Undeadly

by Michele Vail

  ~What You Know About Zombies is Wrong

  by Vincent Stevenson

  The machinery looked complicated, but it was obvious where the chains were latched. The mechanism that kept the tethers in place was bent. I glanced up at Aunt Myra. “Did you do that?”

  “It took me a while,” she said proudly. Then she deflated. “But apparently it wasn’t enough.”

  I had never really thought about the kind of energy ghosts have. Obviously dear Great Aunt Myra had enough determination to physically manipulate a machine that had been designed against that kind of resistance. I peered closely at the bent part. I wasn’t sure how to fix it. Maybe there was some way to shorten the chains. Sheesh. I really had no idea how a SEER worked.

  “Wait, Molly.”

  I stood up and looked at Irina, keeping my grip tight on the chains. “What?”

  Irina studied Aunt Myra. “I’ve checked with my sources. It appears that your family is missing some diamonds. That’s why Harold has you trapped here, yes?”

  Myra nodded. “The hell I’ll tell him or that moronic wife of his.”

  “If you will take us to the diamonds, we will free you.”

  My mouth dropped open. “We will?”

  “She makes the better deal,” said Irina simply. “And you should be happy not to put her back on the machine, with all your puny whining.”

  “And she will reap my soul?” asked Myra. “She must promise. Because no reaper can break a promise.”

  I blinked. Well, I hadn’t heard that one before. I glanced at Irina, who was frowning. The whole promise thing must be true if she was getting grumpy about it. I wasn’t sure about reaping when I knew so little, but...well, it was better than reattaching Myra to the SEER.

  Aunt Myra had figured that out, too. Her expression turned triumphant. “Well?”

  “In exchange for showing us where the diamonds are—and we are able to procure all of them—Molly will release you from the SEER.”

  Myra’s gaze narrowed. “She will reap me.”

  Irina huffed out an irritated breath. “Da.”

  “She must agree first,” said Myra.

  “Okay by me,” I said. I held up my free hand as if I was taking an oath in court. “Promise.” Ugh. I was zapped out from training, not getting enough junk-food fuel and now tracking down a SEER ghost. I wanted to be normal again. You know, maybe just a ka heka working for Big Al’s Zomporium and nothing else. Just that. I yearned for the Molly I’d been before my birthday.

  “Let’s go,” said Irina. She pointed imperiously at Myra. “Show us. Quickly.”

  “Take me to the third floor,” said Myra. “There are stairs in the back of the kitchen for household staff.”

  We followed Myra’s directions and found ourselves squeezing up a narrow, winding staircase. When we got to the third floor, Irina quietly opened the door and peered into a wide hallway.

  “Clear,” she said.

  “All the way down,” said Myra. “The last bedroom on the left.”

  It was creepy quiet. All I could hear was the rapid beat of my heart, which seemed to have lodged in my ears. The hand gripping Myra’s chains was getting sweaty—at least I hoped it was sweat. Maybe it was ectoplasm. Blech.

  Irina got to the door first, and opened it slowly, peering into the room. Then she reached inside and flipped on a light. We all went through, and Irina closed the door behind us.

  The room was full of boxes and tarp-wrapped paintings. There was a hearth on the far wall that looked as though it had never been used. And there wasn’t any furniture, either. Some bedroom.

  “Where?” demanded Irina.

  “The large painting over there,” said Myra, pointing to a huge rectangle that had been loosely covered with a white drop cloth.

  I was feeling creeped out. I didn’t like being in someone’s house, sneaking around and stealing. And I was bummed that I had to lie to my friends, and to Rick. A girl could do only so much wrong during one day. My conscience was being stabbed by too many guilt-knives.

  Irina ripped off the cloth, and we both stared at the painting.

  “My babies,” said Myra. “I love them so.”

  The portrait was of Myrna and at least a dozen shih tzu dogs of varying sizes and colors. Every single one had pink-ribboned ponytails.

  “What happened to them?” I asked.

  “They live at my mansion, of course. They are cared for by my household staff.”

  “Your dogs inherited your money?” asked Irina. Her tone held bewilderment.

