The moment they solidified, they came at us, crawling over each other in a frenzy like something out of a horror film.
There was no way I was going to be able to get close enough to touch one of these things without getting hurt myself. Why did Cole get the gun? I needed one.
A rain of gunfire. He hit a few right off the bat, the smell of sulfur and burning rubber filling the enclosed space. But the ones that managed to break through uninjured rushed at us full force, leaping off the shelves and knocking over jars.
Glass shattered everywhere, spilling different pungent liquids and other ingredients.
The largest Halfling leapt for Cole. He shot at it but missed as it landed on top of him, toppling him to the floor. He held open his snapping jaws just inches away from his face.
I was about to reach for him to help, but needle-like nails dug into my calf and tugged back hard. I slammed onto the ground. Pain ricocheted throughout every muscle, and I couldn’t stop the scream from leaving my mouth.
Suddenly, I was being dragged across the floor. The creature holding on had a hunched back, its spine protruding through its thin, blackened skin, and a mouth that was too wide for its face. A true thing of nightmares.
I grabbed for the Halfling’s taloned fingers, all the while praying the white light would reappear and blast the bastard back to Hell.
The moment I made contact, a flash of blinding light exploded from my palm, consuming the room entirely.
A wail of pain sounded, and when the light dissipated, the creature I had been clashing with was gone.
Gone. Poof. Just like that.
Vaporized or just transported somewhere else?
From the shriek, I would put my money on the former.
I stared at my palms again. Like the other times, they were completely normal from my standards. Nothing that could hint at having super demon-zapping powers, but I’d take it. Anything that would help me survive this madness.
Before I could revel in my upgrade, I was smacked in the head by a pain so excruciating, my vision blurred. My entire body convulsed from the shock of it, and my world tilted. I cried out as the room began to disappear.
“Jade!”
Cole’s shouts were the only thing keeping me grounded. I hung onto consciousness by a thin string. Warmth pulsated through me, engulfing me, but instead of a soothing feeling, it left me perspiring and sickly. It seemed like my body’s reaction was getting worse and worse with every use of my new power. Maybe I was tapping into something I wasn’t supposed to. Something too great for me to control.
When I found Cole, he was wrestling with the same Halfling, doing everything he could to avoid its teeth from sinking into his neck. His gun lay feet away, lost during their fighting.
I struggled to my feet. When another jolt of pain ricocheted through my skull, tears prickled my eyes. I took several deep breaths and forced myself to stand just as another half-demon lunged for Cole.
Ignoring my body’s protests, I ran at it on wobbly legs and tackled it to the ground. We both fell with a boom, and I swore the ground shook underneath us. My fighting style definitely wasn’t the cleanest or most precise, but damn was it efficient.
The massive creature bucked wildly, like a spooked horse, and in its thrashing, managed to land a kick to my stomach. All my breath shot out of my lungs in an instant, making me sputter and cough.
The beast whirled on me, fangs bared.
Clenching my fist, I sucker punched it straight in its already unhinged jaw.
Again, when my hand made contact, the light appeared, drowning the room in brightness and making me wince.
Then nothing. The Halfling had disappeared.
As expected, the punishment for unleashing the power struck me next, doubling me over. It was as if dozens of tiny little hot knives were poking into my brain over and over, and barbed wire raked through my gut.
When vomit rocketed up my esophagus, I didn’t fight it. Everything in my stomach spilled onto the floor.
Yep, eggs, pancakes, sausage, and coffee. It was all there.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
The scurrying of claws retreating sounded, and when I glanced over my shoulder, I spotted the other Halflings fleeing to the shopfront and hopefully to whatever hole they’d crawled out of.
Cowards.
I didn’t have much time to ponder what was happening because a guttural growl came from behind me, snapping my attention. Cole’s arms wrapped around the same Halfling’s neck. The one he’d been tossed around by before. This time, Cole dragged it back to the floor with him, trying his best to pin it in place with an elbow in the throat.
The thing found an opening and flipped around at the last minute. It seized Cole from behind and sank its claws dangerously close to his jugular.
“My gun,” he choked out as the Halfling sank its teeth into his shoulder. Blood poured out, staining his jacket red. “Get my gun!”
I scurried across the room, but when I went to snatch it, my fingers passed right through the metal.
A boulder sank into my gut and hardened.
I grabbed for the gun again, but my hand couldn’t grab hold.
“No, no, no, no! Not now!” My voice climbed in my panic. I couldn’t be a spirit again. Was this some kind of sick joke?
How was I supposed to help Cole? I grabbed desperately at the gun, hoping that somehow the magic turning me from ghost to alive would switch again.
It didn’t. I couldn’t make contact with anything in this world.
Cole and the Halfling rolled across the floor, fists flying and claws slashing. Blood spilled out of the new wounds on Cole’s arms and chest, but he kept his grasp tight.
“What are you doing?” Cole shouted as the two tussled. “Shoot, dammit! Don’t just stand there! Shoot!”
“I can’t! I’m not alive anymore. Something’s happened.”
“Do something, then. Use your touch!”
Everything still ached from the last time I had unleashed the light, and the burning in my throat from throwing up told me next time I used it may make me really regret it.
