Reaper Reborn

by Kel Carpenter

  4

  And the Winner is

  Gamma Rho was packed by the time we got there. Graves and I ended up having to park a few blocks away and walk back. As we approached the front of the house, the cacophony of voices greeted us.

  Since we were some of the last to arrive, Graves and I were stuck standing in the back of the room.

  “Does it look like anyone is missing?” a familiar voice called.

  I had to stand on my tip-toes to make out Dom’s head over the guy in front of me.

  Reapers looked side to side as they tried to figure out who might not be present. After a minute, it seemed that anyone who was supposed to be here was.

  “Alright,” Dom said, continuing to take charge of this impromptu meeting. “I know that a lot of us probably have questions about what went down tonight. It’s been a long time since we’ve had to do one of these, so I’m going to go over the rules to make sure everyone understands what’s at stake.”

  Given the number of people present, you would think there would be lots of ambient sound, but the room was dead silent. If not for the tickle of hair against my neck, I wouldn’t be certain people were actually breathing right now.

  “We have twenty-four hours to vote for a new rep. No one leaves until that rep is decided, so let’s not waste time fucking around debating useless issues. I don’t think I need to remind any of you how important this decision is. Not only will this person be the head of our house, they will also be the deciding factor in any issue brought before the Council as a whole in the case of a tie. We cannot afford to let petty bullshit interfere with making the right choice. That said, we will start by opening up the floor for nominations. You cannot nominate yourself, and if nominated, you cannot decline. Once all nominations have been cast, we will start the voting process. Any questions?”

  Off to the side of the room, Alexander stood, arms crossed and watching. While he wasn’t crazy about losing his spot on the Council, he was at least enough in his right mind to try to help us move forward as well as we could. I’d give him that.

  When no one answered, the nominations began.

  “I nominate Morte Senior,” one of the older reapers said. He had a gruffness about him that reminded me of the way my dad talked about my grandad.

  An older reaper with brown hair streaked gray and hard brown eyes stood. He was tall with proud shoulders that didn’t sag despite the burdens that marred the lines of his face. Four scars ran from his cheek to jaw. It didn’t take a genius to guess a werewolf had done it.

  He’d gotten lucky he hadn’t taken that full blow to the head or he wouldn’t be here.

  “I nominate Dominick Soul,” Alexander said.

  Dom looked at the ex-representative and nodded once. I glanced at Graves, wondering if he was hurt that his father hadn’t picked him, but his expression was unreadable.

  A few more names were called, and those reapers also stood. I could tell we were nearing the end of the line here.

  “Anyone else?” Dom called. The group rustled, but no one spoke up. “Alright, if that’s all—”

  “I nominate Salem Kaine,” Randy said.

  My jaw dropped open. No one, and I do mean no one, was more surprised than I was.

  “I—you can’t do that,” I said.

  “You can’t decline,” Dom said.

  I narrowed my eyes at Randy. He meant well, I’m sure. Randy always did.

  That didn’t change that it was a fucking stupid decision.

  “I’m not a true reaper, so he can’t nominate me,” I replied.

  “You’re close enough,” Dom said with a shrug.

  “I’m really not.” My feet edged toward the door, and Graves’ arm tightened around my waist. I flashed him a cold look, and he returned it.

  Asshole.

  “Does anyone here have an issue with Salem being nominated?” Dom asked the room.

  Silence met his question.

  There was a time I wanted this. To be accepted. If not appreciated, then at least be seen as one of them. Now, though . . . there was too much shit going on. I had Thana to deal with. I had my own powers to sort out. Not to mention the monster hunting me.

  Putting me on the Council would be a terrible decision, most of all because I lacked the thing you needed most as a leader: tact.

  “Alright, then,” Dom clapped his hands together. “Time to vote.”

  And so the process began.

  Each name Dom called out, every brother had to vote, starting with mine.

  “Salem Kaine,” he said, respecting my last name as Randy had, instead of referring to me as a Shroud the way Alexander did.

  I was surprised when fourteen hands went up in the air. Glancing sideways, I noticed with relief that Graves wasn’t one of them.

  “You’d make a terrible Council member,” he said with a shrug. Completely unapologetic.

  I couldn’t agree more. Too bad that many of the reapers in the actual frat didn’t agree.

  It appears that saving their lives made them think I was fit to lead.

  They should have realized the only thing that made me fit for was bragging rights about bringing them all back from the dead.

  Thankfully, fourteen wasn’t enough to keep me in the running. Two of the nominees, Morte Sr. and Dom, tied with nineteen votes.

  “What happens now?” I whispered to Graves.

  “Now we vote again, until a majority is found.”

  I frowned, really hoping this wouldn’t stretch on much longer. Meetings were about as exciting as watching paint dry as far as I was concerned. Maybe less. There were about one hundred things I would rather be doing—even leg day was starting to look appealing—although this vote technically was one of the most important things I’d been a part of in the last couple months. At least as far as the reapers were concerned. Well, that and saving their asses. They probably appreciated that.

  Silence took over the room once more and then Dom said, “All in favor of Tenison Morte to become the next Council member?”

