More Than Flesh & Bone
Chapter 38
DOUBLE TAP
I reappeared, standing next to Gretel in the clearing.
More zombie reaper dudes had died. Zayne was still waving around my shotgun and my face… my actual face… looked like ground beef you could buy at the grocery store.
I grimaced.
"That's not a pretty sight," I told the ghost.
She snorted. "You should have seen Rumpelstiltskin when the Grimm Brothers got him."
I shook my head. Noticing then that we weren't alone.
Most of the Brotherhood had decided to join us in the afterlife.
Including my sort-of-boyfriend's… soon to be way more than that, if I had my way… dad. Zevon.
"Oh, look who was right," I called out, throwing both arms wide and pointing at myself. "This bitch. I warned all of you fuckers he was a liar and would kill you all, but noooo, you just had to go Team Dick and take his side, and look what happened."
Zed popped into existence beside me. "You've got to be fucking kidding me," he drawled. "Please tell me you didn't purposely die this time?"
"No, Zayne killed me," I answered matter-of-factly as I pointed to my body. Zed winced as I continued. "But we'll get to that sadist fuck in a minute. I think someone… or more accurately, several someones…" I glanced around at the ghosts staring back at me. "… owes me a massive apology. Especially if those someones want me to bring them back to life. Go ahead. I'm waiting."
I crossed my arms and stared Zevon down.
His eyes narrowed, but it looked like curiosity rather than anger.
Tracey flicked to life beside me. "Addie, pretty sure this isn't the time for an I-Told-You-So tour."
"Yes, it fucking is. These assclowns locked me up for telling the truth. And now they are all dead, so we're just going to all stand here and wait until they can deal with whatever…"
"Addie," Zed interjected.
"...massive male egos…"
"Addie," he said again.
"… or whatever other man part it is that allows for such blatant misogyny…"
"Addison!" Zed finally shouted, pointing at the slightly washed-out image of his brother hovering on the edge of our reaper crowd. "Not. The. Fucking. Time."
When I'd shredded the werewolf, I'd released all the soul fragments that had been tied to him. In my quest for credit, I'd totally forgotten that would include Zayne.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the winner of the asshole of the century award," I sneered. "And just what do you have to say for yourself?"
"I win?" he said with a casual shrug.
I gave him a smile that was far too bloodthirsty to be mistaken as nice. "Ah, see that's where you're wrong. You still don't realize who you're messing with."
"Does it matter? You're all dead. I'm not. At least, most of me isn't," Zayne's soul fragment said.
"How is this even possible?" one of the dead reapers asked Zevon.
"Yeah, how is it possible, Zayne? I think it's time you come clean about you and your pet wolf," I said, moving a few steps closer.
"Why?" he asked on a laugh. "It's not like you can do anything about it now."
"Keep on believing that, buddy," I said.
Zed moved until he was beside me. "Since there's nothing we can do about it, why don't you just tell us the truth?"
Zayne considered his brother's words before nodding. "Yeah, okay fine. Then you can all go on and live the rest of whatever afterlives await knowing that in the end, I was the one who was better than all of you. Do you have any idea what it's like," he asked, spinning around to look at his dad, "to always be the one coming up short? To be the fuck-up? The family joke? No," he spat, glaring at his brother, "of course you don't You… all of you… are the top of the supernatural food chain. You have no clue what it means to be anything less than perfect."
"Zayne," Zed said, his voice tinged with pain.
"No, fuck you, Zed. The son who is the fucking pillar of perfection. Fuck. You. I'm talking now."
I snickered, trying to disguise it as a cough, and Zed shot me a glare.
"Whose side are you even on?" he asked me.
"Yours," I said, clearing my throat. "Obviously."
"You have a lovely way of showing it sometimes," he said dryly.
"Yeah, well, I just think it's amusing that the fuck-up and family joke has managed to pull this off for so long and none of you fuckers saw it for what it was… excluding you, of course." I brushed imaginary lint off his shoulder, and Zed lifted a dark brow.
"Are you done yet?" he asked.
"I don't know. Zayne," I turned. "Can you skip the sad part about you being mopey and feeling inferior and shit. That's not an excuse for being a psychopath. You're not the victim here, asswipe. Let's get to the part where you died at fifteen and didn't fucking tell anybody."
The ghost of Zayne glowered. "I died at fifteen because he shredded a werewolf that was the older brother of the quarterback in my sophomore class," he said and pointed at Zed. "Said werewolf thought it would be fun to take it out on me. Except he accidentally killed me, so when I came back, I shredded his soul." He started to puff up like a peacock again, and we just couldn't have that now.
