Page 13 of Haunted Hearts

Fast… Fast is good.

“What about you guys? I’m guessing Death found out something happened to his daughter since he was with you.”

I wince as I think about the fury Death had brought with him when he appeared in our cabin.

“He could hear Willow suffering across the realms but couldn’t find her,” I tell him, then dive into how we got here.

Jonah whistles. “That sounds—,”

“Why is this taking so long?” Viktor snaps, taking a step into the water.

I place a hand on his shoulder. “Patience brother, the reaper is helping Willow the best he can. It may take time.”

“Can they hold their breath this long?” His body trembles beneath my hand. I give him a little squeeze of reassurance.

“Do we really even need to breathe?” Jonah counters.

Viktor shakes his head in annoyance, “Hold your breath and let me know.”

Suddenly, Brock’s head breaks the water, and he brings Willow back up with him. We all fall silent as our eyes land on Willow.

Even from here I can tell the difference. The lines on her face have grown thinner and the glow coming from behind her skin has dimmed significantly. My heart leaps in my chest as the tension eases out of my shoulders. Around me, I hear multiple sighs of relief. Brock rises out of the water, walking towards us slowly, his eyes glued to Willow’s face. I don’t step out of the way when he makes it to the shore.

“Give her to me.” I move to take Willow out of his arms.

Brock’s head rises up so that our eyes meet. I don’t miss the hard glint in his or the way his nostrils flare.

“No.” He looks from me to the others. “One of you take Willow inside, get her undressed, and put her in bed. I’ll come find her some fresh clothes after I speak to Theodon here, alone.”

My jaw clenches as I glare at the reaper. How dare he tell me no? Willow isn’t just his. He’s practically a stranger to her.

“Jonah, take her,” I order, knowing that he deserves a chance to hold her close.

Jonah steps up and Brock transfers Willow’s limp body into his arms.

“The door’s unlocked,” Brock nudges his head towards the house behind us.

“Gotcha.” Jonah turns and carries Willow away from us. Kwil and Viktor linger by my side as we regard the reaper.

“I just want to talk,” Brock promises, his voice deepening as he looks at the others before meeting my gaze again. “I have a feeling you mean something to Willow, so hurting you would hurt her, and I wouldneverhurt Willow.”

The unspoken implication sets me on edge.

Between clenched teeth, I tell the others, “Go inside and help Jonah.”

Viktor harrumphs before turning and stomping away. Kwil hesitates a moment longer, his body vibrating hard. With a final sigh, he turns and leaves Brock and I to face one another. Neither one of us says anything until the front door slams shut.

“This is your fault,” Brock hisses, his dark brows coming together as his eyes darken. “I’ve been watching this woman for five years living her life to the fullest, and it’s not untilyouand your guys show up that she’s in real danger. Jonah filled me in on what’s transpired between all of you, and I don’t like any of it.” He steps forward so that we’re nose to nose. “You’re a virus that destroys anything that comes into contact with you. I won’t allow Willow to be consumed and destroyed by you here. Your reign of terror ends here, in this realm, Theodon of Windom.”

Indignation and shame flare up my chest, into my neck and face, causing my cheeks to warm. I glare up into his dark eyes, noting how, in certain light, his face shifts into that of a skull. One moment I’m looking up into his eyes, in the next, I’m staring into eye sockets. It’s eerie, but I don’t cower.

“I’m well aware of what our presence has done to Willow and her life,” I assure him. “While our start may have been rocky, we’re all on the same page now.”

The reaper throws back his head and laughs. It echoes through the clearing, obnoxiously loud. I wait for him to be done. As his amusement subsides, he says,

“Oh no, not only are you not on the same page here in the Realm of the Dead, Theodon, you’re not even in the same book.” He shakes his head, unable to tamp down his lingering smile. "In any case, I’ll be making sure Willow’s second life is better than her first. Just thought you should know that I’ll be handling Willow’s care from here on out.”

I hate him.

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