Keeper vs. Reaper (Graveyard Guardians Book 1) (7 page)

Greg took a deep breath and rolled the parchment back up. “That’s it.”

“This has to be the book she was talking about.” Ethan held up the book he was holding.

Lucy nodded. “I totally agree. It has to be. Only thing I want to know is why our family name is on it if she found it in another family’s library.”

Greg shrugged as he tried to get the ribbon tied back onto the parchment. “Maybe it was added later. Maybe it was just lost among the masses of documentation that are floating around.” He held up the rolled parchment that he still couldn’t get the ribbon on. “Our lines go back so far in history, there has to be a ton of it that has been lost over time.”

He was right.

Ethan nudged her. “Don’t you even care that all of this,” he gestured to the trunk and the book, “is actually true. You are part of a prophecy, Luce.”

Seriously, it sounded like something huge, but what difference did it really make. All she could do was just go on with her life and wait for the chips to fall into place. There was nothing that she could do that would make the prophecy come true any faster.

Wearily, she nodded. “Yeah, I care. I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

Greg put the scroll aside and looked down further into the trunk. “Nothing you can do, Sis
, except wait it out.”

Her thoughts exactly.

Greg extracted a jewelry box from the trunk. It was wooden box with no decoration to clutter the simplicity of it. He handed it over to Lucy. “Do you want this, or should we leave it in the trunk.”

Lucy shrugged. “We should probably just take the whole trunk downstairs, that way we can keep everything together. Except the crossbow. I’m totally using the crossbow.” Her hand crept to the side and grasped the weapon as she claimed it. She couldn’t explain it, but when she had held the crossbow, it felt right, like she hadn’t been quite complete without it.

Ethan chuckled. “I’m so not surprised to hear that come out of your mouth.”

“Me either.” Greg shook his head and picked himself up off the dusty floor. “Come on you guys, let’s get this big ass trunk down stairs. All this dust is getting to me.”

They repacked everything back into the trunk and then hauled it all down to the main floor. Olivia and Hannah were lounging about in the living room while they waited for Lucy, Greg and Ethan to come down out of the attic. Steph and James were still out on patrol and Daniel had gone off somewhere, probably to drown himself in booze.

I have to get out there
,
she thought. Even though Steph and James most likely had it more than covered, she still felt the need to go out. It was the nature of the Keeper. Also, living off of a few hours of sleep per night … if that … was apparently the nature of the Keeper as well.

After depositing the trunk in the living room
, Lucy turned to find her sisters staring at her. “What?”

Hannah spread her hands out and shot an exasperated look at Lucy. “Well? What happened?”

Yay. I’m prophesized. Whoot, whoot.

“It’s true. The info is in there. We found a book that we will have to get translated, but yeah, I’m the one who is supposed to um
… bring forth an end to the Reapers.” Lucy used air quotes to emphasize her sarcasm.

Olivia got up and went over to get a look at the trunk. “Lucy, this is huge.”

“I know. That thing weighs a fucking ton too.”

“Shut up, you know that’s not what I mean.”

Lucy shrugged and flopped down onto the couch. “All right, all right. I know what you mean, but in all honesty how in the hell does it really change anything?” She waited for someone … anyone to answer.

No one did.

“See what I mean. I go about my life, do the same things I always do and hope that I’m fulfilling the prophecy.” She stood back up. “Now if you guys don’t mind. I need to change my clothes so I can go out for patrol.” She lifted the lid of the trunk and extracted her crossbow. “At least I get to use my new toy.”

Aiden marched up the large stone staircase. The Empress had called upon him and he was fairly sure as to why. Her son … his best friend, was on an important mission right now, and Jack usually fucked shit up when it came to doing things for the Reaper Council. Which meant, as usual, that Aiden was going to be sent to clean up his mess.

The mansion’s double doors opened as soon as his boots hit the landing.

“Welcome, sir.” The elderly butler bowed slightly as he opened the way into the grand house.

“Thanks, Winston.”

“It is my pleasure, sir. The Empress is taking in the evening sun at the south pool. Shall I take you there?”

Aiden waved him off. “No worries. I know the way.”

“Very well. Do you require a refreshment?”

“I think I could tolerate a beer.”

Winston bowed again. “I shall pour you a Guinness.” Aidan smiled at how much the old butler loved doing his job. “You are a life saver.”

