Reaper's Novice (Soul Collector #1) (40 page)

I love you, too
. I raise my head. He’s gone. His vibrant green soul gathers above his skin’s surface. I pluck a vial from inside my trench. Immediately it dances inside, and I turn the cap closed.

When I look up, I find Zig with his soul dagger in his hand. His eyes alter from me to the Snatchers. He nods once, and I know he’s got my back on this one, like always. After stowing the vial inside the trench, I stretch out along Rein’s body and place my head on his shoulder, feeling his warmth seep away. I close my eyes and try as much as I can to absorb the heat, trap it inside of me for always, letting the tears fall.

Oh God, this sucks.

Sirens pierce through the air, and my eyes peel open. I lean forwards to kiss Rein’s forehead, then straighten to my feet as the ambulance pulls to a stop a few metres away. People in red and white leap out and surround Rein. One shakes his head. Two people pull a gurney to where Reiner’s body is, while others stretch a black body bag. Within seconds, the bag is zipped and loaded on the gurney. My eyes remain on the pool of blood on the grass as the crowd dwindles, and I force my feet to turn away. Grim is gone, but Zig slinks closer, wrapping a hand around my shoulder.

***

Later on, while trudging through the streets at rush hour, I try to come up with a thousand different ways to tell Lea, but they’re all useless. Either way, this will break her. I’m not sure how to tell her without me shattering in the process.

I shift to Stephansdom Cathedral tower and pull my mobile from my trench. It’s four fifteen p.m. Part of me wants to avoid this, breaking her heart. I have to, though. I’d like her to hear it from me first. I am, after all, the one who collected his soul.

Taking a deep breath, I dial her mobile number and wait. It rings, once, twice. On the seventh ring, it hits me. I’m not well prepared to tell her, but I don’t get the chance to hang up.

“Hey, Ana! Been thinking about you.” She sounds too cheerful. “Can I call you in a bit? My boss is glaring at me Schulz-style.”

I’m silent for a heartbeat longer, words stuck in my throat. Finally, I say, “Sure,” and hang up so fast, relieved. Immediately my mobile starts to ring, and I stare at the name flashing on the screen. My finger shakes, hovering on the answer button. I press it, knowing there’s no avoiding it.

“What’s wrong, Ana?”

“Um—why don’t you finish what you were doing? I’ll call you in a bit, ’kay?” I say, trying to muffle the hoarseness in my voice.

Silence. Then, “No. You don’t sound okay. I don’t want to spend the next half hour worrying about you. Spit it out.”

And just like that, I know she won’t hang up until I tell her. And if I end the call, she’ll just call again. Right now, I wish determination wasn’t one of her strongest qualities. “Lea—God, Lea, it’s Rein.” I pause, feeling as though the ground is about to swallow me whole.

“What about him, Ana?” Lea’s voice is a hushed whisper.

I bite my lip and take a breath. “He—someone stabbed him, and he’s… he’s… gone.”

Silence follows. I wait. Lea’s breathing comes fast over the line. “Oh dear God, no.” Those four words are infused with so much pain my knees give way. I collapse on the cool stone ground. Shoed feet slapping on ground travel over the line, then fast breathing. Someone calls Lea’s name, but she’s weeping quietly into the phone, running.

Minutes later, she mutters with a trembling voice, “It’s the deals with those people, no? I knew it! He lied to me. Told me—told me he stopped. Wasn’t dealing anymore.” The last word is a whisper. She weeps softly into the phone. I pull my knees up and drop my head on them, listening to my best friend fall apart.

Almost an hour later, I trudge down the spiral, winding stairs. Once outside, I enter the Cathedral and join the mass of visitors by the candle stand. After lighting one for Rein, I follow a group of people heading over to visit the catacombs underneath the church.

***

Four days have crawled by since Rein’s death. I see his smile in every face. I swear I’ve heard his voice, his laughter, more than a thousand times drifting in the air, but I know if I turn to search for him, he won’t be there.

I turn anyway.

Just in case.

Lea arrived in Vienna four days ago. I’ve spent most of my time between staying with Lea and visiting Reiner’s mother and sister.

Now, standing beside the Wasserman family grave in Aspern Cemetery in the twenty-second district, I listen as the reverend reads from the Bible clutched in his hands. Lea shudders under my arm, and I pull her closer. I wrap the other arm around Anton, who is sobbing silently at my side. One of Mom’s hands is wrapped across Reiner’s mom, whose eyes are glued on the shiny brown casket, barely holding it together. Dad, hugging Lucy with one arm, stands beside Mom, his fingers intertwined with Mom’s free hand. Lola, Reiner’s five-year-old sister, snuggles into her mother, eyes closed, face flushed. Dieter, Reiner’s father hovers at the edge of the congregation, his head bent forwards, not having the decency to join his family in grieving.

I lift my face to absorb the rays of sun dappling through the branches as if to celebrate Reiner’s life, even in death.

His coffin is lowered into the ground. I watch as people queue to drop roses where Reiner’s casket disappeared, but my feet can’t move. Finally I force them forwards, taking Lea with me. Anton moves to stand next to Mom.

Right after the funeral, we go to Trude Wasserman’s flat. After asking for permission, Lea and I disappear inside Reiner’s bedroom.

W
INTER GRACEFULLY FOLLOWS AUTUMN,
spraying the world around us in snow, twinkling colours, and happy faces. Spring finally announces its eagerness by forcing winter out, decorating the earth with flowers, bees, and scents. Then summer shoves spring out of the way.

My thirteen months as Grim’s Novice are almost up. My family’s souls will be free.