"Yeah, except you fucked up, didn't ya," I taunted.
A few of the reaper zoms chuckled, whereas dead Zayne looked downright pissed.
"You know what? Yeah. I fucked up. I accidentally shredded a piece of my own soul and put it inside him. It was the best fuck-up of my life, though. Because once that happened, I owned, him," he gloated. "And every soul I shredded after joined him in that twisted head of his. A perk I learned after shredding your dad and a piece of him ended up in there."
The blow about my father stung, but before I could snap back, several ghastly versions of what I assumed were our werewolf came into being.
"Not anymore," the eight versions of him echoed in unison. They were more watered down than even Trace, and despite how much I was enjoying this, I didn't like that he was so split. It felt wrong to me on some fundamental level.
"No, not anymore," ghost Zayne agreed. "Now it's just me and all of you idiots for the rest of eternity. How's that for you, Addison?" he called.
"Great, actually," I replied, walking over to the ghost versions of the werewolf dude. "Because unlike you, the rest of us are going back. And then I'll send the living version of Zayne here to keep you company. You want to know the best part?"
He looked like he bit into a sour lemon. "What is that?" ghost Zayne asked sarcastically.
"I have a lot of friends on the other side, and they don't like you very much. Right, Aurora?"
At the sound of her name, the once sleeping beauty appeared with her tub of popcorn. A devilish smile spanned her face as she looked between ghost Zayne and me.
"I'm totally team Good Addison," she said, dropping the popcorn and conjuring a fucking sword.
Ghost Zayne didn't look thrilled by the change in events.
"Thank you," I said, happy that someone around here appreciated me. "I am a good Addison," I muttered as she let out a battle cry and charged.
Ghost Zayne took off into the forest, Aurora chasing after him.
"Anyone else want to join in before I deal with the rest of this?" I called out.
Several dozen ghosts appeared. A mob of dead supernaturals, spectral pitchforks and all, joined them in the forest.
I smiled. This version of the afterlife was kind of fun since I made all the rules.
Score one for Addie.
Zed coughed, clearing his throat and drawing my attention. "If you're going to do something, now's your chance. It looks like real Zayne is about to finish what his wolf started."
The real world had been relatively quiet in the immediate aftermath of the wolf and my demise, allowing me to focus on the ghost world. But Zed was right. Zayne was gearing up for something, and I was out of time.
"Right," I said with a nod. "Alright, everyone, find your bodies, see if you can touch them and jump back." I turned to the eight versions of the werewolf, "Let me put them back and then we'll figure you out. I can't let the living version of Zayne get away."
All eight head bobbed along, and he followed me as I went to deal with the first reaper which was, consequently, lumberjack dude.
He hovered over his body. His hand passed through his arm, but his soul stayed where it was. "Uh, was that supposed to do something?"
I frowned. "It always works for me," I murmured.
"Maybe because they've already died and come back it won't work again?" Zed asked beside me.
My frown deepened. There was no way I was letting all these reapers stay dead. There had to be a way.
Rumpy the permanently depressed ghost appeared beside me. "Try touching them," he offered.
"Touching them?" I asked.
He gave me a slow blink. "You are the anchor."
"And you are the walrus?" I asked, moving to kneel beside the body.
"The anchor between the worlds. They cannot make the journey unassisted."
As Rumpy continued to talk, I placed one hand on lumberjack's shoulder and the other on his body's head. A tingle of electricity raced through my being and then, as if he'd never been there, the reaper's ghost vanished.
"Well, would you look at that. A ghost actually had something useful to say." Despite my comment, I was already moving on to the next body. If I was required for each one of these, it was going to take a lot longer to get everybody back.
"How can I help?" Zed asked.
"Make sure everyone is next to their body, especially the shredded guys. I'm going to do this as quickly as possible."
One by one I helped each of the reapers find their way back to the land of the living. For the unlucky few who'd been shredded, I had each fragment touch me while I held onto their body.
Soon, Zevon, Zed, the eight versions of our werewolf, and I were all that remained.
"What's your name, buddy?" I asked.
"Wyatt," the eight versions all echoed at once.
"Alright, Wyatt, here's the deal. You did some pretty bad shit. I know you couldn't control it, but you did kill Zayne to begin with, and that started this whole thing. That's not okay." At my scolding tone, all eight versions hung their heads.
"We don't deserve to go back," one of them said.
