My Soul to Save
Page 37
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Whats wrong with Regan? Tod asked over my shoulder, and she must have heard him.
John Dekker offered her the contract, and she said yes! Her voice rose in disbelief on the last word, and it echoed like a siren going off in my head. For a moment I wondered how certain we were of Addisons humanity. Hes on his way here now. He always brings the contract personallyhe doesnt trust anyone else with it.
My heart beat so hard my chest felt bruised. John Dekker was coming to Texas, and he was bringing a soul-sucking demon with him.
The road swam before me as my horror and confusion crested in a startling wave of disorientation. Nash grabbed the wheel again, though I hadnt let go of it, and I took a deep breath, forcing my thoughts apart. Each to its own distinct corner of my mind. That was the only way I could concentrate on one at a time.
I tightened my grip on the wheel, eased up on the gas, and focused on the road, nodding absently to tell Nash I was fine. Until a semi blasted past on our right, nearly blowing us off the highway.
Maybe I should pull over.
Wait, your sister sold her soul? I said, hitting the speakerphone button as I glanced over my shoulder to make sure there was nothing in the other lane. But the entire highway was blocked by Tods face, crinkled with fearan odd expression to find on a reaper.
Move! I mouthed, handing the phone to Nash, and Tod immediately dropped back into the rear passenger seat. I swerved too quickly into the right laneblessedly emptythen onto the shoulder of the road.
She hasnt actually signed the contract yet, Addison continued, oblivious to my driving woes. But she will as soon as Dekker gets here. You guys have to help me. Please. She wont listen to me, but she cant argue with you. She knows Tods dead. You all have to come tell her what you told me. What will happen to her when she dies.
Why wont she listen to you? I shoved the gearshift into Park, and Nash stabbed a button on the dash to turn on the hazard lights.
She thinks Im trying to hold her back. Addy sobbed again and springs creaked as she sat on something. It sounded like a bed, rather than a chair. She said she was tired of singing in my shadow.
Nash spoke loudly, to make sure she could hear. Addy, wheres your mom?
Addison sniffled again, sounding much younger than eighteen. I guess true terror does that. She went out, and shes not answering her phone. She didnt elaborate, but I recognized the embarrassed, disgusted tone in her voice. Her mom was strung out again, and gone when she was needed most.
Does she know what your sisters about to do? Nash continued.
Addison sobbedmiserably. Yeah, but she doesnt understand. I tried to tell her Regan was selling her soul, but she thought I was speaking in metaphors. She sniffled again. I doubt shed care, anyway. Shed just see dollar signs.
I already hated Mrs. Page, though Id never met her.
Tod leaned forward with his arms folded across the back of Nashs seat this time. Wheres Regan now?
Were both at home, Addy said. My moms house in Hurst. Do you remember how to get here?
Tod nodded, then realized she couldnt hear him. Yeah. But then he faltered, obviously at a loss for how we could help.
But I had an ideaa stroke of genius, reallythat sent adrenaline racing through my veins fast enough to leave me light-headed. After she signs the contract, Dekker has to take her to the Netherworld like they did with you, right? My small car rocked violently as another huge truck blasted past us on the highway, without bothering to move into the far lane.
Addison cleared her throat, and more springs groaned. Yeah, but we cant let that happen. We have to stop her from signing.
I know. I held up one finger to tell Nash and Tod to waitthat I really was going somewhere with this. But my point is that in order to take her to the Netherworld, Dekker has to bring along that reaper, right? The lady who took you to the hellion?
Yeah, I guess
And, Tod I twisted in the drivers seat to face him, though the steering wheel bruised my side. Using your soul-wrangling abilities for anything other than reaping from the approved list is illegal for a reaper, right? Including taking humans to the Netherworld to facilitate the removal of their souls? He nodded, and I continued. Would you call that a firing offense?
Definitely. His eyes lit up, as my point became clear.
And would your boss be interested in the chance to fire such a reaper?
His brows arched. It would make his decade.
Thats what I thought. I faced forward again to spare my ribs, just as the first drops of rain went splat on the windshield. And without his pet reaper, Dekker has no way to get Regan to the Netherworld. Right? My excitement grew as Tod and Nash both nodded eagerly. We had a chance to save Regan from making a huge mistake and bring justice to the rogue reaper involved. Plus, if I could peek into the Netherworld, I could at least get a good look at the hellion we needed to identify. So, what do you think? Will it work?
