Cards of Death Box Set

by Tamara Geraeds

  Vicky squeezes my hand and when I look at her there’s surprise on her face. “You do?” she asks softly.

  I immediately know what she’s talking about and kiss her. “Of course. Hadn’t you noticed? I thought you could read feelings?”

  She blushes. I guess I finally found her weak spot.

  “How can I not love you?” I whisper and her blush deepens.

  “So what now?” the young white-haired ghost asks, still grinning from ear to ear. “How do we break the curse?”

  D’Maeo stops in front of Maël. “We’ll have to find out why he was cursed and by who.”

  Maël nods. “Yes, but how?”

  “I was hoping you’d know.”

  I think of my visit to Tartarus and stand up. “I might know a way.”

  I fill them in on my conversation with the Ferryman and the memory I saw. They all listen wide-eyed.

  “Maybe Charon will let me take a look at my father’s memory. He can probably find the one in which Dad gets cursed.”

  Jeep chortles. “You really think he will show you a memory? I bet he has better things to do. Your meeting with him was a one-time occurrence. Somehow I can’t picture him greeting you with open arms.”

  I shrug. “I could try.”

  Maël leans on her staff. “I think there might be an easier way.”

  She exchanges a look with D’Maeo before continuing. “We could summon your father.”

  My heart seems to stop for a moment. My ears buzz and I forget to breathe.

  Vicky’s thumb caresses the palm of my hand. Slowly, I return to the real world.

  “We can do that?” I whisper. It never even occurred to me that we could. I can see Dad again? Ask him everything I ever wondered about? Why he left us, how he died…

  D’Maeo’s stern voice pulls me back to reality. “Don’t get your hopes up. There’s always a chance that we don’t get an answer.”

  A thought pops up in my head. “Guys? What if this curse also caused him to change? What if that was the reason he suddenly became so violent?”

  Jeep and Taylar frown, but D’Maeo gives me a small smile. “Sounds like a possibility.”

  Maël taps her wand on the floor. “If that is the case, breaking the curse is even more important. We don’t want Dante to turn evil.”

  “Please lock me up if that happens,” I say, looking at the ghosts one by one.

  “We can’t, remember?” Taylar says. “We have to do what you tell us.”

  “That’s why I’m telling you now. If I’m not me anymore, don’t obey me, and lock me up. Make sure I can’t hurt anyone.”

  Maël points the top of her staff at me. “He’s a smart boy.”

  I grin. “Thanks.”

  Vicky moans from beside me. “Can we get back to freeing me, please?”

  Jeep tilts his head. “Is that safe? I mean, she can go crazy any second, right?”

  “Oh yes, just like you.” I beckon D’Maeo.

  Jeep is suddenly very interested in his sleeves. “Yeah, well…”

  “Can you please free her?” I ask the old ghost when he appears at my side.

  “Of course, master.”

  “Maybe we should just tie both of them up,” Taylar says, with a sideways glance at Jeep. He dodges Jeep’s fist and apparates to the window. “I would feel a lot safer.”

  I scratch my head. “No, we’ll need all our powers to take care of this curse. And to cure my mother.”

  Taylar avoids eye contact. “Yeah, I forgot about that. Sorry.”

  “That’s okay. I wish I could forget about it, too. But the thought of her locked in her own mind breaks my heart. She’s been through enough.”

  “I agree.” Vicky stands up and kisses me. “We should save your mom first. The curse can wait.”

  Before I have a chance to argue, our clothes ripple in a sudden gust of wind.

  An envelope lands at my feet with a soft rustling. Familiar, incoherent lines are drawn on the back.

  I close my eyes for a second, praying I just imagined it. But when I open them, the envelope is still on the floor. A third set of demon cards has arrived. More Cards of Death and another person to save.

  “Great timing,” I sigh. “Just what we needed.”

  CHAPTER 10

  I feel like squeezing the envelope to a pulp, but common sense keeps me from acting out on my urge.

