Reaper Dreaming: A Reaper Novel

by Christie Palmer

  Dante looked over Lailah’s shoulder at Hunter, “It seems my son saw more in you than I did.” Lailah wasn’t sure if what she saw in Dante’s eyes was pride or disgust.

  Lailah stepped back and took Hunters hand in her’s. “I think I am very lucky to have found him. We are lucky to have each other. Are you going to deny us the right to be together?”

  Dante looked between them and then burst out laughing, after a moment he stopped laughing but his arms were still wrapped around his middle when he said, “I have learned my offspring will do as they please when it comes to matters of the heart. I have very little say on the matter.”

  Lailah released a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. Then Dante turned his attention to Hunter, “Banner isn’t dead, why?”

  Lailah was just as surprised as Hunter and they both turned back to Dante, Hunter spoke first. “I don’t know I would have thought Victor would have brought you his soul by now. I will return immediately and find out.”

  Dante raised his hand and stopped Hunter, “And this new Reaper?”

  Hunter shook his head, “We cannot transport him here without risking the souls he carries.”

  Dante muttered something, “Am I going to have to intervene Hunter?” Dante asked with disgust.

  “I don’t believe so,” Hunter said.

  Dante stood and Lailah didn’t have to know Dante well to know he was agitated, “But you don’t know for sure. You don’t know what the Tribunal did to this man to make him a Reaper because you came here to the Infernos because of this female.” Dante turned accusing eyes at Lailah.

  “Hey,” Lailah said and stepped forward before Hunter could stop her. “Don’t just lob an accusation like that without warning.” Lailah pointed at Dante standing above her like some avenging God. Hunter tried to stop her with a hand on her shoulder but Lailah shrugged it off.

  “Do you have any idea what Hunter has been through? What the others have been through?” Lailah took two steps up the dais so she wasn’t craning her neck looking up at Dante. “So everyone wanted a day or two to just breathe.” Lailah shouted the last part.

  Dante stepped down so he was nose to nose with Lailah. “Do you have any idea who you are speaking with child?”

  Lailah had to admit she was shaking, but she also knew Dante couldn’t destroy her. She was an Arch Angel and dammit she was pissed, Lailah breathed out and leaned forward letting out her Angel. “Do you know who you are dealing with?” With just as much anger.

  Lailah felt a shudder move through her entire body, and then a horrible pain erupted from her back and she was torn backward.

  It felt like something was pulling her back with a force so out of her control Lailah wasn’t sure she kept her shoes on. Lailah closed her eyes and let out a scream. When she opened her eyes she was laying on her back and staring at the ceiling.

  “Holy shit. What the hell just happened?” Lailah was afraid to move. Within seconds, Hunter was standing over her. “What the hell hit me? Did Dante do something?”

  “Really? Why would she think that?” Lailah heard Dante say from somewhere to her left.

  Hunter didn’t offer her a hand just stood over her. His eyes were huge.

  “Okay, you’re freaking me out.” Lailah tried to sit up but something was trapped underneath her.

  Lailah turned her head and all she saw was white. Pristine white feathers.

  “Holy shit!” Lailah turned back to Hunter. “For the love of the Gods tell me this didn’t just happen?”

  Hunter shook his head. But still didn’t say anything.

  “For an Angel, you sure have a potty mouth.” Dante interrupted.

  “You are so not helping,” Lailah screamed.

  “I didn’t know I was supposed to be helping,” Dante said finally moving into her line of sight.

  Lailah rolled from side to side but the damn wings seemed to be trapped, and they were making it impossible for her to get up. “Ah for fucks sake. How the hell is anyone supposed to move with these things?”

  “Here,” Hunter finally offered her a hand. And he pulled her to her feet.

  Lailah teetered on her feet trying to find her balance with the heavy wings on her back. “Ah, shit I should have done more ab work. These things are heavy.” Lailah bent over and put her hands on her knees, and then turned and glared at Dante. “This is your fault.”

  Dante actually looked aggravated, “How in the world is this my fault?”

