“I'm going to tell you something that none of those people out there know,” Silas said.
“Not even Jake?” I asked.
“Jake knows.” He pressed his lips together. “We'll get to Jake in a moment. First, I want to explain why I'm here.”
“All right.”
Silas folded his hands on his lap and held my stare. “I am God. The one true God. I rule in Heaven and normally I send angels here when something goes awry.”
“Uh-huh,” I said.
“Enough, Indigo!” Silas's voice went deep and commanding. It vibrated through me and made me go still. He sighed. “Just listen.”
I nodded.
“I am God. The stories in the Bible are true. I'm real, but so is my counterpart.”
I lifted my brows at him.
“The Devil.”
I leaned back and stared at Silas.
“He rules Hell. Like me, the Devil sometimes sends his soldiers here. We have an agreement. Balance must be kept. But he has upset that balance and sent his hounds to live on Earth indefinitely.” He cocked his head at me and said, “You may speak now.”
“Hounds? Are you saying there are hellhounds on Earth?”
“Yes, but not what you're imagining.”
A knock interrupted us.
Silas looked toward the door. “Come in, Jake.”
Someone opened the door for Jake, then he stepped past them, carrying a large tray. On it was a selection of sandwiches and a pile of cream puffs. My mouth watered when I saw the cream puffs. Another person came in behind Jake with a tray of drinks. Both of them set the trays on the coffee table before Silas, then the stranger left, while Jake took the chair on my right.
Silas waited until the door was closed before he waved at the food. “Please, help yourself, Indigo.”
I hesitated.
“Jake oversaw the preparation,” Silas reminded me. “Jake, please assure Indigo that nothing bad has been put into the food.”
“Babe, it's just food.” Jake picked up a sandwich and took a bite. “Eat.”
I chose a few sandwiches—they were cut up into triangles—and a cream puff. Jake handed me a can of Coke.
“Thank you,” I said to him. I opened the Coke first and took a bracing swig, then gasped through the burn. “Oh, that's good.”
Silas chuckled. “Yes, bubbly drinks were a wonderful invention. Humans have surpassed my expectations.”
It suddenly occurred to me that this could be real. And if Silas really was God, I had a rare opportunity to ask him questions. But what should I ask God? “Why did my mother abandon me,” seemed so petty.
“Go on,” Silas said.
“What?” I squeaked.
“Ask me whatever it is you want to know, Indigo.”
Holy shit. Can he read my mind?
