Tara blinked several times in rapid succession, her green eyes clouding with confusion. “Powerful? How are they powerful?”
Hmm. I hadn’t really considered the possibility that the person waiting to greet me wouldn’t be magical. I thought for sure that she would be in the know and able to explain a few things regarding my new reality. It looked as if that wasn’t the case.
“It’s simply part of New Orleans mysticism,” I offered lamely. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Okay.” Tara’s expression never changed. “I’m supposed to give you the big tour of the aquarium and a brief look at what’s on the other side of the door. Your first day isn’t until tomorrow, though, so most of the staff is off doing other things.”
I fell into step with her as she moved through the high archway that led to the animals. I wanted to press Tara further about the “other side,” but my grandfather always preached patience being a virtue. I tried to embrace that now.
“I’m sure you’ll catch on in no time,” Tara said brightly.
Hmm. I really hated being trapped in an informational void, especially since I was technically going to be in charge of this operation ... once I got caught up on everything, of course. “How many people work here?”
“Six during the off season and fifteen when summer hits.”
I had no idea if that was a big or small number. “And who does what?”
Tara’s lips curved as she led me through the animal displays. “The majority of the staff works in the aquarium. We have to keep the tanks clean, feed the animals, and handle the tourists. But even during peak tourism times, we’re rarely inundated to the point we can’t handle the influx of visitors.”
“That’s good.”
“It’s ... simply how things are.” Tara cast me a sidelong look that was unreadable. “Your staff is much smaller. You have two other people working directly under you right now — you won’t meet them until tomorrow because they had to lend their services to a reaper family in Grosse Pointe — but that number grows by two in the summer. Still, your staff is smaller than the aquarium staff.”
Well, that answered that question. “Reaper family?”
“You will be working in conjunction with various reaper families,” Tara explained. “We have at least eight in southeastern Michigan. The souls they collect are transported here, which is when they become your responsibility.”
I understood the demands of my job, which made Tara’s tone grating. “I know what I’m supposed to do.”
“I know you know.” Tara’s smile never wavered as she gestured toward a set of locked doors at the back of the facility. A card reader was affixed to the wall on the right side, and she pulled a plastic rectangle from her pocket and opened the doors with a smooth swipe. “Your security pass will be here tomorrow morning. We had a bit of an ... incident ... today. That’s why the people who were supposed to meet you are not where you expected them to be. I’m sorry about that.”
Curiosity got the better of me. “Where are they?”
“Apparently one of the Grimlocks — they’re our most prominent reaper family — stumbled across a nest of wraiths. It was a big thing because the family decided to take out the wraiths, which put them behind on collecting their souls. They needed help.”
I wasn’t as familiar with the reaper end of things as Tara apparently believed, although that was something I was loath to admit. To get the job, I had to work a series of clerical positions in various home offices. That meant moving around the country, even though my dream was to return here. The good thing for me was that Detroit wasn’t considered a prime placement and very few people put in for the Belle Isle location as their first choice. When I finally procured the experience I needed to be considered a gatekeeper, I was the only one who requested Detroit and I won by default. I was certain that had some people waggling their eyebrows, which I expected.
“Is that normal for here?” I asked. “I mean ... the part about the reapers needing help. I’ve only interned in the field collecting souls. I thought the operation was supposed to be much smoother than that.”
“I wouldn’t worry about going into the field,” Tara offered, her eyes focused straight ahead as she led me down a dark hallway. “That’s a rarity. The Grimlocks do tend to find trouble — I don’t think they can help themselves — but they get themselves out of it quite often. They’re down a man — er, woman, to be more precise — because the daughter is pregnant.”
“A pregnant reaper?” The thought had never occurred to me. “I didn’t think the souls were dangerous.”
“They’re not, but she’s very pregnant. According to office scuttlebutt, she’s due to give birth any day now. She’s the one who tends to stumble over wraiths left and right, so her father wants her out of the field. She found the wraith nest today, and if the emails flying fast and furious are to be believed she won’t be returning to the field anytime soon.”
“And what does that mean for my staff?”
“Nothing. The Grimlocks have a plan in place to cover during her maternity leave. Today was just one of those weird things. When you find that many wraiths in one place, it’s best to wipe them out so they can’t spread.”
The words niggled at the back of my brain. “I’ve read some of the reports from the area. You have a larger than normal wraith population.”
“We do.” Tara nodded. “Before you ask the obvious next question, I’m not sure why. There has to be a reason, but I don’t know what it is. I don’t get involved in reaper politics.”
That made sense, although it did beg another obvious question. “And what do you do here?”
“I’m a facilitator.” Tara was matter-of-fact. “I’m something of a liaison between the real world and this one. I don’t have a foot firmly planted in either world, although I can answer questions on both sides.”
“So ... basically you’re saying it’s the best of both worlds.”
“I’m saying that I know a little bit about everything,” Tara clarified, her earlier smile all but invisible as she opened the door at the end of the narrow hallway and hit the light switch on the wall, flooding the cavernous room to the point I had to blink several times to adjust. “This is your territory. You’re in charge of this ... and I don’t envy you.”
