Endless Knight (The Arcana Chronicles #2)(55)

Death would soon regret his decision to spare me so far. For the last several months, I’d wanted to kill him because he was so bent on killing me. Now I craved a bloody revenge, one that would make the red witch proud.

If I couldn’t take out this trio by myself, I figured I had two options.

Catch Death without his armor, which wasn’t likely.

Or get help. In that case, my first step was escape. I might have worried that Death would just read my thoughts and foil any attempt. But I believed the link between us had been broken. Severed with Matthew’s passing. Don’t cry. Don’t give him the satisfaction. . . .

So far there’d been no opportunity to get away. It wasn’t like I ever had privacy. Lark accompanied me each morning to wash off, her wolves trailing us like chain-gang guards. When I was alone with her, she always looked like she wanted to tell me something. Information there for the taking? But I hadn’t yet been able to bite back bile and cozy up to her.

“Yo, boss,” Lark said, her eyes going red. Falcon-cam. “We got a pretty big river ahead.”

The fog began to thicken. Soon I could hear the sound of rushing water. With each step closer to this unseen river, Ogen grew antsier. I’d learned the Devil was more afraid of bodies of water than Matthew had been. I doubted the beast could swim.

Fifteen minutes later, we reached the edge of the rapids; all four of us came to a halt, staring at the surreal scene. The violent currents carted along pieces of houses, a huge satellite dish, and a . . . car. A red Volkswagen rocketed past us, the steering wheel spinning as wreckage hit the tires.

Taking Ogen’s temperature, I said, “Right on. I vote we swim it.”

He whimpered. “No swim—NO SWIM!”

Death commanded him in that foreign tongue, and he shut up.

“Well, aren’t you a good wittle doggie, Ogen?” I said. “You know how to sit, stay, and hush even better than Lark’s wolves.”

He stared, disbelieving that I’d just insulted him like that. “I am the DESECRATOR! I sit upon Lucifer’s knee!”

“That makes total sense, Scooby.”

With a puzzled expression, Death said, “You taunt him at your peril.”

“What’s he going to do? Kill me?” Over my shoulder I told Ogen, “Get in line, dick.”

Ignoring both of us, Death said, “We cross there.”

I followed his gaze to a suspension bridge above, so high it was nearly cloaked in clouds. Connecting two canyon walls, it looked charred and rickety, as if those support cables could snap at any second.

Lark nodded eagerly. “Good idea, boss.”

“Ass kisser,” I said, earning a flash of her fangs.

Up the muddy trail, she and Death rode their horses. I had to climb, my feet getting sucked down in the calf-deep muck.

Maybe when we got up on the bridge I’d jump, Last of the Mohicans their asses!

I’d thought that half in jest, but the idea wouldn’t go away. I didn’t know if I had the guts to leap from that height, but strategically it made sense. The water would carry me away faster than their horses could follow in this terrain. The three would relax their guard up there, because no one in her right mind would dare that jump.

Ogen would be too phobic to follow me, Lark too spineless in general. Death couldn’t without removing his armor first.

My lips curled. If he did shuck his armor and follow? Win-win. Either I escaped, or I’d face him with his defenses lowered.

What would Jack do in this situation? He was always practical. Except at the end of his life when he’d known better than to stay with me, but did it anyway. Don’t think about that! Not now, not yet . . .

Would I survive the drop? Would the water be deep enough? Knowing my luck, I’d probably bean another car.

As I climbed, I recalled a long-ago conversation with my grandmother. She’d been explaining my weaknesses; I’d just wanted to play with my dolls. Losing interest, I’d absently asked, “De-cappa-what?”

I knew Gran had revealed at least one other way I could die, but I couldn’t remember. Today, I’d be betting my life that she hadn’t said: “You can drown.”

Once we reached the beginning of the bridge, I gasped, “I need to rest.”

Lark slowed her horse. “No can do, Empress. I got the falcon scouting the entire county, and we’ve got Teeth all around us.”

Even better. I’d float right past them! “I can’t walk any farther. My feet are about to fall off.”

Death said, “Carry on, or I can drag you behind my horse.”

“Too tired,” I wheezed.

Studying my face, Death narrowed his gaze. “Have you a plan, creature?”

“Can’t read my thoughts anymore?”

“Perhaps not. But I can tell you are malingering.”

“Malingering? I don’t speak S.A.T.” The fog was so thick I couldn’t see the middle of the bridge. Would I even know where to jump? I might leap right onto the exposed edge of the riverbed. After my experience in the mines, the last place I wanted to be was in the water. Could I make myself do this?

“You act exhausted,” Death said. “But you’ve fight left in you yet.” He sounded approving.

“I do. And I’m going to fight my way. On my time.”