Reaper Academy: A Dark Forbidden Romance

by Allison West

  The girl's hand shuddered with her tears, and as she attempted to hand the weapon over to Leila, it sliced the skin of Leila's hand between her thumb and finger.

  Leila grimaced, inwardly cursing as she felt a sharp sting and her blood dripped onto the stone beneath them. The blood on the stone unlocked the walls surrounding the den, and they slowly lowered. The temperature increased as a surge of warmth spread toward them. Light from a fire swallowed the room, making it blindingly bright until her eyes adjusted.

  "What's happening?" the young girl asked.

  Leila had no idea and didn't have it in her to lie to the child. "I think we're free to walk the Underworld." Leila didn't sound confident in her answer and couldn't quite fathom why her own blood had unlocked the den they'd been trapped inside. What other creatures or demons roamed the realm of death? Was this another trick? She took the child's hand and wandered out into the brightly lit pit, looking for answers. How would she ever find her way home?

  Chapter 47

  The land between the nations of Morro and Palick was heavily guarded. Not surprising, since war had recently broken out. Wynter kept himself out of political affairs, but he guessed the battles began when Mara became queen, and the neighboring communities wanted her as their bride. When the arranged marriage had fallen through, he'd heard rumors of parties to encourage the new queen to pick an alliance and a husband.

  He slowed through the forest, hearing shouts and military orders.

  "Our men need food. Take whatever you must. Kill anyone who stands in our way!"

  Wynter didn't know who spoke, likely a commander with one of the armies. He knew there'd been a food shortage since the Second Wave. The Great Plague had devastated many families, but when it returned stronger, it wiped out entire villages, leaving no one behind to farm the abandoned land.

  Getting closer to the Oracle's residence, Wynter climbed off the horse, attempting to hide as best he could.

  He skirted the fighting to avoid being seen, leading the horse through the trail. Branches hung low, forcing Wynter to maneuver through the forest as quickly and quietly as possible.

  "Stop him!" The owner of the same voice Wynter had heard a moment earlier must have spotted him.

  Wynter took off on foot, only to find himself surrounded by military men from Clove. He recognized the emblem on their jackets, the yellow and red insignia with a sword and crown on a shield. What were they doing out here? This wasn't their land.

  "Detain him!"

  Two men reached for Wynter's arms, forcing his hands behind his back and pushing him down onto his knees.

  "Let me go. I have no quarrel with you or your country," Wynter said. Was it not obvious that he wasn't a member of any army? He didn't dress the part, had no weapon, and was traveling alone.

  "You're a spy," one of the men who had forced Wynter to the ground said. "Who sent you?"

  "No one." Wynter would not speak of the Oracle.

  The man who must have been the commander stepped forward, staring down at Wynter, a scar across his cheek. "Then why are you in the forest, all alone, hanging around my men?" He reached for his sword buried in its sheath. "If he doesn't talk, then we kill him."

  Wynter's thoughts careened. Immortal or not, having your head chopped off with a sword didn't seem pleasant. If he didn't die in front of their eyes, who knew what worse atrocities they would consider to make sure he was dead. "I swear to you; I am not a spy." Wynter forced his arms free from the men and stood, facing down a blade at his throat.

  "Enough with the lies!" the commanding officer said, holding the sword up.

  "You won't kill me." Wynter stared the man down. "You have a peace treaty with Queen Mara. My death would be considered an act of war." Wynter's right hand reached out toward the man who had pushed him to the ground. The soldier's blade flew out of its sheath, and the handle landed in Wynter's grasp. He'd seen Juliana flip the pages of a book without touching it. He put all his energy and thoughts into retrieving the other man's sword. The moment he felt the handle fly into his palm, he forcefully pushed the commander's blade away. The shock caused the man to drop his sword to the ground.

  The commander took a step back, seemingly startled.

  "You will let me live and leave me alone." Wynter didn't know whether the powers of dark angels included suggestion as well, but the commander and his army didn't put up an additional fight.

  "Next time, you won't be so lucky," the commander promised.

