“Why are you following me?” the Ker screeched.

  Ever kept his jaw clenched, flying like a shadow underneath the airborne devourer of souls. He slipped through brick, concrete and metal, leaving no trace behind. Streaking ahead of Death’s sister, Ever eventually burst back out into a wide expanse. Eddies zipped around, spitting up sand that fell harmlessly through the reaper’s transparent form. The crescent moon that only earlier had crowned Moirai as she gave her prophecy in the Australian hospital ward now dangled precariously in the Mexican sky. Thoughts of Zoe appeared in his mind, her fearful eyes swimming up to the surface. A sharp scream pierced the night, dashing away the memory like a pebble in a pond.

  “Ever!”

  He whipped his head towards the top of a sand dune, just as the Ker sped overhead in the same direction. Ever tailed her, with the two of them cresting the dune a second apart.

  The ghost of Taylor strained against the grips of the other two Keres, each sinking their talons into one of her wrists. They pulled one of her arms taut, as if trying to rip her in half.

  “Get away from her!” Ever snarled. He drew the scythe back, flying horizontally across the sand at them. The two Keres let go of Taylor in surprise, gusting themselves back in evasive action.

  Taylor crumpled into a heap, shoulders hunched, clutching her wrists.

  “Taylor,” Ever said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Are you OK?”

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  She jerked her head up, face contorted in fury and pain. “What took you so long?” The blue streak in her right tress - now a shade of dark grey - was delayed in its movement.

  Ever blinked a few times. Then, inexplicably, a grin broke across his face. Yes, Taylor was dead. Yes, she was about to become consumed by the Keres. But he had found her in one piece. He floated in front of his friend, putting himself between her and her hunters.

  The other two had joined their sister, flanking the eldest Keres. “As you can see,” she crowed, “it looks like this particular morsel of food means something to Thanatos’ servant.”

  “I–” Ever started.

  Sisters.

  Death voice boomed in Ever’s head. Based on the way the Keres reacted, they could all hear him too.

  You’re right, Taylor is important to Ever. She was his first friend on Earth. I don’t deny that she is your prey, but I ask out of the goodness of your hearts that you spare her.

  The Keres exchanged looks with each other before breaking out into peals of kookaburric laughter.

  “Touching Thanatos,” the eldest Ker said, “wouldn’t have picked that you’d have a heart beating in that empty rib cage of yours.” She stalked closer to Ever and Taylor while her sisters fanned out either side.

  “Stay close,” Ever murmured to Taylor. “Your back to mine.”

  “Now would be a good time to reap me,” Taylor said.

  “That's not how it works,” Ever replied, turning this way and that. His grip tightened on the scythe; the enchanted shaft seemed to writhe under his hands, almost as if it wanted to get away from him.

  The Keres suddenly pounced all at once.