My Soul to Save
Page 25
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Nashs eyes narrowed as Tod kicked the fridge shut and returned with four cans of diet Coke, evidently all Addy kept on hand. They cant do that. Can they?
Addison laughed bitterly, and accepted the can Tod handed her. You remember Whitney Lance? Lindy Cohen? Between the two of them, they have three divorces, seven arrests, five stints in rehab, and two children taken away by the courts. And it gets much worse. Others have had nude photo scandals, public breakdowns, and weeks spent in the psychiatric ward. Carolina Burke served two years for tax evasion, and Denison Clark was arrested for drunk driving two months before his twenty-first birthday. Then again for statutory rape six months later.
Yeah, but they all actually did those things, right? Nash popped open his can, looking less sympathetic by the moment. Please tell me you dont have an arrest record or a love child hidden away somewhere.
Of course not. Addys eyes flashed in anger, and I was glad to see it. If she couldnt stand up to us, how could she possibly have enough nerve to demand her soul back from a hellion?
Well, if you havent given them any rope, how are they supposed to hang you?
Im not perfect, Nash! Addison used the arms of her chair to shove herself to her feet and stood staring down at him. Dont tell me youve never had a drink. Or that youre a virgin.
Nashs face hardened, but he remained silent.
My contract keeps me bubble wrapped, but if I get my soul back, not only will they strip the padding, theyll start throwing knives at me. Theyll twist every decision I make and hurl it back at me. Every drink I take will be a public binge. Every relationship I get into will be a disaster played out in full color on newsstands all over the world. Exes will sell stories and pictures to magazines. She was pacing now, words falling from her lips almost faster than I could understand them. The paparazzi will get shots of my mom all strung out. Hell, shell probably go to prison for buying narcotics online, or something like that. My dads DUIs will catch up with him, and without me to bail him out when he gets in over his head, his creditors will eat him alive. And I dont even want to know whatll happen to Regan. She just scored a role in a new tween drama. Her career will be over before it begins.
Addison fell into the chair again and practically melted into the upholstery. Theyll drive me crazy, and that will only fuel the media frenzy.
I leaned back, trying to absorb it all. Trying to imagine my own life under the microscope, my every indiscretion on display. Okay, yes, it sounds bad. But your parents dug their own holes, and you cant hold yourself responsible when they fall in. I popped open my own can and took a sip,still thinking. Are poverty and embarrassment really worse than eternal torture?
Addy shook her head halfheartedly. No, and I know I probably deserve whatever I get. But Regan doesnt, and neither does anyone else I wind up hurting. She met my gaze, her pale blue eyes swimming in tears again. Remember last year, when Thad Evans flipped his car? He killed two people and messed up his own face for good when he went through the windshield. Then he lost nearly everything he owned in lawsuits from the dead kids parents, and the rest of it to crooked accountants and lawyers. And what about
Whoa, wait a minute. I rubbed my temples with both hands, fighting off a headache from information overload as everything shed told us finally began to sink in. Are you saying that all the Dekker stars with wholesome images and squeaky-clean backgrounds are actually soulless human husks, and Hollywoods bad boys and girls are really the good guys, because they got their souls back?
She stared down into her can. I wouldnt exactly call them good guys for taking the out-clause.
What does that mean? Nash pulled a throw pillow from behind his back, then dropped it on the floor beside the couch.
Addison glanced at Tod instead of answering. The reaper sighed and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, and his focus shifted from Nash to me, then back to Nash. Theres a little complication with the out-clause.
My stomach churned. Something told me his definition of a little complication and mine wouldnt have much in common.
Addy doesnt actually have a copy of her contract.
I was barely sixteen, Addison interrupted, her cheeks flaming in embarrassment. It never occurred to me to ask for a copy to keep.
Nash scowled at her, hazel eyes swirling rapidly with mounting anger. Or to actually read the damned thing before you signed it, Im guessing.
Wait, isnt sixteen too young to sign a contract without your moms permission? I asked, hoping Id just discovered a brilliant legal loophole.
Tods blue-eyed gaze seemed to darken. The Netherworld considers humans adult once they hit puberty.
I frowned. Thats messed up.
He shrugged. Its the Netherworld. And she had no idea she was entitled to a copy of her contract, and hellions arent known for explaining your rights up front. He deliberately shifted his focus to me. Anyway, I asked around a little bit today
The sick look on his face told me I didnt want to know who hed spoken to, or what hed had to do for the information.
