Page 23 of Buried Souls
I don’t recognize myself, and yet, I’ve never felt more alive.
“Do not ever go into the forest again, Elena,” Niko threatens, his voice low, hooded eyes locked on my face while stroking thecurve of my spine. “I forbid it. And next time, should you disobey me, I won’t take it so easy on you.”
CHAPTER 11
“An Unexpected Tenderness”
The heavy drops of water fall across the window, hitting it withrelentless determination. I lift a heavy lid, my face planted into the plush cushion in my temporary massive bed, groaning with desperation.
“Does it ever stop raining here?”
The morning has only just begun and I’m already feeling miserable. I need to return to civilization. I can’t stay in this place any longer.
My thoughts flood, yet again, with Nikolas. With his fervid touches and the sounds that he pulled from me not too long ago, how he masterfully played me like a fiddle, had known every one of the spots that would make me sing with ecstasy.
Goosebumps rise across my skin as I recall his skillful hands.
“Focus, for Christ’s sake.”
Opening my eyes wide and exhaling a lungful of pent up air, I roll over in bed, my gaze still locked on the rain splattering across the glass window. I observe as a single miniscule droplet makes its way down the panel, hurrying to catch up with the rest of its fellow comrades.
I despise the rain with a passion; can’t stand the depressing atmosphere that it brings with it, nor how quickly a few drops could turn into a devastating flood that swarms everything in its path, leveling entire cities and wiping all life from existence in the blink of an eye.
It always astounded me how everything in nature is balanced out, how everything has its polar opposite, completely different in every visible way to the human eye yet deep down in perfect unison and harmony.
Every rose has its sharp thorns, the soft flower appearing only feeble and delicate but when it pricks you by its razor-like points, all such illusions evaporate into mist. Do I too, have a darker half to my soul, one that is lethal, hidden away deep insideuntil something provokes it, leaving a path of utter destruction behind?
Snorting, I sit up, rubbing my face with the palms of my hands.
“You can barely squash a bug, Elena. Hardly a dangerous force of nature.”
Finally getting out of bed, I walk out of my room and climb to the top floor, my mind already buzzing with excitement at the impending hot shower.
“Why are you up this early?”
I jump, hand flying to my chest. “Jesus! You scared me!”
Hunter frowns, clearly annoyed. “As long as you don’t confuse me with a forest wraith again, we’re good.” He goes around me, strolling down the long hallway.
“Wait!” I hurry after him, trying to catch up to his long strides. “Do you know when the weather will be letting up? I need to return to the Institute.”
“Sorry, stranger, it looks like you’re stuck here for another day.” He winks, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. “But I’m sure you’ll find something to occupy your time with.”
Cheeks flushing from embarrassment, I muster up the courage to ask the one thing that’s been bothering me since last night. “Why were you in the woods earlier?” He ignores me. “How did you know I was there?” I grab his arm, stopping him midstride. “You saw it too, didn’t you? The dark form. Is that why you went into the forest, to investigate?”
“Do not—” He removes my fingers, peeling them off of his arm. “–ask stupid questions. This ismyhome, I can go wherever I please,wheneverI please. A piece of advice.” He leans in, his brown eyes piercing me. “Do not stick your nose into things that do not concern you.”
Without another word, he hurries down the lavish steps, leaving me standing dumbfounded on the landing.
“I can’t wait to finally leave,” muttering under my breath, I return to the bathroom to wash up and make myself look somewhat presentable.
After what seems like hours of pampering and cleaning my body, I make my way down to the kitchen, ready to start my interrogation anew only to find Rein standing behind the counter, yet again, cutting up a freshly baked loaf of bread.
The smell of garlic and roasted almonds invades my nostrils as I go over to him, the addictive aroma of fried bacon with a side of scrambled eggs and fresh cucumber attacking my senses until saliva pools in my mouth.
“Did you make all of this?” He nods without stopping. “This is incredible! How do you know how to make all this food?”
“I was a chef, long ago,” he rumbles, not bothering to look up at me as he piles the slices of warm bread onto an ivory porcelain plate embellished with the gold outlines of rabbits and butterflies. “It was my business to know. Now, make yourself useful and set the table.”
