Page 6 of Soul Food

“Take the book and go.” The dusty tome scooted toward me. When I made no move to grab it or even step forward, he hissed. “Leave before I change my mind.”

I eyed the window through the crevices of the books on the shelves. The bright sun on the outside was a powerful beacon of freedom. So close yet so far. “Is this a trick?”

The front door creaked open. Taking a few giant steps backward between the shelves, I looked toward the beam of sunlight through the crack—my salvation.

“Oh, and Ruth,” he began, “when my help comes, accept it.”

He was gone in an instant leaving behind a puddle of dark red flowers. I stumbled out of the library, in disbelief. The book I didn’t pick up was now in my hands. When I tried to drop it, however, it set my skin on fire. I screamed and struggled to get rid of it. The agony only stopped when I quit my frantic motions.

Looking around, no one watched. No one cared. No one would even believe me.

I didn’t believe myself.

My eyes and mind had turned against me just like my ma’s had her.

But if my mind hadn’t gone bad, then that meant I had ten years to live before a demon claimed me.

I laughed as I walked home. Laughed until I was crying again. By the time I made it to my rancid apartment where Ma and I lived, I was numb again—a preference over pain and fear.

“Ruth?” said a male voice. I hadn’t been paying attention to anything whatsoever. “Ruth Thomas?” he asked again.

I turned to the man in the expensive suit, and my anger from earlier returned. The last man I encountered in a suit fucked me over. I could blame Mr. James for marking my doom. If I hadn't been so lost in my head,I wouldn't have stumbled into that library in the first place.

“Yeah?” I said hesitantly.

“Hi, I’m Bishop with Black Hearts.” I blinked as he offered his hand to me. Black Hearts was only one of the biggest entertainment companies in America. I eyed the third floor where our apartment was before I took his hand and shook it. “We caught a whiff of your brawl at KY today and knew we wanted the person behind those lyrics.”

I studied him. “You mean, you believe me?”

Oh, and Ruth, when my help comes, accept it.

Was this the soul reaper’s doing?

“All you gotta do is prove it by showing us your talent.”

Ten years. Ten years.

Was it enough?

I thought of Liz’s murderous expression the moment I walked on a stage, and my heart rate increased tenfold.

My soul was no longer mine. Did it matter if I dipped it in darkness?

Like I needed to do that to crush Liz’s world.

I just had to find my place on stage and pour my heart out.

Like I’d always wanted.

This wasn’t about her. This was forme.

Ten years. Ten years.

I’ll take your deal, demon, I’ll make my soul good and fucking tasty while I’m at it.

Chapter One

Say what??? Black Hearts took on the very same girl that was arrested outside KY Entertainment.

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