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

by Nicky Graves

  Maybe they yet hadn’t discovered I had escaped. I didn’t think that was the case, but I also didn’t think the elders would be okay with my jailbreak, so why was I able to get through transitioning? I’d think there would be a lookout or something, knowing I wouldn’t be able to withstand not transitioning a soul.

  And I still hadn’t found a campground.

  I gave up on the campground idea and headed to Chicago. At least I could blend in there and find everything I needed. But as I walked down the sidewalk, a blue haze passed me. I turned to find Treble floating down the street.

  “Treble!” I called as I jogged to catch up with him.

  I wasn’t sure how this came to be, but I thanked my luck.

  No one else seemed to notice the blue cloud that wafted through the streets. Several people walked through him without blinking.

  When I caught up with him, I asked, “Where have you been?”

  He didn’t answer, just floated as if searching for something but not quite sure what. I reached for him, but my hand cut through his blue smoke. It didn’t faze him.

  Maybe he was lost because he wasn’t with the stone.

  But how do I get him and the stone back together? He didn’t even know I was walking right next to him.

  “Treble, your stone is right here,” I said.

  While I liked not having a grumpy, ancient-guy tagalong in me, I knew I was stronger with Treble than without. Plus, I couldn’t have him wandering the Earth in search of the stone.

  I walked through him to see if he sensed the stone, but that didn’t work.

  What else could I do? The only thing that riled him was if I ate or drank something he didn’t like or was about to kiss someone. But if I attempted any of that, would it even reach him in his confused state?

  It was worth a try, but I didn’t have tea or sour candy. There were men on the street who I could try to kiss, but that wasn’t something I wanted to do. I was not the type who had the courage to grab a random guy and kiss him. The thought of it made my insides churn.

  No, I had to find sour candy.

  I scanned the area to find a convenience store. There had to be one. I spotted a telltale “open” sign flashing down a side road.

  “Treble, will you stop for a minute?” I asked. “I need to buy something.”

  He continued his weaving path down the sidewalk.

  If I stopped for candy, I’d end up losing him. It had been a miracle I found him in the first place, so I wasn’t about to let him out of my sight.

  I had to try a different tactic.

  When I saw a man up ahead, I knew my limited options meant this guy was my target. Waiting at a bus stop, he was looking at his phone. No one was with him.

  Just as I reached him, I swerved and passed by. My courage was not strong enough. Which worried me. If I couldn’t kiss a random stranger, how would I ever get through life as Azrael’s heir?

  “Treble, please stop,” I pleaded.

  He didn’t.

  After four blocks of walking, I began my search for a man again. Treble wasn’t responding, and the longer I was out in plain sight, the sooner someone would find me.

  There were plenty of men to choose from, but not all were kissable. There was a guy in a business suit talking angrily on his phone, an old man sitting on a bench and staring into space, a grungy guy who looked like he hadn’t showered in a year, and a guy who had his crack showing above his falling-down pants.

  Perhaps the next block would be better.

  As I continued my search, I found a potential candidate. He walked out of a coffee shop and was headed in my direction. He seemed approachable. Clean. A little older than me but not creepy old.

  So, when I was within striking distance, I was about to flag him down when I felt someone touch my shoulder. I turned to find Lawson.

  “I checked your pod, and you were gone,” he said. “Why are you out where anyone can find you?”

  “How did you find me?”

  He looked slightly guilty before saying, “I put a tracker in the phone Ranger gave you. Before you get mad, I did it in case the elders or Azrael found you.”

  “I’m not mad,” I said. He had a valid excuse, and I was okay with it. At least for now. I pointed to the blue haze drifting down the street. “I found Treble.”

  “Great. Get him and head back to your pod.”

  “What do you think I’m trying to do?” I resumed following Treble. “He’s in some sort of trance. He won’t respond. I’ve tried to walk through, thinking he might sense his stone, but it didn’t work. I think he might have been without his stone for too long. He seems lost. I was about to try to upset him. Maybe it will rattle him enough to jostle him out of his stupor.”

