Authors: Michelle A. Valentine
My interest perks up. “A way?”
He nods and runs his fingers through his shoulder length brown hair. “You can trade your soul for three others.”
My eyes narrow. “What do you mean, trade?”
“You’ll have to convince three willing souls to commit themselves to hell in your place. And you have to actively help me collect them.”
A sigh purges from my throat. I’m not evil like him. There’s no way I can ask someone to go to hell. An eternity of torture isn’t something I’d wish on anyone. “No way will someone volunteer to trade places with me, let alone three. I can’t ask someone to do that. I’m not a killer.”
“I’ll help you.”
“You’ll…help me?”
“Like I said, I made a mistake. Taking advantage of your innocence wasn’t right. I knew you wouldn’t refuse to help your mom, and I used that to get what I wanted. I owe you this. The opportunity to choose, I mean
really
choose, not just make the deal because you feel guilty about your mom. I want you to love me the way I love you, and if this is what it takes, I’ll help set you free with the hope that you’ll come back to me.”
Relief floods every pore of my body at the thought of ridding my life of the demon plague I’ve been cursed with since I was a little girl. I can’t even imagine what freedom will taste like.
The slight joy I feel is short lived. How can I damn three other people to take my place? I want out of this deal, but I know in my heart it’s wrong to even consider damning another soul. “I don’t know, Rick. How can I live with that?”
“Relax, Nat. The souls I’ll find you will have sinned so greatly, sending them to hell will be a good thing. Think of it as doing the world a public service. And the only thing I ask of you in return is promise me you’ll stay away from Stew and Lilim until we can get your soul cleared. I can’t allow them to take you away from me.”
Closing my eyes, pictures of how normal my life can be once this is all behind me zings in my mind. The whole situation with Mom embarrassing me at Taylor Gee’s would’ve never happened. Life would be a whole lot easier without the possibility of hell lurking around every corner. My hands grip my back pack harder as I bring it closer to my chest. This is it. My way out. I open my eyes and slowly release my fists, palm up, and peer down at my almost nonexistent life line.
Three souls don’t sound so bad, especially if he picks out some really evil ones to damn. I’ve seen some of the creeps he’s taken over the years, and he’s right, some of those people seemed evil to the core. Maybe I can get through this. “Okay. When can we start?”
Chapter Nineteen
In true Rick fashion, he has his nose stuck in a book while sitting under my tree in the quad. Probably learning tricks on how to be more evil from his demonic reads.
As much as I hate it, if I want my freedom back, I have to learn to work with him and make him believe I trust him.
The deal Rick offered me yesterday seems to be my only option. Taylor won’t take my calls and she avoids me every time I see her around campus, so it doesn’t look like she’s going to come through for me.
Pushing through the double door, the crisp fall air nips at my skin. Tightening the belt around my black sweater, I go to face my demon.
He snaps his book shut and smiles at me as if he hadn’t conned me out of my soul sixteen years ago. “Hey. I was hoping you’d come. I saved you a seat.”
I throw down my bag and plop on the cool ground. The urge to snap at him about not having a choice in the matter fills me, but it seems pointless to voice that now.
Across the quad I spot Stew. He looks distracted, but otherwise like his old self. When he turns toward me, our eyes meet, and he gives me a subtle nod. I return his gesture with a faint smile of my own, and he begins to gather his things.
“Great,” Rick grumbles as Stew walks toward us. “Didn’t I tell him to stay away from you? Maybe I need to make it a little more clear this time.”
“Be nice,” I hiss. “I think he’s more confused about what he is than we are.”
“Oh, I’m not confused.” Rick stuffs his book into his backpack. “I just wish I knew how he hides himself from other demons. Like now, he’s not giving off one evil vibe that I’m able to detect. That would be a great trick to know.”
Stew drops down beside me and sits his books next to him. “I wanted to talk to you guys about the other day. I know you said to stay away, but I need your help. I want to know exactly how I got this way.”
“We got bigger issues to worry about other than the mystery of who owns your soul,” Rick growls.
I raise my eyebrows. “We do?”
Rick nods and leans toward me, close enough that his cinnamon scented breath wafts around my face. “I found your first assignment.”
