Raven's Breath (The Women of Purgatory)

by Tish Thawer

  "Is there anything I can do to help?" I asked. I didn't want Garrett getting into a mess just because I had another potentially prophetic dream.

  "Nah. Let me poke around a bit and see what I can find. Just keep doing what you do, but don't let on that there's anything wrong."

  Easier said than done.

  I rounded out my weekend with two more gathering missions, both of which Holli accompanied me on at Death's request. We'd established a system that seemed to be working pretty well. I would head straight for the largest cloud of phenoms, while she would pick a centralized position between the smaller groups and suck them in all at once with her sword. She ended up with a higher number of souls, but I was almost to the point of not caring. Almost.

  "Do you want me to get the last group, or can you snag them on our way back?" she asked.

  Don't be prideful, don't be prideful. "No, you go ahead and grab them, I've already got a hundred or so here."

  She didn't even stop as we flew by, but simply held The Devourer in the air and made a bee-line for the portal. The phenoms trailed behind her like black contrails streaking through the sky.

  I exited the mausoleum and paused, taking time to watch as the phenoms were added to the thickening black atmosphere. If this kept up, the souls would choke out any remaining gray, casting Purgatory into eternal darkness.

  11

  The next day was All Hallows Eve, the day of Death's favorite holiday and the party where he would introduce Holli to the rest of the Reapers. I was anxious to see how they would react. I had a pretty good idea but was trying to hope for the best and prayed that Krev wouldn't scare her off with his usual meathead behavior.

  I looked into the mirror and checked my reflection once more. Waves of my hair fell across my chest, cascading in all the right places, accentuating my cleavage. The black strapless gown I'd ordered from Drey arrived last night and I was very pleased with its cut. The bodice wrapped around my torso in sort of a twisting motion which carried through to the sleek skirt. It wasn't skin tight, but hugged my curves enough to make any man's mouth water, or so I hoped. I wanted to look good if I was about to be upstaged.

  A knock at my front door kicked my evening into gear. I grabbed my purse from the dresser and headed to greet Garrett.

  "What the hell?" I exclaimed.

  He stood there in jeans and a T-shirt, and with a five o'clock shadow.

  "I thought this was a formal affair?"

  "It was, before it got cancelled." Garrett pushed past me and headed straight for the kitchen where he raided my fridge, grabbing an ice cold beer. "Nice outfit by the way, you trying to give the rest of the Reapers a heart attack?"

  I shook my head. "Thanks. No. Wait. What? What do you mean cancelled?"

  "You heard me. Death cancelled the celebration. I just spent the last hour trying to talk him out of it, but he said he didn't want to introduce Holli to the Reapers and plans to keep her shrouded indefinitely."

  I racked my brain, quickly searching for an explanation, and remembered the image of them together from my dream. I didn't think Death could fall prey to a human emotion such as jealousy, but then again, if he was lonely and Holli was the first girl he'd made his own, then yeah...I could see the green-eyed monster having its way with the master of us all.

  "Do you think he's just jealous and doesn't want her around other guys or do you think it has something to do with this whole, secret...snipping the souls, thing?"

  "I'm not sure, but I'm definitely going to keep digging. I've known Death for a very long time, and he's not acting like himself. I need to find out why."

  12

  Soft sunlight bathed the nursing home as the woman before me took her last breath; a woman I'd recently seen in my dreams.

  Her last thoughts filtered through my mind, and her spirit lifted from her corpse.

  She smiled. "I knew you'd be coming soon."

  You'd think it would be easier when they were expecting you, but sometimes it only made it harder.

  I smiled gently. "Are you ready?"

  "Yes." She closed her eyes and reached for my hand.

  My inner light reached its peak and we arrived in Heaven seconds later.

  I wasn't surprised.

  I'd been visiting Heaven a lot more often than Hell lately, and I knew when I'd seen this kind woman that I'd be taking her to find peace there as well.

