Chapter 18

A few hours before Adeline went to the rescue…

When Charon, Adeline's grim reaper daddy, mentioned she had a brother, her first reaction was "yay, family."

"What can you tell me about my brother?" she'd eagerly asked.

"Not much. Unlike you, he managed to keep his power under control enough that I never realized he existed, but while careful, he apparently slipped up enough that the same people seeking you out managed to capture him."

Adeline took a second to digest this before saying, "He's a prisoner?"

"Yes. Your brother has been held captive for years."

"So why didn't you do anything to save him?" she asked. After all, he'd created a safe place for her.

"I cannot act since he is hidden somewhere even I can't detect."

"If that's the case, then how can you know he's the one yanking souls?"

The cowl practically dripped with disdain as he said, "Because you and your brother are the only anima dissecuerit at the moment, and I had confirmation. Someone who worked there died, and their soul was quite talkative when I fetched it. It claimed they were forcing your brother to sunder souls."

"And did that soul not tell you where to find them?"

"It did." The cloak stilled. "However, whoever is in charge is crafty and had already relocated by the time I arrived."

"Surely they left a clue?" she insisted.

"A burnt shell was all that remained. However, it is my belief, given your recent encounters with immortui , that they are probably somewhere in or around this city. We must locate their headquarters to put an end to the sundering."

"Okay, so the plan is to find the bad guy's lair and rescue my brother. Sounds doable. Where do we start looking?"

"There is no we. I cannot interfere in human affairs."

"You interfered with me," she interjected.

"A momentary lapse of judgment," his dry reply.

"Not going to get a Father's Day card at this rate," she quipped.

"Never asked to be a father."

"Well, you are one, so suck it up, grim buttercup. How can I help my brother since you're not willing?"

"As mentioned, you need to locate and then extract him from their custody."

"Oh, just that. I mean, sure, piece of cake. I'll just wander the city aimlessly because I'm sure they've got a great big sign that says Soul Stealers Inc. out front to make it easy. And then let's say I do find it. I should what, just ask for my brother? I'm sure they'll hand him over, no fuss or muss." Yeah, it might have been a tad snippy, but seriously, could he not see the insanity of his request?

"Should you discover the headquarters and get inside, you will call upon me for assistance."

She blinked. "I'm confused. You said like two seconds ago that you weren't helping."

"This wouldn't be help but rather me correcting the balance of things. The sundered souls aren't entering the Styx, causing an imbalance that requires correction."

"When you say correct, do you mean you're going kill everyone who was involved?"

"Yes."

"Seems kind of harsh." She couldn't have said why she argued other than he'd annoyed her with his stand-offish attitude.

"These kinds of transgressions require severe measures."

"It's murder," of which she'd be abetting.

"It will benefit the universe."

"If you say so, Father."

"Don't call me that," he grumbled.

For a guy with no feelings, she'd touched a nerve. "Any suggestions on how I'm supposed to find this supposed lair?" Because despite the danger, she would because Orion needed her, and she had a sneaky feeling Ambrose did as well.

"If I knew the location, we wouldn't be having this discussion."

"I don't know how you expect me to find it."

"The fates will provide." A cryptic answer that had her gnashing her teeth.

Meow. Smudge eyed the door to the shop, and Adeline ignored her dad to check since Smudge wasn't one to talk without reason.

"Fudge!" she exclaimed, seeing him through the glass. She opened the door to let him in, and her kitty actually rubbed against her legs before choosing to twine his tail with Smudge's. She dropped down to pet him, crooning, "Where have you been? I was so worried."

Meow. Mew. Miauo. Rowr.

Her cat spoke, and Adeline nodded, pretending she understood.

Meanwhile, turned out Daddy Charon could speak feline. "He says he knows where they've taken the hounds. The place is heavily guarded by human soldiers, and the building is comprised of lead and iron, which explains why it's been undetectable."

"Did Fudge happen to give you an address?"

"Cats don't deal in those kinds of specifics, but perhaps he recalls some landmarks."

