Free Sinister: A Paranormal Fantasy (Sinisters Book 1) by Colleen Fleshman Page A

stuck his fists into his windbreaker pockets, fingering the paper clip he found inside. "This is...it's unbelievable. We can't be in hell. You can't really be the devil. And if you were, you definitely wouldn't be trying to stop evil!" His voice cracked on the last word. It had been a stressful two days.
    The words had been addressed to Luke, but it was Elias who answered. "Many people struggle when they first learn about their role in the world. It's perfectly normal to be confused and disbelieving. I can tell you, though, that it's true." He placed a warm hand on Matt's shoulder. "I've known Luke for nearly twenty years now, and he only sends us on assignments that are for the good of people and that we can handle. He's one of the good guys."
    Matt studied this new stranger. The expression on his slightly tanned face was friendly, though a wariness that lurked behind it said he trusted rarely, and only with difficulty. His close-cropped brown hair and broad shoulders gave him the look of a soldier, and he had a strange way of elongating the vowels that made Matt think English wasn't his first language. He tilted his head. "Where are you from?"
    Elias gave a slight smile. "Finland. But I assure you, my English is quite good. We won't have any trouble talking."
    "Finland?" Anna sounded surprised. "Shouldn't you be blonde?"
    Elias laughed. "Not every Scandinavian is tall and blonde. Especially in my country."
    Anna looked sheepish. "Sorry. Sometimes my mouth asks stupid questions. My brain has nothing to do with it, I swear."
    The pair fell into easy conversation, and Matt turned to look at Luke. The devil watched him steadily, a faint plea in his eyes, and Matt had the sudden insight that for all his flippancy, he was very afraid of something. Matt didn't know if it was fear of whatever Peter Caracalla was doing, or something else, but he didn't like being in a situation where even the devil was nervous.
    "Elias will help us?" It was less of a question than an admission that he was ready to do whatever Luke needed. He may have preferred to curl up under the covers until this was all done, but he knew that, even if he wouldn't remember any of this, he would never forgive himself if he didn't try to stop something evil when he had the chance.
    Luke nodded. "The balance is barely held where it is. If Caracalla were to succeed..." his voice, already quiet, faded until it was so quiet Matt almost didn’t hear the rest of what he said. "The balance cannot hold."
    Needing to know, but dreading the answer, the boy asked, "What happens if the balance doesn't hold?"
    Luke's eyes were still pointed at him but no longer seemed to be seeing his face. "The best case scenario would be the destruction of Peter and his immediate surroundings. The worst case would be the end of the world."
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
     
     
    The soft pattering of rain was Matt's first indication that he was back in the real world. He sucked in the scent of damp earth as he struggled to get his breath back. The trip back had been, as Luke promised, easier than the way there, but it was still unpleasant. The worst part was that he knew he needed to make the trip again tomorrow, since Anna and Elias had agreed to meet. With Elias in some unpronounceable city in Finland, the only place they could get together was hell. He shook his head in wonder. He'd always thought being in hell was just a figure of speech.
    “I must leave you two,” Luke said. “I cannot tell you what Peter Caracalla is doing, but he is a busy man who often works until after ten at night. His office is on the top floor of the thirty-three East Main building on the capitol square.”
    Luke sounded briskly efficient, and Matt began to wonder if he'd imagined the fear in the devil's eyes when they'd spoken in hell. But no, he reminded himself, the end of the world would scare anyone.
    Before either of the teenagers could say a word, Luke strode off, quickly melting into the shadows.