  I mentally tallied the number of hands that lifted. Twenty-one. Dom was going to win this shindig.

  Judging by his expression, Dom hadn’t expected that either. Looking stunned, he said, “All in favor of—”

  I raised my hand with over half the room. Dom might be a Fuckface, but after working with him to hunt the werewolf, he’d grown on me. Somewhat. Not that I was going to tell him that.

  I thought he was open-minded enough to at least try to be fair, given how he handled my short time being locked up by the Brotherhood.

  Alexander pushed away from the wall, a grim sort of smile on his face. “And so it’s decided. Dominick Soul, you are the new head of the Grimm Brotherhood. Congratulations.”

  Dom’s eyes went wide. “Thank you, sir.”

  “Why don’t you and I head upstairs? There are some matters I should bring you up to speed on before your first official meeting tomorrow.”

  Dom nodded and then glanced back at the rest of us. “Uh . . . meeting dismissed for now.”

  There were a few cheers and a scattering of applause as everyone vacated the room.

  I glanced back at Graves. “Better him than me.”

  “Definitely,” he agreed with a grin. “Pretty sure your being in charge is a precursor to the end of the world.”

  I punched him in the arm. “Ha ha,” I said dryly. “I didn’t see you fighting for the chance to sit on your ass and make decisions that impact everyone else.”

  “I think I’ve got my hands full as it is,” he said, his eyes searing me as his lips curled up in a smile.

  Tingles skittered down my spine. “Speaking of . . . do you think we could head up to your room for a bit? I want to try something.”

  His eyebrow lifted. “Try something?” he repeated, leaning closer.

  Goosebumps broke out over my arms, but I wasn’t cold.

  As suddenly as he’d crowded my space, he stepped away and motioned for me to go first. I turned, fee
ling his eyes on me as I walked up the stairs and stopped at his door.

  I twisted the knob and stepped inside. The door closed behind me.

  “What’s this about?” Graves asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

  Instead of responding to him, I called out softly. “Darla.”

  I waited a moment. Then two. Frowning when nothing happened. I repeated her name again and still nothing.

  On the third attempt, it was more of a growl than anything. When no puff of smoke or eerie ghost appeared, I hung my head.

  “Why are you calling Darla?” Graves asked, moving in front of me to lean back against his desk.

  “Thana was there the night she died. She said it was the monster that’s been hunting me. I wanted to try to speak to Darla without her around,” I explained.

  “Because you think Thana’s lying?”

  “Because it’s too fucking convenient.” I ran a hand through my shaggy pink hair. “I . . . I think there’s a lot going on, and I don’t have all the pieces. Thana claims she can help. She says she wants to protect me. After everything that’s happened, though, you can understand why I don’t want to go on just her word alone.”

  Graves tilted his head forward in a nod. “I would be seriously questioning you right now if you did. Tell me about this monster.”

  I repeated back to him everything Thana told me earlier. By the end, a frown marred his full lips.

  “She seems sincere in missing me. It’s the other stuff that I question.”

  “I don’t like it,” Graves said. “But if she is who she claims she is, I have a feeling she’s not going to give up on you very easily.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think so either. I figure in the meantime, while this Council shit is going on, we keep her under wraps. If people realize I have a long-lost twin who has no qualms about telling them what we really are . . . I can’t imagine it going well. Thana doesn’t seem to give a shit what anyone thinks.”

  “If we’re going to keep her away from the Council, you and Esme are going to have to entertain her a lot of the time. Use it to your advantage. Make her train you and learn more about this monster.”

  “That’s the plan,” I said. “But I need you to play nice with her in the meantime.”

  “You’re questioning my ability to ‘play nice’?” He tilted his head, amusement dancing in his eyes.

  “You tend to be a jackass when you don’t trust people,” I said bluntly.

  “Because most people aren’t worthy of that trust,” he replied in the same tone.

  “She wants to try to earn it, Graves. And while I’m not jumping headfirst here—I want to give her a chance.”

  His eyes bore into me. “So give her a chance, Salem. But promise me one thing.”

  “What?”

  He leaned forward, grabbing my hand and using it to pull me into him. I stood between his legs. “That you won’t leave town. No matter what she says.”

  I blinked, my head whipping back. “I have no intention of leaving town anytime soon. Not that I could, anyway. The Council wouldn’t be happy with me.”

  “I’m just making sure,” he said softly. “You don’t get to run from me, and you sure as shit don’t get to leave because she convinces you it’s for your safety or some other bullshit I feel like she’s going to pull.”

  I pressed my lips together, my heart beating fast. “I’m not leaving.”

  “Good.” He leaned forward, his lips brushing against mine. It was tentative at first, more questioning than claiming.

  I opened my mouth, letting my tongue twine with his. A groan escaped him. I fisted both hands in his hair, pulling him closer. Strong arms wrapped around my waist.

  “We shouldn’t do this here,” he said against my lips.

  “Are you sure about that?” I asked in a husky tone. “We could be fast . . .”

  “Seriously, Salem?” a voice demanded from behind me.

  I froze, and Graves did the same.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered.

  “You just fucked him.”

  I open and closed my mouth, at a loss for words.

