Grim Life: A reaper's tale (Reaper Files Book 2) Read online

  I tried not to compare Dane with Lawson, but I failed. The truth was, I had a hard time keeping my feelings for Lawson at bay. There was something magnetic about him. Something that called to me. With Dane, I felt a warm, tingly sensation. But with Lawson, it was more.

  “Is Charlie’s in the dead zone?” I asked, focusing on anything other than Lawson’s backside.

  “Yes,” he said, and then he scanned me, noticing the change from my usual attire. “Were you going out?”

  “I was already out. Boomer said you had information.”

  He nodded and headed to his bedroom. “Hang on.” He returned a moment later with a yellowed piece of paper. “I was in the library and found this.”

  He handed me the delicate paper. I studied it for a moment. My eyes caught on Treble’s name. When I read closer, it was the description of what someone believed to be each life stone’s power and characteristics. Treble was correctly labeled as moody, unstable, and explosive. There was a mark near Basole the Black’s traits, which included fury and pain.

  “I’m glad I’m not stuck with Basole,” I said. “We already have enough to deal with. Why is his name marked?”

  “Azrael has been missing. He’s not at his house, and no one has seen him. I think he might be after the other stones, specifically Basole.”

  “But the elders will stop him, right?”

  “They’ll try.”

  “How likely is it that they’ll succeed?”

  He didn’t say anything.

  My stomach flipped. I had really hoped I’d never have to deal with Azrael again. I mean, I knew I’d have to, but it was nice living in denial. Now I had to face facts. Azrael would not stop until I was gone.

  “So, what do I do?” I asked.

  “You need to work with Treble.”

  That sounded painful. “What do you mean ‘work with him’?”

  “If Azrael is successful at finding Basole or any of the other stones, it’s possible Treble can sway his brothers to rebel against Azrael.”

  “He can do that?”

  “It’s never been done before, but anything is possible. We have to try everything, because I have no doubt Azrael is already a few steps ahead of us. If he’s going to strike, it will be at full force.”

  “Where are the other crystals?” I asked.

  “No one knows.”

  “Does Azrael know?” I asked.

  “He would have already collected them if he did. But I guarantee he’s already started searching. Work with Treble. Find out as much as you can from him. He’s the only life stone we have access to.”

  “You did see his description, right?” I asked, holding up the paper. “Moody, unstable, and explosive.”

  Lawson nodded. “You have to try.”

  “Wouldn’t it be easier to ask the elders to hire extra guards?”

  “Azrael’s the king of death. Not many can stop him.”

  “You said ‘not many,’” I said. “That means someone can stop him. Who?”

  “There are a few, but I’m not even sure if they’re still alive.”

  “Who?”

  “The Guardians of Life. But even they are limited in their power against Azrael. They can’t kill Azrael. The guardians can only hold him.”

  “Like in jail?”

  “Something like that. But even if we could find the guardians, getting them to take a stance against Azrael would take a herculean effort.”

  “Why?”

  “Reapers are insignificant. Our problems, while huge to us, are petty to them. Our best hope is to find and protect the stones. And when that fails, we need Treble on our side.”

  “You know Treble wants me dead.”

  “Persuade him otherwise.”

  I groaned. Treble had said he considered himself retired and didn’t want to bother with me or my problems. But he also didn’t want to be a tool for Azrael either. Maybe I could reason with him. But first, I needed a game plan. Which Treble would know because he could understand everything I was thinking and feeling.

  Maybe I could catch Treble off guard somehow. Although he just heard me think that . . . this was never going to work. I needed a distraction.

  “So, are you going to take me to Charlie’s?” I asked Lawson.

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s no place for you,” he said.

  What the heck did that mean?

  “But it’s a place for you?” I questioned. When he didn’t answer, I said, “You know you’re only making me want to go more. I could ask Boomer to take me.”

  “Nice try. Boomer wouldn’t take you to the circus let alone Charlie’s.”

  “Fine. I’ll ask Vance,” I bluffed. Lawson didn’t much like the vampire sort, especially Vance.

  “Don’t joke,” he said. “The dead zone might be primarily a reaper’s realm, but there are others who hide out here. It’s not safe, especially not at Charlie’s where they drink.”

  “Not even Azrael has the power to kill me right now. I’m as safe as I’m going to get.”

  “Just because they can’t kill you doesn’t mean you’re safe. And I can guarantee Azrael has loyal thugs on retainer. And that’s just reapers. There are demons, vampires, succubi, and incubi. None of them can be trusted.”

  “If Charlie’s is so unsafe, why do you go there?”

  “For information.”

  I believed him for the most part. I didn’t think he’d lie just to keep his hangout private. But I couldn’t believe he only went there for information.

  “Do succubi hang out at Charlie’s?” I asked, fishing for other reasons he went there.

  He narrowed his eyes. “You’ve been hanging around Boomer too much.”

  “That’s true. I’d be happy to trade trainers.”

  “Not happening.”

  “And going to Charlie’s?”

  “Out of the question.”

  I frowned. “Can you at least show me my pod?”

  He didn’t say anything for a moment but then gave a nod. “Yeah, but just keep the location secret for now.”

