Death Times Two

by C. J. Ellisson

  “Yeah, yeah.” By his tone I can tell he knows I’m lying. “Anything else?”

  “No.” I shake my head. “I think that’s it—for now.”

  “Knock’em dead, Carron.”

  I scowl. “Funny.”

  I end the call and set my phone on the table. Suddenly I’m tired again. Maybe it’s the relief of knowing I’m going to get a big-ass bonus after this job. I’m already at three thousand dollars. Sliding down the headboard, I snuggle into the soft pillow. I hate to admit it but I hope there’s a lot more ghosts on the property, and that we find more gold. My eyelids drift closed. Just a quick nap and I’ll be ready to hit the reaping hard. Besides, it will be hours before Asa wakes up.

  I bolt upright when somebody knocks on the door. It takes a minute for me to get my bearings. I glance at the clock. It’s nearly one in the afternoon. The knock sounds again. “Coming.” The room is dark. I stumble to the door and pull it open. Asa is standing on the other side, looking delicious but still a little tired. “Hey, I must have fallen back to sleep.”

  He smiles and my heart beat quickens. I wonder if he can hear it with his heightened senses. At least I assume he has über hearing and smell. Maybe even some of that bionic vision. “Good, we’ve got a busy day.”

  I step out of the room. “How did you sleep?”

  “Like the dead.”

  “Ha.” I pull the door closed behind me. “Good one.”

  “It never gets old.”

  “I bet.” We make our way to the stairs. I’m itching to get started and rack up some more bonuses. “So where to first?”

  He places his hand against my lower back as we descend the steps. It feels nice but I school my reaction. “The ski lodge. Hopefully we’ll find Sanji there.”

  “Sounds good.”

  At the bottom of the stairs Asa leads me through the dining room to a small storage room off the kitchen not accessible to the public. We descend a spiral staircase into the basement. “We’ll use the underground tunnels because of the sun.”

  Questions pop into my mind but I don’t ask them. As curious as I am, sometimes less knowledge is better. I follow him down the steps and out another closet into what looks like some kind of massive observation room with half a dozen security monitors. “Wow, who knew all of this was below the inn.”

  “Security is very important due to the nature of our guests.” He skirts a desk. “We wouldn’t want an unsuspecting human wandering on to the property.”

  “Does that happen?” I can’t imagine anybody wandering this far out. The place is nearly inaccessible except by plane.

  “Not often, but there are a few airstrips the hunting guides use. It would take a lot to get here and it did happen this past May.”

  “They wandered on to the resort?”

  Asa’s face sets into a hard mask. “They did a lot more than just wander.”

  He leads us down a hall to a submarine-type door with an electronic keypad. He taps in a code and the door swings outward, exposing a narrow tunnel. I’m not claustrophobic but being underground with a vampire is a little daunting. Lights illuminate the hallway, so at least I’m not maneuvering in the dark. The farther in we travel I see other tunnels branching off the main vein we’re in.

  “This is amazing.” My initial panic turns to awe. “Usually the permafrost wrecks anything underground.”

  “Vivian hired engineers who specialize in Arctic construction.” He turns down another hall. “You can do that when you’ve got the funds.”

  “Must be nice,” I mumble.

  We make another turn and I freeze. “Asa.”

  He stops and looks at me. “What?”

  “Handsome Indian guy about ten yards away.” I point. “He’s…lounging against the wall.”

  Asa looks but of course can’t see him. “Vikram.”

  “Do I need to be worried about this one?”

  “I don’t think so. As vamps go he was a good one. Well, until he became addicted to Were blood.” Asa digs in his pocket and fishes out a gold piece. “Here, let’s make this quick.”

  Taking the gold, I nod. “Right, quick.” I paste on a smile and slip past Asa. He stays close to me. I assume in case he has to pucker up if this guy decides to possess me. “Hi.”

  The ghost gives a single nod but doesn’t say anything, only watches me.

  “My name is Lisa and I’m a grim reaper.” The introduction sounds stupid but I haven’t come up with anything better yet. “I’d like to help you cross.”

