Death's Curses

by Becca Fox

  It was this damned curse! It made me powerless! If only Death was brave enough to break the curses despite what may become of her in the process. Angela said I was valuable to Death, but no amount of guilt-tripping, begging, or appealing to her better nature had persuaded her to try to free us. So just how valuable was I really?

  The realization came slowly. Just like during Anthony’s lecture about the matters of Congress, snippets of recent conversations wove themselves together in my mind, creating an epiphany tapestry.

  Because, of course, that’s what I had to do. It was the only way to end our curses, solve this issue between the immortals for good, and save Uncle Vic. The only way to free Anthony of his duty to our family so he could finally win back his real family.

  “I could be brave enough,” I told Uncle Vic. I needed to hear the words, feel the strength in them. “If I had the power, burdens and all, I could be brave enough to do what has never been done before, whatever the consequences…”

  After the truth sank in, I succumbed to fear and doubt and grief. I cried and held my uncle’s hand for a long time. When Anthony returned, I gave him a bear hug.

  “Are you all right?” he asked. “Is Charlie—?”

  “Everything’s fine.” I wiped my face and shut the door on my emotions. For his sake. “Sorry. I was just thinking about Uncle Vic and Vanessa, and then I started thinking about you and Georgina, and it just made me really, really sad.”

  My doctor slumped as if burdened by his own sadness, but he managed a smile. “It’s going to be okay, Jazz. I was naive to think one conversation would change everything between me and Georgina. She listened. She admitted she would always love me, even if it didn’t make sense, even if we couldn’t be together. She’s willing to reconsider the custody terms. There’s still hope.”

  I bobbed my head in a nod, eager to believe.

  “And your uncle is going to make a full recovery. It’ll take time, but he’s strong.” Anthony nodded at Victor, oblivious in his hospital bed. “He’ll overcome whatever disability he has as a result of this tragedy and come back swinging, as is his way. Ms. Burkley isn’t going anywhere. There’s still hope for them too.”

  “You’re right,” I said with an innocent smile. “I shouldn’t have let myself get so down.”

  “It’s been an extremely taxing couple of days for you. You’re right to be exhausted and emotional.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get you home. You need to rest.”

  I turned around to face my uncle before my doctor could see the fresh tears in my eyes. “Okay.” With one last kiss on Uncle Victor’s cheek, I followed Anthony out of the room.

  ◆◆◆

  I decided to leave a note for Charlie. It wouldn’t be enough for him but leaving nothing would make things worse. So, while Anthony made me a sandwich in our kitchenette, I sat at my desk and opened my notebook to a blank page. My pen stayed poised over the paper as I tried to think of what I wanted to say.

  The only problem was he already knew I loved him, that I lived for him, that I wanted only his happiness and safety. He knew I was proud of him for asking the Smiths for help, for apologizing so spectacularly to Esmer, for accepting Vanessa. It would be redundant to say any of that now. What else did he need to know?

  Narrowing it down to that one question helped a lot. The words came so quickly; my writing hand could hardly keep up with my brain. I tore the page out when I was done, folded it, and stuck it in my pocket.

  I braided my hair, still wet from the shower, and sat at the table with Anthony. We talked about trivial things, homework and the next college courses I wanted to take and his plans for his next weekend with the boys, things that wouldn’t matter tomorrow. I ate his sandwich, thanked him for the food. When I felt that I’d put off the inevitable for as long as I could, I filled up my bucket of birdseed, slipped a small paring knife in among the grains, and told my doctor I was going to feed the birds.

  “I’m just going to finish these dishes and take off,” he replied, “unless there’s anything else you need?”

  “Anthony,” I said with a smile, “you aren’t my servant and I’m not a child. Go home. I’ll keep you posted on Charlie and Vanessa’s progress. It’ll be over soon.”

  He smiled back. “Goodnight, Jazz.”

  “Night.”

