Free Grim Tidings by Caitlin Kittredge Page A

Barbie with copper skin and a big silver pyramid stud gleaming in her nose. “We don’t do that here,” she reminded Viv. “We don’t play that game.”
    â€œPersonally, I’d really love it if somebody explained what the hell is happening and how it involves us,” Leo said from the sofa. “Because I got a headache that won’t quit and no patience left to speak of.”
    â€œWhen we heard the Grim Reaper had returned, some of us were happier than others,” Raina said. Her accent was perfect and clipped. She could have been narrating some genteel documentary about cheese on the BBC. “Headquarters refused to believe it, and they went after anyone who advocated for trying to reach out toyou. Those of us who believed banded together,” she continued. “All twenty of us.”
    â€œAnd less every day,” Viv piped up. “Gary ruled Headquarters for a hundred years and his butt boy Owen is just like him, jacked up on hair gel and energy drinks. If I hadn’t shown up you two would be fertilizer and he’d still be acting like it was his right to sit in the corner office.”
    â€œThe point is,” Raina said, shooting Viv a poisonous look, “that while many reapers think the Grim Reaper is just a legend, we believe you. Even if you aren’t him, we’ve been without a leader for well over a century and Owen is not the choice anyone, including his flunkies, would make if you pressed them. But kicking Owen out is not going to come easily.”
    â€œI got that,” Leo said. “When he was torturing me in his basement.”
    â€œHe claims there’s no way you’re the Grim Reaper because he has your Scythe,” Raina continued.
    That made Leo get quiet. Everyone got quiet, and the only sound was the wind battering the house. I flicked my gaze between Leo and Raina, waiting to see what he’d say. Reapers could choose their own Scythes, but Leo wasn’t like Owen and the others. He wasn’t like anything that had existed since the Dark Ages.
    Which would make it easy for a douchebag like Owen to make up whatever story he wanted.
    On the other hand, it also meant that he could be telling the truth.
    â€œWell, that’s bullshit,” Leo said finally. “Only I can pick and choose my own Scythe.”
    I inhaled as a look of disappointment and suspicion passed between everyone else in the room.
    â€œYou’re different,” Raina said carefully. “And whatever Owen has, none of us can hold it. Only he can. I’ve tried to touch it and it . . . it burned me.”
    â€œOwen’s talking about putting down all the hounds,” Viv spoke up. “Putting us all down and just starting over. Clean house, he said.”
    â€œYou have to help us,” Raina said. “Go to Owen on his own terms and prove you’re to lead the reapers. Otherwise we’re all marked for death.”
    Leo started to say no, but I shook my head from behind Viv. There were hounds like Wilson, who did their jobs willingly and would gladly jump off a cliff if their reaper told them to, but I got the feeling there were a lot more out there like me, scared people who’d gotten snuffed before their time and grasped on to any second chance, no matter how shitty.
    â€œThis Owen guy grabbed us off the street,” I said, to forestall Leo messing up their chances for survival now. “What makes you think he’s going to agree to a nice little chitchat?”
    â€œAs long as you’re around you’re a threat,” Raina said. “Without the Grim Reaper the next stop is the Pit, and the last thing Owen wants is a demon stepping in to clean house.”
    Leo massaged his forehead. “So what do you suggest we do?”
    â€œTell him that unless he meets and agrees to let you try and hold the Scythe you’ll dime him out to your boss,” Viv said. “Owen can’t stand up to a demon.