  Her spirit was greeted by St. Peter and after another blinding light, I was back on the earthly plane, ready to return to Purgatory and meet with Garrett.

  We'd both spent the rest of week doing our jobs and "acting normal," but behind the scenes he'd been spending every waking minute investigating and digging into Death's secret.

  As I stepped out of the portal I noticed the thick swath of phenoms that filled the sky just above my head. My chest tightened. I sure hope Garrett has some news. I flared my wings and flew straight home, gliding gently through my window and rushing to change clothes.

  I poured two glasses of wine and set out the pizza I'd picked up for us to nibble on while we got down to business. I'd let my mind wander throughout the week, imagining all kinds of possibilities as to the reason behind the growing number of phenoms. But regardless of all my contemplating, I still couldn't meld two ideas into one cohesive solution.

  I popped a piece of pepperoni into my mouth and glanced at the clock––7p.m. Garrett was late. I knew I should sit tight and wait until he arrived, but I couldn't. My body tingled and my nerves buzzed. I walked into my bedroom, intent on diving out the window, when a knock echoed through the living room. I breathed a sigh of relief and crossed back to the door.

  "It's about time. What took you so long?"

  I gasped, my field of vision filled with white.

  Holli.

  "What are you doing here?" I asked.

  "Death sent me. There's been another outbreak."

  Shit! Could this girl's timing be any worse? Garrett should be here any minute, which couldn't happen a moment too soon. We had to get to the bottom of this because things were spiraling out of control.

  "How about you get this one on your own?"

  "Really? You believe I'm ready?"

  "Yes, Holli. You've been doing great. I see no reason why you can't just go and hold up that sword of yours and do your thing."

  Her giggle amused me. Did she really think I cared about her training or the success of her missions? Whatever...

  "All right. I'll go by myself, but I'm coming straight back here to let you know how it goes," she said, her excitement bubbling to the surface.

  I reached out and patted her on the shoulder. "Okey dokey."

  After a flurry of ivory feathers and maybe even a hint of fairy dust, Holli was off. I rolled my eyes and headed back to my bedroom.

  I dove out the window and flew straight to Garrett's. It wasn't like him to be late.

  I landed outside his apartment and banged on the door.

  "Garrett, are you in there?"

  No response.

  I knocked again...Bang, bang, bang.

  "Garrett...are you okay?"

  No response. Dammit!

  I looked around and took a deep breath. I needed to process the scene before I went ballistic. The night drop was there in the door, which told me he'd finished his day as usual. If he hadn't gone straight to my apartment, where else would he be? I tried to remember if I'd told him that I would pick up food or not; maybe he stopped for takeout.

  I took off for Digger's but got distracted mid-flight. There was a group of Reapers gathered around something lying on the street below me. I blinked twice and practically fell out of the sky.

  It was Garrett.

  13

  I landed so hard the Reapers jumped, the crumbling stone under my feet a replica of what I was feeling inside. I knelt down next to Garrett and ran my hand over his forehead, trying to rouse him. "Garrett, can you hear me?"

  Thankfully my torture didn't last long. His eyelids fluttered and he
started to wake.

  "Raven?" he whispered.

  "Yeah, Gar. I'm here. You okay?"

  He sat up slowly, took a shallow breath, and propped himself up on his elbows. "Um...I think so. But how did I get here?"

  I looked at the small crowd of Reapers with a questioning gaze. Each of them offered nothing more than a slight shake of their head.

  "I was hoping you could tell me that. What's the last thing you remember?"

  He looked around with a furrowed brow. "Um...I remember finishing up early, then opening the night drop." Suddenly his eyes snapped to mine, awareness layering his features. "I was on my way to..."

  His lids fell and his eyes rolled back in his head.

  "Garrett!! Stay with me."

  I scooped him into arms and shot into the sky. I landed back in my apartment in under thirty seconds.

  I lay the back of my hand across his forehead after easing him onto my bed. This time he was burning up.

