After Midnight Read online

  “Not one of my finer moments?”

  “Nope. Though to be fair, I always knew he was like that, I just hoped that the love he felt for me was stronger.”

  She snorted, digging through her purse for lipstick as she used her cellphone camera as a mirror. “Please, Amy, everyone knew he absolutely adored you.”

  Sure, when he wasn’t tricking me into being with him by erasing all memory of who I was before. That, right there, is unconditional love.

  “Speaking of delicious men, whatever happened to Gabriel? The guy I met at the coffee shop, remember? Tell me he’s still part of the picture.”

  “He’s…around,” I said, running a fingertip over the rim of my glass. “Though, I’ve been busy lately, so we don’t talk much.”

  She smiled, shaking her head side to side. “It’s a wonder you’re not still a virgin. Hey, if you don’t claim him, toss him my way, would you?”

  “A, he’s not a piece of meat and b, you literally say that about every guy.”

  “He’s incredibly sexy, well-mannered and seemed totally into you. If you and Max are done, I’d lock that shit down.”

  “There you guys are! Can you believe the cover charge? Five dollars seems like a bit much for drinks and karaoke,” Molly said as she and Dennis slid into our booth. “Long time, no see, Amy.”

  “I’m sorry that I’ve been a little MIA lately; work is just crazy.”

  “You’re still at the hospital, aren’t you?” She passed Dennis some money as he shuffled his way to the bar and I cringed, figuring that in this case, half-lie was better than whole truth.

  “Not anymore. I’m sort of between jobs right now – doing some freelance work…with Gabriel.”

  Sarah gave me a sort of triumphant why-didn’t-you-tell-me-oh-what-the-hell-I’m-too-happy-to-care glance as I sighed and trampled down the feeling that I was about to dive headfirst into dangerous territory.

  These were my friends, and it killed me that I had to live this secret double life for the sake of a husband I didn’t remember marrying and a family that didn’t seem to mind that I was cursed in the first place.

  “It’s like mortuary work.”

  “Oh, sure, find one dead body, and suddenly you’re an expert,” Sarah said, smiling as she licked the sugar from her glass. “I thought you were squeamish about that stuff.” It wasn’t an accusation – not really.

  “I still am, but I don’t handle the bodies directly, just help determine the cause of death.”

  “Don’t you need a medical degree to do that?” Dennis asked as he passed Molly a beer.

  “Officially, yes. What’s your point?”

  “You majored in English.”

  “Well, Gabriel is sort of a physician and I’m sort of working for him pro bono.”

  “But, he’s helping pay some of your expenses, right?” Molly asked.

  “All of them, actually.”

  “Amy Marie Hensley, you need to date this man right now,” Sarah said, gesturing for the bartender to make us a couple more drinks and I groaned, resting my head on my hands.

  “I shouldn’t have told you guys anything, because now you won’t leave it alone, will you?”

  “Not until the two of you are here at the bar with us, together, holding hands and hopefully not making smoochy noises like some people at this table. Seriously, guys, get a room or something.”

  Molly leaned against Dennis as she bent his head to kiss her and Sarah fake-gagged, standing to retrieve our drinks.

  When she returned, she wasn’t alone. “Molly, Dennis, this is the infamous Gabriel.”

  My head snapped up, a chill snaking its way up and down my body as he smiled, sliding across from me.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Just making sure that your shift went well today. I was going to sneak out, but when Sarah saw me, she…pounced.”

  “We were just talking about you, actually. What a coincidence. Isn’t it, Amy?”

  God, girlfriend, leave it alone already.

  “Hopefully all good things,” he said as he grabbed a butter knife, spinning it between his fingers.

  “Mostly just trying to figure out why you would hire someone with a non-medical background for a medical-related job,” Dennis said as Gabriel frowned, looking from him, to me, and back again.

  I know you heard our conversation, so don’t play dumb. I had to tell them something.

  I would’ve preferred that ‘something’ stayed as far away from the truth as possible.

