Free Beloved Purgatory (Fallen Angels, Book 2) by Katherine Pine Page A

the
police?"
    Forneus doubled over and
started laughing. Manically . Like a Saturday morning
cartoon villain.
    "Forneus," the principal said, worried.
    "It's nothing," Forneus whimpered, trying to
keep his tone even. "I think I'm finally starting to see the appeal
of a human companion."
    "Human companion?" The principal
repeated.
    "It's nothing," Forneus repeated, standing
and giving the portly man a reassuring tap on the shoulder. "Now, I
think it's time for me to go to my new office."
    The principal nodded, then retreated behind
the door without another word. He seemed pretty eager to leave.
Maybe he'd regret his decision and fire Forneus.
    Jasmine let go of me once he closed the
door. I glared at her. We'd talk later, but I needed to know what
Forneus had done. "You didn't take his soul, did you?"
    The devil sighed. "It's none of your
business."
    "I don't care! You hurt somebody!"
    Forneus raised a brow. "And you
haven't?"
    My mind felt cloudy. "What is that supposed
to mean?"
    "Forneus, stop," Jasmine interrupted. "She's
been through enough."
    Forneus exhaled sharply. "I'd like to talk
to Devi for a moment. Alone, if it's possible."
    "It's not possible," the angel replied.
    The devil waved his hand. "Then at least
without you, Azazel."
    Jasmine's shoulders heaved. "No!"
    Forneus sighed again. "Alright. It's
embarrassing to give someone something so personal in front of an
audience, but I suppose I have no choice." He reached into the
interior side pocket of his suit. Jasmine's muscles tensed, and the
angel stepped closer to my side.
    "You have such dedicated guardians," Forneus
murmured as he revealed a jewelry box. "You should be
grateful."
    My throat was too tight to answer. I didn't
feel anything but fear, which was strange because he was just one
weak, pathetic devil. Jasmine could beat him to a pulp in a matter
of seconds, and the angel could...I don't know, dazzle him by
flapping his glittery wings, I guess, or chuck him into the
lockers.
    That second option appealed to me way too
much.
    Forneus slipped a manicured finger over the
top of the box and snapped it open.
    A silver, heart-shaped locket lay on the
white pillow. The elegant grooves on the sides were tarnished, and
in the center was a symbol I didn't recognize. Part of that could
have been from the shoddy execution--it looked like it'd been
carved into the locket with a paper clip.
    I heard a sharp sound to my right. The angel
leaned forward, held his breath. His fingertips began to glow as
they fanned over the locket without touching it. He parted his
lips.
    For a moment, I couldn't think. It looked
like he was longing for it, but that made no sense. Angels didn't
long for anything but God.
    "Don't touch that," Jasmine hissed.
    I shivered. "What do you mean. It's just a
necklace."
    She caught my gaze with steely eyes. "No
it's not."
    Forneus didn't let me answer. "I take it
you're not impressed, then."
    "It's not that," I babbled.
"I just wasn't expecting that kind of thing from you." And really,
I wasn't. I couldn't imagine him picking out such a funky, antique
necklace. It looked like something I would see behind the counter
at Red Light next
to the assortment of gigantic, rhinestone-studded sunglasses and
fuzzy, leopard-print belts.
    In other words, it was exactly what I would
buy if I had the guts to wear jewelry. And really, Forneus
shouldn't know what my tastes were, especially since I didn't even
own anything that suited them.
    Forneus leaned forward, so his lips were
right above my hairline. "I made this for you."
    I grinned. "You mean you're the one who
carved that weird symbol into it?"
    He sighed and dug one of his fingernails
into the side of the locket. It clicked open, and the air between
us was suddenly cast in a purple hue. "Do you recognize it
now?"
    Inside the heart was a speck of black dust
and a writhing, glowing, purple string. My own heart felt tight, as
if there were something inside of it, struggling to free itself. It
was there--that