CHAPTER 23

It’s after two in the morning according to the smartwatch Dan forced me to wear so he could track my location through the watch’s GPS. It also allows him to monitor my heart rate. He’s being very, very protective, but then again, it’s not every day he learns he’s going to be a father and his baby mama goes running into the jaws of danger. Yes, I run into situations headfirst, and he’s used to that, but never when I’m pregnant. This is a first for both of us. I have a feeling all the men in my life are about to turn into overprotective beasts. I’m going to end up screaming at them before this pregnancy is over. I just know it.

Yawning, I sit down on the park bench. My feet are killing me, and Gloria keeps smirking every time I call a break. It allows her to feel superior because, as she said, she doesn’t get tired. I’m human, and I’m pregnant. Well, human for me is a relative term. My physical body is human, but my soul is less and less human every day. I don’t know how to stop that or if I want to. I’ve learned to accept myself and not feel guilty for who I am. I feel guilt for the things I’ve done, but not for being me. I am who I am, and that’s okay.

We’ve walked past hundreds of ghosts tonight, but none have approached me so far. I think they understand the gravity of what we’re doing. I broadcast it earlier to them and asked them to be on the lookout for the creature. Some of them have seen what it can do and agreed. All things considered, that’s a win. I have eyes and ears on both planes of existence.

Considering the park is on the edge of the industrial district, I’m always surprised at how good it smells here. There’s a meat-packing warehouse just around the corner, but the smell doesn’t invade the park. It smells of fresh, clean air and maple trees. This is one of my favorite places in the city. I never came here at night, however.

At night, the park isn’t as welcoming or inviting. It turns into a puzzle of shadows and sounds. The creaking of the swings as they ghost back and forth in the wind is creepy. I may not see the ghosts, but I know they’re there, and that’s what makes it so much worse. They don’t have to show themselves to me, but knowing they’re there…waiting to jump out and scare you…it’s unnerving on the best of days.

Pulling my jacket closer, I watch the shadows as they play across the ground over by the trees. The moon is bright enough to make this entire place look and feel like a nightmare waiting to happen. I don’t think I’ll ever come here at night again.

“I don’t like this place,” Gloria whispers and sits next to me.

“It’s a park.”

“It doesn’t feel right.”

“There are ghosts here.”

She looks around and then back at me. “Do you see them?”

“Not all of them. Like the swings. See how they’re swaying even when there’s no wind? I’d bet money that children are sitting on them, swinging back and forth. It’s hard to say how they died. Could have been a simple accident, or it could have been a horrific murder. Kids tend to be the angriest ghosts as well. They can hurt you.”

“They can hurt you?”

“Mmhmm.” I lean back and watch the shadows as they grow bigger and creep closer. I really hate it. “When a ghost gets angry, they start to absorb power. When they get powerful enough, they can manipulate objects on this plane. They take their rage out on the living. Children don’t understand why no one can see them and that they’re dead. They grow frustrated, and that quickly turns to an all-consuming rage that gets turned against us. They might be watching us. Contemplating how to hurt us.”

“But you can talk to them, can’t you?”

I nod. “Yes, but some ghosts are too far gone to help and have to be put down. Those are the ones that make me sad. My job is to help them, not to hurt them.”

“But you would hurt them?”

“If it’s necessary to keep them from hurting others, then yes. I don’t do it unless I have no other choice remaining.”

She goes quiet, and we’re left sitting in the silence again.

I’ve always felt more at peace during the night than in the light of day. I used to think I was just weird, but Kane explained to me I am Death, and therefore the night and the cold darkness it holds is a part of me. It’s natural to feel more at peace in the dark for a reaper. The night and the dark are who we are.

It’s cold out tonight. Fall is in full swing, and the nights get really chilly. I have on double shirts beneath my jacket, but with the added ghost energy, I may as well be out here in shorts and a tank top instead of the many layers I have on. I push my reaping energy outward, trying to assure the ghosts in the area I mean no harm. I don’t want to deal with angry ghosts being riled by my talk of having to put them down. That’d be all we need right now.

Closing my eyes, I focus on that and shut out everything else. And that’s why I hear it. The sound is slight, like a gentle rustling of leaves so low I shouldn’t be able to hear it. Gloria says nothing, which makes me wonder if I’m imagining things. With her super hearing, she should hear it before I do. But I’ve spent time around the Council of Elders. It’s hard to know what, if any, of their powers I absorbed.

I open my eyes and look toward where the noise is coming from. It’s just beyond the swings, right where the trees begin in the protected section of woods surrounding the park on the northern side.

The ghosts are agitated. Whatever this is, it’s unnatural and therefore causing them to stress.

It’s here. The whispered words slither through my head with the force of a Mack truck, sending shards of pain through my brain.

“What?” Gloria asks when I wince.

