by Ken Lange
Cole nodded. “We did the best we could to move our people out of harm’s way, but there were too many.”
Hayden’s expression darkened. “When it became clear he was more monster than human, I intervened directly.”
Cole looked back at me. “And by intervened, she means she burned them all to ash over the course of an afternoon.” He glanced back at her and hung his head. “We came to thank you, but you were gone.”
She blushed. “I’d returned to Scotland to tend to another situation.”
I sighed. “I still have a ton of questions.”
“I can imagine.” She gestured at the seat across from her. “Sit. We have much to talk about, and you have even more to learn.”
Cole happily vacated the seat, and Hayden launched into a lengthy explanation of what she knew about who we were. She informed me of a host of powers I’d yet to discover, such as the ability to control separate elements—hers were fire and earth.
She eventually circled back to the constructs, explaining how they were separate from the Grim. It was almost as if we had two distinct personalities, one as the Reaper, and the other as…well, whatever we happened to be. Hayden went on to explain that controlling the Grim took a lot of practice, but it was possible to keep it in check. As for my teleportation ability, it would take me anywhere I’d ever been before.
All in all, it was a very educational few hours that made my head hurt due to information overload.
Chapter 14
The first thing Hayden wanted to do when she finished the kindergarten class for yours truly was visit Sohio Mine. She probably wanted to handle the situation there properly. Which made sense—I’d just admitted to her that we’d only broken the necromancers’ control over the undead, but hadn’t actually destroyed them.
We made the forty-minute drive, and Cole parked a bit further back than normal. I stepped out and held the door for Hayden. “I’m not sure what we’ll be able to accomplish that Atsidi didn’t.”
She walked to the edge and motioned me over. “Come, and I’ll show you.”
Frowning, I shuffled over. “Yes, ma’am.”
Hayden sighed. “If Atsidi is correct, a powerful necromancer could come along and do a mass raising. Granted, that would most likely leave that person drained for several days, but they’d still have a small army of the undead to do their bidding.”
Cole shook his head. “Okay, what do you suggest we do? We already tried to dig them up…and let’s just say that was less than effective.”
She giggled. “Did you really?” He nodded, and she continued. “Don’t worry, we’re not going to try that again.” She glanced over, placed her hand on my chest, and pushed me back a few steps. “You don’t want to be that close.”
“Okay.” I shrugged. “So, what now?”
Hayden beamed. “Now it’s time to show you what you’re capable of without the Grim.” She must’ve seen the blank look on my face, because she sighed. “Fire…remember, I’m a fire-based reaper, and if I had to guess, your element is ice.”
I blinked. “Oh, that. Okay…how’s that work anyway?”
She slapped her hand against her forehead, and probably counted to ten before continuing. “You’ll need to quiet your mind. Afterward, search for the power reserves that reside deep in your being from the souls you’ve absorbed…and yes, that’s separate from the Grim, no matter how much it tries to imply otherwise. Then it’s a matter of tapping into that energy and allowing it to flow through you. For me, it’s almost volcanic in nature.” Shrugging, she chewed on her bottom lip. “I have no idea what it is you’re looking for, but you’ll know it the moment you find it.”
As she pivoted to face the pit, her body transformed into living fire. Her eyes glowed blue, and she levitated several inches off the ground. The earth below us smoldered then became molten as a massive circular expanse filled with magma. The heat wafting out of the pit was enough to take my breath away and make my skin red.
Gasping for air, I choked out, “Holy shit.”
The flames surrounding her slowly faded, and the temperature plummeted from that of the sun to something more tolerable. She turned to me with a big smile on her face. “Want to try to cool it off?”
Glancing between her and the gurgling earth below, I asked, “Just like that?”
She shrugged. “Pretty much. If you fail, no harm done, but if you can make it work then you’ll be one step closer to understanding at least one of your abilities.”
That was some hokey-sounding bullshit, but after witnessing her power, I was inclined to get on board. What was the worst that could happen?
Reluctantly, I moved forward to stand beside her. “Fine, I’ll give it a shot.”
At the edge of the mine, I closed my eyes, took several deep breaths, and relaxed. The sensation of being burned eventually left me, my chest cooled, and when I opened my eyes, the world was painted in shades of red. My arms were coated in thick ice backlit by blue flames beneath the surface.
The sight confused me, causing it to vanish in an instant.
Grumbling, I turned to Hayden. “Fat lot of good that did.”
She stood there, mouth agape. “You’d be surprised.”
Looking back, I found a thick layer of hardened black rock atop the lava field.
I gestured at the pit. “Did I…?”
Cole glanced between me and the onyx below. “That’s some weird shit. Not as impressive as hers, but it’s one hell of a first try.” His gaze locked onto Hayden. “No offense, but the flaming ice monster he turns into is way more terrifying than your impersonation of a demon.”
She nodded. “Couldn’t agree more.”
Cole walked over to his truck and leaned against it. “Just how many of you guys are there?”
Hayden sighed. “There can only be the two of us.”
I glanced over at her. “Why is that?”
She shook her head. “Not a clue. Maybe the universe realized that the first Reaper was too powerful and decided to opt for two lesser versions… All I know is that we’re designed to keep the balance.”
