“Oh shit!” I look around for something to grab on to, but there’s nothing. The bed makes a screeching sound as it drags a few inches closer to the forming rift.
“Oh shit what?” Gunnar barks. “What the fuck is happening up there?”
I see the tip of something silver pierce the tumultuous gray fog from the other side. With a quick slash, Grim’s scythe rips open the place the portal is forming, and he pushes his cloaked arm through. He steps out, his tall, lithe body rounded down, as if the weight of the world were on his shoulders.
The portal snaps closed as Grim jerks his scythe to the side. I take one step forward, watching Grim, but also looking for Aeson.
Grim pushes the hood back from his face with a slow hand and his eyes jerk up to mine. The fire that usually burns there is extinguished. He’s left looking utterly exhausted and spent.
I take another step, my arms reaching out as if I would catch him if he were to fall. “Careful, Omnia,” he cautions in his layered voice, but it’s as low as a whisper.
“Pull the Brownie from the snare, but don’t touch the circle,” he instructs me. I move to take another step toward Grim, almost forgetting about Aeson. This cost him—I can see the toll.
“You must do it now,” Grim orders, leaning against the shaft of his sickle.
I force myself to head toward Aeson’s body. Bending down and being very careful, I tug on her tiny, cold hand, dragging her lifeless body across the floor until it clears the circle. I make a sound in the back of my throat that could be a whimper, but I don’t acknowledge it.
“That’s good.” Grim drops to his knees next to me with no finesse—he just falls. He reaches out the same finger that he used to gather Aeson’s soul and touches the side of her face. Grim’s eyes fall shut as his back bows and a silent scream forms on his lips.
Too afraid to touch him, I start to shake. I feel helpless as I watch his head finally slump forward onto his chest and his hand fall away from Aeson.
“Grim,” I whisper. He doesn’t make a move or respond. “Grim.” This time it’s more urgent, but he still doesn’t answer me.
Aeson gasps on the floor, and her body spasms once. I should feel a swift sense of relief as she takes her first breath, but it’s not there.
“Grim!” I shout his name this time, grabbing the cloak over his chest and shaking him. “You better get your ass up right fucking now, Loverboy. I mean right now!” His head lolls as I shake him.
Aeson stirs on the floor, coming to her feet slowly. “What the hell just happened?” She looks at Grim, whom I’m now holding up, then back at me.
I ignore her to wrap my arm around Grim’s back and grunt as I hoist us both up. Thank fuck he didn’t fall all the way to the floor. “Stay the hell away from any entry points and get back downstairs.”
I drag Grim’s body next to me, trailing behind Aeson. “You weigh a fucking ton,” I grumble, after making it out of the room.
“Somebody better talk to me!” Gunnar insists.
“Keep your pants on, bleeder,” Aeson grouses, as she makes her way downstairs. I stop at the top and lean against the wall. I don’t know how I’m going to get us down without breaking both of our necks.
“Grim, please wake up,” I beg him in a whisper. “I really want to go home. You can have big spoon, and I’ll even let you fall asleep with your dick inside me. Please, just wake up.” He doesn’t stir, and I start to panic.
“I need help,” I call down. “Please, help him.” My eyes are leaking. I can feel the tears running down my cheeks, but I can’t stop them. We’re trapped in the fucking house alone and I’m not strong enough to carry him downstairs.
“Tell me what’s happening, Damiana?” Calix asks, his voice calm.
“Um, Grim, he’s…he’s not waking up…and I can’t get him down the stairs.” I sniffle a few times.
“Don’t cry, baby,” Calix croons.
“I’m not crying!” I shout, sobbing.
“Okay, okay,” Calix cajoles.
“I’m going to go in. I can see the bottom of the stairs. I’ll be fine.” Gunnar’s voice is hard.
“And what if you’re not?” Calix barks. “Listen, just give him a second. He’s the Angel of Death, for Christ’s sake; he’ll snap out of it. He’s too fucking stubborn not to.” Then Calix calls to me, “Do you think he would let us have you without a better fight than this? You just popped his cherry.” Calix tries to make light of the situation, but I can hear the tension in his voice.
“I’m scared,” I whisper. I’m never scared.
“I’m going,” Gunnar warns, and I hear Calix heave a sigh. Gunnar appears at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes wildly scanning the place. “I’m in, I’m good...” His words trail off as he sees me holding up Grim against the wall.
