Reaper Dreaming: A Reaper Novel

by Christie Palmer

  “Why would he be stupid enough to add a piece of himself to it? I would think someone wouldn’t want to be caught by leaving such an easy trial,” Eric said.

  “This is the Tribunal, they think they are above the laws,” Hunter swore.

  Skylar snorted, “No they think they are the laws. Which makes them way more dangerous. It also explains why all victims we have come across so far have been torched it has gotten rid of all the evidence in the brand that could be used to find them.”

  “Makes sense.” Hunter had to agree with the Tracker.

  “So what are we waiting for then?” Skylar asked, "Point me to the last place you saw him and I can get started."

  “Hold up,” Celeste said speaking up for the first time. “This is too easy. Something isn’t right.”

  Hunter turned to his sister, her instincts were typically on point. “What?”

  “Why would he take Lailah and then just send her back? Telling her he would take her again? Leave a piece of himself in the brand? It sounds like some kind of trap to me. Banner knows who Lailah is being protected by. It’s just too simple.” Hunter had to give it to Celeste she was thinking of the big picture Hunter wanted to pick her up and hug her.

  “She has a point,” Eric pointed out. “Who is the guy again?”

  “Guy named Lincoln Banner, told Lailah he worked for the Chicago PD a detective,” Hunter explained.

  Eric pulled out his phone and made a call, walking into the kitchen as he spoke.

  “Hunter, can I talk to you?” Lailah asked him motioning down the hall with her head.

  Hunter nodded and followed her into her room. She was twisting her hands and he reached over and placed his hands over hers, “Calm down we will work this out.”

  Lailah gave him a smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Banner said he needed Jimmy. That Jimmy owed him something. That I had to tell him where Jimmy was, I didn’t tell him because it’s pointless, what do you think Jimmy owes him?”

  Hunter thought for a moment, “I have no idea. James said nothing to you about Banner or the police or the Tribunal?”

  Lailah rolled her eyes, “Of course not.”

  Lailah turned away from him and paced, “Do you think Jimmy tried to make a deal with Banner for me too?”

  Hunter felt like he was being kicked in the stomach, remembering what Jimmy had said about wanting to sell Lailah to the Tribunal. But Hunter pushed the thought out of his mind. “No, Jimmy didn’t have the kind of time to make a deal with the Tribunal, and a deal with Dante.

  “What if Banner takes me again?” Lailah said quietly.

  Hunter stopped Lailah’s pacing by placing a hand on her shoulders, “Tell that bastard the truth tell him I took Jimmy to the Infernos, to Treachery. And if wants Jimmy he will have to go through me to get him.”

  Lailah was already shaking her head, “It’s not going to work. Banner isn’t going to like that answer. You don’t know Banner, he is hard core, Hunter.”

  It was Hunter’s turn to shake his head. “Listen to me, Lailah. I am not afraid of Banner. I will do everything I can to protect you. Do you understand me?”

  Lailah nodded, but Hunter could tell she didn’t quite believe him. So to cement it he pulled her to him. “I will do everything in my power to protect you,” He said into her white/blonde curls.

  “How? Banner can just snatch me up. Right out of your arms, if he wants,” Lailah whispered into Hunters chest.

  Hunter shuddered just thinking about it. Hunter held her tighter, he didn’t know what he would do if she disappeared out from his arms. All he knew was he had to protect her, had to keep her safe. The urge pounded through him and deep into his soul.

  “If he takes you, Lailah, I will find you. Do you understand me?” Hunter wanted to shake her until she understood he would do everything in his control to find her and make it right. “Say the words, Lailah.”

  Lailah’s eyes filled with tears, and he knew she was scared, “What words?”

  “Say you will fight until I find you. That you know I will find you.” One large tear slipped from her left eye and ran down her cheek.

  Lailah swallowed then nodded, “I promise to fight.”

  “And?”

  “I promise to fight until you find me.” The words whispered from her lips as another tear slipped down her face.