  My last view of the man who’d cared for and taught me so patiently all these years was of his profile as he washed my dinner dishes. He was the whole package. Even if Georgina didn’t take him back, I knew he’d find someone else to grow old with. I tried to let that encourage me as I closed the elevator door between us.

  ◆◆◆

  I almost changed my mind when I saw Ralph.

  He was in the break room, waiting for his mystery dinner to finish warming up in the microwave. Today he wore a canary-yellow button down with gray stripes, a sleek leather belt, and jeans that were rolled up past his ankles. His socks were white with little black mustaches all over them. I’d planned to walk past everyone, but I couldn’t help myself. I stopped to stare longingly at those beautiful freckles and imagine a world where we ended up together.

  I saw us going on our first date to some hipster coffee shop. We would sit at a table by the window so that I see the sky while he told me all about his family, friends, and hobbies. I’d ask to try on his glasses. He’d laugh at me but hand them over anyway. I saw us going to a movie, sitting in the dark theater, sharing popcorn. Maybe he’d try to put his arm around me or hold my hand.

  I’d have to tell the captain about us as the relationship got more serious. Then we’d be able to hang out at the precinct without Ralph getting into trouble. I saw us meeting regularly on the roof, sharing lunches and stories about school. I’d tell him my secret and he’d react in a very sensible way. Of course he’d declare his unshakable love for me and we’d kiss passionately. Charlie wouldn’t like it at first, but he’d come around once he saw how happy Ralph made me.

  Ralph would continue his internship here at the precinct until he got himself a paid position. I’d continue to take online classes until I found a lucrative virtual job.

  Eventually, we’d move in together. Get married. There couldn’t be kids so long as I was cursed, but it would be a good life, I decided, one full of laughter, friendship, intimacy, and love. The kind of love everyone hoped for and sought after their entire lives, but rarely found.

  I wanted that future so much.

  My sniffling must’ve been loud enough for him to hear because he twisted around. Ralph smiled that big, easy grin when he realized it was me, but of course he grew concerned when he saw how close I was to tears. “What’s wrong?”

  I practically ran to him, my free arm outstretched. He caught me without a word and held on tight. The microwave beeped behind him. Footsteps passed by the entryway of the break room. But we kept holding each other, like we’d been doing it forever, like we’d keep doing it until dust settled over our bodies.

  “This is really great, but I’m pretty sure I’ll get fired if I hold you for much longer,” Ralph said softly.

  “Sorry.” I stepped out of his embrace, swallowing the shame threatening to creep up my throat.

  He shrugged. “It’s cool.”

  “Do you like me or not?”

  Ralph made that adorable sound, a bit of laughter mixed with nervous gibberish, and then said, “Well, yeah.”

  “Do you want to go out sometime?”

  A tiny, shy smile. “Sure.”

  “Coffee or tea?”

  “Tea,” he said, melting my heart into a puddle of goo. “I know this amazing hole-in-the-wall down by Pike Place Market—”

  “All That and a Bag of Leaves?” I asked hopefully.

  Ralph jerked back in surprise. “Yeah. You know it?”

  “I’ve only been once but I loved it.”

  He was grinning real big now. “Great. I was planning on working late tonight but I can duck out in about an hour. I’ll meet you out front?”r />
  I stepped up and planted a kiss on his partially open lips. He smelled like aftershave and blueberries. I fell in love with it instantly.

  His beautiful eyes were wide behind his glasses when I pulled back.

  “It’s a date,” I whispered. Then I spun on my heel and raced out of there before I could give him any more of my heart.

  Every step up to the roof seemed more painful than the last. I stopped frequently to lean against the wall and heave, to sob, to hyperventilate, to wrestle with my fear. I had to keep reminding myself that this was the only way and it was all up to me. I thought about Uncle Victor, with his head wrapped up like a mummy’s. I thought about the Smiths and how much they’d suffered. I thought about Death and what I suspected she’d been secretly longing for all this time. I thought about Anthony and his boys.

