by Liz Long
He referred to the lost souls. My brow furrowed. “Help them cross over?”
“No,” Tully said, looking around the dismal stone room, “outside this particular space.”
I gave him an astonished look. “You can do that?”
“No, but he can,” Tully said, motioning to the angel in the room.
Rhys gave him a little bow. “It is the least I can do for them.”
Tully and Rhys went to the souls; Tully whispered reassuring words in his Irish lilt. A few of them nodded, their expressions even a little relieved. I guess if I were a roaming soul, out there would be better than in here anytime.
Rhys grasped their hands; when he pulled away, a golden handprint remained on their forearms. My mouth fell open, having only heard of that magic. His power gave them the ability to walk over the earth without boundaries. Talk about old magic. Rhys had been holding out on us.
When he and Tully took a step away from the group, the souls murmured their thanks. Several exchanged glances; perhaps they’d remain together, at least for a while until they could get their bearings. Maybe in this situation it was better that way. A few popped out of sight, the others catching on and following out. Within seconds, the souls now destined to remain on earth had all left the tunnels.
The others looked to us, eager to be on their way. I stepped up next to Tully and Tessa joined us.
“Wait,” Rhys said, holding up a vial in his hand, “I made something.”
“You do spells now?” Tessa asked, annoyed.
“Not that I doubted you, love,” he said, throwing an apologetic look her way, “but this contains a couple ingredients only an angel has on hand.”
“Like feathers?” I asked.
Rhys winked at me. “Can’t buy those in your local magic shop.”
“What does it do?” Tessa asked, eyeing the small glass piece.
“Amps up the soul-releasing power,” he said. “Gets all the souls out at once instead of one at a time.”
I brightened. “That prophecy was spot on with the helpful angel thing. Tully, take my hand. They aren’t our souls, so we may need the extra boost.”
He took my proffered hand. He looked like he wanted to say something, but turned his attention back to the waiting souls. Rhys allowed Tessa the honors, handing her the potion.
Tessa threw the vial onto the ground. Tully and I held our free hands up, warm light surrounding us. The souls looked around, more curious than frightened. Their relieved expressions made me smile. With so many of them leaving at once, a blinding light emitted from the center of the group. As if to say goodbye, Tully’s hand tightened a fraction around mine. I realized I hadn’t gotten a proper goodbye with him.
I stared into the bright white light, determined not to look away. I braced myself to leave this world behind, fear tight in my chest. Within seconds, the light faded, leaving the four of us alone in the stone room. My ears strained to hear noise, but only silence replied. I couldn’t help but look around in confusion. Was that supposed to happen?
The souls had ascended, but I was still here. Had we gotten the prophecy wrong? I glanced at Tessa and Tully, a little baffled. Even Rhys looked surprised. My arms went up in confusion. They both shrugged.
“What gives?”
“Maybe the Oracle got the prophecy wrong,” Tessa said.
“Nonsense,” Tully said, eyes cutting to her in annoyance. “Perhaps Grace is meant for another prophecy.”
A bark of laughter escaped me. “That one was pretty specific. Hard to think it applies to some other major event.”
I went quiet again when Tully said nothing. His serious expression had me on edge. My stomach flipped when I thought about the decision to stay on Earth to reap; could I truly stay here forever? I wasn’t ready to make this decision. Maybe that was why a shiny bright light hadn’t appeared. I doubted I’d have much longer to think the idea over before it expired.
Movement stirred around us; the Reapers were waking up. All five of them opened their eyes and sat up, taking in their surroundings. They stood and upon seeing Tully, guilt came over them.
“It is all right,” he reassured them. “We know the danger you were put in, at the threat that loomed over your families. Alistair cannot hurt them. They are safe now.”
