Caged by Damnation (Caged #2)(4)

I spun quickly to face the husky voice and found Death staring me in the face. “What are you doing here? My time isn’t up.”

A slow, eerie smile lit up his face, bringing a more human quality to his features. It also brought an inevitable comparison between him and someone from a mental institution. The thought made me shudder.

“I just came to remind you of your deadline.” He walked to my bed and fingered my quilt. “Pink? I thought you would have something more sophisticated.”

“I know when the deadline is, and my bedroom is none of your concern.” My voice was laced with acid, but I tried to cool my temper.

Death turned to examine my face. “Is there anything you need for your room?”

“Huh?” Death came all this way to ask if I needed anything? “Why do you care? Don’t you have more important things to do? Like sending people to Hell?” I forced a sarcastic smile and stared him down. I was trying to be strong, but he had the nerve to laugh at me.

He raised a single eyebrow. “Would you rather sleep on the ground, with absolutely nothing to your name? I am merely doing my part as your keeper.”

“My keeper? You are not my keeper! I am my own person and if I decide to accept your offer, I will never be your … your servant!” I ground out the last words. “You don’t own me.”

Death looked confused by my outburst, but didn’t seem to mind it. “Okay.”

“Okay? That’s it? That’s all you have to say?” His lack of a response bothered me. It made me want to throw something at him.

“Okay. You’re right. Technically, I do not own you. I did not create you; you were born. I will try to keep that in mind. Now, if you are done with your tantrum…?” He waited for me to respond. When I didn’t, he continued, “Your deadline is tomorrow. I will expect an answer by midnight. We will meet in the clearing where your witch died.”

I nodded and looked away. When I turned back to respond, he was gone. The only sign that he had been there at all was a single black lily against my pillow, a red ribbon tied around the stem. I picked it up and was enveloped by a sweet fragrance. It was intoxicating and unlike anything I had smelled before. I placed the flower inside my suitcase and zipped it.

I spent most of the night staring at the ceiling or out my windows. The sun was beginning to rise when I drifted into sleep. A few hours later I was awoken by a restrained howl. My mind was foggy, but I dimly wondered why a wolf was inside my house. A hand brushed my shoulder and I peered through my eyelids to see a canopy of red hair and green eyes.

“Kali?” I thought that was her name, but I had only met her twice and neither time had left room for conversation. “Why are you here?” I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and pulled the covers up to hide my exposed skin. I wasn't used to people I barely knew seeing me in my nightshirt.

“I just wanted to tell you something.” She paused. Her mouth opened and closed, like she couldn’t find the words. “Tonight, you have to answer Death.”

I rolled my eyes. “You didn’t need to wake me up for that. He already told me.” I turned on my side to go back to sleep, but Kali shook me.

“You are going to agree to his terms, right?” I turned my head, shooting her a deadly stare. “I just wanted to give you some advice.” Kali bit her lower lip and looked around, as if to make certain no one could hear us. “You have to become a Hellhound if you want your friend to live, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add in some terms of your own.”

I struggled to follow what she was saying. After a few moments it sunk in. “You are saying I can ask for something in return, besides letting Ash live? Like what?”

She grasped the pendant that hung from her neck, sighed, and looked back at me. Her eyes glistened with amusement and a trace of anticipation. “What you ask for is your choice. There are only five Hellhounds left. Death needs you. He rarely bargains, but in this case … I think he would. He can’t afford not to.”

I studied Kali. She looked embarrassed to be telling me all this and I wondered why she would help me. “Don’t you work for Death? I mean, why would you tell me this?”

Her gaze turned cold, “I am telling you this because you are going to become my sister. I may be accountable to Death, but he doesn’t control me. I came here to help, but I can see that you don’t want me here.” She threw open my bedroom door and left my house.

I ran after her, my nightshirt melding to my skin, but failed to withstand the brisk air. “Kali, wait!” She stopped on my lawn, turning back. “I’m sorry. I just felt suspicious. I’m not exactly thrilled with my life right now, but I shouldn’t have assumed you had ulterior motives.”

Kali smiled. “I do have an ulterior motive. I want to piss off Death … nothing would make me happier.” She winked and got in her car. A very uncharacteristic exit for the Hellhound.

I watched Kali drive off, and wondered what demand I should extort from Death. If she was telling the truth, Death would agree to almost anything for me to take my place among the Hellhounds. I wondered how often Death was put in a position where he was at a disadvantage? Of course, I too was at a disadvantage, but with limitless demands at my fingertips, I felt powerful. Smiling, I walked back inside.





CHAPTER 2