  “There’s no one I would trust more than Amy to help me. It’s…delicate work, and she has a big heart.”

  You couldn’t even give me one night alone with my friends?

  It would be rude to refuse Sarah’s very enthusiastic invitation. You and I need to talk.

  All you want to do lately is talk, but I have nothing to say to you.

  Not even if it involves one of your friends?

  I felt myself go hot, and then cold, as I slowly pulled the tablet from my purse, scanning the list.

  I don’t know what you’re talking about. There’s nothing here.

  He folded his hands together in front of him as he peered up at the ceiling, refusing to meet my eyes.

  Wait for it in three…two…one…

  I bit back a cry of surprise as Sarah’s name bobbed into view…in red… “No.”

  I realized too late that I had spoken out-loud and crushed the tablet to my chest as I met three very concerned gazes.

  “Is everything alright? You look a little…pale,” Molly asked, and I plastered a smile on my face as I gave Sarah some money for my drinks, gathering my stuff together.

  “Yeah; my neighbor just messaged me and said that Maddy is whining at the top of her lungs and won’t stop, so I have to go see what’s wrong. I’m sorry to cut the date short.”

  Smooth, Amy.

  “Do you want to get lunch again on Wednesday?” Sarah asked, letting me out.

  If I can figure out how to keep you alive before then.

  “Sure; let’s meet at Pastini’s at noon. See you guys later.” I rounded the corner of the building, rearing back to punch Gabriel square across the jaw, and he stumbled but remained upright, fury in his eyes. “I’m not taking her soul.”

  “Yes, you are, and you don’t have a choice. Once a name is on the list, it doesn’t come off until they’re dead. And trust me when I say that I’ve had my fair share of times when I’d rather save someone than take their life, but it’s up to the Fates to decide who gets to live, and who dies, not us.”

  “But she’s my friend,” I said, tears trickling down my cheeks as I pressed a fist to my stomach, feeling gut-wrenching sobs wrecking my body from the inside-out. “There has to be another way – find another way.”

  “I can’t. Because this isn’t something you get to pick and choose. And, if you don’t take her life, I’ll do it, because that’s what’s meant to happen.”

  “Why her?”

  “Why Kyle, or Mrs. Williams, or Mr. McMullen? Everyone on this planet has an expiration date, and I’m very sorry that this time, it’s someone close to you, and I wish that I could tell you it gets easier with time, but that would be a lie. Say goodbye to everyone in this city, Amy, because eventually, you’ll have to.”

  “That’s a pretty bleak outlook on life, don’t you think?”

  “It’s practical and it’s what we do. You can continue to run from it if you’d like, but it won’t change anything. Sarah has to die, and soon.”

  “I’m not ready.”

  “Sweetheart, if this were a random stranger, would you be hesitating right now?”

  “No, of course not, because I haven’t spent the last ten years getting to know and love them.”

  “She’s a stranger and you have a job to do.”

  “Except that she’s not – she’s Sarah Walter from east Portland. She has a mom, dad, older sister and younger brother. She knows every lyric to Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud and can
type one hundred words per minute without even trying. She was the first one here who wanted to be my friend and I’m not going to let her down now.”

  “Then you’ve given me no other option but to take care of this for you. It’s something that I regret doing, but I don’t see another way out.”

  “No, wait,” I said, holding out a hand to stop him as he turned away.

  I didn’t want to do this – I really didn’t – and it broke my heart knowing there were forces beyond my control that wanted her dead and yet, wouldn’t it be worse to have her life ended by someone she barely knew? She deserved an explanation from someone who cared about her.

  “I’ll help her.”

  “For what it’s worth,” he said, standing so close to me that I could smell his aftershave, “when you do this, the Fates will honor their bargain with you.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  Kill my best friend to end the curse.

  They’re moronic and sadistic.

  “You’ve done excellent work the past ten months, Amy. This should make you happy.”

