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I wandered toward the back of the room, searching for Zoran. This place was such a maze, yet he was always saying everything had a purpose. I finally spotted him standing by a long bookcase filled with containers of all sizes. He was running his finger along the labels before grabbing one with an orange liquid inside.
Peering down at the vial in my hand, I cleared my throat.
“What is it, Fin?” he breathed, not turning around.
I held out the bottle. “Here.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “What is this?”
“To replace the one your brother took.”
With a crooked smile, he placed his things on a nearby worktable and took the vial from me. “Where did you get this?” He took off the top and smelled it.
I sucked in my lips. “It took me all afternoon to get them.”
He laughed softly and place the bottle on the shelf amongst the others. “Don’t collect any more. You’ll lower the price.”
I rolled my eyes. “A thank you would have been fine.”
Zoran didn’t reply. He sat down on an elevated chair near a desk, which had a long list rolled out on it. I tugged on the coat I was wearing.
“I’m busy, Fin.”
“I was just wondering if could have some more clothes?”
He waved his hand, and a pile appeared on the table. “You know, Fin, every time you ask I give them to you.” He propped his head up and gave me a smirk. “Maybe you should try asking more often. Unless you like wearing mine.”
Clenching my jaw, I snatched the stack. “You’re so infuriating sometimes. Normal human beings aren’t like this.”
“Says the boy addicted to fire.” He turned in his chair. “I’m a god. There’s nothing normal about me.”
I growled in frustration and marched off. I stopped near a tall stack of books and glanced back at him.
“Yes?”
“I—I... is there...”
“Spit it out.”
“Is there somewhere I can take a bath?” My stench was starting to get to me. Patches of my skin were also still stained black with ash from the morning’s events.
Zoran chuckled to himself. “I’ve just been waiting for you to ask.” He pointed with his pen, and things started shuffling out of the way. A door appeared with an arched top. “If you had asked, I would have shown you sooner.”
My temper was reaching its limit. This man was so frustrating!
“I’m starting to think going with your deranged brother would have been the better option!” I exclaimed, stomping off.
I pushed open the door and looked inside. Steam was rising from a large bath. Water ran down a wall with smooth stones embedded in it. I put my clothes on the ground and threw off the coat. A case with different bottles sat by the wall. I opened it and started smelling the contents.
They were the strangest-smelling soaps. All had a spicy scent about them. I grabbed one with a lime-green coloring and set it by the pool ledge. I dipped my foot in, and my head rolled back. Heavenly. The water was so hot it was almost boiling.
I jumped in and dunked my head under the water. “Finally,” I breathed.
I’d needed a bath weeks ago. I floated around for awhile before returning to the side to get the soap. At least, I hoped it was soap. Turning the bottle around, I didn’t see any labeling. I shook the container, and it started to create a foam near the top. Taking that as a good sign, I decided to test it first in the water before putting it on my skin.
Climbing out of the bath, I knelt at the edge and poured a little of the liquid into the pool. It started to bubble and quickly spread.
“Wow.” I dumped a little more into the water.
The bubbles grew higher. I smiled to myself. This was really cool. I dumped a little more and slipped back into the pool. I gathered up a big armful of suds. They smelled amazing. No more waxy soap and bathing in frigid creeks like back home.
I sat down on the underwater seats next to a row of stained glass windows. I could see the lava river and the sirens starting their nightly routines. Besides the company and devil fairies, this place was really beautiful.
A splashed sounded on the other side of the room. I sat up, but couldn’t see over the mountains of bubbles, some of which had spread onto the floor. I sunk back down and placed my head on my knees. A wave bumped up against me.
I climbed onto the seat and started parting the bubbles. “Hello?” I sidestepped over to the waterfall but still couldn’t see anyone. “If someone there?”
Something brushed up against my leg.
“What the hell?” I jumped back and dug through the foam.
A large green tail disappeared into the cover of the bubbles. “Oh my god!” I nearly dunked myself in the process of trying to get to the nearest ledge. I quickly pulled myself out and backed into the corner. A head appeared barely above the edge of the bath. It swam back and forth until it rose up enough to show its eyes. Besides the green skin, it looked human.
It started to make a sound like cackling. The creature’s webbed hands gripped the edge, and it swayed.
“Zoran!” I called. “Zoran, there’s something in your bathroom.”
The creature lifted itself out of the water. It stared at me with its head still wavering like a snake.
“Zoran!” I said, louder. I scooted against the wall.
The creature laughed. At least, I thought it was a laugh.
“Hi,” I whispered. “You can go back in the water now.” I stood and inched along the wall. “I’m done. You can have it.” I shuffled towards the door.
Its eyes followed me. Its cackling started again, and I froze. I swallowed hard. The fish-human smirked at me with its head still constantly swaying.
I smiled back.
Its smile widened, revealing a mouth of pointed teeth.
My eyes bulged. “Curse the gods and this whole damn garden!” I ran for the door. “Zoran!”
I slipped and skidded across the tile straight into the water. I opened my eyes to see the mutant swimming right for me. Self-defense kicked in automatically. Curling into a ball, I felt the explosion happen.
Water flew everywhere as the blast was expelled from my chest. I had a second to take a breath before what was left of the water all came rushing back into the pool. I was slammed up against the far wall.
I struggled to get my feet under me for a moment, before I shot to the surface, gasping. I climbed onto the small ledge between the waterfall and windows. The room was filled with steam. I couldn’t see anything.
A black form appeared, and the cackle returned. I pulled my knees to my chest and took deep breaths. The form turned and swam at me.
“Zoran!”
With a loud bang, the windows shattered. I covered my head, but no glass fell. The steam quickly escaped, and Zoran appeared on the other side. The green fish creature ran for a tunnel on the side of the bath. Zoran waved his hand and a black rope wrapped around its tail. He yanked the creature out of the water. It struggled to get free as it was brought over to the god.
The god grabbed the mutant’s neck. “I’ve told you to stay out of here.”
It hissed at Zoran.
He glanced down at the now empty bottle on the ground. “The boy belongs to me. Go find something else to eat.” With a flick of his wrist, Zoran sent the creature flying into the water.
It re-emerged with the waterline just below its eyes.
“You’re lucky to be alive. Attack him again and see what happens.”
The fish glanced at me, and the laughing started. It slipped beneath the water and disappeared into the hole.
I didn’t move. My heart was still pounding. I couldn’t even take a bath anymore without worrying about demon human-fish trying to eat me. Everything in this garden was possessed.