Mom brought the car to a stop beside my Elantra, and I jumped out. I didn’t speak as I helped haul groceries inside. Dad glanced up from his computer, his long graying hair disheveled as though he’d run his fingers through it.
He pulled glasses from the dangling chain around his neck and adjusted it on the bridge of his nose. He was far-sighted and wore round glasses, which had gone out of style eons ago. Dad didn’t care about style. If he weren’t an author, one would confuse him for an absentminded professor. He wrote sci-fi books for middle graders and had seriously loyal fans. Unfortunately, he hadn’t won me over. I found it hard to get into his books. Still, I was proud of him.
“That was fast,” he said, standing.
I shrugged and kept walking to the kitchen.
When I crossed the living room, Mom was by Dad’s desk, the two of them talking in whispers, probably discussing me. Mom looked even shorter beside Dad. He was tall with graying hair and beard, and twinkling gray eyes I’d inherited. The rest of me came from my mother, including the big boobs and the blonde hair. Hers had more gray now though.
I ignored them and went back outside. I brought in more bags of groceries and almost bumped into Dad.
He scratched his beard and studied me. “You okay, muffin?”
“Yeah.”
He grabbed most of the remaining bags. Dad carried his weight around the farm and was fit for his age. He usually woke up early to write and then helped Mom afterwards. He also tended to write late at night and was known to take odd naps in the afternoons. He was one of those dads who was around a lot but wasn’t really there. How had he put it? His characters talked to him all the time.
“Your mother said you want to go back to school on Monday,” he said as we started for the house.
I nodded. He often let Mom make most decisions about my life, and he went along with them. This time, I wanted him to take my side.
“Can you talk to her, please? It won’t feel like I’ve recovered if I don’t do normal things like normal kids. Being homeschooled will only remind me of PMI. Please, Dad. Please.”
He sighed and nodded.
Mom glanced up when we entered the kitchen, her eyes volleying between us. “I think I’ll make ground turkey lasagna without spinach today.”
I placed the bags on the counter and eyed her. “You are buttering me up, Mom.”
She smiled, a twinkle entering her honey-brown eyes. She always looked younger and less tired when she smiled. “No, I’m not. We’ll still have spinach as a side dish and some green beans. Dinner will be ready in an hour.”
“About school…”
“Not now, Cora,” she said.
“Let her go to school, Penny,” Dad said. “She’s better now. That means doing normal things with her friends.”
Mom frowned. She looked ready to argue.
“Remember what Wendell said, dear,” Dad continued. “She must go back to doing normal things.”
Mom sighed. “Okay, she can go, but on one condition.”
“Yes! Thank you, Daddy. You are the best.” I gave him a hug and ran to give Mom one too.
Mom chuckled and exchanged a look with Dad, who was putting groceries in the fridge. “You haven’t heard what it is yet,” she chided.
“Hey, you always say I have to learn to compromise. I get to go to school so…?”
“If anyone gives you a hard time about your stay at PMI, we want to know about it. Students can be cruel,” Mom said firmly.
Like I was going to tell them things that happened at school. That would be so lame. They’d stopped fighting my battles when I started public school in junior high. In public school, you either swam or sank, and I’d floated to the top with the help of… I wasn’t going to think about them. I wasn’t going to think about Raine or Eirik.
“Deal,” I fibbed.
“We mean it, Cora,” Dad added. “I have no problem calling Raine and grilling her about what’s going on at school if you keep things from us.”
Heavy silence followed.
Raine was one name we’d avoided mentioning around my house since I came back. Raine Cooper was… No, Raine and I had been inseparable since she found me crying my eyes out in junior high, until she’d decided I wasn’t worth her time. I hadn’t heard a peep from her while I was in the psych ward. She never visited or called to see how I was doing, until I came home a week ago. Then she’d stopped by. Thankfully, Mom had known I didn’t want to see her and told her to take a hike. Raine hadn’t tried to see me again.
