Reaper's Novice (Soul Collector #1) (5 page)

In the first hour of class this morning, I had math. The only thing I remember are hazy lines and a formula the teacher scribbled on the board, which is bad because the dreaded finals are around the corner. I’m banking on Rolf to tutor me in math.

I look around to find Reiner and Lea a few feet from where I stand, arguing heatedly. From the corner of my eye, I glimpse a movement. I look up to find Rolf grinning at me. He waves and winks, shifting from one foot to the other. I forget to breathe as I stare at him, taking in his tall, lean, well-toned frame.
Sweet Mary, Jesus, and Joseph
. If that smouldering look won’t kill me, my heart whacking itself inside the walls of my chest will.

Rolf rakes a hand through his blond hair, and mouths, “I missed you.” He blows me a kiss. I remember to breathe, exhale, and grin back.

This is the Rolf I remember falling in love with a year ago. Spending time with his dad in their summer cabin in Salzburg must have restored his usual disposition. I murmur a silent “thank you” to the gods of boyfriends as my eyes feast on Rolf’s face, basking in his slate-grey eyes.

I’m sure I’m grinning idiotically, but I don’t care. It feels good to smile. I mouth back, “I missed you, too.” He shifts and slinks towards me, his eyes darting to Herr Schulz every few seconds.

God, I’ve missed him. We haven’t seen each other in the last four days. I’m really looking forward to lunch break. The word ‘lunch’ triggers a growl in my stomach. I had a snack a while ago. Mom says I eat like a plough horse. Dad says I’m still growing, sprouting. Probably answers why I get hungry so often.

I ignore my stomach and concentrate on Rolf, his eyes intensely yet playfully trained on me. Butterflies flap around in my stomach. Seconds later his fingers are touching, slipping, and twining with mine.

I’m combustible.

He kisses my knuckles. “What are you doing after school?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Other than skipping my hockey training?” His eyes twinkle. “Making up for the last four days.”

“Very smooth,” Reiner whispers, inching closer to where Rolf and I are. “Looks like mountain air agrees with you, Ro.”

From beside him, Lea rolls her eyes. “You probably need to sniff some mountain air, Rein. You’re grouchy.”

Reiner scowls. “I’m not grouchy. And I said I’m sorry I can’t!”

What’s with them now?
I glance at Rolf. He looks as clueless as I feel.

“
Sorry
?” Lea’s voice is a harsh whisper.

Reiner shifts on his feet, ears turning pink. “You’re asking me to pose as your knitting model. Those dresses are—” He shudders, switching his pleading gaze on me. “Please talk to her. I’m a man. I’m supposed to do manly things.”

A knitting model
? I slap a hand over my mouth to cut off a laugh, but it escapes anyway.

 “Fräulein Tei!” That bellow chills the warmth in my veins, freezing us on the spot. My head whips up, and I peek over Niklas’s shoulder. I can’t even see Herr Schulz. How the hell did he see me? I blink and he’s beside me, his stormy grey eyes drilling into mine, his moustache quivering.

“Another lap will help you pay attention.”

My legs can barely support my body after the last four laps.

Herr Schulz glares at me. I swallow a groan. Rolf caresses a finger lightly on my palm then squeezes my hand, the smile on his lips promising much more than a fire-light-me-up-and-burn-me-to-cinders caress. My body tingles, my heart racing. I slip my fingers from his, take a deep breath, and let the memory of his touch carry me across the field. I breathe in and out like Dad taught me. He was a marathon runner years ago. In fact that’s how he and Mom met, during the Vienna Marathon twenty years ago when he moved from Kenya to Austria.

“You too, Fräulein De Luca.” Herr Schulz’s voice is a whip behind me. Seconds later, Lea appears beside me, grinning like a lunatic. I roll my eyes, grinning back.

“Thought I’d let you have all the fun, didn’t you?” Lea says, her long dark brown hair bouncing cheerfully behind her.

I chuckle. “Didn’t expect less from you. What did you do to get blasted with his wrath?”

“Nothing he didn’t deserve,” Lea drawls. “He’s the devil’s offspring. Have you ever seen anyone so bad-tempered in your life?”

