Deadly Kisses - By Kerri Cuevas Page 0,10
boots and all. Water splashed. She kicked and smashed down bony hands in the river and jumped up to the edge. I opted for jumping rock to rock. I couldn’t bring myself to smash remains of other fallen Grim Reapers anymore. What if that was me in there someday?
The club was a cave with a small opening for an entrance. I yelled at Reina, my voice echoing, “Love how they decorated the place. Their use of rocks and moss is very creative.”
The place crawled with Reapers. The sight of death dogs roaming freely gave an eerie vibe that threatened to splinter my bones into fragmented shards. I rubbed my crooked nose, thinking about my last encounter with them.
Reina grabbed my arm, and my body stiffened. “Stop being a bore and let’s go have some fun. If you’re going to be like this for an eternity, forget my offer, bud.”
Two Reapers came through the door and brushed past me. Music blared and Reina swayed. I backed up and she kept pulling. I would have gone back to Bee if there wasn’t a death dog behind me growling.
“Go to the back of the club where it’s less crowded,” Reina said.
I stayed close to Reina because I couldn’t stand the thought of all these bodies crammed together in such a small place. “Do you come here often?” I yelled.
“Most nights. Eternity is a long time to be alone, Ad.”
On the stage, colored lights flared and a red-skinned girl with a long black braid that hung over her shoulder was singing. I couldn’t help but smile. I knew a good band when I heard one. My fingers twitched as if I was strumming the guitar myself.
“Who’s the band?” We stopped in the back of the dark cavern. There was a couple making out against the wall. Reina rocked in place and then waved to a small group who walked by.
“Lucinda and the Hellfires. Rumor is she came straight through the dark door from the pit of Hell,” she said, and actually cringed. Her head shook, sending her hair in disarray.
“No one comes back from the point of no return! That’s a crazy rumor.” I winced. I was scared to death when my assignments were destined for Hell. I think Abe knew I purposely avoided learning about demons so I could elude the place—well that, and learning about history sucked.
“Is it? You’d be surprised the dirty politics that go on down here.” She waved her arm in the air. “Bob, hey Bob. Two please.”
A short, stout Reaper nodded and walked toward the bar. Reina twirled and danced while I leaned up against the wall watching the band on stage. The only time I had danced was in middle school when I promised to dance with Sabrina to get Dan Frey’s attention. It worked, and I was stuck sipping juice alone in the back of the gymnasium while Sabrina was off with Dan.
I closed my eyes and felt the beat of the drums hum through me. Bee stirred in her sleep and then became frantic. Her soul reached out like invisible hands grasping thin air. I inhaled a deep musty breath and let my emotions reassure her that I was far away. A tepid stream of warmth flushed my cheeks. She was addictive.
Shouting broke through my trance. I opened my eyes. Reina was dancing close to some guy, and she had an angry scowl on her face. Her brows crunched together as she hollered into his ear. I took a step to rescue her, but the guy let go.
He handed her a thick envelope. Reina slipped it into her cloak, pushing the guy away. He had a devious smile and when he turned the flesh on his face was peeling like paint on a wall. He had to be a really old Grim Reaper. The bartender approached Reina and gave her two cups. The liquid slopped over the sides as she walked toward me.
She smiled as if nothing had happened and handed me a cup with thick red liquid that swirled with orange. “What was that all about? The guy looked as if he was going to bite your head off and then some.”
“That? Just an old flame bent on making my life miserable. He’s a sweet talker, nothing more.”
Unease settled over me. “I was in a band and saw a lot of sweet talk from the guys, and that was not sweet talk. Whatever it was, it was intense. Are you in trouble?”
She took the