“It’s here.”

She looks around. “I hear nothing.”

“The ghosts are telling me it’s here.”

That forces her to pay attention, and she sits straighter, looking out into the night’s shadows.

“It’s there, right behind the swings.”

“How do you know that?”

“The ghosts.”

“They speak to you?”

“As clearly as you can.” I stand up and approach the swings, trying my best to appear as non-threatening as possible. I’m usually the biggest threat in the room, so it’s hard to do that. “Papa?”

“I heard you, ma petite. We have people moving into position.”

The growl that emits from the trees raises every hair on my body. It’s an unearthly sound, full of rage and pain.

“Shh,” I whisper. “I want to help you.”

“Help it?” Gloria’s tone is harsh when she comes to stand beside me. “It’s out here murdering my kin, and you want to help it?”

“Yes. It might not have a choice in the matter. Now, be quiet unless you want to die.”

She shuts up.

This is probably the stupidest move I can make, but I inch closer to the trees and call to it again. “Can you understand me? I don’t want to hurt you. I want to help you.”

Thoughts and feelings slam into me. Pain is the overriding emotion, but its purpose is clear. It’s scented Gloria, and she’s its target. It’ll go through me to get to her.

When it comes into view, I stumble back. Seeing it live and in person is so much worse than witnessing it in a ghost’s memory. It’s small, probably no more than four feet tall, its body lithe and covered in patches of fur. The reddish, purplish skin glints in the moonlight. The face is a kaleidoscope of features from many species, giving it a monstrous look meant to terrify, and it’s effective. My heart is beating out of my chest as I step away from it.

I’m not ready when it springs. Talons slice my side as it rushes us, and Gloria goes flying backward, screaming. The sounds coming from the creature are horrific, intermingled with her screams.

“Dan!”

Shots ring out, and a burning sensation explodes in my shoulder. Forcing the pain back, I stumble toward where Gloria is grappling with the tiny monster. The two of them are locked in combat, their movements so quick, I can barely follow them. Hunters rush into the clearing, armed with guns and knives, and hurtle toward the two of them.

I reach them first and wrap my arms around the little monster, pulling it off Gloria. It tries to turn around, but it’s at a disadvantage. Warm liquid coats my fingers. It’s been shot multiple times, and it’s still so strong, I can barely hold it. Nor can I stop it from slicing me up.

“No, little one. It’s done. No more killing.”

It screams at me, its talons digging into my legs, and I fall to my knees, keeping my arms around it. Gloria pulls herself away from us, crawling.

“Don’t let her leave!” My own shout is quiet and hoarse.

Stanley points his gun at her. “Best listen to her. These bullets are silver and blessed with holy water. They won’t kill you, but they’ll slow you down, and they’ll hurt something fierce.”

Dan approaches us, his tactical knife out. It sees him and renews its efforts to get away. I didn’t want to kill it, but there’s no stopping it if we don’t. I understand that, but it doesn’t make this any easier. I feel for the creature. It reminds me of me. I can’t help what I am any more than it can.

“Shh,” I whisper. “It’s almost over. Your pain is going to end soon. I promise.”

“Mattie?” He frowns as he reaches us. I feel the wetness of my tears as they spill over my eyelashes and drop to my cheeks. “What’s wrong?”

“Do it.”

He goes to his knees beside me and takes the creatures head into his hand, holding it still, and shoves the knife right into its skull. The cry that is ripped from it is heartbreaking.

And then my gift from my mother awakens. The layers that are the creature are pulled back, and I see it all. Every moment of its life in the cage it lived in flashes in front of me. The pain that wracked its body when it didn’t do what it was told becomes my pain. Everything it is, everything it was, and everything it could be become apparent to me. I see beneath the mask.

It’s just a baby. No more than three years old.

It was bred to kill.

It never felt happiness or joy. Only pain and the need to kill.

Anger burns through every atom I am. If it’s the last thing I do on this Earth, I am going to find the people who are responsible for this and make them die screaming.

“Mattie?” Dan’s voice whispers through my rage, and I look up at him. He looks worried. “Squirt, it’s gone.”

Not yet.

Cradling it to me, I reach for the tiny blue ball of light that still pulses within it. The creature has a soul because it’s human beneath all the layers of the monsters that were used to create it.

“It’s all right now. No one’s ever going to hurt you again.”

I reach for the soul with my own light, coaxing it out, assuring it that it’s safe now. Its soul is broken and bruised, scared of everything. The tiny light floats up and out of the poor thing, hovering in the air, watching me hold its body close, like a mother would her child.

“Do you have a name?”

The word Matthew flashes in my head.

“Matthew. I’m Emma, and I’m here to help you. I will take you somewhere safe, where there’s no pain anymore. You just have to trust me.”

