My Soul to Take
Page 41
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Were not talking about an accident. I glanced up when the cafeteria doors flew open and a woman entered with three kids in tow, reminding me for the first time since Tod had joined us that we were discussing very odd things in a very public place.
What about the list? Wouldnt that prove it if someone wasnt supposed to die? Nash whispered now in concession to our new company.
Tod scrubbed his face with both hands, clearly frustrated and losing patience with our questions. Probably, but youd never get your hands on the list. And even if you could, itd be too late. The penalty would already have been applied.
Are you seriously saying a reaper would take an innocent life in exchange for a soul he shouldnt have claimed in the first place? Indignation burned hot in my veins. If any process in the world was free from corruption, it should have been death. After all, wasnt death the great equalizer?
Or was that taxes?
No, youre right. Tod gave me a halfhearted nod. In theory, the penalty shouldnt apply in a case like that. But theory and reality dont always coexist where death is concerned. So even if you could get your hands on the right list, and even if you were right about the reapersmistake, chances are that an innocent soul would already have been taken. Or one of your own.
I couldnt help noticing he didnt put us in the innocent category.
So were screwed either way. Exasperated, I tossed my hands into the air and leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes.
Whats this about, anyway? Tod asked, and I opened my eyes to find him watching me inwas that interest? Who are you trying to save?
We dont know. Probably no one. Nash poked at the last bite of cake with his fork, smearing chocolate frosting across the paper plate. Several girls have died in our area recently, and Ka He stopped, omitting my name from the sentence at the last second. She he nodded in my direction thinks their deaths are suspicious.
She does, huh? A grin tugged at the corner of the young reapers mouth, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his head. Whats suspicious about them?
They were all teenagers. They were all very pretty. They all died the same way. They were all in good health. They each died a day apart. I ticked the facts off on my fingers as I spoke, and when Id used up one hand, I showed it to him. Take your pick. But either way, thats too many coincidences. Theres no way all three of them were supposed to die, and I dont care whose list they were on.
The gleam of interest in Tods eyes told me Id recaptured hisattention. You think they were killed?
I tapped one foot on the sticky floor, trying to sort out my thoughts. I dont know. Maybe, but if so, I have no idea how. All but the first one died in front of witnesses, who saw nothing suspicious. Other than a beautiful girl keeling over with no warning.
There are ways to make that happen, of course. Tod half stood and walked his chair closer to the table, then sank back into it. But even if they were killed, that doesnt change anything. Murder victims are on the master list every day. Ive only had one in two years, but the senior reapers get them on a weekly basis.
I felt my eyes go wide, and a heavy, tight feeling gripped my chest. You mean people are supposed to be killed? For a moment, true horror eclipsed the determination and fear already warring inside me. How could murder be a part of the natural order?
Tod shook his head. People are supposed to die, and the specifics vary widely. Including murder.
I turned on Nash, blinking back the angry tears burning my eyes. So whats the point of all this? If I cant change it, why do I have to know about it?
Nash took my hand. Shes having trouble letting them go, he said, and Tod nodded as if he understood.
What do you know about it? I snapped, beyond caring that none of this was the reapers fault. Or that I probably should have been scared of him. You take lives for a living. As ironic as that soundedDeath is an everyday occurrence for you.
Nash huffed, and a satisfied look hovered on the edge of his expression. Yeah, and youd never know from listening to him now that he had so much trouble with it at first.
Watch it, Hudson, Tod growled, bright blue eyes going icy.
A new look flitted across Nashs featuressome combination of amusement and mischief. Tell her about the little girl.
Do you have some kind of disorder? Some synapse misfiring up there he gestured vaguely toward Nashs head that makes you incapable of keeping your mouth shut? Or are you just a garden-variety fool?
What girl? I ignored both the reapers outburst and the bean sidhe s satisfied half smile.
Itll help her understand, Nash said when it became clear that Tod wasnt going to respond.
Understand what? I demanded, glancing from one to the other. And finally Tod sighed, still glaring at Nash.