  A serene smile curls the corners of his mouth. “It’s nice to meet you, Lisa. I am Vikram.”

  Some of the tension eases from me. The guy doesn’t appear to be threatening. “Hi, Vikram.” I inch forward. Asa is practically pressed against my back. “Would you like me to help you?”

  “What is he saying?” Asa whispers.

  “We’re just getting to know each other.” I smile at Vikram. “He can’t see you.”

  “Obviously.” The good-looking ghost cocks his head. “I think he likes you.”

  I keep my face passive. “Really?”

  “Yes, he’s been very attentive since you arrived.” His smile spreads. “More than I’ve seen with anybody except Vivian. And of course, he doesn’t have much choice in the matter with her.”

  “He’s just helping me clear the spirits.”

  Vikram’s words make butterflies erupt in my stomach. I want to believe Asa is attracted to me but that might be more ego than reality. “So, what do you think? Can I help you cross?”

  His expression turns contemplative. After a few seconds he says, “Yes, I think I would like that.”

  My eyes widen. “You would?”

  “Yes.” He looks around. “There is nothing more for me here.” He straightens away from the wall. “I am ready for the next big adventure.”

  “Great.” I walk toward him, seriously praying he isn’t drawing me in only to try and possess me. To be on the safe side I reach behind me. Instantly Asa takes my hand. The connection with him grounds me. “I’ll call my porter and you’ll be on your way.” The ghost nods. “Hal.”

  The pink light appears, elongating and stretching. When the door slides open it takes all my will power not to laugh. Hal is wearing a pink floral tunic, lime green satin harem pants, and gold slippers that curl up at the toes.

  “You’re looking very… colorful today, Hal.” I glance at Vikram, who’s eyes are as round as the gold coin I’m holding. “This is Vikram and he’d like to cross.”

  Asa clears his throat and I glance at him. My gaze narrows. “Can you see Hal?”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  I don’t know why. Maybe it’s when he’s touching me. Maybe it’s because he’s pretty close to being dead himself or maybe it’s just a vampire gift. “Takes some getting used to, eh?”

  “That’s an understatement.”

  “I assume you have payment, Lady Reaper?” Hal says.

  Well, that’s a new name. I’m sure it won’t be the last. I toss the coin and he catches it with one hand. “Very nice.” He pockets the payment and turns to Vikram. “Your transport awaits, sir. Can I interest you in a turn around the fourth circle of Hell?”

  The ghost scowls. “Thank you for the kind offer, but no.”

  Hal strokes his black goatee, sizing up Vikram. “Perhaps a quick stop in Shangri-La?”

  “That’s not a real place,” I say. If it is I want to go. Hal’s tendency had always swung toward the circles of Hell. It hadn’t occurred to me there were other places to visit. “Is it?”

  He peers at me over the rim of his purple-tinted glasses. “You will not know until it’s your turn to take a ride.”

  I harrumph but don’t pursue the subject. No way am I getting in that elevator just so I can see one of the most amazing places of myth.

  “That I would like very much,” Vikram says. Without my assistance, he enters the elevator. “Thank you, Lisa Carron. This is a very good thing you’re doing.”

&n
bsp; Pride ripples through me. “You’re welcome, Vikram. Have a happy journey.”

  With that the door slides shut and the light compresses. I blow out a breath. “That was easy,” I say.

  Asa releases my hand and I instantly miss his touch. “I wish they were all like that.”

  “Me too, but let’s not get our hopes up.”

  “Yeah, we still have Emiko to reap.” He veers off down another tunnel. “She’s a nasty piece of work.”

  “Great.” I follow him, completely lost now. I couldn’t find my way out of these tunnels if my life depended on it. Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that. “Can’t wait. Maybe we could save her for last.”

  “We probably won’t have any choice. She was cunning when alive. I imagine she’s just as wily dead.”

  I like how Asa says things like they are, not candy-coating. At the same time I want to bash him in the head until he’s unconscious. These reaps are bad enough without prior knowledge of a lunatic ghost. I refocus on the thousand dollars I just made by reaping Vikram. In all honesty I feel guilty taking that bonus. He was as pleasant as spirits come and practically did my job for me. Still, I’m not telling Constantine that.