  “I currently have mixed feelings about that, thank you very much.” I gazed down at the tablet again, watching as her name bounced around when more names were added to the lists.

  “End this and come home,” he said, cupping my cheek in his hand briefly before walking away, blending in with the night.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “This is beyond cruel,” I said as I slid into an empty booth, drumming my fingertips on the table as I watched the front door.

  I had checked and re-checked the date and time of Sarah’s death several times already that morning, almost chickening out and calling Gabriel…twice…before finding a spot at the very back of the restaurant, away from everyone else.

  That wouldn’t stop this from potentially being a very public spectacle, but it might help her sense of pride.

  “I’m so sorry, parking was awful. Did you order already?” Sarah plopped down across from me, removing her purse and jacket, and I shook my head, standing. “Are you alright? You’re a little green around the gills.”

  Keep it together, Amy.

  “Just hungry. Did you want to order, or do you want me to?”

  “Go ahead, you know what I like. I’ll get the next one.”

  I swallowed the hard lump in my throat, plastering a smile on my face as I grabbed my wallet and moved to the line, watching her carefully. Every time she moved, coughed, slouched against the seat, or dug around in her bag I cringed, teeth on edge as I inched closer and closer to the cashier. I was, supposedly, Amy Hensley for the next twenty minutes and ten seconds before the Fates claimed her soul and slapped me with Persephone’s memories again. I planned to make the most of my time with her.

  Remember the rules.

  You don’t have the right to lecture me about rules, Gabriel. Let me do this on my own, okay?

  “Mac and cheese with bacon, winter squash soup with half a turkey and apple sandwich and two loaves of sourdough, please.” I paid, clutching the buzzer in one hand as I made my way back to the table. Sarah slipped a bookmark between the pages of her novel, setting it aside.

  “So, what happened with Gabriel after you guys left the bar?”

  “Not much. He had to get back to work.”

  “Is Maddy okay? You left pretty quickly.”

  I waved dismissively, though inside, it felt like I was going to shake apart. “Yeah, she’s fine. She gets a bit loud sometimes when I’m gone – separation anxiety, I think – and my neighbor is old and crotchety.”

  “You know,” she said slowly, leaning forward to peer into my eyes, “I can always tell when you’re lying to me.”

  Why did I think she was too shallow to be smart?

  “And I know you probably have your reasons, but it still hurts.”

  “I’m sorry, Sarah, but it’ll make sense soon, I promise.” I jumped when my hand buzzed, and she eyed me for a second before taking it from me, walking up to the counter.

  I whooshed out the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding in, collapsing against the seat. If I didn’t pull myself together, this was all going to go south.

  Don’t explain what’s about to happen, don’t tell her what you do, and above all else, don’t try to save her.

  Those rules bounced around in my head as I watched her walk towards me, and there wasn’t a damned thing I could do about the guilt coursing through my veins. She didn’t deserve this, but I knew, in my heart, that if it was her time to go, she would, whether it was Gabriel or myself who was there to greet her post-death.

  “How long have you been working for Gabriel?” She unrolled her silverware, spearing a piece of macaroni.

  “A few months, I think. The days all sort of blur together.”

  “So, he’s your boss?”

  “As much as he can be when I’m working for free. Why the twenty questions?”

  “He treats you like you’re together…a couple.”

  Please leave this alone.

  “So? He’s polite – you’ve said so yourself. Sarah, I don’t -”

  “Why would he hire you in the first place? I’m not trying to be insulting, Amy, but you’ve never once expressed any interest in a medical profession. In fact, I distinctly remember you freaking out when I had to bury my cat.”

  “He was covered in blood!”

  “Exactly! But, now you can look at dead bodies without flinching? I don’t buy it.”

  “Sarah, please keep your voice down -”

  “No – you’ve changed. You’re not the same person you were a year ago and don’t you dare try to deny it.”

  “Fine, I won’t, but when I say that I can’t tell you why I mean it. There are things that– Sarah?”

