Reaper Dreaming: A Reaper Novel

by Christie Palmer

  Elle peaked around the end of the van then turned back to Elle, “I think we are about to find out.” Grabbing Elle’s hand she jogged to the front of the van. “Are you ready?”

  Lailah waited until Elle nodded. The two woman took off toward the warehouse blending into the shadows, Lailah prayed the guys wouldn’t notice they were missing until it was too late. She also hoped a plan would form because she had no idea what the hell she was doing.

  Elle stopped her when they got close to the warehouse, “Camera’s,” she said pointing to several cameras. Lailah looked to where she pointed.

  Lailah searched her brain and then smiled, raising her hand she flicked her wrist and the camera moved pointing in a different direction.

  “Cool trick.” Elle said, and then they were moving again. They came across several more cameras and Lailah turned them all so they moved past each one. The first locked door they came to Lailah placed her hand against the lock and the lock tumbled and opened, “You are so handy,” Elle laughed quietly. Lailah quietly pushed the door open and they slipped into the warehouse and came face to face with one of Banners men. He immediately pulled a gun and stuck it into Elle’s face.

  A scream bubbled up from Lailah’s throat when Elle’s eyes turned golden and the man suddenly dropped his gun his eyes drooped like he was having a hard time keeping them open.

  “Tired,” Elle said quietly. The man nodded once and leaned against the wall, sliding down he slumped over closing his eyes and was sound asleep in a matter of seconds.

  “Cool trick,” Lailah whispered.

  Elle turned to Lailah a smile playing at the corners of her lips, “It only worked because he was so tired to begin with, but, yes, cool none the less. Better than guns blazing.”

  Elle and Lailah jogged to the first hallway and Elle leaned around the corner, “It’s clear.”

  Lailah put her hand on Elle’s shoulder. “We should have a plan from here shouldn’t we?”

  Elle’s eyes bugged out. “You don’t have a plan?”

  “Um, I really didn’t think we would make it this far, did you?” Lailah said honestly.

  Elle released a breath, “No, not really.”

  “So what now?” Lailah said.

  “Maybe we should have a weapon,” Elle said. And went back to the sleeping guard.

  Taking all the weapons the guard had Elle gave each of them a gun and Elle kept the wicked looking knife, “Do you know how to use a knife?” Lailah asked.

  “I’m better with the knife than I am with the gun actually.” Elle said honestly. “Tabitha taught me.” Elle’s voice caught as she said it.

  “You are one up on me,” Lailah said. Looking at the gun she held. Elle shook her head and took the gun and flipped a switch on the side, and then handed it back to Lailah, “Okay I just turned the safety off, don’t point it at me. Just pull the trigger and you're good to go.” Lailah wasn’t sure if it was a good idea her being armed.

  “Okay if we see a bad guy and we don’t have time to use our gifts, then shot first?” Elle asked. Lailah nodded, everything was real now. But she was here to save Hunter.

  They moved forward weapons in hand.

  * * *

  “Elle?” Victor looked up. Now they had a plan to move in things were going to go fast. “Elle?”

  “Where is Lailah?” Christian asked, now looking around as well.

  Victor focused and then swearing he pushed passed his brothers, “They’re in the fucking warehouse without us.” Falcon and Marcus grabbed Victor before he barreled into the warehouse. “What the fuck where they thinking?”

  Celeste burst out laughing, “For once the females went with their hearts, dammit I wish they would have included me.”

  Victor turned to his sister, “Have you lost your mind?”

  “I have one word for you, immortal,” Celeste said crossing her arms over her chest. “Out of all of us don’t you think they are the most equipped to go into this fight?”

  “Fuck no,” Victor thundered. Trying to wrestle out of the hold Falcon and Marcus still had on him. “I don’t give a rat’s ass if Elle is immortal, we’re all immortal you dumb ass. She is taking on a fight she shouldn’t have to.”

  “Don’t make me tie your ass up,” Falcon swore.

  “Don’t make me kick yours,” Victor said getting right into Falcons face.

  “Bigger men than you,” Falcon said right back.

  “Anyone want to see what the women are doing?” Bowen said shutting them all up.

