Chapter 14
Skully
DAD: Your avoidance of this family is becoming childish. You have a job to do just like the rest of us.
My head was already pounding after the wake up-call in the form of a very familiar nightmare.
The same nightmare that used to haunt me before my magic returned.
I thought I had beaten it. I thought my subconscious had finally calmed now that I remember magic, my power, and the large part of what made me who I am.
I don’t know if it was the flashes of what felt like déjà vu recently or my talk with Baylee the other night, but I was thrown awake this morning, feeling like I was drowning all over again.
The screams, the lights, the flashes of silver and gold before being submerged in darkness.
I barely made it to the bathroom before dry heaving in the toilet, my chest feeling the phantom pains of losing air.
Now I had this lovely message from my dad.
I have been able to dodge all of his attempts to get together since being back on campus, but my luck has run out.
ME: I’m not avoiding. I am just really busy getting caught up and working. I wasn’t aware I had any other job or requirements.
DAD: Don’t be dense, Skallan. We all take a role and responsibility in this town for the Haven.
ME: What do I need to do?
DAD: Find Madden. He’ll fill you in. I expect more from you, Skallan. The time to goof around is over. With or without your memories, you have an obligation to this city.
And just like that the rest of my day is going to be ruined.
The last person I actively want to seek out is Madden.
It has been almost a week since the night I ran into him at my job and he demanded I quit, and three whole days since our run-in on campus.
Since then, I’ve been better at looking out for him.
The campus is no longer free for me to roam; I am now aware of any corner he could be around.
I am also avoiding Heath, Aero and definitely Killian.
Not because Madden ordered it, but because I am afraid that Madden has a beacon for it.
Like if I even think of Killian, Madden will show up.
Now, my dad is forcing me to actively seek out the one guy who is making this college experience tougher than it needs to be.
Not only am I still scrutinized by paranormals and humans alike, hearing them murmur horrible things about me, I am also treated like the plague.
Everyone gives me a wide berth and I’ve been left solo on three different group projects so far for my classes.
When I brought it up to the professors, I was given a mild shrug of indifference from one, told I could handle the extra work by another, and the third reprimanded me like it was my fault.
Madden’s reach goes further than just with the student population if the faculty is also bending to his will.
Two of those projects are worth at least 50% of my grade for that class, which means if I’m not working, I am going to be studying or in the library.
I am going to have zero time for anything else, which is what I am guessing he wanted.
Anything to push me away from his life here.
I should be happy, rejoicing even, but I can’t stop the little pit of despair that settles into my stomach each time I think about it.
These feelings make no sense to me, not when I’ve known Madden’s true feelings since the moment I woke up in that hospital bed.
An anxiousness flows through my veins, and I quickly grab my phone, doing the one thing I stopped myself from doing a hundred times since setting foot back here. I pull up Azriel’s contact and hit the call button.
“Hey, this is…
“Az I need—”
“Please leave me a message, and I’ll get back to you if I feel like it.”
My shoulders slump and my knees give out, my body landing on my bed.
A few seconds of silence accidentally recorded in a voicemail before I remember to hit the red end button.
I blink and tears fill my eyes, my fingers dashing them away as quickly as they started to fall.
This is the loneliest I’ve felt since coming back here.
I knew it would be a trial, and I was prepared to find things I didn’t like about my past. I guess I just didn’t think the animosity would last this long.
I am the one who was hurt, right? I am the one who jumped from a cliff because of the mess my life was.
If the stories are true. Which makes it even more confusing with Madden’s continued attention on me and the chaos he is creating in my life.
He doesn’t want me around, but he can’t leave me alone either.
With those thoughts fueling the anger in my veins, I manage to get back up and finish packing my bag for class.
I am not going to allow Madden to ruin school for me.
All I have to do is graduate with my degree and then I am free to leave River Falls again and never return.
It’s only a few more years. With one last look in the mirror, I swipe under my eyes where my mascara had started to run, then head out the door.
