by Nicky Graves
Grim Lost
Reaper Files
Nicky Graves
Grim Lost
By Nicky Graves
Published by Nicky Graves at Pierced Heart Publishing
Grim Lost is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2021 by Nicky Graves
Edited by Amber Barry
Cover by Covers by Christian
All rights reserved.
1st Edition, License Notes
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
To Booboo.
Contents
Books by Nicky Graves
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Grim Gone
About the Author
Books by Nicky Graves
Books by Nicky Graves
Grim Girl
Grim Life
Grim Lost
Grim Gone
Prologue
Supreme Elder Buzzarly was infuriated. He had done everything in his power to stop the female from becoming a reaper. Now, she was causing turmoil by not only splitting the council into those loyal to the Grim Reaper and those who thought it was time for a change, but now the Grim Reaper himself was standing before him. He did not look happy.
“I grow tired of the council’s bumbling,” Azrael said as he glared down at Buzzarly, who was seated at the desk.
Black smoke from Azrael’s robe curled along the floor. Snakes formed in the tendrils. They snapped and hissed at Buzzarly.
“I gave you what you desired,” Azrael said. “To become the supreme elder. I only asked one thing of you in return. To take care of Riley Graves once and for all. You have failed me.”
“But it’s not my fault. I’ve done everything in my power to stop her.”
“Then your power is weak. Perhaps it’s time to find a new supreme elder. One that can handle a mere girl.”
Mere girl? Buzzarly might have thought that in the past. Not anymore. Riley was no mere girl. She had broken out of a prison no one had ever escaped from. And, she had bonded with two life stones. The fact that she had gained so much power in such a short time was frightening. If Buzzarly wasn’t careful, he’d have both Azrael and Riley breathing down his neck. That was one position Buzzarly didn’t want to be in.
While Buzzarly was loyal to Azrael, Azrael was growing unstable. Now that Azrael had the black life stone in his possession, Buzzarly had been getting reports of mass killings all over the universe. He hoped it was just coincidence. But Buzzarly knew Azrael’s capabilities.
“What do you ask of me?” Buzzarly said.
“Finish her.”
“I do not have the power to stop her.”
Azrael glowered. “Your time here is dwindling.”
Buzzarly let out a whimper as Azrael loomed over him.
“What about Lucifer?” Buzzarly asked, grasping for anything that would save him. “Can’t you utilize him for a common goal? Surely he doesn’t want Riley to come into power. And he already gave you the black stone. An alliance between you two would benefit everyone. Yes, an alliance.” Buzzarly nodded quickly as if his plan was perfect.
Azrael’s glare deepened. “You would align yourself with Lucifer?”
“Only to use him and his demons.”
Azrael straightened. “Very well, Buzzarly. If you think this is such a good idea, go to the demon realm and speak to Lucifer on my behalf.”
“The demon realm?” Buzzarly squeaked. “But—” He stopped when Azrael grew impatient. Buzzarly knew the only way to appease Azrael was to speak to Lucifer. However, going to the dark lands in the demon realm was a suicide mission.
A smoke snake curled around Buzzarly’s torso, slithering its way up to eye level. Two red eyes stared at him, begging for him to defy his master’s command.
“I will go,” Buzzarly said, defeated. “I’ll go speak to Lucifer.”
Azrael grinned. “I will expect a report from you.”
Buzzarly nodded, knowing he was doomed.
If Riley Graves had stayed in prison, none of this would have happened. She would pay dearly for this. If he was going down, he’d make sure she went with him.
1
I peered into the damp cave that seemed to be cloaked in an inky black darkness. It reminded me of the dark lands in the demon realm, and that made my heart sink heavily. Even months after Ranger’s death, I still had nightmares.
And I still missed him.
It didn’t help that after Ranger’s funeral I had left Lawson behind. His presence would have been a comfort, but I had already placed Lawson in danger multiple times. I would not have him meet the same end as Ranger.
My only hope to save everyone from Azrael’s wrath was the mortal blade. But I had been searching for the mortal blade for months now. Every lead was a dead-end.
This cave was my last hope.
“Well, go on,” Wiltone said, standing just behind me. She wound her fiery red hair around her finger as she waited for me.
One would think having two life stones would have trumped a single black stone. But Treble the Blue mostly laid dormant inside of me, coming out to grumble when he was unhappy or cause havoc when he was angry. Thankfully, he was too lazy to give me much grief. And Wiltone the Red was only helpful if one wanted passion.
