He swiped the scythe at the very moment Mara released an arrow. A shield of energy flew out from the Reaper’s scythe, the echoing wave blurring the air in front of it. The arrow hit the wave and exploded into a million pieces, and as the pieces ricocheted, they transformed into bats. Blocking out the view of the moon, the swarm of bats screeched as they dive-bombed Mara and Chase. The voices of Gavin and Hunter flowed out to me, telling everyone to take cover.
Gavin! Was he all right?
I managed to lift my head two inches. Lilura stood in front of the crouching group. Her hands were held in the air, and her blue shield blocked the bats from touching them. The angry animals shrieked and flew off into the woods.
A thick wall of fog rose up between us and the others, climbing high to the treetops.
I gasped as the Reaper lifted me again. We swiftly moved through the trees, the cold air scraping against my skin. I longed to look past the Reaper’s cloak and past the fog to see my friends.
The cluster of trees grew denser. A creek rushed by below me. The Reaper sloshed through it, sweeping under low-hanging branches of foul-smelling trees.
I managed to turn my head in the direction we were going. Panic squeezed my heart. The dark entrance of a cave was up ahead. Could that be his Haunt?
As we approached, hissing sounds surrounded us. My mobility increased, and I was able to move my head enough to see the snakes slithering at the Reaper’s feet. Closer to the cave entrance, what appeared to be a black curtain opening turned out to be billions of spiders scampering to the sides of their web to allow the Reaper passage. He pushed through the sticky net, and some of the web clung to my face and hair.
We entered the darkness of the cave. Water—or something else—dripped onto the cave floor, echoing off the rock walls of the cavern. The air was damp and stale, almost suffocating.
Once again, I was dropped to the floor. I squeezed my eyes shut and folded myself into a ball, trying to force away the pain.
You can move, Zadie. Not a lot, but little by little. Stay positive; your friends are coming for you.
I tried to block out that little voice in my head that told me it was hard to find the cave we were in. That told me that even if they did find the cave, they would still have the Reaper to deal with. And that they might not make it before the Reaper began to feast.
I squinted when light appeared. The Reaper twisted in a slow circle, pointing his skeletal fingers at torches on the walls. Fire ignited in each torch, casting a red glow all around.
The cavern was bigger than I thought, the space about the size of a theater. Creatures crawled along the walls and floors, finding crevices in which to hide. The water I heard earlier turned out to be a leak from a mossy vine on the cavern ceiling. It dripped into a cauldron that sat in the middle of the floor.
The Reaper reached for me. I screamed in anguish as his bony hand squeezed tight around my arm and yanked me upward. Hot blood oozed from the cut in my arm, soaking my bandage.
Then suddenly a number of daggers and one arrow zoomed past. One of the daggers impaled the Reaper’s shoulder, pitching him back a foot. He dropped me and shrieked, grabbing at the stuck dagger and struggling to pull it out.
Chase, Hunter, Gavin, Mara, and Lilura charged into the Haunt.
They found me!
My first response was to sigh in relief at seeing them, but then the critters crawled out from their hiding places and crept toward them. Snakes slid quickly over the floor, darting their tongues out at my rescuers. The buzzing and humming and hissing filled the cavern, their deafening calls pushing in on my skull. I tried with all my might to move my hands to cover my ears. But every inch of my body ached.
Mara extended her hand toward the floor, and the insects were blown back by the control she had over the air element. The snakes coiled away from them, quickly seeking retreat. Beside me, the Reaper yanked the imbedded dagger from his shoulder. I prayed that Chase’s attempt to rig the weapons with syringes was successful. If we could flood the Reaper’s system with poison, we might stand a chance.
Then, to my surprise, Mrs. Poulter, Diana, Paxton, and Erina entered the cavern. The witches held hands, chanting the weakening spell. The Reaper growled and pointed at his cauldron. Fire erupted from it, lighting up the room in a flash. He made a tossing motion, and the fire leaped through the air at the Poulters. Mara and Lilura held their palms up, as if pushing the fire back. The fire curled up against an invisible shield and dissipated into black smoke.