  When I stood at the door to my glass birdhouse, my body was trembling and my heart was a lump of iron weighing me down. But I’d made it this far; I couldn’t back out now. I unlocked the doors and stepped in without bothering to close them behind me. I marched up to my bench, the one by the pond right in the middle of all the greenery. I smiled weakly up at my birds. They twittered their happy songs at me, fluttering around in their excitement.

  “This is where I say goodbye, friends.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out the note. I left it sitting on the bench where it would be easy to find. I lowered the bucket next and dredged the little knife out from the seeds.

  Pressing the sharp tip against my inner arm, my heart spasming in my chest, my mouth so dry I could hardly swallow, I said, “Goodbye, little brother.” Then I sliced deeply into my own flesh.

  October 4th, 2019

  I met the most incredible girl. Well, I met the most incredible twins in existence but the girl: Jasmine. She is a miracle. How to describe her?

  I suppose the twins are inherently linked and one can’t be explained without the other. Born on the threshold of Death, the parents begged for their lives. Death answered by allowing the boy, Charles, to see as Death takes souls to the Hereafter and by allowing Jasmine to live through the passing of those around her.

  Jasmine travels with Death on a regular basis. Her brother wouldn’t say in detail. I don’t think he trusts us quite yet. We’re too shocking for him to comprehend. He doesn’t accept as family of Death, just as they are. I must admit, if we had stumbled upon these twins just a century ago, we would have run far away. But we have spent years searching for Death and are more than ready to accept family. We’re all family, including Izz and Segil, Fadele and Nij even if they are untrustworthy. These children, however, are innocent. They didn’t choose this life, yet they bear it with grace. They even use these curses for the greater good, helping their guardian solve murders and bringing justice to those who do harm.

  Courageous. Inspiring. Admirable.

  What I would give to be like these honorable children.

  I understand they are in pain. I understand their great need to be free of this curse. I understand their fear of us. I too am afraid. I too seek to be free.

  And I think Jasmine is the key to ending all our suffering. I don’t want to scare them, but I don’t think they know just how fortunate Jasmine is to be in such close proximity to Death. If only Charles would let us build a relationship with her. I understand his position, naturally. I don’t know what to do to prove to him I want the same thing he wants: Freedom from Death’s curse.

  * * *

  Chapter 41

  Charles

  We followed the Velazquezes to a storage facility about an hour away from their suburban home. This was where they said they’d meet the Salamander. This was where it would end.

  If our team hadn’t split up into several different cars, we might’ve lost our quarry in the sea of individual storage containers sprinkled over the grid. All units stayed a healthy distance away so as not to attract attention but I was in the plumber’s van at the very end of the procession. I wasn’t taking any chances. I wouldn’t ruin this by accidentally tipping the Velazquezes off that someone with a similar curse was nearby. Vanessa didn’t know why I was being so careful; she just shrugged it away and stuck by me.

  Our snipers set up on the tops of nearby storage units. It must’ve been difficult to get clear sightlines through the maze of giant blocks, but I knew they’d find a way. Vanessa had chosen them because they were the best. It took us nearly an hour to be completely set up; I heard everyone report in through the headset.

  “How many are we looking at?” Vanessa asked.

  “Our two suspects, looks like five guards, and one more guy who came in from the back,” one of our snipers replied.

  “Audio feed live,” an officer reported next.

  “Angela? Are you ready to translate?” Vanessa asked, tapping on one of her laptops. There were three set up in here. One was a kaleidoscope of squares, showing us the live feeds of the body cams of every member of our team. The other showed us every vantage point the storage facility’s security cameras covered. And the last one was being used to listen in on the Velazquezes’ current conversation.

  “Ready,” Mrs. Smith said through the cell phone I held between me and my uncle’s partner.

  “All right, Agrawal,” Vanessa said, speaking into her headset now. “Move in with the mic amplifier.”

  The officer stationed nearest to the storage unit the Velazquezes had entered stepped closer. I recognized Mr. Velazquez’s voice when it started coming through the laptop’s speakers but the language was different than the one he’d used last night.

