“Excuse me? What are we talking about again?” Now it was my turn to blush.
“Retirement plans.”
“Retirement?” I laughed.
“Of course. What else would we be talking about?” To her credit, she looked even more confused, and maybe a bit annoyed.
“Never mind.” It occurred to me that perhaps I had taken some rotten gossip to heart. “Tell me more about the plans you offer.”
Jenni’s smile returned and her eyes twinkled. “It’s really quite genius.” She rattled on for nearly an hour, and when she was done, I was compelled to agree. It really was genius. The basic plans required a reaper to turn over between three and eight percent of their income for a term of five to eight hundred years. This collection was then invested in reasonably stable stocks in various afterlives. As expected, the longer a reaper invested and the higher the percentage of income they invested, the larger their retirement payments would be. Some plans were set up like an extended vacation, with a reaper returning to the field after a hundred years or so. But some of the plans were set up with continued investment, so a reaper could, in theory, enjoy eternal retirement.
“Sounds pretty fool-proof,” I said when she finished.
“It is.” She beamed. “And I’m going to present this plan to Grim soon to request he start offering it as a withholding option on his payroll. I’m hoping he will invest as well. It would be profitable for him, and it would mean more retirement funds for the rest of us.”
“Sign me up.” The more reapers on her list, the better. Grim was a numbers kind of guy, and he was fully aware of the need for incentives and goals among the reapers. He’d be a fool for passing up her offer.
“Great!” Jenni clapped her hands together, a little joyous gesture I had never seen her do before. “I’ll drop off a contract Monday before you head to class for your final.”
I groaned and closed my eyes. I was so not looking forward to standing at the front of the class with Craig. This was going to be a nightmare.
Jenni read my pained expression all too well. “It will be over before you know it. Then we can celebrate.”
“Honestly? I’d take the class all over again if I didn’t have to be in the same room with Craig Hogan.”
Jenni nodded. “Ah, yes. Mr. Hogan. He’s a rather good reaper. It’s a shame that he’s turned out to be such an egotistical slug. I don’t think I know a single female reaper who doesn’t either hate him or adore him.”
I snorted. “I better get a shower before the others show up. Help yourself to more coffee.”
“Thanks.”
I left Jenni in the sitting room and went to freshen up with a nice hot shower. I could still feel Bub’s kiss on my mouth and his scent lingered on my skin. I wouldn’t be remembering a damn thing we studied if I couldn’t manage to wash the memory of him away.
Chapter 22
“Three may keep a secret,
if two of them are dead.”
-Benjamin Franklin
Grim sat with his back to me, reclining on one of the wide benches that lined the sidewalk circling the bronze statues of Saul and Coreen in the park. He wore brown slacks and a white polo shirt, which was more dressed down than I had ever seen him before. A dusty fedora rested on his head, and a dark leather briefcase lay under the bench.
This certainly wasn’t what I had anticipated when Abe rang my doorbell extra early Sunday morning, insisting that we leave right away for a private meeting with the boss man. I dressed myself while half awake and luckily managed to match a blue blouse with a blue and gray plaid skirt. I chose black ballet flats over my favorite boots, hoping to avoid tripping as I slept walked my way out of Holly House so Abe could coin us off to the meeting. I hadn’t expected the meeting to be in the park. I pinched myself to be sure I was awake and not having a nightmare. If Grim had discovered Winston’s stash and found out about our visits, it was highly probable that I wouldn’t survive the meeting. I held my breath as I walked over to him.
“Take a seat, Ms. Harvey,” he said, never taking his eyes from Coreen’s statue.
I quietly obeyed.
The small clearing that the memorials stood in was surrounded by clusters of young tulip trees. The sticky, sweet perfume of rotting petals stung my eyes. I hadn’t really noticed them before as I rushed in and out for my visits to Winston, but they really were quite lovely. We sat there for a few silent moments, watching petals catch in the wind and fall like snow.