Relieved, they all took turns thanking us. With their souls cared for, they bid farewell; surely there were plenty of souls that needed their help. They stepped out of their entrapment, leaving through the tunnel where we’d come in. The moment they stepped through the doorway, they faded out of sight, back to their fate of helping souls cross over to their destinies.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Maybe leaving without talking to Allison had been the right decision. Saying goodbye to my sister proved harder than I thought. Tully had insisted we leave immediately, but I’d managed to stave him off for at least a farewell with Allison. It was only fair, I reasoned with him, to get a few minutes with her considering what we’d just done for the elders and fate itself.
Rhys left to go speak with the Oracle, while Tully, Tessa, and I popped back up to campus. Allison sat outside her dorm at the picnic tables, clearly waiting for us to return. Relief surged through me. She might’ve been dirty and disheveled, but at least she was alive.
“Keep it short,” Tully mumbled to me.
I tossed a glare over my shoulder at him. “Five minutes.”
“Five minutes,” he agreed. “Tessa and I will wait at this table for you.”
He pointed to a picnic table some feet away from where Allison sat. She couldn’t see us, but she could see Tessa, who gave her a kind smile. Allison cast a nervous look around, clearly hoping I’d appear soon. My witchy friend had a seat and Tully wandered off to join her. I hesitated, knowing once I appeared to Ally, I’d need to stay strong. This was proving harder than not getting to say goodbye at all the first time around.
I appeared behind her, clearing my throat so as not to give her a heart attack. She whirled around, stumbling to her feet as I got closer. When I was within reach, she flung her arms around me and buried her face in my hair.
“You’re okay,” she said. Her body shook and I regretted letting her get roped into this mess. Seeing Moloch would definitely give her nightmares for life.
Not wanting to waste any time, we had a seat side by side at the aluminum table.
“I’m sorry,” I said, the words spilling from my lips. “I’m so sorry for what you had to endure.”
“Don’t be,” she said. “It means that you’re okay. I finally have closure, you know?”
She smiled and I tugged on her ponytail. “You gonna get back together with Brady?”
Allison’s nose wrinkled. “He yanked me down there knowing I might get eaten by a demon.”
I shrugged. “Way I see it, he took you down there so that I would come down and save the day. He protected you more than you know.”
“Maybe. I’m not saying I’ll jump back into anything, but I guess I won’t punch him in the face if he shows up at my doorstep.”
I laughed, glad to see Allison still had her spirit. “For what it’s worth, he saved my life, er, soul, too. He killed Moloch and he swears he’s done with the witchcraft. Do whatever you want, but I can say for sure that he loves you.”
Allison hummed under her breath; she said nothing, but I didn’t miss the look in her eyes at my words. I left it at that, not wanting to persuade her either way. It was her life now and if she chose to give Brady another chance, I merely hoped he would make her happy. And not feed her to any lizard monsters.
“Weird question, but does Matt know anything about this stuff?” Allison asked me.
Pushing back the sadness at the mention of Matt, I shook my head. “He’s innocent in all of this, so please don’t let him know about it.”
“No problem. I guess there won’t be any more double dates,” she said.
“Guess not,” I said, looking down at my lap. My lips pressed together and she gave me a
knowing smile.
“You really liked him, didn’t you?”
I couldn’t lie to my own sister. “Yeah, I did. He’s a great guy.”
“For what it’s worth, I know the circumstances weren’t for fun, but I’m glad you got to experience that.”
The quiet way she said it made me smile; she still knew me better than anyone. I wrapped her in a hug and kissed her temple.
“Thank you,” she said, putting her head on my shoulder. “You saved my life, my soul.”
“You’re meant to do amazing things,” I said with a smile. “Be sure to go out and do them. Yes, this was a bit traumatizing, but don’t let it deter you from your goals.”
She nodded, her chin quivering. I pressed my forehead against hers, the way we used to as children. I breathed in her shampoo, the strawberry scent making me long for humanity. For a life with her.
“Is this really how it has to be?” Ally asked, her soft voice making me wish for everything to be different. She sounded so young, despite technically being older than me now.
