Soul Food: A Steamy Paranormal Romance Standalone Page 2

  As I dug into my front pocket that the scary shit truly happened. A single book fell off the main bookshelf. My phone continued to ring as I peered into the darkness. “Is someone in here?” I asked again. I took in a shaky breath.

  Okay. It most likely fell when I jumped. My thunder thighs were that thundering.

  Yeah, right.

  That’s what I thought as I went to retrieve the fallen book. Any sane person would have run out of the building like their life depended on it by now, but not me. This was how every chick died in a horror movie.

  My phone finally stopped ringing. I bent down—I swore I heard the chuckle before I even touched the book, then I did touch it, and a wave of air blew over me and everything else in the building.

  The door slammed shut. I rose up and took off running into the dark. And then I heard the male voice—deep, rumbling, and menacing.

  “So unwise.”

  I whipped around, searching for who spoke, but I saw no one.

  Today was numbing. This small bit of fear was slightly thrilling. Maybe I conjured the demon to me because of that. I was so desperate for nothing and everything. I was so lost and bitter, so betrayed, that he was drawn to me like a moth to a flame.

  Or maybe it was fate.

  “Foolish girl, why would you come in here?” asked the disembodied male voice.

  I was terrified. The stark contrast of his voice sent goose bumps over my flesh. “Sorry,” I whispered, then ran for the door.

  Panic seized my lungs when I jiggled the knob but the door wouldn’t open.

  “I’m afraid you won’t be going anywhere,” he said through a sigh like being trapped in here was a trouble for him instead.

  “Why won’t the door open?” I asked him, still jerking the knob and throwing my weight against the door trying to get it to budge.

  “Um,” he paused. “Because I locked it. You’re not leaving here.”

  How could he have locked the door? Wouldn’t I have heard him?

  Slowly, I turned and looked around for him. “Where are you? I can’t see you.”

  He chuckled dryly. “Come back here and let it be a surprise.”

  Oh. Hell. No.

  I stepped over to the window and banged on it. “Help!” I yelled at the couple walking by, but they completely ignored me. No, it was like they couldn’t hear me. Were these windows soundproof?

  “It’s no use,” he informed me. “No one can hear you. I lured you here.”

  Ignoring him, I picked up a chair and slung it at the window. When nothing happened, my shoulders slumped. My brain focused on the words the mysterious stranger said. “What did you mean by lure?” Cautiously, I peeked over my shoulder, but he wasn’t there. Only the darkness greeted me.

  “I can give you what you want,” he said. “And in return, you can give me something that’s yours.”

  Tilting my head, I peered into the darkened book room, but for the life of me, I couldn’t see him anywhere. It was fucking creepy. His voice was coming from somewhere in the back where the book fell.

  “You picked the wrong girl. I have nothing.” My voice sounded muffled over the roar of my pounding heart.

  “Just get back here, Ruth.”

  I paused. “How do you know my name?”

  “Like I wouldn’t know my target.” Quietly, I took a step to the side trying to look around the shelves. “Fuck it.”

  I screamed just as something jerked my feet from under me. It dragged me to the back of the room—the very place I didn’t want to go. I caught a bookshelf with my hand, but it toppled over. Looking toward my feet, I saw nothing. Once I reached the fallen book, I stopped and was able to scramble to my feet. I was seconds from bolting toward the front again when I saw him, not him but it.

  I hadn’t seen him the first time since he blended in with the darkness. My eyes widened as I took in the black flames, or at least that was what it looked like. A massive undulating shadow in the shape of man. Only he wasn’t human. It was like looking at a menacing rainy cloud rippling with dark energy.

  What is he? Whatever it was I wanted out, but I couldn’t move.

  Crimson eyes blinked from the shadowy man. There was a shimmer in his silhouette, like maybe he was moving closer. There was no mouth or eyes. Nothing. Just a shadow with burning red eyes.

  “Your soul sang to me, Ruth. It’s why I’m here.”

  I shivered. “Please,” I begged, then closed my eyes. “This can’t be real.”

  “But I am,” he responded.

  My eyes popped open. “What are you?”

  “A demon. A soul reaper.”

  Not good at all.

  I sunk to my knees. “This can’t be real,” I whispered, then I stared straight into his eyes. “You can’t be real!” I screamed. “I refuse to believe it!”

  “You touched the book—my book.” He slithered closer. “Your soul is mine now.”

  “Because I touched a book?” I blinked. “You mean that if I had walked away, I would have been okay?”

  Was I dreaming right now?

  “Yes.”

  “Is this a dream?”

  “I’ve been called a nightmare, but never a dream.”

  Well, that was insightful and not helping my panic. Placing my hand over my chest, I bravely scooted back on my knees. “Are you going to kill me?”