I glanced down at the cooling pit and sighed. “Maybe it’s because I’m young—comparatively speaking, of course—or maybe I’m just stupid, but I don’t have a clue what that means.” I gestured at myself. “Thing is, I’m barely out of diapers here, and the only balancing act I can perform is trying to stay upright.”
She laughed. “The first few centuries are always the toughest. Once you get past those, it’ll be second nature to you.”
I ran a hand over my face. “If I live that long.”
She walked over and patted me on the shoulder. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re making great progress.”
I frowned. “Let me get this straight. You think that my inability to control any of my powers save for the Grim, which is iffy at best, is great progress?”
She gestured down at the pit. “I turned the ground down there into molten slag for at least two hundred feet. On your first attempt, you were able to cool it enough to place a dome over it. So, yes, it’s pretty phenomenal. As for the rest of your abilities, you just don’t know how to use them yet.” She held out her arm, and a massive flaming scythe appeared in her hand. “In time, you’ll be able to create one of these.”
The sight of it sent a shiver up my spine. “Well, I guess we know where the legend came from.”
Hayden shook her head. “Nope. Death carrying a sickle has been around longer than I have.” She walked over and put a hand on my chest. “Just breathe. I’ll teach you what I can, and show you the rest. After that, it’s all on you. But don’t worry, you’ve got time…hopefully.”
I chuckled. “That’s reassuring.”
Hayden grinned. “Isn’t it, though?” She pointed at Cole. “You said our next stop is a museum, right?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
She smiled. “All right, let’s go.”
Gesturing at her, I asked, “Are you sure you want to go d
ressed like that?”
She looked down at herself and sighed. “Goddamn it. I hate not being Ignatius sometimes.”
I blinked. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
She placed a hand on her hip. “Seriously? A guy can walk around wearing almost anything, and it’s okay. But when a woman does it, people get all uptight. It’s stupid.” Chewing her lip, she turned to Cole. “Would you mind taking me back to the trailer for a few minutes?”
He shook his head. “Not at all.”
Two hours later, we were nearly back in Grants, with Hayden dressed in combat boots, comfortable jeans, and a t-shirt—a stark contrast to the body armor she’d been wearing.
We made a pit stop at Lotaburger since Hayden hadn’t eaten. I was shocked, horrified, and more than a little impressed by the sheer amount of food she could pack away. She had five burgers, three orders of fries, and several other items on the menu just for kicks. The weirdest part was that she was still hungry.
She said that, given enough time, I’d have a similar appetite. Apparently, food didn’t affect us the same way it did other people. Our metabolism was happy with an overabundance of sustenance or none at all. On a rather depressing note, she mentioned that it would take an ever-increasing amount of alcohol to get me buzzed as the years passed.
I wasn’t exactly sure how it all worked, but it did explain my ravenous appetite lately. As it stood, though, I wasn’t about to go on an all you can eat diet, or starve myself, to see if she was right…which she assured me she was.
After grabbing everyone’s trash, I got to my feet, but when Steve, one of the Grants’ goons, rounded the corner, I quickly emptied my hands. By the look on the man’s face, he was painfully constipated…or maybe that was the look he was going for. Either way, this was going to be an exceptionally unpleasant meeting.
Just what I needed: a public altercation with the Grants’ hired help.
The big man stomped over, but when his gaze fell on Hayden, he adopted an oily smile. “Are these two bothering you, ma’am?”
She frowned and leaned back in her chair. “Come again?”
Steve pointed at the two of us. “Are these men, and I use that term loosely, harassing you?”
She wiped her lips with her napkin, and her tone turned dangerous. “May I ask what makes you think that?”
His smug expression faltered. “Well…they’ve been harassing other women in town. I just figured they’d found a new target.”
Hayden grinned. “Is this true?”
I shook my head. “Not a word of it.”
Steve jabbed his finger into my chest. “You lying sack of shit.”
My gaze flickered down to the offending appendage. “Remove it before I do.”
He raised his voice. “Do you realize who I am?”
The man’s rudeness offended me on a primal level. “Does it look like I give two shits who you are? Now explain yourself before my patience runs out.”
Growling, he jerked back his finger, balled his hand into a fist, and took his best shot. Steve’s movements were so slow and exaggerated I easily blocked the punch. With my other hand, I slammed my palm against his chest and pinned him to the wall. “God, you’re stupid. If you’ve got something to say, say it and leave before you get hurt.”
Hatred burned in his eyes, but he nodded.
Stepping back, I eased up on the pressure, and he took a deep breath. I rolled my hand for him to get on with it. “You’re burning daylight, and if I had to guess, you’ve got to run back to Lewis.”
Steve growled. “That’s Mr. Grant.”
I flipped him the bird. “Fuck you. And him, for that matter. Either start talking or walking. You’ve got thirty seconds.”
Blood rushed to his cheeks, and he glanced back at the wall. “You’re going to pay for that.”
I glanced down at my watch. “Twenty seconds.”