  “You got me upset and I had to release my Angel.” Lailah stood and then started falling backward. Luckily Hunter caught her, then her shirt started to fall off because, of course, her shirt had been torn when her wings had ripped through. “Great now my clothes are falling off,” Lailah muttered.

  “Nothing I haven’t seen before,” Dante offered.

  Hunter muttered something and Lailah squeaked. “Well you haven’t seen mine before and I’m not about to let you see it now.”

  “I need to get rid of these.” Lailah turned to Hunter who had to duck or get hit by one of her large wings. “Ah, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” Hunter said but the way he was looking at her wings said it really wasn’t.

  Lailah swung back to Dante, “How do I get rid of them?”

  “And how would I know?” Dante asked. “Do I look like I have a pair of wings to you?”

  “You’re Dante, that’s how,” Lailah said. “I don’t have a lot of choices right now Dante.”

  Dante snorted, “I have an idea,” Dante said, then “I demand an audience with an Angel.”

  Lailah laughed, “Does that really work?” She was about to say more when there was a popping noise and an Angel appeared. Lailah just stared for a moment, she was sure her mouth was hanging open.

  The Angel was beautiful, a male in a simple white button down shirt and linen pants. His wings in full out behind him he hovered several inches off the floor he glared at Dante. “You requested an audience.” His voice was calm but Lailah could tell he would rather be doing just about anything else then answering this summons of Dante.

  Dante gave him a half smile and shook his head, “Actually not for me.” He pointed to Lailah. “Your little Arch here needs some help.”

  The Angel turned and took one look at Lailah then went down on one knee his head bowed. “Arch,” he whispered.

  Lailah actually looked behind her, “Excuse me?”

  The Angel didn’t look up but continued to look down. “How may I be of assistance?”

  Lailah looked at Hunter and Dante, the latter looked as if he was going to laugh, which frustrated Lailah. “First of all, you can get up.”

  The Angle shook his head, “You are an Arch, I, must not look upon you.”

  At this point, Dante burst out laughing. “This isn’t funny,” Lailah spat at the ruler of the Infernos.

  “Actually,” Dante said crossing his arms over his chest. “From where I am, this is hysterical.”

  Lailah looked at Dante and glared, she was bent forward trying to hold herself up and glaring at him while holding her shirt on her chest. She gave a heavy sigh and looked at Hunter. “I am going to kick your father’s ass when I get rid of these damn wings. I just need my bat.”

  Hunter nodded, but he didn’t look all that concerned. Probably because Lailah didn’t look like she was going to kick anyone’s ass at the moment. Lailah turned back to the angel still kneeing in front of her.

  “Okay look I am having a slight problem here. I just got my wings, and I’m not really sure how to get rid of them. Do you think you could help me out?” Lailah asked the Angel.

  The Angel must have thought she was insane because he turned his head and looked at Hunter, “Why in the world would she want to get rid of her wings?” he asked.

  Lailah leaned over so she was in his line of site, and the Angel quickly looked down, “Because they are damn heavy,” Lailah yelled at him making him cringe. “Ah, this is pointless. There has to be someone else who can help me,
” Lailah said to Hunter.

  “Perhaps Marcus.” Hunter said to Dante.

  Dante nodded and then said to the Angel, “Useful as always, you may go.” Snapping his fingers, the Angel disappeared.

  Lailah rolled her shoulders, her back was killing her and now her shoulders were beginning to ache. “How do they do this all the time?” she asked. “These things are a lot of work? I mean you would think my body would have been better prepared for these things.”

  “I think your change was forced on you a little prematurely, you weren’t physically prepared for many things Lailah,” Marcus said following Celeste into great room they were in. “But impressive wings by the way.”

  “Thank god you’re here,” Lailah said. “Please help me get rid of them.”

  “Shit girl, those are huge. They might even be bigger than Marcus’s.” Celeste said walking around Lailah she whistled. She reached out and plucked one of her feather.

  “Ouch,” Lailah jumped. “That hurt.” Hunter caught her as she almost tipped over from losing her balance. “That is the creepiest feeling in the world,” Lailah shrieked.