I’d thought we were tight, that nothing could ever come between us. Obviously, I was wrong. She hadn’t wanted to be associated with a mental case. Like I said, I forgave her for dating Eirik, but this…
Thinking about her hurt and pissed me off at the same time. I started for the stairs. “I’ll be in my room.”
“Sweetheart, wait!” Mom called out.
Sighing, I turned.
“Give Raine a chance to explain when you see her. I was a bit hard on her when she stopped by.”
I didn’t want to hear this.
“And she swung by while you two were at the store today,” Dad added.
I wanted to ask him what she’d said, but I clammed up. There was no excuse for the way she had behaved. Friends were supposed to be there for each other through the crappy times and good one. Raine had kicked me to the curb without a thought.
“Can I go now?” I asked.
They exchanged a look, and then Mom nodded.
“And can I have my electronics back, too?” When they exchanged another look, I groaned. “I’m just following the doctor’s orders. You know, doing normal things. It’s been a week already. I want to vlog and text Raine,” I lied again. I had no intention of ever talking to that bitch.
“Okay,” Mom said, smiling. “Dinner will be ready in an hour.”
Dad walked to his desk, opened a drawer, and removed my laptop and phone. “Ease back into things, muffin.”
“I plan to.” I kissed his cheek, waved to Mom, and raced upstairs. I tried to turn on my cell phone, but the battery was dead. I plugged it in, booted the laptop, and sat at my desk.
My first concern was what my friends had been saying about me while I was gone. People in high school could be cruel, especially girls. On a given day, I’d stand toe-to-toe with any one of them and win. I didn’t take crap from anyone. Things were different now. I had a horrible secret to hide. No, I had secrets. Secrets that could ruin me. I had been admitted at PMI, and I could see souls.
I visited social websites and checked my friends’ updates. No one mentioned my absence. No one had missed me. Phooey. But I was tagged on pictures of Raine and… her new boyfriend? What happened to Eirik? Did she ditch him for the new guy?
Poor Eirik.
The more I read, the more I realized my friend… my ex-friend had changed. She was dating a quarterback. She didn’t even like football. He was hot. I mean, model-like, drool-worthy, lip-smacking hot. Going by the pictures and comments, I wasn’t the only one who thought so. They raved about his everything—hot bod, hair, eyes, accent. Even more interesting were the changes I saw in her.
Raine was naturally beautiful with gorgeous skin, thick luxurious hair she didn’t need to style often, and the perfect body. She wasn’t disproportional like me. I had big boobs. Add my hair color and everyone assumed I was a dumb blonde. The funniest thing was Raine didn’t even consider herself beautiful. I’d never thought freckles were cute until I met her.
Before the tragic meet and my trip to PMI, her idea of makeup had been gloss and occasional mascara. From the pictures, she was curling her hair and wearing lipstick. She looked radiant.
There were pictures of her and her man on almost all the social websites I visited and some of just him and the team. According to the Kayville High grapevine, he was the reason the football team might make it to state this year.
Once again, I was envious of my best friend. And maybe a bit annoyed. She’d dumped Eirik fast.
Was he heartbroken? Maybe I had a shot with him now. Nah, I didn’t want him anymore. He had a chance to be with me and blew it.
Feeling crappy, I clicked on my vlog. I’d missed vlogging and interacting with...
No, this couldn’t be right. I checked the date again on the video. The last vlog was posted a little over a week ago. I clicked on it, and my face filled the screen.
“Okay, guys, Hottie of the Week should be known to all of you. Six-foot-three, moves like a dancer, a six-pack you can bounce a quarter off of, and a body like a well-oiled machine.” I fanned my face to the camera. “I know what you are thinking. How do I know? That’s for me to know and you to guess. He has gorgeous, black wavy hair that comes to his shoulders and impossibly blue eyes any girl could stare into forever. If you still haven’t guessed who he is, he rides a Harley and has the most amazing accent. If you haven’t seen his pictures online, you’re missing out. Let me know what you think. Till next time.”
