Free Dark Forsaken (The Devil's Assistant Book 3) by H.D. Smith

realm?”
    “They think it’s the owner of the Jaded Dragon, Mr. X. I’ve never seen him. I don’t think any of them have, but they all think he’s the true ruler of the Fallen. I just thought they were all part of a weirdo new group.”
    “How did you get hired?”
    “I checked the box on the application that said “descendant” by mistake. I’m dyslexic and I thought it said something else.”
    “Okay,” I said, thinking that was the worst employment application mistake ever. “And they all believe him to be the true ruler of Fallen?”
    “All the Mei-Bettys do. They’re, like, obsessed with it. It’s a little like restaurant-of-the-body-snatchers, you know?”
    “Then why do you work there?” I asked. “Clearly, you figured out something was wrong with them.”
    “Duh, but it pays well and they provide room and board. I sorta needed the job and a place to stay. It’s got free wifi,” she said, as if that explained everything.
    “And no one there ever called you a contender or in any way indicated you might be a threat?”
    She laughed and shook her head. “Not until you.”
    Sorrel walked back through the kitchen and Sydney watched him until he left.
    “Why does he stay here?” she asked.
    I took a drink of water while I tried to decide exactly how to explain Sorrel. I filled her in on the curator search and the things that happened last summer. “The Devil, my old boss, says Sorrel is for my protection, kind of like the queen’s guard.”
    “He doesn’t seem to like you much.”
    “None of them do.”
    Sydney leaned back in her chair, pushing her empty plate away. “Where’s my sister?”
    “I don’t know. I didn’t find anything on the internet.” She raised her finger. “Or the Other-Net,” I added, and she slumped back in her seat.
    “I know you said there are prophecies, but why do you want to help me?”
    I sighed. “We all got a shitty deal with these prophecies. You don’t want to kill me and I don’t want to kill you. Raven wasn’t like that—she actually tried to end the prophecy by having someone else kill me.” I shook my head. “I’ve seen a lot more than you can imagine and I think your sister is going to follow Raven’s path. She’s going to try and kill both of us.”
    “How does she even know? I didn’t know. And you can’t know what she’ll do,” Sydney argued.
    “You’re right. I don’t know for sure, but these prophecies have a way of coming true. She’s the Wanderer, the one that will try to kill the dragon and take the torque of time. That’s her fate.”
    “What’s my fate?” Sydney asked.
    “You’re the Death Seeker, and, I think, the sacrificed child that must be saved.” It was the only one that fit and matched what I’d seen last summer.
    I read her the complete list of prophecies.
    “How do you save me?” she asked.
    I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m just going to try and keep you safe.”
    “But fate—”
    “The prophecy states you must be saved or the Revenant will be reborn and I can’t let that happen, so fate or not, I will save you, Sydney.” I decided not to add or die trying .
    “Okay,” she said. “Can I go to bed now?”
    “Yeah,” I said and motioned for her to stand.
    I showed Sydney to one of the guest rooms—not the one Sage had left completely destroyed the night before. I’d have to bring in a service to fix that mess. I locked the door, spelling it so Sydney couldn’t leave without waking me, and went to bed.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 8
     
     
    Connie wasn’t in the office Friday morning, which shouldn’t have surprised me since she’d told Sorrel as much the day before. At least my jeans and twin set wouldn’t receive her disapproving stares and I didn’t have to explain why Sydney was hanging out in the office.
    No one had come in to interview by lunch, which was beyond odd. Sydney was in the waiting area typing away on Connie’s computer. I’d warned her to be careful