“You claim to know me. If there was an ounce of truth to that, you would know that this is my calling. There’s nothing else in this world for me.”
I was well aware it was some sort of staged magical effect that caused red-tinged fog to lick around her ankles as she marched onward. Still, it added an eerie effect that made her appear more a merchant of death than ever before.
Stepping out into the open-air deck, a siren with hair a shade lighter than Nyx’s lured couples to the dancefloor with a throaty ballad. The words Dastardly Deeds were emblazoned in purple neon on the front of the drums behind her. By the deck rail on the port side, a dragon shifter was using his fiery breath to light up the night sky to the delight of onlookers. Aft, a mage tossed cards at the flames to morph them into dazzling shapes. So much to see and do, yet Nyx was scanning the crowd for the villain in someone else’s story.
Catching her wrist, I held her back with firm insistence. “You can’t believe that. All this time, all of this world you’ve seen, you’re far more than your calling. You must know that.”
Every trace of emotion vanished from her face as she stepped close, her voice dropping to a pained whisper. “You asked for my help, and that’s what you’ll get. As to the rest… drop it.”
“I can’t, my darling girl. I’m sorry. I need you to tell me why this is so important to you.”
Her features sharpened as she battled to hide her sadness behind an ill-fitting mask of indignance. “I lived a thousand lives before you were blinked into existence. Don’t call me girl. And I told you once before, I hunt because it’s what I do. It’s what I’m good at.”
“And drinking and rolling around with beautiful men isn’t? Need I remind you we share a one-bedroom apartment?”
Shaking off my hold, she dropped her chin to her chest and took a step back. “Drop it, A.”
“I’m afraid I can’t.”
As she shifted her gaze to the dark horizon, the wind tossed her hair back from her face. “If you must know, I’m doing this because it makes sense.”
Lips pursed, I felt my brows knit together. “Jumping on the bandwagon to pursue your cat’s personal vendetta? I can assure you it doesn’t.”
Catching a lock of her blowing hair, Nyx tucked it behind her ear. “You say he’s a bad guy. I ensure that people like him face their final judgment. That I get. That makes sense.”
“But this isn’t a soul reaping you’ve been assigned. There is no ring you slide on your finger to lead you to this target. Your shroud and scythe are back on the mainland. All you have is a pissed off kitty with no real plan.”
“And yet, that’s enough for me.” Nyx raised one finger and gestured to the few people wandering around the open-air deck. “Look around. Do you see him?”
“Nyx, what is this really about?”
“The guy who buried you alive has picked his next victim. Seems like a matter of critical importance to me.” Head on a constant swivel, she wouldn’t look me in the face.
“Nyx…”
“Fine! You want to know? It’s because a clearly defined evil makes sense.” When her gaze finally turned my way, the sorrow I found there knocked the air from my lungs. Her voice cracked with emotion, and tears welled behind her eyes. “I understand my role. My duties are cut and dried.”
Her reality washed over me with icy realization. “Lucifer… he built an army of souls, and now he’s your next reap.”
Her chin trembled, and tears slipped from her lashes unchecked. “The world paints him as a villain. But I have known him since Father thought us both into being. Luce has been by my side through the ages, him and Ezekiel acting as the only family I have had to hold on to. I thought I knew him better than I knew myself. To learn he’s been planning and plotting…” With a sniff, she fought to regain control and wiped her nose on the back of her hand. “How can I claim to know him at all if I saw no signs of the coup he was forming? And how the hell do I even begin to fight him? How do I pick up my weapon and charge into battle against someone it’s ingrained in my blood to protect? None of this makes sense. Not one bit. We were working together in a partnership, focused on going home. The fact that I could be so wrong about so much… I just don’t get it.”
Closing the distance between us, I took her hands in mine and ignored how she bristled. “Living with you, I’ve learned all your annoying traits and characteristics and have even come to appreciate one or two of them.”
“I know you’re not human often, but this is the worst pep talk ever.”
“I’m going somewhere with this, shut up.”
The corners of Nyx’s mouth twitched as if attempting—and failing—at a smile.
“No matter how a soul fights, scrapes, and bargains, when it comes to that final moment of reaping, you show them all kindness. Why?” I knew the answer well. Hearing her utter them in Egypt was what prompted me to choose her as a companion. Right now, she needed to say the words out loud for herself, not for me.
Wetting her lips, she bitterly forced the sentiment from her tongue. “Because no one is completely good or evil. Every last one of us is a messy gray area. In our last moments, no matter what a soul has done, we all deserve a small show of kindness in the face of the terrifying unknown abyss.”
Raising our joined hands, I dotted a kiss to her knuckles. “And that, my darling, is why you must be the one to reap Lucifer’s soul. Others have preconceived notions that would hinder them from granting him even that momentary mercy. Only you can grant him that.”
My words were meant to be kind. Inspiring even. Somehow, they missed the target.
Nyx’s features iced over, turning to cold, hard stone by the demands of her curse. “That’s right. Because I am death, and sooner or later, I come for everyone. Now, show me to this Nekau. He’s forestalled judgment for far too long. I may not have my scythe, but I know incantations that will tag him until we make port. Then, he’s mine for the taking.”
Not waiting for me to respond, Nyx turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowd.
Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I tried to pinpoint the exact moment the entire situation spiraled out of my control. “We communicated better when I just bit and scratched her.”
5
“Clearly, there’s no talking you out of this.” Jogging to catch up with the reaper in a snit, I caught a glimpse of Nekau and his fae acting out Leo’s King of the World moment on the side rail of the ship. “I suggest we tackle this as a team like one of those modern day ball foot clubs.”
Coming to an abrupt halt, Nyx spun on me, face hauntingly vacant of emotion. “There was so much wrong with that I don’t even know where to begin. So, I’m going to bypass it completely and simply ask what you have in mind?”
Flipping my thick mane over my shoulder, I shrugged. “You distract him; I’ll warn her. Simple as that. Probably safer if we play it that way. The Monster Ball has a strict no-kill policy, and I’m not sure I could restrain myself.”
Eyebrows raised in casual interest, she scanned the mingling bodies around us. “Sounds like an ideal course of action. Where is he?”