Deadly Kisses by Kerri Cuevas Page A

Bee’s arm twisted around to her back.
    Bee’s eyes were wide. I ran toward them.
    “Let her go, Reina! What part of don’t touch didn’t you understand!” Bee ran behind me and buried her face in my cloak. Her soul knitted into mine, rolling through me like a Hawaiian wave.
    “You have her back, don’t you?” She peeked around trying to see Bee. “Hey babe, thanks for the skin. I’m so getting a manicure!”
    “Keep her away from me. She’s psycho!” Bee clutched the cloak, threatening to rip it off. “I thought she was going to break my arm. All I did was touch her and skin grew back.”
    I growled at Reina like a dog after meat. “You’ve helped enough for one night. Why don’t you go report to Abe or something?” I had been afraid this would happen. I couldn’t get mad at Reina because I might have done the same thing to feel alive again.
    Reina’s eyes illuminated anger and she stiffened her back. “I wasn’t really going to hurt her. I don’t think you’re in a position to argue my tactics. I’ve been a Reaper for twenty years and am still under a mentor. It takes centuries to know exactly what you’re doing, and even then comes a situation where rules don’t apply.”
    Reina cocked an eyebrow and nodded her head to where the old Reapers sat. “Tell me why three of the Ancients would come together to see a rock band perform?”
    I was listening now. It was only the third time I had seen a glimpse of an Ancient Grim Reaper. “What’s going on, Reina? Do you know something?”
    I was royally pissed off that Bee’s night was ruined. I didn’t even care anymore that she’d danced with Mohawk guy.
    “Keep her away. She tried to claw me,” Bee whimpered.
    Reina put her hand on her hip. “Well, you were all over that guy. He would have felt you up if you kept at it. I mean look at the outfit. It says come and get me! I can give you a lesson on how to kiss. Just ask Ad.” Reina pointed to me.
    Bee’s shaking turned to pure anger. Cripes, she was going to try to hurt Reina. Over me? I twisted my arm to my back and held Bee to me.
    “It doesn’t say come and get me. I’m just having fun,” Bee said, her face coming just below my shoulder. “If I’m going to die, I want to die happy. Yeah, I’m having fun dancing with a guy before I let this one drag me to my death. Then you can watch while I have my mouth and hands all over Ad, without fear it will kill me! Take that!”
    “Bee, calm down. She’s messing with you. Reina, take you and your red boots and back up before she hits you.”
    The music stopped, and the lead singer took the microphone. His hair hung in his eyes, wet with sweat. He spoke low into the microphone. The crowd became quiet. He kicked the wire and stepped closer to the mic. “This one goes to a dear friend.” He bunched his hand except two fingers and kissed it before raising it into the air. “This is a song he wrote. May he rest in peace.”
    The drummer made a soft rhythm and stopped. The other three members of the band put their hands over their hearts. The lead singer stroked his guitar with gentle caresses, and the crowd remained silent.
    I froze with the familiar tune. My heart beat heavy and my dead blood pooled down through my body to my feet.
    “Did you hear me?” Reina whined, pulling up my hood trying to see my expression.
    “Why can she see your face but not me?” Bee complained.
    Bee’s words never reached my brain. All I heard was the soft strum of the guitar. I saw the look on the players’ faces. There was a swirl of movement around me. I stood in place, shock overtaking me.
    Bee felt my soul before I could block her out. She looked at me, then the band. “Do you know this song?”
    Of course I knew the song I wrote. My body hummed with energy. Mine, but also hers. She responded to the song as strongly as I did. I was too emotional to block her out completely.
    “Talk to me.” Her eyes pooled with worry.
    “He’s just in a state of