  “I still don’t understand how this works,” I say, pulling out the Cards of Death. “Lucifer needs a soul connected to every circle of Hell to escape, but why?”

  Jeep scratches the tattoos on his left arm. “You said the circles form a sort of prison for him, right? Maybe these souls can somehow destroy the circles.”

  D’Maeo nods. “Exactly. One soul from every circle.”

  “But what’s so special about these souls? Why them?”

  D’Maeo and Jeep shrug, while the other ghosts just stare into space.

  I wave the cards in front of me. “And why does he keep going, when he didn’t get the first two souls? Doesn’t that mean he can’t get through? Why is he trying to get the third soul, while circle nine and eight are still closed?”

  D’Maeo puts a hand on my arm to keep it from flailing. “We know as much as you do, Dante. The only thing we can do is keep saving the souls the cards point to, and keep trying to find out more about Lucifer’s plans.”

  I fling the cards on the bed. “I hate this.”

  Vicky grabs my thighs and pulls me closer. “We all do. It’s hard to be chosen, but we have to keep going, even when fate throws us challenge after challenge. You know the expression, don’t you?”

  “Which one?” I grumble.

  Her hand touches my cheek and electricity shoots through me.

  “Life gives us only what we can handle,” she says.

  Taylar raises his arm to shoulder height and flexes his biceps. “Which means we can handle anything. We’re stronger than the Hulk.”

  Jeep grins as he nods in my direction. “He’s not called Banner by accident.”

  I forget about Vicky’s touch for a second. “The Hulk is real, too? And the Avengers?”

  The young ghost exchanges a quick look with Jeep. “That would be so cool, but… no.”

  Jeep slaps me on the back. “But Banner is still a good, strong name.”

  “Yeah, right. Thanks.” Depression falls over me again. No superhero help is coming our way. We have to solve everything on our own. How to save another soul, how to vanquish the demons that will be coming for us soon, how to make me remember the premonitions I had about the Devil, how to break the curse on Mom, and the other curse on Vicky…

  I pull back from Vicky’s touch with regret. “Hey, we have a spell to lift a curse, don’t we? It didn’t work on my mother, but it might work on Vicky.”

  Vicky sits up straight and picks up the cards. “No, we can’t use it. For it to work, we need to know who put the curse on your father. Besides…” she holds up the Cards of Death, “we have someone else to save first. Nothing else matters until we do that.”

  I open my mouth to protest, but she stands up and kisses me. “That came out wrong,” she whispers. “It all matters. But if we don’t save this soul-“

  I kiss her back. “I know, the world will end and there will be no one else left to save.”

  She smiles. “Well, it won’t end instantly, but yeah, that’s basically what we’re looking at.”

  I pull a face of deep discontent at her. “Fine, but as soon as we have time, I’m freeing you from that curse.”

  There’s a twinkle in her eye when she pulls her black top back into place, revealing a bit more cleavage. “Sounds good to me.”

  “Can you two please stop flirting for one second,” Taylar says. “You’re driving me crazy.”

  Vicky throws her black-and-blonde hair over her shoulders. “Jealous, Taylie?”

  He snorts. “Trust me, you’re not my type.�
��

  D’Maeo claps his hands like a school teacher. “Okay people, time to get back to business. Shall we go downstairs?”

  Maël and Taylar have already disappeared, but Jeep is staring at the bed.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask him.

  He clears his throat and turns his hat around in his hands. “I just thought that maybe we should take the chains with us.”

  Vicky looks up sharply and he backs up a step. “Oh, not just for you. They might come in handy when the ghosts under my skin act up again, too.”

  She sighs. “You’re right. But…” She hesitates and I nod at her to go on. “I want to fight at your side, but maybe I should just stay here. I don’t want to jeopardize the mission. What if I get you killed?”

  Jeep swats her words away as if they’re annoying flies. “That won’t happen. We’ll keep an eye on you. And you’re strong, you can fight this curse.”

  I point my thumb in his direction. “What he said.”

