Reaper's Novice (Soul Collector #1) (6 page)

Does this mean he’ll go on vacation now that he has me? What do I do? I can’t do this on my own. I’m not even trained. And my dream… Working full-time would mean losing my opportunity to ever become a professional violinist. Of ever joining the Vienna Philharmonic. But… surely there has to be a way.

The dreamy-eyed look vanishes, and once again he focuses on me. “Relax, Novice. No need to get your heart twisted in a panic. You should learn to think your thoughts at a decent volume.” He rubs his temple, grimacing. “I have never met anyone whose thoughts scream as loud as yours. Metal clanging on metal,” he mumbles under his breath.

I bite the corners of my lower lip. Why do I keep forgetting he can hear my thoughts? “Good. Now that you restrained your rampant panic, we can talk.”

This is it.

I wipe my clammy palms on my shorts.

He glides forwards, placing a hand on my right shoulder. Tingles move down my arm, soothing my galloping heart. “You knew this day would come. I, for one, am very excited to have you on the team.”

“I was hoping it didn’t,” slips out of my lips. I close my eyes and grit my teeth. Grim must think I’m ungrateful after he gave me back my family. I made a deal.

His hand drops from my shoulder. Grass scrunches under his feet. I open my eyes and focus on the face tilted to the side, appraising me. Either he’s good at hiding his feelings or my foolish statement didn’t affect him in any way.

“Come on, Ana. Look at the sky, smell the air, feel the love surrounding you. No need to be so grumpy.” He straightens and adjusts his eye patch before rubbing his hands together. The trench coat blows lazily around him as though to echo his good mood.

The guilt noose around my neck tightens. My family is safe, thanks to Grim. And here I am thinking selfish thoughts about school and my life. What if he reverses everything, reclaims my family’s souls? Just the other day after everything settled, it hit me I didn’t have an idea what my tasks as Grim’s Novice were.

Time to get a few things clear.

 I squint up at him. “I have a request, if—if that’s all right with you.”

He tilts his head regally, that one eye staring down at me with half-amused indulgence, half-impatience. With his head angled that way, he resembles a pirate prince, granting his subject a favour. I swallow the urge to giggle and clear my throat. “Could I at least have a normal life until after my finals? Just a few more days, please?”

Grim studies me, the silence stretching. Out of nowhere, a wintry breeze sweeps and twirls around my feet, lifting dry grass and leaves from the ground. Rubbing my arms at the sudden chill, I scuttle backwards, as he glides forwards, graceful and frightening. Any traces of cheerfulness evaporate, as his eye burns holes into me. “Normal life? Nothing about this is
normal
, Novice. I’m Death, not a genie. I don’t go granting wishes unless absolutely necessary.” He levels his face to mine. “You do remember your family’s souls, don’t you?”

My family’s souls? He’s still holding onto them? My legs struggle to hold me up. “I thought—I—” I pull in a shaky breath. “You don’t need my family’s souls. You have mine.”

“Ah, but I do, Novice. Call it my… insurance.”

 “We made a deal,” I murmur, searching for a loophole, something to make him release the souls. There’s none. “I won’t go back on my word.”

“In thirteen months, you will graduate to Soul Collector. I will release the souls then.”

I frown. Why thirteen months? Why not a month? Surely, collecting souls shouldn’t be so difficult.

Grim glares at me. “Collecting souls is not equivalent to dashing inside the grocery store and grabbing a carton of milk, then hurrying back home. It needs precision and finesse. You need to
feel
.” Heat prickles up my face, realising he’d just plucked my thoughts. I shift on my feet, thinking of the short leash I’ll be on before the months are up.

I swallow, and straighten to my full height. Thirteen months is not a long time. “What are my tasks?” Somehow I have an idea what his answer will be, but the urge to get a confirmation is strong.

Grim tilts his head slightly, probably deciding to humour me with an answer. “Accompanying me for soul collections.”

I mull the words. “Novice and Soul Collector… Don’t they do just about the same thing?”

“No.” Grim folds his hands behind his back. “As a Novice, you are exempted from other responsibilities. A Soul Collector collects souls
and
ensures the soul’s safe passage to the other side. A Novice, on the other hand, learns the art of soul collection.” He pauses then says, “Now, what kind of mentor would I be if I wouldn’t grant your wish?”

My upper body hurls forwards, and I gulp for breath. He’s granting my wish? A part of me still hopes he’s changed his mind about the four souls.

