“What if I can offer something truly worth your while?” Lucifer’s voice is as slick as oil.
“I already told you, no deal on my soul.”
“Forget the ‘soul’ business, Noah. It’s just a human cliché.”
“If you don’t want my soul, what do you want?” Noah asks, sounding nervous. I slip one hand toward his on the console, recalling how I felt at almost his exact age, having died and found myself in front of Lucifer “offering” me a job.
“I want you to work for me, like Keira here. After you die, of course. I won’t end your life up here. You can live it up! I always tell the truth,” Lucifer says with one hand over his heart and one in the air like a Boy Scout.
“What could you possibly offer me that’s worth my eternal servitude?” Noah asks.
Lucifer grins and crosses his legs, spreading his arms across the entirety of the seat backs. “I can offer you access to your sister.”
Noah sits up slowly. “You mean I can visit her in Heaven? With my parents?”
Lucifer actually winces. “No. But when you’re dead and working with me, you will be able to see her while she’s working on Earth.”
Noah sighs. “I’d still have to wait ‘til I die. What’s the point in that? I can probably see her then anyway.”
“Not if you’re in Hell. And that’s where you’re headed as of now.” Lucifer leans forward again, so suddenly that Noah jumps in his seat. He’s headed to Hell? I take a closer look at the kid beside me. Maybe there’s more to him than I assumed.
“But—”
“You think you can do what you’ve been doing and end up in Heaven? You’ve already done one trade with me, small though it was. You got the body you’ve always wanted, but did you think there’d be no consequence for selling drugs to a kid you knew was a recovering addict?” Lucifer pauses for dramatic effect. “Do you see the choice I’m offering you now?” he asks. “Do you want to keep on this path and end up in Hell, tortured for eternity? Or would you rather come straight to work for me with powers beyond your imagining?”
I know this shtick. Noah’s fate isn’t cemented yet—he’s not necessarily going to Hell. But Lucifer posed it as a question, so it isn’t a lie. Lying is my department.
“You’ve already worked for the Devil,” I say with a laugh. “You’d have to do some pretty heavy lifting to make it into the pearly gates now.” Maybe picking up the cue will help ease Lucifer’s anger at my being here.
The shadow that grows in Noah’s eyes is one that’s familiar to me—pure anger. No wonder Lucifer has his eyes on him.
“Even if that’s true—” Noah starts.
“Lucifer can’t lie,” I remind him.
“Even so,” he says, straightening, like he’s trying to regain control. “Why wouldn’t I just wait and see where I end up before I make any eternity-changing decisions?”
“Oh, I’m not saying the offer’s open forever.” Lucifer drives in the stake. “I may not have use for you by then. Are you a gambling man, Noah?”
Noah beats his head back into the seat. “It’s not fair. Grace goes to Heaven. Mom and Dad wallow in her perfect memory forever. And whatever I do, I go straight to Hell. As usual, I get shit on.”
“Life sucks, doesn’t it?” Lucifer asks.
“That’s for sure,” I mutter, pulling into a spot on a random side street.
“But,” Lucifer continues, “you can guarantee you’ll at least have some fun if you take my offer. I can give you more than just access to Grace. While on Earth, I can give you sex, money, power, a free pass from the law—you name it and it’s yours. If you agree.”
Noah locks eyes on me. He’s searching my face like he expects me to have the answers. What does he think Satan’s minion is going to do—disagree? Anger flares inside me and I hide the flash of red in my eyes.
“It’s your decision,” I say. “It’s your afterlife.”
“Do you think it’s worth it?” he asks softly, focusing only on me and ignoring Lucifer.
I can’t ignore the Boss, though—not when the spot on my shoulder still burns where he touched me. I nod quickly.
“So what’s it gonna be, Noah?” Lucifer asks, lighting a cigarette. He already knows the answer. He always does.
“Fine,” Noah says, watching Lucifer in the rearview mirror. “I deserve something more than a shitty life and afterlife. Give it to me. Everything you said.”