  They all crowded around the screen Bowen had turned toward them, “How did you get this feed?” Victor asked.

  “I hacked Banners feed while we tried to decide what we were going to do,” Bowen said with a shrug.

  “You are scary smart,” Victor said with a shake of his head. “One day you are going to take over the world aren’t you?”

  Bowen snorted, “Let’s start with getting are brothers back shall we?”

  Victor slapped him on the back and turned back to the screen, just as Lailah looked up at the screen and then raised her hand and the video screen turned from her. “What the fuck,” Victor growled.

  Bowen muttered something, “They should be coming around the corner here.” He pointed at the monitor again, and sure enough, the girls came around the corner but the same thing happened, this time, Elle pointed at the camera and Lailah raised her hand and the camera turned moving so it wasn’t pointed at them.

  Victor swore again, “Do you think Banner has figured out they are there yet?”

  Bowen shook his head, “I would think he would have set his men on them if he had, and he hasn’t raised an alarm. They are moving slow and Lailah is moving those cameras fast.”

  The next set of cameras moved before the girls even came around the corner. Celeste snickered from where she stood, “At least they are learning as they go.”

  “Get your shit we are moving in,” Victor said.

  But Marcus grabbed him, “Maybe we should let them go. They are doing what we as a large group could not,” Marcus said with a calm Victor was not feeling. In fact, he was ready to tear Marcus limb from limb.

  “That’s not your woman in there. Besides Hunter is going to have my balls on a spit when he finds out Lailah is in there without proper backup. And you do not want to know what I am going to do to Elle when I get my hands on her. So no, I am not leaving Elle and Lailah to Banners men,” Victor growled.

  “I have an idea,” Falcon offered, obviously trying to avoid any kind of physical altercation between Victor and Marcus. “Let’s see how far they get, then we can create a diversion for them. We will be their backup.”

  “Are you insane?” Victor was going to kill them all. “So they can get further into that insane warehouse?”

  “It’s not a bad idea,” Celeste said.

  “You want to help them?” Victor asked turning to Celeste.

  Celeste touched Victor’s shoulder, “Take a breather, Victor. Elle wouldn’t just jump in without thinking. She is a demi-god and not powerless, give her the benefit of the doubt here.”

  Victor was ready to kill them all, his mate, his woman was running straight into harm and they wanted him to just stand out here and do nothing, actually no they wanted him to make a diversion so Elle could run head first into further danger. Victor tried to breathe past the lump in his throat, tried to breathe past the constriction making it nearly impossible for him to breathe at all.

  “When this is all over I am taking Elle and you are all not allowed to ever bother us again, do you understand me?” Victor snapped making eye contact with his siblings. When they each nodded he turned and glared at the warehouse, “Just tell me when it is time.”

  * * *

  Hunter watched Tabitha as she checked Skylar again. “One of the bullets has worked its way out.” She said holding the bullet up for Hunter. “That’s a good thing right?”

  Hunter didn’t know but he thought a positive answer would help to sooth her, “I
am sure he will wake soon.”

  But Skylar was so pale he wasn’t sure if the bullets hadn’t caused some serious internal damage, and Hunter just wasn’t sure.

  Tabitha looked up at Hunter and he could see the hopelessness in her eyes, and he wanted to say something to remove the look in her eyes but he didn’t know what to say, didn’t have the words to make it better, for the first time in his existence he felt the hopelessness folding in on him. He took a deep breath and there it was just on the edge he thought he could smell Lailah.

  His head snapped up.

  “What?” Tabitha asked.

  Hunter shook his head, he had to be wrong. He took another breath and there it was stronger this time. He was going to kill his brothers if they had brought her into this hell hole.

  “Tell me,” Tabitha demanded.

  Hunter motioned to the cameras with his chin. And Tabitha nodded understanding what he was saying, he wouldn’t say anything with the cameras on them. If he could smell Lailah she had to be close, and if the alarm hadn’t been raised then Banner didn’t know she was close.

  There was a creak from the door, down the corridor. “Don’t make a move.” Hunter snarled to Tabitha. Tabitha froze in her spot, and Hunter could tell it was taking everything she had not to move to see who was coming down the hall.

