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    The Devil Comes Calling: The Key To Ghost World, #2
    The Devil Comes Calling: The Key To Ghost World, #2
    The Devil Comes Calling: The Key To Ghost World, #2
    Ebook134 pages1 hour

    The Devil Comes Calling: The Key To Ghost World, #2

    By D.L. Stalter

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    About this ebook

    When Satan sets his sights on a young girl, Jaedon must find a way to keep her safe. Luckily he has friends and a key to Ghost World.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherD.L. Stalter
    Release dateFeb 24, 2016
    ISBN9781524262655
    The Devil Comes Calling: The Key To Ghost World, #2

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      Book preview

      The Devil Comes Calling - D.L. Stalter

      Prologue

      The unusually warm day had attracted a group of girls who giggled as they waded in the cool, slow moving, murky water at the river’s edge. Further out, where the water dropped off, the river moved much faster.

      Not far off, a young, blond haired boy gathered knobby sticks and arranged them in a teepee. His bare feet were coated in slick, black mud that smelled like decaying plants and fish. Occasionally the boy would wade into the water to snatch a floating stick before wading back to the bank to arrange it on his teepee.

      So intent were the girls on their game of jumping from moss covered rock to moss covered rock that it wasn't until the boy was chest deep in water, reaching for a larger branch that floated just out of his reach that Julie realized how far out he'd gone. Before she could call out, he slipped and went under.

      Ricky! she screamed. The undertow! Get back here! She took a step towards him, but her foot slipped on the mossy rock and she went down. Kendall, save him! she squealed as she struggled to regain her footing.

      Kendall, eyes wide, turned to face the boy. She took in the scene and waded past the fallen girl, into the deeper water to reach the boy who was paddling as hard as he could. She found his arm and wrapped her fingers around it. She tugged. The cool water wrapped around her legs. It slithered, like a snake, past her knees.

      The water held the boy fast. It was all she could do to keep his head above water. She could not free him. She took the last step to bring herself next to him. The water tickled at her thighs as it tugged her deeper. With strength she didn't know she had, she wrestled the boy free from the undertow and flung him towards the bank. Julie grabbed him and pulled him towards the soft edge of the river.

      Kendall went under. It tugged and pulled from all sides. The more she struggled, the deeper it pulled. Her lungs were on fire. She opened her mouth and gulped putrid, murky water. The river refused to release her. She turned her head to the left.

      Her eyes flew open. A man was suspended in the water just a few feet away. He smiled at her and wiggled his fingers. Her mouth opened wider. She shrieked soundless words that only caused her to swallow more of the rancid water.

      And then, her body relaxed. Her mind still screamed for release. She opened her mouth. But suddenly she had no urge to do anything but breathe in the water and sleep. So she opened her mouth. Peace enveloped her body.

      As it did, the man grinned and held out his hand. Kendall, you are mine.

      Jaedon Meets Kendall

      Sunlight beamed through the window. Jaedon glanced down to the yard and noticed his younger brother Sam’s bike lying next to the garage. It wasn’t unusual for Sam to drop his bike where he stopped. What held his interest was the skinny girl sitting next to the bike.

      She looked to be about fifteen years old. She wore a dark green dress and shiny green shoes. Her black hair was curled in ringlets that hung to her waist. And she was staring up at his window. His eyes met hers. He nodded, then turned and hurried down the stairs.

      When he stepped out onto the front porch, she was waiting for him on one of the green wicker chairs. Her dress blended with the chair so well that the girl almost disappeared into the chair. She stood and turned to face him.

      I’m dead. A sad smile formed at the edges of her mouth and she looked down at her hands clasped in front of her.

      I know. Jaedon stepped towards her, indicating that she should sit down as he lowered himself into one of the chairs. How did you die?

      I drowned. She smoothed her dress over her knees.

      Jaedon leaned back in his chair. He stretched his feet out and waited. He resisted the urge to put his feet up on the railing. At sixteen, he was tall enough that his legs could reach, but his mother would skin him alive for scuff marks on the white paint. Besides he’d only end up having to paint the porch sooner. He shifted, brushed the hair out of his eyes. Waited.

