by Becca Andre
“Very well,” Alexander answered at last. “I will teach you necromancy, and you will teach me about this new world—after you break my brother’s curse.”
“It will be as you say.” Neil dipped his head. “What of my cousin?” He waved a hand toward Doug.
“You mean my brother’s descendants? They are no longer needed.”
“What are you saying?” Doug spoke up. “I have dedicated my entire life to the Family.”
“Is that why you used your nephew as a human shield?” Neil asked.
Doug fisted his hands. “I was trying to pull him out of the line of fire.”
“Enough,” Alexander said. “Grim, release him.”
James did as told then took a step back.
“You will move only when I tell you to,” Alexander added.
The force of the compulsion slammed into him, and James grunted. The guy was powerful. As powerful as Ian. As powerful as Elysia.
Doug jumped down from the dais, but he didn’t go after Alexander. He laid out Neil with a single punch.
“Come on, get up.” Doug stood over him, fists clenched.
“Nice,” James said. “I’d offer you a high five if I could move. Of course, if I could move, I would have ripped out his soul before you could punch him.”
Alexander chuckled. “You’ll have to show me that sometime.” His eyes faded several shades, and Doug abruptly turned and walked away, his eyes the same faded blue. Crap. Doug was under Alexander’s command once more.
“Certainly,” James answered Alexander as Doug walked toward him. “I’d be glad to rip out Neil’s soul for you.”
Neil climbed to his feet, wiping the blood from his upper lip. He gave James a frown, but didn’t speak.
“I still have need of Dunstan,” Alexander said, his tone cheerful. “Perhaps I’ll have you demonstrate on my brother.”
James shrugged. “I’ve been wanting to do that for some time.”
Alexander stilled. “You know where my brother is?”
Neil’s eyes met James’s, and he gave a small shake of his head. The gesture puzzled James until he realized that Neil was protecting Addie. If Alexander found Ian, he would find Addie, too.
“He likes to hide in the land of the dead,” James said, hoping the lie sounded plausible. “But I’ll find him eventually.”
Doug walked past him, and James watched with growing unease as he climbed into the sarcophagus.
“My brother is good at hiding, but I have ways to flush him out.” Alexander waved away the notion as if it was of little concern. “Grim, put the lid in place.”
This compulsion was just as powerful. James whirled on his heel and walked to the sarcophagus Doug currently lay in. His eyes met James’s, and in the faded depths, James saw the horror.
The stone lid was heavy, almost too heavy even for someone with the strength of the dead. It didn’t help that the oblong shape made it awkward as hell.
“I will need suitable clothing,” Alexander said to Neil. “Dear Xander has a nice selection, and a nice home. It will make an acceptable residence. We will go there as soon as the grim finishes his task.”
James had the massive stone lid lying across the top of the sarcophagus, but hadn’t yet moved it in place.
“What of the grim?” Neil asked.
“He will accompany us.”
James looked up. Alexander was going to take him into the portal?
“Are you certain that’s wise, Deacon?” Neil asked.
James schooled his expression, trying not to let his eagerness—or apprehension show through. He remembered well the time Clarissa had commanded him to rip out Rowan’s soul. James had escaped the compulsion when he jumped into the land of the dead. Of course, Clarissa wasn’t nearly as powerful as Alexander.
“Are you questioning me again?” Alexander asked.
“He’s not of this world and—”
“He’s dead. That is the only requirement.” Alexander’s attention shifted to James once more. “Close the sarcophagus, then you will join me as we travel among the shades. You will neither harm us, nor try to flee.”
James flinched with another slap of his power, then turned his attention back to the lid. He had it almost lined up when he heard Doug gasp. He glanced down and even in the shadows, he could see that Doug’s eyes had reverted to their former blue. For the first time, James noticed how close the color matched Alexander’s—or rather, Ian’s.
“Save Elysia,” Doug whispered.
James gave him a small nod and dropped the lid into place. It wasn’t until the low boom echoed through the catacombs that James realized that Doug’s command hadn’t included a compulsion. His eyes had remained blue.
James didn’t get to dwell on Doug’s actions. Alexander’s compulsion was still on him, but he would have no problem completing this one. He pulled off the brown robe he wore and dropped it. The robe struck the floor at the same moment his four paws did. A thrill ran through him at this small victory.
“Come,” Alexander said. A portal opened before him, and the two men stepped into the land of the dead.
James would have grinned if he could, but he settled for jumping in after them. His body morphed into its true form: a seven-foot monster with claws designed to rip souls from the living—and the dead.
Neil took a step back, but Alexander gazed up at James with a smile. “What a shame you can’t assume this shape in the mortal world.”
Truly. James wished he could return the smile. Then I wouldn’t need to come here to do this. He sprang forward and lashed out, intending to dig his claws into Alexander’s chest. But this form was too big and slow. Alexander twisted aside, and James slashed empty air. When James spun to face him once more, Alexander was gone.