Mara lined up an arrow and shot it. The Reaper howled as it hit him, shoving him back to fall on the floor of the Haunt. But he didn’t explode like I expected. The arrow didn’t pierce his heart. Still, he writhed in pain, clutching at the rod of the arrow. Chase’s poison had to be working its way into the Reaper’s body.
I rolled slowly to my knees, barely able to breathe when I made the movement. Mara and Gavin rushed toward me and helped me up, dragging me by my arms to Lilura, Chase, and Hunter. The Black brothers stepped forward to stand between the Reaper and me, weapons aimed.
Mrs. Poulter stepped closer to the cauldron and took out a knife. Cutting her palm, she dropped blood into the cauldron and raised her voice.
“Samael, I call upon thee, great Lord of Reapers. Hear me and make yourself present.”
The Reaper across the room yelped as he wrenched the arrow from his chest. He remained on the cavern floor, clutching his chest as black, tar-like blood oozed from his wound.
“Samael,” Mrs. Poulter shouted. “Hear me, great Lord of Reapers. Make yourself present to those who call upon you.”
A harsh wind tore through the cavern. It whipped at our hair and stung our eyes. I mustered all I had in me to raise my arm up and shield my face with my hand. The fire from the torches flared loudly. The space filled with billowing smoke, as if a bomb had gone off.
The smoke started to clear and seep out of the entrance, like it was being sucked into the night air. When the smoke was low to the ground, a figure appeared near the back of the cavern.
His tattered cloak was a dirty white, as if he’d dragged it through coal. Glowing red eyes glared at us from beneath his hood. He floated closer, appearing larger as he neared. Much larger than the Reaper who had brought me to the Haunt. Then, from behind him, enormous wings made of bones spread out, overshadowing everything in the cave.
Samael looked down at the injured Reaper. He lifted his hand, and from it, a huge sphere of fire appeared. The Reaper cried out, strings of flesh and bloody muscle stretched over the hole of its gaping mouth, as he tried to move backward along the floor. Samael hurled the ball of fire at the fallen Reaper in one fell swoop. The fireball exploded on impact, engulfing the Reaper. Flames danced around the Reaper’s writhing body, until he moved no more. He shriveled up as if he were made of black paper, eaten by the inferno.
Mara and I clung to each other.
“Great Samael.” Mrs. Poulter shivered as she spoke. “We wish to break the pact made between you and Diana Anglia of Maleventum, Italy. We wish to end, once and for all, the Reaper’s Rite.”
Samael roared with tremendous force. The ground shook and pieces of rock broke free from the cavern walls. The floor broke apart beneath us. Paxton and Erina tumbled into a hole in the ground deep enough that we could barely see the tops of their heads. Diana backed up into us, grabbing the nearest person—Gavin—and pulling him with her as she toppled into another ditch. The ground opened up under Chase, Hunter, and me. Our feet fell out from under us. Scrabbling to keep from falling into the gap, we grasped for a hold on the crumbling floor. The others were knocked off their feet, but managed to stay on the unaffected ground. Chase, Hunter, and I climbed from the hole.
“Great Reaper Lord,” Mrs. Poulter yelled as she scrambled to her knees. “Tell us what it is you want in exchange for ending the pact.”
The pact remains. I take what I want. Vila soul and witch power for interrupting my slumber.
His voice was like feedback from a s
peaker. I cringed, covering my ears as his voice echoed.
His wings contracted and expanded again. This time when the ground shook, the sound of rushing water resonated. Water flowed into the cavern from outside, crashing over rocks and breaking apart parts of the walls as it charged in. It quickly filled the holes in the ground. Paxton hoisted Erina up so she could climb out. Hunter rushed over and helped her pull Paxton out. Diana and Gavin were up to their chests in water. Gavin pushed Diana up, but when she grabbed onto the ledge, she kicked him back. Her foot hit him in the face, and he sloshed back into the water.
I lurched toward the ditch, my hands extended. “Gavin!”
He paddled to stay afloat, but the ground shook again, tossing waves over his head.
I summoned my power. Concentrating on the water, I moved it in a wave to push Gavin out of the hole. I grabbed his hands when he was close enough. Though it ached to use my muscles, I yanked him out toward me. We rolled on the ground away from the ditch, water swilling around us.