"That's not what I said. Here's the deal. I'm new at this, and I don't know you or the circumstances that led to Zayne dying to begin with. I'm going to send you back, but you will have to face whatever repercussions the Council decides. I'm hoping that they will take everything that's happened into consideration." I looked past them to Zevon, who nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Alright, here goes nothing."
I put my hand on the body and the eight Wyatts all touched my arm or shoulder. A jolt went through me and he disappeared. In the world of the living, the werewolf rolled over, his form shrinking as he returned to the size of a large male in his early twenties.
My heart clenched because it wouldn't be that easy for Trace.
Unlike everyone else, there was no body for him to return to, even when I did find all the pieces of his shredded soul.
"I cannot thank you enough for this," Zevon started, pulling me from my momentary lapse of melancholy.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm the real MVP. Make sure to say that in front of the others, would ya? Now come on. From the sounds of things, your son is starting to realize his reaper bros are all coming back." I motioned for him to take my hand.
Without another word, he made the connection and vanished.
I stood, looking at Zed.
"You ready?" he asked.
My eyes traveled over his shoulder to where the one watery version of my brother and a face I'd never thought I'd see again waited.
"You go ahead… I'll be right there."
"Addie, you know I can't go until you do."
"It's okay, Addison," the fragment of my dad's soul said. "Now that you've freed me, you and I can talk after this is over."
He and Tracey smiled at me, and it was all I could do to remind myself just why I had to leave them. As much as I wanted to stay here with my family, my work here wasn't done in the world of the living… or the dead, by the looks of things.
"Addie…" Zed said softly.
I looked up at him, swallowing back the ball of emotion, and nodded. "Yeah, okay. Let's go."
With a final look at my father and brother, I placed my hand over my body.
This wasn't the end. It was just a pause.
I was a Daughter of Death, whatever the fuck that meant.
I'd see my family again soon, and I'd figure out a way to help them… and all the other fragments that didn't have a body to put them back together again.
I took a deep breath and leaned over. I touched my hand and quickly found myself lying on my back.
"Ow," I groaned, rolling onto my side. Between the rock jutting in my back and the pounding headache that probably came from my head having been dog food not ten seconds ago, I was ready for a hot shower, that lifetime supply of Takis Zed promised me, and a couple of orgasms to boot.
Unfortunately, it didn't look like that was in the cards for me anytime soon.
Judging from the shouts coming from the very real mob surrounding a very real Zayne, there was still work to be done.
Largely me making sure he ended up in the afterlife where my ghost friends could make him pay until I decided on a better plan.
Sharp sticks pressed uncomfortably into my hands as I rolled onto my stomach and climbed to my feet, trying to pretend the blood soaking the forest floor like hallowed ground was wine and not ground beef brain. I shook my head, pushing that image out of my mind.
There were just some things that people were better off pretending never happened, or in my case, never saw. I decided that was one of them as I made my way toward the very pissed-off group of now once again un-dead.
"You're a liar!" One of them shouted.
"A coward!" came from another.
"A pussy!" Lumberjack added. I sidled up beside him and lifted my hand for a sly high five, which he totally gave me like this was an everyday thing before going back to shouting insults at Zayne.
If the little shit wasn't a mass murderer, I'd be tempted to find a way to keep him locked up just for entertainment. Unfortunately, there was no way I was doing that after last time.
"But I… you… what's going on?" Zayne shouted, backing away toward the edges of the forest.
I stepped out of the mob, and they quieted, no one daring to make a move to stop me.
"You killed them… proving my point, mind you… and I brought them back. It's over, Zayne. They know what you did. They know what you are. And no one is going to save you this time. There is no running." I held out my hand for a gun, and one of the brothers gave me his. I lifted the barrel, pointing it at Zayne's head.
"Wait," Zed said, coming out of the woods to our left.
I paused.
"There's no changing this, Zed," I called out, not lowering my weapon.
"It should be me," he said, lifting his own shotgun.
Zayne's face paled.
"No," another voice said. Zevon came forward. "It should be me."
I sighed. "Guys. He's a nut job, but you're both his family. Let me do it. You don't want this weighing on you."
"Addie," Zed said, striding forward. "I got this. I told you…"
"Are you really fucking debating who gets to kill me?" Zayne asked.
"Yes," all three of us answered at once.
"Zed…" I paused, shaking my head. I was going to stop him and then it occurred to me, if he needed this, he needed this. Who was I to say what it would do to his or anyone's psyche? "You do what you gotta do," I said, lowering my gun.
"Wait, son," Zevon said, putting his hand on his shoulder.
A gunshot went off before he could say anything more.
Zayne took a couple steps forward, hobbling as he did so.
