Soul Conquered Read Free

so
sorry. I’m so—are you okay? Can you stand?” The man keeps falling over
his words as he helps me up. I brush off my hands and knees, where dirt and a
few small rocks have worked their way inside my wounds to mix with blood.
    “I’m fine,” I say. It’s the truth. These scrapes and bruises
are nothing compared to what I’ve been through, and they’ll heal in a few minutes.
“You were in a hurry,” I say, meeting his eyes.
    He’s about twenty, younger than I expected, with light-brown
hair and gray eyes. He’s nice-looking. I wonder why the girl he loves ran off
with another guy but shake off the thought. I don’t know anything about him or
her or what happened between them, and I don’t want to. The more I know, the
more I’ll care, and it will only make me feel worse about what Lucifer’s making
me do.
    “Yeah. Yeah, but you—are you sure you’re okay?” He
gives me a once-over. His eyes linger on the wounds on my legs then travel up
to my chest and the nearly transparent fabric covering it.
    I pull my hair down in front of me and twist it in my hands.
It not only comforts me—it also blocks his view.
    Layering.
    “I have to go. If you’re sure you don’t need a ride to the
hospital or anything?” He backs away a little, toward the car.
    I guess it’s a nice enough response. I would’ve insisted on
calling 9-1-1, but then again, I seem unharmed, and he didn’t actually hit me.
“No thanks. Go ahead.” I step back toward the shoulder. Maybe if he hurries, my
ruse won’t have worked, and he’ll make it. Maybe Heaven sent an Angel to pose
as Elvis and delay the marriage.
    Yeah, right. Heaven doesn’t interfere, even when you beg.
    “What’s your name?” he asks, one leg already in the vehicle.
    “Scarlet,” I say. Why not? I’m a Demon now, and one little
lie won’t hurt anyone.
    He smiles. “See ya, Scarlet. Be careful out here on your
own.”
    Moments later he speeds off down Highway 15, leaving me in
the dust.
    I wait for a few minutes—for what, I’m not sure.
Lucifer to appear and give me my next assignment, I suppose. But why would he
when he can make me suffer by leaving me in the middle of the desert?
    I’m going to need some sunglasses, water, and other
supplies. I can already feel a burn starting on my shoulders and the backs of
my legs. I may be a Demon, but my body still behaves like it’s alive.
    The cellphone weighs heavy in my pocket. When I was alive, I
would have called a friend like Em to pick me up. That feels like ages ago,
even though it’s been less than a year. And I can’t call Josh, that’s for sure.
    Pulling out the phone, I open the map to check my location. There’s
nowhere close to walk, and Lucifer has only given me the power to disappear and
reappear when summoned. Keira can disappear and reappear wherever she likes.
    Well, there it is. The answer I’m avoiding.
    I press the only name on speed-dial and wait for voicemail
to pick up.
    “Leave a message or suffer my wrath .”
    “It’s me,” I say. “Lucifer left me stranded in the Nevada
desert. I could use a ride and some sunscreen.” I press END and stare at the black screen for a full
minute. Am I waiting for Keira’s ring or “Highway to Hell”? I’m not sure.
    Damn it. Why do I even want to try to seduce Josh? I
purposely asked him to stay away so he wouldn’t fall. Someone should get
to stay in Heaven. Someone who actually enjoys it.
    Plus, maybe—just maybe—he’ll find a way to save
Noah from his “fate.” I don’t believe in fate—not anymore. Mr. Griffith
said I belong in Heaven, but he threw me out for breaking the rules. So why
should I believe?
    Shoving the phone back in my pocket, I heave a sigh and start
walking down the deserted highway toward Vegas. It’s the fastest way to
civilization.
    After walking a mile down the road, I’m about to take off my
shoes and fling them toward the Joshua trees when I hear the roar of a motor
from behind. I shove out my thumb