  “How would you upset him?”

  “Well . . .” I really didn’t want to confess my plan, especially since it might not work.

  “Riley, whatever it is, just do it. It’s not safe walking in plain sight.”

  “Fine. I was looking for someone to kiss. If anything will snap Treble back, it would be that.”

  Lawson looked at me as though I had said something idiotic.

  I glanced back at my target guy, but he was already being swallowed by the crowded sidewalk.

  So, I searched for another.

  Yes, I realized there was a guy walking next to me. And yes, he was kiss-worthy, and I definitely wanted to kiss him. But I didn’t want any awkwardness between us, especially if he didn’t want to kiss me.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “Looking for someone to kiss.”

  “We don’t have time for this,” he said.

  “Then what do you suggest?” I asked, coming to a halt. “Am I supposed to trail after Treble my entire life? I’m running out of ideas and—”

  Lawson cursed and then kissed me.

  At first his lips just pressed against mine in a functional kiss, but then something happened. Something stirred inside of me and it must have in him as well because that flat kiss morphed into something alive. It spiraled through my body, electrifying my senses.

  Was this actually happening?

  The unreachable Lawson was kissing me, and from the way his arms curled around me, bringing me flush against him, he was enjoying it just as much as I was.

  And just as I was getting used to the feel of him against me, I hauled back and punched him.

  He stumbled back a couple of feet, holding his jaw.

  “Sorry,” I said. “But mission accomplished.”

  16

  Treble went into hibernation mode inside of me and was as disgruntled as ever. And my fun time with Lawson was now over.

  Lawson and I stared at each other as the situation settled on us. If he felt even a fraction of what I felt, he must be wondering how to get rid of Treble.

  Lawson scrubbed a hand over his face and wiped away all expression. Back to business, I supposed. He took my hand, shifted me to his pod, and then let go of my hand immediately.

  An awkward silence ballooned between us.

  “I need your bathroom,” I said, because I wasn’t sure what else to say and the need to escape was strong.

  “The bathroom is over there,” he said, pointing the direction.

  I already knew that, but I said the obligatory thank you anyway and raced away.

  The kiss had been heart-stopping. But was it just me who thought it?

  Since Lawson was over five hundred years old, he might have already kissed hundreds of girls. Maybe our kiss hadn’t meant anything special to him, which killed me to think about. But I had to take my cues from him for now. And if I was reading him right, he was done.

  When I returned to the living room, I pretended the kiss wasn’t the most earth-shattering thing to have happened to me. Which was a good thing because Ranger had arrived.

  I avoided eye contact with Lawson and looked at Ranger.

  “I heard you found Treble,” Ranger said.

  “Yeah. He’s back and ups
et.”

  “Can you coax him out?” Ranger asked. “I asked around about the other stones. If my sources are right, Azrael might be looking for a stone now.”

  “Out of all of the stones, the one that would help Azrael the most is Basole the Black,” Ranger said. “So I’m assuming that’s the one he would be after.”

  “What about the other stones?” I asked. “Would any help Azrael?”

  Ranger scratched his head. “If the legend is correct and there are seven pieces of life, then not all pieces will aid Azrael. Just like a person is filled with different personalities and emotions, so are these pieces. Azrael wouldn’t benefit from a stone that acted with compassion and love. However, that stone might help us.”

  “And I got stuck with the grumpy, taciturn crystal when I could have something with compassion?” I didn’t mention love. After the incident with Lawson, I didn’t want him thinking I’d start confessing my love for him or anything embarrassing like that.

  “The stones are each powerful in their own way,” Ranger said. “But the one we don’t want Azrael to get is Basole. We really need to speak to Treble to get a better idea of what our next move should be.”

  “Treble, come out and talk to us,” I said.

  He grumbled and stirred but didn’t come out.