  Her transparent cheeks turn red again. I’ve never seen her blush so much in one day. I’ve never seen her blush at all before actually. It makes me realize there’s more to Vicky than meets the eye. She’s not just tough, witty and caring. She’s much more.

  While D’Maeo takes the chains off the bed, I hold out my hand. Jeep vanishes and Vicky and I walk to the kitchen together.

  She puts the Cards of Death in front of my seat and fills a glass of water, which she puts next to it while I sit down.

  I smile gratefully at her. “Thank you.”

  “Does anyone else want some water?” she asks.

  They all decline, their faces full of disappointment.

  I guess I’m not the only one who could use a break.

  As soon as Vicky sits down, I slide the cards to her and stand up again. “You guys start without me. I’m going to the supermarket to get us something decent. What would you all like? Cookies, coffee?”

  They look at me wide-eyed.

  I spread my arms. “What? I know you don’t need it to survive, but it’ll make you feel better, maybe even help you think. A good meal, too, or some snacks.” I bend over to Vicky. “Do you still have a pen and a piece of paper in that endless pocket of yours?”

  “Sure.” She hands it to me and I jot down cookies and coffee.

  “Okay, what else?”

  “Hot chocolate,” Taylar says.

  I smile. “Good choice.”

  After a minute I have a list of about twenty things. “That should do it.”

  D’Maeo shakes his head. “You don’t have to get us everything. We’re fine with just drinks.”

  Taylar slams his hand on the table. “Speak for yourself, old man.”

  “There are more important things for us to do than eat and drink, Taylar.”

  “I know, but we could use some fuel. Even if it only fuels our happiness.”

  Vicky turns the cards around and around. “I agree with Taylar. A little happiness is just what we need to keep going.”

  D’Maeo leans back in his chair. “Well, all right then. I suppose you have a point.” He gestures at my list. “Get me some apples then.”

  My eyebrows move up. “Apples? You know eating healthily won’t do you any good, right?”

  “I like them, okay?”

  “Sure.” I write them down and tap the non-existent hat on my head. “I want to check on my mother, too, but I’ll be back soon. If something happens, just…” I think hard about how to finish that sentence and realize I have no clue what they should do if they need me.

  “Yeah, we still have no way to contact you and we still don’t know of any way for you to summon us when you’re not here.”

  “Right.” I stare at the ceiling to gather my thoughts. “So first we save this soul, then we save Vicky, then my Mom, or the other way around, and then we find a way for us to contact each other. Did I forget anything?”

  “Probably,” Taylar mumbles.

  I sigh and turn around. “I’ll be back soon.”

  CHAPTER 11

  The drive home is quiet, but when I park Phoenix in front of my house, my heart goes in overdrive.

  A bright light flashes behind the window of Mom’s bedroom.

  Someone is with her. Someone using magic.

  Not again!

  In my haste to get inside, I trip over the threshold. Light blazes down the stairs and I haul myself up. It takes me only a few seconds to climb the stairs. Before I enter the bedroom, I take out my athame and hold it out in front of me.

  I know the door creaks, but my heartbeat is so loud that I can’t hear anything else. The person attacking Mom must have heard it though, because the light extinguishes before I can push the door fully open.

  “Get away from her!” I yell, charging forward.

  I swing my weapon, but all I hit is a cloud of sparkles. Whirling around, I scan the room. It’s empty, except for Mom, lying on the bed. After a quick check, I conclude that nothing has changed. She is still unresponsive. I cringe at the thought, but I preferred the curse she was under before. The one that has moved to Vicky. At least she was herself between fits. Now she looks like an empty shell.

  I drop my knife, bend over Mom and stroke her hair. The blonde locks have turned a dull color resembling gray.

  “Why won’t you wake up?” I whisper. “Are you even still in there?”

  “She is.”

  My body goes rigid at the sound of the voice behind me. My eyes dart to the spot on the bed where I laid down my athame. Too far away to reach for unnoticed. I’ll have to use my lightning power.

  Shielding my hand with my body, I summon a bolt in it.