Someone yells my name. I’d know that voice even in my dreams: the voice that usually sends my blood bubbling in delight now chills it with dreaded anticipation. I spin around to see Rolf push off the wall next to the entrance, hurrying towards us. Didn’t he leave with Lea and Reiner? I swivel back to face Grim, my eyes wide. His gaze slides over my shoulder and back at me, less bothered by the fact that Rolf is hurtling our way at an indecent speed.

“I—I can’t explain who you are. I’m not ready to. Please.”

He studies me through slit eyes. Behind me Rolf’s footfalls chomp the ground, closing the distance. Grim sighs deeply, rolling his eyes as if I just asked him to give up on the dessert he’s been waiting for the whole evening.

“All right, Novice.” His baritone voice reflects boredom. “Your wish for a normal life is granted. For now. In the meantime, prepare yourself. Expect me anytime. Remember, the souls.” He turns to walk away.

As if I’d forget.

“Grim,” I say quickly, my ears trained on Rolf’s footfalls closing in.

Grim halts mid-step and twists around to face me. “Ernest. It would please me very much if you called me Ernest.”

“Ernest,” I say quietly. “Thank you. For everything.”

Grim gives me his regal-pirate nod, turns, and saunters off in the direction of the school building, whistling an eerie tune that makes my skin crawl. He halts to talk to Rolf, scowling. What is he saying to him? Rolf nods, then shakes his head. Grim saunters off.

I wipe my palms on my shorts, and when I look up, Rolf is in front of me, eyebrows pulled down. His hands close around my arms, and I breathe out, relieved by his touch, his strength. At the same time, I tense, desperate to pull away. Unable to hold his gaze, afraid he’ll see how shaken I am, I drop my gaze to my feet.

“What’s wrong, Ana?” He seems to be trying very hard to control his voice, leash the panic that is barely restraining itself where his hands grip my arms.

My heart whispers that I should tell him everything. My mind scolds me, reminding me my life isn’t normal. Not anymore.

Rolf’s fingers touch my face, moving tentatively over my cheek, and tilting my chin up. “Look at me,
Engel
. Please.”

He ducks his head, meeting my gaze. “You okay?” His hands skim my shoulders, squeezing as they glide down my arms and engulf my hands in a warm, comfortingly familiar grip.

I nod, then swallow. “I’m fine, Ro. A bit too hot, but fine.” I’m surprised my mind is able to assemble not one but two sentences. I smile, hoping to reassure him.

“What did Schulz say to you? You look dazed.” His hands, as if restless, eager to make sure I won’t collapse on the grass, run up and down my arms. They stop at different intervals to squeeze me lightly. I shiver, leaning into his touch.

“Nothing much, just—wait, what did you say?” I choke out the words. My heart thumps so hard inside my chest I’m sure if Rolf wasn’t distracted, he’d see the rise and fall of my T-shirt.

He blinks. “Schulz?” He shakes his head. “You two were talking. You seemed to get upset. Figured it wasn’t a buddy chat.” I wince as his grip tightens painfully around my hands. “Sorry. I don’t like to see you upset.” He loosens his grip but doesn’t let go.

I blink, stunned. He thinks Grim
was
Schulz? Whatever Grim did, I was the only one who could see him as he was.

 My lips begin to stretch into a smile at the realisation, but I stop and clear my throat. “I need to catch up with some PE hours to complete my credits. That is if I need a positive note on my final report form.” Lame. Very lame. If I’m going to play and not get caught in my own lies, I need to step up my game. I hold my breath, waiting for his eyes to narrow and accuse me of lying. Rolf stares at me with an expression bordering on suspicion. Or maybe it’s just my guilty conscious showing its head. I was never one to be nominated for the Glorious Lie Award.

It’s not a lie.

What is it if it’s not a lie?

An excuse?

I shake my head to clear it. I’m arguing with myself. Wonderful. As if I need my own company when my head is so crammed already.

I glance around. “We’ll miss our music lesson if we don’t go now,” I say, turning towards the school building.

Rolf tugs my hand slightly, pulling me back and links his fingers with mine. “Is that why you look devastated? Shouldn’t be a problem to complete a few PE basics, no?” Gah! I should have lied better. “Or is there something else going on?” His voice takes on a hard tone.