Grim turned to look at me with a sigh. “I had really hoped assigning you an apprentice would keep you busy enough to stay out of trouble for a while.”
I tried to look surprised. “I haven’t broken any rules, so I’m not exactly sure what this trouble is you’re speaking of.”
“Oh?” He folded his arms. “It’s no secret that everyone thinks you’re in line to be my new second-in-command. Applying for the Posy Unit is quite an ambitious move, and it only gives the rumor more credit.”
“So that’s why you think they’re targeting me?”
“Why else would-“ The color drained from his face. “No. They can’t possibly know.”
“I heard the records office was broken into…”
Grim grew even grimmer. “There was a fire. We lost a large selection of hard copy reaper logs, but they were backed up on a private network.”
“Is there a possibility that some of those logs were stolen instead of burned?” My hands were suddenly clammy. The reaper logs didn’t exactly spell out that I killed Wosyet, but they did list me as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It wouldn’t be too hard to make the connection.
Grim blew out a slow breath.
“Well, if you’re right, and I’m only being targeted because of a false rumor, then the attacks should stop after you announce your new second at the placement ceremony.” I was momentarily relieved. “And then they’ll have someone else to target.”
“I’m hoping Anubis and the Nephilim Guard have the situation under control before then, which brings us to the next reason I called you here.” He dropped a hefty coin in my lap.
“What’s this for?”
“I need my guards back. You’re a big girl, and Cindy tells me you’ve almost finished with the training she requested. Besides, isn’t your best friend an archangel? If you need an escort, call him. In the meantime, be smart and travel by coin. You’re not particularly useful, but I really don’t want another dead reaper on my hands. And I may need you in another thousand years to take on another special assignment.”
“A thousand years? You’re going to keep him that long?”
Grim tensed. “That subject is not up for discussion.”
“I don’t know. I might be retired by then.”
He laughed. “So you’ve finally worked your way up high enough to warrant Ms. Fang soliciting you for her retirement program, have you?”
“I have.” I was feeling like quite the grownup for making such a conscious investment in my future.
“Well, good for you.” His look grew serious all of a sudden. “You’ve really become quite popular lately, among quite a few crowds. The council’s attention isn’t always a good thing though, Lana.”
I snorted. “You don’t say.”
“Be careful who you trust. It only takes telling one wrong person your secrets, and then you and I are both screwed.”
“Trust me, I’m not in any big hurry to tell anyone my secrets. I haven’t even told Maalik about Wosyet.”
His eyes widened at that revelation. “Even though he already knows about Khadija’s error?”
“Error?” I grinned. Grim had not been pleased about Khadija imbuing me with an extra special dose of soul matter. He didn’t like that I could see the potency of souls the way he could. I’m sure it had less to do with the fact that he wanted to maintain superiority, and more to do with the fact that what she had done breached the peace treaty the gods had agreed to in order to stabilize Eternity’s chaotically shifting territori
es. The peace treaty had ended the War of Eternity, and it turned over a large chunk of control to Grim who used his secret power source, Khadija at the time, to steady the boundaries of the afterlives.
The peace treaty also allowed him to monopolize the soul harvesting business for the most part, granting him the ability to create a few additional reapers every hundred years for his lucrative soul-harvesting corporation, Reapers Inc. The condition was that the reapers were not to be granted deityship. Eternity most certainly did not need any more gods. I didn’t really think Khadija had installed that much power in me, but if the council found out, they would still view me as a threat and insist that I be executed. I was sure of that much.
Grim gave me a sour look. “I suppose it’s one less secret for Maalik to hold over your head after your relationship has run its course.”
“I suppose so.” I sighed.
“Well, good luck on your exams.” Grim stood and waved a hand at the nephilim. They circled him, my two guards included, and all coined off simultaneously.
I looked around, stunned to be alone so suddenly. The silver coin Grim had dropped in my lap was heavy. There were enough marks on it to get me through a month, easy. I really hoped I didn’t need it that long.