  Wynter hoped there wouldn't need to be a next time. He kept one sword, at least for now, and walked alongside his horse deeper into the forest, away from the men he'd just encountered.

  There were two paths, each equally worn. The cave should have been at the center of the path, but instead, a fork left him one of two directions. He closed his eyes, willing whatever undead entities that existed and made the rules help him choose the correct lane, to save Leila's life.

  He felt warmth from the path on the right. Whether he had grown delirious or had truly felt something, he didn't care. Wynter stepped over broken branches and through the thicket of dead trees. The forest had gone from alive but dormant in winter to evidently dead. This must be the place. Undead entities always loved creepy scenes. Maybe next time, they'd hang out in a graveyard for some fun.

  Wynter could feel his body being tugged off the beaten path. He secured the reins of the horse as he spotted a cave just over the hill. He hoped he'd make it out alive. The frigid air made him shudder and pull his coat tighter. Seeing as how he was alone, he left the sword; not having a sheath and carrying the blade was too much work on the slope. Not too much farther and he'd be there. He trekked, realizing the incline was steeper than he'd first thought, when he lost his balance and his breath, falling on his back the air knocked out of his lungs. Had something stopped him from climbing? He had to keep going. Wynter stood up, dusting off dirt and decayed leaves. He gripped the tree in front of him and pushed onward, finding his footing slow but not impossible. Something had been physically holding him back, keeping him out. The slower methodical movement let him breach whatever stood in his way.

  Out of nowhere, the small cave he'd seen a good several feet away swallowed him. He stood at the foot of the cave. It seemed as though it stretched on forever. Perhaps it had been an optical illusion in the same way he'd thought the cave had been much farther than it had been in the forest. Wynter guessed it had been designed to keep the living out.

  "Come in. Don't be shy," an elderly woman's voice echoed from inside the cave.

  Wynter stood at the entrance, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. He waited a moment before stepping into the wide-mouthed cave. "I'm looking for the Oracle," Wynter said. Though why else would a woman be living in a cave between two countries?

  "Well, dearie, you've come to the right place."

  He noticed a faint light in the back of the cave glowing blue and turquoise. It shimmered like a waterfall, causing him to stare at it.

  He directed his eyes back toward the old woman, startled when she stood just a foot away from him. He could smell her breath, and he turned his head slightly, trying to breathe in a waft of fresh air. Digging his hand into his pocket, he retrieved the blue pouch that Juliana had given him.

  "I recognize you," Wynter said and turned his head back toward the old woman. "You were in Seora. The woman who sold me that dagger at the market."

  "Good thing for you I did, or you'd be dead right now," she said.

  "Are you… the Oracle?" It took him a moment to get the words out, still trying to wrap his head around the situation. She'd saved his life, on purpose. Although dark angels couldn't die, right? Perhaps she'd saved him from Leila's fate, being kidnapped to the Underworld.

  "I'm many things, Wynter." She acknowledged him by name. "The Oracle is just one name and responsibility I keep. As you are not only a dark angel."

  "I need your help. I messed up my soul save that first day we met." Wynter glanced toward the calming presence in the
back of the cave. Tranquil and serene, inwardly, his mind and body felt pulled to it.

  The Oracle nodded. "I know. It's why I gave you the enchanted dagger and not just any old weapon. I knew what you would come up against," she said, snatching the pouch from his hands greedily.

  "You knew I'd meet a trucidator? A demon? Why didn't you warn me?"

  "You're mistaken, Wynter. A trucidator is not a demon. It's a creature of the undead world, yes. Does it have demon-like properties? Certainly, but one must categorize it where it belongs. There are demons in the Underworld, Wynter, but a trucidator is tame compared to the beasts who hide in the shadows trying to steal passage to our realm." The Oracle walked toward the glow. She turned around, motioning for Wynter to follow her.

  "That's good to know Leila has nothing to worry about." Why had the Oracle begun to walk away from him? Groaning under his breath, he followed her toward the back of the cave, realizing it wasn't a small cave but a very large cavern with additional archways branching to the sides. A small river flowed through the space, and they each stepped over it easily as she approached the glow.