I lay its body down, and Dan helps me to stand. I’m very aware of how badly I need medical attention, but this is more important. Reaching out, I wrap the cords of my reaping around it, my own light soothing it, and pull it toward me until it settles into my palm, pulsing with a light so bright it hurts the eyes.

Gasps are heard all around me. I don’t know if the Hunters or the bikers can see the soul, but I don’t care. This is about this tiny broken soul.

“There’s a good boy. You’re safe now.” I cradle the soul to me and call out for Kane. He appears and looks around before seeing the broken mess in my palms. His face softens as he comes close. “Can you take him? His name is Matthew.”

Kane nods.

“Matthew, this is my friend. He’s going to carry you through the cold to where it’s always warm and you can run and play with no pain forever. It’s okay, little one. He’ll protect you.”

Kane gently takes the soul from me and nods once before disappearing with Matthew, to ferry him through the Between and to the other side. Another reaper will take him from there because it’s not safe for Kane. The Reapers still hold a grudge, but there are a few he can trust.

My energy drains as they disappear, and I sag against Dan. He catches me, his face even more worried. “We need to get you to the hospital.”

“Not yet.” I swing my gaze to Gloria. “I have a promise to keep.”

Drawing my Sword, I let its strength replace my own as I walk calmly toward the downed vampire with multiple weapons aimed at her rapidly healing body. Her eyes are wide and frightened. “You carry one of the Holy Swords,” she whispers.

“I do, given to me by God himself. I carry the Sword of Justice.”

Rumbles break out from all around me. The Hunters didn’t know that.

“You have spent centuries hurting people, Gloria Monroe. Are you ready to be judged and justice given to all your victims?”

She’s up and moving, but I’m faster. We fall to the ground, and she twists, trying to throw me off her, but she can’t. There is no fighting one of the Swords. The blade meets her flesh and sizzles. Her agonized scream rips through the night as the Sword judges her.

Everything she’s ever done floods my own thoughts. I see her life as clearly as if I’m watching a movie. There is pain and then death. So much death. She loves causing harm and did it mercilessly. I pity her because, once upon a time, she was human and loved with her entire heart. The vampirism that infected her body killed her soul and turned her into a creature meant only for death and destruction.

Rolling off her, bile rushes up, and I empty my stomach as all the rage and death I took in from her expels from my own soul. Dan is there, holding my hair back as I vomit so violently, dark spots float in front of my eyes.

“I got you, Squirt. It’s okay. I got you.”

“One of them shot me,” I whisper as he pulls me to him once my stomach decides it’s empty.

“What?” The quiet rage in his voice is enough to send every man here running, but only I heard him.

“Help me up.”

He does, and I take the jacket off. Blood is slowly seeping out of the wound in my shoulder.

“Who?” He turns his attention to those around us.

Stanley’s frowning. “You were shot?”

“The only people shooting were the Hunters. I wasn’t anywhere near them when the shooting started. One of you shot me.”

He turns to face those around him. “Who?”

None of them says a word.

Blade and his bikers come out of the trees.

“It was the woman standing to the right.” He hurries over to me, pulling his own shirt off to press against the wound.

It’s not even the one bleeding the most.

Stanley turns eyes to her. “You did this, Steph?”

“She needs to be put down. She’s a monster. Just look at her eyes. They’re glowing silver.”

“They’re glowing silver because I’m a living reaper. My job is to find the lost souls and convince them to move on. I don’t know if you saw the soul I reaped from the creature or not, but it was the soul of a child. A three-year-old little boy named Matthew who was forced to do what he did. If being able to help him makes me a monster, then so be it.”

“You carry one of the four Holy Swords.” This from the man beside of Steph.

“Yes. I died and was given the choice to come back or stay. I chose to come back and was given the burden of the Sword to carry. My husband carries the Sword of Truth.”

Dan pulls his own Sword for all to see.

I walk over to the woman. “So, exactly how evil am I if I can hold one of the four Swords? Do you think you could hold one, or would you die instantly from all the vile thoughts in your head?”

I hold it out to her, and she falls backward as far from it as she can get.

“All of you judge me because of my last name. Yes, I am a Crane, but I wasn’t raised a Crane. I was raised as Mattie Hathaway, lost in the foster care system. I didn’t know my family until I was found at seventeen, and you know what? I love them, and they love me. Bad people do good things, and they’re still bad people at the end of the day. Good people do bad things to protect those they love and the innocents around them, and at the end of the day, they’re better people for it. You can continue to judge me, but I have been judged by my husband’s Sword, and I came out the other end holding a Sword handed to me by God himself. So I say to you all, I’ve been judged already and deemed worthy by the only one who matters. Can any of you say the same?”

Not a word is spoken.

“Dan?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Catch me.”

And with that, I let the darkness eating away at my vision swallow me.