I visit Reiner’s grave every day. I enjoy our conversations since he’s the only one who knew about the deal I made with Grim. I’m sure wherever he is he loves to listen as I regale him with my shifting adventures—of which I’ve become a professional. I tell him about my favourite places among them: the Oceanarium in Lisbon, Colloseum in Italy, pyramids in Egypt.

Lea and I talk on the phone and email a lot. She decided to attend university in Florence. She told me she couldn’t bear to stay in Vienna. Too many memories.

Anton seems to have emerged from his shell and honoured Reiner by taking up photography. He attends my former school, St. Johann’s Gymnasium. He seems happy.

I moved away from home. My parents believe I share a flat with a classmate. I don’t live there, though. I moved into Grim’s castle and sleep in my deer-ceiling room. It’s safer. Sinteler has become unsavoury in attaining souls. Two months ago, his Snatchers accosted me after a collection in Romania, who was rumoured to be a Gypsy with powers beyond anyone’s imagination. Pure white magic. Ever since, the Snatchers have been my second shadow.

I needed them as far away from my family as possible.

Sunday brunch is still on, but it isn’t the same without Rolf, Reiner, and Lea.

Grim informed me that tomorrow is my final test. I’ll officially be a Soul Collector graduate. My stomach clenches painfully every time I think about it. What if it’s a collection of someone I know? Grim was right. Watching your family and friends die and collecting their souls sucks.

I move to the barred window. This spot—Watchman Chamber inside Stephansdom Cathedral—has become indispensable. I gaze to my right, absorbing the city’s sweeping view, burying my fingers through my short, curly hair. Cutting it was one of the changes when I moved to Grim’s. Mom threw a fit when she saw it the first time.

The Cathedral’s bell tolls. One hour before my shift is over. I’ve made it a habit to visit my family every evening before shifting to the castle.

A ding sounds inside my head. Collection instructions appear in my mind.

Collection destination: Prague. A fifty-eight-year-old male. The cause of death is heart failure. Soul colour: orange.

After the collection, I stroll down Charles Bridge, past a man who whistles while drawing a portrait of a dark-haired woman. I lean on the wall, watching as a few people sway to the music being performed by a group of musicians. Prague, hauntingly beautiful with its ancient buildings and streets. So romantic. Rolf and I had a list of places we wanted to visit together someday. Thinking about the past only brings pain. I block the memory and shift to the castle.

***

After delivering the soul to the soul chamber, I shift to my house. Mom and Dad are in the living room, watching one of those criminal detective series they love so much. I smile, happy just to see them, even though they can’t see me.

I shift to Lucy’s room. She’s already asleep. Next, I check on Anton. His room is the same—a nightmare. His eyes are glued on the TV, fingers flying over the Playstation controller.

After shifting back to the castle and kicking off my heels, I undo the ankle dagger holster and place it on the night table. Since buying the holster, it has been easy carrying the dagger around, instead of inside my trench. The downside is, Zig’s flirting doubled after that.

Ten minutes later, I step out of the shower in time to hear a
ding-dong
echoing down the hallways, announcing dinner.

I slip on a floor-length red dress and complete the look with a gold sash hugging my waist and a pair of gold high heels. Last, I sprinkle glitter along my arms.

I descend the stairs, ignoring the shifting shadows on the walls and the sudden burst of flames from the sconces, and stroll into the dining hall.

As if sensing my presence, Grim smiles at me. His date—a Rusalka—follows his gaze, her blood red lips tightening. She flicks her golden hair, her large pupil-less eyes scrutinizing me. Dark veins strain beneath her translucent skin. I shudder. This is one water nymph I’ll make a point of avoiding in the future.

“She’s jealous,” Zig says, as I pull my chair to sit. I stare at the woman at Zig’s side. “Dahma, Ana. Ana, Dahma.”

She’s breathtaking! Long red hair, flawless skin, ocean-green eyes. “Wow, Zig.” He must know what I mean because he nods, smiling.

I sense Grim watching me, and I turn. He smiles a proud fatherly smile. “Good evening, Ernest.” He tilts his head in acknowledgement, before his date reclaims his attention once more.

After placing the cloth napkin on my lap, my gaze roves around the hallway. Where is Schulz? Does Sinteler play a part in Schulz’s disappearance? Schulz said my father survived and came through the portal. What does he look like? I’ve been thinking about him more and more lately. I wish I could meet him.

“Hello.”

I blink and shift on my seat to face a Chimera two seats from Zig. I’m not sure which of the heads spoke to me. One is flirting with a Vampire opposite me, and two are focused on me.

“Oh, hi. Are y—” The two heads have already lost interest in me. So much for mingling.

There’s throat clearing on my left. I turn to face the Djinn beside me, his smile so bright it’s blinding.

“Hello, I’m Adis.” He extends his hand. “Your escort for the evening.”

Yep. Date number three hundred I think.

I’ve heard of him: a celebrity in the Afterworld, known for his unstable moods. A trickster prince from the North African desert rumoured to have exiled himself from his home to save his butt from his deadly siblings.

“Hi.” I shake his hand. He holds on to me a little longer than necessary. “Enjoying your dinner so far?” I tug at my hand. He drops it.

“It just got better.” He winks, trailing a long finger down my arm.

I lunge for my glass of water on the table and gulp down half of it.

Wailing, or what would pass for music, fills the hall. It’s going to be a long dinner.

Two hours later, I flee the dining hall. Adis is a menace at flirting. Besides, I’m too anxious about tomorrow’s collection.

D
-
D
AY PLUS ZERO.
That is what I’m calling it. My last day as a Novice. I wipe my hands down my skirt, praying under my breath that my final test isn’t anyone I know.