      In the year and a half since he found out he was a Keymaster to Ghost World, he had learned that the best way to get information from ghosts with unfinished business was to simply wait for it. It was his job to help them move to their afterlife and he knew, if he started prodding ghosts with questions, they usually got distracted and flooded him with too much information. So he sat quietly.

      My friends and I were playing by the river, she began. I saw Julie’s little brother go under the water. I got ahold of his arm and pulled him out. Julie took him from me and I felt something tug my leg. The next thing I knew, I was under the water choking.

      She stared down at her hands in her lap before closing her eyes and leaning back in the chair. I couldn’t breathe and I swallowed water. It was so nasty and dirty. The man in the water told me that I was his.

      Jaedon leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. This part was never easy. When people came to him, it was usually the first time they had to talk about the moment they died. He wanted to reach out and take her hand, instead he bowed his head, closed his eyes and waited.

      How could he help her bring justice to the man who had caused her death? Why hadn’t her friends identified him? They must have seen him.

      The girl took a breath. Jaedon, he’s still following me.

      Jaedon’s eyebrows shot up as he turned to face her. The man that killed you can see you even though you’re a ghost?

      She frowned and sat forward. He didn’t kill me. The undertow killed me. The man was under the water. When I died, he smiled and said that I was his. I’m scared of him.

      Jaedon leaned back. He narrowed his eyes at her and drew a deep breath. He didn’t kill you, but was under the water and talked to you?

      She nodded. After I died, he was there. He smiled at me and said that I was his. All I could think of was to get away from him and the next thing I knew, I was in a dark place.

      Jaedon stroked his chin. Ghost World, he said.

      I know. When I am in Ghost World, he can’t find me, but when I come back, he always finds me.

      Why don’t you cross over? He can’t follow you to heaven.

      She bit her lip. I want to cross over, but I have to make sure Showdown is taken care of.

      Who is Showdown?

      Kendall looked up. Showdown is my horse. My step dad told my mom to sell him and she’s thinking about it. I need her to keep him. Can you help me?"

      I’m not sure what I can do. I don’t know anything about horses, but I will help you any way I can.

      She expelled a short breath. Thank you.

      Jaedon eased out of his chair and walked to the edge of the porch. What’s your name?" he asked, turning to face her.

      Kendall Williams.

      How old are you?

      Fifteen. She looked down at her feet. I would have been sixteen next week.

      Where did you live?

      On Ridge Road by the covered bridge.

      And the only reason you haven’t crossed over is because your mom wants to sell your horse and you want him to stay with your mom?

      It’s the only home he’s ever known. He loves it there. If she sells him, who knows what could happen to him. Her eyes grew wide. She stared towards the street. Her voice trailed off and with a soft popping noise, she disappeared.

      Jaedon turned to see a tall, thin man wearing an expensive looking gray suit standing on the sidewalk in front of the porch.

      He bowed deeply. Then looked up. His dark eyes twinkled and his broad smile was friendly and inviting. Jaedon caught a whiff of a clean soap.

      Hello, Jaedon. It is such a pleasure to finally meet you. I have heard so much about you since you became Keymaster.

      He took a smooth step forward and placed one foot on the bottom step.

      Jaedon planted both feet and faced the man square. Stop right there. Who are you and what do you want?

      The stranger’s eyes narrowed. You have nothing to fear from me, Jaedon. It’s not you I want. I want young Miss Williams.

      Jaedon locked eyes with the stranger, refusing to look away. I asked you who you are.

      My name is Alastor Heylel. His eyes stayed narrowed but his lips stretched into a grin showing teeth that were too white to be real.

      Jaedon slid his hand into his pocket and wrapped his fingers around the gold pocket watch. He would not flee to Ghost World, but the pocket watch gave him the confidence to stand his ground.

      He narrowed his eyes. You won’t take Kendall.

      Heylel nodded. I do not have to take her. She is already mine. His smiled widened. The perfect white teeth gleamed.

      Jaedon appraised Heylel. For a brief second, Heylel’s faced shimmered. His skin became leathery and black. His eyes became reptilian. They looked lifeless. Jaedon shuddered. This man

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