  Whatever glowed definitely wasn't water. Wynter wanted to reach out and touch the translucent fluid but held his hands to the side. Who knew what danger it could pose to himself or anyone else? Besides, he had come here to find a way to rescue Leila. He would not give up.

  "It's beautiful, isn't it?" the Oracle asked, grabbing a tiny vial from her pocket. She twisted the lid of the vial and filled the container to the brim. Closing it, she screwed the lid on tight and handed it to Wynter.

  He opened his palm, taking the glass tube and lifting it closer for examination. It felt warm, alive. Between his thumb and his finger, he could swear he felt a pulse. "It's a living entity, isn't it?"

  "Are we, the undead, not living entities as well? With beating hearts and blood pumping through our bodies, aren't we all alive?" the Oracle asked. "I know you seek a future reaper in order to save your best friend. This is not it, but there is another way. Drink half the liquid before traveling to the Underworld. It shall protect you from the royal council. They will not know of your interference."

  "Why are you helping me?"

  "You must trust me when I tell you her trip to the Underworld holds great meaning. Even if you can't see it yet." The woman walked into the blue and turquoise glow. A mist sprayed out at Wynter as she vanished before his eyes.

  "Oracle!" He felt no closer to finding Leila than when he'd arrived. The cavern felt darker than it'd been when he first entered, and no wonder, the mysterious glow had vanished, all but the tiny remains he held in his palm. He used it to light the way out of the cavern and back to the forest.

  Chapter 48

  Leila held the young dark angel's hand tight. "What's your name?" Leila asked as they walked together farther into the depths of the Underworld.

  "Luna," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked petrified and for good reason. They were stuck.

  "How did you end up here?" Had the trucidator kidnapped Luna for the same reason Leila had been taken?

  "I don't know." Luna sniffled and glanced up at Leila with wide brown eyes and thick, dark lashes. She truly looked like an angel with her white wings and matching cotton gown. "I woke up in this place. I want to go home."

  "Where is your home?"

  "In Seora, at the refuge." Luna tilted her head slightly to the side, staring at Leila. "You're a grim reaper. Aren't you?"

  Was it that obvious to other undead entities? Children were known for their honesty and bluntness. "How can you tell?"

  "You have a halo of black," Luna said and smiled, not seeming surprised by it.

  "You've seen it before?" Leila wandered with Luna deeper into the Underworld's tunnels. Heat licked the brown and red stones, causing beads of sweat to dribble down her forehead.

  "No," Luna said, sounding completely calm by the news. "I know what you are because my parents taught me about your kind. That I shouldn't fear you. Just like you shouldn't fear me."

  Leila smiled. There seemed to be absolutely nothing fearful about Luna. "What about trucidators?" Leila asked. "Did your parents tell you about their kind?"

  Luna's eyes widened, and she fervently shook her head no. "They told me never to ask them about the creatures of the Underworld. That I'd learn about them when I was ready, and no sooner."

  Lava flowed through channels along the floor of the Underworld. A small, narrow path led Leila and the young girl away from Erebus' den. Would there be someplace where they could gather help? Certainly, not all of the Underworld was filled with evil creatures who tormented living beings. Some good souls had to exist here as well. After all, it was the gateway to the afterlife. Surely, she had fallen in with the tarnished souls, a trucidator.

  "How old are you?" Leila asked, trying her best to calm the child. "You look to be about ten."

  Luna giggled. "I'm five!" she said, holding up her free hand to show all five of her fingers, looking proud.

  "Yes, you are." Leila led Luna further through the darkened Underworld. "How long have you been down here?" Maybe there'd be some tiny bit of information Leila could use to help them escape.

  "I don't know. I miss my family." Luna jumped when a loud growl rumbled just ahead of both girls. Luna's hand tightened around Leila's.

  "What do we have here?" Thick footsteps jolted the ground beneath their feet like an earthquake.

