8. The Garden of Good and Evil
Chapter eight
The Garden of Good and Evil
Kazimir
Emily and I followed Delphine into the garden as Maxwell stayed behind, eyeing her suspiciously.
I agree with him. We must watch her.
The deeper we headed into the garden, the more elaborate the aroma of the blossoming flowers and plants became.
But I could enjoy none of the space.
I thought back to what transpired earlier when we arrived, and then I considered the conversation Delphine had with Maxwell.
Shit.
It seemed as if Delphine had—in some unfathomable way—really been infiltrating Paolo’s dreams.
The realization was paralyzing.
How is that. . .possible?
The fragility of our situation suddenly appeared far more tangible.
It was an unseen threat looming large over us.
Thankfully, Paolo appeared just fine. Upon seeing Delphine, his face lit up in childish delight. His reaction told me that she had not harmed him in the dreams or caused any nightmares.
Still. . .this is not good.
Because the revelation also sent a cold, uninvited shiver down my spine.
Additionally, a flurry of questions swarmed my mind.
What did this all mean?
Was it truly possible for her to enter Paolo’s dreams?
It was true that Pavel—though deceased—often frequented my dreams. But I had always attributed that to my subconscious conjuring images of him. Surely my mind was allowing a sweet self-deception to help me get over losing him.
But this is different.
If this woman—this Bayou Banshee—had truly invaded Paolo’s dream, then we had entered nightmarish and frightening territory. The sort that I had never ventured in before.
A cold knot of dread twisted in my stomach.
I contemplated the possibilities, the dire implications of such power.
If Delphine could manipulate someone’s dreams at her whim, then what else could she do?
Tightening my grip on Emily’s hand, I gazed at my mouse.
I need to get her out of here.
While concern etched the corners of Emily’s eyes, hope dominated her gaze too. My mouse wanted to be healed so badly that she would risk her safety to do it.
Meanwhile, I wasn’t that dedicated. I could not lose her, and I had already accepted Lunita, even with the rocky despicable things she had done. If leaving New Orleans today meant that Lunita would remain, I was fine with that.
I have to get my mouse out of here. There must be another way to heal her.
Suddenly, Delphine stopped, glanced over her shoulder, and gave me a sad smile.
Could she hear that? Or is my fear making me lose my mind?
Terror gripped my heart.
Then, she fully turned around and observed me.
Always smart, my mouse watched us, knowing something was happening.
How powerful are you, banshee?
I got closer to my mouse and took a step to position myself in front of her.
Delphine kept her view on me.
Do not underestimate me, banshee. I may not have magic, but I do have nukes.
A smirk spread across her face.
There’s power, and then there’s power. Could you survive a bomb if I dropped it on this property?
Delphine eyed me. “Hmmm.”
I couldn’t decipher what that meant. For all I knew, she couldn’t even hear my thoughts and I was just having a terrifying exchange with myself.
To my shock, Delphine pointed to our right. “This here is chamomile, good for calming the mind and body.”
Emily checked out the plant.
Frowning, I looked too. It was about knee-high, bearing dainty daisy-like flowers. I turned back to Delphine, not comfortable with her being out of my sight.
Delphine gave Emily a sweet smile. “I will make you some tea tonight.”
My mouse blinked. “Will I still be here this evening?”
Delphine bobbed her head. “We have a lot to do, Emily. No need to wait until tomorrow.”
Fear twisted in my core, gripping me in its icy grasp and squeezing tight.
I kept my gaze locked on her. “What will you be doing with Emily tonight?”
Delphine wagged her finger at me. “You have more things than that to worry about tonight.”
Emily quirked her brows. “What things?”
“And over there we have some thyme, which is great for seasoning dishes and also has antibacterial properties.” Delphine pointed in another direction. “But, it’s best for roasted bell peppers.”
I stepped forward and spoke through clenched teeth, “I do not give a damn about roasted peppers.”
Emily got to my side and whispered, “Kaz.”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I couldn’t afford to lose my head, not when we were in the presence of a woman who could invade dreams.
Delphine’s smile grew wider, a look of satisfaction in her eyes. “You should really learn to relax more, Kazimir. Life is too short to be so tense all the time.”
I narrowed my gaze at her. “We did not fly from Moscow to New Orleans to look at plants.”
“You didn’t.” Delphine nodded. “You came to fix a curse that shattered your fiancé’s mind a long time ago.”
Emily trembled next to me. “A curse?”
“It’s all words, Emily. Mental illness, trauma, curse.” Delphine placed her cane in front of her and put both hands on the handle. “It doesn’t matter what you call it. In the end, it is all external malevolent forces, influencing or taking control of a person’s psyche and altering the person’s actions.”
“Yeah, but. . .” Emily swallowed. “Regardless of what name we put on it, can you fix me?”
“I believe I can.”
I still didn’t trust her. “Why would you fix my mouse? We never discussed terms or how much money you would want—”
“I do not want your money, Kazimir.” She gestured to the garden. “I have all I need here and more.”