He glowered at me. “It’s come to Mr. Grant’s attention that you’ve been badgering certain individuals. Not only that, he wants you to know that his business dealings are none of your concern. In short, you’ve overstayed your welcome.”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “Your boss is about as dumb as a bag of rocks. All he had to do was let me finish my investigation, and there was a slim chance I’d leave without bothering him further.” I slapped my hand against his chest again, hard enough to knock him into the wall. “But now, you can let him know he has my full attention—or will, once I’ve finished my current case.”
When I released him, a black mist wrapped around his fist. He pivoted on the spot, hammered his fist into my chest…and nothing. I’m immune to magic, remember?
He staggered back. “What the hell?”
Tired of the man’s shit, I backhanded him hard enough to take him off his feet. Steve crashed into the ground, and he flailed on the cement, groaning as he grasped his battered shoulder.
I took a knee and leaned over to whisper in his ear. “Maybe I wasn’t clear earlier. Don’t touch me.” Grabbing the front of his shirt, I jerked him to his feet. “Go…while you still can.”
Steve gritted his teeth. “This isn’t over, freak.”
I pointed back the way he’d come. “Never thought it was.”
He stood there stupidly for a moment before slowly hobbling away.
Hayden snickered. “Jesus, I thought I had a short fuse.”
Turning to her, I sighed. “You’re assuming I was mad.” I shrugged. “Annoyed, and a little irritated, sure. But not angry. Anger means a loss of control…and, trust me, no one wants to see that happen.”
Her smile broadened. “Oh, we’re going to get along just fine.”
Cole frowned. “Lewis and his brothers are going to be pissed.”
Hayden jumped to her feet. “Those assholes still run this place?”
He nodded. “Yep, and the only thing that’s changed is that their hold on the area is stronger than ever.”
She growled. “I should’ve killed them the last time I was here.”
Cole closed his eyes and smiled. “If only you had.”
I cleared my throat. “We can daydream about that later. For now, let’s pay Ruth another visit.”
She looked over at Cole. “Is he always this grumpy?”
Cole shrugged. “No idea. I’ve known him a grand total of three days longer than you.”
Hayden laughed. “Guess we’ll find out together then.”
It took us about fifteen minutes to get across town to the museum, and, just our luck, Ms. Miller had called in sick. Her staff, such as it was, didn’t exactly try to stop us from searching her office, not that it revealed anything of substance. I was dead set on visiting the nasty little hag at home, but no one knew where she lived, and a cursory background check wasn’t any more informative.
On my way out the front door, another one of Lewis’s thugs was leaning against the fender of the truck.
Glancing over at Cole, I asked, “Do you know this guy?”
He nodded. “His name is Allen Richards.”
Hayden stepped past me and walked up to Allen. Her voice came out cold and hard. “Can we help you with something, young man?”
Allen gave her a once-over and pointed back at us. “You slumming it, lady?”
She shook her head and let out a long breath. “Only by speaking to the likes of you.”
He pushed off the vehicle and smirked. “Miss, you have no idea what you’re missing.”
Hayden held her index finger close to her thumb. “I’ve got a fairly good idea.” She grinned. “Unlike most of the women you disappoint, I’m accustomed to a better class of man.”
Anger flickered in his eyes, and he raised his hand to slap her.
Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Please give me an excuse.”
Clenching his jaw, he growled. “I don’t hit women.”
Hayden snarled, “Liar.”
Allen towered over her. “Awfully brave with people at your back. I wonder how you’d do when yo
u’re all alone.”
She huffed. “One day, I hope you find out.”
Grunting, he sidestepped her and pointed at me. “You were told to leave Ms. Miller alone.”
Sighing, I shook my head. “You people are some arrogant motherfuckers. Not only that, but all of you need a reality check. Let me start by saying I don’t answer to you, the Grants, or anyone else. The sooner you get that through your skull, the less painful things will be.”
Allen wagged a finger at me. “Maybe you’re stupid, so let me spell it out for you. Get the hell out of town. You’ve got until tomorrow night, or we’ll ship you back to Lazarus piece by piece.”
I folded my arms. “The last man who threatened me with that didn’t survive the attempt.” Shooing him away, I said, “Go back and tell Lewis that I’ll leave when I’m damn good and ready.”
Fire crawled down his arm to the tips of his fingers as he balled up his fist and swung for my head. Hayden stepped in and caught his hand in hers, snuffing out the flames. With a quick twist, she took him off balance, and he hit his knee, screaming in pain.
She slammed her palm into his chest, and he crumpled to the ground. “Tell Lewis that his interference isn’t appreciated.” Glancing back at me, she gestured to the truck. “We’ve got places to be.”
Normally, I don’t care to take orders from anyone, but in this case, I happily made an exception.
Chapter 15
By the time we reached the far side of Highland Meadows, the temperature was rapidly dropping as the sun dipped below the horizon. When we neared Atsidi’s place, our headlights shone on a beat-up 1970s era F-150 blocking the drive.
Cole groaned, eased off the gas, and pulled onto the shoulder. He threw the truck into park and glanced over at us. “If you thought the day’s gone poorly up to this point, you’re in for an unwelcome surprise.” He pointed at the two-tone Ford. “That’s Isaiah Jacob, and without a doubt, he’s about to make our evening that much worse.”