The rest of the apartment is thankfully quiet; Baylee must still be sleeping.
I grab a banana from the counter and exit, making sure to close and lock the door behind me.
Once again the campus is shrouded in shadows, the morning sun just barely cresting the tree line as I make my way over to the arts building.
Breathing in the crisp, fall air gives me a chance to figure out how I’m even going to get a hold of Madden.
I remember his name being on my contact list in my old phone.
When I moved to California, I got a new one and didn’t bother to sync any of my old contacts, so calling or texting him is out of the question.
We don’t have any classes together. I also don’t even know his major or which buildings he spends his time in other than at the pool.
There’s no way in hell I’m approaching him on campus either.
My feet stomp on the concrete path leading up to the building when a low chuckle catches my attention.
“It’s too early for a tantrum, isn’t it?” Heath strolls lazily toward me from the other direction, a playful smile on his lips.
My head tilts back as he approaches, taking in his messy, brown hair and crystal blue eyes. How are all these guys so tall? Is it a reaper thing?
“It’s too early for many things, yet here you are,” I throw back, with a tight smile on my lips.
Of all the reactions I don’t expect Heath to laugh, a deep rumble straight from his stomach.
His eyes that had been watching me warily, glint with something else.
Something familiar but then it’s gone in the next instant.
“Not a morning person, yet you have all morning classes,” Heath observes, his arms folding over his chest. “Interesting.”
My brow rises, and I feel my chest tightening. “How do you know my schedule?”
He grins, his white teeth looking almost sharp, as he bends to my eye level. “It’s our job to know information about all the paranormals in River Falls, Skully. Not being prepared would be stupid.”
My head nods along as if agreeing, and I want to shake myself. My body has grown comfortable around him the longer he stands here. Heath feels familiar, in a way, as if we’ve sat around and chatted before in multiple different settings. I almost relax, and that is stupid.
Clearing my throat, I pin him with my gaze, letting my mask of indifference fall back into place. “Speaking of stupid, my dad texted me this morning. He said I needed to start pulling my weight with some job. I’m supposed to talk to Madden about it but…”
“But he’d be an ass to you if you even approached him?” Heath finishes for me, his brow rising and another mischievous smile playing on his full lips.
My cheeks feel hot and I bite my lips against an angry retort. “Something like that.”
Heath scans my face, taking in how uncomfortable I am now before exhaling loudly. “I don’t keep secrets from my brother. I also know he’s been busy lately with everything we’re facing and that seeing you could upset him.”
“Charming,” I practically growl, which only makes Heath smile even bigger.
“So I’ll take one for the team today. There’s no practice tonight and I’m taking over the late shift at the Gate.”
“What’s the Gate?” My head tilts with my question, my shoulders feeling tense. Something in the recess of my mind niggles at me, but the thought is chased away as soon as it was formed.
“The Gate at the cemetery. It’s our job as reapers to guard it. Well, there’s more to it, but we can’t talk about it here.” He looks around before sliding his gaze back to me. “Meet me there at nine o’clock.”
“And I should trust you, why?” My spine straightens, contemplating his offer. It could be real. Or it could be another way to embarrass or demean me by the brothers and their friends.
Heath moves past me, his shoulders moving up and down in an elaborate shrug. “Do or don’t, Skully. You were the one who needed the favor. It’s up to you.”
My mouth slams shut, and I clutch my jacket around me.
Heath turns and keeps moving, walking away from me without even a glance back.
He’s right. Whether I trust him or not, I need to figure out what the job is that my dad thinks I need to be part of.
If only to get him off my back, so I can continue in peace on this campus.
Besides, I would take time with Heath over time spent with Madden any day.
This might not be that bad, if it’s with the goofy, only slightly serious, little brother instead.
Maybe we’ll have time for a round of Mario Kart on his Switch even.
I stop in my tracks on the stairs; my hand frozen on the door handle.
