Read Online Reaper of Souls: A fantasy short story by Holly Copella - Free Book Online Page A

she approached him.  “But
then he found out that you were responsible for starting the fire in the first
place.”  The look in her eyes was venomous.  She stood only a few feet away
from him and stared into his eyes with hatred.  “You killed my parents, you
son-of-a-bitch, just to claim my brother’s life for your pathetic kingdom. 
It’s over.  My brother and I will be leaving just as soon as he gets here.”
    Reggie
carelessly tossed the dagger on the hall table near the stairs.  It clattered
against the marble top.  Chrissy paused on the last step, glanced at the
dagger, and then stared at Reggie.  Kahn paced before her and raised his brows
while mocking her with an evil smile. 
    “He couldn’t
prove any of that and neither can you,” Kahn announced then shook his head. 
“You won’t be going anywhere.  You’ll take your rightful place by my side as
you were always meant to.  As for your brother, I’ll have his head mounted on
my wall.”
    She stared at
him with surprise.  “This was never about Dylan, was it?  It was always about
me,” she suddenly gasped.  “You used Dylan to get to me, and I played right
into your evil plans.”
    “Even if you
could prove that, there’s nothing you can do about it,” he announced.  “You’ll
be mine.  And if you’re thinking my brother will come to your rescue, think
again.  He can’t harm me or he’ll forfeit his right to become a Life Force.”
    Kahn raised his
hand to Reggie with a threatening sneer.  A bolt shot from his hand toward
her.  Reggie defensively raised her own hand with a startled gasp and the bolt
of energy suddenly dissipated.  Kahn stared at her with astonishment.  Reggie
looked at her hand, flexed it, and grinned.
    “That tingled,”
she said with a giggle
    Chrissy and
Begley appeared almost as shocked as Kahn was.  Both were now only a few feet
away from the show.  The front door burst open to reveal a panting Dylan in
human form.  All eyes were upon him.
    “Damn, I’m
really out of shape,” Dylan said while hunched over and clutching his knees.
    “A steady diet
of Twinkies will do that,” Reggie casually replied.
    “What’s going
on?” Kahn demanded.  “Who turned him back?”
    Reggie looked
back at Kahn and grinned.  “It’s a funny story, although I’m not sure you’ll
find it all that amusing.”
    Helsing half
fell through the open doorway, leaned his back to the wall while gasping, and
slid down the wall into a sitting position.  “I’ve decided I don’t care for
running,” he gasped.
    Dylan continued
to breathe hard while holding his side.  “Join the club.”
    Kahn stared at
Helsing then looked at Reggie as she approached him.  Her sly grin was enough
to rattle him.
    “Helsing and I
were each granted one wish from your mother as a wedding present,” Reggie
informed him.
    Kahn appeared
stunned and looked from Helsing to Reggie.  “Wedding present?  You and
Helsing?”
    Helsing smiled
wearily and gave a tiny wave.  “My wish was for my powers to go to Reggie
temporarily for her own protection.”
    “And my wish
was for all the people you’d enslaved to be returned to their mortal lives,”
Reggie announced.
    “No, that’s not
possible,” Kahn protested then looked at Helsing.  “If you marry, you can’t be
a Light Force.”
    “I’ve already
been chosen,” Helsing replied.  “My Light Force status takes effect after
Reggie’s tour of life ends.”
    “Mother would
never interfere,” Kahn scoffed.  “This isn’t over!”
    The female
light, Leola, appeared in the hallway.  Begley took Chrissy’s hand in his as
they moved closer together and watched the light.  Kahn appeared stunned.
    “Mother?” he
gasped with surprise then turned angry.  “Mother, what’s the meaning of this? 
How could you interfere?”
    “I’m sorry,
Kahn.  You abused your power,” Leola said.  “All the mortals you enslaved will
be returned to their world as they were.  I’m