Chapter 16
16
Nicole
L oud music blasted from outside through the multiple sets of open patio doors. Groups of souls mingled around Gul’s spacious living room. Coming and going. Getting drinks and snacks. Chatting and making out.
Dressed in a long white bathrobe and a pair of fur slippers, I sat alone on the big, plush couch, hugging my knees to my chest.
Instead of Gul giving me a bath after the race, I had a quick shower in one of the many guest rooms in his huge farmhouse in the middle of a sunflower field. He was clearly hurt and disappointed when I refused to take a bath in the huge tub in his personal ensuite off his equally huge bedroom. He looked even more offended when I locked him out of the guest bathroom to take a shower alone.
I would’ve stayed in the guest bedroom for the rest of the night if a bunch of souls hadn’t barged in, kissing and laughing. They quickly took over the bed, inviting me to join them, but I graciously declined, left the bedroom, and had been sitting on this couch ever since.
Gul stomped in from the kitchen, carrying a steaming mug wrapped in a checkered towel.
“There you are.” He grinned, plopping on the couch next to me. “You haven’t eaten anything, which is not good for your body.” He placed the mug on his knee and stirred its contents with a painted wooden spoon, then brought a spoonful to my mouth. “Here. It’s chicken broth. Really good for mortals.”
“I’m not hungry,” I said, wishing I could just fall through this couch underground somewhere, so he would finally leave me alone.
A kissing couple of guests blocked from my view the Korean drama playing on the huge TV set that everyone called “the magical viewing box.” And now, I couldn’t even pretend that I was watching the TV because it would seem like I was staring at the couple making out, like a pervert.
“You need to eat,” Gul insisted, trying to pry my lips open with the spoon of broth.
The appetizing scent of broth tickled my nostrils, making my mouth water. I realized I was starving. I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast that morning before the race. But I refused to be fed by him and jerked my head away.
“I’ll eat. But by myself.” I pursed my lips defensively.
“Must you be like this?” Gul growled with disappointment, dropping the spoon into the mug. “Why do you deny me the pleasure of taking care of you?”
“Why do you think I care about your pleasure? I don’t want to be taken care of by you. I’m perfectly capable of eating on my own.” I grabbed the mug from his knee and drank the broth straight from it in small sips so as not to burn my mouth. “Ooh, this is good,” I moaned as the fragrant, golden broth filled my empty stomach with warmth.
“It is, isn’t it?” Gul perked up. “I put a little miso paste in it for that umami taste and a fresh fennel root. Fennel root gives an excellent flavor to the chicken soup. Not enough people know it, sadly. You should try my pelmeni next, and the cream puffs for dessert. You know what? We should make a brandy glaze for them. After you’re done with the broth, let’s go to the kitchen and?—”
I lifted a finger, stopping his tirade.
“Just to be clear, Gul, I’m not interested in doing anything with you. You’re right, I need to eat to stay alive. But I’ll make my own food. We’re not hanging out together, not cooking anything, and not sharing baths.”
Crossing his massive arms over his furry, barrel-shaped chest, he sat back on the couch, sulking.
“What did he do that I can’t?” he rumbled, grumpily.
I didn’t need him to clarify who “he” was.
“For one, Invi promised to take me back home when Avar returns and gives us the transcendence potion.”
“And you believed him?” Gul scoffed. “I doubt that Avar will give Invi anything. Avar is the Sin of Greed. He isn’t good at giving . That’s the reason Invi stole the potion from him in the first place.”
I gave him a side glance. “Doesn’t Avar give the potion to you all the time?”
“Yes, he does. But we have an agreement. He gives me the potion, and I provide him with whatever he needs from the human world. I have plenty of contacts there, you know. I bring the best ingredient that even Madison can’t always find, and she owns a restaurant back home.”
“Who is Madison?”
The name sounded familiar. I recalled one of the virtues mentioning it before, but no one had provided me with an explanation.
“Madison is Avar’s girlfriend. She’s mortal, with a live body like yours.” He slid his gaze down my bathrobe-clad figure. “Well, not exactly like yours, but you know what I mean.”
“So, she isn’t a soul then? Not dead? Does she live here in Purgatory?”
“Sometimes…” he replied tentatively, as if wondering how much he should tell me.
“Sometimes? Does it mean that she comes and goes as she pleases? Then you can take me back, too, can’t you?”
“Why would I do such a thing?”
I shifted on the couch to face him. “Because it’s the right thing to do, Gul. Because, otherwise, you’re keeping me here against my will.”
“I did nothing wrong.” He moved his jaw, his tusks glistening menacingly in the warm lighting of the room. “I have every right to keep you, cupcake. I won you, following all the rules.”
“But following the rules isn’t always enough. I’m a person with feelings and a life of my own, and I’m asking you to please let me go.”
“What if I asked you to give me a chance to earn your affection in return?”
I sucked in a breath, sitting back.
“I’m afraid I can’t do it?”
“Why not?” He frowned.
“Because Invi has already taken what you want, and I gave it to him freely.”
“Fucking Invi!” He jumped off the couch. “I won the race, yet he still managed to beat me. He stole my prize!” He roared. “And now, he dares come here to fight me for what’s rightfully mine.”
“What did you just say? Invi was here? When?”
“While you were in the shower.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” I got up, too, facing him off.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “You locked the door, remember?”
“But…Ugrr,” I groaned, cursing my need to wash off the gore of the maze as soon as I got the chance. “Where is he now?”
“In his swamp, most likely. I warded this place from him, all of it, including the field. He’s not to set a foot…I mean, not even the tip of his fucking tail on my property. And you…” He pointed a claw at me. “You’re staying here for as long as I please. Hey, everyone!” He propped his hands on his hips and yelled out to the souls who were peeking in from the yard, attracted by the noise of our argument. “I’m throwing a big party tomorrow, to celebrate my new acquisition.” He gestured my way to present the said acquisition to his guests. “And everyone is invited!”
The souls shouted and cheered. Those outside ran in to learn about the announcement from the others.
“I thought this was the party.” I swept my arm around the room that was quickly filling with souls of every color of the rainbow.
Gul waved a hand. “That’s just a small gathering of a few of my closest friends. Tomorrow, the real celebration begins!” The room erupted in screams of approval and enthusiastic applause. “See, cupcake?” Gul grinned, waving at his guests. “Everybody loves me. Soon, you’ll learn to love me, too.”