  “Why? Azrael already knows where to find me.”

  “There’s a lot of interest in you. You shook up the reapers. Not much changed from day to day until you came along. Some are curious. Some are still living in the dark ages and think of women as property.”

  I was about to argue, but Lawson stepped near me and touched my hand, taking it in his. “Riley, only a few people know you’re the heir. If that information got out, it could cause additional unrest. Just keep your head down until we deal with Azrael. That means keeping your pod location a secret.” His gray eyes studied mine. “Promise me, and then I’ll show you your pod.”

  “I promise to keep my pod location a secret,” I said. I made sure to only promise about the pod. I had every intention of checking out Charlie’s. This was a new world to me, and I wanted to explore.

  We walked down two rows and then over five pods. Next to a worn, red portal door was a silver pod that looked like all the rest.

  “This is it?” I asked.

  He nodded. “Go ahead.”

  I touched the wall and it gave way. I entered into an empty single room. It wasn’t much bigger than a walk-in closet. No doors or hallways.

  “They all start out like this,” he said. “When you add to it, it grows.” He pushed one of the walls back as if it was made of cardboard; the space expanded.

  “How do I bring things over?” I asked.

  “Same way you shift with souls. Just hold on and shift. You can shift directly in here, but others cannot.”

  “How does the pod know when to allow people in and when not to?”

  “The pod is tied to you and your thoughts. If you are okay with seeing the person, it will allow them in. If you don’t want to see anyone, no one will be allowed in. It’s all based on your thoughts and moods. And if you’re away, then no one is allowed in.”

  “Like a psychic door.”

&nbs
p; “Yeah.”

  I looked around my space and smiled. It might not be anything more than a box now, but I couldn’t wait to start adding things and making it my own.

  “Don’t forget you still have a life on Earth,” he said. “Take advantage of it while you can. After awhile, you’ll start hating this place.”

  “You hate your place?”

  He shrugged. “It’s home, but it’s also like a prison. There aren’t too many places that reapers can live.”

  “I guess I get that,” I said. “But right now, it’s all sparkly and new. Well, not sparkly. Everything’s rather dull and gray in the dead zone.”

  “It only gets duller and grayer. Enjoy it while you can.”

  “I’d enjoy it more if I knew what else was in the dead zone besides places I’m not supposed to go.”

  “You’ve already seen a couple of the parks. But take it easy. You’ll see it all eventually anyway. Right now, you have to focus on working with Treble.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Unstable and explosive. You got that, right?”

  “But you know of ways to make him happy too. Maybe make a deal with him. We need his help.”

  I sighed. “Yeah. I’ll try.”

  He was quiet for a moment before saying, “I’m sorry we sprung the bombing on you so soon in your training. Boomer said you held your own.”

  “I tried. I was really confused at first. Reapers and souls blended together. I ended up transitioning women since I knew they were souls. But that was . . . the death . . .” I shook my head, not able to pick out the right word.

  “It was horrible,” he said.

  “Horrible and sad and pointless. So many lives lost, and for what? And there was a baby.”

  “Children will always be the hardest. I want to say it gets easier, but it doesn’t.”

  “How do you get over it?”

  He shrugged. “You find your way. Everyone is different.”

  Awhile ago, Lawson had taken me to a studio in New York. The only item in the studio was a punching bag. Nothing else. Maybe that punching bag was his way to deal.

  “Is that why you keep the studio?” I asked. “Why not bring your punching bag here?”

  “Because I like it there,” he said. But I could tell he was holding back. There was something he wasn’t telling me. But that was his way, and I was becoming used to it. Maybe someday he’d share. “Go home and work with Treble.”

  “I’d rather get a root canal,” I said.

  “He’s not that bad and you don’t have a choice.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  He gave a half smile. “Next time you come to the dead zone, wear your usual clothes.”

  I glanced down at my skirt.

  “Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “You look pretty. But you’ve got an entire reaper population who . . . well, let’s just say you clean up a little too well. See you later.”

  For a reaper who says I clean up a little too well, he was utterly unaffected by me. Sometimes I was surprised he didn’t just slug me in the arm and call me buddy. It made me wonder just how far off he was about the rest of the reapers. Surely an eighteen-year-old in a skirt wouldn’t cause men to lose their minds.

  I smiled at the scene that played in my mind. It was ridiculous.

  For now, I would take his warning to heart. This world was still new and uncomfortable. But I was curious about Charlie’s.

  5

  When I returned home, I stepped downstairs to see if Ranger was still in the living room with my mom.

  Yep. And he had his arm wrapped around her. They looked way too comfortable.

  I shielded myself, knowing Ranger would be able to see me and I could talk to him without involving my mom.

  I tapped Ranger on the shoulder. He glanced at me.

  “We need to talk,” I said.

  He gave me a look that asked, “Now?”

  “I need help with Treble.”

  He scowled at me with his pale blue eyes and then looked at my mom. “I have to make a phone call. I’ll be right back, babe.”

  Babe?

  “Okay,” she said, sitting upright so he could stand.

  I ignored the churning in my stomach as my mom turned adoring eyes on Ranger. This wouldn’t end well for her if she was already half in love with him.

