A Reaper Made (5 page)

Tully looked at the ground for a long moment before coming up to meet our eyes. “Alistair is a True and would never let anyone forget it. He is so old, he might as well be considered created by Death. When he made me, he did not greet me into this new world as I did with you, Grace. He gave me the basics: the pull of souls and how to guide them; to stay away from living family; how it will take a few decades before your death becomes meaningless.”
 

Yikes. I immediately regretted my outburst. Tully was a pretty tough Reaper to please and I usually did just as he asked. I could only imagine what it was like to have someone like Alistair throwing me into the deep end without so much as a good luck.
 

“He did not explain the new world to me,” Tully said. His eyes flitted to Tessa. “Magic, witches…I could not have ever been prepared.”
 

He referred to his first meeting with Tessa, I realized. His attempt to reap her had finally introduced him to the supernatural world. A glance to Tessa showed her eyes meeting briefly with his and down on the floor. The twist in her mouth said she’d knowingly left that part out of the story. I would never have guessed they had such a thick history together.
 

“He would answer my questions and help me through certain situations. Terrified souls and the like,” Tully added at my raised eyebrow.
 

“When was the last time you spoke with Alistair?” Tessa asked.
 

“1912,” Tully promptly responded. “After he asked for my help with the RMS Titanic.”
 

A strange squawk escaped me at the revelation. I’d always found that tragedy oddly fascinating; I had all sorts of questions. Tessa cut me off with a serious look.
 

“And why exactly would you go to him now after so many years?” she asked.
 

“Because as one of the oldest Reapers, I would imagine even if he does not know who is behind this, he will be aware of the situation. Something like this doesn’t escape the elders.”
 

Tessa pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. “There are elders? How have I been alive so long and not known you actually
do
have some grand poobah council?”
 

Tully bristled and I bit my lip to prevent a smile. He hated that term and I liked to use it often. He scowled. “They are the oldest of our kind, the messengers that connect the rest of us to Death. They are consulted over situations such the one we are in now.”

“Did you have to talk to them over the Titanic debacle?” I asked him with interest.
 

“Yes, they-”
 

Tessa cut him off, annoyed. “Will Alistair be able to help us?”
 

“At least with information; I doubt he’ll want to tag along on our adventure,” Tully said wryly. “In any case, it’s better we do not reveal our current plan which includes breaking a main rule in the handbook. Let me do the talking.”
 

“No problem.”
 

My mentor turned to Tessa. “I’m sorry, but as you are not a Reaper, you cannot accompany us this time.”
 

“Yeah I get it, no witches allowed,” Tessa said, her hands palm up. “Can you at least tell me what happened when you jokers get back?”
 

Tully gave her a terse nod and turned away, hands behind his back as he paced the hallway. I shrugged at Tessa’s concerned look.
 

“I have no idea what to expect,” I said. “You know more about this guy than I do.”
 

“Which is why I’m worried. I didn’t even know the guy’s name, only that Tully’s got some issues with him,” she said under her breath. She risked another glance to Tully, who ignored us, clearly deep in thought. “Sorry I didn’t tell you the whole story behind how Tully and I met.”
 

“I think I understand,” I said, “it wasn’t your story to tell.”
 

She flashed a relieved smile and gave my hand a squeeze. “See you in a bit.”
 

As she stepped back, she offered a brief wave. My smile felt more like a grimace as Tully and I prepared to find his mentor, one of the eldest Reapers in existence.
 

CHAPTER SIX

Tessa disappeared into her back room, presumably to look at more of her spell books and give us some private time. Tully put a hand on my shoulder; I jumped at the contact, turning to look at him in surprise.
 

“Like I said, let me do the talking. Elders aren’t keen on talking to Mades and your being practically brand new won’t help matters.”
 

I huffed in frustration. “You know, it’s their fault we exist. They needed us yet they don’t want to work with us?”
 

