It’s hard to explain.” It was easy to explain Esther’s condition. What was hard was explaining my inability to face the truth. “She’s . . . sick.”
“Your daughter was well hidden, if even the old ones did not know or suspect.”
My phone beeped. And again. And then again. I walked over and unlocked it, reading the messages.
“What is it, Grace Roberts?” Amy crossed her arms, one eyebrow raised.
I turned away. “Re-Animus attack in Chicago. Hundreds dead.”
I spun, lunging for the pile of guns, and went flying, crashing through the chairs, landing in the dirt. Behind me, Amy stood, kicking the guns away. She chuckled to herself. “Grace Roberts, what is wrong?”
“I called Grave Services last night. Told them what a great teammate Amy Rust was. How much we liked her. How much I owed her.” I rose, wincing from the sharp pain in my ribs, and tossed her the phone, with the message that had just come in still on-screen. “There is no Amy Rust. And I should have realized before, Ame. Ra-Ame.”
Amy nodded her head. “Always with the theories. But this one, this one is right.”
“You showed up right after we captured the spawn. The Re-Animus said he crept into your tomb and woke you. That he whispered my name. And you knew my name before I told you.” I shuffled around the sun shade, looking for a weapon.
“You are special, Grace Roberts. Your eyes see the fifth sign. The paths of the dead are open to you. And your mind, it sees our weaknesses. So though I have come to reclaim my heart, I will offer you a different choice.” She took out one of her curved blades, slicing away the bangles on her wrist, to show ancient wounds.
“I died, Grace Roberts, but here we are. And you, too, may join me. Did you not say you would die? I will give you a piece of myself, and you will remain. I will keep you safe while you grow strong. You know the new ways.”
She had to be kidding. “There is no way that will ever happen.”
“That is always your decision. Perhaps when The Death that Follows is gone, you will feel different. Perhaps if we visited your daughter, you would feel different. I could speak through her, if you wish.”
Blinded by rage, I leaped at her, winding up in the dirt again. And inches from my face, a scorpion crawled. I scrambled away from it, backing into Ra-Ame.
“What is this, Grace Roberts? Why does your heart pound?” She walked past, hips swaying, and picked up the scorpion. “Where I was raised these were pets and food. That was so long ago.” She tossed it away into the brush.
Ra-Ame reached over and touched my cheek, making me shiver. “I have never lied to you, Grace Roberts. I told you I came to see that man for myself. And I meant in my heart to kill him that first night. But I met someone. A woman my equal. I had forgotten, through the ages, what it meant to laugh and discuss.”
My hands trembled as I spoke. “Let Brynner go, and take me. I’ll cooperate if you do.” I bowed my head before her.
“You would not believe me, Grace Roberts, but I have consulted many oracles in the last year, heard many prophecies. I must possess the heart of a Carson to survive another age.” Ra-Ame spun a knife on the tips of her fingers.
“There are no oracles.”
“I said you would not believe. For a time, I thought it meant I must have his body. But prophecies are like the old language. There are many ways to read them. I will do both. I will tear his heart from his chest, and still keep it safe for the ages.”
“Then you’ll fail. You can’t have both.” Her insanity exceeded words.
Ra-Ame grinned at me. “I believe I can, Grace Roberts.” She whistled. “Brynner Carson. Ra-Ame is here.”
He came crashing through the brush, pulling his trench coat around him and looking around like a wild animal hunting prey. His eyes met mine, and he reached into his trench coat.
In a blur I couldn’t see as much as feel, Ra-Ame pointed a Deliverator at me. “Do not move, Death that Follows. Obey my instructions, and only you will die here. Disobey, and I will kill her, then you.”
I shook my head. That wasn’t going to be part of the plan.
She waved the gun in my direction. “First, give my heart to Grace Roberts.”