Mrs. Poulter screamed.
When I looked up, Erina walked toward Samael.
“No, Erina! What are you doing?” Mrs. Poulter shouted, clutching at her own chest.
“This has to end,” Erina cried, glancing over her shoulder at us. “You took me in, Aunt Morgan. You rescued me from demons. I owe this to you.”
Yes, come!
“Erina, stop!” Paxton screamed. “No!”
“I can do something good. I can save you all and help the Vila. I’m not afraid.” She turned back toward the Reaper Lord and raised her chin. “Samael, I sacrifice myself to thee. In return for you sparing the lives of my friends and family.”
“Erina, don’t!” Diana yelled.
Chase, Hunter, and Paxton took off in the direction of Erina, daggers at the ready. But in a flash, a thick wall of glass materialized between them and Erina. The three men ran into the glass, pounding on its surface and trying to break it with their weapons.
Hunter unstrapped his shotgun, which hung in a holster on his back, and took a step back. He fired at the glass wall, but the blast ricocheted, hurling Hunter backward. He’d left a crack in the wall, but it was not enough.
Behind the glass, Erina held her arms out at her sides, her head tipped back, as the Reaper lifted her into the air.
Lilura passed Hunter, then passed Chase and Paxton, and placed her hands on the wall. Moving her lips but chanting silently, she pressed her forehead against the glass. I couldn’t believe my eyes. She pushed forward through the glass, moving through the wall, as if she were a ghost.
Erina’s body dropped to the floor, unmoving.
Lilura walked until she was directly in front of the Reaper Lord. Then she turned around to face us. Chase and Paxton dug at the wall to no avail.
“Grandma!” Chase screamed.
Samael’s red eyes glowed brighter. The cave shook again as the Reaper Lord put his hands on Lilura’s shoulders. His enormous wings folded inward, enclosing her. I gaped in awe as he pulled her toward him. But instead of knocking into her, he passed through her. Entered her. Her face stretched, her jaw expanding as if it was made of heavy clay. She appeared bigger, stronger.
What was happening?
Lilura’s lips were still moving. Her eyes were locked on Mara. And then suddenly, her blue globe appeared, shielding herself and Samael. Blocking anything from getting in.
Samael howled from inside her.
“He’s tethered to her now.” Mrs. Poulter whispered at my side, her eyes wide in disbelief. “Her body is weak, but her magic is strong. She’s made a seal.”
Mara hoisted the crossbow, aiming it at Lilura.
“Mara, what are you doing?”
Mara’s voice quivered. “She made me promise.”
“Mara.” Lilura’s voice echoed through the cavern. “Now.”
I backed into Gavin, unable to speak.
Tears flowed from Mara’s eyes. And it hit me. Lilura and Mara had made a pact all their own. One they never told me about. Lilura’s plan all along was to trap the Reaper Lord so they would have a clear shot. The blue shield wasn’t conjured to stop anything from getting in, but to stop anyone from getting out. Mara pulled the trigger, crying out in misery as the arrow zoomed through the crack in the glass wall toward Lilura’s chest.
The impact of the arrow knocked Lilura back a bit. The blue globe started to sputter out. The point of impact began to glow a bright red. The Reaper Lord growled, the reverberation shaking the air. Lilura formed fists with her hands and closed her eyes.
“Now, Zadie.”
Mara took my hand. I knew what to do. Though quivering lips, I started chanting. Gavin took my other hand and squeezed it.
Sparks of white glowed between my fingers and Mara’s. The vibration shook us, more than Samael’s cries did. But we pushed our hands together, willing the ball of energy to grow stronger.
The wall of glass suddenly shattered. It crashed to the cavern floor in shards and debris. We held on to our Orbis, letting it grow bigger than we ever let it grow before. And with an ear-piercing wail, we chucked the Orbis through the air toward Lilura.
The blue globe dissipated as the sphere breached its surface. The Orbis hit Lilura with a tremendous thud. A high-pitched tone blared in my ears. A blinding white light filled the Haunt, knocking down everyone in its path as it expanded. I shielded my face, but the light still stung my eyes. An aftershock of light blasted through the cavern, creating smoke as it hit the walls.