  “They’re speaking Cantonese,” Angela said with a note of surprise.

  We’d all assumed they’d use their ancient dialect again, which was why we’d called the Smiths in the first place.

  “Can you still translate?” Vanessa asked.

  “Um, yes. It’s been many years but...‘Have they yielded the proposition?’”

  A different man’s voice was heard next.

  “‘No. They seem certain it will not pass but are using it as their platform,’” Angela said haltingly.

  We heard Mrs. Velazquez’s voice then.

  Angela translated. “‘My love, can we take that risk?’”

  “‘They have involved the police and even Ashki and Dymeka. It’s only a matter of time before they do something irreversible. I say we deal with them now and never have to be bothered with them again.’”

  Mrs. Velazquez started talking again.

  “‘It is decided then. Salamander, you have served us well. You bring much honor to the Salamander name. We have one final task for you: bring the mayor and his wife here. This will be your greatest challenge, for they are like us. You may summon any of our force to aid you but this must be done in the shadows as always.’”

  The male voice we didn’t recognize replied and Angela murmured, “‘Yes, ma’am.’”

  “We got them,” Vanessa said with a grin. “All units move in.”

  I leaned forward to get a better view of the officers storming the storage unit. Their body cams showed them kicking the door down and tossing concussion and smoke grenades into the building. Bullets started flying. Shadows darted in all directions, behind crates and support beams. Gunfire lit up the smoky interior like poppers on the Fourth of July.

  “Ms. Burkley, please remind your team to take extra precautions when restraining Fadele and Nij. They are masters of escape,” Angela said over the noise.

  And she wasn’t wrong. I had a hard time keeping track of the immortal couple. They moved gracefully throughout the building, taking down any officers who stood in their way with strategic punches and quick swipes of hidden blades. They made their way to a window and practically threw themselves through the tiny square with acrobatic ease.

  “My God, they’re like ninjas,” I murmured.

  “They’ve had many years to perfect their techniques,” Angela said.

  “East wall window, east wall window!” Vanessa screeched into her headset. �
��You can’t let them get away!”

  The members of our team who weren’t pinned under fire took off after the Velazquezes. Through the cameras on the scopes of our snipers, I watched the immortal couple take to the rooftops and start heading toward their car.

  “Get them, get them, get them,” Vanessa chanted, staring intently at the live feed.

  Our snipers opened fire but their bullets only seemed to stall the immortal couple. The Velazquezes kept pulling each other up and darting around, making steady progress toward their getaway vehicle.

  Our team screamed in our coms, frustrated and bewildered as to why nothing seemed to be able to stop the Velazquezes.

  “Dammit!” Vanessa wrenched her headset off and yanked out her gun.

  “What are you doing?” I asked when she jumped out of her chair and made to leave the van. “What makes you think you can—?”

  “I have to do something!” she snarled, throwing the back doors open.

  I turned to the laptop. The Velazquezes seemed to have given up on their getaway car and were now heading for the main road where the surveillance van was parked. Where I was.

  I panicked. “Shit, they’re heading this way!”

  “What?” Vanessa stayed in the doorway, her gun pointed to the sky as she turned from left to right. “From which direction?”

  “O-On your right.”

  The only remaining officer in the van left his seat to crouch in front of me with his gun drawn. “Stay down and be quiet.”

  I ducked under the desk, my organs steadily climbing up my throat. I felt like I was going to throw up. Sweat poured down my back.

  “I see them,” Vanessa snarled, raising her weapon again. “SPD! Stop or we’ll shoot!”

  I felt unreasonably calm. Like a supernatural force was willing my senses to be at peace. The Velazquezes must’ve been really close to the van. It felt so wrong. I knew I should’ve been terrified.

  There was a pause where Vanessa stood poised and ready to fire. And nothing was happening. The Velazquezes couldn’t have been intimidated by her shouting. Her bullets could do no more damage than everyone else’s. So why had they stopped running? Could they sense me? Did they realize something was off? For whatever reason, they hesitated which was exactly what our team needed.