  “So long as Harold makes sure they’re cared for, he gets a generous stipend. When they all die of natural causes, he’ll get everything. Bastard.” She looked around. “These are things from my house. He’s been taking them without permission and selling them.”

  I opened my mouth to ask why he’d take a portrait of her and her dogs, but Irina sent me a “zip-it-or-die” glare so I pressed my lips together and shut up.

  “The diamonds are sealed into the back of the canvas,” said Myra. “Bottom righthand corner.”

  Irina flipped over the portrait and tugged at the corner of the canvas. It released from the frame and a small pink bag fell out onto the floor. She picked it up and opened it. Then she grinned. “Good.” She looked at me, jerked her head toward Myra, and then went to the door. She opened it, obviously planning on keeping watch while I reaped a soul.

  Which I’d never actually done. Um...on purpose.

  “You really are a reaper,” said Myra. “You took me away from the SEER without even trying.”

  Whoa. She was right. I’d carried her around like my very own Thanksgiving Day parade balloon without even thinking about her SEER tethers.

  I wasn’t sure how to release her permanently. Some of my lessons with Dem about soul work combo-ed with Irina’s information about reaping, and none of it was particularly helpful. It seemed to me that what had worked before should work again, right? I get into the Shallows and send Myra on her way to the blue light.

  “Um...Irina? Do I need a scythe?”

  Irina scowled at me. “Do not be stupid.” She returned to the doorway, her blond ponytail shaking in indignation.

  “So helpful,” I muttered.

  She turned back. “Use the ring. Hurry.”

  I looked down at the silver band on my finger. “What?”

  “It is your scythe, Molly. You carry it around all the time and do not know this?”

  “Obviously not,” I said. “Nobody tells me anything.”

  “Because you must figure things out for yourself. It is how you learn!”

  She turned away again, and I could hear her muttering in irritated Russian. Well, fine!

  “Well?” Myra was looking irritated, and you know what? I was getting tired of all the pressure coming at me. Do this, do that, Molly.

  Argh!

  “To the Light,” I said as I let go of Myra’s ethereal form. I sorta pointed my ring finger at her.

  She floated above me and looked around. “Light? What light?”

  “Crap.” I glanced at Irina, but her back remained turned. What was up with that? She’d spent the past three days riding my butt about reaping, magic, fighting, everything reaper, but when it came to me actually doing a reap, she was out.

  Nervous now, I twisted the silver ring on my finger. Dem had told me that it was the power behind the words that mattered most. I drew in a big breath, looked at Myra and said, “I hereby reap you!”

  “That’s the silliest—”

  My ring went icy cold. And then the room did. Even Aunt Myra sensed the change because she didn’t finish her sentence. She stared at me with wide eyes.

  Then the falcon symbol on the top of my ring detached itself.

  That’s right. It came off the band.

  I gulped.

  I stared as the bird grew bigger and bigger and bigger, until it was such a huge, black shadow, it darkened half of the large room. It looked at me with obsidian eyes then it reached out
a claw.

  In it was a silver scythe.

  “Um...thanks.” I gingerly reached out and took the scythe. It pulsed with power, with warmth. I swear it was kinda purring. Like it was alive. It felt right in my hands. Perfect. “Goodbye, Myra.”

  Then I twirled the scythe and on the second turn, I sliced the blade into her ghostly middle. Her spirit disappeared. And in its place was a grayish orb.

  The falcon cawed. His shadow fell over me, and all the color in the room bled out. All but the pulsing glow of Myra’s soul. The Shallows.

  The blue light and its odd chanting music appeared. I watched Myra’s soul wiggle up toward the glittering beam. I kept vigil until it was gone, joined with the mysteriousness of the beyond.

  Then the Shallows faded, giving way to the real world.

  Holy Anubis.

  The falcon cawed again then flapped its massive, shadowy wings. It reached out a claw toward the scythe, but I hesitated. It didn’t seem right to give up the scythe, but the bird cawed impatiently and seemed to point with one claw toe toward the reaper tool.

  “Fine.” I placed the silver staff back into its claws. I’d swear that the scythe was less than thrilled by this—and so was I. It felt like mine, like I should keep it.