  As we pass a room on the right I slow. “What’s this?”

  Asa backs up, peers in and smiles. “That’s where Bunny and her kids stayed.” He glances at me. “She’s human but her husband, Paul, was turned during Ivan’s reign of terror on the resort. He’s down in Argentina right now with the rest of the seethe—that’s what we call a group of vampires led by a master. We had to keep Paul’s family down here when the hunters went after the visiting werewolves.” He shakes his head casually like he’s relaying the neighbor’s trashcan was turned over by bears.

  The fact that a human was married to a vampire takes me aback. “And they’re okay now?” I stop inside the room for a better look. “I mean, it all worked out?”

  “It was just a safety precaution, mind you.” He shrugs. “The hunters were taken care of quickly.”

  I pluck a picture of an abstract dog off the wall and smile. It reminds me of Bryce and suddenly I want to be home.

  “You miss your kids?” Asa’s breath is warm against the back of my neck and I want to lean into him.

  “Every dirty, noisy inch of them.” I hang the picture back on the wall. “Now ask me in a week and my answer will probably be the opposite.”

  “You’re lucky.” He reaches up and rubs his index finger along my cheek. “Don’t ever forget that.”

  His expression tears my heart. As if he longs for something he can never have. A lump forms in my throat and I have to take a deep breath to get my riot of emotions under control. “I won’t forget.” Trying to lighten the mood, I cock a brow and smirk. “And if you ever get the overwhelming urge to play house you can always come and babysit my kids for me.”

  He lowers his hand and smiles. “Is that a threat? Because I just might take you up on it.”

  “Threat, offer, you decide after you’ve been with them for a day. I’m just sayin’, you vamps ain’t got nothin’ on a couple of eight year olds and a teenage girl. They make a deadly combination.”

  He holds up his hands in surrender. “I’ve been warned.”

  “Damn skippy.” The kids certainly aren’t ready for a man in my life but I was fairly certain Asa didn’t stray too far from the inn anyway. Not that we had a thing, as much as I might want it. Something about this guy gets me all kinds of hot and bothered. I repress a sigh at the thought of running my hands over what I’m sure is a perfectly sculpted eight pack. “All right, we should get on with this.”

  “I guess.” He ushers me out of the room and down a tunnel. After ten minutes of solid walking and mind-numbingly confusing turns he stops and points to the ceiling. “We’re here.”

  What looks like a round hatch is situated above us. “Great.” I pause and prop my hands on my hips. “You go first.”

  He gives a snort of laughter and climbs the ladder. After twisting the huge handle, Asa pushes open the hatch. I jump when screeching echoes down the corridor, certain I’m about to be attacked by another maniacal spirit.

  Chapter Eight

  Asa

  “Yeah, that’s not creepy or anything,” Lisa says, a slight tremor in her voice.

  “Sorry about that. Probably needs a little WD-40. Don’t worry, you’re safe.” I’m tempted to add with me on the end, but considering how much I want to grab that luscious ass of hers she might hear the lie in my words.

  I climb through the trap door, reaching down to offer the cute reaper a hand. The smell of what she bathed in taunts me, tempting me to lean in and take a deep sniff of the lingering hints of citrus.

  Sniff her? What are you, a freaking dog?

  I stifle the inner nasty voice and concentrate on getting my bearings. Once Lisa and I exit the closet, I make a beeline for the light switches. The ski chalet has been closed for the summer, just like everything else at the inn.

  Light floods the space, drawing the eye to the lavish accommodations. A long, polished wood bar for serving anything a skier might desire, hand-carved tables and chairs, and dark leather furniture studded with brass nail heads arranged in front of a fireplace large enough to roast a boar.

  “Wow,” Lisa mumbles under her breath, a hint of awe in her voice. “I can’t get over how upscale everything is. I get why the ski slopes are closed, it’s almost June—but why is the rest of the inn closed? I thought it might be because of the ghosts,” she snorts. “But clearly, you guys aren’t even aware they’re here.”

