

  Danny leaned in with his hands in his jean pockets and a goofy smile on his face. “Happy birthday, Zade.”

  “Thanks, Danny. Are those new shoes? They’re awesome.”

  Danny ran a hand over his short-cropped hair and shrugged.

  Naomi gave me a look, barely moving her head enough for me to notice she was shaking it. I guessed she didn’t want my shoe compliment to tip Gavin off that his best friend was gay. I didn’t think Gavin would care one way or the other, but I made a promise to Naomi to keep Danny’s secret.

  “Cupcake?” I held up the container to the guys.

  A metallic bang from down the hall made us all turn.

  “Get out of my way, freshman!” Kelly Landry, with her nose in the air, practically growled at the poor underclassman she had just shoved into the lockers.

  I glanced at Naomi, whose brow furrowed.

  Kelly sauntered toward us, her BFF Nicole in tow. Kelly stuck her chest out, emphasizing the V-cut of her tight, white, ruffled blouse, and swayed her hips in her silky pleated skirt that was way too short. The clicks of her black-and-white plaid kitten heels echoed in the hall as she stopped in front of us.

  “Um, hi?” Naomi said.

  The surprise in her voice matched the confusion on the rest of our faces. Kelly and Nicole hadn’t so much as glanced our way ever since their leader—and Mara’s ex-best friend—Emily Broding met her untimely doom last fall. Her death may or may not have been Mara’s fault. Not that Mara could remember, since she’d been under a Reaper’s control when it happened. Now it seemed that Kelly, who’d taken over Emily’s role as queen bee, had put us back on her radar.

  “Yeah, listen,” Kelly said, studying her bright red nail polish. “Sorry I won’t be coming to your little party, Naomi. I adore your brother Nate and all, but I’m having a soirée of my own.”

  “I don’t think I
invited you, but, you know, whatever.”

  Kelly grimaced at Naomi. “In fact, don’t be surprised if most the people you invited don’t show up because something better came up.”

  “As in Kelly’s party.” Nicole’s head tilted forward on her skinny neck.

  Kelly rolled her eyes. “They got it, Nicole. Shut up.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Nicole smoothed her light brown hair. “I was just saying it for effect.”

  Kelly scoffed and shot Nicole a warning look. Nicole trained her eyes to the floor and cleared her throat.

  “Oh. Cupcakes?” Kelly eyed the container.

  “It’s my birthday.” I don’t know why I told her. I didn’t care if she knew or not.

  “How fun.” Kelly’s condescending smile never left her face as she lifted one of the cupcakes out of the box. Without taking her eyes off me, she held the treat out to the side and dropped it on the floor. “Whoops.”

  I gripped Naomi’s arm when she inched forward. It was no use getting into a fight today. Not with Kelly, and not over a cupcake.

  Kelly flipped her perfectly-coifed blond hair back. “Well, if your party falls through, feel free to drop by mine. Or not. You’re welcome, of course, Gavin. Anytime.”

  My blood went hot when Kelly winked at Gavin, but he simply squeezed my hand.

  “What’s up with her?” Danny asked once Kelly and Nicole were out of earshot.

  Gavin shrugged. “She got into Rutgers, which just intensified her theory of being better than everyone else.”

  “Seriously?” Naomi wrinkled her nose. “I can’t believe Rutgers would actually accept her.”

  I shook my head. “Yeah. Poor school.”

  Danny pointed to the cupcake on the floor. “Is anybody gonna eat that?”

  Gavin playfully shoved Danny into Naomi. “Let’s get to class.”

  “Is that a no?” Danny asked.

  Gavin’s hand felt great in mine. Not only was he my Cation—the energy booster for my Vila powers—but he had an intense and undeniable hold on my heart. I couldn’t help but feel giddy around him, like I was getting away with something I shouldn’t. Like I was showered with blessings I wasn’t sure I deserved.