  Celeste laughed, “Just wanted to see if you felt it like Marcus does.”

  “Argh, you are such a biatch,” Lailah said to Celeste, who gave her a wink.

  “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,” Celeste said.

  “No, she has just been through a lot in the last half-hour,” Hunter warned his sister.

  “Wings,” Lailah said. Getting everyone’s attention, “We need to get rid of the wings, then we are back to kicking Dante’s ass and then we can return to the mortal plane kill the freaky Reaper. And then a vacation, a long vacation on a beach where there are no Guardians or Tribunal. In that order please.” Lailah emphasized the last part giving everyone a pointed look.

  “And why does she want to kick Dante’s ass?” Celeste asked.

  Lailah thought for a moment, then sighed heavily. “You know with the whole wing issue I forgot. It will come back to me I’m sure.” Then she looked at Marcus, “Please tell me you know how to get rid of them.”

  Marcus walked around Lailah twice, the second time stopping behind her. He leaned in and Lailah couldn’t see what he was doing but then he was lifting up her feathers.

  “Hey. What’s going on back there?” Lailah asked. Marcus wasn’t hurting her, but it felt weird to have someone moving her feathers around and she wasn’t sure if she liked it or not.

  “I apologize. I know I don’t like anyone touching my wings but Celeste. But I just wanted to make sure your anatomy was the same as mine,” Marcus said coming to stand in front of Lailah.

  “And?” Lailah asked.

  “Everything looks normal,” Marcus said. “Now you need to relax.”

  “Everybody keeps saying that. And it’s not as easy as you would think. I happen to have like eight hundred pounds of feathers on my back at the moment,” Lailah said.

  Marcus laughed, “Yes well they aren’t going anywhere until you relax Lailah. And not quite eight hundred pounds. Hunter?”

  Lailah turned to Hunter who nodded and leaned down and wrapped his arms around Lailah lifting her so her arms were wrapped around his neck. Hunter took her weight into his arms. Lailah sighed and rested her head under his chin, “Thank you.” Lailah could feel him rubbing small circles with his thumbs on the small of her back and it felt so wonderful. Lailah’s entire back hurt but where his hands were, where his thumbs ran small circles on her back it felt amazing.

  “Just relax against me,” Hunter whispered into her ear.

  Lailah looked up into his eyes. “That feels so nice.”

  “Just try and relax,” Hunter said, moving his hands so he was now rubbing her shoulders.

  “Lailah can I get you to flex your shoulders,” Marcus asked.

  Lailah did as Marcus asked and she could feel her wings move, she concentrated on the sensation it caused trying to imagine what it looked like, she experimentally flexed other muscles in her back. Hunter continued his ministrations as she tried different muscles.

  Finally, when her muscles here burning she relaxed all her back muscles and released her breath and just let Hunter hold her up. She almost forgot there was a host of people standing around her. The only thing Lailah cared about was Hunter and her, his arms secure around her holding her up and the small circles he was rubbing into the small of her back was turning her into mush.

  “Just think about your wings going away,” Hunter whispered into her ear.

  Lailah thought it was absurd because she didn’t know exactly where they would go but she imagined she didn’t have them, that they were gone. She wasn’t sure where they would go but she breathed and told herself they were gone.

  After several minutes of breathing and telling herself she no longer had wings she looked up at Hunter and asked. “Well?”

  Hunter gave her a smile, “Still there.”

  “I don’t know where they are going to go,” Lailah said a little helplessly.

  “They aren’t going to go anywhere they are a part of you. You just need to put them away or learn to walk around with them,” Hunter said matter of factly. “Not that I don’t enjoy holding you. But I don’t think you want me to carry your ass around everywhere for the rest of your life.”

  Lailah pinched him on the shoulder. “Now who’s being the funny guy?”

  Hunter leaned down and kissed her on the nose. “You can do this, they are a part of you and you need to respect them. Don’t think about them going away as much as believe they are just being put away.”

  Lailah heaved a sigh, “I really think this is easier said than done.”