The Halfling let out a hair-raising snarl.
“DO IT.” Cole’s strangled cry had me rushing toward them.
I slapped my hand onto any piece of exposed skin I could find on the creature, which ended up being his shoulder.
Whiteness erupted from my fingertips, blanketing the room.
A loud gurgling cry rang out. But not from the Halfling. It was Cole’s voice.
Withdrawing my hand, the light diminished. The demon was gone, like the others, but Cole was on the floor, groaning and with his eyes closed. Every muscle twitched underneath his skin, and the pungent smell of burnt flesh and hair wafted past my nose, making me gag.
Before I could come to his aid, the spiking pain pierced my temples again, bringing me to my knees beside him. This time, though, I was expecting it, and I gritted my teeth as invisible spears drilled away at any remaining strength I had left. When my stomach spun, I took deep breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth to prevent myself from retching, all the while telling myself I had to get through it. Squeezing my eyes shut, I rode out the pain and bouts of nausea, everything spinning around me.
When the waves of pain lightened enough, I opened my eyes and stared at Cole still withering on the ground. Fresh wounds covered his face and neck, along with a blistering red rash all over his exposed skin.
Guilt weaved throughout my chest, constricting. Had I done that?
I reached out to touch him but stopped myself, remembering I had fought bare handed. Patting my jeans, I found my leather gloves in my back pocket. I quickly slipped them on.
What could I do to help him? I had no idea. I hadn’t known the light would hurt him like this. Like one of the Halflings.
What was I supposed to do?
“They’ll be back,” a familiar female’s voice called.
When I looked over my shoulder, Marla’s s
pirit stood there, staring at me and Cole with a look of complete disappointment. She was dressed in her frilly pink blouse and tailored pants, like before, and her hair was perfectly curled. If it wasn’t for the slight transparency to her form and the deceased body at her feet, it’d be hard to tell she wasn’t really alive. She was a strong presence. Even in death.
“Of course you two couldn’t come just a couple of minutes earlier and save me from those…” Her lip curled up in disgust. “Beasts.”
I didn’t know what to say besides, “Sorry.”
Arms crossed, she glanced down at her body and shook her head. “I had so much more to do in my life. So much more money to collect. What a waste.”
Cole moaned again, his breathing growing shallower.
She sighed heavily. “So, you work for Masters, huh? Not Mr. Johnson.” When I didn’t reply, she added, “You know, he’s not going to be too happy when he realizes he never got his package from me. He paid good money for it—not that any of that matters to me anymore.”
I had bigger issues to worry about than a secretive Mr. Johnson and his underhanded dealings right now. Whoever he was.
“What are you exactly?” Marla asked, tilting her head to the side and studying me.
I stood slowly, locking my knees before they could buckle again. “I’m a reaper.”
“I did sense something off with you when you came into my store but couldn’t place the magic.” She paused, as if what I was took a second to actually sink in. “A reaper. Like the grim reaper?” She glanced down at her body again, and a visible shudder ran over her ghostly form. “I guess it’s really over for me, huh?”
“I’m afraid so,” I said. “I can help you cross over, though. It’s my job.”
At least it was anyway.
“I just need your help,” I quickly added.
Her eyes rolled dramatically, and she tsked me, like a mother might do to a child. “Of course you do.” Glancing at Cole, who had gone completely still for the moment, she sighed. “Some fryda aloe with bikket seeds should help with the burns and speed up the healing. You can find them…” She pointed across the room where there were broken shelves and spilled jars all over the floor then grimaced. “Somewhere over there.”
“Thank you. But that wasn’t what I’m talking about.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“We’re looking for an herb called the Breath of Life—”
Marla’s widening eyes and gasp cut my sentence sort. “What could Masters possibly need that for?”
“It’s for me, too. Well, for my friend. She’s been attacked by a demon. We think the herb can save her life.” I didn’t want to give her too much information, just in case it hurt my chances. Especially since she didn’t particularly like Cole. If I kept her focused on me, maybe she would be more willing to help.
“And Masters thought I had it?”
I nodded. “He said if anyone was going to have it, it was you. You’re the best at all things magical.”
She squeaked a laugh. “He’d be right about that,” she said. “On both accounts. I have the herb. It is one of my most prized possessions since it was extremely hard to get ahold of. Actually…”
“What?”
“Two men—the ones who cut our meeting short—asked about the herb, too, after you left. I thought it was strange. Not many people know about it. But I didn’t give them too much information or even hint that I had it. They just left after that.”
“When did the Halflings attack you?”
Could they be connected?
“The moment I closed the store…” She hesitated, wringing her hands together. “You think those demon things were looking for it, too?”
“That’s what I’m guessing.”
“But why?”
Should I tell her the reason?
“Cole thinks it could help cure him of his demon side. Make him human.”
“He’s still chasing that crazy dream of his?” Marla laughed, shaking her head. “I should have known.”
Apparently everyone knew about Cole’s suicidal mission to save himself from full corruption. And they all thought he was crazy for it.