I laugh. “Good thing you’re here. Dying of boredom is officially crossed off my list.”

Lea flashes me a bright smile. We jog in silence. The only sound is two pairs of sneakered feet on the track.

Finally, Lea clears her throat noisily. “Looking chirpy today, Ana. Any reason I should be concerned?” Now I know why she kept shooting funny looks at me during math. I’ve known Lea forever. She knows if I breathe wrong, if I blink several times in a second. She knows me like the back of her hand. Something I should’ve remembered before I sauntered in class today.

“Chirpy? I’m always chirpy.”

Lea rolls her eyes, her breathing ragged. “You’re as dull as a dancehall.” She grins at her own comparison.

I slow down and look over my shoulder. Herr Schulz is nowhere in sight. Some of my classmates are sprawled on the grass, chasing each other around or just talking. I breathe out and slow down completely, letting my tortured lungs play catch up. Lea slows beside me but continues jogging in place.

“How’re things between your mom and dad?” she says softly.

I bite my tongue, barricading the words I’m dying to share but can’t. The weirdness of it all holds me back. Grim’s tinkering with memories and events made me whole again, though I’m still worried about the consequences. I’m not ready to share what happened. Probably will, but not today. Not this week. Probably not this year.

“They don’t fight as much. Therapy seems to have weaved its magic.”
And they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other.

“Really? That’s fantastic!” She leaps forwards and snatches me for a hug, then pulls back. “I’m so glad, really glad, Ana.”

“Me, too.” The sudden image of our flattened Opel glides through my mind, making me shiver.

“You okay?” She eyes me suspiciously. “That look… you look like someone killed your pet or something.”

“I’m fine, Lea.” I tug her closer and hug her again, her arms around me banishing the chill caused by that flashback. Seconds later, I pull back. “Really, I am.” I do my best to widen my lips to a smile.

She still doesn’t look convinced. “Remember armpit buddies?” she says.

I nod, my smile widening into a grin. “Sweat and all.” This has been our motto since kindergarten.

“You’d tell me if anything was wrong, right?” I nod. The worry lines on her face melt, replaced by a sly smile. “I’m glad. You’ve lost too much weight. How Rolf still ogles after you is still a mystery to me.”

I laugh. “Speaking of boyfriends, how’s Rein?” I pull the conversational gears, distracting her.

She looks over her shoulder at Rein talking to Rolf. Abruptly, Reiner lifts his head full of dark brown hair and faces us. He exaggerates his stretching—for Lea’s benefit—and shoves his slim hips side to side, then jerks his pelvis forwards. Lea drops her gaze to the green grass, her cheeks turning red.

“Randy as usual, eh?” I tease her.

Lea giggles. “You have no idea, my friend.” If there was anyone with the ability to render Lea into a giggling mess, it’s Reiner.

Before I can open my mouth to tease her further, a whistle slashes through the air. Someone roars our names. I cringe and turn around. My stomach drops to my feet. Herr Schulz. Where did he come from? He’s like a ghost, drifting in and out when no one is expecting him. He barks something to the rest of the class, and they disperse like ants, stumbling towards the school building. He motions to us with his beefy hand. I sigh and start towards him. Lea falls in step with me, scowling.

“I wonder what he wants now,” she mutters.

“We’ll find out in three, two, one…”

And we’re standing in front of him. This is a face I won’t miss when I’m done with school.  The sheer heat of his glower is like a thousand suns scorching my face. I peek at Lea under my lashes. I wonder if she’s as nervous as I am. She looks so confident and at ease.

He swings his forever-scathing gaze to Lea. Miracle of all miracles, she doesn’t even blink. I’m a thousand colours of envy. My heart swells with pride to call her my friend. In my book, she’s a true warrior.

“Fräulein De Luca, please excuse us,” Schulz says, dismissing Lea with a wave of his hand.

Lea frowns, looks at me, then turns and stomps off. I think our feelings are mutual: to never set eyes on our teacher will be like manna from heaven.

I straighten my shoulders and lock my gaze on his stormy grey eyes, barely visible behind bushy brown brows. He tilts his head, slowly, sort of like a wolf I once saw on TV. The sun bounces off the balding spot on top of his head, almost blinding me. I avert my gaze and stare slightly above his right shoulder.