Nash grinned from ear to ear and made a gruff happy noise deep in his throat. I think it might.
John Dekker offered her the contract, and she said yes! Her voice rose in disbelief on the last word, and it echoed like a siren going off in my head. For a moment I wondered how certain we were of Addisons humanity. Hes on his way here now. He always brings the contract personallyhe doesnt trust anyone else with it.
My heart beat so hard my chest felt bruised. John Dekker was coming to Texas, and he was bringing a soul-sucking demon with him.
The road swam before me as my horror and confusion crested in a startling wave of disorientation. Nash grabbed the wheel again, though I hadnt let go of it, and I took a deep breath, forcing my thoughts apart. Each to its own distinct corner of my mind. That was the only way I could concentrate on one at a time.
I tightened my grip on the wheel, eased up on the gas, and focused on the road, nodding absently to tell Nash I was fine. Until a semi blasted past on our right, nearly blowing us off the highway.
Maybe I should pull over.
Wait, your sister sold her soul? I said, hitting the speakerphone button as I glanced over my shoulder to make sure there was nothing in the other lane. But the entire highway was blocked by Tods face, crinkled with fearan odd expression to find on a reaper.
Move! I mouthed, handing the phone to Nash, and Tod immediately dropped back into the rear passenger seat. I swerved too quickly into the right laneblessedly emptythen onto the shoulder of the road.
She hasnt actually signed the contract yet, Addison continued, oblivious to my driving woes. But she will as soon as Dekker gets here. You guys have to help me. Please. She wont listen to me, but she cant argue with you. She knows Tods dead. You all have to come tell her what you told me. What will happen to her when she dies.
Why wont she listen to you? I shoved the gearshift into Park, and Nash stabbed a button on the dash to turn on the hazard lights.
She thinks Im trying to hold her back. Addy sobbed again and springs creaked as she sat on something. It sounded like a bed, rather than a chair. She said she was tired of singing in my shadow.
Nash spoke loudly, to make sure she could hear. Addy, wheres your mom?
Addison sniffled again, sounding much younger than eighteen. I guess true terror does that. She went out, and shes not answering her phone. She didnt elaborate, but I recognized the embarrassed, disgusted tone in her voice. Her mom was strung out again, and gone when she was needed most.
Does she know what your sisters about to do? Nash continued.
Addison sobbedmiserably. Yeah, but she doesnt understand. I tried to tell her Regan was selling her soul, but she thought I was speaking in metaphors. She sniffled again. I doubt shed care, anyway. Shed just see dollar signs.
I already hated Mrs. Page, though Id never met her.
Tod leaned forward with his arms folded across the back of Nashs seat this time. Wheres Regan now?
Were both at home, Addy said. My moms house in Hurst. Do you remember how to get here?
Tod nodded, then realized she couldnt hear him. Yeah. But then he faltered, obviously at a loss for how we could help.
But I had an ideaa stroke of genius, reallythat sent adrenaline racing through my veins fast enough to leave me light-headed. After she signs the contract, Dekker has to take her to the Netherworld like they did with you, right? My small car rocked violently as another huge truck blasted past us on the highway, without bothering to move into the far lane.
Addison cleared her throat, and more springs groaned. Yeah, but we cant let that happen. We have to stop her from signing.
I know. I held up one finger to tell Nash and Tod to waitthat I really was going somewhere with this. But my point is that in order to take her to the Netherworld, Dekker has to bring along that reaper, right? The lady who took you to the hellion?
Yeah, I guess
And, Tod I twisted in the drivers seat to face him, though the steering wheel bruised my side. Using your soul-wrangling abilities for anything other than reaping from the approved list is illegal for a reaper, right? Including taking humans to the Netherworld to facilitate the removal of their souls? He nodded, and I continued. Would you call that a firing offense?
Definitely. His eyes lit up, as my point became clear.
And would your boss be interested in the chance to fire such a reaper?
His brows arched. It would make his decade.
Thats what I thought. I faced forward again to spare my ribs, just as the first drops of rain went splat on the windshield. And without his pet reaper, Dekker has no way to get Regan to the Netherworld. Right? My excitement grew as Tod and Nash both nodded eagerly. We had a chance to save Regan from making a huge mistake and bring justice to the rogue reaper involved. Plus, if I could peek into the Netherworld, I could at least get a good look at the hellion we needed to identify. So, what do you think? Will it work?
Nash grinned from ear to ear and made a gruff happy noise deep in his throat. I think it might.