“I am nothing of the sort.” The old man cracked a grin and waved Aiden off in the direction of the south pool. “You should be on your way or the Empress will wonder where you are.” With that, Winston shuffled off toward the kitchen.

After navigating his way through the marble hallways that he knew so well, Aiden opened the back doors that led to the south wing patio. The warm Florida breeze lifted off the palms and brushed his blond hair up off his ears.

The whole estate was in comparison to the major hotels in the area. This was one of the three pools which graced the mansions grounds. Everything around him was beautiful and delicate, from the many kinds of flowers that covered the grounds, to the prissy ass lawn furniture that was anything but comfortable.

The lush green lawns were bordered by a stone wall that was about eight feet in height. He knew that the wall was also covered in security cameras every few feet, ensuring the safety of the royal family.

“Aiden, there you are.”

Beside the glowing, aqua waters of the pool, sat his Empress. As always, she was dressed in a feminine business suit. Today, the fabric was a soft cream color, and her high heels were the exact same shade of cream as the suit. Her charcoal hair had been styled into a bobbed hairdo that sat just underneath her diamond clad ears.

Aiden fought the urge to shake his head. He knew this woman not only as his Empress, but also as his best friend’s mother. She was always stern, never, ever showing any signs of weakness by displaying any form of love or
emotion to anyone.

She was a straight up bitch.

“My Empress.” He bent to kiss her extended hand and then returned to his position of attention “I rushed right over as soon as I received your call.”

“Sit.” She gestured to the chair across the table from hers.

He sat in the uncomfortably petite chair.

“Aiden,” She took hold of her tiny tea cup and lifted it to her lips
, “I trust you. As a member of the Reaper Guard and one who has grown up close to our family, I have to once again send you to correct my own son.”

He fought an eye roll. “What has he done now?”

“I have sent Jackson to the small town of Summer Hollow, California. One of the Keepers from the Estmond bloodline has died. He leaves behind seven children, one of which was born on the seventh day of the seventh month.”

“The prophecy?”

Camille nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. I sent Jackson to take care of the young Keeper. If she is the Chosen One, she must be eliminated.”

Aiden merely shook his head. He was shocked that Jack wouldn’t be doing his job when it came to something this serious. “Anything you need, Empress. I am at your service.”

“Good. I need you to go to this, Summer Hollow, and dispose of the Keeper.” She took a delicate sip of her tea. “Jackson tells me that there are many Keepers there. He insists that to attempt the extermination would be a suicide mission. So, I am sending you as reinforcement. You will help him accomplish the mission.”

“Of course. I will leave immediately.”

Winston arrived at that moment with his Guinness, poured into a chilled glass and sitting on a silver tray. “Your beverage, sir.”

Aiden accepted the dark beer and figured he better at least drink it so he didn’t offend the butler who had gone through the trouble of getting it for him. “Thank you, Winston.” He plucked the beer off the tray.

His Empress set her tea cup onto the tiny table. “No need to leave right this second. Please, sit with me and finish your beer.”

“Thank you, Empress. It would be my pleasure.”

She waved him off. “Besides, it will give us a moment to go over the details.” She examined one of her scarlet fingernails and then caught his gaze. “I trust that your friendship with my son will have no merit when it comes to accomplishing your task.”

Beer. Thank the lord for beer.

“You should never worry. I love Jack like a brother, but my life service is to the Reaper Council.” Yeah, that was what she wanted to hear. He could tell by the way her mouth curled up into a wicked little smile.

“How is our Emperor
, if it does not offend for me to ask?” He was expected to ask, as a member of the Guard and a close family friend.

“So kind of you to inquire. He is hanging on. He can no longer go out to reap the souls he needs to survive, so we must bring the souls to him. It’s a messy business, having to deal with that in the home, but it is necessary.”

Another swig of beer. Almost gone.

Camille looked away, breaking her gaze from Aiden’s green eyes. “The doctor doesn’t expect him to last much longer. We are in the midst of preparations for his passing.” She released a long sigh. “I wish my son was a more capable member of the Council. It shames me that he is the only heir available to take my husband’s place.”

Aiden did shake his head this time. “With all due respect, Empress. Do not underestimate your son. Jack is a very capable and very lethal man. He has learned well from you and your husband.”

She raised a sarcastic eyebrow. “You mean to tell me that you think my son would do well as a leader.”

What the hell was he doing? He should know by now when to keep his damn mouth shut. “Yes, Empress, I do.”