“You do not want anything for healing my mouse—power, land, weapons, etc.?”
No humor covered her face. “I’m healing Emily because it was someone from my bloodline that harmed her, when she could not protect herself.”
Emily looked away.
Rage bubbled in me. “And? Surely there is more to that.”
“You are correct.” Delphine widened her smile. “Due to what he did, there is a dark curse on my family as well, and as long as Emily’s mind remains divided due to my kin, that curse will get stronger and stronger for all of us.”
I shook my head. “Still. . .I think you are hiding more.”
“Of course I am, Kazimir.”
“What is it?”
“All I will say is that. . .some of your children will be with my kin too.”
I raised my eyebrows. “What?”
“That is another reason why I would want to heal Emily.” Delphine sighed. “I will not have my line further tainted. This curse on Emily ends with us.”
I turned to my mouse.
She looked up at me. “I agree with Delphine. This curse, trauma, whatever the fuck it is. . .this ends here.”
“Good.” Delphine lifted her cane and headed off. “We should finish the tour.”
Emily tried to walk forward.
I stopped her and whispered, “I think we should get back on the plane and leave.”
Emily blinked.
“She fucking went into Paolo’s dreams. Are we going to ignore that?”
“No.”
I tugged her in the other direction. “Then, let’s go.”
“Kaz.” She remained rooted in place. “If she can go in Paolo’s dreams, then she can get rid of Lunita.”
“I do not give a fuck about that. She could harm you and my sons.”
Emily’s bottom lip quivered. “We are safe.”
“Then, why do you look scared?”
“Because I’m not dumb enough to not be scared of her.” She gazed at Delphine.
I looked too.
Delphine continued forward, tapping that cane with each step and looking like a sweet old woman spending a relaxing time among flowers.
I put my view back on Emily. “I do not trust her.”
“I trust her enough to heal me.”
“And then after that?”
“Kaz, what could happen after that?”
I scowled. “I do not think your healing is worth the risk of something else happening to you.”
“Are you fucking serious, Kaz?”
“Of course, I am.”
“Are you forgetting that Lunita killed Olga?”
Sadness washed over me. “I would never forget that.”
“And she had me fucking the gardener.”
Do not remind me.
Rage surged through my body.
“I already told you that I am not leaving New Orleans until Lunita is gone.” Emily let go of my hand. “So, tell me this. What’s really going on? Do you want Lunita to stay?”
“What?”
“Every time I say I am getting rid of Lunita, you flinch.”
“I do?”
She scowled. “Yes.”
“I did not realize that.”
“Well, you do.”
I put my hands in my pockets. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what, Kaz?”
“Like we are talking about my having an affair with another woman.”
“It is another woman.”
“Yes, but she is you .”
Emily rolled her eyes. “I just want you to stop trying to save Lunita.”
“Is that what you think I am doing right now?”
“You surely aren’t trying to kill Lunita.”
I shuddered.
“You just flinched again.”
I gritted my teeth. “Am I to pretend like I do not love and accept the other part of you?”
“The psychotic killing part.”
“Enough.” I bared my teeth at her and pointed at Delphine. “We were talking about the dream-walking witch over there, not me.”
“Fine. Let’s get back on Delphine.”
“Yes.”
“I will make this clear. We are not leaving, until Lunita is gone, so pick out a casket and pour out some liquor for that bitch because she’s as good as dead.” Emily stormed off.
“What? Why would I pour liquor for her?” I glared at Emily. “And we were not done talking!”
Fortunately for my mouse, the sight of her fat ass moving under the soft fabric made me falter for a few seconds and forget what I was yelling about.
But, I got back to my rightful thoughts.
I need help with getting through to her.
I looked in the other direction and checked on Maxwell.
He had already taken out a joint and begun smoking at the edge of the garden. As soon as he spotted me looking his way, he shrugged.
Something is clearly wrong because even Maxwell and I are on the same page.
Delphine called out, “Come on! I am not done showing you both my little slice of paradise.”
I groaned and followed after Emily, still feeling uneasy about the situation.
Delphine stopped up ahead.
When Emily got to her, the woman began talking, but I couldn’t make out any of the conversation.
Trying to save Lunita? Why is she ignoring the fact that this woman is beyond terrifying?
I got to them.
Delphine beamed. “It’s important to me that my family cultivates this land.”
I do not care about this.
My blood boiled.
Delphine gestured towards a blue plant. “This is the Blushing Nightbell. When dusk settles, it unfurls its petals and illuminates the garden.”
Emily focused on it. “So. . .it blooms at night?”
“It does.” Delphine tenderly touched the top of the plant. “When you sip your tea, I will bring you out here to see it.”
I shook my head. “My mouse will not be here at night. Therefore, get to what you need to say, so we can leave.”
Ignoring me, Delphine pointed to another row. “These are my strawberries. Try one.”
I checked out the vibrant patch of strawberries. The fruit gleamed like rubies under the sunlight.
