Grim Life: A reaper's tale (Reaper Files Book 2)

by Nicky Graves

  “Drink, drink,” he said, looking intently at the tea.

  “Answer the question.”

  “Intolerable,” he grumbled. “Do you have sway with your brother?”

  “Not really.”

  “There is your answer.”

  “But I would think he’d have my back if I was in trouble.”

  “You don’t think that,” he said. “Drink.”

  Treble was right. I didn’t think David would do much to help. But that’s because he was only ten. These guys were ancient.

  “Watch your thoughts,” Treble warned. “Drink!”

  Treble’s blue-smoke body doubled in size as he became agitated. He was now the size of Ranger’s hulk frame.

  I took a sip and cringed at the taste.

  Treble shrunk back down to his regular size and stuck out his tongue as if the air would take away the gross taste. “Nasty,” he said. “Nasty brew.”

  “I have two more to try,” I said.

  He glanced at me as if not trusting me. But then he looked longingly at the cup. “Bergamot.”

  I picked it up and then stalled. “Could Basole or any of the others help Azrael kill me?”

  He looked thunderously at me. “Drink!”

  “Answer and I will.”

  I felt him try to control my hand to move the cup to my mouth. “Careful,” I said. “If I get burned, you do too.”

  “There might be a way,” he said, glaring at me. “It is possible.”

  “Can you communicate with them without having to be near them?”

  His glare deepened.

  “Just answer and I’ll drink,” I said. “I promise.”

  “No,” he said. “I cannot communicate with them at present.”

  I took a sip and then spit it back into the cup. “Why do you like this stuff?”

  “Nasty! Nasty tea. This is bad tea.”

  “It’s regular tea. But I have one more we can try.”

  Treble grumbled and stared at the third cup as if already offended by it.

  “Is there a way to disconnect us for the day?” I asked. “I’m hanging out with a friend that I’d like to . . .” It was awkward talking to an ancient man about dating stuff.

  “No kissing,” he said. “Nasty feelings.”

  “That’s why I’m asking if you can disconnect for the day.”

  “Not possible.”

  “Then you’re going to have to get used to kissing, because I swear I’m kissing him.”

  Without warning, I found myself walking upstairs to my bedroom.

  “What are you doing?” I asked Treble as my body betrayed me.

  “Girls must be locked up. Girls cause disruption. Girls cause wars.”

  “I think you’re going a little overboard,” I said as he made me close my bedroom door and lock it.

  “Not overboard,” he said as blue smoke sealed the room.

  I tried to reach for the door handle, but my hand was repelled.

  “Treble, what are you doing?” I asked.

  “No kissing. No feelings.”

  “You mean to lock me in here?”

  “Yes.”

  “For how long?”

  He didn’t say anything, just dissolved back inside of me.

  “Treble, talk to me.”

  Nothing.

  I cursed and pulled out my phone. But before I could call or text anyone, it flew from my hand and skidded across the room.

  “That was childish,” I said as I walked over to pick it up. But as soon as I reached for the phone, it skidded away again. No matter how many times I tried, it propelled from my reach.

  If I couldn’t call, I’d shift. But after an unsuccessful attempt, I knew Treble sealed me in my bedroom. I was stuck here until help arrived. But for how long? And would anyone be able to help? Or was I doomed to be locked up with Treble forever?

  6

  It was three hours later when I heard a noise downstairs. I hoped it was Ranger returning from the zoo with Mom and David.

  It would be odd if my mom heard me calling out for Ranger, so I yelled, “Mom?” I didn’t hear anything. “Mom!”

  I listened again and heard the murmur of voices.

  “Mom! Ranger!” And due to desperation from having to hold my bladder for the last three hours, I even yelled, “David!”

  But no one came to my door.

  “Treble, can they hear me?”

  “No,” he said with a satisfied tone.

  “I have to pee.”

  “Nasty habit.”

  “Yeah, well, I drank the tea for you, and now it’s ready to leave.”

  He grumbled but didn’t remove the shield he had erected around my room. I couldn’t even bang on the door. My hand just bounced back at me.

  If I couldn’t shift out, it probably meant no one could shift inside my room either. I was truly stuck.

  But there had to be some way.

  The times I could affect Treble were when I was affected. Like the gross tea. Or kissing. Or getting hurt.

  I glanced around the room, wondering if there was anything here that could hurt me. While I had no desire to bash my desk chair over my head, there had to be something. Would a paper cut be enough? Those hurt.

  Walking over to my desk, I opened the drawers, wondering what would upset Treble enough to knock down the barricade.

  Stapler. That could hurt.

  Paper.

  Tape.

  Dust bunnies.

  And then I noticed a pink wrapper tucked in the back of a drawer. I opened the drawer wider and saw the sour-candy bag.

  Treble hated sour candy.

  I grabbed it but was dismayed when the bag crumpled in my hand, indicating it was empty. I tossed it onto the desk and then saw one small candy roll out. I picked it up, grinning.

  All I needed was one.

  I walked to the door and was about to pop the candy into my mouth when my hand flew the other way, dislodging the candy. It flew across the room. And just like my phone, whenever I tried to grab it, it skidded away from me.