  The scythe disappeared into the dark that was the falcon, and then it folded into itself until it was miniaturized once more. It settled like an etched shadow onto the ring.

  I stood there for a moment, shaking, amazed and overwhelmed. The ring wasn’t some plain ol’ birthday present. Wherever it had come from...how it came to be at my house...I didn’t know. But it was obviously a reaper ring. And I hadn’t known that reapers had jewelry.

  I joined Irina at the door, excitement bubbling through me. “Did you see that? The ring—”

  “Pah!” She held up a hand as though to stall my words. “I saw nothing. I heard nothing.” She glanced at the silver band. “It is just a ring, Molly.” Her gaze seared mine. “Is it not?”

  “No, it’s not,” I said. I swallowed the knot in my throat, my excitement giving way to frustration. For some reason, Irina didn’t want to admit that she knew about the ring and its powers.

  “You must learn to keep secrets,” she said. “A reaper’s scythe is a most vital tool. We do not share our tokens with anyone. It is unspoken rule.”

  “Why?”

  “So that history does not repeat itself. The ring will not leave its current owner. No one can take it from you. Ah. Well, that is not exactly true. The point is to protect yourself.”

  “Okay,” I said, unsure what she was trying to say. I mean, yeah, shut up about the ring, and keep its powers a secret. No problem.

  She looked at me, her blue eyes suddenly filled with an ancient sort of weariness. “The world is not always as it seems, Molly,” said Irina quietly. “You must work on your ruthlessness.”

  “Yes, Irina.”

  We walked out of the bedroom and almost knocked over a very shocked Mitzy. “What are you doing up here? Where’s Aunt Myra? Oh! How dare you! I’ll call the—”

  Irina punched Mitzy hard and fast with a powerful uppercut. The woman’s eyes rolled back in her head, and she dropped like a sack of rocks to the floor. In that terrible white dress of hers, she looked like a messy pile of marshmallows.

  “See?” said Irina. “Ruthless. Easy.” Then she marched ahead, the pink bag of diamonds clutched in her hand.

  When we returned to school, Irina dropped me off by the side entrance. It had felt sneaky leaving that way, which I guess was the point. The door led to the basement storage area. I would have to climb a narrow set of stairs into a hallway that led to the kitchen area and find my way to my room from there.

  I reached for the door handle. “Thanks, Irina.” I wasn’t sure what I was thanking her for. Um, an adventure? Thievery? Lessons in being ruthless?

  “Wait.”

  I kept my fingers around the handle, but I paused, and I looked over at her. She gripped the steering wheel, staring straight ahead. Then she started cursing in Russian.

  “Irina?”

  She heaved a sigh. Then she pulled out the pink bag, opened it, and extracted a pea-sized diamond. “You must learn, Molly, to take care of yourself. Rely on no one. Think of people as alliances, not as friends. Everyone has the potential to be your enemy, even those you love.”

  “Does it work the other way?” I asked. “Enemies who become friends?”

  She smiled faintly. “Rarely. But yes.” She handed me the diamond. “Payment for this night’s work.”

  “Does Anubis really know about this kind of stuff, Irina?”

  She shrugged. Then she closed my hand over the diamond. “Think of this as your emergency fund.” She looked at me, and I couldn’t figure out what emotion lurked in her gaze. “He will come for you, Molly. You will have to fight. Perhaps you’ll have to run.”

  “Who will come for me?”

  Irina rolled her eyes. “The enemy of Anubis, girl. The one who will soon slip his bonds and reenter this world.”

  “Set?” I swallowed. Hard. “Isn’t he in a cage or something?” My heart skipped a beat. “Why does he want me?”

  “It makes no difference.” Her expression shuttered. “Pay attention. Be ready.” She paused. “I will not be your teacher anymore.”

  “Okay,” I said. I wasn’t exactly sad about that, but as hard as she’d pushed me, as mean as she’d been, I’d walked away with a lot more knowledge and skill. “Thanks, Irina. Really.”

  “Yes, yes. Go.” She returned to staring straight ahead, her jaw tense.