  She choked, hands flying to her throat as the fork clattered to the tabletop. Her face was turning red, then purple, eyes bugging out of her head, and I rushed to her side, thwacking a hand against her back as her whole body jerked forward, bile oozing from the corners of her mouth.

  “Someone call 911!” I yelled as people pressed in from all sides. “C’mon, Sarah, don’t do this…not this way…”

  I was yanked up and away as a man took my spot, wrapping his arms around her torso as he tried to Heimlich the pasta from her throat, but it wasn’t working. It was completely studded with bits of bacon and chives and if it stopped just right, the meat could lock inside, lodged tight…

  “I should’ve become a vegetarian.”

  I jumped and whirled around as Sarah came to stand next to me, tears streaking her cheeks, as she looked down at her lifeless body.

  “I meant to do it sooner but guess that’ll never happen. Oh, don’t ignore me now, Ams. I know you can see me.”

  “I’m sorry this happened to you. I tried to stop it,” I whispered, tears dribbling down my chin.

  “So, what are you? The Grim Reaper? Where’s your scythe?”

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

  “Um – hello – I’m a ghost. You’re talking to a dead girl, so honestly? I’m ready for some answers.”

  “Persephone, goddess of spring and death, consort to Hades, lord of the Underworld.”

  I groaned when I heard Nicholas’ voice behind us and pulled Sarah aside as paramedics rushed to our table.

  “That’s the last time I’m eating bacon.” He shuddered delicately, and I scowled up at him.

  “You’re such an ass. I hope you’re happy now because I’m done being your errand-girl.”

  He smiled, holding out his arms as the world around us blurred. “Very, though you did try to break one little rule. I’ll overlook it in favor of fulfilling our agreement, but never again.”

  The three of us stood in the throne room and I moved closer to the stone fireplace, warming my hands and heard the tap, tap, tap of boot heels as Gabriel scooped me up in his strong arms, pressing his lips against my hair.

  “Finally.”

  I buried my face in his cotton shirt so that
he couldn’t see the tears as he turned to Nicholas. “You have your soul, now honor your side of the bargain.”

  I glanced over at Sarah, meeting her eyes for a few seconds as she nodded, fading from view and I crumpled, sliding from Gabriel’s grasp.

  I should’ve had more time with her, to explain everything, and say goodbye, but I hoped wherever she ended up, she found peace.

  “I’ve notified Prometheus of our new arrangement. Suffice to say that he’s not pleased, but he’ll do nothing to interfere. Persephone.” He held a hand out and Gabriel helped me to my feet, wrapping an arm around my waist. “It’s naïve to think that after your memories are returned to you, you’ll want to willingly stay here, and continue your duties as queen of the Underworld, but I implore you to consider it. You don’t belong on Earth, and I think that deep down, you knew this all along.”

  “I want my freedom,” I said, as I felt Gabriel’s hold tighten slightly. “I want to be able to come and go as I wish, no restrictions.”

  “You do realize that you’re asking us to trust that you won’t spend every minute of every day in Portland.”

  I snorted softly, refusing to meet Gabriel’s violent glare. “Do you really think he’ll let that happen? We live in the twenty-first century, and that means I should have the chance to decide how I spend my time. My friendship with Sarah made me happy, and I’d like to experience that again.”

  “Hades?”

  He squeezed me again, and I shoved out of his grasp, spinning around. I could see it in his eyes – fire and ice – and knew that no matter what he decided, I’d find a way to win.

  You wanted me to be happy. This is how you can do that.

  I fought so hard to bring you home, and now you want to leave me again?

  Oh, grow up, Gabriel. Max may have cursed me with false memories, but I made it my own and I don’t want to lose that because you think I should. You can’t control me forever.

  “It seems that I don’t have a choice in the matter.”

  See? It’s not so hard to relinquish control sometimes.

  You drive me insane.

  Nicholas reached out and grabbed my hand, covering it with his own and I gasped as faces and images filled my brain, each sliding into place like a complicated jigsaw puzzle.