Page 97 of Death Trap

“But wait… That means you’re not my boss anymore.”

“Yes, it does,” he said, “but I’m a bit surprised this upsets you. You hated reaping.”

“Well, yeah. I hated killing people, but I loved having you as a boss.” When I noticed his smile widening, my chest warmed. Who was he kidding? He was a big ol’ softy. “You were so much better than Azrael, that’s for sure. Never even tried to kill me.”

He actually laughed. Well, it was a brief, through-the-nose sharp inhale, but I counted it.

“The most important thing, Jade, is that you can now face the Trials, beat them, and claim your rightful place as head of our army,” Eli said.

“And gain my memories back?”

“Yes, every single one from every life you lived.”

Wow. Be careful what you wish for.

“Now, you should also be able to go into the afterlife with no issues,” Simon said. “Even with Benjamin reclaiming the tenth reaper spot.”

“But will I have to be invited in? Like you, Eli?”

“It only has to happen once,” he replied. “Then you’re free to pass through the dimensions whenever you want.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Simon said. “I’ll invite you in.”

Well, that solved that problem.

After walking over to the side of Kay’s building, Simon began to draw the spirit door with his small piece of chalk. When it glowed orange, he turned back to us.

“Are we ready?” he asked. “We don’t want to stay too long out here, just in case Azrael’s accomplices are lurking around.”

Or Halflings.

Eli and I walked up to the spirit door. While staring at its fiery orange light, a thought came to me.

“I’m never going to be able to draw one of these again, am I?” I asked Simon.

His forehead creased. “I’m afraid not.”

“But once you complete the Trials, you can pass through the veil at any time. Without symbols,” Eli explained.

The Trials. There it was again. Eli had only mentioned it like three times in the five minutes I’d been back.

Just another thing I had to find a way to get through. That was, if I survived this confrontation with Azrael.

Not only that, but sadness clung to me at the thought of losing the reaper side of me. Sure, I hated doing my job. Yeah, I sucked at it at times, but it was all I had known for almost two years.

I knew this plan would release me of the reaper part, but I hadn’t expected to feel so…empty. Like I had lost something important and knew I could never get it back. No matter what I did.

Reaching into my jeans’ pocket, I pulled out my piece of chalk and handed it to Simon.

He must have sensed my inner conflict because he whispered, “You’ll never lose me, Jade. I’ll always be here for you.”

I smiled. “Can I visit you at your home some more?”

“Anytime.”

Oh, he was going to regret that one. If I survived Azrael, and the Trials, and the apocalypse, he might as well set up a guest room for me. I planned to be over and enjoy some of that peace and tranquility quite often.

Simon placed his hands behind his back and bowed slightly toward the spirit door. “Jade Blackwell, I give you permission to cross the veil into the afterlife dimensions.”

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