  “How badly do you want to talk to him?” I asked.

  “He’s the linchpin,” Ranger said. “His answers will dictate how we proceed.”

  “Do either of you have sour candy?” I asked.

  “We don’t have time for candy,” Ranger said.

  “No, Treble hates it. It might draw him out. That or . . .” I looked at Lawson.

  “Or?” Ranger asked.

  Lawson did not look thrilled at the thought of having to kiss me again. Had the kiss been that bad? Did my breath smell rank?

  Or . . . maybe he just didn’t want to get punched again.

  “Just come close enough so that Treble gets uncomfortable,” I said.

  Lawson stepped toe-to-toe with me.

  “What are you doing?” Ranger asked.

  “Treble doesn’t like when guys try to kiss me,” I said.

  “Just how many guys are trying to kiss you?” Ranger asked, a hint of protectiveness in his voice.

  “It would seem quite a few,” Lawson muttered.

  Well that was untrue. There had been Dane who attempted to kiss me before Treble hit him. And then Vance who was actually able to kiss me.

  And Lawson.

  “Treble doesn’t seem to care now,” Ranger said.

  “He’s calling our bluff,” I said.

  “Then do it for real,” Ranger said.

  “Maybe you should,” Lawson said to Ranger as he backed away from me, avoiding eye contact.

  “I’m dating her mom,” Ranger said. “That’d be messed up.”

  I agreed. I was beginning to think of Ranger as . . . well, not a father but something close to it.

  Having them argue about who got the honor of not kissing me wasn’t flattering.

  Lawson frowned as he reclaimed the space between us. He looked at Ranger. “Turn around.”

  “Seriously?” Ranger asked. “I’m not going to get off on you kissing.”

  Lawson scowled at him.

  When Ranger sighed and turned around, Lawson didn’t waste any time kissing me. And it wasn’t because he couldn’t wait to kiss me. I was pretty sure he was just wanting to get it over with.

  Again, not flattering.

  As soon as his lips touched mine, my body roared to life and Lawson was flat on his back.

  “Sorry,” I said, shaking my hand from the punch.

  Ranger turned with a raised brow. “From the sound of that punch, that had to hurt.”

  “I’ll survive,” Lawson said as he stood. He rubbed his jaw.

  Treble emerged and glared at Lawson. “Nasty. Nasty kissing.”

  “I guess kissing is Treble’s weakness,” Ranger said as if it was fascinating.

  “And sour candy,” I added, making sure they remembered there were other options. I wouldn’t want Lawson to have to suffer through another kiss with me.

  Lawson’s reaction to me irritated me. Out of all the females in the world, I wasn’t a troll nor a beauty queen. I was somewhere in the middle. Average. Not someone that he’d go out of his way to kiss, but someone who shouldn’t repulse him either.

  “Treble, there will be no more kissing if you answer a few questions,” I said.

  Treble crossed his arms over his long beard. When it seemed as though that was his acceptance, Ranger asked, “Are the stones pieces of Life?”

  “Life?” Treble questioned. “I have no notion of such a thing. Stupid question.”

  So, was the theory wrong? Or was he trying to get out of telling us what we wanted to know?

  “Where are the other stones?” Ranger asked.

  “Everywhere.”

  “That’s a bit broad,” Lawson said.

  “Where can we find Basole the Black?” Ranger asked.

  “Basole the Black,” Treble said as he scratched his beard. “Demon realm most likely.”

  “Where exactly in the demon realm?” Ranger asked.

  “He hides in the dark lands,” Treble said. “You will not find anything there.”

  I looked at Ranger and Lawson, who both had the same bleak expression.

  “Is it that bad?” I asked.

  “There is a reason it’s called the dark lands,” Ranger said. “Light does not exist.”

  “So we bring flashlights,” I said.

  “The land would absorb the light before it even left the bulb,” Lawson said.

  “And there are too many hazards to go wandering around in the dark,” Ranger said. “Plus, if my source is correct, Azrael might already have collected the black stone.”