I blink slowly, and my stomach twists into a humongous knot because of the way he enunciated the last word of his sentence. “You did?”
He stares into my eyes. “You sure you’re ready for this? We could always transition you, and then you could take your time learning how to collect a soul while getting to know me. Once I clear your soul, then it’s back up for grabs to anyone who wants to take it if you make another deal.”
My voice has a hint of panic in it. “I’ll never make another deal.”
“Wait,” Stew interrupts and holds his hands out in a stop motion. “Are you saying there’s a way to get my soul back?”
“Not yours,” Rick sneers. “You’re already a demon. Natalie has an opportunity to get hers back. A marked soul can renegotiate the terms of their soul’s contract with the demon that marked them.”
Stew narrows his eyes when he faces Rick. “I’ve told you already. I didn’t make any kind of deal for my soul.”
I shake my head. “I don’t believe you, Stew. I’ve seen Rick collect more souls than I can count. Meeting a demon”—I look at Rick—“isn’t something you forget. Ever.”
Rick rubs his face. “If you truly don’t know how you got this way, it makes you even more dangerous than I thought. Until we figure out exactly what’s going on with you, I’d rather keep an eye on you myself.”
“What do you mean?” Stew asks.
“I’m saying you need to go home and pack your bags. I need you to stay close.”
“Stay with you? Hell no,” Stew says.
“It’s either that, or I kill you.” Rick shrugs. “I have to make sure Natalie stays safe.”
“Stop it. Both of you,” I say. “I trust him, Rick. If he was going to hurt me he would’ve done it already.”
Rick leans in and eyes Stew. “All the same. I’d feel better if I knew where he was at all times.”
“Fine,” Stew says. “To prove to you I’d never hurt her, I’ll stay with you until you clear her soul. Then will you tell me how to make this go away?”
“Deal.” Rick extends his hand to Stew.
The second Stew and Rick’s hands meet my bones shake inside my skin. I close my eyes as the incessant vibration rattles my brain around in my skull. My palm burns like fire, and I try to breathe deep through my nose. The air feels so thick and it’s hard to suck it down into my lungs.
The sheer power these two demons exude in a mere handshake makes me lightheaded and nauseous. My head drops as I will them to stop, because I can’t collect enough strength to voice how much pain I’m in.
“Oh my God.” The rattle stops, and I open my eyes and look upon Stew’s face. His brows nit together as he reaches his hand toward my face. “You’re bleeding, Nat.”
Before Stew’s fingers reach my face, Rick slaps them away. “Don’t touch her.”
Stew’s eyes narrow as he looks at Rick and then drops his hand into his lap. “I wasn’t going to hurt her.”
“All the same, I’d rather you not touch her. It’s not worth the risk,” Rick says as he hands me a tissue. “Our bargain overwhelmed her. We have a physical effect on marked souls. We need to be careful when the two of us are together. No more deals around her. Sorry about that, Natalie.”
Scarlet stains the tissue as I wipe my nose. “I’m fine. Seriously. Can we please just get back on track for this soul collection? I’m already freaked out enough without adding the possibility that the combination of the two of you simply shaking hands can kill me.”
“You’re right,” Rick agrees. “We all need to meet at my car at the end of the day so we can get started.”
I swallow hard. I can’t believe I agreed to this.
“You want me to come along?” Stew asks and seems surprised. “You just said it’s too dangerous for us to be around Nat at the same time.”
“No.” Rick shakes his head. “I’ll be able to keep you in check. I’m older and stronger than you. That much I can tell about you, so for your sake, don’t try anything.”
Stew squeezes his lips into a tight line, and it looks like it’s taking everything he has not too smart off to Rick.
We all sit awkwardly in silence for a couple seconds. I’m still not sure if I can trust Rick and I wonder if Stew is really that dangerous.
I study Stew’s profile. He still looks exactly the same to me. The same gray eyes and smooth, tanned skin still compliment his haphazardly styled brown hair and dimples. He doesn’t look like a killer.
Then I look at Rick. I take in his chiseled cheekbones and soft, shoulder-length brown hair. He doesn’t look so scary either. They both look like ordinary guys. No hint of evil at all.
My heart does a double thump in my chest with the thought of my attraction to both of them.
I’m in so much trouble.