"My leg," he said, looking down at the blood darkening his jeans and then up at Zed.
"It wasn't me," Zed muttered.
"No," another voice said. Missy came out of the trees dressed like a woman on a safari with a machete strapped to her thigh and a pistol in hand. "It was me. You three talk too much."
Zayne collapsed on the ground, unable to hold himself up any longer.
"Wait, wait…" he yelled.
She walked over and took aim. "Any last words?"
Before he could answer, the gun went off.
"Too bad. So sad. You killed my brother and nephew, you son of a bitch."
Stepping forward, she aimed one more time and let off another round into his head.
I stared open-mouthed as Missy lifted the pistol and placed it in her side holster.
"Missy… you…" I tried and failed to find words, shaking my head.
"What? You called for backup. Looks like you didn't need it. But just so you know, that is how you do a double tap, Addison," she said.
"Fucking noted," I said, half ready to start clapping. By the stunned look on the other reapers' faces, they were right there with me.
"Uh, who's she?" Lumberjack asked.
"Guys, this is my Aunt Missy," I said. "Missy, meet the brotherhood." I gestured to the couple dozen guys scattered around us.
My aunt sniffed, clearly unimpressed.
"Am I the only one here who still isn't sure what the hell just happened?" one of the brothers asked, moving to stand beside Zevon.
One by one, the members of the Brotherhood started to turn and stare at me. For the first time, they looked at me, not with suspicion, but with respect. Maybe I didn't need Zevon to name me MVP after all.
Okay, who was I kidding? I totally wanted him to admit it out loud.
The crack of a branch had us all spinning around. Those of us that still had weapons in hand were aiming them in the direction of the noise.
Bucky and Bonzo appeared in the clearing, their hands both going up in the air when they noticed the twenty or so guns pointed their way.
"Whoa, fella, no need to be hostile," Bonzo drawled.
Bucky looked from the reapers, to the now human werewolf, to Zayne's body and dropped his arms. "We missed it?"
I snickered. Bucky may not have spent the fight on his back this time, but missing it entirely may have been an even harder knock to his pride. I was absolutely going to gloat about that later.
"Where were you two?" Zevon asked.
Bucky scowled as the crackle of dried leaves announced another person's presence in the woods.
"I found these two chasing each other in circles a couple miles back," Bree announced. "They were muttering something about following footsteps, but I'm pretty sure it was just their own."
The rest of the Brotherhood laughed.
Bree slapped Bucky's shoulder. "When they saw Missy and me running in the opposite direction, they made the smart decision to follow."
"If they were following you," Lumberjack asked, "why are you just getting here now?"
Bree flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I'm a succubus. I wasn't in a hurry to rush to my death. I make love not war, get me?"
From the glazed look in some of the zombie's eyes, they most definitely did.
"Sir, what do you want to do about him?" the reaper closest to the unshifted werewolf asked.
Zevon dropped his gaze to the guy who was just rising to his knees. He kept his eyes submissively lowered as he waited for the answer.
"It's for the Council to decide. He will come with me."
"What about her, sir?" Lumberjack asked, jutting his chin in my direction.
Zevon sighed. "I think Addison has more than earned the evening off. We'll clean up here and deal with… the body." I sensed the hesitation in his tone and wondered how ready he really was to come to terms with the fact that his son was dead, even if he had been a murdering psychopath. "Then I think tomorrow we'll regroup and do a better job of listening to what our newest initiate has to say."
The Brotherhood, used to following orders, was already moving to do just that.
I risked a glance at Zed. "Well… that went better than expected."
Zed lifted a brow. "Literally everybody died. How is that better?"
"I brought them back. It doesn't count."
He shook his head, but the small smile ghosting his lips betrayed him. "You ready to get out of here?" he asked.
I glanced at the trees where I'd last seen my brother and father. They were gone.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Addison, before you go," Zevon said, coming to stand before me. "You and I need to talk. There are some things you need to know."
"Alright," I said, wondering where this was going.
"No, not now. You've done enough for one day. We'll talk tomorrow. I just wanted to say… Thank you."
I nodded, giving him a half-smile. "You're welcome."
Zed put his arm around my shoulder, and we headed toward the trees. Bree came up on one side of us, Missy on the other.
"So…" my best friend said, scooching in close to my side. "It's over? It's really actually over, right?"
"Yeah, Bree… it's over."
Zayne was dead. The rest of us weren't. My father and brother were… out there, waiting for me when the time was right.
It was really, well and truly over.
Which meant it was time to go home.