Punished (6 page)

“I wouldn’t know queen. I’m more of a vodka man.” He walked into the large pantry and took an unopened bottle of vodka from the shelf. Wasting no time, he opened it and took a large sip.

“I don’t believe you, you know where it is.”

“Maybe we’re out,” he said casually.

“This is New Orleans. Tourist are on vacation, I doubt Darkwood is out of rum. Please just tell me where it is.”

He lazily twisted a piece of blond hair around his finger and took another gulp of vodka. “I don’t know where it is,” he said, as he walked out of the pantry and into the kitchen.

I knew he was lying. I followed him. “Ivan for once in your life can you please not be an ass and tell me where the stupid rum is!” It was obvious he was getting some kind of sick pleasure out of the fact that I was nearly begging him.
 

“Nah, I don’t feel like it. Why are you looking for rum anyways? Are you planning a romantic moonlit picnic with Prince Charming, complete with Hurricanes and all?” he asked, as he leaned against the long wooden counter in the middle of the kitchen.

“Shut-up, just tell me where it is.” I grabbed him by his arm and dug my nails into him.

“Watch it queen, I wouldn’t want you to leave any marks,” he said easily.

“Ivan, tell me where it is.” I brought my face close to his and tried to look as threatening as possible.

A glint of satisfaction filled his eyes. Ivan clearly knew I was desperate. “I don’t know.” He shrugged, as he drummed his fingers on the counter.

“Fine! You’re obviously a sadist who doesn’t give a crap about helping anyone.”

I knew I was acting like a raving maniac, but I didn’t care. All I could think of was how much blood Lucus must have lost by now. Even though, he couldn’t die, it was because of my stupidity that he was being feasted on by a disgusting spirit. I should have been in his place. It should have been me lying there with Sousson Pannan on my stomach sucking my body dry. I had been an idiot for thinking the spirit world was all innocent. How many times had Grand-mere Bea and Ms. Mae warned me that you never messed with random spirits? Had I listened? No.

 
I started to open the rest of the kitchen cabinets when I felt Ivan’s vodka-infused breath on the nape of my neck. He nuzzled me gently with his nose. I turned around, furious. “What is your problem? If you’re not going to help me find rum, get the hell away from me!” I hissed.

He grabbed a lock of my hair and sniffed it. I backed away in repulsion. “Get away from me, you creep.”

“I can help.” His bizarre grey eyes dug into mine.

I let out a hopeful breath. “How? Do you know where it is?”

“I do.” He gave me a devious smile.

“What do you want?”

Ivan’s gaze wavered for a split second. “Hmmm, let me see…” He placed his index finger on his bum-chin and tapped it lightly.

“Ivan, please,” I said in a sugary-sweet voice, but in reality, I was itching to smack the arrogant smile off his face, which wasn’t as good-looking as he thought.

 
“Hmmmm let me see, hmmm.” He pretended he was deep in thought.

It had been a lousy idea asking Ivan for help. He was impossible and infuriating. “Forget it,” I muttered. I would have to go wake up Ms. Mae and ask her for assistance.

“Don’t give up so quickly queen.” His voice was soft, as he took my hand into his.

As we made contact, I broke out in a cold sweat. The energy I got from Ivan wasn’t like anything I’d ever felt before. It was troubled, melancholy and heated. It made me tremendously uneasy and a bit queasy.

“I just need one little thing from you,” he whispered, as he stroked the center of my palm.

I tried to pull away, but I couldn’t. He had me mesmerized.

“What?”

“I need you to promise me something.”

“Such as?” My heart pounded with remarkable intensity.

“Promise me that you’ll understand.”

“Understand what?”

“It doesn’t matter. You want the rum, don’t you?”

I ripped my hand away from his. “Yeah, I want the rum.”

“Then repeat after me: Ivan, I promise I will try to understand.”

I wanted to scream you’re an idiot! But the emotional part of me was torn. At that second, there was something about the way the light hit Ivan’s eyes, the way it bounced off his hair and the planes of his face that transformed him into a lost little boy. I thought about Lucus and was desperate to get back to him.

 
I took a deep breath I hoped wasn’t making a tragic mistake. “Ivan, I promise I will try to understand.”

“Good choice, queen.” The old Ivan was back, and the hint of vulnerability I had seen was hidden under the mask of an egotistical jerk. “I’ll get your rum. You’re obviously desperate for a drink.”

He strolled back into the pantry at an epically slow pace. I followed.

“So, where is it? I swear if this is another joke…”

“Hey queen, take it easy, its right here,” he said, as he pointed to a cabinet in the corner.

Immediately, I ran over to it and tried to pry it open. “It’s locked,” I said, after I noticed the small latch.

“You’re going to need this,” he said, as he dangled a silver key in mid-air.

“Why do you have the key?”

“I work here, remember?”

“Okay, whatever just open it.” I needed that rum, but Ivan didn’t seem to care. He continued to dangle the key well above my head. I felt like Sabrina salivating over a Birkin bag or a boy.