“I knew it,” Neil whispered.
Letting his disappointment at missing Alexander go, James turned to face Neil.
Neil took another step back, his unsteady hands going to the pockets along his ribs. “I knew he couldn’t hold you here. Mother couldn’t, and she was far more powerful than my uncle—contrary to what he liked to claim.”
As I recall, she was a bit of a head case herself. That’s the nice thing about the powerful. Pride always blinds them. James lifted a hand, displaying his ebony claws. I’m going to enjoy this far more than I should.
Neil ripped at the fabric, trying to pull out a vial.
And by the way, this form is immune to alchemy. James sprang at him.
Neil cried out and stumbled backward, tripping over his robe. The trip saved him, and James grabbed nothing but air.
The darkness parted, and suddenly Alexander was there. He squatted beside Neil, gripping his arm.
James snarled and jumped—landing in the space where they had been. Alexander had vanished again, taking Neil with him. How the hell was he that fast? Then, too, Ian had supposedly eluded Gavin the same way.
The Hunt denied, James threw back his head and howled his rage at the black sky. Far in the distance, several hellhounds answered him, sharing his heartache at the loss of his prey.
He struggled to regain control and when he did, nearly lost it again when a faint laugh carried to him across the dead plane. Alexander, taunting him. James tensed, ready to give chase, then caught himself. No. Alexander wanted James to chase him back into the mortal world where Alexander had the power to control him. Only here, in the land of the dead was James free from necromantic control. He would not give into his base desire to Hunt the undead ghoul master. Unlike what Ian believed, James was not a slave to his magic.
He huffed and turned his attention to what mattered more: Elysia.
Chapter 11
Elysia stared at the familiar robed figure standing before her on the black plain of the land of the dead. It was an
image straight out of one of her dreams. Except this wasn’t a dream. It had never been a dream.
You are safe. For now, Bella Nelson said. He did not follow.
“Who? Your father?” They had bounced around, jumping from one featureless place to another, each new location looking exactly like the last. An evasive maneuver to throw off Alexander?
Yes.
“But I’m his puppet. What if he possesses me here?”
Blood gifts belong to the mortal world. He cannot command you here.
Darkness shimmered beside Bella, coalescing into the midnight fur of a hellhound. Elysia gasped and stumbled back. “Look out!”
Do not fear. Bella’s hand settled on the hound’s head. She will not harm you.
The creature lifted its large head and regarded Elysia with eyes as black as its fur. It was only slightly smaller than James’s other form, but it was otherwise identical. It had the same midnight fur, and when it flexed one paw, ebony claws unsheathed much like a cat’s would. These creatures were called hellhounds, but they weren’t like any breed of canine in the mortal world.
Elysia stared as Bella ran her fingers through its shaggy fur. “You tamed a hellhound?”
We have a pact.
“A pact?” Elysia studied the animal as it continued to watch her. Yes, there was an eerie intelligence in those dark eyes.
I was not skilled at traveling the land of the dead, and she caught me. I was attempting to get my sisters to safety, away from our father, but I wasn’t fast enough. I offered this one my soul, if she would spare my sisters and their future daughters, and allow me to see them to safety.
“Their future daughters?”
I knew the curse would follow them, and I feared those girls might also walk the land of the dead in their sleep—as my sisters did. As you did.
Elysia struggled to keep up. “The curse Ian placed on us?”
The curse he placed on my sisters. The curse that passed to you.
“You weren’t affected?”
Our uncle didn’t give my father the potion until after I was born. That is why I am still sane.
“We were cursed with insanity.”
That is the nature of all soul reapers.
For one long moment, the words wouldn’t come. Finally she pushed them from her throat. “It’s true? I’m a soul reaper?”
Yes. I’m sorry. Bella’s tone was soft and full of pain. I had hoped that time would break the curse. It seemed logical that the blood would dilute with each passing generation, but it does not.
No, it didn’t. Elysia turned and stared out across the black earth that stretched in every direction. Addie had promised to cure her. But how could she remove a blood gift? Elysia didn’t realize what having that hope had meant until this moment.
Bella’s hand gripped her shoulder. I’m sorry, she repeated. I have walked among the shades, searching for answers, but there is no solution to this. The cycle will continue. But I will be here.
Elysia realized that in a way, Ian’s curse had gotten Bella, as well. “You gave your life for us. You’ve been watching over us from the beginning.”
When I made the pact, I had meant only to secure my sisters’ safe passage that night, and protect future innocents. I did not expect to be made a guardian in turn.
Elysia glanced down at the hellhound. “She Made you that night?”
Yes.
Elysia blinked a couple of times. Hellhounds could Make? She hadn’t known that. “How old were you?”
Fifteen.
Elysia stared at her for one long moment, then wordlessly stepped forward and pulled Bella into a careful hug. She could feel the hard angles of the bone beneath the robes. There was little left of her mortal body after nearly 200 years.