  I hopped out of the car and headed toward the door. Irina turned the car around and slowly drove away. She didn’t turn on her headlights.

  I had the feeling that we had done something really bad. I didn’t understand why she’d needed me. She was a reaper, too. She could’ve easily done that creepy job with Aunt Myra and not given me anything.

  I wondered if Anubis would be pissed at me when he’d found out what we’d done. I mean, maybe he knew about Irina’s little side activities and just ignored them. I decided I’d say an extra prayer tonight to Anubis, offering both an apology and a question. I hoped he answered.

  I hurried to the side door and grabbed the handle.

  Locked.

  Oh, man! I jiggled it, as if that would help, and then let go. I checked my cell phone, saw that it was after ten o’clock, and realized the whole school was locked down. Curfew was at 10:00 p.m.

  I looked down the road. Irina’s car had already disappeared. Where had she gone? And why hadn’t she at least opened the door for me?

  Crap.

  I stared at the door, trying to figure out what to do. If I texted Autumn or any of my friends, they’d know I’d lied to them. Then I’d have to explain why I wasn’t really sick, and how I’d ended up outside, shut out from the school. And that certainly wouldn’t be using the discretion Irina had asked—and technically paid—for.

  I tapped my lower lip, considering the possibilities.

  Then I heard a noise. I stilled, my heart turning over my chest. Slowly, I turned. A stretch of gravel road went around the school. It was mostly for delivery trucks and for the staff to reach the back parking lot. On the other side of the road was the dense forest filled with darkness and creepiness.

  Snap.

  Adrenaline spiked. I put myself into a stance, wondering if I could really use the moves I’d been taught. I wondered if I could even remember what to do.

  Snap...snap...snap.

  I could see the figure now. Whoever it was trudged up the incline, wending through trees in a careful, if not silent, way.

  I went into the first offensive stance that Rath had taught me, and I readied my magic.

  And waited.

  Chapter 17

  “Sometimes, in life, you’re just screwed.”

  ~Advice to Young Necromancers, Eudora Helmnot

  Clarissa Jacobs emerged.

  She looked terrible. Her hair was pull
ed back into a ponytail, and she wore dark clothing that was torn in several places. Her neck was scratched up, and her knuckles were bloody.

  Well, well, well. What was Clarissa doing out in the woods after curfew?

  She saw me standing there, staring at her, and she paused at the edge of the road. “What the hell are you doing out here?”

  “I’ll answer that question if you do,” I said.

  She eyed me. Her mouth looked swollen, and I saw twigs in her hair. “What I’m doing is none of your damned business.”

  “Well, then, ditto.”

  “Whatever.” She walked forward and stumbled. She paused, taking a deep breath, and then moved again. She grimaced. That’s when I realized she’d been walking slowly because something was wrong with her left leg.

  She limped some more and then paused, drawing in another shuddering breath.

  I sighed. Then I crossed to the middle of the road. “I’ll help you.”

  “No, thanks.”

  “Okay, then I’ll call Ms. Chiles. Then we can both explain what we’re doing out of school.” I smiled. “I have permission.” I took refuge in the truth. “I went on a field trip with my independent studies instructor.”

  She looked at me, probably trying to see if I was bluffing. “Yeah, then why aren’t you at the front door ringing the bell to get in?”

  “Because I’m very polite and don’t want to disturb anyone.”

  She snorted in disbelief. Then she offered a shrug. “Fine. But don’t think this makes us friends.”

  “Uh, no,” I said. “That’s never gonna happen.”

  She nodded, and with our mutual hatred established, she slipped an arm around my shoulders. I grabbed her waist, and with her leaning on me, we made our way to the locked door.

  “I know,” I said. “I can call Henry.”

  “Your ghoul?” she asked. “Don’t be an idiot. Ghouls are bound by the school’s code of conduct. They can’t lie if asked a direct question by any school administrator.”

  “Can they lie at all?”

  “Not really.” She reached into her right pocket and pulled out a big black key with a skull and crossbones at the top. It looked too big to fit into the lock, but when she pushed it into the keyhole, it went in perfectly.