Which I didn’t.
At least not at the moment.
My wayward thoughts drifted to Lawson, who had been in a knock-out fight with Vance the last time I saw him.
“Your thoughts are straying,” Wiltone said with a smile in her voice.
It was hard having two life stones listening in on every thought.
“Mind your own business,” I said.
“Just admit you miss them,” she said.
“Lawson was helpful more often than not. So, yes, I miss him.”
“And Vance?”
“I don’t miss him.”
“Not even a little?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“He claimed me without consulting me. I don’t miss him.”
Whatever old magic Vance had used when he claimed me to save me from Juliette’s fury was working its evilness. I felt the claim clutching at me. Just like I felt the life stones that were bonded to me. My body was becoming quite crowded.
“You feel his claim,” she said. “I feel it too. It’s becoming difficult to ignore. Like a magnetic pull that makes me want to . . .” She sighed. “I know you said I have to keep my passion in check. And I have been. But Vance’s claim on you is growing stronger. Why don’t you take a break and go see him? He has to be miserable if he feels th
e same pull.”
“This will all be over once I find the mortal blade.”
Vance’s claim was until death do us part. And I had a feeling that even with the mortal blade, I might die. Azrael was too strong for me. Therefore, why worry about the claim?
Wiltone pouted. “Not even a quick hello and a peck on the cheek? You should really check up on him.”
“Why? He didn’t even ask if I wanted to be claimed.”
“He saved you from Juliette. She was going to send the demon Bornor after you. You know what he can do to reapers.”
I didn’t need the reminder. I had heard stories about Bornor. He could destroy a reaper’s body to the point it couldn’t recover. The reaper would just live in a horrendous purgatory-like existence. I’d rather face Azrael than Bornor.
“Vance made the claim without my consent,” I said. “He can suffer for a little bit. I have more important things to worry about now.”
“You’re right. It was wrong of Vance. But he’s a protector at heart. You can’t fault him for that.”
“Vance? A protector? He’s a vampire who bit me when we first met.”
“That’s what vampires do. But he married Lawson’s fiancé when Lawson died. He did it to protect Elizabeth and the unborn baby.”
“And then he left her alone so he could become a vampire. Those same vampires killed Elizabeth.”
“He feels terrible about that. However, it’s not like Vance killed her.”
“Even if Vance is a protector, that doesn’t make me want to jump on the back of his white horse and gallop off into the sunset. Besides, right now, the most important thing for me to do is find the mortal blade.”
But I was starting to doubt that I could find it.
I looked at the cave. “Do you think it’s in there?” I asked.
“That’s why we’re here,” Wiltone said. “To find out.”
“Our leads are getting worse.”
Wiltone nodded. “But don’t worry. Treble will help you out if you get into a jam.”
Treble’s help was either explosive or nonexistent.
“Well, I’ll help you out,” she said, nudging me closer to the opening.
As I walked forward, I took my flashlight out from one of my many pockets.
Over the last few months, my clothes had gone from no-fuss jeans to black cargo pants with pockets galore. It was Wiltone’s best find. Although she hated the pants. Said they had no ounce of femininity. But I didn’t care. I wasn’t trekking through realms to show off my fashion.
However, I did allow her to make one modification to my wardrobe since she kept sighing in dismay every time she looked at me in the offending pants. That modification was a nauseatingly pink tank top with sparkly letters that stated “Hot Reaper.” Since my contact with the outside world was limited, I agreed to wear it.
“Go on,” she said, nudging me closer.
“I’m going.”
I didn’t know why I was hesitant when it came to this cave. Worst-case scenario, I’d get mauled by a bear. It’d hurt a heck of a lot, but I wouldn’t die.
Still . . .
“Don’t be afraid,” Wiltone said.
“Says the person who is trembling.”
“I never claimed to be brave.”
“You’re a life stone. You should be brave.”
“And you’re a reaper, daughter of Azrael. You should be brave too.”
Touché.
Hesitantly, I stepped into the mouth of the cave. The light from the flashlight bounced off the shiny damp walls. I followed the path in, straining to hear sounds of my impending doom. It was silent except for a dripping sound that came from deep inside.
I had hoped it was a short cave, but maybe it was one of those caverns that would go on forever. I didn’t fear getting lost. I could always shift out of the cave if I had to. But I did fear what I would find or not find. I guess it was the fear of the unknown that kept my steps small and my flashlight scanning the dark space.