  “Treble!” I yelled. “Enough!”

  His body emerged, and he glowered at me. “You will stay here. You will stay here and not kiss!”

  “I will not stay here, and I will kiss every man in my path!” I argued even though I knew I wasn’t helping my case. Plus, who would want to kiss every man? It gave me the shivers just thinking about it.

  Arguing with Treble wasn’t wise, but I had to use the bathroom and he was blocking me and being a giant baby.

  “Then here you stay!” he yelled.

  There was a knock on the door. “Honey, are you in there?” Mom asked. “We’re back from the zoo. We brought ice cream.”

  “Mom!” I yelled. “Open the door.”

  “Honey?” She knocked again. “Huh. I wonder where she is.”

  “Mom!”

  I heard her footsteps descend the stairs.

  “Mom!”

  I cursed. “Treble, this is childish.”

  “Not childish. You will do as I say.”

  “No, I don’t think so. You’re the parasite here.” I stopped. It was true. He was the parasite. I was the host. When Azrael had Treble, Azrael was able to use Treble. That meant I had some power to control Treble, right?

  I should be able to at least take down the barrier he created.

  “Treble, I command you to take down the barrier.”

  His bushy brow quirked.

  “Take it down!”

  He crossed his arms with a bored expression.

  I scowled at him. Obviously, telling him commands didn’t work. I crossed my legs, willing my bladder to hold for a little while longer. Having a bladder on the verge of explosion made thinking difficult.

  I glanced at my garbage can, wondering if I would succumb to using it.

  No. I could do this. I could make Treble drop the barrier. But even as I thought about it, doubt still lingered.

  It wasn’t until I was in pain and shaki
ng from desperation to use the bathroom that the barriers dropped. I raced out of my room. David was about to head into the bathroom when I knocked him out of my way.

  “Hey!” he yelled. “I’m telling Mom!”

  I slammed the door closed and breathed a sigh of relief when I reached the toilet without an accident.

  Had I somehow controlled Treble to remove the barricade, or did he not want me to pee my pants?

  I did not return to my bedroom afterward. Instead, I walked downstairs into the kitchen, where David was tattling.

  Mom glanced at me. “Did you knock your brother down?”

  I was in no mood for this, but I needed to talk to Ranger, who was in the middle of scooping ice cream.

  “I didn’t knock him down,” I said. “I was running to get to the bathroom.”

  Ranger glanced over at me with a raised brow.

  “I had too much tea,” I said, hoping he would understand. “And my door was stuck. And I couldn’t escape.”

  “I knocked on your door,” Mom said. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I tried,” I said, but from her expression, I could see David was going to win this battle. “I have to go. I was supposed to meet someone and they’re probably wondering where I am.”

  “Apologize to David, and then you can go.”

  “Sorry,” I said to him, and then I turned to leave.

  But when I reached the door, Treble wouldn’t let me turn the knob.

  “I’m beginning to lose my patience,” I said between gritted teeth.

  “Who are you talking to?” Ranger asked.

  I turned to find he had followed me.

  “Treble. He locked me in my room. And now he’s not letting me leave.”

  “Did you try shifting?”

  I gave him a flat, unamused stare.

  “Okay,” Ranger said. “Why is he trying to keep you here?”

  I really didn’t want to confide in Ranger about the whole kissing thing. “He’s mad because he wants to be in control, and I want to be able to live my life without his interference.”

  “Is he interfering with your reaper duties?”

  “No.”

  “Then what?”

  I sighed. “He doesn’t like when I go out with Dane.”

  Ranger grinned.

  “It’s not funny,” I said. “He’s old and cranky and won’t let me have any fun.”

  Ranger’s grin grew wider.

  “I’m the host,” I said. “He’s supposed to follow my orders, not lock me in my room. I bet he never locked Azrael in his room.”

  Ranger laughed. “That would be a sight. But ask yourself why Azrael can control Treble but you can’t.”

  “Because Azrael is more powerful than I am. Treble only aids me when I’m in pain.”

  “Because he also feels the pain,” Ranger said. “Which means you can’t just give him orders. He has to feel the order as well. Azrael had a better time controlling Treble because he’s a lot angrier than you. He has rage inside of him that you don’t.”

  “So I need rage?”

  “Rage might help, but I don’t think it’s necessary. If you want Treble to do something for you, you have to be one hundred percent committed to it. You can’t have a single doubt in your mind.”

  “You make it sound easy. But I’m filled with doubts.”

  “It probably won’t be easy. This is something you have to work at.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  “You don’t have a choice.”

  I sighed, knowing he was right.

  He placed his hand on my shoulder. “You are stronger than you think. You are the daughter of Azrael. By him giving you life, you share his powers. And if Azrael can’t kill you, do you really think Treble is a match for you?”

  “Azrael is trying to find a way to kill me.”

  “Yes, but with the help of others. He cannot do it by himself. Which means you are exactly as strong as he is. He’s had lifetimes to figure out his strengths. You’ll have to be patient with yourself and believe in yourself.”