“Thank you,” Elysia whispered, releasing Bella. “Words are so inadequate.” She rubbed a hand across her cheeks. “You sacrificed everything. For me.”
No, for all of you. Nine lives. Is that not a fair trade?
“I don’t know.”
And there was a bit of vengeance. Once she took my soul, Father could no longer control it.
“He made his fifteen-year-old daughter his puppet?”
I was fourteen when he first possessed me. When he began to make plans for Alexia’s fourteenth birthday, I knew I had to act. With my Uncle Joseph’s help, I kept them hidden. Father didn’t even know they had survived our trip through the land of the dead until decades after his own death.
Bella reached up and touched Elysia’s face with her fleshless fingers. But it will all be for naught if my father controls you.
Another shimmer within the darkness, and Elysia spun to face the threat, expecting Alexander to step out and collect them both.
Child, we must—
Bella didn’t get to finish her statement as the shimmer coalesced into a seven-foot monster with glowing green eyes.
“James!” Elysia ran to him, slamming into him hard enough to make him take a step back, and threw her arms around his waist. He laughed, or tried to. He sounded like a demented hyena.
He ran a hand over her hair, careful of his claws. Elysia.
The bond tightened with the mention of her name, and she hugged him tighter. “You got free. How?”
He thought he could control me here.
“Fool.”
Yes. James raised his head to study Bella.
The hellhound snarled, the sound so low, Elysia barely heard it. James lifted his lips.
“It’s okay. The hound is hers.” Elysia wiggled in his hold, forcing him to free her. She turned to face her. “Bella, this is James.”
Bella didn’t acknowledge the introduction. Go away, demon. She is not yours.
“He’s not a demon. Look.” Elysia fed her soul into him, all of it, just as she had that time he had faced Gavin here. And like before, he began to change. Gradually, he resumed his human shape, though his skin glowed as if he had swallowed moonlight.
Stop. Don’t do that, Bella said.
“What?” Elysia asked.
You must never play with the souls you have reaped. Just using your active magic is bad enough.
Elysia stared at her.
“What is she talking about?” James asked. “Elysia?” he prompted when she didn’t immediately answer.
“I bound his soul, I didn’t take it,” Elysia said to Bella.
Bella’s tone was soft when she continued. You can’t help but take it. That’s what you do.
Elysia lifted a hand to her mouth. “Oh my God.”
What’s she talking about? James asked again. Elysia didn’t realize she had released him until his voice spoke within her mind. He was the seven-foot-tall monster again.
“I took your soul.”
Come again?
“It’s my blood gift. I really am a soul reaper.”
You can take souls. He sounded like he wanted to laugh. How does that work?
It was Bella who answered. Each time she binds a soul, she takes a little of it into her own, even if she doesn’t perform a Making.
Elysia stared at her in horror. “Each time I tether? Oh no.”
What’s wrong? James asked.
She wrung her hands. “Addie. She’s been picking up my thoughts ever since we saved her.”
James stilled. What exactly does that mean?
Elysia turned to Bella. “What becomes of the person I reap?”
To reap is to begin the Making process. If the mortal body dies, the reaped becomes yours.
“My lich,” Elysia whispered.
Yes.
She turned and stared up at James. “If Addie dies, she becomes a lich.”
It’ll be okay. He took a breath. I just need to do a
better job of keeping all of you safe.
You must not reap any more, Bella said. With each soul you reap, your power grows.
Elysia made another connection. “And it’s the powerful necromancers who go mad the quickest. That’s where the insanity that plagues my line comes from.” And why she had been on edge since she saved Addie. She looked up at James. “How many is that? You, Addie…Kari. Oh God, I didn’t Make her. I reaped her, and then she died.”
James carefully took her by the shoulders and pulled her against him. Sounds like you need to stop reaping souls. That’s my job, anyway.
She snorted, then pressed her cheek against the fur of his chest. He hugged her tighter.
Is there any way to reverse it? he asked Bella.
No. Reaping is in essence, Making. Death cannot be reversed, only delayed.
Elysia pressed her face into his chest. “I’m sorry.”
For taking my soul? I’m not terribly torn up over it.
She laughed and leaned back to look up at him. He tried to grin and failed. “You’re scary as hell.”
Pun?
She rolled up on her toes and kissed the underside of his jaw.
Bella made a sound that might have been displeasure. This should not be.
“Perhaps,” Elysia said. “But it is.”
Then you will be the last.
Elysia faced her. “Is that truly a bad thing?”
Bella’s hooded head turned away from them. Perhaps she gazed out across the black plain. The hellhound shifted closer to her side, like a real dog that had picked up on her distress. She twined her fingers in the midnight fur.
“Bella?”
I will no longer be needed. Bella looked down at the hellhound, and the beast gazed up at her in return.
“No,” Elysia said. “I didn’t mean to imply—”
James gently squeezed her shoulder, careful of his claws. She wishes to go.
But not while my father still possesses you.