  “Damn straight,” Hunter growled as his lips slipped down covering hers. Hunter knew Lailah was off limits she could never be truly his but Hunter couldn’t bring himself to stop. Hunter desperately wanted Lailah. Wanted to protect her and make her his, in a primal way. So Hunter stuffed the voices of reason deep down where he couldn’t hear them anymore and allowed his body to take over. And he kissed her, claiming her the only way he knew how.

  Hunter felt Lailah’s fingers grasp onto his shoulders, and he thrilled in the power he had over her. Scared shitless Lailah could be taken away from him any second Hunter picked her up and pressed her against the wall. His only thought was to satisfy this need his body had to ensure she was here, that for this second she was safe.

  “Hunter,” Lailah breathed against the side of his mouth. As she gasped for breathe.

  Hunter knew he was pressing her too hard, he pulled her shirt aside exposing the side of her neck as he pressed his mouth to Lailah’s throat and drug his lips against the pulse that beat there. For right now Lailah was safe. And he would do everything in his control to keep her that way. It was the only thing keeping him from flying into a rage and tearing this city apart looking for that mad man Banner and killing him.

  Lailah moaned softly driving Hunter just a little crazy with need and he pushed himself against her as he sucked on her neck where her shoulder and neck met, making Lailah moan again and again. Her legs came up and wrapped around Hunters hips. Connecting her heated core, she pressed it against Hunters rock hard cock. Hunter lost it and went nuts as he pressed back. His only thought now was to sink to the hilt deep inside of her.

  “I will do everything in my power to keep you safe,” Hunter moaned. And he meant every damn word.

  “Yes,” Lailah moaned back. “Skin.” The word came out broken, but Hunter knew what Lailah needed because he’d be damned if he didn’t need it to. Hunter was about to rip his shirt off when there was a knock on Lailah’s bedroom door.

  “Hunter,” It was Celeste.

  “What?” Hunter snarled.

  Hunter swore he heard Celeste laugh, as a sex demon he was sure Celeste could smell the pheromones coming from the Lailah’s bedroom. Hunter would have to kill his sister.

  “We have a couple of ideas we need to run past you and Lailah.” Celeste spoke through the door. Hunter was positive now he could hear the humor in his sister’s voice.

  “Give us five,” Hunter barked. Trying to drag a breath in without dying from the passion currently killing him. He turned to Lailah, her eyes were closed and her head was leaned back against the wall. “We need to get moving.”

  When Lailah opened her eyes, she looked sad. “Can’t you just kick them all out for an hour?”

  Hunter would have laughed but he didn’t think she would appreciate it. “An hour wouldn’t be long enough,” Hunter said kissing Lailah on the nose. He let her slide to the floor and adjusted her clothing.

  “You okay?” he asked and when she nodded he opened the door and followed her out to the living room. Glaring at his brothers and sister and the amusement on their faces.

  * * *

  “Wait, what?” Lailah asked. Turning to Uriel and asked him to repeat what he had said. “Can you repeat what your idea was again?”

  “No, you aren’t doing it,” Hunter said flatly.

  “You can’t just say no without hearing him out,” Lailah shook her head and glared at Hunter. “Besides, I want to hear the idea.”

  Lailah turned to Uriel, “Explain it to me please.”

  Uriel ignored Hunter and faced Lailah totally, “We can force your transition. I think if we do, it will
not only remove the brand but help us in the situation with Detective Banner. He won’t want you once you have completed your transition.”

  “Or maybe that is exactly what he is waiting for,” Hunter snapped.

  “Either way, once she has completed her transition she will be much too powerful for this Banner to hurt,” Uriel said triumphantly.

  Hunter crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Uriel, “For how long after her transition will she be completely and utterly helpless?” Hunter asked.

  Uriel glared at Hunter, “For hours, maybe a day at the most.”

  “And during that time what do you think Banner will do to her? If she happens to be in his possession? Branding her will be the least of her worries. No, forcing the transition is out of the question. Come up with another plan, Uriel.” Hunter emphasized his words by slapping the table they were all sitting around.

  “So we’re going to cut off my hand?” Lailah asked the group.

  Everyone at the table cringed, “I was joking,” Eric cringed. “We can put up wards to try and stop him from taking you. At the very least we will know when he has taken you.”