“Go ahead.” A smile played on her face. “Try one.”
“Alright.” Emily lowered, picked two ripe berries, rose, and gave me one.
I took the other one and bit into it. Sweet juice burst into my mouth, and I had to admit, it was delicious.
“Good, aren’t they?” Delphine said. “I grow them without any chemicals or additives. Pure and natural.”
The sweetness burst on my tongue. In fact, the taste was an explosion of flavor, unlike any strawberry I’d ever had.
Fuck.
The strawberry’s sweet juices trickled down my throat, and heat rose in my body, making my cock jump.
A warm flush crept up my cheeks.
I want more.
Licking my lips, I stole a glance at Emily. Her gaze reflected the same intensity.
I want to fuck her.
Delphine watched us and then winked. “There. That is much better.”
What is she talking about?
We began to meander through the garden, but now the air between Emily and I was tinged with a subtle, simmering heat.
Our gazes locked.
An electrifying jolt ran through me. Emily’s earlier composed demeanor was now replaced with a look of raw desire that damned sure matched my own.
Come, mysh. Let us go fuck near the rows of carrots.
Delphine pointed out more plants.
Ignoring the woman, I grabbed Emily’s hand.
Once connected, sparks ignited, and I swore the world around us faded away.
Mysh. . .
Delphine talked about seasonal flowers or something and I moved closer, so close that I could feel my mouse’s sensual warmth.
She gazed up at me, ignoring Delphine too.
I stopped us in the center of the path and whispered, “Let’s go over there.”
“Where?”
“In the back by the corn.”
She chuckled. “Why?”
“To get dirty.” I couldn’t resist trying to be good any longer, and she seemed to feel the same. Emily’s eyes lingered on my lips as she licked her own, a subtle confirmation that we both wanted this.
Delphine walked off, spouting about this and that.
Without any hesitation, I pulled her closer to me and kissed her deeply with all the passion that had been building up inside of me, until there was nothing left between us but shared breaths.
I ran my fingers through her soft hair.
The world fell away as we surrendered to each other.
She moaned, her body moving rhythmically against mine.
So perfect.
It was an intimate dance, born out of raw passion and fueled by a profound love.
Her hands traced a path of fire on the curve of my neck, each touch igniting a flame that threatened to consume my body.
“Yo! What the fuck are you doing?!” A familiar voice almost penetrated through our passion, but not enough.
Groaning, I went deeper into the kiss, craving my mouse more than I ever had before.
My cock went stiff.
Soon, I would pull it out and be slamming that length into her wet pussy, fucking her right over the flowers.
“Eh! Eh!” The voice echoed, a familiar cadence carried over the winds of our passion.
But I was drawn further into the vortex of desire.
Hungry for my mouse, I lifted Emily up and continued to kiss her.
She straddled my waist and moaned.
“Goddamn it!” someone yelled. “What did you do to them?!”
Our groans drowned out the voice.
“Eh!” Soon, the voice became a distant murmur.
Time stood still.
The universe fell silent.
We were lost, entwined within the chaos of our heartbeats, drowning in the depths of each other’s eyes.
It was just us.
Two bodies.
Two souls, melting into one.
Suddenly, something cold splattered on my head and I pulled back.
What was that?
Water dripped down my face.
I looked in the direction.
Maxwell stood on the path, holding a hose.
I shot him a murderous glance. “What the hell are you doing?”
“You two were making out.” Maxwell swiveled the hose to Emily and sprayed her. “Get down.”
“Ah!” She jumped off me. “Stop it. Fucking lunatic!”
“I’m not the lunatic. You are!” Max turned the hose off. “Are you both good now?”
Confused, I blinked through the drops of water. “Wait a minute. Why were we doing that?”
“All I know is that Misha called. I answered. Next thing, I turned around and you two were trying to be porn stars in the garden.” Maxwell dropped the hose. “And it went on for at least ten minutes.”
Ten. . .minutes. . .
The hose fell to the ground.
No. Not that long.
I turned to Emily. “How could that be?”
“My head is a little foggy.” Panting, she looked down at herself. Her hair was wet as well as her top. Her stiff nipples poked through the fabric.
I looked around, a dizzying thought crashed over me.
The strawberries. . .
Then, Emily widened her eyes. “Hold up. Was it those strawberries that we ate?”
“Man, you mean to tell me you ate some shit out of this garden?” Max raised his hands in the air. “Why the hell would you do that?”
Yes. It was the fucking berries. How dare she?
A volcanic fury erupted inside my body, shattering my soul with its intensity.
“Where is Delphine?” I swept my gaze across the garden, desperately searching for the conniving witch.
But she was nowhere to be found.
Emily wiped at her wet shirt. “Calm down, Kaz.”
“Calm down?” Every second that passed was a boiling cauldron of spite and wrath that threatened to consume me. “I am going to fucking tear her head off and feed it to those two alligators I saw on the way here!”
I stormed off. “Delphine!!”