Read Online Dicing with Death by Beth Chambers - Free Book Online Page B

said cheerfully. ‘Two years after you disappeared. What happened? One moment I’m heading towards a bright light after duelling in your honour, the next I’m seeing you disappear with a giant walking, talking skeleton and I’m fine!’
    â€˜You only lived for two more years after I left?’ Liah gasped. ‘That’s all?’
    Tom shrugged. ‘Oh, you know, all those nineteenth-century duels could play havoc with a fellow’s health.’
    â€˜Right, I’ll just leave the two of you to your cosy chat and I’ll try to find the elixir on my own.’Max thrust the cap into his pocket and pushed past Tom.
    â€˜Whoa, not so fast,’ Tom said. ‘We’ll come with you.’
    Max narrowed his eyes. Why would Tom want to help? And just what was he doing here anyway? He added suspicion to dislike. ‘Aren’t you supposed to ask, “What elixir?” I don’t suppose you know anything about a recent spate of falling objects or magically self-opening and -closing doors?’

    Tom grinned and held out his hand to Liah. ‘Come on!’
    Liah reached out but her hand passed straight through his. ‘I can’t touch you,’ she sighed. ‘Only the assistant’s robes give the wearer the power to touch the dead. How is it that you’re here, Tom? Have you been with us ever since we left the Underworld?’
    In Max’s opinion, Tom suddenly looked shifty – like he’d been caught with his fingers in the till.
    â€˜Do you mind if we walk and talk?’ Max said pointedly. He didn’t know how far ahead his father was with the elixir.
I have to get it. If I don’t, Death will sack me and then it will be all over for Amy. And I’ll end up like Tom
. He strode along the passageway, aware of Tom and Liah trailing behind.
    â€˜There are rumours all over the Underworld that the elixir can give back life. Is it true?’ Tom asked.
    â€˜Yes,’ Liah told him. ‘We have to get it back before it’s used again.’
    Tom was silent for a moment and then said, ‘The Grim Reaper wouldn’t miss a drop or two would he?’
    Max waited for Liah to shoot Tom down in flames.
    â€˜I guess one or two drops wouldn’t do any harm,’ she said slowly.
    Max spun around. ‘What? Only a couple of days ago you were talking about the end of the world happening if we didn’t get the elixir back.’
    Liah glared at him. ‘I’ve given more than a lifetime of service to Death, and all the while Tom’s been dead. The least he can do is give us back our time together.’
    Behind Liah’s back Tom grinned and raised an eyebrow.
    Before Max could punch him, a gunshot rang out, echoing down the passage. Max turned around and raced towards the sound.
Please let Dad be okay!
    Up ahead was a narrow spiral stairway set into a wall. Max hurried up the twisting flight feeling giddy and breathless. Liah and Tom followed close behind, although only Liah’s footsteps could be heard clattering against the stone steps.
    Light flooded out from a room at the top of the staircase. Max would have dashed in but felt a tug on the back of his robes. ‘Don’t be an idiot, you can’t just burst in there,’ Liah hissed.
    â€˜Okay, okay, you can let me go now,’ Max panted, realising Liah had just saved him from makinga stupid mistake. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cap. Putting it on he stepped into the room.
    It appeared to be some kind of laboratory. It didn’t have bubbling test tubes but everything was either metallic or tiled. Crowded around a stainless steel table were his father, Ralf and another man.
    Max’s hand flew up to cover his mouth as he realised what they were staring at. Lying on its side was a mongrel dog, its long shaggy coat sticky with blood. It wasn’t moving.
    Max watched his dad take a tiny glass bottle out of the silver casket. He