“Stop!” he yelled.
Everything stopped. Just like that, I watched as the purple mist that curled around me was suddenly sucked right back into my skin, filling me up and making me whole again.
“I take it we have ourselves under control again?” the Grim Reaper asked.
I nodded, and from next to me a low voice said, “You would treat me, your best Escort, this way?”
“You can only be the best if I allow you to be,” G.R. replied in cool tones.
That shut Charming up.
I thought about offering G.R. a high-five but figured it might not be a good idea.
I settled for glancing his way and letting my amusement show through my eyes. But he wasn’t looking at me. He was looking at the ground with his chest heaving, his fists balled at his sides.
“I want to speak with Dex. Alone,” G.R. said, dismissing Charming.
Charming stepped closer to me and leaned in to whisper, “This isn’t over. I will have what’s mine,” before stepping away.
He glanced at G.R., anger flashing in his eyes, before disappearing around the corner.
“Don’t forget your sword,” I called after him, unable to resist one more Prince Charming joke. Then I winced and looked back, wondering if I’d gone too far.
I guess I hadn’t because he actually smiled. “He makes it too easy,” G.R. said. “I certainly wouldn’t want to be named after a fairy tale character.”
I sighed in relief.
“So what’s this about you not completing the job?”
“It’s been harder than I thought,” I said, not bothering to make excuses. I was hoping my honesty would buy me some time. I was nervous for Piper now that Charming knew I hadn’t killed her yet.
“Is that coffee fresh?” he asked in response to my admission and stepped around me toward the pot.
“Yes, help yourself.”
He did and then he extended a mug to me, which I took. Then I went to the fridge and pulled out the creamer that Hobbs stocked and offered it to G.R. He shook his head and sipped his black coffee. I poured the rest of the bottle into my mug before taking a drink.
“That’s good coffee,” Grim said, setting his mug on the counter. “Now, about the job. You are running out of time.”
“I know, I—”
He cut me off. “I don’t listen to excuses. You have everything you need at your disposal. I gave you more than enough time to eliminate your Target. I see now that you are one of the recruits that require more information.”
“More information?” I asked. I did want to know how he managed to transfer the abilities from one person to someone else. And I also wanted to know what he did with the bodies (besides hang them in his closet)… and their souls. “I do have some questions,” I said.
“You know all you need to know!” he spat. “What I do with my bodies and their souls is none of your concern.”
That meant it was really bad.
And how did he know that’s what I wanted to know? How much power did he really have?
“What you need is to learn what it would be like if you don’t complete the job. You need a taste of what it’s like to be recalled.”
“No, I don’t,” I said, shaking my head. Feeling my life force pulled even partially out of me was bad enough.
“Yes. Then you will fully understand what is at stake.”
I didn’t say anything else because I couldn’t. For the second time that hour, my life force was being pulled out of my body, leaking from every pore of my skin. The purple mist oozed out and around me, curling around my body like smoke. The tendrils rose upward and out toward a black gaping hole that suddenly appeared.