Addison laughed bitterly, and accepted the can Tod handed her. You remember Whitney Lance? Lindy Cohen? Between the two of them, they have three divorces, seven arrests, five stints in rehab, and two children taken away by the courts. And it gets much worse. Others have had nude photo scandals, public breakdowns, and weeks spent in the psychiatric ward. Carolina Burke served two years for tax evasion, and Denison Clark was arrested for drunk driving two months before his twenty-first birthday. Then again for statutory rape six months later.
Yeah, but they all actually did those things, right? Nash popped open his can, looking less sympathetic by the moment. Please tell me you dont have an arrest record or a love child hidden away somewhere.
Of course not. Addys eyes flashed in anger, and I was glad to see it. If she couldnt stand up to us, how could she possibly have enough nerve to demand her soul back from a hellion?
Well, if you havent given them any rope, how are they supposed to hang you?
Im not perfect, Nash! Addison used the arms of her chair to shove herself to her feet and stood staring down at him. Dont tell me youve never had a drink. Or that youre a virgin.
Nashs face hardened, but he remained silent.
My contract keeps me bubble wrapped, but if I get my soul back, not only will they strip the padding, theyll start throwing knives at me. Theyll twist every decision I make and hurl it back at me. Every drink I take will be a public binge. Every relationship I get into will be a disaster played out in full color on newsstands all over the world. Exes will sell stories and pictures to magazines. She was pacing now, words falling from her lips almost faster than I could understand them. The paparazzi will get shots of my mom all strung out. Hell, shell probably go to prison for buying narcotics online, or something like that. My dads DUIs will catch up with him, and without me to bail him out when he gets in over his head, his creditors will eat him alive. And I dont even want to know whatll happen to Regan. She just scored a role in a new tween drama. Her career will be over before it begins.
Addison fell into the chair again and practically melted into the upholstery. Theyll drive me crazy, and that will only fuel the media frenzy.
I leaned back, trying to absorb it all. Trying to imagine my own life under the microscope, my every indiscretion on display. Okay, yes, it sounds bad. But your parents dug their own holes, and you cant hold yourself responsible when they fall in. I popped open my own can and took a sip,still thinking. Are poverty and embarrassment really worse than eternal torture?
Addy shook her head halfheartedly. No, and I know I probably deserve whatever I get. But Regan doesnt, and neither does anyone else I wind up hurting. She met my gaze, her pale blue eyes swimming in tears again. Remember last year, when Thad Evans flipped his car? He killed two people and messed up his own face for good when he went through the windshield. Then he lost nearly everything he owned in lawsuits from the dead kids parents, and the rest of it to crooked accountants and lawyers. And what about
Whoa, wait a minute. I rubbed my temples with both hands, fighting off a headache from information overload as everything shed told us finally began to sink in. Are you saying that all the Dekker stars with wholesome images and squeaky-clean backgrounds are actually soulless human husks, and Hollywoods bad boys and girls are really the good guys, because they got their souls back?
She stared down into her can. I wouldnt exactly call them good guys for taking the out-clause.
What does that mean? Nash pulled a throw pillow from behind his back, then dropped it on the floor beside the couch.
Addison glanced at Tod instead of answering. The reaper sighed and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, and his focus shifted from Nash to me, then back to Nash. Theres a little complication with the out-clause.
My stomach churned. Something told me his definition of a little complication and mine wouldnt have much in common.
Addy doesnt actually have a copy of her contract.
I was barely sixteen, Addison interrupted, her cheeks flaming in embarrassment. It never occurred to me to ask for a copy to keep.
Nash scowled at her, hazel eyes swirling rapidly with mounting anger. Or to actually read the damned thing before you signed it, Im guessing.
Wait, isnt sixteen too young to sign a contract without your moms permission? I asked, hoping Id just discovered a brilliant legal loophole.
Tods blue-eyed gaze seemed to darken. The Netherworld considers humans adult once they hit puberty.
I frowned. Thats messed up.
He shrugged. Its the Netherworld. And she had no idea she was entitled to a copy of her contract, and hellions arent known for explaining your rights up front. He deliberately shifted his focus to me. Anyway, I asked around a little bit today
The sick look on his face told me I didnt want to know who hed spoken to, or what hed had to do for the information.