Lucifer snaps his fingers and I press my eyes closed. I should be happy that I’ll have a new playmate in a half century or so, but for some reason it turns my stomach to be here for this. I want to get out of here. But I don’t dare leave. I’ve already pissed off Lucifer enough for one day.
“So, where do I sign?” Noah asks.
“You already did.”
Chapter 9
Josh
The alleyway’s shady and cold, so I stuff my hands deeper in my pockets and watch the steam issue from my mouth. I stopped pacing because of the ice patches and potholes, but I might have to start moving again soon just to keep warm.
She sure as Hell better show up. I texted the same number from last year and she answered with this place and time. So, where is she? I need to get back to Grace.
I’m about to give up and leave when Lucifer appears at the mouth of the alley, nonchalantly adjusting his cufflinks. My heart races in response to the sight of him. There’s no forgetting the last time I saw him outside of Cam’s house, or the Hellfire he put in my way.
You’re an Angel now, Josh, I tell myself and puff up my chest as he slides toward me in an unearthly way. It’s as if he’s using a moving walkway that propels him farther even as he strides forward.
“Expecting someone else?” Lucifer asks with his usual grin. He offers me a lemonade, just like he did the day I died. This time, I ignore it.
So Keira sold me out. Surprise, surprise.
“You’ll do,” I say. “Why are you fucking with Grace’s brother?”
Lucifer’s eyebrows rise as he sips at the lemonade. “Tell me, Josh, does Heaven know you’re using that kind of language?”
I continue to glare.
“Not on friendly terms any longer? And I thought we really had something. All right, then. It seems Mr. Howard had some business he wanted to discuss with me. And you know me—always open to a good bargain.” The lemonade disappears and Lucifer rubs his hands together. “Chilly out here, isn’t it?”
“Where’s Keira?” I ask, trying to decipher his words. Good bargain?
“Pretending to care? How nice of you. She’s busy right now, unfortunately. She failed to carry out her last assignment.” He tsks.
That probably means she’s suffering for it. But it isn’t my fault he sent her to try and seduce me. He should have known it wouldn’t work. I love Grace. It was my love for her that saved me from him in the first place.
“I’m not going to let Noah make a deal with you,” I say. I don’t know what I can do about it without revealing myself to him, but maybe Lucifer doesn’t know my limitations.
“Too late.” He lights a cigarette and holds one out to me.
I ignore the offer again. “What do you mean, ‘too late’?” The cold air prickles down the back of my neck, giving me a chill.
“Just what I said. You’re too late to stop me. The deal’s made. He’s agreed to work for me. Feel free to let Grace know that I’m happy to take you both back if she wants to be with him.” He grins.
I hate that grin. “We’re never coming back. And you can’t have Noah.” This will kill Grace. I knew that kid was fucking trouble.
“I already have him.” Lucifer flicks his lit cigarette into a half-melted puddle between us and turns to go.
“Did you just come to gloat, then?” I ask.
He stops, but doesn’t turn around. “I suppose I was hoping you wanted to make a counter deal.”
“A counter deal?” I ask. My insides drop through my feet and I’m anchored to the ground.
Lu
cifer turns his head so I can see his profile, shadowed except for his red eyes. “You can do something for me.”
“I’m an Angel now,” I say a bit too loud, and my voice echoes around the alley. I’m trying to remind myself, too. “Neither Grace nor I are going to switch sides. Forget it.”
“There is something else,” Lucifer says, coming closer to face me and giving me his full attention.
“Angels don’t deal with the Devil.” I’m pretty sure that’s true.
“There’s a first time for everything,” he says. “It’s a simple task. And it will negate any contract I’ve made with Grace’s brother.”
“Doesn’t making a deal with you put me right back downstairs?” I ask. “Yes or no?” He can’t lie, but he’ll deceive me if I’m not careful.
“Not if you aren’t sinning,” he says with a shrug. “It might actually be a good deed. But what you should be most worried about is the condition. See, if you agree, you have to fulfill your side of the bargain, or our deal is off and I get Noah.”