My lips pull in a frown, and my gaze instantly shoots to what can still be seen of Heath’s retreating figure. Where did that thought come from?
A low rolling fog moves in from the ocean beyond the cemetery, adding to the already spooky aesthetic.
My eyes roam the space, taking in the various shapes and sizes of the stone headings peeking over the fog in perfect rows and lines.
The sharp edges of near leafless trees line the perimeter.
Only the very faint glow from the half-moon lights my path as I keep walking toward the front of the black iron gate.
A red Ducati motorbike sits there, Heath’s tall frame leaning against it.
My feet crunch on some rock and his head lifts, his eyes roaming over me from my feet to the top of my head.
There’s no heat in his gaze, just a protectiveness I don’t understand.
“Thought maybe you were too chicken to make it,” he jokes, a small smile cracking his lips.
I shrug off the comment and glance from him to the cemetery. “I didn’t know exactly what I was in for. I almost did stay at home.”
“Your father would have been pissed,” Heath points out, his eyes assessing me.
My brow rises slightly. “I don’t really care about what my dad thinks. Him giving me orders doesn’t make him a parent either.”
Heath flicks his eyes over me again, and he sighs loudly this time. “Do you remember doing this before?”
“Did I do this before?” I glance around, trying to see if anything sparks, if there’s any familiarity at all. Heath’s eyes stay glued to my face watching me while nothing happens. Being here brings back zero memories. “What are we doing here?”
“Our job as reapers is to guard the Gate. This gate in particular. We’re the protectors of the Haven. Nothing bad comes out of this gate, and we monitor everything that goes in, particularly everything evil and bad.”
“So everyone buried here is evil?” My gaze roams over the hundreds of headstones, my lips parting.
Heath scoffs, and it sounds more like a laugh.
“No. This cemetery is filled with everyone who’s lived and died here in River Falls for a few hundred years.
During the day it’s like any other cemetery in the world.
But at night, it becomes the plane between the Haven and the Shade.
Some nights will be quiet; other nights there will be other presences.
Death brings the souls we’re meant to make sure never reemerge out of the Gate. ”
“How does death do that?” I glance back at him and see the slight tilt of his lips.
“Death is as real as you or me. I’ve never seen him or her; I’m not really sure what they are.
Some of the reapers have seen Death though.
” He shrugs, as if this information hasn’t blown my mind.
Not that I didn’t know Death came for souls, but up until now I only knew how angels worked. How Azriel did his job.
“Death gives some souls to the angels. Who brings the evil ones here?” I ask and watch as Heath’s shoulders tense.
“You’ve met an angel?”
His question seems innocent enough, but then I remember I’m not on good terms with him. I don’t trust any of them really. And I don’t have my memories to fall back on. My silence stretches on into enough of an answer that eventually he drops his head and sighs.
“Right. Well to answer your question, one of Death’s hellhounds will bring the evil soul in.” He rubs the back of his neck, eyes still on the ground. Hell hound
We stand here in silence for a few more minutes, each of us watching the cemetery.
Unlike Heath, I have no idea what it is I’m even looking for.
I keep waiting for some spark or a figure to appear.
Nothing happens and my magic never even rises to the surface.
There’s a content feeling in me, but that’s about it.
“So we just sit and wait?”
Heath side glances at me before sliding his cell phone back into his pocket.
“Ah, pretty much. Trust me, princess, you don’t want there to be activity.
That’s when the real shit happens, and since you don’t remember this life, it’s a good thing tonight is quiet.
Gavin never should have even told you to be here. ”
Now, he has my attention. Turning to face him, my hip resting against the seat of his bike, I lean forward. “And how does a reaper handle—-”
My voice breaks off when there’s a wave in the space, the air bending and the next second Aero is standing there. His emerald green eyes bounce back and forth between me and Heath. Disbelief, shock, and then humor dance in his gaze before he trains his eyes on Heath alone. “Oh, you are so fucked.”