  I glanced at him. “Why are you being nice to me?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be nice to you?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe you’re just being nice so I won’t try to block you and Mom.”

  I didn’t mean to challenge Ranger; he was telling me things that I knew were right. However, I just didn’t want to hear them now.

  He sighed. “Riley, I have many flaws. Many. But I care about your mom. I care about you. I may end up doing things that upset you. I may totally screw things up with your mom. But I have your back. When it comes to choosing a side, I will always choose yours over Azrael’s.”

  “Thank you,” I said. “Sorry.”

  He gave a nod. “Listen, you’re the heir. And as the heir, you need to grow a backbone.”

  “Are you saying I’m weak?”

  “Only in your mind. You care too much about what others think. You dwell too much on your doubts. That is the weakness that Azrael will exploit. He might come after you with powerful allies, but he will win by making you second-guess yourself.”

  “Do you think he’ll try soon?”

  “Hard to say with him, which is why you need to work with Treble. Treble might be hard to deal with, but think of how much harder Azrael will be. Get Treble on your side.”

  Easier said than done. But Ranger was right. My mind was weak with doubts. I had so many of them. The problem was, how do I suddenly go from being doubt-riddled to being confident and strong?

  7

  I returned to my room after securing Ranger’s promise to check on me and make sure I wouldn’t get trapped by Treble again. I gave up trying to see Dane. After being punched and stood up, he probably wouldn’t want to bother with me anyway.

  l needed to work with Treble, but how did one command an ancient crystal to obey? Ranger had a point about being strong, but I didn’t know how to even get to that level.

  “Treble, we have to talk,” I said in my most commanding voice.

  He didn’t acknowledge me.

  “Treble, now!”

  Again, he didn’t stir.

  There was still the sour candy . . .

  I walked over and grabbed the candy from the floor, but my hand tossed it away.

  “Treble, you’re driving me crazy,” I said. “Just talk to me. I don’t want to be a hate-filled reaper for you and me to work together. Wouldn’t you rather deal with me than Azrael?”

  Again, no answer.

  My stomach twisted. A force pulled me from the inside. It was a signal. Someone was either dead or about to die.

  I followed the direction it pulled me. Wandering downstairs, I walked outside and down the street. I wasn’t sure where it would lead me, but I finally stopped at Zero’s cafe. The medics were already there.

  Shielding myself, I followed the activity to where a man was lying on a stretcher.

  His soul was looking down at his body.

  I walked over to take him, reaching for his arm, but he ripped away from me.

  “What is this?” he demanded. “Is this a joke?”

  “No . . . you died,” I said.

  “No. This is a prank. I’m not dead. He promised me immortality.”

  “I don’t know about the immortality thing, but I don’t think this is a prank,” I said. “The EMTs are taking you away. And I need to transition you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It’s so you’re not trapped on Earth without a body.”

  “No!”

  He bolted, and I was about to chase after him when I remembered my training. I shifted until I caught up with him down the street. Before I could grab him, he faked going left and veered to the right.

  I chased him until he finally stopped in front of a house.

  I clasped my hand on his shoulder. Just as I was going to shift, he pulled free and ran inside. Following him, I screeched to a halt when I crossed the threshold.

  This house w
as not normal. Sure, the outside looked like a two-story suburban house, but inside, the walls were black. They flexed, bowed, and bent.

  I had no idea where the man had gone, but he hadn’t stopped like I had, which must mean this might be normal for him. That did not make me feel better.

  What was causing the walls to act this way? Was it the man?

  “Hello? Sir, please come back,” I called, hoping the man would return so I didn’t have to walk farther into the house.

  Hesitantly, I stepped inside. The floor felt solid beneath my feet even though it warped as the walls moved.

  Pulling out my phone, I texted both Lawson and Boomer with a plea for aid. When neither replied, I texted Ranger. I waited a few minutes even as the tug of death wanted to propel me into the house of doom.

  No one answered.

  “Hello?” I called again. “Can we talk about this? Maybe you’d like to take care of some unfinished business before you transition. I’m totally up for that.”

  I wasn’t expecting it to be that easy. But I could hope.

  “Well, Treble, I hope you’re ready for whatever is ahead.”

  He didn’t answer.

  I stepped fully into the house, and the door snapped closed behind me. Yeah, nothing creepy about that.

  After this, I was going to have a long talk with Boomer and Lawson. There was nothing in the training about creepy houses.

  “Hello?” I called again as I walked through the house, careful not to touch anything. I passed the living room, which was a very standard living room if you didn’t look at the pulsing walls. I then glanced in the kitchen and dining room. Was he upstairs?

  While the tug of death had brought me inside, it didn’t give me any other clue as to where the man might be.

  Slowly, I creeped up the stairs. When I reached the top, I saw four doors. All were closed.

  I opened the first one. Bedroom. Black, moving walls.

  The second one. Another bedroom.

  Third door. A bathroom.

  Fourth. An office in which a closet door was open on the far side. When I went to look inside, I was shocked to discover it wasn’t a closet. It was a stairway to the attic.

  Nothing good ever happened in attics. I watched movies. Attics were where someone would make black-magic symbols and I’d be stuck inside the house forever.