She leaned back and let out a little cackle. Or maybe the cackling was just him imagining the evil queen from a fairy tale. “Well, Aiden, perhaps when he takes over, you will become his advisor. Thus far I’ve found you to be far wiser with your decisions in life.”

Good God, if she only knew. The only difference between himself and her son was that he knew how to keep his mouth shut and his endeavors quiet, while Jack made a show of the whole matter just to spite his parents.

He polished off his beer and set the glass on the small table for Winston to pick up later. “I shall take my leave now, with your permission. I need to prepare for my trip.”

She nodded. “I understand. I do so enjoy your company though.”

He stood and bent to kiss her hand. “And I yours.”

She extended the jewel laden fingers to him and let him press his lips to the back of her hand. “I am sure you will report to me with a positive outcome.”

“Of course
,” he responded with certainty. 

“I have already arranged your airline tickets and rental car
. You need only to check in at the airport. Your flight will land in San Francisco and you will have to drive the rest of the way. You can stay wherever Jack is staying.” She shook her head. “He rented a house. Apparently there are no appropriate hotels in the area.”

Aiden turned to go. He was anxious to call his friend and find out what the hell was going on. Son of a bitch. The fucking legend of the Keepers bringing an end to the Reapers was happening
, and he was procrastinating the kill. Oh, hell no.

Aiden bowed just a tiny bit. “Thank you, Empress.”

It was all he could do not to hit those marble floors at a dead run. Fucking Jack. Damn him.

As soon as he was back in his car he had his cell phone out and hit Jacks number on the speed dial. It went over into voice mail. Of course, Jack wasn’t answering the phone
. He was probably fucking everything on two legs.

Fine. He would just surprise him. It would be better if Jack didn’t know he was coming till he was actually there, anyhow.

Back at his houseboat, which was actually more of a yacht, he made the few preparations to close up the boat for a few days. After he had settled arrangements for the caretaker and the housekeeper, he went to his bedroom and opened his closet. He looked over his weapons collection and frowned. It was a shame that he was flying and wouldn’t be able to bring any of his favorites with him. He was going to have to acquire others when he arrived in Summer Hollow. Not that he really needed any weapons. He could fight and he could take their souls. That was all he needed.

Killing a Keeper by taking their soul was not easy. Sure, they could die just like any other human. Most of the time if they had to kill a Keeper it was straight up murder and a bloody mess. Occasionally though, it came down to the soul sucking.

Because of the way a Reaper and a Keeper were created, their chemistry did not mix. It was usually quite painful to touch each other, so to suck their souls was extremely difficult. But, the soul of a Keeper also gave them more energy and life force than your average run of the mill soul did.

For the most part, the Reapers just tried to avoid the Keepers. It was more trouble than it was worth to have to worry about disposing of the bodies. The Keepers did pretty much the same thing. The normal scenario went a little something like … Reaper goes hunting for souls in the graveyard and
, if you were lucky, you got one before a Keeper spots you. If the Keeper spots you then there would typically be a fight in which you both get really tired and one of you ends up injured and retreats. Hardly ever did killing occur between the two.

Murdering each other had serious consequences in the human world. Just because one was a Reaper or a Keeper did not mean that you were magically spared the death penalty.

Both the Reapers and the Keepers had families, lives in which they would be missed, and a murder of one or the other would always make its way into the human world. Neither side wanted the law prying into their business.

But this Keeper was different. This one had to die.

He had always thought it was just a story. Just another old wives tale that had been spun over the years. It was on the same level as the world ending because the Mayan calendar didn’t go any further than 2012.

This tale was turning out to be true though, and he wasn’t going to take any chances. Everyone he cared about was a Reaper, his servitude was to the royal family and the Reaper Council, and he wasn’t about to let one little Keeper get in the way of any of that.

The Empress was right to call him. Jack did have a habit of screwing everything up when it came to anything that had to do with his parents or the Council. He was going to go to Jack and they were going to take care of this together.

And then … he was going to give Jack the credit with the Empress.

He was going to make Jack the Emperor of Reapers so that they could lead together when that bitch mother of his finally kicked the bucket.

Without giving much thought to his wardrobe choices, he shoved all the things he was going to need into one small duffle bag and headed up to the deck. Once he had locked all the doors and windows he hopped onto the dock and gave his house boat one final look before he pulled out his phone and called a cab to the airport.

It was going to be a long couple of days. That was the one thing he was sure of.