Tully dropped his hand from my shoulder. He made a face as though he agreed, but continued on. “In any case, my relationship with Alistair is a bit…difficult. Despite our distance, I am tethered to him, as you are to me.”

His statement made me squirm a bit. I’d never asked and Tully had never said, but I had a feeling that makers could require their Mades to follow requests as needed. Sure, Reapers were neutral, but if demons were forcing a Reaper’s hand, that wasn’t exactly news we wanted right now.
 

“We’ll go to their location and speak with him.” Tully shifted his weight and I knew he had the same doubts I did.
 

“What, they have a corporate office?”
 

“Something like that. With me now, please.”
 

He placed his hand on my back and together we took a step forward. Light flashed as we walked through planes. Instead of Tessa’s apartment, we now stood in front of a dilapidated building that had definitely seen better days. I opened my mouth to make a snarky comment, but Tully shook his head a little.
 

“Take another look,” he simply said.
 

Magic hummed around us and I realized my mistake. This building sat between two planes, ours and the human one. Spells coated this spot, making the initial glance a rundown old place. After a long moment, however, the building transformed before my eyes. Behind the ugly facade was a stone building that looked like a true relic of days past. Giant dark window panes nestled beneath arches dotted the gray walls, the features castle-like. While a church automatically came to mind, I knew there were no religious associations - Reapers were older than religion.
 

“Can all supes see this place?” I asked Tully in astonishment.
 

“Only Reapers,” he replied. “Can’t have demons or werewolves getting in, now can we?”
 

“Or humans,” I added.
 

Tully managed a grim smile. He led the way into the building and I trailed after him, gaping at pillars of marble and granite. I wrinkled my nose at the mausoleum-like atmosphere. The deafening quiet made my ears ache for music. Fifty or so marble statues littered the area, gorgeous pieces that reminded me of wingless angels. Perhaps they were the inspiration? I took a step toward one, eager to see its inscription, but Tully grabbed my arm and kept us on the pathway.
 

“One does not dawdle here,” he murmured.
 

No one greeted us and I wondered if anyone knew we were here. I looked around for a reception desk, maybe a giant sign that said “Elders This Way.” Several wooden doors lined either side of the room. I stayed right behind Tully as he strode to a door in the far back corner. With no idea of what lay on the other side of that door, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. Tully rapped his knuckles on the thick wood twice before turning the heavy black knob.
 

We came through the doorway and my jaw dropped at an elaborate room with dark wooden trim and floor. Flames crackled in the marble fireplace and I found myself overwhelmed at the library above our heads; it covered every inch of wall space and even needed one of those ladders that swept you from section to section. Despite the fire, the room still felt cold; it gave me the willies. Tully nudged me to pay attention and I had to tear my eyes away from the shelves.
 

The reason for our visit sat behind a large mahogany desk, an imposing figure with his shadow bouncing off the wall from the fire. No papers or office supplies littered the desk and my brow furrowed in confusion. I guess Death didn’t fax in the souls’ names.
 

Alistair, a True Reaper who’d been around longer than I could fathom, spun in his chair and came into view. He sat tall and rigid in his leather chair; despite the robes of black he wore instead of a suit, he reminded me more of a hardass CEO rather than a mystical, supernatural force that helped souls greet death. His skin was dark olive, but his thick hair white as snow; I couldn’t decipher any particular culture on him. Maybe elders were a mix of all races. Even from a few feet away, I could see his liquid gold eyes, a mesmerizing amber that glowed in the firelight.
 

My mentor took a tentative step into the room, looking as nervous as I’d ever seen him. He sounded unsure of himself when he said, “Hello, Alistair.”
 

“Tully.”
 

The deep bass tone boomed across the room. The one word greeting was more frosty than I’d expected and a chill went up my spine. Based on the look Alistair threw my way, maybe I shouldn’t have come with Tully.
 

“I come seeking your wisdom,” Tully said. I twitched at the formal attitude, but Tully paid me no mind.
 

