Page 103 of Bubblegum Pop

“One favour,” he said, the pressure around us suddenly vanishing as he lifted a single finger.

We were reeling, puffing and panting as we adjusted ourselves in our seats, and absorbed his statement.

“What do you mean ‘one favour’?” I croaked.

He watched us with curiosity as we managed to catch ourselves before he continued.

“Oh, well, it’s all quite simple,” he replied. “In exchange for your freedom, you will owe me a favour, to be redeemed at a time of my choosing.”

“So, can she leave?” Zeus cut in instantly, forcing another smile from Michael.

“Well… I wouldn’t particularly say you can just ‘leave’, but as long as you boys continue working for me, I’ll give you that leeway. Obviously, you’ll have to relocate. I can’t have my other hosts finding out about this generosity. But, yes, Candy,” he looked at her, “you would be freed from your contract if you took me up on my offer.”

“I accept,” she said instantly.

“Wait, hang on,” I said. “When you say ‘favour’, what are you actually talking about? Do you mean anything? Anything at all?”

“Indeed. Though I have no idea what that anything might be right now. I’ll simply wait until I need you.”

“But literally anything?” Zeus asked. “Like, we could die kind of anything? That sounds even worse than a contract.”

“I can’t deny that, depending on the nature of the thing I require of you, there could be a high chance of death. Your size would be a great benefit in a number of ways, so we’ll have to see. I can’t make any guarantees at the moment.”

Silence blanketed the room as the realisation of what he said sunk in. He was providing us with an answer, and I already knew I was going to say yes. I’d agreed to anything he asked if it meant Candy could stop being a host. But the idea of us finally making a real life for ourselves, only to have it ripped away by one of us dying, made me sick.

Candy’s throat bobbed, meeting at me with pleading eyes. “I don’t want to live like this anymore,” she said, her voice hard.

I closed my eyes slowly, my brow furrowing as I replied. “Okay,” I said on a breath. “Okay, fine. We’ll do it. Odin?” I looked at him. The gentle ache which usually lived between us had faded into slight wisps after last night, and I was so relieved that it was difficult not to wrap my arms around him and pull him to me. While knowing Zeus would press in behind me and sandwich Candy and me between them, as we should have done from the very first day.

The thick vein which ran clear up Odin’s temple strained as he grit his jaw as the three of us were peering at him expectantly. I knew he wouldn’t say no, but the same as me, it was hard to accept the idea that our pack could be destroyed when we had finally given in to this.

“Yes,” he said reluctantly, folding his arms, glaring at Michael, who simply smiled. “But we’ll need time. We can’t just leave.”

“Oh, absolutely. You don’t expect me to just throw you out on the street?” Michael tilted his head. “Why don’t you take the day to arrange yourselves, and we can meet again tomorrow to go over the finer details? You all must be exhausted from your little ordeal. In the meantime, I’ll draw up a contract.”

“What?” Candy jolted, her gaze flying back to him. “What do you mean ‘a contract’? I thought you were freeing me from mine.”

“Well, you didn’t think you were going to get away without signing something. Contracts are my forte, after all.” He chuckled with a flourish of his hands.

“Thank you so much,” I said before any of my pack could cut in. I had to get us out of there before we did anything to ruin the chance he was offering us. “Is there anything else you’d like us to do?”

“You’re very welcome. We can discuss such things later. I wouldn’t want to keep you. I can see you’re itching to leave.”

We rose, the leather from the seats creaking as Michael watched us patiently. Odin and Zeus tucked Candy under their arms, and I followed behind.

I was almost through the door when Michael called out to me, “Oh, and Apollo?”

I turned back just before I shut the door.

“Do make sure to take care of her. You never know what monsters are lurking in the dark.” He sent me another soft smile, a hint of his deadly strength curling towards me.

I swallowed, my throat dry as I nodded. As I left, I prayed that whatever he had in store for us would come far, far in the future.

Candy

We stood outside Club Heat, looking up at the building from the other side of the road.

People rushed past us from both directions, throwing us scowls and glares for standing in the middle of the pavement with two suitcases blocking their way.

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