I pulled out my tablet. Again, no notifications from Styx or new assignments listed in my queue. I tapped on the Look Up a Spirit feature, like I had with Victor in Kay’s shop.
Holding up the device to take Marla’s picture, I said, “You need to cross over. Here, let me—”
“And what if I don’t want to go?”
“Then you’ll have to spend your afterlife wandering the living plane, unable to interact with anyone or anything. It’s a miserable existence.”
“You sound like you know about it quite well.”
I only nodded. Really, she had no idea, but I wasn’t going to give her a speech.
Maybe it was time to try a different tactic. Marla was all about trading and getting the best deal, right? I had the ability to do what she wanted, and she had the information I needed about the herb. This way, in the end, we could both win.
“I’ll get you to the afterlife,” I began, “if you tell me where the herb is. No games. Just an even trade.”
She stared at me for a long moment. At first, she seemed impressed I had come up with a deal she couldn’t really refuse, but then, that admiration quickly switched into skepticism. Maybe she thought I had the upper hand in this ultimatum, and maybe I did. But her distrust in me showed clear on her face. I didn’t blame her. I wouldn’t trust me either.
“Tell me where it is, and I’ll help you. I swear it.”
“You know how many people have sworn to me and never pulled through? Pinky promises never pan out in my line of work, sweetheart.”
“It will here,” I said. Quickly, I held up the tablet and snapped a picture of her. In an instant, her profile popped onto the screen.
Marla Victoria Jones. Age 42. Level three witch. Dead on arrival. Cause of death: Unknown.
Unknown? Definitely not true.
And how could an all-seeing, all-knowing cosmic force not know how a person died? I’d never seen that cause of death before.
“Everything okay?”
When I lowered the tablet, Marla was staring at me with great concern.
“Yeah, you’re here in the system.” I forced myself to smile, but I could feel it wavering at the edges. “Whenever you’re ready.”
She didn’t move, her body rigid.
“I know you’re nervous. It’s the unknown. But let me tell you, I live in the supernatural afterlife, and it’s not too bad to be honest. Slightly boring for my taste.” I shrugged. “It takes some getting used to.”
“Paradise, boring? Figures.” She let out an annoyed breath. “All right, then. Let’s get it over with.”
I admired her bravery. Not many people accepted what had happened to them so quickly. Like Tristen.
Marla pointed to the stone wall on her right. “It’s there. Between the third and fourth shelf. One of the bricks is loose.”
After crossing the room, I followed her directions, searching the bricks until I found the one slightly protruding, uneven with the rest of the wall. When I reached for it, my hand passed right through, and I cursed. I was going to have to find another way to get to it.
Hopefully, Marla was telling me the truth.
“Thank you.” I pulled out my handy-dandy chalk piece. “As promised…”
Working quickly, I drew the symbols for the spirit door on the floor near her body. The moment the circle was enclosed, the orange glow appeared and the door opened.
She came to my side and stared at it nervously.
“You’re going to be fine,” I told her, and I meant it. Our time together had been brief, but in that short time, I knew Marla to be a force to be reckoned with. “You did quite well for yourself in life. I’m sure you’ll kick ass in the afterlife. And who knows? Maybe I’ll see you on the other side.”
That got a smile out of her. “It’d be nice to meet you under different cir
cumstances. Over drinks or something. If that’s allowed over there. I know I need one.”
“It is,” I said. “And that sounds good to me.”
I’d need one, too, after all of this.
Moving to the edge of the spirit door, she hesitated and glanced up at me. “If it wasn’t for you working with Masters, I’d even go as far as to say I like you.”
I laughed. Despite all that Cole had said about Marla, I was beginning to like her, too.
Then, sucking in a deep breath and holding it, Marla squeezed her eyes shut, as if she were about to dive into a swimming pool, and jumped through the door.
After smearing the chalk marks and sealing it closed, I peered back at Marla’s dead body and the pool of blood she lay in. She had said those two angry-looking men who had come into the shop had been asking about the Breath of Life herb, too. Then a couple of hours later a gaggle of Halfling demons attacked her in her shop.
Who knew about the demon cure besides us? And were these Halfling attacks because of it, or did someone just want us out of the way? Was it Xaver, maybe because we had the mother of his spawn hidden from him, or was it another demon?
Coincidence?
Too much had happened these past few days for me to believe in coincidences.
A low groan came from across the room. I spun around to find Cole rocking side to side, his hands shaking as they ran over the burns on his arms and face. He tried to sit up but winced and lay back down.
I hurried over to him. “Cole, I don’t know what happened. My power burned…”
He waved off my explanation and attempted to get up again. With a loud pain-filled grunt, he was able to pull himself upward to a sitting position.
“I told you to use it.” He grunted. “It’s on me.”
Examining his arms, bright red and cracked in some places, he sucked in a breath. “Looks like you gave me a bit of a sunburn.”
I was glad he was able to joke about this. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it as funny, especially when I spotted a couple of blisters on the parts of flesh that had been directly hit, like his neck and around his collarbone.
After a moment, he glanced around the room. “Did we win?”
“Sort of. The Halflings are all gone, if that’s what you mean. But who knows if they’ll be back.”
Death Wish Page 15