Page 29 of Bride of Death (Netherworld Fae #1)

Sera

“Pip!” I whisper-shout, frustrated that he’s nowhere to be found or seen.

Maliki stands nearby, expression skeptical. “You’re sure this soul of yours is real, yeah?”

“You’re sure I’m an Omega, yeah?” I toss back at him.

His lips twitch. “Touché, sweet mystery. Proceed in beckoning your pet spirit.”

I grit my teeth and try again.

Nothing.

“Come on, Pip,” I say, exasperated. “They’re making me move, and I don’t want to leave without at least saying goodbye.”

“ Making is a strong word choice, as well as inaccurate,” Maliki inserts.

I glare at him. “Nothing about my life is a choice, Maliki. Everything has been predecided because of an evil soul. So if I want to say I’m being forced to do something, you can bet that it’s true.”

Some of his amusement slips. “Sera…”

My eyebrow lifts as I wait for him to finish whatever he’s about to say. But he falls silent. Just my name, his voice laced with so much apology that I know he’s feeling sorry for me. “Please don’t pity me.”

“I don’t.”

“You do,” I correct him. “Life is never fair. I accepted that a very long time ago.”

More sorrow enters his golden eyes, forcing me to look away.

And as I do, I spy a little flurry of color in my bedroom.

“Pip!” Darting to the door, I look inside and see him floating near my bed with his hands behind his back, his head turned down.

There’s a solitary dead flower on my pillow.

“Where have you been?” I ask him.

He floats around nervously, his fiery orb-like eyes darting up as Maliki joins me in the doorway. Pip instantly scurries back toward the wall, his cloak rattling in a way that makes it look like he’s shaking.

“What is that on your bed?” Maliki asks slowly. “And where is your little soul?”

I frown. “He’s right there.” I point at Pip, who is now gaping at me with wide eyes, like he can’t believe I just gestured toward him.

“What’s wrong, Pip?” He begins to shake, true sorrow painting his features.

“Hey,” I say, softer now as I start to approach him.

“What’s going on? Why are you so spooked? ”

Maliki snorts. “Now there’s a good ghost joke.”

“Shh,” I hush the unhelpful assassin and focus on Pip. “Can you write to me?”

Pip shakes his head, his gaze flickering between me and Maliki.

My brow furrows. “I don’t understand. You always write to me.”

“He doesn’t want me to see him,” Maliki says. “Assuming he’s a real soul and just playing hide-and-seek in the in-between.”

I glance back at him. “What?”

“I can’t see him,” he reiterates. “But you’re saying he’s here, right?”

“Yes.” I look at Pip, who is again staring at me with a look of betrayal. “You don’t want Maliki to know you’re here?”

Pip nods, his expression somewhat angry now, like he’s mad that I’ve already spoiled that plan.

“Why not?”

“Because he thinks I’ll escort him back to the Soul Yards,” Maliki says. “Right?”

Pip cocks his head a little, then nods again.

“Maliki isn’t going to do that,” I promise Pip. “I won’t let him.”

The assassin unhelpfully chuckles at that.

“Right?” I say, shooting him a glare.

Maliki lifts his hands in mock surrender. “If you say this soul is your pet, I won’t take him away from you.”

Pip folds his arms in a way that tells me he doesn’t believe Maliki.

“He’s not my pet,” I mutter. “Pip is my friend.”

My little soul perks up at that, the skirt of his cloak starting to sway as he dances.

“And as my friend, I would like you to come with me to the palace,” I continue to Pip. “To stay with me.”

“As a pet,” Maliki adds under his breath.

I cast him another withering look. “You are not helping.”

He lifts his hands again. “Sorry, sorry. I’ll let you tame your friend.”

My gaze narrows even more. “I’ll tame you.”

He laughs. “I think you’ve already started, little mystery.”

I’m not sure what he means by that, so I go back to ignoring him and give Pip all of my attention again. “Can you please come out of the in-between?”

Pip drops his arms, but his movements still appear to be uncertain.

“If you prefer to hide, that’s fine,” I tell him, aware of how that feels. “But will you come with me to the palace?”

My little friend sways, the answer unclear.

“If he’s not agreeing, it’s not because of you,” Maliki says. “He’s probably afraid Hades will send him to the pits.”

“The pits?” I repeat as Pip begins to shake again.

“A place where judgment occurs,” Maliki explains darkly.

Pip starts to float into the wall.

“I won’t let that happen to you,” I promise Pip. “I… I’ll talk to Hades.” The uncertainty in my voice is clear to my ears and obviously to Pip, too. My shoulders sag. “It’s okay, Pip. I understand if you want to hide here. I would stay with you if I could.”

He floats out of the wall again and comes a little closer, seeming to be undecided again. His eyes are so sad. Yet the way he vibrates tells me how terrified he is of everything we’re discussing.

“What if I promise to help you,” Maliki says, his eyes on the door to my bathroom.

I frown. Does he think Pip is over there?

“If you know who I am—which I assume you do and that’s why you’re hiding—then you know my offer is valid. Hades won’t touch you if I say you’re mine.”

Pip seems to be considering him.

Meanwhile, Maliki is still talking to the bathroom door.

I bite my lip to keep from grinning. Because it is kind of amusing.

Especially since Pip is floating even closer to him now, near enough to touch his side.

“You have ten seconds to decide, lost soul,” Maliki says. “Don’t make me start counting.”

Pip lifts his arm, only for Maliki to spin away from him.

“I may not see you, but I can feel you.”

Pip’s eyes smile as he tries again, causing Maliki to whirl away.

“Stop fucking with me, soul. I was being nice.”

I cover my mouth to stop from laughing as Pip does it a third time, which results in Maliki growling.

Then his eyes find mine, and everything stills. The fight in him disappears, and he shakes his head. “Your pet is trying to make you laugh.”

“Pip,” I say, reminding him of his name. “And yes, I think so.”

The cloaked soul floats to my side, and Maliki glances down at him, his gaze narrowing a bit. “What the fuck are you wearing?” he asks, telling me he can see Pip now.

Pip does a little twirl to show off his cloak.

Maliki snorts. “That’s ridiculous.”

My little spirit pauses, then places his hands on his hips. Or I assume he does, anyway. Then he begins a game of charades whereby he reveals one bony finger, gestures toward me, mimes touching me, and then falls on the floor with a soundless thud.

After a moment, he lifts his head up and looks pointedly at Maliki as he tugs his cloak down over his exposed finger.

Maliki stares at him in bewilderment. “Well, I’ll be shadowed. You’re a smart little soul.”

Pip bows, then rights himself again and twirls.

“Yeah, you’ll do,” Maliki decides out loud, heading for the door.

“He wears that cloak to protect you, by the way. In case you didn’t know that.

” He pauses to glance at me over his shoulder.

“One touch of his bones, even a brush, would kill you instantly. So he covers himself in case you get too close. I think he likes you.”

With that pronouncement, he walks into my living area, where he collects my plant.

“Shall we go?” he calls back to me.

I gaze down at Pip, who is dancing around happily again.

“For the record, I like you, too,” I tell him.

He blows me a kiss, then floats off after Maliki.

Watching him overcome his nervousness so quickly makes me kind of wish I was a little ghostlike soul, too.

Maybe then I wouldn’t be so terrified of returning to the palace.

Or of the dinner I’m going to attend tonight.

Alone.

With Hades.

If only I was a little soul, I muse. Instead, I’m paired with an evil one determined to ruin my existence.

Yay me.