Come on. Get on with it!
The voice in my head shrieks at him.

His eyes drop to my fingers tugging at edge of my T-shirt, then back to my face. “Nervous?”

I swallow, forcing my heart back to my chest. I don’t know why he makes me so uncomfortable, so scared. Lea once told me I have the kind of face and the kind of heart that people love to scare shitless. I’m weighing the accuracy of her words right now.

Schulz smiles abruptly. I cringe and stumble back. Honestly, his glower is more welcome than his smile.

“So, Fräulein Tei…” He lets those words hang in the air, shoves his hands in his pockets, and rocks on his heels. His shorts look too tiny. I wish he’d place his hands elsewhere. Plus, I have no idea what to do with my eyes, where to look.

This is ridiculous.

“Fräulein Tei… or should I say, Novice?”

E
VERY MUSCLE IN MY BODY TURNS TO ICE.
Even my heart, which was sprinting minutes before, now freezes, as if it recognises I’m in the presence of the one who holds my fate in his hands. Shock finally thaws my muscles, and I spin around. My legs ability to hold my body is dwindling by the second. The air around Herr Schulz’s form visibly shifts. It shivers and rearranges itself.

Right in front of my eyes, he transforms. Raven black hair pops all over his head, partially covered by a crimson scarf. The stout form folds into itself and thins out. His five-foot-six height stretches about one more foot. The green polo shimmers, then vanishes, and is replaced by a pristine white ruffled shirt with laces at the front and billowing sleeves. The pair of shorts follow suit and are replaced by black baggy knee-length pants. From the knees down, a pair of dark brown leather buckle boots cover his legs and curl to a perfect C at the toes. Another crimson sash hugs his lean hips. His sleeveless ankle-length trench coat fits his upper body like a second skin and cascades to his toes, fluttering in the non-existent breeze. An eye patch and a large gold hoop earring complete the look.

Grim stands before me in all his pirate glory, transformation complete. I feel like I’ve just watched one of those computer animations where one image transforms into another, then another.

“What are you doing here?”
What has he done with Herr Schulz?

He tips his head to the side. “I am allowed to visit my Novice, aren’t I? Your teacher and I have… an agreement. I would say he and I wish for the same thing.”

“But I’m in school! My friends—” I stop and rewind his words. “
You and Schulz
? Agreement?” Does Grim make deals with everyone? Did Schulz lose someone and trade his soul as well?

He waves a heavily ringed hand in dismissal. “We have to talk.”

Hugging my waist, I struggle to feed air in my starving lungs. Sweat pools under my arms. Has he come to get me to collect souls? What do I do? What do I tell my friends? This is a disaster.

Why couldn’t Grim appear somewhere else? Like in my room or something? They will definitely declare me crazy. I can see fear glazing their eyes once they discover what I did. Crap! I can’t breathe. I think I’m going to throw up.

His eyebrows dip and his shoulders slump slightly forwards, losing some of their spunk. “Do I look that dreadful?” He folds his hands behind his back. “I have always wanted to go to sea, sail, see the world through different eyes. Captain my own ship, take life to the next level. Sing ‘Feliz Navidad’ in a Mariachi band somewhere in Mexico, become a warrior, get my hair braided and dyed in clay and red ochre, learn surfing. Ah, the pleasures life has to offer.” He seems lost in his own fantastical imaginings.

I gawk at Grim, feeling as if I took a wrong turn to nowhere. I clear my throat. “Er… you look great. So… pirate-y, I mean. Like a seaman, captain, or something.” What am I supposed to say? Grim is nothing like I expected. He’s just too… weird. I clear my throat and drop my hands from my waist to fiddle with the edge of my T-shirt. “Captain your own ship? You have a ship?” Maybe he needs one to collect souls at sea.

Grim waves a hand, the balloon sleeves shifting to reveal a copper bracelet with tiny skulls engraved on it. He snorts. Whether in mirth or irritation, I can’t tell. “Ship or no ship, I am capable of collecting souls anywhere. It has been a while since I took a vacation. Now that I have you, my Novice…” His eyes glaze as his words trail off.