Freelance Exorcists Book Series

An excerpt from: The Library Table A short story b y Janie St. Clair The sound of heavy breathing and pounding feet filled the stairwell. Chiara’s pulse thundered in her head. “They’re closing in!” she yelled over her shoulder. “Hurry!” On the third floor landing, Slick suddenly stopped, bending over with a hand on the wall. “I can’t make it,” he panted. “Go on without me.” “No, no! No, no, no!” Chiara said desperately as she backtracked and grabbed his hand. “I am not leaving you behind.” She caught his eyes with a serious gaze. “We’re partners.” He flipped his gloriously shiny blond hair out of his eyes and chuckled through his exhaustion. “Whatever you say, fearless leader,” he told her. She took a brief moment to appreciate his hair flip and his smile before she reminded herself how crucial their situation was. They raced the rest of the way holding hands. Chiara could barely believe she had the guts to hold his hand. But desperate times called for desper...

An excerpt from: Fruitless A short story by Janie St. Clair “I’m completely serious about these chocolate farms,” Alicia ranted, leaning against the locker next to Gina’s. “The poor kids are kidnapped, enslaved, and beaten just so corporate CEOs can have a bigger salary.” “That’s disgusting,” Gina reacted as she arranged her books between her locker and book bag. She couldn’t imagine enduring something so horrific. She made a mental note to put those poor kids on her prayer list. “How is that even legal?” “There have been a handful of court cases, but none of the major candy companies plan to change their chocolate sources any time soon.” Gina loved how Alicia’s blue eyes became fiery every time she tried to spread awareness on some injustice. Gina had dreams that she and her bestie would grow up to be kick-butt humanitarian activists and take on all these injustices, one by one. “Anyway,” Alicia sighed and rested her head against the lockers. “So like I was say...

An excerpt from: Fighting Destiny A short story by Janie St. Clair “Hey, do you guys know why Helen Keller couldn’t drive?” Reuben joked on their way out of school one day. “Because she was a woman!” Jeremy, Reuben, and Scott all laughed. They were in their first year of high school and had been friends ever since junior high. A lot changed over the years, but these guys had always had his back. Then a vision of golden hair caught his attention. There she was, standing in line for her bus. Jeremy couldn’t help but stare. He always had fantasies that they would end up together, but just a little over a week ago, she had started dating Peter and it tore his heart in two. Now, whenever Jeremy saw her, he felt like there was a wild animal clawing his chest from the inside. “Hey dude, there’s Alicia,” Scott pointed. “And no Peter in sight. You might have a chance to talk to her.” “Dude, they’re dating now,” Jeremy complained. “So?” Reuben challenged him. “Don...

An excerpt from: The Salvatore Effect A short story b y Janie St. Clair “Listen up boys,” Mr. Nasir had told Zahid and his brothers when they prepared for their first day at their new school. “We may be in America now, but we still have our traditions. You will not be dating any girls, do you understand? So get that notion out of your mind right now. Unless your teacher tells you, you shall not touch a girl, you shall not speak to a girl, you shall not look at a girl!” His father’s advice rang in his ears as Zahid struggled with his response to Gina’s offer on the last day of his eighth grade year. She was blocking the door – his only exit – and holding out a small piece of paper that could get him in so much trouble at home. “Come on, you know you want it,” she goaded with a quirking eyebrow. He looked over her shoulder. Freedom was just beyond her. Aside from Peter, school had been a constant stress and struggle for him. He was always confused about Ameri...

An excerpt from: Charlie's Defining Moment A short story by Janie St. Clair Charlie smoothed her sundress as she and Jessie left their Freshman Honors English class laughing. She kept her hands on her dress a little longer to make sure it was staying down. She was still getting used to the breezy feel. She thought Jessie looked a lot more comfortable in her jeans, t-shirt, and tennis shoes. Her gorgeous curly hair framed her face. Charlie was jealous that Jessie could look so beautiful without effort. Charlie hated how much time it took to put on her makeup every morning. “I think the Scarlet Pimpernel might just be my favorite of the ones we’ve read so far,” Jessie continued the class’s discussion into the hallway. “Really? That book drove me crazy,” Charlie said. “Percy and Marguerite should have been honest with each other from the start, instead of hiding all their secrets.” “Kind of like someone else I know?” Jessie challenged with a scolding look....

An excerpt from: Drop by Drop A short story b y Janie St. Clair ... “And you’ve given yourself over to me,” the spirit finished the accusations. “Once a soldier for the kingdom of darkness, always a soldier. You are trapped. You are my slave.” Rob wanted to cry. He wanted to be free, but the spirit was right. He didn’t know how he could possibly be free from this prison. At the thought, he felt his heart slipping into despair. “Hello!” greeted a friendly voice. Rob and the spirit both looked up at the Indian man, dressed in jeans, sandals, and a blue and white-striped button down shirt, standing just a few feet away. He had to have been in his forties or fifties, and he didn’t look very different from anyone else in the crowd. He smiled pleasantly as he held onto the strap of his messenger bag. The spirit snarled at him, but the man merely chuckled in return. Rob wanted to tell him to run. The man’s eyes were filled with a friendly, innocent ki...