The park felt darker, even though it was early in the day. A breeze swished around the tulip tress and skimmed my bare legs, sending a shiver through me. It was crazy how a couple near-death experiences could make something as simple as sitting on a quiet park bench such a nerve-wracking experience. I hated being paranoid and unable to enjoy simple things the way I used to. I swallowed my bitterness and rolled the coin to take me back to Holly House.
Chapter 23
“Education is simply the soul of a society
as it passes from one generation to the next.”
-Gilbert K. Chesterton
I spent the rest of my Sunday morning sitting on the floor of my king-sized shower, letting the hot water rain down on me, while I shuffled through all the ways my life sucked lately.
The rebels were trying to kill me, and I still wasn’t exactly sure if it was because they thought I was Grim’s new second or if it was because they knew I had offed Wosyet. Something said by the demon bitch who had set my apartment ablaze was still eating at me, too. She had asked where he was. Maybe they were still looking for Winston, another sucktacular highlight of my life.
I had to find a better way to make Grim’s secret weapon stay put. The weekly life support trinkets I brought him were only going to entertain him for so long. Grim really needed to think about replacing him a lot sooner than a thousand years from now. A retirement plan wouldn’t do me much good if I still had to babysit him all the damned time. Of course, I was pretty sure Horus wouldn’t allow for that, especially since he planned on taking Winston back to Duat with him after his hundred year term on the council was up. That’s why he was blackmailing me into joining the Posy Unit and finding a replacement.
I was shocked and somewhat disgusted to realize that I was actually missing work. I had only been away for a little over a week, but I guess I was longing for the sense of accomplishment it gave me. So much for that retirement plan. Maybe I’d feel better after I passed the upcoming exams and finished my training with Bub.
Bub. The thought of him made my chest ache, and the thought of Maalik made my head ache. My love life was a complete wreck. The two men that consumed my thoughts were complete opposites. One seemed to only want one thing, and the other wanted far more than I was willing to give.
It’s not that I didn’t appreciate what Maalik was trying to do, but I was not some helpless damsel in distress, and I didn’t appreciate him trying to mandate my life without giving my input the slightest consideration. Holly House was great, but I resented the fact that Maalik was paying my rent. If I was going to stay there, that was going to have to change. I really didn’t like the idea of having a roommate, but I knew it might be my only option. Josie’s inquiry came to mind.
The shower was growing thick with steam, and my fingers were good and pruney. I sighed and pushed my thoughts away to marinate in my subconscious some more. I hated dwelling, but there wasn’t much else I could do, considering I was confined to my condo until further notice. I finally decided to suck it up and get out of the shower. Josie and the gang would be over soon for our last study party before the dreaded final project with Craig. I was just glad she hadn’t insisted that I invite Craig over to join us.
I had just finished pulling on a pair of jeans and black tank top when the doorbell rang. I groaned, hoping Josie wasn’t early. I needed at least three cups of coffee in my system before she started in on me with the studying again.
I opened the door to find my apprentice waiting alone in the hall. “Kevin?”
“Hey, Lana. We need to talk.”
“Okay.” I let him in and went into the kitchen to fix my coffee and went ahead and fixed Kevin a cup too. It was getting eerie how many people were trying to get me alone for serious discussions lately. Why couldn’t I catch a good, mindless conversation anymore?
Kevin seated himself on one of the barstools, putting the long counter between us. He took the coffee I offered him and set it down with a sigh. I hadn’t really had many one on one talks with him, which seemed odd since he was my apprentice. I guess I thought there would be plenty of time for that after I was actually qualified to train him.
Kevin chewed his bottom lip and looked up at me with his innocent, concerned eyes. He laced his fingers together and then pulled them into his lap, struggling with whatever it was that he couldn’t bring himself to say just yet.
