AllFreeNovel
Share Us
So soon? Maury had claimed he was going to spend time wooing Tula, but he’d hardly had more than thirty minutes with her since their arrival. Of course, Maury didn’t really have to worry about whom she’d choose, did he? He held a big threat over Tula’s head. That is, if it’s really Tula?
Tula and Zac found Gola near the bonfire where they’d last seen her. She was talking to a pair of demon females in bikinis. They reminded him of Hilbert. Could be siblings with their lumpy limbs.
“Yes, that color green does bring out the red tones in your back hair,” said Gola as one of the demon chicks pivoted.
See. That’s so like Tula. She always found something nice to say to people.
Zac still felt like this could go either way. The kiss with Tula felt good, but it had been inconclusive. And Gola was exhibiting Tula-like behavior.
“Back already?” Gola asked Tula.
“Yes,” said Tula. “He’s all yours.”
“Shall we?” Zac offered his arm, and Gola took it.
As they walked away from the beach party, toward the festival tents, his stomach felt queasy. Was it a good idea to leave Tula alone?
Dammit. But I don’t have much time. Maury said Tula would have to make her declaration at the big BBQ, which was about to start. He had to be sure who was Tula. If she was still in Gola’s body, he needed Maury to switch Tula back. That would require leverage and somehow backing Maury into a corner. If Tula was in her own body, Zac needed to be ready to extract her once she figured out Maury’s big plan.
The two followed the path uphill between several bungalows. Zac took Gola’s hand and pulled her behind one of them.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Tell me now, are you still Tula?”
“No. I’m Gola.”
“Are you just saying that because you’ve been threatened or coerced by Maury?”
Gola blinked at him. “No. I’m Gola.”
“Then prove it.”
“How?”
“Kiss me,” Zac commanded.
“What if I don’t want to?”
“Look, Gola, I brought you and Tula here because I needed time to find out who was who before Maury tried to take away my mate. So let’s say for argument’s sake that you’re Tula, and he’s said or done something to force you to pretend to be Gola. If that were true, then you need to know I would never cheat on you. I would never abandon you, even if you stayed in this different body. So if he’s holding something over you, now is the time to say so. Now is the time to put your faith in us and in me. I will ensure no harm comes to you.”
“And if I’m Gola?”
“Then help me. Help me protect Tula. Tell me what he’s up to, because I promise at the end of the day, Maury doesn’t care about you or his people. He just wants power.”
Gola nodded but didn’t give anything away. “I have to go now.”
“Where?”
“The main event at the tent.”
She started to walk away. “Wait.” He grabbed her hand, and a tingle shot through his arm. “Gola, just kiss me. Once. I need to know.”
Gola snapped her hand away. “I have to go.”
She marched up the path. Another inconclusive interaction. Perhaps there was still time to retest Tula.
When Zac got back to the beach, the bonfires were still burning bright, but Tula and the crowd had cleared out.
That was fast. Zac turned back and hiked up the hill. The sound of beating drums erupted off in the distance, and the sky glowed with hues of oranges and yellows above. They had to be using some pretty big lights to be seen from here.
Zac followed the path with small torches lighting the way. When he reached the top, he could see thousands of demons gathered into a massive clearing below. In the middle was the biggest bonfire he’d ever seen. The heat was intense. Idiot demons are going to burn down the island. Just past that, on the other side of the clearing, was an empty stage. A banner depicting a burning demon hung across it.
As Zac’s eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Maury, he noticed a small wooden plank extending out toward the fire. The plank was anchored to several tall pine trees just past the clearing. Three people were standing up there.
Are they crazy? They’re going to burn to death. He could already see the end of the plank catching fire.
He squinted, trying to get a better look at whoever was insane enough to—
“Oh, fuck. It’s Tula.” He could see her modest pink dress. Next to her was Gola in her sparkling white cocktail dress.
Zac’s stomach lurched, and his body filled with panic. He rushed down the embankment, shoving demons out of the way. “Move! Move! Move!” He headed just beneath the plank. The heat from the bonfire to his side was so intense, the hair singed on his arms. Both Tula and Gola had their mouths gagged and their hands tied. A large bald demon stood at the less fiery edge of the platform, blocking the two women from leaving. There was nowhere to go but down. Into the fire.
