The Ravenous Dead (Gravekeeper, #2)

by Darcy Coates

There was no name, only a date: November 15, 1891. Keira frowned. “That’s strange. I’ve never seen a stone without a name before.”

“Hello.” His voice was a resentful monotone. “Welcome to Two Bees, the florist with the happiest flowers, please kill me.”

What can I get for ten dollars?” His eyes rolled towards the ceiling. “Anything. Loot the store, please. Then maybe she won’t leave me in charge anymore.”

The spectre barely resembled a human. Unlike the white-tinted, transparent ghosts from the graveyard, the creature before Keira was a pure sooty black. Its form shifted like ribbons of smoke, billowing and coiling in on itself. Its eyes were dark pits. Its jaw stretched wide, exposing an empty maw that seemed to plunge into eternity.

The cat squirmed happily. Her tongue poked out, and she didn’t bother pulling it back in.

I love when they do this

“Do you want to know why people enjoy exercise? It’s because it’s literally so horrible that your body releases dopamine to help you cope with it. It’s basically the equivalent of getting hooked on painkillers and stabbing yourself once a week to get a new prescription.”

Zoe groaned, one hand holding her side. “If either of you see any mushrooms, let me know, okay? There’s probably a fifty-fifty chance of getting high or dying, and either of those options would save me from walking, so I figure I can’t lose.”