One Loan Soul, page 21
part #1 of Loan Series
I’m pushing my luck. Demon Melvin’s folded arms bulge as he clenches his muscles.
I shelf that argument for a sunny day.
“So, until I’ve completed this, corrected all the soul misdirection, I’m stuck on Earth?” My fingers cross behind my back. Found the golden lining.
His head inclines. “For the time being.”
I bite my lip to avoid smiling in rejoice.
“I will accompany you on your mission.”
My smile drips six feet under.
It doesn’t escape his notice. “You may have noticed, I have unique and useful abilities, unlike you, human.” He waves a hand toward Silas. Unique – yes. Useful – we’ll see.
“Human?” Wasn’t he human once? Or do I gravely misunderstand Hell’s hierarchy. Are demons a separate species native to that realm and not simply higher-level souls as I thought?
“I was. Once.” His nostrils flare. A tell. Perhaps he does understand about mourning. “Many years ago.” In other words, my new partner will be rain on my charade.
Only if I let him. I didn’t let Hell keep me down. I won’t let this. “You’ll tell me someday, partner Marv. You’re tied to me now.”
“I’m not your partner, I’m your superior. And it’s ‘Demon Marvin’.” He’s going for menacing.
I don’t let it get to me … much. If we’re stuck together, then he’s essentially in the same boot. It’s a deal, according to my new chaperone. The Overworld does not renege on deals. “Darcie Rose. Nice to meet you, Vin. I’m going with Vin. Sounds more demonic.” I hold out my hand. Fake it until you rake it in.
He eyes it with disgust.
“Or I’m like your hunting dog —” stuffed and brought back to life “— and you follow with the shotgun?” I blink at my hunted fox. “Take it with a grain of sand,” I tell my companion.
“Your human phrases make no sense.” He turns, heading for the door.
“You should talk to Nix,” I snort. “You have a lot in common.”
“Someone else is dealing with Nix’s punishment.”
I want to ask what role exactly Nix had in all this. Maybe later. We’ve a long journey ahead of us.
“Come along. We need to start immediately. Souls are at stake.”
“Now?! Wait. Don’t I need to give this casing back? Or… handle it first?” Whatever ‘handle’ means.
“No.” He doesn’t turn. “Fortunately, there was an adjustment. Aoife Ferreira has elected to extend her deal indefinitely.” He pronounces her name perfectly. It sounds like she didn’t have much option. But who am I to accuse the Devil of forcing his deals on the souls already in his realm?
“Fortunately,” I repeat. At least I’m not stuck as a dude. “That’s going to be tricky as a famous chick.”
He’s at the door. “It is time. You are dawdling.”
I look down at my Oreo nails and the wig on the floor. “But – Fine. I’m coming. Just one more thing.”
I hurry into the bedroom and proceed to the closet. I had a single blazer for interviews, and as suspected, it’s in there, just as before. But there’s no way it’ll fit over Aoife’s breasts, so I bypass it and snag one of Leland’s expensive suit jackets.
He won’t need it. I’ll have to contact Leland’s mother anonymously to handle his affairs. She’s going to be devastated. Hopefully, Fil is settling mine.
Blue scampers up my leg and tucks herself in the breast pocket.
I shake out my hair and, lifting my backup trilby from the shelf above, I don it.
Prepared now, I join the demon in my old dining room, my temporary companion zombie fox tip-tapping beside me. With a grin filled with burgeoning optimism, I quip, “Possessed P.I. Darcie Rose is on the case. Let’s go imperfect the world. There can only be one Parfait.”
THE END
To be continued in
Two Sold Mates
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First, thank you for giving this new series a chance. I’d love to know what you thought! It means so much to indie authors like me if you leave a review or get in touch (links to contact and like/follow me are at LBCarter.com).
Foremost, however, I owe deep gratitude to my apple and our good friend for making an offhand joke at a bar about deals with the Devil and how it would be great if there was something less intense than selling one’s soul. This whole series poured through my mind like a beer over my head!
I owe my soul to: bestselling author ST Bende; to my beta readers — award-winning author C.L. Monaghan, fabulous author LeAnn Mason, soon-to-be author Lorna Richmond, and my mum; to my lovely editor — Dawn Yacovetta; to my super helpful PA — Kallie K.; and to my ARC team and crew (Carter’s Wild Crew on Facebook). I’d also like to recognize Black Fox Design who made an amazing cover.
Finally, thanks to foxes for being adorable inspiration … and Mr. Cat for being cute company as I wrote since I can’t have a fox.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
L.B. Carter is a bookworm, grammar fiend, doctor of geology, and native New Englander who refuses to own a purse that can’t fit her kindle. Her novels are a myriad of fantasy, science, mystery, suspense, nature, humor and romance. Curled up in front of a winter fire under fairy lights with a book, a cup of spiced hot chocolate, something she’s baked, and her snuggly orange lap-cat is her happy place. Like the fox in her favorite book, Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, L.B. believes what’s important to the heart is not seen with the eyes … but sometimes visible with imagination.
Follow L.B. Carter on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, join her reader group (Carter’s Wild Crew) on Facebook, find her books on Amazon, BookBub, and Goodreads, and subscribe to her newsletter at LBCarter.com to learn more about her, enter monthly giveaways, and get the latest news, sales, FREE exclusive stories and samples of her books.
L B Carter, One Loan Soul