“I’m afraid so,” I said, taking her hand in mine. She didn’t flinch, instead gripping on as though it would keep me in her sight. “I’m meant to help other souls move on and you…well, you’re meant for great things.”
“It would be easier for me to do them if you were here with me.”
I chuckled. “Nice try, but it doesn’t work that way. You’re meant to do it on your own, Ally. Whether it’s the family business or something else you want to try, it’s up to you.”
She looked down at our clasped hands. “Do you think…”
When she trailed off, I squeezed her hand. “Do I think what?”
“When I do eventually die, could you be the one to reap my soul?”
I hesitated, unsure of how to answer the question. I decided to be honest. “I don’t know. It’s pretty unusual for me to even be talking to you right now. Kind of forbidden, actually.”
“You’ll get in trouble for saving me, all those other souls?” she asked, surprised.
“Not in this case,” Tully answered for me, walking up behind us.
Allison squeaked in surprise, but relaxed at Tully’s Irish cadence. She even offered him a small smile, her grip relaxing on my hand. Not for the first time, I appreciated his calm demeanor. He greeted us with a nod and continued.
“Seeing how there were special circumstances and all, I believe they will be willing to overlook Grace’s, er, rule-breaking.”
“They?” Ally whispered.
“Don’t ask,” I whispered back. She nodded and sat back, clearly happy to remain ignorant.
Tully cleared his throat. “I can’t answer if she’ll be able to help you cross over - that usually depends on your location and Grace is not allowed to keep watch over you.”
“Even after everything that’s happened?” I blurted out.
Tully spared me a sad smile. “I’m afraid so. We must go back to abiding the rules as they once were.”
I slumped back in defeat. I hadn’t really expected anything to change, but it was still a little depressing to hear that things had to go back exactly as they were. Sure, I’d broken the rules, but Tully, Tessa, and I had saved all those Reapers and souls, not to mention heaven and Earth. I thought that earned me a little slack.
Tully didn’t miss my unhappy state. “We are chaos without our rules, child.”
“It’s the rules that got us all into that problem in the first place,” I tried, but Tully shook his head, expecting that argument.
“You know as well as I do that demons will always try to break the rules. As long as we, and the rest of our world, uphold them, the demons won’t win.”
“Let’s hope,” Allison said.
“In any case,” Tully said, his bright blue eyes on me, “the rules are in place for your own good. You think you will be ready, but you should never have to watch your family die.”
My heavy heart knew he was right; the sad look on his face said everything I needed to know. It had to have been difficult knowing his wife and children’s souls moved on without him. I knew he didn’t want that for me.
I nodded to show him I understood. I got up, not letting go of Allison’s hand, and she stood up next to me. I gave her a fierce hug, trying to put every ounce of love I had for her into it.
“I hope you know how much I love you,” I whispered in her ear.
She nodded into my shoulder. “You kinda came back from the dead to protect me, so yeah, I’ve got a pretty good idea.”
Ally pulled back slightly to look at me, the corners of her mouth in a tiny smile that I returned.
“Thank god for your sense of humor.” I hugged her tight one last time and stepped away. “Take care of yourself, Ally. Do good things.”
“You too,” she said as though to remind me. “Take care of all those souls.”
We pulled our hands apart and she stood tall, no longer teary-eyed. Pride swept through me, at the woman she’d become, at all the things in store for her future. She’d be okay without me, maybe even more now that she knew the truth.
Tully and I both raised our hands in farewell; Allison returned it and I gave my little sister one last look. Then my mentor and I teleported out of sight, back to Tessa’s apartment. Tessa followed in after us a moment later.
“Grace, you okay?” she asked.
I nodded, shooting her a grateful look. “I am and so is Allison, which is the most important thing. Thanks for helping keep her alive and intact.”
“Things will be better for her, now that she got to say goodbye,” she said.