Rocks and granite fell from the ceiling as the smoke cleared. Then all at once, we all rushed forward to the two bodies that lay on the cavern floor.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I paced the living room, every once in a while pausing to look out the window. With a grunt, I rubbed my hands on my jeans. What was taking them so long?
“Would you cut it out?” Mara always got bossy when she was nervous, so I let her comment slide. She pretended to be put-together, but her foot was tapping awfully fast on the living room rug. “They’ll get here when they get here.”
“Did we remember to put the cranberry juice in the fridge? Do you think it’s still her favorite? What if she doesn’t like it anymore?”
“Zadie, stop!”
I ran my hands through my hair and sat on the couch beside her. Without looking at me, she laced her fingers with mine.
I gave her hand a squeeze. “It all feels so surreal. She’s actually coming home.”
“This whole past year feels surreal.” Mara let go of my hand and stood up. Now she was the one pacing. “Think she’ll forgive me for never visiting her?”
“Of course. Mara, she knows what you did for her.”
“What we did, you mean.”
I smiled up at her. The sound of a car approaching out front made my eyes go wide. “They’re here!”
Mara and I ran to the door and threw it open. Dad was barely out of the car as we clambered to the passenger side door. Mom stepped out. The sun’s rays caught the brilliant red of her hair. She wore a light knit top, a flowy skirt, and sandals. It made my heart swell with joy to see her in normal clothes. Summer clothes. Apparel that screamed freedom.
I clung to Mom. And she clung back. When she laughed, tears escaped from my eyes. Mom was home. Standing in front of our house. Back where she belonged. I kissed her cheek and took a step back to admire her once more.
She smiled at me then turned her head to Mara.
“Mom, I…”
Mom stepped forward and held her arms open to her. Eyes brimming with tears, Mara let out a cry as she moved into Mom’s embrace. Dad folded his arms over the top of the car and smiled at the scene.
“Let’s take this party inside, okay?” He popped the trunk open.
Taking in the view of the house, Mom adjusted the purse on her shoulder. Dad was all smiles as he carried her suitcase.
“We’ve got everything ready for you,” Mara said.
I rushed forward and opened the front door for her. She
came in slowly, looking around as if she didn’t recognize the place. When we got into the living room, Mom looked over at the side table, where picture frames sat in a row. Some were old and some new. Mom picked up a new one of Mara and me from Mara’s graduation. Mom ran a finger over it, a little sadness in her eyes, but then she lifted her chin and smiled at us.
I clasped my hands in front of me, my blood sizzling with energy. “Let’s get your stuff upstairs, Mom.”
“Okay,” she said. “That would be nice.”
A shiver of excitement flowed though me, hearing my Mom’s voice in the house. It was by far the best sound ever. And I hoped it would always be around.
Mom followed us up the stairs. When was the last time Mom climbed these stairs? Back then, she must not have felt safe in her own home. But now, she didn’t have anything to be afraid of anymore.
We let her go into her room first. Mara and I glanced at each other as Mom ran a hand over the bed sheet. I couldn’t remember if it was one she bought or not. Dad dragged Mom’s suitcase in behind us.
“You want to lie down, honey?” He put his hands on her shoulders and caressed them.
She touched one of his hands, squeezing his fingers. “No. All I’ve been doing for years is lying down. I want to move around. I want to live.”
He turned her into his arms and hugged her. “Okay, but you still have to rest. Doctor’s orders. Your body has to get used to being off medication.”
“I already feel like I could get very used to it.”
He picked her hand up and kissed it. “I’ll give you some time with the girls. Thought I’d start the grill up. Burgers and dogs sound good to everyone?”
We all agreed, which put a smile on Dad’s face.
Once he was out of the room, Mom called us over to sit by her on the bed.
She held our hands. “Thank you, girls. I’m so sorry it came to all of this.”
Mara rested her head on Mom’s shoulder. “There was no way of you knowing, Mom.”
My Tethered Soul: Volume 2 (Reaper's Rite) Page 25