Welcome to Tales from the GrimVerse: Grim & Bare It – Killion’s POV, an urban fantasy novel I’m republishing with scenes from the original story but told from the Master Vampire’s point of view.
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The Dog Ate Her Homework
In the elevator, I offered Chloe a few answers. “The afterlife is different for each soul. Your version will be distinct from mine. I am not a grim and have not experienced what you just did, so my knowledge is limited to what other reapers have shared concerning the topic. I do not know why your mother came to you nor why your father didn’t. What I do know is that you must guard against allowing transference to happen before your soul contract is up. You could upset the balance of things if you cross early.”
Ghost was sated, dozing in her arms. She looked dead on her feet, too. “I’m a bit fuzzy on the whole soul contract thing.”
“Each soul is incarnated multiple times. Before you enter a body, your soul agrees on a set of terms provided by Soul Management Group regarding where you’ll live, who your parents will be, and a host of other details and events. One includes when your life will end and by what means.”
“Sounds…fatalistic. What about free will?”
“There is a balance.” I flicked my attention her way in the reflective panel of the door. “Not all events and actions are subjugated to fate and destiny. Yet, I have found that much of what we believe is free will isn’t.”
Her exhaustion wasn’t only physical. I felt her sadness about all of this concerning her family. “Was my parents’ car crash part of their soul contract?”
I caught and held her ocean-blue eyes this time. “I do not know, and asking such questions is a waste of time. The outcome cannot be altered.”
Her silence spoke volumes. She feared going down that rabbit hole and had no mental strength to argue. Downstairs, before we reached the exit doors, she noticed another ghost. “Should I harvest that one?” she asked.
A woman entered through the sliding doors and strolled toward us. She was strikingly beautiful with dark hair and eyes and dressed in a tight skirt with a flippy edge.
“No,” I replied, my attention snapping to the bombshell. Dramatic, full red lips. Cleavage spilling out of a deep V in her sweater. High heels that exaggerated her hip swing. We had a history together, and I didn’t trust her, but now wasn’t the time for that. “That soul is hers.”
The lips curved when she saw me. “Killion, darling.” She drew out my name in a throaty tone that was smooth as melting butter and had a rich cadence. A money cadence, as if she’d grown up surrounded by it.
Chloe came to attention, and I heard the scythe speak in her head. Kill, it told her.
Stop that, she mentally reprimanded the blade.
I kept my body relaxed but sent a field of my magic wrapping around us like a protective bubble. “Jacqueline,” I said, acknowledging her with little more than a nod.
The black-as-night gaze flicked between the two of us. Her gaze bore into Chloe’s as though she could see inside the girl’s head. “New girl?”
Chloe wasn’t sure which of us she spoke to. “Sorry,” she said, “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
Jacqueline’s smile became a smirk as she sashayed past Chloe’s outstretched hand. “Good luck.”
Kill.
“Nice meeting you, too,” Chloe called after her, scrubbing her palm on her thigh. The light in the hall seemed to follow her as though she were sucking it up as she walked. Her hair gleamed, and she watched over her shoulder until Jacqueline turned the corner and disappeared. “Who was that?”
I released the protective magic. “Jacqueline Vermouth, GR 1st Class. She gets the majority of cases in this area. At least, the more palpable, non-magical ones.” I tugged on her arm to get her walking again. “I’d advise staying out of her way. She’s an elite reaper and doesn’t play well with others.”
“Hence the bubble?”
“You felt that?”
“Sure did. Another of your magical skills?”
“You are…odd.”
“Thanks. You’re rude.” She glanced back once more. “She’s so…”
“Yes,” I agreed, although she hadn’t finished the sentence. “She is.”
We continued to the exit. “It felt like she was reading my mind.”
It wouldn’t surprise me. “Probably. She was a level six psychic before she was recruited to work for SMG.”
“I assume that’s powerful?”
I nodded.
“Were you a psychic, too? Is that why you can…”—she made twirling finger motions at her head—“use telepathy on me?”
Outside, the air temp had dropped. “I’m unsure of why you could hear me before we became linked by my blood. Perhaps it is you who are psychic.”
“Me?” She laughed, then took a deep inhale. “By the way, invasion of privacy much? We never did discuss your mind reading.”
“Yours and Jacqueline’s paths are bound to intersect, but avoid her when possible.” I slowed, the sky twinkling above us. “I would never invade your privacy, as you can tell by the fact I’ve stayed out of your head since I discovered your abilities.” At least I’d tried. I couldn’t stop her from invading my head, however, with her thoughts. Very, very odd.
She placed Ghost on the lawn. The puppy scavenged around before relieving herself in a flower bed. “I’m not psychic, and I don’t have ‘abilities.’ If I did, I’d use them to ace my classes and mind-meld people into doing what I want.” She grinned.
“You’re far too nice for that.”
The smile vanished and she narrowed her eyes. “You don’t know me,” she argued.
“I wasn’t sure Talon would go that easily.” I glanced at the hospital. “You did well for your first time. A natural.”
She blushed—causing my chest to tighten as if trying to beat—and lifted her chin. “First class overachiever, at your service. Why do you think I have no social life? Also, stop redirecting the conversation. It’s annoying. Man, am I hungry.”
A rare smile tugged at my lips. Now, who was changing the subject? “You should eat. It will help your energy. You’ll be safe in the morgue. I’ll leave you now, but will return when I can.”
“I have more questions.”
“We have plenty of time for them. For now, give your notice to both jobs, forget school, and perhaps read the reaper manual you were provided with.”
Her shock was like a slap. “Should I rob a bank, too?”
I didn’t respond, leaving her to disappear into the shadows at the edge of the complex. But there, I waited and listened. Watched. Sensed. This grim made me want more from life than I had in a long time.
“Wait, what manual?” she called. Ghost caught up with her, lifting her front paws to be picked up. Chloe did so, and the dog made a gurgling noise and belched. “Eww,” Chloe complained, barely managing to hold her out as she regurgitated a large clump of grossness.
The blob fell to the grass as Ghost licked her lips and burped again. The stomach contents on the ground had paper in it. Chloe hoisted her up to look her in the eye. “Oh no, you did not.”
She wagged and tried to lick Chloe’s face.
The psychopomp had eaten her reaper homework.
In the shadows, I laughed quietly to myself.
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Next up, Episode 8 – Diversion Won’t Work…Or Will It?