“She’s a special young woman, your sister,” Tully surmised. “I’m most impressed with her attitude despite knowing how wretched this world can be.”
“Allison could change that world,” I said to him.
“Possibly,” Tully agreed, “but she wouldn’t be able to do it if you hadn’t helped save it first. I’m proud of you, Grace.”
I couldn’t help but puff up a little, having never heard those words from him. I owed my maker everything. I took a deep breath.
“Tully…I want you to fulfill the prophecy.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
My mentor gaped at me, his lips parting in shock. I bit back a smile at his wide eyed expression, instead waiting for his answer.
“Child, you cannot do that…”
I shrugged. “Why not? The prophecy speaks of a Made Reaper. Alistair was an Original, so he could technically be the hand of Death or whatever.”
“But the prophecy was for you—”
“I don’t think so,” I said. “You were the one to help the spirits leave that underground space, and let the souls move on with Rhys’s assistance. ‘The help of an angel,’ remember? I think the prophecy always applied to you.”
Tully tried to find his argument. “But the Oracle’s prophecy came at your touch—”
“Yeah, and I got my hands on that scythe long enough to keep him down.”
“Grace has a point,” Tessa said. “You’re not exactly the touchy feely type, so maybe her touch was a roundabout way of describing you. You two are connected, after all.”
“Exactly.” I nodded fervently, glad she saw my point. “Our bond, a part of your soul with me, however you want to look at it…honest, Tully, I believe you’re the Made in the fancy prophecy.”
“Then it is even worse I take paradise away from you.” Tully’s blue eyes cut to the ground, his voice quiet and ashamed. “I do not believe I am meant for such a thing.”
“Well I do, and this is my gift to you. Chosen One or not, I want to stay here and make a difference, help keep fate on track. It’s time you moved on to be with your family.”
“I cannot take it away from you, I will not change destiny in that fashion…” I could feel Tully’s excuses building up in his chest, ready to pour out for whatever reason I gave him. It didn’t matter. My heart felt full again, the way it used to when I was human.
“You called me
a fluke,” I said to him in a gentle voice. “I think you made me a Reaper so that I could help you save those souls and ascend. It was my purpose, maybe even in life. I’m meant to be a Reaper.”
It was only when I said those words that I finally realized it. My purpose was to help others; I’d always known it. Now I could do it for eternity. I was okay with that. Maybe I was still scared, but it was the right thing to do. Regardless of whether I wanted to cross over, facts were facts: Tully had done his time and he had family waiting for him on the other side.
“This isn’t an easy way to get rid of me so you can gallivant off doing whatever you like, is it?” Tully gave me a warning look. I avoided looking at Tessa to prevent laughing while he continued. “This does not mean you can go visit Allison anytime you like—”
“Relax, Tully,” I said with a chuckle. “I’m done rule-breaking. For a while anyway.”
He huffed at my teasing, but managed to look past it. Instead he clasped his hands in front of him and I knew he’d accepted my offer. He gave me a fond look.
“Tully,” I began, not sure how to even start my thanks.
“Child,” he said at the same time. We shared a small smile, each waiting for the other to speak.
I stepped in and wrapped my arms around him. He froze beneath my touch, the first truly intimate contact we’d ever had - probably that he’d had since his death. After a moment, he returned the hug, his strong arms folding me into his chest. We stood there like that for at least a full minute, his fatherly contact making me realize what I’d be losing when he left. My mentor, my savior…my friend. I just hadn’t seen it until now.
Tully’s arms tightened around me and I knew we were on the same page without having to say a word. Our connection was solidified the night he saved me. I hoped I’d be okay once he was no longer with me.
He stepped back, the tiniest smile still on his face. The trust in his open expression warmed me; he believed in me and in that knowledge, I would be okay.
“So how does this work?” I said, lightening the moment.
Tessa’s hand popped up. “Rhys texted me; he’s on his way back, says he has another spell.”