Personal Demons 2 - Original Sin Read Online Free PDF Page B

her?”
    â€œI’m still working on that.”
    â€œThis Gabriel guy…”
    God, how much did we tell him that night? “He’s an angel, and he’s helping out.”
    â€œDid he tag her soul like you wanted?”
    This time I lift my head and smile. “Yes.”
    â€œAnd you said that’d keep her safe.”
    â€œIt should.”
    He seems satisfied for the moment and smiles up at Frannie as she approaches with his pizza and soda.
    Matt
    This is perfect. The demon’s got his own after him. Maybe that big demon will take Luc out for me. Take him off my hands.
    I follow Frannie back toward the kitchen as she places Grandpa’s order, but stop when I see Grandpa and Luc with their heads together. I move back to their table to eavesdrop. I can’t believe how much Grandpa knows. An overwhelming sense of needing him—wanting to show myself to him—almost knocks me to the floor. If he knows about angels and demons, why not? Why shouldn’t I tell him? I’ve got nobody, and Frannie has everyone. Why can’t I have Grandpa?
    I’m on the verge of fading in when the door opens and a couple with fourteen kids comes whirling in. A birthday party.
    And I’m shaken back to my senses.
    I can’t have Grandpa, because it’s against the stupid rules. We are forbidden to appear to our relatives. It causes too much pain and grief for the living. If I revealed myself to Grandpa just because I wanted to, I’d be risking my wings.
    This is the reason so few of us are chosen as guardians, and why the training is so long and intensive. The temptations are nearly irresistible. Most guardians train for centuries before they’re ready—at least until all their immediate family is gone—but I trained for only a decade.
    I look back at Grandpa and step away from the booth. Maybe I’m not ready after all. Maybe I shouldn’t have jumped the queue to be Frannie’s guardian.
    Maybe Gabriel made a huge mistake.

3

The Devil Inside
    Frannie
    That demon at Ricco’s yesterday scared the snot out of me. Nightmares about the ground opening up and swallowing Luc in some gruesome demonic earthquake kept me awake all night. I kept getting up and going to the window to be sure the Shelby was still there. When he pulled out this morning, I felt sick. I thought about telling Matt to go with him.
    I always expected Hell would keep coming after me , but I never thought about Luc—that they’d want him back too. Bile churns in my tight stomach as I drive, too fast, to get to him. Maybe Gabe should come back. I think we both need a guardian angel.
    â€œI’ve been thinking.” Matt slouches in my passenger seat with his eyes closed. The wind from the open convertible causes his hair to dance and shimmer around his face, making him seem even more angelic.
    â€œWhat about?”
    When he opens his eyes to look at me, they’re bright with hope. “Maybe I should try being visible.”
    â€œYou mean at the house? Could you, like, meet Mom and Dad?” My heart nearly leaps out of my chest as I shoot him a glance.
    He shakes his head slowly as a forlorn smile settles over his face. “It’s forbidden. I’m not allowed to show myself to any of my family—or anyone who would know me, really.”
    â€œBut could you have a life, sort of? I mean, like…I don’t know…make friends and stuff?” I notice my white knuckles as I clutch the steering wheel and try to relax.
    I glance over again as he shifts uncomfortably in his seat. He looks about to say no, but then he turns back to me, a storm in his eyes. The hope is still there, but clouded with doubt—and sadness. “I don’t know.”
    â€œSo, why do you want to be visible?”
    â€œI just think it would be easier for me to protect you. I don’t like that there’s this crazy demon tailing your boyfriend.”
    An icy