Nothing made sense. When did I post the video? How could I have made it or posted it? The date at the corner said it was posted ten days ago. I was still in the crazy house ten days ago.
I clicked on the next vlog entry, then the next one, my stomach churning. They’d been posted every week I’d been away. Had I sneaked into the doctor’s office and used his computer while in a drug-induced haze?
I re-watched the first video, studying my body language and clothes. I didn’t act drugged, and the pink silk shirt was mine. I didn’t remember taking it with me to the hospital. I jumped up and checked my closet. The shirt was there along with the dresses and jackets I wore on the other videos. Another thing caught my attention. The background in each video was the same. I’d taped all of them here in my bedroom.
“Are you editing another video or do you just like watching yourself?” a familiar voice mocked from behind me.
My heart tripped then started to pound. The reaper from the store was in my house. In my bedroom. What was he doing here?
2. Echo
Before I could turn, a hand pushed my hair away from my shoulder and warm lips kissed my neck. Sensation slammed through me, and my breath caught. I froze, even as my body reacted and trembled. Hands slid down my chest and cupped my breasts with such ease, as though he’d done it before.
I gripped his hands and yanked them away from my chest. “Get your filthy hands off—”
He moved fast and covered my mouth, swallowing the rest of my words, his tongue sliding between my lips in a kiss that drove all thoughts from my head.
My world exploded, blinding sensations surging, swelling, and crashing through me. I mumbled a protest. At least, I think I did, but he angled his head and deepened the kiss, his tongue boldly caressing mine.
Holy crap! Was this the kiss of death? Was this how he yanked people’s souls from their bodies? I tried to resist, but I was no longer in control. He’d taken over every one of my senses and had me completely under his power. Dizziness washed over me as I floated away to a place where nothing mattered but his mouth and the way he made me feel.
There were worse ways to die, I decided. At least this way, I’d go happy. As though he’d heard me, he lifted his head. I pried my eyelids open and stared at him.
His face slowly came into focus. His hood was down, baring his face and hair. His skin was tanned and smooth, the shadow on his chin making him look even sexier. His golden-green eyes flashed with a naughty gleam as though he was thoroughly enjoying himself. His shaggy dark brown hair was cut in an asymmetrical style, low on the sides and longer on top. The style looked too tame for a leather-wearing reaper, even though he’d changed his leather shirt for a black T-shirt. I’d expected him to have longer, unkempt locks. Up close, his face was even more beautiful, and he smelled so good.
“I love it when you lust after me,” he said in a husky voice. “I’ve missed you too, sweet-cheeks.”
Sanity returned.
“What… what do you mean?” I managed to whisper, my lips still tingling from his kiss.
“It amazes me how you can be so devious and twisted, yet look so sweet and innocent.” He kissed me again, laughter rumbling through his chest and vibrating through my body.
I wasn’t ready to die yet, damn it. No matter how intoxicating his kisses were. And I wasn’t twisted. Nothing he said made sense.
I brought my teeth down hard on his lower lip. More laughter came from him. Then he leaned back, licked the drop of blood, and exposed the teeth marks I’d left on his lip.
My eyes widened when the cut slowly disappeared. He self-healed? Of course, he did. He was the grim reaper. I opened my mouth to ask him how long I had left, but he spoke first.
“You want play rough?” he asked. “Good. That’s just how I like it.”
“No. Don’t—”
He scooped me up and moved so fast my room was a blur. One second I was on the chair, the next flat on my back on the bed. Panic coursed through me.
“What are you doing, you sick bastard?” I snapped.
“Playing your game.” A wicked smile lifted the corner of his lips.
I scooted to the other side of the bed, but he was there, blocking me.
“Where are you going when I came here specifically for you, Cora?” he said.
My heart threatened to leap from my chest. “Right now?”
