Deadly Kisses - By Kerri Cuevas Page 0,32
me and his power seared into me again, pushing me forward. He was guiding me toward Bee and Jaleb. I slid on the floor to them so no harm would come to her. Before I could get to her, my hand grabbed hold of Jaleb’s wrist. Searing heat licked at my hand at the contact. Ivar disappeared, his low laugh echoing through the room.
I let go of Jaleb. A black burnt X remained where my hand had touched his wrist. What the hell had Ivar made me do?
Jaleb looked at his wrist, his brows scrunched together. Tousled black hair fell into his face. He put his finger in his mouth to wet it and rubbed at the black mark. It was engraved into his skin.
Bee was still slumped over on his shoulder. Sparks of life began to stir, and her fingertips emitted a low pale light. I sensed how she was doing the healing thing, drawing her energy from the ground.
“Abe, what did he make me do?” I asked, staring at the X.
“I figured he would do that, but there was nothing I could do to stop it. That is Ivar’s loophole. It is how he marks souls for his All Hallows Eve sacrifice.” Abe looked defeated; he always had a solution but not this time. “He takes the assignment’s family members, leaving them unbalanced.” Abe rubbed at his temples. His hollow brown eyes were sunken in more than they were yesterday.
Reina slouched down and clasped my shoulder. “I left to find Abe. He was our best chance to help them.”
“Ivar put you in an uncomfortable situation, Ad. On All Hallows Eve the veil drops between our planes. Ivar has made a deal with the Dark Lord to skip through the List of Death, choosing three souls to reap. He will reap the brother and you will reap the girl, so he can get them both.” Abe said.
“Ad, bring her back. She is really weak and out of it.” Reina’s voice shook.
Abe frowned and clasped my shoulder. I looked up to him with a desperate plea, but he only shook his head. “You can’t keep holding all your feelings inside of you or you’re going to explode. Don’t invite the dark, boy. Ivar wants you to go dark.”
“I’ll manage, Top Hat, don’t you worry.” I didn’t want to concern Abe, but I didn’t know how I was going to save them now.
“The brother will get a death fever and it will continue to get worse the closer we get to All Hallows Eve. Take care of him.” He sighed and left me by myself with the two marked souls. What was I going to say to Bee?
Sixteen
I carried Bee’s lifeless body and placed her on top of the pool table. She looked sick, her pale face was surrounded by black, wispy strands of hair. I pushed her hair behind her ear, letting it go slowly through my fingers.
Jaleb hovered over her, shaking her. I wanted to tell him to stop, but he couldn’t hear me. Goose bumps covered her white skin. He took off his coat and covered her.
“Beatrice, open your eyes,” Jaleb pleaded.
I held my head against her, concentrating on our souls. Hers was a small ball of energy hiding in the depths of darkness. I coaxed it out, and it came to mine, mingling. The soft touch brought it completely out of its hiding spot. It engulfed my soul in an orb of warm vibrancy.
“Bee’s Grim Reaper, her eyes are moving. When she wakes up, you’re going to explain the X on my wrist,” Jaleb said.
Her eyes fluttered open. I held her close to me without bumping into her brother. Her aura was back to normal.
“What happened?” Bee’s voice was dry. She coughed, snuggling into her brother’s coat.
“Bee, I was so worried. I thought it killed you. It was wacked out. You were running to me yelling. Then your legs went straight out. Your Grim Reaper carried you to safety and then everything in the room shook.” Jaleb paced as his hands fumbled through his hair.
I put my arm around Bee’s neck, easing her into a sitting position.
“Ad—”
“Do not tell him who I really am. That would just upset him. Please.”
Jaleb tried helping her down from the table, but his knees buckled. He caught himself from falling to the dirty checkered floor.
“What’s wrong with my brother?” Bee moved herself to the edge until her legs dangled over the side.
“Take my hand.” I helped her down from the pool