Soul Corrupted Read Online Free PDF Page B

before.” I hold up a hand so he doesn’t lay into me about the leaving-it-alone
crap.
    He folds his hands in front of him and waits. “Then
what is it about?”
    “See, we conjured that picture thing you suggested and
asked it to show us the possible souls, but Grace was…a little distracted.”
    “Understandably.” He nods and I exhale, realizing I
might be inadvertently getting her into trouble. Time to tell a harmless white
lie.
    “Well, she started pining about Noah, so I suggested
we check on him first.” There. Now it’s my fault we saw Noah.
    Mr. Griffith’s eyebrows furrow. Maybe I’ve gone too
far, but I have to finish now. “She didn’t want to look, but I saw something.
It was Lucifer. He was meeting with Noah. I didn’t even know he could do that.
That’s what he uses us—I mean, Demons for, right?”
    I wait while Mr. Griffith strokes his smooth chin and
stares intently at the empty rack on the wall. “He doesn’t do it often. Only if
the human calls him first, and then only if he’s interested for some reason. It’s
most certainly a ploy to distract us from something or someone else. Thank you
for sharing this information with me, Josh. I can understand your urgency.”
    I conjure a chair to fall into. “You have no idea how
relieved I am to hear you say that. I mean, this changes everything, right?”
    “It changes nothing.”
    Wait. What?
    “I think it’s best if you and Grace concentrate on the
other souls. The ones you ignored in favor of Noah.” He says it gently, but the
words still sting like my father’s hand.
    “We have to save him.” I stand. He may deserve his
fate after all, having been idiot enough to actually summon the King of Hell,
but I can’t stand the idea of hurting Grace when she’s already been through so
much.
    “The only one who can save Noah is himself. He chose
to call Lucifer, not us. It is still his choices that will seal his fate. I have
no jurisdiction here. I told you before, I cannot assign an Angel to someone
unless I suspect he is a potential Antichrist or if he asks. Indeed, he asked
for intervention, sadly from the wrong side. I have no say in Lucifer’s
business dealings and he is within his rights to answer Noah’s call.”
Griffith’s eyes fill with pity and gentleness.
    “I won’t accept that.” The words come automatically. I
can’t stand down when it comes to Grace.
    Mr. Griffith tilts his head. “Josh, I know how
frustrated you are. I admire you for wanting to save Grace’s brother.
Unfortunately, I have no power if Noah decides to make a deal with the Devil.
This may even be for the best. If Lucifer is busy unsuccessfully trying to
distract us with Noah, we may have a chance of getting to the Antichrist first.”
    “Can’t you at least send someone from up here to look
over him?” I’m holding back my anger as best I can.
    “I will if he decides to ask for help. Again, it’s his
right to call and Lucifer’s right to answer. Do you understand?” He looks deep
into my eyes. None of his words are harsh, but they are urgent.
    “I’m not sure I do,” I admit.
    “Then I need you to trust me anyway. There are always bigger
things at work than you—or even I—can see. You and Grace had to go
through all of the choices you made or you wouldn’t have both ended up here,
and the world may have slipped into Armageddon.”
    Instead of comforting me, that reasoning makes me
wary—and makes it so hard to trust him. Did Mr. Griffith know what Ms.
Alvarez was doing all along, and let her continue hurting us instead of
stepping in? The question sticks in my throat.
    “How do you decide?” I ask instead. “How do you know
who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell?” It all happens so quickly, and there
are so many shades of gray.
     Mr. Griffith glides forward and places a hand on
my shoulder. I feel warmth spread through my chest and lightness in my head. I’ve
enjoyed this calming power in the past, but right now I can’t