“Yes. Right now. I want you, Cora.” He went into hyper-speed. When he stopped, he was coatless and shirtless and straddling me, most of his weight on his knees.
My head spun, and I was so confused I just stared at him like an idiot. I didn’t understand why he had to be shirtless to take my soul, but I guess if I had to die, I didn’t mind being escorted by a shirtless hunk.
He had a broad, masculine chest covered with black tattoos. The tats, glowing and dimming, continued down between his rock-hard abs and disappeared under the waistband of his pants. The leather pants stretched across his thighs and hugged his…
“Keep looking at me like that and the game ends now,” he said in a husky voice.
I dragged my eyes away. What in the world was I doing ogling him, the being about to yank my soul from my chest. I should be screaming. Begging for mercy. No, I wasn’t going to beg, and if I screamed, my parents would rush upstairs. I didn’t want my parents to find my lifeless body upstairs.
Maybe I could reason with the reaper. Buy more time. “Can I have more time with my parents before…” My voice trembled to a stop. I cleared it and finished, “you take me away?”
He cocked his eyebrow.
“Please,” I added.
He chuckled and ran a finger down my neck to the top button on my shirt, leaving behind heated flesh. “Begging, Cora? That’s new. You can have tonight and the whole of tomorrow.” He undid the top button of my shirt. “I’m not taking you away. You’re coming with me. We all have jobs to do.”
I grabbed his wrist. “So I can have until tomorrow night?”
“Sure.” He studied me with narrowed eyes then smirked, reached behind him with his other hand, and pulled out a weird-looking knife. It wasn’t the mini scythe. This one was different. It had a thinner blade and a ridged handle as though it was specifically made for his long fingers. I swallowed, staring at the blade and then his face.
“I’m done playing games, sweetheart,” he said. “I want you now.” He lowered the blade toward my heart. I stopped breathing.
“Please,” I whispered. “You said I had—”
“The begging is a nice touch, but you’re overdoing it,” he mocked, sliding the blade under my shirt. “You don’t want to bore me, Cora.”
Part of me wanted to close my eyes and let him finish me off, but another part refused to cower. Let him look me in the eyes as he killed me, the jerk. How could he promise me more time then change his mind? Was this how he did things? Gave false hope to the dying? I hoped my face haunted him for eternity.
I glared at him, and our eyes locked as I braced myself for the pain that was sure to follow. Instead, the
buttons on my shirt flew across my room as he cut them off in one clean sweep. Cold air rushed to my skin. Instinctively, I pulled at the gaping fabric and tried to cover myself.
“You don’t want to do that either, doll-face,” he warned.
I held my breath again when the cold tip of the knife touched my skin. Any moment, I expected him to yank my soul out with the blade. Hadn’t he pointed his scythe at Morello’s soul and caused him to freeze?
“I want to talk to my parents first,” I demanded. At least that was what I’d meant to do. My voice came out shaky. Totally pathetic.
“Now?” The blade moved toward my heart.
“Yes. To say good... good…” Tears rushed to my eyes, and I couldn’t finish the sentence. Not wanting him to see them, I closed my eyes and braced myself again. Once again, the pain didn’t come. I opened one eye then the other.
He was staring at me with a frown.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I started to nod, but then shook my head. “No.”
“You’re crying. What’s wrong?”
What did he expect? That I should laugh in the face of death? “I don’t want to… to…” I couldn’t bring myself to say “die”.
He shifted, so he was kneeling, though he still straddled me. “Why didn’t you just say so? I would have stopped.”
I blinked. My voice shook as I mumbled, “You would?”
“Of course.” He shoved the knife somewhere behind him. “What’s the fun in foreplay when you’re not enjoying it?”
Enjoying it? What kind of a sick bastard toyed with people before killing them? Trying not to lose it, I narrowed my eyes at him. “Do you mean I have to show you that I’m scared before you kill me?”
He looked at me like I was the village idiot. “Kill you? What are you talking about?”
Runes #03 - Grimnirs Page 3