  He slipped out his phone and walked to the porch. I followed. When we were both outside, he placed the phone to his ear.

  “Well?” he asked me.

  “Lawson found some information on the life stones. He wants me to convince Treble to help in case Azrael finds the other stones. But how can I convince him? He’s not very helpful.”

  “You know he can hear everything you say, right?”

  “Yes, but he’s being stubborn and dormant. I don’t know what to do. And you owe me.”

  “Owe you?”

  “You’re getting all cozy with my mom. And you were supposed to be protecting my family from Azrael, but you were MIA when Azrael came to my house.”

  “First, I don’t owe you anything. I was busy. And I like your mom. Get used to seeing me more.”

  I stared at him. “You do realize I’m here because she was with Azrael before I was born. And she’s with you, who’s half demon. Don’t you think she could use a break from supernatural boyfriends?”

  He shrugged. “That’s her choice to make.”

  “Are you going to tell her you’re half demon?”

  “No. She wouldn’t believe it. And, you owe me, because I had to cover up your absence at school.”

  “You did?”

  He nodded. “Stop trying to make me out to be the bad guy. I like your mom. Until she tells me to leave, I’m here to stay.”

  I frowned. “We’re both immortal. Eventually we both will have to say goodbye to her. I don’t want us both walking out on her at the same time.”

  His expression softened. “Riley, we’ll figure it out later. I found that people who plan for every little thing in their life are often disappointed. Sometimes you just have to let go and let life lead you.”

  “If life is leading me, it’s saying I want to go to Charlie’s.”

  “At Digger’s Point?”

  I nodded. “Lawson was there today.”

  “He told you about it?”

  “He then said I shouldn’t go there.”

  “He’s right.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re a girl.”

  “I’m eighteen.”

  “Still a girl,” he said. “Charlie’s isn’t for you. Not yet anyway. Once you become jaded and crotchety, then you can go.”

  I was tired of people telling me where I should or shouldn’t go.

  “Trust me,” he said. “Don’t go there. And if you do, don’t go alone.”

  “Fine,” I said, not wanting to discuss it anymore. “Are you going to help me with Treble?”

  “I can try, but I doubt I’ll be able to help. You bonded with him. If anyone can get through to him, it’s you. All I can do is support you.”

  “I don’t know how to get through to him.”

  “Yes, you do. You already know some of his weaknesses and his triggers. Exploit those to get a dialogue going. Once he starts talking, get information from him.”

  A text came through on my phone. It was Dane.

  I had a good time tonight. Want to hang out tomorrow?

  Ranger saw my smile.

  “Who’s the boy?” he asked.

  “Dane. He’s a guy at school. Larue is dating his best friend.”

  “You like him.”

  “I didn’t think so at first, but yeah. I like him. I’m not really sure if I should see him or not,” I said, feeling a little self-conscious talking to Ranger about this.

  “Why not?”

  “He’s mortal. I’m not.”

  “Never let little things like that stop you,” he said.

  “It stopped Lawson. He warned me about it.”

  “Lawson has a different
story than you do.”

  “Meaning?”

  Ranger shook his head. “Not my place to tell his story. If you want it, ask him.”

  “He’s very private.”

  Ranger nodded. “He’s had it rough. Just give him space and time. But don’t let his story sway yours.”

  I nodded. “Thanks.”

  Ranger walked to the door and pocketed his phone. “Now, back to my date.”

  “And back to me pretending I don’t see you both.”

  He gave a wink and headed to the living room. I stopped at the staircase and watched as he settled in next to my mom again, wrapping his arm around her.

  Well, my dad is the Grim Reaper. Maybe my next dad would be half demon. Seemed almost fitting. And he was right. I needed to live my life.

  I glanced down at the text and replied, Sounds great.

  Meet at Zero’s?

  I smiled. Perfect.

  I delayed my “talk” with Treble until the next day. But I figured I couldn’t stall any longer, especially since my hang-out date with Dane was in a few hours. I had avoided a kiss with Dane last night for fear Treble would punch him again. But I didn’t want to avoid another one.

  That meant that Treble and I had to work on our issues.

  In the kitchen, I steeped three different types of tea. One of them might tempt Treble-the-tea-lover. Thankfully, or maybe not thankfully, Ranger had taken Mom and David to the zoo, so I had the house to myself.

  “So, you probably know everything there is to know,” I said to Treble. “I’m sure you have been listening to my conversations, and I suspect you can hear all of my thoughts as well. So, you know we need to talk. And I have tea.” I felt him stir. “Three different kinds.”

  Blue smoke poured from me into the image of a small, blue-tinted elderly man with a long, white beard. His knotty feet poked out from beneath his blue robe, and his long ears were bent over at the tips. He reminded me of an elf.

  “I don’t look like an elf,” he grumbled as he eyed the tea.

  “I have oolong, English Breakfast, and bergamot.”

  “Oolong,” he said.

  “And then we are going to talk.”

  He frowned but then said, “Yes, yes. Drink before it grows cold.”

  I grabbed the cup and lifted it to my lips, blowing the steam from the top. “Do you have sway with the life stones?”