Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
“Papa, no! Stop. I’ll go with you!” She pats my shoulder and pulls her hand out of mine, turning toward me. “It’ll be fine. I’ll talk to him...”
I’m shaking my head as she’s holding her father’s hand, rubbing the bruises on the back of his knuckles. “Selma, you don’t have to—”
“Just let me talk to him. He’s my father. I’ll tell him everything. He will understand. Just give us some time.”
Deep down in my gut, I feel like it’s the wrong decision. But if I try to stop her against her will, that would make me just as bad as her father. With no other choice, I nod and force myself to watch them walk away. Her father takes her to her truck, then gets into one of his own and they file out of the parking lot and down the road.
As I spin a half turn, I see Cameron shaking his head. “I love Selma, but her dad’s a fucking nut job,” he mutters.
I growl and start toward my limo, but I can’t bring myself to disagree.
T W E L V E
Selma
“THE DEVIL HAS MANY disguises, Selma.” Papa is waving his hands around as he stomps back and forth, setting down a pile of papers and mail on the table as we come into the house. “Ash Thompson is a disciple of the devil. Evil sent to tempt you from the righteous path. Please tell me you didn’t let him defile you. Please just tell me that...”
My mind conjures up images of what Ash and I have done together, and I can’t help the blush that spreads over my face. When I think about that, and the lavish gifts he gave me, and the offers of wealth and love and a career...I can’t possibly tell Papa about those things. He already thinks Ash is the devil, he’ll say it’s like Jesus in the desert and I should have resisted. “I love him,” I say weakly. “And he loves—”
“Love!” Papa throws back his head and laughs. “This isn’t love, it’s lust. A deadly sin, Selma.” He waves a finger at me. “The devil has tempted you, and you’ve begun to desire more. Confess it or be condemned to hell along with him!”
I shake my head. “No, you’re wrong. Love is from God, and Ash loves me.”
“He doesn’t love you! You said it yourself, love comes from God. So how can a Satan worshipper love anyone but himself?”
“You’re wrong, Papa.” I’m on my feet, ready to leave. “He’s good and kind. He’s not bad.”
“Sit back down.” He snarls as he takes a step toward me, and I back away, falling onto the hard chair, which squeaks against the floor. Then he turns to the pile on the table and snatches up a magazine. “Read this.”
He holds the magazine out to me, open to an article with a big picture of Ash, smiling and handsome. But as I start to read, I feel my heart begin to thunder. Religion Is For Simpletons, says Ash Thompson. It doesn’t make any sense. He’s never said anything against God. But the words are right there in black and white. The article explains Ash’s point of view, that nobody in the modern world should believe in God or the devil, that people should look to themselves for their own morality.
“No, it can’t...” My voice trails off. “Why do you even have this?”
“After the school called, they told me who it was that came to the office looking for you. They told me of the article. I bought the magazine on my way to get you, so you would know. Your Ash Thompson is nothing but a Godless demon, encouraging people to have their fill of modern temptations. Look at how much money he has.” He points at a callout box showing Ash’s estimated total worth, and it’s more than I thought existed in the whole world. “Anyone who worships material things the way he does is sent here by Lucifer, mark my words. He’s a Satanist, or he’s the devil himself. Either way, you need to stay away from him.” He takes a deep breath, then throws the magazine into the fire. “And I’m going to make sure you do.”
“What do you—”
I open my mouth to shout, but no sound comes, barely getting a hand on the strap of my school bag as he grabs my wrist and drags me to my feet. It hurts, but it’s more than just the pain, it’s the shock of what’s going on. First Papa attacks Ash, then he shows me an article that makes it look like Ash is...everything he says he is. Now to be physically hauled to my feet and dragged from the room, my mind is spinning. I feel like I’m in a nightmare.
Papa kicks open the door to my bedroom and flings me inside, ignoring my scream as I fall to my hands and knees on the bare floorboards, my bag helping to break my fall.