“Come and get it,” he sang.

“Ivan, you ass, give me the key!” I shouted, as I jumped and tried to make a grab for it. Sadly, my effort was pretty much wasted considering Ivan was way taller than me. Out of sheer frustration I punched him hard in his stomach.

“Tsk, tsk, violence is never the answer.” He shook his head, and his stupid grey eyes blazed with a hint of annoyance. “You’re going to have to do better than that,” he said.

“What do you want now? I already made you that stupid promise. What more can you possibly want?”

“I want you to say it again,” he said easily.

“What?”

“Say it again. Say Ivan, I promise I’ll try to understand.”

He grabbed my bony shoulders and pulled me close to him. “Go ahead queen, say it.” I could see the blond stubble on his chin and the determination in his eyes.

There were a thousand things that I wanted to scream at him and do to him at that exact second. They were all things that grand-mere had taught me were un-lady like.

Instead, I took a deep breath and decided to be as calm as I possibly could. “You’re an idiot and I’ll never understand you even if I tried. The only reason I’m going to say it again is because I need that rum. So, here it goes, Ivan, I promise I will try to understand. Even as, I’m saying these words, I can assure you that I’m never going to understand a thought that comes out of that sick twisted head of yours. You’re pathetic. Now, give me the key.”

A lazy smile spread across his face as he let go of my shoulders. “I’ll take it.”

“Good, now, please open the cabinet.”

Ivan made a colossal production out of slowly opening the lock and cabinet. When he finally did open it, I was relieved to find rows and rows of rum bottles stored within.

I wasted no time and grabbed as many bottles as I could. Sadly, each bottle was pretty heavy. How the hell were my puny arms going to carry seven of them at one time? Maybe if I put them grocery bags it would be easier.

Ivan crossed his arms and leaned against a shelf. “I’m hurt; I wasn’t invited to the party.”

“Bags, where are the bags?” I snapped.

“Dunno.” He shrugged.

I let out a low breath and turned to face him. “You work here, remember? If you have the key to the rum cabinet, I’m pretty sure you know where the bags are.”

“Sorry.” He shrugged again and threw me a smirk.

“You’re useless,” I hissed, as I held the bottles close to my chest.

Luckily, I was able to still move at a pretty decent pace as I made my way out of the pantry.

“Don’t trip and fall queen.” I heard Ivan shout after me.

I knew I was going to eventually pay for my promise, but at that moment, I couldn’t care less.

Chapter 6

Seven Stabs of the Dagger

The pristine New Orleans night had grown tired of shining stars and brilliant moonlight. While I had been indoors, gloomy clouds had invaded the sky and fat raindrops had found their way to the muddy path. The oaks had stopped swaying and were unnervingly still and silent.

I moved at a horribly slow place as I tried to make my way to the gate. Determined to move faster, I started to half-run when I tripped over a single oak branch that was carelessly lying in the middle of the path. Before I could hit the ground, I felt a pair of solid arms secure me and the rum bottles.

“Easy queen, you don’t want to spill good rum.”

“Leave me alone, Ivan.” Why was he following me? I continued to walk ahead, and ignored him. The rain started to fall at a maddening pace and drenched my flimsy kimono.

“Here, I can carry those,” he offered.

I didn’t have time to argue so I thrust a few of the bottles in his hands and continued to walk. I didn’t care if Ivan saw what was happening to Lucus. I couldn’t care less what he thought. All I wanted to do was get to that gate.

“So where are we going?”

“Just walk.” I instructed him.

“You’re awfully uptight queen. Did you have a lover’s quarrel with Prince Charming?”

“Shut-up, keep walking and stop calling me queen. My name is Arelia. It’s not that hard to pronounce.”

“What’s going on up there?” Ivan asked, as we approached the iron gates.

 
“Get away from him, I have your rum!” I tried to sound strong and controlled, as waves of revulsion washed over me. A nearly naked Lucus was still being feasted on by Sousson Pannan. The spirit was still firmly planted on his belly. Lucus’ body was covered in bite marks, and his eyes were sealed shut.

“You’ve come back,” said Sousson Pannan. He turned his hideous blood-soaked head towards me in acknowledgement and climbed off Lucus.

“Who are you rambling to?” Ivan asked, as he placed the rum bottles on the ground. “And what the hell happened to Ken?” He examined Lucus. The fact that he wasn’t at all shocked or horrified at the sight, alarmed me.

At that moment, I was tempted to offer Ivan to Sousson Pannan in exchange for Lucus. It would have been the perfect trade. I was pretty sure that no one would miss Ivan or care if he mysteriously disappeared.

I ignored Ivan and focused my attention on the spirit. “Look, I got your rum. I brought you seven bottles. I’m sure that’s enough to satisfy your thirst.”

Sousson Pannan staggered over to Ivan and sniffed him. “I see you’ve brought me another sacrifice as well.” His yellow eyes scanned over Ivan’s boxer brief clad body in approval.

“No, I’m sure his blood doesn’t taste that great, here take the rum,” I pleaded.