  Leila didn't want to glance up, but fleeing seemed unlikely. Where would she go? She barely knew where she was and couldn't find her way back to the cubiculum. Could it be possible to make friends with a demon? There had to be some creature down in the Underworld who didn't like the trucidator who held them captive. They were all neighbors, right?

  Cautiously, she raised her head, and Luna did the same. Leila's eyes narrowed in disgust as she stared down at a giant, drooling one-eyed beast. Its skin was a strange translucent brown with golden veins.

  "Can I help you?" Leila stared at the creature, refusing to show fear. Perhaps it thought she and the child belonged in the Underworld. Didn't other humans and undead entities roam the Underworld when they expired?

  "Perhaps," the creature said, and a wide grin spread across his sharp-fanged face.

  Leila felt her hand grow numb from Luna squeezing it so tight. She nudged Luna behind her, hoping that shielding the girl would ease Luna's fears, and it also allowed Leila's hand to regain circulation. "We were just on our way," Leila said, trying to excuse them and bypass the creature. The path had been difficult enough for one to walk, let alone pass by another.

  "Where could you possibly be going that you don't have the time for me?" The creature pointed at himself proudly. His long lizard-like tongue whipped out, licking his sharp fangs. "Don't look so frightened. You're already dead." He stared at Leila and then shifted lower and to the side, trying to see the young child. "I smell fresh meat."

  Without thinking, Leila reached out and slapped the beast across the face, hard.

  Its eyes widened, likely appalled. "How dare you defy me!" The scream it blasted the Underworld with, forced the lava to become rough, like waves in the ocean. The creature's breath was hot, and steam began filling up the space between them.

  "Do you think anyone knows or cares who you are?" Leila asked. So much for making friends with the creatures of the Underworld. Grateful for picking up a few pounds and growing taller in her recent body, she lifted Luna without thinking twice. "Hold on tight!"

  Luna gripped her arms around Leila's neck and wrapped her legs around her waist. The young child buried her face in Leila's neck, likely not wanting to see what would happen as they attempted to pass the beast.

  "Stand aside, or risk being burned alive by lava." Leila nodded toward the river of fire behind the creature. "I hear it's not too pleasant."

  "Do you really think I fear lava?" The creature jumped into the riverbed of molten lava, and Leila didn't wait around to hear what the beast said in response. She ran with
Luna along the path and never looked back. Had the beast burned alive? She never heard screams, only laughter. Could it have caused the volcanic eruption in Stile? All she had were more questions.

  The river of lava turned toward the right, and a grassy hill could be seen to the left. "Which way, Luna?" Leaving the decision up to a five-year-old seemed ridiculous, but this girl would be a dark angel one day. Couldn't she see the future and determine the right way to go?

  "That way looks pretty." Luna pointed toward the grass and vegetation. It certainly looked tranquil, like a little piece of Heaven in the Underworld. Certainly, not all souls in the Underworld were condemned and evil. She'd met plenty of worthy souls. Where had they departed to? Did the Underworld house them as well? Or was there somewhere else, another realm she didn't know about?

  "Then that's the way we shall go." Leila gently put Luna down on the grass, and they walked further into the countryside. It reminded her strangely of home.

  Luna skipped ahead, twirling and laughing, seeming carefree. At least Luna's fears had been dispelled in this part of the Underworld.

  Atop the hill, a woman stretched out on the grass beneath an oak tree. Leila could have sworn it felt like the sun beat down on her face and the wind blew. It couldn't be possible, though. She craned her neck up, seeing the illusion of a sky. She knew better than to believe her eyes. They hadn't ventured home, not yet.

  "Hi!" Luna ran to the top of the hill and plopped down next to the woman with long, blonde hair.

  "Well, hello to you too." The woman smiled and closed her book, paying attention to the child. "What's your name?"

  "I'm Luna," she said and glanced back at Leila as she joined the two on the hill.

  Leila looked up at the tree blocking the warmth of what she wanted to believe was the sun. Her fingers reached out, touching the trunk of the tree. It even felt real.