Charon crouched, and while he didn't say anything audible, her cat began talking as if replying.

Mew. Miaw. Mo. Mo. Meow.

Charon nodded his hooded head and stood. "On his return journey, he passed a giant green barrel on legs, as well as drank some milk from a cow. He also said something about a sign showing giant teeth."

It took her a minute before she slowly said, "Sounds like he came from the east of town. The green barrel on legs has to be the water tower. There's farms out that way as well. I guess we have a direction to look, but the problem is getting there. I don't have a car or cash for an Uber, and it will take forever on foot."

Keeble popped in to clear his throat. "Master Charon, we've prepared a countering tea for the lady."

"Excellent."

"What is countering tea?" she questioned.

"A beverage to annul the effects of the dulling one. If you're going to confront those using your brother, you should have your full abilities to draw on."

"By abilities, you mean the accident-causing thing." She bit her lower lip before adding, "You expect me to kill people."

"If necessary, yes. Or would you prefer to be taken captive and used like your brother?"

Her mouth opened and shut. "Good point. Any clues on how to use my power?" A strange thing to ask given she'd always thought of herself as human.

"There is no time to teach, so I would suggest letting your emotions act for you."

"Weird advice from the guy with none."

He spoke as if she hadn't. "Once you are inside the building, I cannot enter without an invitation."

"What are you, part vampire?"

"Grims aren't a part of this world and cannot go where we please without taking a corporeal form."

"You're here right now."

"Because Keeble invited me."

"If you can't come without an invite, then how are you supposed to collect souls?"

"If they don't get lost, then they are gathered from the Styx."

"Didn't you also say you gather them from me? I never invited you to my apartment."

"No, but your feline companions did."

"Oh." Her lips pursed. Knowing her pets were more than just cats would be something to unpack later. "Once inside, how do I contact you? You said this place is shielded. How will you hear me?"

"You are of my flesh. If you call, I will come."

Okay, that was creepy and kind of daddy-ish all at once. "Assuming I can find this place. A few landmarks aren't an exact location."

"Listen to your instincts and you will prevail."

His final words before he left in a swirl of shadow, which had her blinking at the sudden brightness. She pondered everything she'd learned. The fact she was half grim reaper. Had a brother. Could kill people. Had killed people. She felt kind of bad. Turned out she had been right about being bad luck after all.

Would she have to worry about hurting Orion and Ambrose? Maybe she should wait to fret about that once she rescued them.

She eyed her cats. "You guys coming?"

Meow . She took that as a yes.

Keeble brought out a new mug. "Drink up."

She eyed the bright green fluid. "How quickly does it work?"

"As soon as it hits your belly. Quick now, your ride is on its way."

Ride? Right after she finished her tea, a sedan pulled up, the windows blacked out, the interior sleek and new. The driver turned out to be a faun named Seamus who happened to know the location of the billboard when she described it.

As they passed it on the single-lane highway, she peered out the windows, wondering what Charon meant when he said listen to her instincts. What instincts? How would she—

The sudden dizzy spell had her muttering, "Take the next turn."

"Yes, ma'am," grunted Seamus.

The two-lane driveway, framed by trees, led to a large but only half-full parking lot and a multi-story structure with no business sign on the outside. She knew she'd found the spot, though, by the snipers on the roof and the same soldiers patrolling the perimeter of the building.

She could have marched right inside. However, she decided to be smart. Rather than hand herself over, she offered Seamus some cash to bring them a deal.

Her in exchange for Ambrose and Orion.

The reply took only a few minutes.

Seamus clomped back out, exclaiming, "They said yes."

"Really?" She'd expected to have to negotiate more.

"The woman in charge said they'll be along shortly. Once they exit, you're supposed to hand yourself over."

This moved faster than expected. "Promise you'll take Ambrose and Orion somewhere safe."

"What about you, ma'am?"

Her lips flattened. "I need to put a stop to what's going on here."

And rescue her brother.