The Reaper's Gambit (Reaper's Grace Book 1) by Janet Oppedisano

Author:Janet Oppedisano [Oppedisano, Janet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-04-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Ellis

“He who?” I was losing her to another mystery already. “Are you alright?”

Her gaze snapped from the crowd across the street and back to mine, as if my words had brought her out of a trance. “I… um, I thought I saw someone.”

“There are many someones here.” I squeezed her hand, unprepared to let her escape from our moment together. “We were heading to one of the bridges? Shall we take the train? Or are your shoes up for the trek?”

She glanced across the street again. “I could have sworn I saw—”

“And I need Mr. Fancy!” A loud, shirtless man in long shorts threaded his arm through mine. A rather athletic-looking fellow, he sported dark locs held back with a red bandanna. “Let’s get a round of applause for all of our wonderful volunteers!”

A nearby semi-circle of people clapped. Wonderful. Another busker.

Danielle let go of my hand, and he pulled me by the arm toward the center of his performance, where five other people stood together. She clapped with the crowd and waved for me to take part, her focus split between me and whoever she might have seen.

I joined the rest of the people in the lineup, eying Danielle to ensure she didn’t run off across the street.

She gave her head a shake and smiled at me, hopefully flinging the other person out of her mind. So long as it wasn’t an ex, Neil, or Chris, she should be able to ignore them.

“Everyone put your arms out in front of you, then lean over and touch your toes!” The busker demonstrated for us, corrected a couple who weren’t leaning down properly, playing to his meal tickets the entire time. “No matter what happens, don’t stand up!”

I was at the end of the line, and a young girl with curls stood beside me. “Whatever are we doing?”

“He’s going to jump over us!” She clenched tight, bouncing when she said it, her hair following her frantic movement.

“My name is Joe, and I want everyone to clap for me! Let me hear you! Let’s go, Joe!” He forced an opening in the ring of spectators, clapping over his head. The crowd joined him in unison, as did the girl next to me. I craned my head up to find Danielle, but she was hidden amongst the onlookers. At least, she’d better be with them.

“Let’s go, Joe! Let’s go, Joe!” shouted the crowd over and over, and the man began running at us. He took a tremendous leap and soared over me. The spectators yelled their appreciation and—

And the shock wave hit me.

Not the one signaling death, but the warning wave that told me one of my marked souls was staring into the abyss.

Danielle.

I stumbled forward and shot up as the first scream sounded. I scanned the throng frantically for her, ice splintering in my veins. Where was she? I couldn’t find her.

No, no, no, no!

More screams, and the crowd scattered, people running every which way to escape the unseen danger. The wave finally collapsed, pulling me toward Danielle.

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