  “A person can’t live without a soul.” His voice was like an echoing mountain—cavernous and terrifying—but also devastating. That eerie tone along with the absence of a physical form shouldn't exist.

  His answer was earth-shattering. My heart fractured, but despite the fear, it was sadness that overwhelmed me. I took a shallow breath and whimpered. As his presence loomed closer, I covered my face and cried. Through my agony a rhythm found me and manifested itself. I hummed the melody and then the words came.

  Here lies broken homes,

  Crumbled fences.

  Here lies rattled chains,

  Stolen kisses,

  Forced upon commences.

  I wonder how it feels to stand ten feet tall. Does it hurt it when you drag your hands through the sewer of that blackened heart?

  Does it hurt when you close your eyes, swallow your drugs, and look the other way?

  Does it hurt when you force your hands in places it should have never been?

  Does it hurt when the thing you touched turned to ashes, gone up in smoke?

  Here lies silent tears,

  Because no one heard her

  So her end was near.

  Something pressed against my lips. I opened my eyes to see an extension of the shadowy man pressing against them, to what? Silence me?

  Words. Rhythm. Songs were my comfort.

  I couldn’t stop myself from singing, just like I couldn’t stop myself from breathing even when it felt like I was suffocating. My dreams, even my life might have been taken from me, but this voice—I prayed it echoed in Heaven and Hell for everything that it was worth.

  “Ten years,” he muttered.

  Blood-red eyes descended upon me, and I felt his overwhelming presence touching every part of me.

  “Your soul is not the same as when I first saw it, it’s fractured. A broken soul is a nasty soul.” He stepped away from me. “Do you want what was stolen from you so badly? I can give it back to you. Your voice lights your soul. I’ll give it all to you for ten years.”

  “What?” I wiped my eyes and stared, dumbfounded.

  “I’m saying I want you to have everything you ever wanted, but only for ten years. Then I’ll take it all away.”

  I sucked in a breath.

  “What will it be, Ruth? Shall I eat your soul now or in ten years after I’ve given you everything you’ve wanted?”

  “Either way I’m dying?” I choked on my words, those god-awful tears of mine returning.

  He hummed pleasingly. “It’s amazing how well you’ve adapted to your fate. Yes, human, you’ll die today or ten years from now. The choice is yours. Either way
your soul is mine. I’m just letting you pick the date for when I devour it.”

  When I remained silent, the shadow moved. Something pressed into my chest, and I gasped. Looking down, I saw a black cloud of darkness resting there. Was that his hand? The darkness slipped inside me, and I could taste something akin to decay.

  “In case you needed a demonstration. Choose Ruth.” I stared up at him, and the countdown began. “Five, four, three—”

  “Of course I want to live!” I screamed as the tears slid down my cheeks.

  “Good choice.” He pried his limb from my chest, and I slumped forward. “Your soul is too vibrant to waste when it’s bitter in betrayal. I’ll give you everything, Ruth, so that when I come for your soul, it will purr as I sink my teeth into it.”

  I wish I was numb like I had been before entering this building. How could this be happening? Was I dead? Did someone drug me? Why did this feel real? Were the tears running down my cheeks really there?

  Or was I as crazy as my ma after all?

  I couldn’t tell, but every part of it felt real.

  “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 for me.

  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.

  That’s right, this is yo boy Tyler Dee, and you heard it here first at Tyler On These Beatz!

  Up and coming star, Liz James, with her new single “Here Lies” hit the charts within the first month of its release. That’s no surprise, given daddy dearest is Brian James himself, owner of KY Entertainment. We’ve heard it through the grapevine that Black Hearts latest find was a former friend of Liz’s. Rumors are “Here Lies” and a few others off her upcoming album were written by the same girl.

  Numbers don’t lie, folks, whether or not her daddy is boss, fans love her lyrics which is a nice blend of rap and heartbreaking melody.

  Hmm, almost feels like it was written to be sung by two people, yet Liz handles it all on her own.

  Gotta give the girl her due.

  She’s got stuff.

  What’s your thoughts? Think Liz wrote these lyrics like she claimed or is secret girl telling the truth?

  ***

  @TylerOnTheseBeatz: Liz’s album hits #1 on iTunes!

  ***

  Sun, sun, sun.

  How far can you fall?

  Mum, mum, mum.

  She took it all.

  I pull up my sleeves, breathe in smoke, out comes the fire and I know I’ll get what I desire. How I came to be here? Well, you’d never believe me. I ripped out my heart, set it on a stool to rot, out pours my soul, because it was never mine from the start.

  You think the moon needs the sun?

  Shadows don’t need heat.

  Bitch, I shiver in the cold, but this bitter song cracks across your armor.

  What you took, you can have, because by the time I’m done, you’ll wish you were the moon.