Reapers didn’t age, as it goes with most immortals, but some take on the common air of age over time. Some emphasized their age and superiority by donning certain items, like Grace Adaline’s horn-rimmed glasses or Paul Brom’s bowler hat. On the other hand, sometimes a new reaper can really emanate an air of youth and naivety in their first century or two. I had a feeling that this was Kevin Kraus’s fate.
Kevin’s look hadn’t changed since he graduated from the academy. Shaggy black curls framed his face. His full mouth looked almost feminine above his slender jawline. He had the air of a lost puppy, even though he had been at the top of his class. I was fortunate that Josie was around to help him along. She had taken him shopping recently, and it was nice seeing him in blue jeans instead of the standard black robe.
He took a deep breath and straightened his posture before starting in on what was obviously a practiced speech. “Lana, I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason why you want to be on the Posy Unit. And honestly, I don’t hold it against Josie for not telling me what that reason is. I hold it against you.”
I raised an eyebrow. Kevin frowned at me and gripped the edge of the counter. “I know you’re supposed to be my mentor, and I’m supposed to be the humble, obedient apprentice, but I’m going to be working under you for the next century. It would be nice if you clued me in on why you’re making certain decisions, since these decisions will be affecting my future too.”
I’m sure I looked like a deer in headlights. How had I been so thoughtless? I was even taking a class that was supposed to teach me how to be better at this mentoring gig. Fat lot of good that was doing me.
Kevin sensed my remorse and lightened his tone. “Don’t you know that the first century of my resume is in your hands? The path you put me on will be the one I’m expected to stay on, unless I want to start over from scratch a hundred years from now.”
I swallowed and found my voice. “I’m sorry, Kevin.” My mind scrambled around for a quick solution. I needed to tell him enough so that he would feel better about my decisions, but not so much that he had the ability to screw me over. Enough people had that power, thank you very much. “The thing is, I’ve been asked to take on a special project that requires my presence on the Posy Unit. Don’t be mad at Josie for not telling you anything. I haven’t shared the details with her either. It’s really nothing for you to be concerned abo
ut, and it won’t interfere with your apprenticeship. In fact, I think the Posy Unit will be good for you. Jenni said she thought so too at the dinner party last week. You’ll be the only apprentice on a specialty unit.”
Kevin nodded. “I’d like to believe it will be good for my career. It’s just hard to trust you right now. You don’t seem to even consider me when making decisions, and while I know everything is ultimately up to you, I really didn’t count on feeling so insignificant. I’m not one to brag, but I was at the top of my class. I guess I just expected more.”
Now I was embarrassed. Of course, he expected more. He had originally been assigned to Coreen Bendura, Grim’s late second-in-command. There was no higher honor. Grim had turned Kevin over to me as a punishment, but Kevin was the one suffering the most from the new arrangement. God, I was feeling just about tall enough to play handball with the curb.
“I know everything sucks right now, but I promise, it will get better. I’m going to pass this class tomorrow, and then you and I are going to go harvest a boatload of souls. You’ll have more harvests on your resume than you could ever imagine, and if you don’t care for the Posy Unit, maybe after a couple decades or so, we can switch over to freelancing medium-risk souls or something else. How’s that sound?”
Kevin gave me a timid smile. “That sounds nice.” Then he frowned again and blushed. “Would you mind if I stayed with you for a couple weeks? Just until I get another paycheck? I lost my apartment after my bonus from last fall ran out. I’ve been crashing at Josie’s, but I think it’s starting to become a problem for Jenni. She expects me to split the rent, and I just can’t right now, not until I go back to work.”
Wow. I had to be the shittiest mentor ever. While I was going to school to get qualified, Kevin had been out of work and waiting around for me while his savings dwindled. I was a total jerk.
A distant memory hit me suddenly. Saul Avelo, my late mentor, had brought me home with him the evening of the Oracle Ball after I had been announced as his apprentice. He wasn’t very happy about the arrangement, and it had been hard for him not to take it out on me. Even through all his resentment, he had still made up a room for me, and I lived with him for nearly a decade before finding my own place.
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