  Skylar snorted, “So a doorbell will chime when he has snatched her up? That’s nice. So we will all be notified when we have failed. Thanks, Eric. Ding dong you’re a dumbass. Love your plan already.” Skylar slapped the Druid on the back.

  Eric pushed the Tracker away, “We could all follow you into the trap this Banner is obviously setting up for us. And kick his ass when he takes you.”

  “Doesn’t anyone have any good news? Any good ideas?” Hunter asked.

  “Does anyone want to know what I think?” Lailah asked.

  Everyone turned to her, “Of course we do,” Uriel said with an encouraging smile.

  “Why don’t we ask Jimmy what they want? I bet he knows. Banner made it sound like he knew what was going on. You don’t have to pull him from Treachery to ask him, right?” Lailah asked.

  Hunter looked thoughtful then nodded, “No I don’t.”

  She gave him a large smile, “Then, there you go. Go ask him why Banner has such a hard on for him. Then we can go from there. If we know that, then maybe we have something to leverage with.”

  “She has a good point, you’re a smart angel,” Skylar said and gave Lailah a wink.

  “Something is horrible wrong when Skylar is the sensible one,” Marcus said, which made Celeste burst out laughing.

  “Did you just insult me?” Skylar asked turning to Marcus. Making several others laugh.

  * * *

  Hunter Flashed into his apartment in Treachery, he hated leaving Lailah. Although he had left her as protected as he could he wasn’t there so he felt she was vulnerable. But he was the only one besides Dante who could question a soul from Treachery, and he wanted the answers from James himself.

  Summoning an Abda, he explained what he wanted then he waited for James to make his appearance. He didn’t have to wait long.

  James was dragged into his apartment by the Abda after several long minutes. His clothes hung off his emaciated body in tatters. His eye were sunken in, and his skin now had a gray pallor to it. When his eyes fell on Hunter he immediately fell to his knees.

  Hunter was glad to see he had found humility in the time he had spent in Treachery, “You have answers I need,” Hunter told him.

  James’ head bobbed up and down quickly, “Anything.” His voice was dry as paper.

  “Get him some water,” Hunter said to the Abda, who swiftly complied.

  The Abda handed the water to James who grabbed at the glass spilling some in his haste. The Abda hissed, and James backed away from the Abda on all fours. Hunter motioned for the Abda to back off.

  “James, you will answer these questions or I will toss you into the deepest pit I can find in Treachery. If you think you have suffered yet you have no idea the amount of pain and anguish I can put you through. Do you understand me,” Hunter asked. Getting the Guardians attention.

  James looked up at him. Hunter tried to see the Guardian side of him, the light side of his soul anything that would redeem him. Anything Lailah saw in him showing he had something redeemable. But all he saw was the bleakness that condemed him in the first place. How had the Angels turned him into a Guardian in the first place?

  “What happened to you, James? Why did you turn from the light?” Hunter shouldn’t care, he had never cared before for any other souls he had condemned to Treachery. So why this one?

  James glared at Hunter, the defiance of the condemned shining through his desolation for just a moment. “Does it matter? Will it change my sentence? Will I get a reprieve?”

  “Answer my questions and find out, don’t answer them and it will mean worse torture.” Hunter was glad to see fear trip through his brown eyes. “You haven’t seen the worst Treachery has to offer James. Trust me, your sentence could be worse.” James shuddered and Hunter knew he had finally gotten through to the man.

  “Have you met the Angels?” James asked with obvious disgust. “Have you interacted with them? Played their petty games?”

  Hunter didn’t answer, and James didn’t seem to need an answer as he continued. “They sit in the Elysian Fields lording their powers and gifts over the lessors.” James spat. “The Guardians, would be the lesser by the way. Oh and the Guards we are sent to watch? They are just a step above us Guardians.”

  “So those are the reasons you sold out your Guard?” Hunter asked.

  James laughed, which sent him into a spat of dry coughs. Hunter stood there as James coughed and laughed. It was a dry sound, and Hunter wondered if the coughing spell was going to send the man to the floor.