Hes just trying to make me look like an idiot, the reaper snapped. But I have stories that make him look even worse, so keep that in mind, soul snatcher, next time you go shooting off your mouth.
What about the list? Wouldnt that prove it if someone wasnt supposed to die? Nash whispered now in concession to our new company.
Tod scrubbed his face with both hands, clearly frustrated and losing patience with our questions. Probably, but youd never get your hands on the list. And even if you could, itd be too late. The penalty would already have been applied.
Are you seriously saying a reaper would take an innocent life in exchange for a soul he shouldnt have claimed in the first place? Indignation burned hot in my veins. If any process in the world was free from corruption, it should have been death. After all, wasnt death the great equalizer?
Or was that taxes?
No, youre right. Tod gave me a halfhearted nod. In theory, the penalty shouldnt apply in a case like that. But theory and reality dont always coexist where death is concerned. So even if you could get your hands on the right list, and even if you were right about the reapersmistake, chances are that an innocent soul would already have been taken. Or one of your own.
I couldnt help noticing he didnt put us in the innocent category.
So were screwed either way. Exasperated, I tossed my hands into the air and leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes.
Whats this about, anyway? Tod asked, and I opened my eyes to find him watching me inwas that interest? Who are you trying to save?
We dont know. Probably no one. Nash poked at the last bite of cake with his fork, smearing chocolate frosting across the paper plate. Several girls have died in our area recently, and Ka He stopped, omitting my name from the sentence at the last second. She he nodded in my direction thinks their deaths are suspicious.
She does, huh? A grin tugged at the corner of the young reapers mouth, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his head. Whats suspicious about them?
They were all teenagers. They were all very pretty. They all died the same way. They were all in good health. They each died a day apart. I ticked the facts off on my fingers as I spoke, and when Id used up one hand, I showed it to him. Take your pick. But either way, thats too many coincidences. Theres no way all three of them were supposed to die, and I dont care whose list they were on.
The gleam of interest in Tods eyes told me Id recaptured hisattention. You think they were killed?
I tapped one foot on the sticky floor, trying to sort out my thoughts. I dont know. Maybe, but if so, I have no idea how. All but the first one died in front of witnesses, who saw nothing suspicious. Other than a beautiful girl keeling over with no warning.
There are ways to make that happen, of course. Tod half stood and walked his chair closer to the table, then sank back into it. But even if they were killed, that doesnt change anything. Murder victims are on the master list every day. Ive only had one in two years, but the senior reapers get them on a weekly basis.
I felt my eyes go wide, and a heavy, tight feeling gripped my chest. You mean people are supposed to be killed? For a moment, true horror eclipsed the determination and fear already warring inside me. How could murder be a part of the natural order?
Tod shook his head. People are supposed to die, and the specifics vary widely. Including murder.
I turned on Nash, blinking back the angry tears burning my eyes. So whats the point of all this? If I cant change it, why do I have to know about it?
Nash took my hand. Shes having trouble letting them go, he said, and Tod nodded as if he understood.
What do you know about it? I snapped, beyond caring that none of this was the reapers fault. Or that I probably should have been scared of him. You take lives for a living. As ironic as that soundedDeath is an everyday occurrence for you.
Nash huffed, and a satisfied look hovered on the edge of his expression. Yeah, and youd never know from listening to him now that he had so much trouble with it at first.
Watch it, Hudson, Tod growled, bright blue eyes going icy.
A new look flitted across Nashs featuressome combination of amusement and mischief. Tell her about the little girl.
Do you have some kind of disorder? Some synapse misfiring up there he gestured vaguely toward Nashs head that makes you incapable of keeping your mouth shut? Or are you just a garden-variety fool?
What girl? I ignored both the reapers outburst and the bean sidhe s satisfied half smile.
Itll help her understand, Nash said when it became clear that Tod wasnt going to respond.
Understand what? I demanded, glancing from one to the other. And finally Tod sighed, still glaring at Nash.
Hes just trying to make me look like an idiot, the reaper snapped. But I have stories that make him look even worse, so keep that in mind, soul snatcher, next time you go shooting off your mouth.
