Page 79 of Haunted Hearts

When you need it,the armor will appear,Death explains as he makes a sweeping gesture between all of us.

We all watch as more dark shadows shoot out from Death’s hand. It reaches for and encompasses each of the others, before sinking into their skin. I chuckle as they shiver and grimace.

“This armor isn’t just for Fulton, is it?” Theodon asks.

This is forallthreats you will face.Death turns his back to us.The rest that I have to say can be shared on our way to dinner.

What are we about to learn next? The five of us follow Death out the door. We head up a wide, spiraling staircase and come out on another level.

Brock, how did Willow act the other evening after retrieving the missing spirits?

The reaper doesn’t respond right away. I look over my shoulder at him to find him staring hard at Death's back, as if trying to figure out the right answer.

“Shaken, but she got over it pretty quickly,” he answers slowly. “It was seeing the others trapped that upset her. She said it reminded her of her time with Fulton.”

Death hums thoughtfully.She is resilient. She’ll feel better facing whatever Fulton has in store once she realizes she has hardly any limitations. Unfortunately, that might make your jobs harder. She’s going to want to see what all she can do. She may be a handful for the first few missions, I’m afraid.

I consider what I know about Willow. She has a strong sense of right and wrong, a large heart, and an even bigger attitude… That right there makes her difficult at times. But add to that the ability to befreeto use her power paired with the need for revenge against the warlock that tortured her? Oh boy…

The laughter that spills past my lips is loud and twisted with hysteria. It echoes down the hallway. The sound eats up the other’s hum of concerns or groans as they come to the same conclusion that I have. Death is worried we’ll have our hands full, but it’s the world, no, therealms,that are going to have their hands full with Willow.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard Viktor laugh that hard, ever,” Jonah says from behind me. “Of course, when he does, it’s at our own expense.”

Despite his words, Jonah chuckles along with me.

“We’re so screwed,” Kwil’s grumbles. “What have we gotten ourselves into?”

Behind me, Jonah snickers before whispering, “More like ‘who’ have we gotten ourselves into.”

I echo Theodon’s sigh of exasperation. Of course, Jonah is going to make a sex joke in front of her father. I really hope Death didn’t hear that.

My breath stalls in my lungs as Death pauses to look over his shoulder as he walks. Oh hell, did he hear Jonah? Is he going to smite the guy now?

I’m glad some of you have a sense of humor. You’ll need it.Let me give you some advice when it comes to my Willie. I’m sure by now you know she is not a soft spoken or cautious person. Her tenacity will certainly get in her way as she learns how to handle the problems that she will inevitably face in this realm and in the Realm of the Living. The best way to help her is toguideher withouttellingher to do something. She’ll be more amenable that way.

More amenable? Trying to make Willow listen or do anything will be like herding feral kittens. We follow Death up another flight of stairs that places us on the main floor of the house. Dinner wafts through the air, the smell of sweet, buttered rolls and ham are just a few that I catch. Everyone’s pace seems to unconsciously quicken. My stomach growls. After a long day of sparring and training, my body needs to refuel. It's crazy to think that hardly a month ago, I’d be able to fight off creatures in the Third Realm on nothing but scraps, gruel, or some days, nothing at all.

“Willow seems pretty reasonable,” Brock objects as we approach a set of double doors that are opened wide. “I’m sure, given the situation, she’ll think before acting and—”

Theodon, Kwil, Jonah, and I laugh, cutting off whatever else the reaper says.

Willow will behave,Death assures us as we enter the dining room where his daughter is waiting for us.Won’t you, Willie?

Willow’s grin is full of mischief. “’Behave’ is my middle name.”

She places her hands behind her head as she leans back in her seat that is several chairs down from the head of the table. Her plate is already full of steaming hot food, though none of it appears touched that I can tell, as we walk up the length of the large table. My gaze flickers to Death. He moves towards the head of the table. As he heads straight for his seat, I quicken my step and beat the others to sit on one side of Willow. Jonah takes the seat closest to Death, on Willow’s other side. Kwil shoots us a dark look as he, Brock, and Theo move to sit across from us.

“No, it’s definitely not,” Theodon objects with a smile.

“Look at you guys, glistening with sweat,” Willow’s smile is coy as her gaze sweeps over us. “I’m very much enjoying this look on all of you.”

Willow, while you may not be as heavily bound by rules as before, there are some that I need to go over with you. Everyone fill your plates and listen closely,Death says, waving his hands at the platters of food.

“How many rules could there possibly be?” Willow asks, her hand casually falling into my lap under the table as I reach for the yams covered with toasted marshmallows in front of me. She squeezes my thigh in welcome.

There are not many, but they are important since whatever you do in the Realm of the Living affects those within that realmandthis realm, Death says grimly.The first one, as I’m sure you are aware of by now, is that you cannotkilla living soul when you go to the Realm of the Living. That is not for you to decide.

“Because I did that so often before,” Willow rolls her eyes.

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