  Sun, sun, sun.

  How long before you blaze out?

  Sun, sun, sun.

  You know I love the sound of that.

  I’ll call you now, I’ll call to you then, and I’ll sing to you later when I stand at the edge of my tower.

  I sit in the sky. I freeze in the dark, but no one truly comes alive until then.

  Sun loses its heat in the winter, I know you know.

  You counted on me, just like I believed in your light.

  “This is Tyler Dee and I’m back with ya at Tyler On These Beatz.

  Three days, guys, three days! New rapper SoulGoddess obliterated the music charts with her first single “Sun”.

  Damn, baby girl, I’m proud. That was some impressive shit. Back on the rumor mill, I bet you guys have already heard this dis track was fired at Liz James. The sun tattoo on Liz’s stomach has been seen all across Instagram. Makes you wonder if our goddess has the matching moon to go with it before their epic end?

  Hey, SoulGoddess. You can spit fire that’s for sure and congrats on the release.”

  ***

  Top Headlines from Billboard.com:

  SoulGoddess Scores Platinum With Debut Release!

  Sophomoric Single, “Tear”, Sky rockets to Number One!

  Album in the Works!

  ***

  @TylerOnTheseBeatz: Liz released a single… What was it called? Oh, right. It completely tanked. What happened to those song lyrics?

  @JessiOhBaBy to @TylerOnTheseBeatz: Wait. Is that a bitter Barbie standing behind SoulGoddess as she marks her first US tour?

  @TylerOnTheseBeatz to @JessiOhBaBy: I think it is, Jessi, I think it is.

  @JessiOhBaBy to @TylerOnTheseBeatz: LOL #LizJamesBitterBarbie

  ***

  @TylerOnTheseBeatz: Actor Matt Donavan is looking completely smitten with our SoulGoddess. Even seen at her concert backstage.

  @JessOhBaBy to @TylerOnTheseBeatz: Although, it’s only rumors, it’s been heard from others that she’s making the golden boy work for a chance with her.

  @TylerOnTheseBeatz: That’s my girl. (heart eye emoji)

  @PlagueofLove
to @TylerOnTheseBeatz & @JessiOhBaBy: No one cares about SoulGoddess.

  @TylerOnTheseBeatz to @PlagueofLove: Bitch, BYE! Go somewhere else with yo plague-y self!

  ***

  @CelebrityGossip: Spotted! Matt and SoulGoddess kissing. Picture in link…

  @TylerOnTheseBeatz: SoulGoddess and Matt have been confirmed! I’m so happy for our girl!

  ***

  @EntertainmentNews: Tragedy has struck only one short hour after the picture came in. Matt collapsed in the elevator with a supposed heart-attack at Black Hearts studio. The young actor was only twenty-six. For more details click here…

  @TylerOnTheseBeatz: I can’t believe the news, man, my heart goes out to Matt’s family. I hope our girl is okay.

  @JessiOhBaBy: RIP Matt Donavan. You had barely entered the industry and left such an impact. (crying emoji) Sad, sad day…

  ***

  @TylerOnTheseBeatz: Liz arrested and charged with a DUI. Her blame? SoulGoddess. (sigh)

  @Iloveliz4eva to @TylerOnTheseBeatz: I believe it. After all, Matt died the day SoulGoddess kissed him. #SoulGoddessIsCursed

  ***

  @TylerOnTheseBeatz: SoulGoddess was spotted coming out of a rehabilitation clinic. No, not our SoulGoddess… Don’t tell us the Matt Donavan incident messed with our girl?

  ***

  @TylerOnTheseBeatz: Tragedy has struck SoulGoddess again. She lost a makeup artist today. SoulGoddess woke up to find her lying dead on her tour bus. Talk about a nightmare. Cause of death was unexplained, most likely natural causes. No drugs seemed to be involved at this time.

  @LizJamesfan to @TylerOnTheseBeatz: Still trying to defend “your girl”?

  ***

  “This is yo boy Tyler Dee with Tyler On These Beatz and wow, I’m getting chill bumps. Two more in the span of weeks. While on tour with SoulGoddess, Flo from the duo rapper sensation LoFlo has passed away. Fans are mourning the loss. What was Lo without his best friend Flo?

  Where did he pass away you say? Minnesota. Backstage while in SoulGoddess’s dressing room.

  What else is strange is the fact that a fan died a rather mysterious way after sneaking into her dressing room in Wisconsin.

  Safe to say the rest of the tour is cancelled indefinitely.

  ***

  This is Tyler Dee again with Tyler On These Beatz and boy have I got some news for you. Two years after the haunting occurrences that shook her second tour, SoulGoddess is finally back with a brand new album even going as far as naming it Dark Goddess after being dubbed by angry fans either calling her a killer or cursed.