  “What do you want?” I ask, slowly turning around to face the intruder.

  “To heal Susan, of course.”

  I frown as I recognize the voice, and extinguish the bolt in my hand.

  “Hey, Dante,” Mona says as I straighten up.

  “Hey, Mona. Was that you just now? With the light?”

  She pushes down the five hairs that have escaped her perfect hairdo. “It was. You scared me, barging in like that. I barely had time to disapparate.”

  A strangled chuckle comes out of my mouth. “I scared you?” I shake my head. “I thought someone was trying to take Mom again.”

  “Oh honey.” Mona steps closer and puts a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry about that. I thought you knew I’ve been watching her constantly.”

  Her touch somehow makes me feel better instantly. Still I frown. “Not constantly. I was with you a couple of hours ago at Mrs. Delaney’s.”

  “Yes dear, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t watching her.”

  I look back at Mom and sit down on the edge of her bed. “I don’t understand.”

  Mona smiles her perfect smile. “I wasn’t sure if you were ready for yet another revelation. You’ve been through so much already.”

  Not this again. I rub my temples. She’s not completely wrong though. There’s so much to process. Not just the existence of a whole magical world and all the creatures in it, but also the rollercoaster of feelings that goes with everything that has happened. Just a few days ago, I was so happy that Mom’s fits had finally stopped after all those years. I found out Dad died, I inherited Darkwood Manor and my Shield of ghosts, fell in love and lost two of my best friends. Another friend turned out to be an angel and I got the wonderful news that I’ve been chosen to stop the Devil from taking over the Earth. I just don’t know what to think or feel anymore, so maybe Mona and all the others are right. Maybe I’m not ready to know everything just yet.

  “Come here for a sec,” Mona says.

  My feet obey her before I even think about it.

  “Close your eyes.” She moves her hands softly over my face. It feels like a summer breeze and I smile.

  “That’s it. Breathe in deeply.”

  I do and as she presses her fingers gently against my temples, cheeks and neck, I feel the
tension sliding off.

  “How’s that?”

  I open my eyes and look around the room. It seems lighter, just like I feel. “Much better. How did you do that?”

  “Maybe you are ready to know who I really am.” She walks into the hallway and beckons me. “Come have a cup of tea with me.”

  I kiss Mom on the forehead, grab my athame and follow Mona downstairs.

  “I don’t have much time,” I tell her as she moves around the kitchen. “My Shield is studying the Cards of Death I received.”

  Mona licks her index finger and sticks it in the air. She turns a bit and nods. “There’s still some time. Sit down and relax for a few minutes.”

  These magical performances shouldn’t surprise me anymore, but the question still escapes my lips. “How do you know? What are you exactly?”

  Mona puts a pack of cookies on the table. “I am your family’s fairy godmother.”

  I snort before I can help myself. “Come on, Mona. I really want to know.”

  She gives me that white toothed, flawless smile again. “I am here to watch over you, and protect and help you as much as I can.” She opens the package and hands me a chocolate cookie.

  “Okay,” I say, taking the cookie. “But you’re not really a fairy godmother, are you? Like the one Cinderella had?”

  Her face brightens even more. “Exactly like that!”

  She goes back into the kitchen to fetch the boiling water.

  “So you can turn me into a prince, and a pumpkin into a carriage?”

  Her eyes sparkle as she comes back, carrying a tray with a teapot and two cups. “I can, but in real life we don’t do that. Not anymore.”

  “Right.” I bite into my cookie to keep myself from laughing at her again.

  She pours the tea, humming happily to herself.

  I think of all the times I compared her to the perfect Stepford Wives. For as long as I can remember, Mona has had perfect blonde hair, a perfect body, a perfect smile and perfect manners. When I first met her, I didn’t trust her. Dad always told me no one is perfect after all. Mona was so friendly it felt fake. But she’s been Mom’s best friend for a long time and I can’t deny that I have grown to like her, even though she’s a bit too cheerful sometimes, and too chatty.