  When a head peaked around the cell, Hunter started swearing a blue streak. Then the camera moved so it was pointing down and Tabitha sprung to her feet.

  “Elle!” Tabitha rushed to the bars. “What the hell!”

  Hunter was frozen as Elle rushed and threw her arms around Tabitha threw the bars. “Gods above and below. Are you hurt?”

  Lailah was behind Elle. She was looking at Hunter, “Hunter.” Her eyes were full of tears. She placed a hand on the cell door and it sprung open. Hunter wasn’t surprised she had gone through her transition while he had been holed up in this hell hole. Lailah looked so beautiful glowing in her white glory, she rushed into the cell and threw herself at him. Nocking the air right out of him.

  “Lailah, where are my brothers?” Hunter asked.

  Lailah pulled away from him, “Where are you hurt?” she asked running her hands over him.

  “I don’t want to release the chains because I think they are holding you up. I need to heal you first,” Lailah said ignoring his question. Her touch was both a balm and torture at the same time.

  “Are they behind you guarding the doors?” Hunter asked. He couldn’t feel them. One of her hands moved to his ribs and a warmth infused him while a glow of lite from her hands started to heal him.

  “Lailah look at me,” Hunter snapped.

  Finally, her eyes met his, “I need to heal you, Hunter,” Lailah said as diamond-like tears ran down her face.

  Hunters breathing eased, and she cupped his face, Hunter allowed her to heal him so he could see her clearly. Once it was done and he could see her clearly he took a moment to just drink her in.

  “What?” Tabitha shouted. Elle clasped her hand over Tabitha’s mouth after her outburst and looked at Hunter her eyes rounded as Tabitha tried to claw Elle’s hands away.

  Hunter had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach and he glared at Lailah, “You came here alone didn’t you?” Hunter asked. Tabitha was nodding her head still trying to get Elle to release her. Lailah wasn’t looking him in the eye anymore as she moved about healing his injuries. “Release me and go heal Skylar, I’ll be fine.”

  “Hunter, let me explain,” Lailah said.

  “Don’t,” Hunter said. He needed a moment to gather himself. Lailah reached for the chains and released the locks. She had healed the majority of his wounds and the rest would heal now the cursed chains were off. Hunter was going to kill his brothers for allowing Lailah to do this, and then Hunter was going to lock Lailah away for doing something so stupid. And as for Elle, he actually felt sorry for her. Victor was going to be pissed as hell.

  Lailah knelt down and placed her hands on Skylar and Hunter watched as the color returned to the Tracker. He was glad to see Skylar turn back to normal, his internal injuries must have been pretty severe. Within seconds, Skylar’s eyes flickered open. Then he sat up with a jerk and looked around.

  “What happened?” Skylar asked.

  “You’re an idiot,” Tabitha snapped at him. “Do you realize you should be dead right now? You…you…idiot!”

  Skylar looked down at his bare chest and then back up at Tabitha, then laid back down. “Shit.”

  “That’s all you have to say? Shit? I should kick your ass,” Tabitha snapped.

  “Yeah, you probably should.” Skylar agreed.

  “Don’t agree with me,” Tabitha burst out.

  “Okay,” Skylar said.

  Lailah laughed and then moved to the women in the corner, “Can I help you?” Lailah asked gently.

  “We just want to get out of here,” One of them said.

  “Can you walk?” Lailah asked. They both nodded. “Then let’s get out of here.”

  “I don’t think so,” Banner said. Everyone jumped. Banner stood at the door of the cell a gun pointed at Elle. “And who do we have here?” Banner asked locking eyes on Elle.

  Elle gave him a sweet smile, “Lailah’s new Guardian.” Elle glared at Banner.

  Banner’s eyes narrowed, “She got a new Guardian?”

  “She’s very special, so yes she got a new Guardian,” Elle said keeping her sweet smile in place the entire time. “you don’t think the powers that be would just leave Lailah unprotected do you? That would be very stupid Banner. Are you stupid, Banner?”