“Of course there’s nothing—” I halt, run over the words again in my head. Is he insinuating… I jerk around so hard pain shoots from my neck, spreading down my spine. “What do you mean by
something else going on
?”

His jaw is clenched, his body rigid, but he doesn’t say anything, just stares at me. Lips I’ve longed to touch with mine since I walked onto this field fifty minutes ago are now pressed tightly in a thin slash.

I untangle our and take a step back, waiting for him to explain himself. Say something to take away words still buzzing in my ears.
Oh, dear Lord! Really?
“You can’t be thinking what I think you are.” Heat dashes all over my body, prickling my skin. Right now all I want to do is punch him. “Are you serious, Ro?
Me and Herr Schulz
?”

He’s still staring at me, his eyes frozen chips of steel. “It’s been known to happen. Teachers and students. And you’re beautiful.”

Gah! I need to blink right now before my eyes dry out. I think I’m about to vomit my heart out.

He lifts a hand and starts rubbing the back of his neck, now spluttered with red patches.

Something gathers at the base of my stomach and tickles its way up my throat. Definitely not nausea, it can only be…

I burst out laughing. I’m starting to think I need professional help. Serious professional help. Wiping the corners of my eyes with my fingers, I blink up at Rolf, taking in the awful glint of his eyes. His paranoia is in direct proportion to his sweetness. Not a pretty thing to see when it roars.

“I’m not the type, Ro.” My voice comes out harshly, something my laughter didn’t soften. His shoulders hunch as if to protect himself from an oncoming blow.

I’ve never punched anyone before. But now… now, I want to do it. I’m dying to yell. It’d surely help release the tight knot of frustration lodged somewhere in my chest. Given the storm brewing in Rolf’s eyes, my yelling would also bring out the whole damn cavalry, plus cannon fire, ready to explode from him. If we’re going to fight, better in private.

“Go to hell, Rolf.” I turn and stalk off.

I hear him curse, then start after me. “Ana, listen.” I don’t turn around. “
Jesus
, Ana. Just stop for a minute.”

I spin around. “What, Ro? Do you think so low of me?”

His right hand crawls up around his neck again and rubs it. Veins on his arms and neck stick out and look as though they can’t contain themselves under his skin. He lifts his face, his eyes on me, and my stupid, stupid heart trots wildly inside my chest. The grey in his eyes has softened, full of remorse. And something else: fear.

I sigh inwardly. If only it were possible to have interchangeable hearts, one for situations like this where I need to stand firm without melting into him.

“I’m really, really sorry, Ana. When he touched your shoulder, his face… It was as though…” He lets the words trail. A red flush fills his face.

My heart picks up a beat. Could he have overheard my chat with Grim? What did he see? “As though what, Ro?”

“As though you’re something precious. I don’t know. You’ve got to see the image of you two from an outsider’s view.” He motions with his palms face up in a pleading gesture.

Hmm. When he puts it that way, with Grim looking all fatherly and proud in Schulz’s body, but still…

I head for the changing rooms, my hands clenched at my sides. I slam the door behind me and slump on it, breathing in and out. Once I’ve changed into my blue jeans and white T-shirt, I head for my locker and grab my violin. Turning around, I come face to face with Lea, her artist portfolio slung across her shoulder ready for her portrait class, and Reiner, his camera hanging around his neck. Seconds later, Rolf appears. Lea and Reiner’s eyes shift to me, then Rolf.

“Everything okay in Ana-Rolf paradise?” Reiner asks, his eyes holding mine much longer than necessary.

That’s Reiner, always protective of Lea and me. Lately he’s become more so, as if to prove he isn’t like his bad-tempered father who comes home drunk and takes out his frustrations on his family.

I nod and allow my lips to stretch slightly. This is between Rolf and me. Reiner’s eyes shift to Rolf and narrow imperceptibly. My body stiffens as Rolf slings a hand over my shoulder, pulling me closer. The fact that they’re in the same class and have been friends for the last year doesn’t override Reiner’s protectiveness.

“Yeah,” Rolf says, a smile wavering on his lips.

Outside the auditorium, we part ways with Lea and Reiner. As we enter the room, the music teacher pauses and glares at us for our tardiness. Head bowed, I shuffle and take my usual seat with the other violinists, while Rolf scoots over to the pianists. The tiny scars that mar my hands itch so much I want to scream. I grab my violin and run my fingers along its smooth surface, breathing in and out to lessen the pain devouring me. The anger burning in my throat begins to fade.