I shudder and huddle smaller inside my leather jacket. The temperature just dropped about twenty more degrees. “What is it you want from me?”
“I want you to break up with Grace,” he says. “Tell her Keira’s other face is your new love and stay away from her until you’re told otherwise. No giving hints, or telling the truth.”
Sweat pours down my back, hitting the air and making me shake even harder. He wants me to give up Grace? I might as well give up my limbs. I’m nothing without her.
“Well?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I can’t do it.”
“I understand.” Satan shrugs. “After all, you really belong in Hell. Why would you put her needs before your own? I wonder if Grace would be open to a bargain of her own—”
He’s right, damn him! Grace would give up everything in a heartbeat if it meant saving her brother. But if I make this deal…
“I can get back together with her?” I ask.
He pauses in the middle of brushing off the sleeves of his suit. “When Hell’s given the okay. Sure.”
“You have to promise to give that okay as soon as you can.” I can’t believe I’m saying this. Mr. Griffith would kill me. But he also won’t let me get involved when it comes to Grace’s family, and this way I don’t have to. At least not directly. Hopefully he won’t find out. In any case, Grace is my priority.
“As soon as I’m satisfied my business has been accomplished and I don’t need her distracted anymore.” He crosses his heart.
“Why do you need her distracted?” I ask, picking up on the danger signs. I take a step toward Lucifer.
“Does it matter, Josh? Isn’t Grace more important than anything? Isn’t that why you’re here instead of wherever it is you’re supposed to be?” He gets close enough that we could touch—but he doesn’t try it.
I fight the urge to back away from the overwhelming scent of cologne and stand my ground.
“You crossed me, Joshua. You thought you could put me in check by defying me, but I enjoy a good game. Now your queen’s in danger. Are you going to protect her?” He re-buttons his sport coat. “Maybe I’ll arrange for Noah to meet an undesirable end right in front of her.” He chuckles. “Picture Grace’s face when her brother dies and goes to Hell. Suicide by cop, perhaps? Your move.”
I curl my hands into fists in my pockets, wishing I could strike Lucifer. But I don’t know what would happen. Probably nothing good. I’m pretty sure nothing good can come of making a deal with him either, but it’s better than the deal Noah made. At least mine is finite.
“Fine, I’ll do it. I’ll do it for Grace.”
Chapter 10
Grace
Today is all about work. I have a job to do. A very important job. A job Mr. Griffith trusted me with, and I’m not about to let him down.
So I spend the day in Heaven, trying not to think about my family. Once I get into researching, it isn’t so bad. Every time my mind wanders, I take a sip of my forever-steaming latte and a bite of scone and force myself forward.
Turns out the little boy we watched yesterday is Kobe King. He lives in Detroit, which I’m not eager to visit, but if I can help this boy, I will. He’s nine, but small for his age, and has a history of truancy at his school. His brother, Jon, is in a gang, like I feared, and his mom is single with a bunch of kids.
I followed him via the screen for hours as he wandered some pretty scary areas of the city, making his way down by the river and back up again. He wears a heavy look most of the time, like an older person who’s been through some rough times. And he slips in and out of public view like a mouse, barely visible to any passerby unless he wants to be.
It’s easy to get lost with Kobe as he trails around, observing his surroundings. I don’t even realize how long I’ve been watching until it’s dark. Josh and I have set up the lights to fade and rise along with the sun in Washington, to keep us connected in some way to the people below.
“I should probably take a look at the next person,” I say to no one. I wonder where Josh is. He’s been gone all day. I bury the image of him with that girl in the coffee shop when it enters my thoughts yet again. I have no reason not to trust him. Focus on the work, Grace.
“Show me the young girl you showed us yesterday, please,” I say, and take a sip of coffee while the swirling colors settle.
She sits on a porch swing that creaks as it sways. The white wood around her shows signs of peeling and warping from weather and age. A breeze blows through her hair, which swings in her face to obscure her strange eye, and I find myself breathing a sigh of relief.