  I ran into the bathroom and soaked a wash cloth with cool water. Racing back to his side, I placed it on his head, sat next to him and reached for his hand. How can this be happening? We were already dead. We couldn't get sick, and technically, we couldn't even really hurt each other. Hence the reason Death punished us for any infighting. What was the point of beating on each other, when only he could truly hurt us.

  Oh my God! That was it. Death did this to Garrett.

  I pushed off the bed, intent on confronting the son-of-a-bitch, only to be halted by a knock on my door. Seething, I stomped across the living room and ripped it open, practically tearing it from the wooden frame. "What?"

  Holli flinched, then lowered her head. "I'm sorry. Did I disappoint you?"

  "What?"

  "On my mission, I assume you were watching, did I do something to disappoint you?"

  What the hell was she talking about...watching?

  "I have no way of watching you from here, Holli. I assume you did just fine since you're back in record time and in one piece," I snapped.

  I knew I'd touched on something when a perplexed look marred her usually pristine features. "I don't understand. Death always watches me when I'm topside, and since you're my trainer, I thought you would be doing the same."

  Hmmm. This seemed intriguing.

  I forced myself to calm down and invited her in, hoping she'd reveal something about Death that could help me. "I'm sorry. Why don't you come in and we can talk about it."

  She smiled. "I'd like that very much."

  If I was to use this little chat as an interrogation, I needed to appear present and interested. I offered Holli the food and drink that was meant for Garrett, but after watching her take a few delicate bites, my patience had already worn thin. "So exactly how does Death watch you? And is that how you were already trained before arriving here?" I asked.

  "Yes and no. Now he watches all my missions through his gazing pool, but as for my training, he actually came topside to conduct my lessons. He visited me every day for months, before and after my death, to teach me how to fight and fly."

  Her words nagged at me, as if this little tidbit was a major piece to the puzzle, and probably why Garrett was laying knocked out in my bed. Thank you, Holli. I couldn't wait to bring this up to him and see what he had to say on the subject. It felt important.

  My excitement made it difficult to continue the conversation on an even keel, but I had to focus. "He taught you how to fly and fight? Why would you need to know how to fight, it's not like the souls can hurt us?"

  "I'm not sure. Death only said that there may come a time when I would need to be able to protect him and myself. He demanded that I be well-rounded in my skills."

  What the hell? This situation was becoming more and more convoluted by the minute. I continued to talk to Holli about her solo mission––which, as suspected, went off without a hitch, then told her "good job" and walked her to the door.

  "Thank you for having faith in me, Raven, and for taking the time to speak with me. Other than Death, you are the only other person I see."

  I frowned as I contemplated her words. How, and more importantly, why was he still keeping her under lock and key? I was starting to think it had more to do with her mysterious purpose here than any petty jealousies. It was obvious Death had big plans for the girl, plans that even she seemed unaware of. "Holli, have you been on any regular retrievals yet?"

  "No. Death says my only job here is to help you collect the phenoms and protect him."

  I couldn't stop the slight shake to my head; I just wasn't getting this. I desperately wanted to badger Holli and demand more information, but thought better of it and bid her goodbye. I quickly headed towards my bedroom, eager to check on Garrett.

  My heart sank.

  The bed was empty and he was gone.

  14

  Fuck! Had Holli tricked me? Had she been the distraction Death needed to spirit Garrett away before we could talk?

  I dove out my window and flew straight to the main castle. I wanted answers and I wouldn't stop until I got them. I couldn't comprehend why Death would hurt Garrett or steal him away from my care. Unless, of course, he'd actually found out what Death was really up to.

  I didn't bother entering through the main door, instead I landed with a resounding thud on the balcony outside Death's chamber.

  The room was empty and my boots clicked loudly on the black marble tile. His throne was polished, the skulls gleaming in the candlelight that bathed the room. The ornate wall sconces and gothic furniture portrayed the macabre feel you'd expect in the chamber of Death.