  Shep didn’t wait for a reply. “I thought we had a date with my new body tonight. When you didn’t show, I got worried, so I came to check on you. Imagine my surprise to find you playing tonsil hockey with my best friend.” He sighed. “I’ve been dead for a while now. I wanna get back to my life, Sis. Time’s a ticking.”

  I groaned, and this time it had nothing to do with pleasure.

  “Ghost?” Graves asked.

  “My brother, to be exact.”

  Graves’ hands dropped away from me, and Shepard made a sound of disgust.

  I let out a chuckle. “Little late for that one, Graves. Apparently, Aurora was watching us last night and decided to fill them all in.”

  Graves, badass super-reaper, blushed. “Uh, sorry you had to find out that way,” he managed, knowing Shep would hear him.

  Shep rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. “Tell him not to get his panties in a bunch. I don’t actually care. You could do a lot worse,” he added, looking at me.

  I glared at him, but repeated his words for Graves’ benefit. Then I said, “Shep, I don’t think we can go to the morgue tonight. There’s been a bit of a situation here.”

  “Morgue?” Graves asked, his brows dropping low.

  “I’m going to help Shep find a new body.”

  “Uh, Salem, allow me to point out the obvious,” he started.

  “He better not be body blocking me,” Shepard muttered, crossing his arms and giving Graves a hard stare.

  “You can’t just reanimate a dead body,” Graves continued, causing Shep to throw his hands up in exasperation.

  “Of course I can . . . no one else is using it. What’s the harm?”

  “Don’t you think people are going to notice that someone who was officially found dead is suddenly up and walking around?” Graves pointed out.

  My expression dropped at the exact same time as Shep’s. No, I hadn’t thought about that at all.

  Graves sighed with exasperation. “What you should do, if you’re dead set on this, is wait around the hospital. People have near misses on the tables there all the time. Should be easy enough to slip Shep into someone within less than a minute of the original owner taking off. That’ll raise less eyebrows at least. Although,” he added, frowning again, “it could get sticky if the person has family present. Or living family at all.”

  “So what you’re saying is we have to find a unicorn? Someone no one else will miss, like John Doe or something, in addition to just happening to be present at the exact moment they die so we can make the swap without people noticing. Super. Should be a cake walk,” I said dryly.

  Shep’s expression matched mine. “Definitely not something you’ll be able to knock out in twenty minutes.”

  “Nope,” I sighed. “Sorry, Shep. This is going to take a bit more time and planning than I can manage right now. I need to get back to Esme and Thana.” At his crestfallen expression, I added, “We’ll figure it out though, I promise.”

  My twin fought to hide his disappointment, but I always could see right through him. “It’s all good, Sis. I get it. What’s a few more days?”

  “I’m really sorry—”

  Shepard waved away my apology. “Don’t worry about it. Speaking of the fake twin. You need to be careful with Thana, Salem.”

  “Careful? Why?”

  His expression was determined, but also guarded. Like he was about to say something he knew he shouldn’t. “She’s—”

  But that was all he managed before Graves’ door burst open, swinging through my twin’s ghostly form and interrupting whatever it was he was trying to say. I scanned the area, checking to see where he went, but Shep was gone. Damnit, I really needed to talk to him about this whole Thana thing.

  “There you are,” Tamsin said, her expression wild.

  “Tam? What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, s
hock and concern fighting for dominance as I reached for her.

  “Guess who just got named head bitch in charge?”

  I shook my head, not familiar enough with the succubi or incubi to make an educated guess.

  “This bitch.”

  5

  Tiebreaker

  “You’re in charge of SU now?” Graves asked, completely incredulous. I elbowed him in the ribs.

  “As well as the rest of my kind,” Tam said coolly with a saccharine smile.

  “And I’m in charge of ours,” a voice behind her said. I glanced past her shoulder to see Dom standing there with his arms over his chest.

  “Really?” she asked with a cringe. “Man. The reaper pickings must not be great if you lot picked—”

  “You need to leave,” Dom said, cutting her off.

  “What?” Both Tam and I said at the same time.

  “I’m not going to ask again, so from one Council member to another—congratulations, but get out.” He thrust his chin toward the stairs, and Tamsin pressed her lips together.

  “Alright, Reaper. I see how it is.” She leaned forward and kissed my cheek, whispering not too quietly, “Let me know when you remove the stick from his ass.”

  I snorted.

  Dom’s expression didn’t change as she sauntered down the hall.

  “What was that for?” I demanded.

  He waited to answer until the front door closed loudly downstairs, signaling her exit. “Your protection.”

  I blinked, taken aback. “Uhhhh . . . you do realize I can’t die, right?”

  Dom sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t know how you deal with her,” he said to Graves.

  “Bribes,” he answered without hesitation.

  I swatted him in the chest.

  “Anyways, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. I’m putting a no-guest policy down for the foreseeable future. The rest of the Council doesn’t know what you are, and with how high tensions are running, we don’t want them to think we have what amounts to a super soldier. You need to keep your powers under wraps. I’m going to talk to the guys and make it clear not one of them is to say a word to anyone. Unless absolutely mandatory, stay off campus if you’re not here, and stay away from other supernaturals.”