She’s reading again. “Show me her book,” I say. The image zooms in on the cover for a moment and I see it’s a weathered copy of The Secret Garden, but the image morphs and the cover turns transparent, revealing a second cover beneath. It has a pentagram etched on the worn gray material. Above the pentagram is a knife with a jeweled handle, slashing downward toward the center, where blood spurts out.
I gasp, remembering the knife in Cam’s hands as he threatened me and tied me up. My coffee nearly spills when I stand suddenly and step away from the screen.
“Hey,” Josh says from the doorway. His voice is flat, like it was when he was under Lucifer’s control. Here I am thinking of the torture I endured with Cam for less than an hour, while Josh suffered with Satan for months.
I run to his arms. He remains stiff and still while I embrace him, resting my head against his chest. “You’re cold,” I say.
“It’s pretty cold in the middle of March,” he says, detaching himself and peeling off his jacket.
I laugh, but it sounds awkward. Why is he acting like this? “Where’ve you been? I’ve been researching the souls we looked at last night. I just got started on the girl. Haven’t even gotten her name yet.”
“Grace, stop.”
I do. “What happened?” I ask, slipping a piece of hair into my mouth.
“I need to tell you something. And you aren’t going to like it.” He bristles a little, then finally peels off his jacket.
“Is it about Noah?” I ask around my hair. It must be.
“No. It’s not about Noah. Not everything is, you know. I’m here, too. I have needs.” His voice rises, making me flinch.
“Of course. I just didn’t know you were having any problems,” I say, sitting in a chair so I can’t look at the screen. I pat the spot next to me, but he ignores it in favor of pacing.
“Look, Grace, you’re amazing. You really are. But the thing is, it sort of hit me lately that this is forever.” He stops and gestures around the room.
I don’t move. He’s can’t be saying what I think he’s saying. It’s preposterous. We’re in love. He just told me yesterday…
“I’m not ready for forever,” he says. “I’m only seventeen. Or I would be if I were still alive. Hell, you’re a few months younger than me. That’s way too young for forever.”
“Josh. We don’t have to get
married. Things are different for us. We’re dead.”
“Exactly,” he says, slightly relieved that I seem to understand. But I don’t. “So I think it makes sense that we should see other people.”
“What?” I jump up, dropping the hair from my mouth.
“You sure as Hell haven’t had time for me lately. I get it. You have to come to terms with your death. Say good-bye, or whatever. But me? I don’t have anyone to say good-bye to. And I found someone. Someone who’s willing to give me all the attention I need with no strings attached.”
Josh crosses the room and stops short of reaching out for me. “I think it’ll be good for you, too. Maybe it’ll help you move on.”
“I don’t want to move on.” Tears well in my eyes, and I try to blink them away. “How did this happen?” I ask, trying to stay calm, but getting more agitated with each syllable. This makes no sense. It has to be the girl in the coffee shop, but I hadn’t realized I’d left him on his own that much. Have I really been so preoccupied with my family that I ignored Josh? Ignored him when he needed me? Ignored what was happening?
“You know that girl you saw me with?” he says, unable to meet my eyes while he confirms my worst nightmare. “Her name is Hope. And she isn’t a potential Antichrist. She’s someone I’ve developed feelings for.”
My heart stops. The world spins. “When could you have possibly fallen for her?”
“When I was in Washington, waiting for you to get over Noah’s rebellious phase. She works at the coffeehouse. That’s where we met. At first she was just someone to talk to, but lately… I have feelings for her, Grace, and it wouldn’t be fair to you not to be honest about it.” His face scrunches up like the words taste sour. Well, good, because my world’s just been ripped apart.
“I thought we were good. I thought…I thought you loved me. Why didn’t you tell me you felt this way?” I ask through the tears. It’s becoming increasingly harder to stay standing with my knees feeling like jelly.
“I just did,” he says, backing up a little. Are his eyes glassy, too? Or is it just my own blurred vision? “I know it’ll be awkward. If you want me to find another mentor, I’ll ask Mr. Griffith.”
Soul Corrupted Page 5
