Read Soul Broker for Free Online Page A

searched the room until he found a small scarf. He handed one end to Mackenzie.
    “What’s this for?”
    “I can’t hold either of you.” He grasped the collar. “Do you see this?”
    “What?”
    “You can’t see this?”
    “See what, your hands on your neck?”
    “His pw’etty neckw’ace, mumma.”
    “I don’t see anything.” Mackenzie stopped. “Why does Sophie?”
    “She’s half me…”
    “You have a necklace on?”
    Drew glanced down at Sophie and smiled. “Yes, but this necklace has the power to bring me home.” He lifted his head, and Mackenzie nodded.
    “So you think by me holding this scarf we can’t be brought back to He—I mean, your home?”
    “I don’t think, the bi-,” he glanced down at Sophie , who listened to every word he said. “The birds can feel the material.”
    Mackenzie nodded and picked up Sophie. She had Sophie on her right hip, holding the scarf under Sophie’s leg, and a bag in her left hand.
    “Let’s go before I change my mind.”
     
     

     
     
    “You can open your eyes,” Drew said.
    Mackenzie slid her feet back and forth with her eyes shut . Feels like sand. Surely they don’t have sand in Hell. Sophie struggled to get down. I guess it’s now or never. She cracked her lids, eyes blinded by sunshine. She raised her arm to provide shade, allowing her eyes to adjust.
    “Where are we?” She kept a hold on Sophie’s collar, almost able to see, and looked around.
    “My home.”
    Waves rolled in to touch the sand, then darted back into the ocean. The water was inches from drenching her shoes. She took a few steps backward, pulling Sophie with her. She turned to see the island’s edge was dotted by palm trees , that appeared to be holding the dense forest at bay from overtaking the sand. A few yards away, a house made of wood sat at the edge of the jungle. The front porch was covered with a thatch roof, windows covered with shutters, a wooden board across each one securing it close. A hammock made from nylon mesh cut into thin pieces of rope was strung across one end of the porch, and the other end had a small round table with two chairs.
    “I didn’t picture Hell like this…”
    “What’s Hell, mu’mma?”
    Mackenzie cleared her throat and glanced at Drew. He stood with his arms crossed and brow raised. If he smiles right now, I’m going to kill him.
    “Sorry Sophie, ‘ Hell’ is a bad word. Mommy won’t say it anymore.”
    Sophie pulled on Mackenzie’s arm and she squatted down to her level.
    Sophie rubbed her head. “It’s okay this time.”
    Mackenzie hugged her. “Thanks for letting me off easy, kiddo.”
    Drew laughed.
    Mackenzie glared at him. “What’s so funny?”
    “Nothing. Nothing at all.” He covered his face, but she could still see the grin threatening to expose itself.
    “Is your Master going to be along soon?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “I asked if this was He-,” Mackenzie glanced down at Sophie, who crossed her arms and gave Mackenzie the same look she was sure she had given to Sophie. “The ‘H’ word.”
    “I said it was home, not He-“ Drew watched Sophie, who was giving him her full attention. “The place where I have a Master.”
    “I see.”
    “Come and I’ll show you two around.”
    Drew pushed the wooden door of the house open. Mackenzie stepped inside, Sophie followed. The first thing she noticed was the size. It was bigger than it appeared from the outside. The wooden walls, painted white, made the living room—kitchen combination feel bigger. Three large fans decorated the ceilings. On the far wall were two closed doors. Cobwebs trailed along the walls and filled the corners.
    Mackenzie swiped at a cobweb and turned to Drew, who stood at the door watching them. “It’s been closed for a while?”
    “About fifty years or so.”
    “Fifty years?”
    Drew nodded.
    “You say that so casually. You do realize, fifty years is a long time for most people?”
    “Yeah, but I’m not most