I jerked my eyes to the one thing I’d been dying to see since I’d returned. Oh, who am I kidding? I’d been dying to see it since I was a kid, since that one brief glimpse I got at another world. It had shaped me. The death of my parents was only part of it. The whispers on the other side, the voices, they were what constantly called to me.
This is why I was back. The death gate. The portal to the other side.
“Wow!” My voice came out in a breathy whisper as I took in the shimmering surface of the portal. “That is ... exactly as I remember it.”
Tara was less than impressed. “Yes. It’s pretty. It’s also dangerous.”
I barely registered her words. “How is it dangerous? Has there been a breach? If so, that wasn’t included in my packet.”
Tara involuntarily shuddered at the implication. “There has never been a breach, at least as long as I’ve been here. I don’t know why you would say that. A breach isn’t funny. It’s not a joke.”
I arched an eyebrow as I regarded her. “I know it’s not a joke. It’s just ... you said it was dangerous. That’s naturally where my mind jumped. It was a question, not a suggestion.”
“Yes, well, I don’t like it as a suggestion either.” Tara was clearly uncomfortable as she shifted from one foot to the other. “Nobody wants a breach. That could be disastrous.”
I didn’t disagree. Tara, however, seemed chilled to the bone at the very thought. “I’m here to make sure there’s not a breach,” I offered softly.
“Yes, well, I hope you’re good at your job.” Tara turned prim as she tugged on her polo shirt to smooth it. “I’ll leave you to look around. Like I said, the rest of your staff will be here tomorrow. I’m sorry
about the delay.”
I wasn’t. The idea of looking around on my own was a dream I thought impossible to realize. I was happy for the few moments of quiet. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t plan to stay long. I simply want to look around, get my bearings, and then tomorrow is another day.”
“It is indeed.”
Tara offered a half-wave before shuffling toward the door. It didn’t escape my attention that she worked overtime not to stare at the gate. To me, it was a magical portal to another world ... one where my parents were being kept comfortable until I could join them on the other side. To her it was obviously something else.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I offered quietly.
“Yeah. Tomorrow.” Tara didn’t so much as glance over her shoulder as she disappeared through the door.
I watched her go, a mixture of trepidation and curiosity flooding me. She was an odd one and I looked forward to learning more about her. For now, I had other things on my mind.
I focused my full attention on the gate opening and smiled when the telltale sound of whispers reached my ears. This is what I remembered from my childhood, the voices and the feeling of warmth emanating from the opening.
This is why I came back.
This is what I searched for since I was seven and had lost everything.
This is ... home.
I had no intention of losing it a second time.
Two
I didn’t sleep well.
It could’ve been the fact that I was in new surroundings. The island was eerily quiet, something I would have to get used to. I’d spent the better portion of my life in the French Quarter, which always bustled with activity. Belle Isle seemed almost desolate in comparison.
Anxiety over my new job fueled me, too. I was technically the boss here. I was in charge of the gate. If something happened, it would be on me. I didn’t shy from responsibility, but I was still getting used to the idea of being the big boss.
Of course I had no idea what sort of boss I wanted to be. I figured that would come with time. At least I hoped it would come with time.
I arrived fifteen minutes early. My security cards had been delivered while I slept, slid under my door. I tried to keep my hands from shaking as I let myself into the aquarium. It was early, so Tara wasn’t behind the front desk. That was probably for the best.
I glanced at the tanks as I shuffled through the building and headed toward the door that led to the facility’s inner sanctum. My shoes echoed on the marble floor, creating a spooky environment, as if I were trapped in a horror movie and about to be attacked. I pushed those thoughts out of my head — they weren’t helpful — and used my new card to enter the back hallway.
I was almost to the room that housed the gate when I finally heard voices, which caused me to slow my pace as I listened to what sounded like a rather robust conversation.
“I’m not saying that I want to be a prostitute,” a woman insisted, her voice young and strong. “I’m merely saying that I don’t understand why prostitution is illegal.”
“It’s illegal because people are puritans,” a male voice responded. “People want to tell others how to live their lives, and sex is an easy gateway for that.”
“I wish people would spend more time worrying about themselves and less about what others are doing.”
“That goes against human nature.”
“What do you know about human nature?”
“More than you might realize.”
I could’ve remained in the hallway eavesdropping. Part of me wanted to. It was an excellent way to get to know my new co-workers. But if they caught me it would reflect badly. That wasn’t the reputation I wanted to garner.
Instead, I pushed open the door and pasted a bright smile on my face. It felt unnatural, forced, but I didn’t want to appear unfriendly.
The two people in the room looked up when they heard my shoes on the floor and my senses kicked into overdrive when I felt a spasm of power clench. I couldn’t decide if it was due to an involuntary reaction from me or a little something special offered by the two strangers staring at me with unveiled interest.