  I made my way across the space, vigilant and alert.

  I walked past the dais on which his throne sat and entered the back part of his chamber.

  Suddenly I found myself on the edge of an oubliette, my toes teetering on the edge.

  I looked into the seemingly bottomless pit, fear searing my insides, and prayed Garrett hadn't become a recent resident of the ancient prison. Once my eyes adjusted to the lack of light, however, I realized it wasn't an opening in the floor but instead a pitch black expanse of water that I instantly recognized as Death's gazing pool.

  I bent down and placed a fingertip to the calm surface to verify my find. Yep, this is it. This was how Death was able to see topside.

  I flattened my palm over the surface, running it back and forth. I was mesmerized by the ripple I'd created, so much so that I didn't hear Death creeping up behind me.

  "Raven?"

  Shit! I bolted upright, practically jumping out of my skin.

  I realized, too late, that the room hadn't been empty after all. If Death had truly been gone, my initial entrance would've been blocked, and therefore, access to his chamber denied. Geez. Think, Raven. Think!

  We stood, encased in silence, neither one of us willing to break it. However, the smug look on his face and the thought of Garrett in pain, quickly reignited my anger and loosened my tongue.

  "What did you do to Garrett? Where is he?"

  Death stared at me for a fraction of a second before answering. "I'm not sure what you're talking about, Raven. I haven't seen Garrett since yesterday afternoon."

  Bullshit! I knew he was here somewhere, but I also knew Death wasn't going to just let me wander through his castle looking for my best friend.

  "I know you did something to him. Why would you hurt him? Is it because he figured out the secret you're keeping?"

  The instant the question left my lips I knew it was a mistake and began to tremble.

  Death visibly grew in stature. His shoulders widened and his skeletal chest inflated. The air around him grew thick, almost to the point of choking me.

  I began to inch backwards, edging around the side of the pool in an attempt to escape the menace now rolling off him.

  "And what would you know of my secrets?" his voice boomed.

  I clenched my jaw, struggling to contain my unease. Once I made it to the opposite side of the pool, I risked a glance around the chamber. His scyth
e was resting in its holder across the back of his throne, ready to be unsheathed at a moment's notice.

  "If you're so anxious to know more about me, I could show you how good I am in bed." He smirked. "That's a mystery we can solve right now."

  Eww! Was he seriously trying to get out of this by seducing me? I debated playing along just to get information, but I couldn't force myself to do it. The idea of his greasy black hair close to my face, or his bony hands or tight thin lips pressed against my skin made me want to throw up. I shivered at the thought.

  "I'll pass, thanks."

  His scythe flew from its holder and into his hand. "Then I suggest you rethink confronting me in my private space, or attacking me with false accusations, or soon...I won't be giving you a choice." He slammed the end of his scythe down on the floor, filling the space with a resounding 'boom', and nodded to the door.

  I didn't hesitate. I walked past his throne and rushed to the door, desperate to make my escape while I had the chance. I'd have to find another way to look for Garrett that didn't involve me confronting Death himself, and I knew the perfect person to help me do it.

  15

  I assumed Holli would have returned to the castle by now, but after a few wrong turns and a couple accidental interruptions, I gave up and walked out the front door. I stood on the bottom step of the massive structure, looking down the street from side-to-side. My palms started to sweat and the air in my lungs struggled to escape. With Garrett missing, I wasn't exactly sure what to do with myself. I stepped onto the street and began to walk to Digger's, simply out of habit.

  Suddenly, a noise above me snagged my attention.

  Yes! Holli was landing on a small balcony high up on the far side of the castle.

  I shot into the air, calling out her name. "Holli!" I hovered just beyond the balustrade.

  "Hi, Raven. Is there something wrong? Do we have another gathering mission so soon?"

  "No, no. I just wanted to see if you'd like to join me for dinner at Digger's."