Page 73 of A Trial By Blood

“No,” he roared, moving so close now, he stood over me. “I will not wait.”

I still couldn’t make out his shadowed features, but those eyes froze me to the core. “Please, I beg you.”

“You have until the next full moon.”

“But I’m not dead—”

“Come to the stone arch on the edge of Oldwood Forest. I’ll be waiting. Your coven owes me, and if you don’t come to me, witch, I will find a replacement, and you won’t like who I choose.”

I woke with a cry. Covering my mouth, I quickly smothered it.

My heart pounded so hard that I struggled to catch my breath. Oh goddess. What the hell was I going to do? Death wouldn’t take no for an answer, and he wouldn’t wait. I’d stupidly hoped that he’d forgotten me or changed his mind. But, of course, he hadn’t. I couldn’t see any way out of this. I didn’t want to give up my life when I’d only started living it, but I couldn’t let him take someone else, someone I loved, either. I wouldn’t.

I snatched my phone from my bedside table and scrolled to my cousin Zinnia’s name. If there was any help to be found, she would know where to find it.

It rang twice.

“Rose, are you okay?” Alarm filled her voice.

“Yes…no.” I forced myself to take a calming breath. “I need your help, Zinny.”

“Your task?”

It was forbidden to ask for help from your coven or family, we both knew that, but I was positive that this whole Death thing had nothing to do with my task or the mother. He started visiting me long before that.

But I could tell by the tone in Zinnia’s voice she would defy the mother, she would break all the rules, if that was why I was calling. “No, it’s something else.”

“Everyone’s okay?” she asked.

It was then I realized it was still dark outside. “Sorry, I didn’t check the time before I called.”

“I don’t care about that, Roe. Whatever you need, I’m here, always.”

Zinnia was the best. And she and her younger sister Jasmine were more like our sisters than cousins. “What I’m about to tell you needs to stay between us.” She could also keep a secret.

“Of course.”

No hesitation. Zinnia would do anything for the people she loved, a trait among all the members of this family. “So, when Iris completed her task and you guys sent those evil souls to Hell…”

There was a beat of silence. “Yes.”

“Well, that night Death came to me in my sleep. He wants my soul as a replacement, as payment for what was taken from him. I agreed. I was dying anyway, and better me than one of you.” I swallowed hard. “I’m not dying anymore, Zin, but Death doesn’t care. He won’t wait for me to grow old. And if I don’t go to him during the next full moon, he’ll take someone else. Someone from this family. You know about this stuff, is there any way out of this without anyone else getting hurt? Do you know someone who can help?” I was doing my best not to break down, not to freak out completely.

Silence again, this time longer.

“Zinny?”

“I’m here. Right, so the next full moon, which means we’ve got a week.”

Fear gripped me. “Is there anything I can do?”

More silence, then she cleared her throat. “Yeah, I’ve kind of been expecting this.”

“What?”

“Death spoke to Iris, Roe, right after we sent those bitches to Hell. He mentioned you, and she told me. I’d hoped…I don’t know, that he was bluffing, or trying to scare her.”

“Iris never said anything.”