Let Me Win You (Seven Horny Sins #2)

Chapter 18

18

Nicole

“ A re you sure you don’t want to stay a little longer?” Gul asked the last group of souls on their way out.

This never-ending party had taken three whole days, filling his house with music and chatter. Crowds moved through the rooms and the gardens day and night. I slept at odd hours whenever there was a bed or a couch available.

Souls didn’t need toilets, but Gul made one for me off the guest shower room. Except that every time I had to use it, I had to kick out groups and couples who wanted to make out in privacy, away from the main crowd.

It wasn’t all bad. There was plenty of good food and cocktails for everyone. Under different circumstances, I might’ve enjoyed some parts of this party more than I did. But since I was essentially a prisoner in Gul’s house, joy was hard to find. All I felt was the irritation from all the noise and the extreme exhaustion from the lack of sleep.

When the crowd finally receded, an overwhelming sense of relief washed over me.

Gul, however, seemed to get sadder and sadder with every guest departing.

“Stay the night,” he implored the last few souls. “We’ll make croissants for breakfast or poached eggs.”

“We promised Kindness to be there for her scones first thing in the morning,” one of the departing souls replied.

“And it’s almost morning already.” Another one gestured at the sky that lightened with the approaching sunrise.

“Yeah, we’ve been here for days,” the third one added. “Half of the souls I came with already got their Higher Judgement and left Purgatory.”

“That’s the problem,” Gul sighed as they all filed out from the house and closed the doors behind them. “No one really stays in Purgatory for long. I don’t even try to remember any of them because chances are in a week or two all of them will be gone.”

He sat on the couch next to me and clapped his hands to turn off the magical viewing box, which marked the end of the party. Without the TV, I felt the silence even more acutely after the days of the constant noise.

Gul glanced at me uneasily.

“You seem quiet. Are you sad too? Come.” He opened his burly arms wide. “A hug will do us both good.”

He’d been exceptionally nice to me after the last argument we’d had when he caught me looking at the green line of Invi’s forest on the horizon beyond the sunflower field.

“Go back in the house, cupcake,” Gul had said, shoving a glass of wine in my hand. “Or I’ll think you’re still pining after him.”

“I miss him,” I replied honestly.

“Why? Why do you care about him so much? What did he give you that I can’t give? Nothing. Invi has nothing, and what he does have, he doesn’t appreciate enough. That’s why he always wants what others have. That’s why he wants you too, you know? Because I have you, and he can’t.”

“Is that why? Really?” I yelled, offended for Invi more than for myself. “Or is it the reason you trapped me in here? You knew I liked Invi, and you snatched me from him. And now, you’re accusing him of the very same thing that you did yourself.”

“We are not the same,” he roared.

“In this case, you’re so fucking identical, you could be twins. Just because ‘ everybody loves you, ’ doesn’t really make you lovable, Gul. There is absolutely nothing about your actions that I like.”

We yelled and screamed at each other that evening, until a crowd gathered around us and I ran out of breath.

But the animosity between us hadn’t lasted long. I generally disliked prolonged confrontations, and Gul seemed to be too cheerful and lighthearted by nature to hold a grudge or to sulk for long. Eventually, we established a shaky truce between us. He cooked and entertained his party guests while I helped with cleaning and organizing.

“I’m tired.” I groaned from exhaustion, and he swept me into his arms.

His thick fur enveloped me like a cloud. The warmth of his shape and the strength of his arms made for a very comfortable hug. If only I didn’t miss the arms of someone else so badly.

“I really hate it when the party is over and all the fun stops,” Gul grumped.

“You know there is fun to be had after a party too.”

“Like what?” He leaned back, looking intrigued.

“Well, I like staying in and reading a book or watching a movie.”

He gave me an incredulous look. “On your own? Completely alone?”

“Yes. Or with a friend.”

“But what if all your friends leave before you even get a chance to get to know them?” He paused, as if struck by a realization, then a corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided smile. “Except that you’re not going anywhere, my sweet dumpling. You’re staying right here for as long as your body lasts. Which would probably be a few decades still. I got so lucky with you. Do you want to watch a movie?” he offered with a renewed enthusiasm. “I’ll make us popcorn.”

I nodded, silently. His mention of the many decades that he meant to keep me in Purgatory plunged my heart back into misery.

During the party, I had tried to find an opportunity to escape. I figured that with so many people loitering around the house, I’d eventually get a chance to sneak out. But Gul remained vigilant, keeping a watchful eye on me all the time.

I’d learned from some of his party guests that Gul frequently left to get supplies from my old world. But during the several days that I’d spent at his house, he hadn’t left once. The food, drinks, and other party supplies never ran out. He possibly left while I was sleeping. Or maybe he had someone else to deliver things for him.

The sound of corn popping came from the kitchen. I eyed the open patio doors, calculating. If I made a run for it, would I manage to cross the field on my way to Invi’s house before Gul caught up with me? Distances were often deceiving in Purgatory, making it even harder to gauge.

“Nicole?” Gul poked his horned head through the opening to the kitchen. “How do you feel about garlic salt and avocado oil on your popcorn?”

With flapping of wings, a large bird suddenly flew through the open patio doors into the living room. It crashed into my shoulder at full speed, then dropped to the floor in a whirlwind of quacks and feathers.

“What the fuck!” Gul rushed to me. “Are you alright? Did it hurt you?”

“I…” I stared at the bird.

It was a duck. It sat on the floor with something that looked like a corner of a bundle peeking out from under its wing.

“What a stupid bird,” Gul muttered, irritated. “If it was alive, I’d think it had rabies.”

“Actually…Ouch.” I winced, moving my shoulder. “It feels sore. I may need some ice.”

“Be right back.” Gul rushed back to the kitchen. “Lay down on the couch and don’t move. I’ll take care of it.”

The moment he disappeared through the doorway, the duck straightened its wings and moved aside, revealing a small bundle.

I unwrapped the paper, which was a note, written in now well familiar handwriting.

“Drink the potion, it will take you home. Hold the duck in your arms when you drink it. The horologe is pre-set to take you back to the same time you left from. And always remember, I love you.”

Longing and tenderness spread through my chest at once, like an explosion. There was no signature this time. But I didn’t need it to know who it was from, even as he’d never told me he loved me before.

The bundle held a slim vial of burgundy-colored liquid, and the duck had a leather strap wound twice around its neck like a bejeweled collar. It was set with metal gears and pale blue stones.

“Here is the ice.” Gul stomped back into the living room, holding a bag of ice wrapped in a kitchen towel. “Why are you not laying down like I told you?”

Grabbing the duck from the floor, I backed away from him to the open patio doors. As it turned out, I didn’t need to cross the field to be free. I just needed a few seconds to drink the potion.

“Nicole?” He noticed the vial in my hand. “What is it?”

I pulled the cork out with my teeth while backing further away.

Understanding spread on his face.

“No, please, dumpling, don’t leave…”

“Sorry.” Gripping the duck under my arm, I brought the open vial to my lips with the other hand. “I’m so sorry, Gul, but you can’t hold me. I need to go.”

Seeing his crestfallen expression, I forgave him instantly for everything he ever did to me. We could never be lovers. But maybe under different circumstances, we could’ve been good friends.

“I can’t stay.” I emptied the vial with the potion in one gulp.