“Hi,” I offered lamely, internally cursing myself. “I’m Isabella Sage. Call me Izzy. I don’t really respond to Isabella. I definitely don’t respond to Bella —you know, the whole Twilight thing — but if you call me Izzy I’ll always answer.”
I was babbling, which made me feel even goofier than normal.
The man, who looked to be in his early thirties, with brown hair and eyes, smirked as he met my gaze. “We know who you are. The home office supplied us with a photograph so we wouldn’t accidentally invite the wrong person behind the safety doors.”
“That would be bad,” the red-headed woman offered, her grin pleasant and inviting. “Can you imagine some poor soul visiting the snakes and instead getting a gander at the gate? That wouldn’t go over well.”
“Definitely not,” I agreed, struggling to remain calm. I still didn’t have names to go with their faces, and because the home office hadn’t supplied me with personnel records (saying I could simply look over whatever files I needed when I arrived), I felt out of place. “And you are?”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” The man wiped his hand on his hip and extended it in my direction. “I’m Oliver Samuelson. This is Renee DuBois. I guess you could say we’re your team, but we have seasonal helpers once May rolls around, too.”
“They’re usually from the local reaper academy,” Renee volunteered helpfully. “They’re fun because they have a lot of energy and we can give them the crappy shifts.”
“Oh, well, that sounds fun.” I accepted Oliver’s hand, furrowing my brow at its coldness. “We don’t get a lot of heat back here, huh? I should remember to bring a hoodie next time.”
“Definitely,” Oliver agreed, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He was unbelievably handsome, ridiculously so, but I didn’t get a sexual vibe from him. He was essentially an emotionless void, which was a unique experience. “Fingerless gloves might come in handy, too. It’s not bad in the summer — actually it’s nice in the summer because we can cool off down here — but it gets uncomfortable in the winter.”
“I’ll make a mental note of it.”
“There’s plenty of shopping in the area,” Renee supplied. “Although I’d recommend heading to Royal Oak if you want to do it right.”
“I’m familiar with Royal Oak.”
“You are?”
“I grew up in the area.” I licked my lips as I flicked my eyes to the whispering gate. I heard the voices even clearer today, and instead of giving me chills as it would normal people, I enjoyed the sound. “I spent several years here as a child, in fact.”
“Oh, right.” Realization dawned on Oliver’s face. “Your parents were killed during the incident twenty years ago. That was a breach, right?”
I never really considered it a breach, so I bristled at the word. “I don’t know if that is how I would describe it.”
“How else could you describe it?”
“I ... .” I trailed off, uncertain how to answer. In truth, I had no idea how to refer to it.
“We were always told that something managed to escape from the other side, and that’s what killed your parents,” Renee explained. “Somehow you managed to escape, although that part of the tale is hazy.”
It was hazy in more ways than one. I didn’t remember much about the incident. I simply remembered a dark shadow appearing out of nowhere, the certainty that I was going to die taking over, and then the screaming. I had no idea why the creature screamed the way it did, but I could never forget that sound. After that, I woke in the hospital and knew my life would never be the same.
I shook my head to dislodge the memory. I didn’t like dwelling on it. My grandfather was big on focusing on things I could change and letting go of what I couldn’t. The gaps from back then were profound. The puzzle was missing far too many pieces to compile a complete picture.
�
��I don’t really remember.” I felt uncomfortable given the woman’s scrutiny. “I was young.”
“Of course you were.” Oliver made a sympathetic sound with his tongue and I didn’t miss the warning look he shot Renee. “But now you’re back. How was your first night on the island?”
“It was ... quiet,” I hedged. “I’m not used to things being so quiet.”
“That will change once the weather improves.”
“I don’t mind the quiet,” I added hurriedly. “I’m just not used to it.”
“You’ll come to relish the quiet,” Renee said as she sat at a nearby computer and typed something into the running program. “The Grimlocks just sent eight souls at once. I wish they would stop doing that.”
Distracted, Oliver moved to stand behind Renee and study the computer screen. “Those are probably the souls they forgot to send last night. We need to check them against the list.” He grabbed a clipboard from the top of the filing cabinet pressed against the wall and focused. “Read them off to me.”
“Mark Lincoln. Emily Vanderbilt. Marla Porter.”
“That’s them.” Oliver started checking off names as my curiosity got the better of me and I shuffled closer. “All eight are accounted for. That means we won’t have to fill out paperwork. I’m glad we waited before sounding the alarm last night.”
I was confused. “I don’t understand,” I said finally. “I thought the reapers had to send their souls on the day the orders were issued. Are you saying this family ... these Grimlocks ... aren’t doing it in a timely fashion?”
“Oh, well ... .” Oliver shifted from one foot to the other as he looked at Renee for backup. “The thing is, the Grimlocks aren’t always on time.”
“And why is that?”
“They’ve had a lot going on the last couple years.”
That sounded like an excuse. “So they have permission to send their souls late?”
Only The Lonely (A Death Gate Grim Reapers Thriller Book 1) Page 2