  “Due to the,” I clear my throat, “unique nature of our primary guests, the hotel’s open season is winter.”

  Lisa turns to stare at me. “Holy cow. An Alaskan resort this fancy and remote that is open in the winter and it doesn’t cater to a dog sled race? Unreal.” She shakes her head and checks out the rest of the main room. The hand-cut wood beams soar overhead and the decor looks straight out of an elite Swiss ski lodge. Of course, all the windows are shuttered at the moment or she’d be able to see the sloping hillside, too. “I was wondering. What does a night at the inn cost?”

  “Umm…” I stammer and look away, uncomfortable with telling her exactly what this place costs. Until I received my bonus after Emiko’s hunt last winter I never would have been able to afford it. “The cheapest rate is in the main building—and it’s a lot.”

  “Yeah?” She quirks an eyebrow. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

  I glance at her quickly and drop my gaze, lowering my voice when I respond. “Five thousand a night.”

  Lisa’s face reddens and she coughs. Instinctively I reach out to touch her, but hold back at the last second. If my hand makes contact with her warm back, I’ll want to pull her into my arms again. Damn, she felt so good in the tunnels. Soft in all the right places with heat radiating off her. What I wouldn’t give for one night with her.

  Her coughing subsides, and she glares at me. “Don’t try and help me or anything. I’m good.”

  Belatedly, I realize I could have done something that didn’t require me to touch her. “Can I get you some water?” I move toward the bar, eager to make amends for my slip.

  She waves me off, seemingly ready to let go of my rudeness. “Too little, too late.” She smiles to lessen the sting. “That’s a freakin’ outrageous price, even by Alaskan high standards.” She wanders deeper into the room, her steps muffled on the thick Persian rug. “Just like those tunnels, this whole place would have cost a lot to build.”

  Recalling that very same thought occurred to me when I first met Vivian, I shrug. I finger the last gold coin in my pocket, all too aware we’re going to have to call my boss to see if she has more coins. I should have thought of that last night. Dammit!

  Well, if you hadn’t spent so much time trying to convince yourself not to hit on Lisa…

  I don’t want her to hate me like the others. And I’m not sure I could resist…

  Biting her or fucking h
er?

  Both.

  What a fine mess I’m in.

  “What I wouldn’t give…” She trails off and catches herself. “Wait, now that I know about vampires and werewolves… there’s a lot I wouldn’t give.”

  Her words mirror my earlier thoughts about wanting to spend the night with her. One night with a woman where I wouldn’t cause her pain. That’s all I want. Geez. If Pat and Eric heard me now they’d be ripping me apart with ribbing and insults.

  “Trust me, I understand.”

  Her breath catches in her throat. “Wait, I didn’t mean it like that. You’re a nice vampire. I don’t know if they’re all like you. I’d like to hope they are, but that’s probably me being naive. It’s just…” She shrugs. “I’ve got my kids to think about. I can’t go wishing on a star for an expensive vacation. There’s so much more I’d do with the money.” Warmth colors her checks. “Hockey equipment costs a lot…”

  She trails off and there’s anxiety on her face, like she’s afraid she’s hurt my feelings somehow.

  Impulsively I blurt, “You’ve got everything in life I wish for. I envy you.”

  Her face softens, and she smiles. “You envy me? I never would have imagined that.”

  I ache to step forward, to hug her and point out everything she should be grateful for in life. But I hold back. If anything, my limited experience has taught me you can’t make someone value what they have, they must value it on their own or they will never appreciate it.

  I shove down the remorse and watch Lisa’s rounded bottom sway across the room, toward the darkened windows, as she explores. My palms itch to cup her butt and haul her close.

  Damn, I’m a sad case. I seriously need to get laid.

  “So, you said Sanji was killed outside?”

  “Yes.”

  “Was it a violent death?”

  “Does that matter?”

  Puzzlement crosses her face. “I’m not sure. My partner normally handles the violent crimes, so I’m not really sure why I was ‘gifted’ this assignment.”