  “Shouldn’t we at least try?” I asked.

  Ranger shook his head. “There are five other stones out there. Ones that can help combat the fury of Basole.”

  “Okay, then what’s the easiest stone to find?” I asked Treble. When he looked as though he was going to be stubborn again, I pulled Lawson to me, surprising everyone, including myself. But what surprised me even more was that Lawson came willingly, with no hints of backing away.

  I wished I could read his thoughts, because the mixed signals were confusing.

  “Wiltone the Red,” Treble blustered before I could do anything more than slip my arm around Lawson. “But the red will not help you against Azrael. You might as well forget finding it.”

  “At this point, isn’t it more about collecting as many stones as we can?” I asked. “One might not help against Azrael, but five or six will certainly be advantageous.”

  “Yes,” Ranger said. “If Wiltone the Red is easiest to get to, let’s try for that one.”

  “But why is it the easiest?” Lawson asked. “I feel anything easy could be a trap.”

  “Where is Wiltone the Red?” Ranger asked Treble.

  I was prepared for some realm that had monsters or a land covered in poisonous spikes. Something perilous. I was not expecting Treble’s answer.

  “The village called Miami,” he said.

  “Miami. As in Florida?” I asked.

  “The stone is on Earth?” Lawson asked with the same disbelief.

  “Okay, but where in Miami?” Ranger asked.

  “It has been with the Villes clan for centuries.”

  “With?” Ranger asked. “As in bonded?”

  “No. Kept. Not bonded. We don’t bond with filthy vampires.”

  Lawson groaned. “The Villes clan. As in Juliette Villes?”

  “Nasty vampires,” Treble said with a shudder that made his beard shake.

  “For once I agree with Treble,” Lawson said. “If the Villes clan holds the stone, they might not know the power of it. But we can’t just walk in and grab it.”

  “Can we trade for it?” I asked.

  “Vampires don’t trade with reapers,”
Lawson said.

  “Then who will they trade with?” I asked.

  “Vampires,” Lawson answered.

  “Then we’ll use Vance,” I said.

  Lawson glared at me. “Vance already double-crossed you. He will do so again without hesitation.”

  “Then do we know a trustworthy vampire?” I asked.

  “They don’t exist,” Ranger said.

  “There has to be someone who can get the stone,” I said. “What if we shift in and grab it?”

  “Unless you know exactly where it is, we would have to search for it,” Lawson said. “They’d smell us in a second.”

  Ranger shook his head. “And then they’d have a new reaper to torture.”

  “They do that?” I asked.

  “Some do. It’s a bit of sport for them,” Ranger said.

  “No wonder you hate them,” I said to Lawson. “But I have Treble with me. They couldn’t hurt me much without him going nuclear.”

  Ranger studied me and then looked at Lawson. “We could try it.”

  “No, there has to be another option,” Lawson said.

  “Yeah. Vance,” I said. “But you’d rather not deal with him.”

  Lawson frowned. “True, but I’d rather have him get hurt than you.”

  “No one’s getting hurt,” I said. “Treble will protect us.”

  “Wherever the clan is staying, there could be hundreds of vampires,” Ranger said. “Treble, while powerful, will have a hell of a time dealing with the full force of a clan.”

  “Then let’s go there and figure out who we’re dealing with,” I said.

  “Ranger and I will go,” Lawson said. “You stay here.”

  “Why?”

  “You’re moderately safe in the pod. If you’re in Miami, the elders can easily find you.”

  “It doesn’t seem like they are looking for me,” I said. “I was out in the open several times and no one found me. I even did a transition. Nothing.”

  “Which makes me nervous,” Lawson said. “They can track reapers. So, if they’re standing down, there’s a reason—and it’s not going to be good when they finally make their move.”

  “Until then, I want to collect as many stones as I can get,” I said. “If that means dealing with a few vampires, so be it.”