  When he could finally control himself James looked up at Hunter. “She was something special, Lailah.” James spat, “The Angels would have had a shit if they knew what I was doing with something so precious,” James sneered.

  It took everything Hunter had not to crush James into a crimson stain on the floor. But he hadn’t finished answering his questions yet.

  “You care so little for the person you were created to protect above all others?” Hunter asked.

  “No one cared for me.” James spat, “I had to look out for myself.”

  Hunter couldn’t control himself any longer and he pounced. James didn’t even see it coming. Hunter nailed James to the floor with a forearm to the throat, he straddled James across the stomach, his eyes turned to the size of saucers.

  “Lailah cared for you, she still does. Even now she pleads for your soul. The misplaced love of a friend. If she could hear you now I am sure even she would give up on you,” Hunter growled.

  James sputtered unable to speak with Hunters forearm pressed against his throat. “Now I will ask you some very specific questions and you will answer them. If you don’t give me the answers I will send you to the most tortures pits Treachery has to offer do you understand me?”

  James tried to nod but it was almost impossible. But it was enough for Hunter to know he was agreeing. “Do you know Detective Banner?”

  If James’ eyes could have bugged out more they did at the mention of Banners name. “I will take that as a yes. What does he want?”

  James mumbled incoherently. And Hunter was forced to climb off the man so he could answer. “He works for the Tribunal, he is an Inquisitor. And if he is sniffing around you have big problems. Or should I say, Lailah has big problems.” Maybe it was the way he said it, but Hunter backhanded the Guardian.

  “Answer the question.” Hunter snapped.

  James lay on the floor, “I promised him Lailah. And to lead him to all other Guardians. They don’t know who the Guardians are, the Tribunal can’t detect them. I was going to lead them to all the Guardians, and their Guards. Starting with Lailah.”

  “You bastard. She isn’t a piece of meat to be bartered with. Do you have any idea what she is?” Hunter thundered, causing the Abda in the corner to scuttle away.

  “It doesn’t matter, what she is. All that matter
ed is the Angels wanted her. She was important to them.”

  Hunter was left dumbfounded. For the first time in his life, James was being honest. And it was condemning him straight to the darkest pits Treachery had to offer.

  Hunter grabbed him and slammed him against the wall, “She is meant to be an Angel you imbecile, and she could have saved your soul. And she would have don’t it to, because she cares about you. You fool.” James’ eyes bulged at Hunters proclamation. “But you were too busy damning it yourself to care about her.”

  Hunter grabbed James by the cuff of his ratty shirt and dragged him toward the door, James started babbling making promises he knew he couldn’t keep. Trying to make deals with Hunter, but Hunter was no longer listening. James had nothing Hunter wanted to hear. All the information he needed he had heard, James was rotten to the core and he had nothing left to redeem.

  Hunter drug James to the front door of his apartment and threw the door open. Hunter Flashed them to the darkest pits of Treachery, and he vaguely heard James moan, “Your moment of reprieve is over,” Hunter said, “You are more than deserving of your current sentence.”

  James grasped at Hunters' hands, “Not the pits,” James cried.

  “While you languish here for eternity James remember this, Lailah loved you as a brother and would have redeemed your soul no matter what you did to her. But you came across me first. Did you ever give Lailah a moment’s pity when you attempted to sell her?” Hunter asked.

  James looked Hunter dead in the eyes as he lied for the last time. So Hunter felt no pity as he tossed him into the pits of Treachery. With the screams and cries for pity of the other damned souls there. James tumbled down and his cries mixed with the many other souls there. Hunter stood there for several minutes until James’ body was swallowed by the masses. He tried but couldn’t bring himself to feel even an ounce of remorse for the lost Guardian.

  Returning to his apartment, he cleaned himself up. He would have liked to return directly to Lailah, but knew he smelled of sweat and deceit. It was something he was used to but he couldn’t bring himself to take it back to Lailah. A constant reminder of exactly who and what he was. Something she would never understand. She was light, and goodness, and he was the closest thing she would ever come to hell itself. He needed to remember that.