  “Would it help if you saw what happened when my wings are put away?” Marcus asked.

  Lailah shifted and tried to look at Marcus, the Dark Angel moved so he was standing next to Hunter.

  Lailah gave him a reluctant smile, “If you don’t mind.”

  Marcus laughed softly, “Of course not.” Reaching over his head he pulled off his shirt and handed it to Celeste he turned his back to Hunter and Lailah and with a shrug of his shoulder his muscular back opened up with two flaps of skin he hadn’t had a moment before and two large black wings erupted from his back. Lailah sucked in a breath, they were so breath-takingly beautiful. And in contrast, to her white wings so different.

  He flapped his wings several times then he folded them up and they disappeared back into his back and the flaps of skin covered them again. He took his shirt from Celeste and pulled it on before turning back to Lailah and Hunter.

  “Do you see now?” Marcus asked.

  Lailah did, and she was even less sure this would work. “You have such a larger frame then I do. I don’t know if my wings are going to fit,” Lailah said honestly.

  Marcus laughed, “Your wings are made specifically for your body type. Of course, they will fit. And they are created to fold in and protect you. When they are folded up if something attacks you turn your back to your attacker nothing will get past your folded wings.”

  “Good to know,” Lailah said. “But not information I need currently.”

  “Just close your eyes and envision what you saw happening with my wings happening to yours,” Marcus explained.

  Lailah closed her eyes and tried to imagine her wings folding up into her back. She felt a shift and she opened her eyes, “Anything?”

  Hunter gave her a smile, “They folded up but haven’t retreated. You’re doing well. Keep going.”

  Lailah screwed up her face and kept going imagining them retreating into her back. Something was happening as pressure built in her back, Lailah imagined she was stuffing too many feathers into a pillow. Unfortunately, in this analogy, she was the damn pillow.

  “Very good,” Marcus told her.

  Lailah opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder. Not a single feather showed. “Hot damn,” she yelled and jumped up and down. Which caused one wing to pop out. “Shit,” Lailah screamed and fell forwa
rd into Hunters' arms.

  Celeste burst out laughing.

  “Okay, so high emotion causes the wings to appear. Good to know,” Hunter said dryly.

  Lailah huffed and blew hair out of her face which had fallen there in her fall into Hunters arms. “I’m having a bad day,” Lailah said looking up into Hunters' eyes.

  “You don’t say,” Hunter said leaning down he kissed Lailah on the nose again. “Practice make perfect.” He motioned to the wing now sticking out of her back.

  Lailah took a deep breath and closed her eyes preparing to stuff it back into her back where it belonged. It didn’t take as long as the first time, which Lailah counted as a win and when Hunter squeezed her and Lailah opened her eyes she looked over her shoulder and the wing was gone she didn’t lose it she just turned back to Hunter and gave him a smile.

  “I’ll stay calm this time,” Lailah said to him.

  “I would recommend it,” Hunter said dryly. “Now let’s see if we can do something about this shirt.”

  Lailah looked down at her shirt. The front was fine, it was the back which was in tatters.

  “Turn around,” Hunter said.

  Lailah did and she watched over her shoulder as Hunter tied the pieces together creating a halter top for her from the tatters of her t-shirt leaving her back bare.

  “This way if your wings make another appearance it won’t leave you scrambling for a top,” Hunter said caressing her bare shoulder.

  Lailah broke out in goosebumps, “Thanks.”

  “I’ll send you the information for the women who does all my shirts I’m sure she would love to get more work,” Marcus said.

  Lailah thanked him, looks like she was getting a new wardrobe.

  “Are we done playing house?” Dante asked.

  Lailah turned to the ruler of the Infernos, frankly, she had forgotten he was even there.

  Lailah glared at him, “This was all your fault in the first place, if you hadn’t gotten me so upset then maybe my wings wouldn’t have popped out at all.”

  “Please,” Dante said with a wave of his hand, he had moved back to his seat on the dais looking bored. “They had to make an appearance eventually. At least, you were somewhere safe. Count your blessing, little angel, it was here instead of somewhere else.”