  Banner visible bristled. “How did you get this far without my noticing?” Banner asked.

  “I’m a very special Guardian,” Elle said. “For a very special Guard.”

  “Did you really think you would be able to just walk in and then walk back out?” Banner asked.

  “Well… we almost did just that. Now didn’t we,” Elle said with a causal shrug of her shoulders. “So yes actually we thought we could.”

  Lailah looked up at the camera and sent up a silent pray she moved the camera so it was pointing up again. Please, please, please, she silently prayed be watching.

  Banner looked around the cell, his focus moving from Hunter to Lailah then back to Elle. “Tell me what Lailah is, why is she so important?” Banner demanded.

  “Why don’t you tell me why the Tribunal is so interested in the Guardians and then I’ll tell you why Lailah is so important,” Elle said. “A little tit, for tat. As they say.”

  Banner laughed and shook his head, “Doesn’t work that way, sweetheart.” He motioned behind him and four of his men moved in.

  “I’m not your sweetheart. And calling me that will get you killed.” Elle told him.

  Lailah stood and moved so she was standing next to Hunter she still had the gun from earlier tucked into the waistband of her jeans she pulled up the back of her shirt so Hunter could see it. She felt him press against her and then she felt the gun move from her jeans.

  “I want some answers very quickly. And I have the means to kill each of you with a word. So I will have those answers now,” Banners men pulled out weapons and pointed them each at a different person in the cell.

  Elle raised her hand, her smile never faltering. “And how do you plan to get your answers when we all lay dead at your feet Banner? James must not have told you much of the Guardians if he didn’t tell you we die. However, I will come back, the Angels will make sure of that, I have a pure soul. Oh, and Lailah will come back her soul is pure, they are just waiting for her. So you see we have no qualms about dying here today. As for the Reaper, he is immortal it will take more than your mortal weapons to kill him. As for the Daughters of Eve, those are unfortunate casualties in this war. So take the rest and we will go to the Angels.”

  Lailah wasn’t sure what game Elle was playing but by the look, Banner gave her she could tell he was questioning his strategy. “I’ll take your soul before the Angels can have it,” he
said.

  “Will you?” Elle asked. “With that thing you have, that Reaper.” She used her fingers as quotation marks to indicate her displeasure of the thing he considered a Reaper. “Our souls are free Banner and they will remain so after you kill us.”

  “You have so little care for your companions?” Banner asked.

  Elle laughed and it was a hollow sound even to Lailah’s ears, “I am a Guardian Banner, Lailah’s Guardian. My only concern is for her soul, and if that means dying for her, or even killing her to keep her soul from you I will do it. I answer to a higher power, and that power isn’t you or the Tribunal,” Elle said lifting her chin.

  If Lailah didn’t know better she would have been terrified of Elle at that moment, the demi-god was terrifying in her power. Banner should be quaking in his boots about now.

  Banner opened his mouth to say something when the entire building shook. Hunter wrapped his arms around Lailah as dust floated down around them.

  “Holy hell,” Lailah coughed. As another explosion shook the entire building.

  “Find out what’s going on,” Banner shouted. And two of his men took off, Elle hadn’t moved but Tabitha had and she stood pressed against Elle with the long looking knife now in her palm. Another explosion rocked them and the cells across from them collapsed.

  “Stay close to the woman, we are getting the fuck out of here,” Hunter whispered down to her. Lailah nodded.

  “Looks like your little hide away is no longer a hideaway.” Elle told him.

  For the first time, Banner actually looked like he wanted to flee and took a step back. “James promised me Guardians.”

  Elle stepped up, “Why did you attack the Daughters of Eve?”

  Banner narrowed his eyes, “Why would you care about that?” Banner looked from Elle to Lailah. Another explosion. And Banner was pushing past the line of his men. “Kill the women.” But his men were looking from Elle to Banner and back again.

  “James made promises he couldn’t keep and now he is screaming for mercy in the pits of Treachery. You will soon be joining him. Guardians are not for sale,” Hunter said

  Elle then turned her eyes on the men standing with Banner. “Your emotions betray you, you no longer want this fight. Scurry away like the cowards you are.”