Chapter Twenty
Rick leans against his car as I approach him. His arms are causally folded across his torso and jet-black sunglasses cover his eyes as he stares off in the distance. I follow his gaze and spot the Capital’s football team practicing on the field. My eyes instantly search for Stew’s number—40—in the mass of purple and white jerseys.
Tucking my black hair back for a better look, I distinguish Stew from the rest. He’s throwing passes to the guys as they run one by one to make the catch. Sunlight bounces off his helmet, and even from a distance, I feel the power he exudes on the field.
With sunglasses on, Rick’s eyes are unreadable. “You ready?”
I swallow hard. “Ready? I thought Stew was coming with us.”
“I don’t think having Stew around is the best idea. After what I saw with Trevor the other day, I don’t think he can keep his power in check. The combination of my power and his may kill you, Nat. And I can’t have that. I told him what he needed to hear today just to appease him.”
My insides churn. Even though Stew is a demon, I still feel a lot safer with him with me instead of being alone with Rick.
The thought of riding in this car alone with Rick makes my pulse race, but I want to be free. Plus, I have a canister of salt in my bag. If he tries anything funny, I won’t hesitate to use it.
“Let’s just get this over with,” I say, walking toward the passenger side.
Rick dashes around me and grips the door handle before I get the chance. “Do you want to eat first or anything?” he asks as he opens the door.
Sliding in the car, I answer, “I think I’d prefer to send people to hell on an empty stomach if you don’t mind.”
He shrugs. “Suit yourself, but eating helps.”
“Helps what?” I ask, completely clueless as to what he’s talking about.
“Making deals takes a lot of you. It drains practically all of your energy and eating helps balance that out a little.”
I shake my head. “I already feel sick to my stomach. Eating now will just make me puke.”
Rick shrugs. “Suit yourself.”
After he’s seated in the car, he rips through the parking lot, flinging gravel everywhere. Once on the main road, he glances over at me and smiles. Ugh. I roll my eyes. Dream on asshole. He has about as much chance of me liking him now as he did when he was in his little sadistic five-year-old form.
When he turns into Dublin Methodist Hospital, my eyebrows shoot up. “Um, why are we here?”
Steering his car into a visitor’s parking space, he answers, “The soul is here.”
Chewing my bottom lip, I clench my bag tight against my chest. Rick gets out of the car and shuts the door behind him. When he comes around to the passenger side and opens the door, my pulse speeds. I can’t move. My feet are stuck against the floorboard of his car. I can’t do this. I can’t possibly kill someone. I thought I could, but now I don’t think so.
“Ready?” Rick asks.
“No,” I whisper.
“Have you changed your mind?”
“No, but I don’t think I can go through with this.” Tears fill my eyes. “I can’t be a killer.”
Rick squats beside me and rubs my arm. I should pull away, but his touch seems caring and that comforts me a bit. “Don’t think of it as being a killer. Once you get in there, your soul will take over since it’s marked. I haven’t collected a soul near you since I started your lifeline countdown for a reason. You’ll feel the evil in these souls now and be able to see what I see when I look at them. It’s not pretty most of the time. Some of the crimes these people commit can sicken you to the very core. A revenge feeling will take you over and push you to do things that right now you believe are unthinkable. It will get easier. I promise.” He stands and then holds out his hand. “Trust me.”
Not even realizing I’ve been holding my breath until now, I blow it out through pursed lips. This sounds like it’s about to be the roughest soul collection I’ve ever seen.
I put my hand in his. “Okay.”
Rick leads me through the automatic doors of the hospital entrance. I let go of his hand once we are inside and shove mine deep into my pockets while the mixture of rubbing alcohol and sickness floods my nose. Like most people, I hate hospitals, so I stay close to Rick as he stops at the elevator.
When we reach the fourth floor—The Oncology Ward—the hustle and bustle of the nurses and assisting staff is like a whirlwind, as we walk down the hall. My bones shake under my skin. We’re close now. That familiar vibration I always get around the damned zings through me, and I’m not afraid. I welcome it. This time the hum brings me closer to my freedom.
I’m relieved we aren’t in the Cardiology Wing. I’d hate to have to explain to my father why I am here. I never visit him at work, so this would totally look suspicious.