It took about ten minutes before I found a place where the cave opened into a cavern so large my light beam was lost to never-ending darkness.
“We have to check,” Wiltone said. “Keep going.”
“The mortal blade better be here,” I muttered.
I was hoping she’d tell me I could leave. It was eerie being in a space so large that my flashlight was useless. There could be bears, or wolves, or bats . . . or Azrael.
“Azrael won’t be in here,” Wiltone said as she read my thoughts. “He’d send a blank reaper instead.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
Blank reapers were shells of their former selves. Lost in the vast expanse of time and death, they no longer shepherded souls, but killed for pleasure. In a way, they had lost their souls.
“Would it make you feel better if I said I knew for certain the blade was here?” Wiltone asked.
“Yes. Is it?”
“I don’t know. But think positive thoughts.”
“I’m pretty positive I’m going to be mauled by something.”
She sighed. “Well, come on. Let’s get it over with. After this, I’m going to need a serious mani-pedi.”
She inspected her pink fingernails with a pout. It was strange thinking she was a life stone since she looked like a supermodel.
“How come Treble is all smoky and ghost-like, but you look like regular flesh and blood?”
Wiltone shrugged, flipping her red hair off her shoulder. “We all take different forms. It’s just who we are.”
“What kind of form does Basole the Black take?”
She shrugged again. “Basole is hard to contain. I’m sure the reason we haven’t seen Azrael yet is because he’s still trying to control Basole.”
“What happens if Azrael isn’t able to control him?”
“Basole will consume Azrael.”
“Consume . . . as in kill?” That would make my job easier.
“It would be like if a demon took over your body. In a normal human, the person’s soul would be kicked out and then the demon takes over. But in an immortal, they would have to coexist. Basole might not be able to kick out Azrael, but Azrael wouldn’t have power over Basole.”
“And would Basole be dangerous?”
“He’s fury, hate, and rage. He’s horrid.”
“So why didn’t Ranger take over my body before he died?” I asked. “We could have co-mingled for a bit. It would have kept him alive until we had a chance to find a body for him.”
“I don’t think he wanted to do that to you. And there wasn’t much time.”
“No. It happened so fast.”
I glanced out into the blackness. Well, if Azrael was still trying to work with Basole, I might have a slim opportunity. Azrael would be vulnerable as he used all his energy to tame the life stone.
I followed the cavern on the left side, navigating it by the cold wall.
Five minutes later I sensed something wasn’t right. My skin prickled. Someone or something was near.
“Hello?” I called as I scanned the area with my flashlight.
There was no answer. Wiltone grabbed my arm and clung to me. Treble remained dormant inside of me. I really needed better life stones.
“I heard that,” Wiltone scolded.
I sighed.
“Hello?” I said again. “I know someone is here. Stop being a jerk and show yourself.”
Someone laughed. It was a masculine sound.
“Still trying to find the mortal blade?” he asked.
“Who are you?”
“A friend.”
I nearly snorted. “Then show yourself.”
Truly, I didn’t want to know who belonged to the voice, because I knew for certain they were no friend of mine. Still, it was better to know who was in the cave with me than having them lurk in the dark.
A figure stepped closer. It wasn’t until a few seconds later that I was able to make out his face. Sun-kissed skin and windswept hair. A casu
al surfer inside a foreign cave.
Lucifer.
I immediately felt several emotions. Fear, dread, anger . . .
“Miss me?” A smile curled onto his lips. It was unnerving how he could make himself look like a regular man. One who didn’t have horns or a tail. One who had sandy brown hair and engaging green eyes.
I wanted to say many things to him, yet nothing came out. Not one word about how much I hated him. Not about how cruel and horrible he was. Nothing.
I glared at him instead.
“Don’t get your feelings all in an uproar,” he said. “I’m here to help.”
“Like how you helped kill Ranger?”
He shrugged. “One person’s help is another person’s devastation.”
“Go devastate someone else. I’m at my quota.”
He smiled again. “I’ll decide that.”
There was no way I was going to stand here and take whatever abuse Lucifer dished out. I’d just have to look for the mortal blade later. Right now, it was time to leave.
I attempted to shift back into the safety of my pod in the dead zone, but nothing happened.
Lucifer smiled again. This time his smile was predatory. “Trying to leave so soon?”
“What do you want? To kill me too?”
“Is that what you want? To die?”
“Is that what anyone wants?” I asked sarcastically.
“You’d be surprised to know the answer to that.”
“Well, I don’t want to die.”
“Then what do you want?”