“Then ask.” Alistair made no movement, his gold eyes staying on us. He didn’t even blink and I fought the urge to shiver. Elders were now on the ever-growing list of things that creeped me out.
 

Tully recapped all the information up to the meeting at Luther’s. I noticed he was careful not to mention his contact by name, though I felt sure Alistair would pick up on it. Once Tully finished his tale, he went silent, gaze never leaving his mentor. Hope blossomed in my chest that Alistair would be able to help us, to know the answer to saving our fellow Reapers.
 

“You went to someone on your own? Behind our backs?” Alistair said, disappointment dripping off his words. His rich voice sounded even deeper when he lowered his chin to his chest to stare Tully down. His pointed question made my hope fleeting and I cringed.
 

“There was no need to waste your time with rumors,” Tully replied. Despite the elder’s glare, he stayed strong. “Only special circumstances request your valuable time.”
 

Alistair was calculating, almost careful about how he phrased his question. “And who, pray tell, is your contact? Perhaps we owe him a visit so that we may learn more from his wealth of information.”
 

“A shifter who will not repeat it to anyone.”
 

Alistair lost interest at the term, apparently believing it wasn’t worth his time. He and Tully still held each other’s gaze. Uncomfortable, I shifted my weight.
 

“Forgive my step over the boundaries. It was not my intention to upset the elders,” Tully said. “It is our duty to protect souls and with Reapers missing, destinies could be altered.”
 

Tully’s complete lack of backbone was beginning to get on my nerves. This Alistair guy really had a hold over him. I was finally understanding why Tully was the Reaper he was.
 

I stood a little taller as Alistair accepted the reasoning. My resolve flickered when his shrewd eyes rested upon me. Tully didn’t move, but he’d noticed the shift, too.
Uh oh.
 

“This is your progeny?” Alistair asked with a sniff.
 

Tully nodded. “Grace, I am honored to introduce you to not only an elder, but the Reaper who made me: Alistair.”

“Um, pleased to meet you?” My voice cracked on the last word. Tully winced and I knew I’d made a mistake.
 

“How old is she?” Alistair asked Tully as though I hadn’t spoken.
 

“Three years, 8 months, 4 days, and 16 hours,” he said. I resisted the impulse to gape at Tully. Here I’d been rounding down and he knew right to the hour.
 

“Yes, I thought she looked young. Humanity is all over her.” Alistair made the word
humanity
sound dirty, below him. I bristled and his eyes narrowed. “She has no control over herself, with those nervous twitches and facial expressions. Carries herself like a teenager-”

“I
am
a teenager,” I shot back before I could stop myself. Tully’s sharp intake of breath made my mouth shut tight, but the damage was done.
 

Alistair stood up, bigger than I’d expected. He towered over his desk, fingertips on the wood. His black robes absorbed the light in the room; no shadows danced off him. He stared me down, lustrous yellow eyes searing through me. The venomous tone set me on edge.
 

“Made or not, you are a
Reaper
and will behave as such. You hardly seem worthy of such a gift.”
 

I blinked in surprise, the teen girl in me instantly hurt. The elder’s words were like a slap in the face; I toed the line a bit when it came to my mouth, but that last part stung. He didn’t even know me and I thought I’d been doing a pretty good job so far.
 

Tully stepped in to ease the tension. “Alistair, please. The danger we are facing-”
 

“Is now our problem to solve,” Alistair snapped. “Do not discuss this with anyone else; we do not want to cause panic over what is probably your overactive imagination.”
 

“Hey, we did you a favor,” I said, ignoring Tully’s open glare. The guy didn’t like me anyway, so it wasn’t like standing there would do me any good. “If Reapers are being taken by a demon, then we’re all in danger. That means souls are, too.”
 

Alistair sneered at me. “Do not preach to me, Made.”
 

“Then don’t pretend we’re making this all up,” I said, my arms crossing over my chest.