The Destined Queen

Chapter 21

*Winter*

Emerson came back and informed us that Jacob doesn't know who is this Kingmas. And Jacob has also given Emerson a task to do. He has to capture that evil soul which told Gustin to run away from Reinshart. So, here we are. In my living room. Gustin at Ashton's side. And Me beside Emerson. " Do you remember his face? If you can recall him, I may know him or we can call someone who can draw and we can take it to Jacob to investigate. " Emerson said to Gustin. " I don't remember him that much. He wasn't handsome. This I am sure. " Gustin replied. I rolled my eyes. " Your arrogancy didn't go away. You think only you are handsome. You thought like this when we were in high school, too. " Ashten's eyes crinkled as he laughed. " Nonsense. I think Ashten is handsome. And Emerson is handsome too. Rough in the edges but handsome. " Gustin grinned at Emmie and he gave a tight smile. I asked them if they want some snacks. It's evening after all. Yes. It's been a day, after Ashten confronted Emerson about this matter. And he came now with the news. He said he was busy with someone. I wonder who that someone is. Gustin and Ashten nodded yes about the snacks. So, I got up from my place and walked to the kitchen. " Don't burn yourself. " Emerson smirked. He was leaning on my kitchen counter. I narrowed my eyes, trying to dig a hole between his eyebrows. But it didn't work, obviously. " Thank you for the suggestion. " I said and turned to open my fridge. I have got potatoes and egg. Great. Let's make Italian Potato Frittata. I grinned and tool out the ingredients. Emerson was still leaning to the counter and watching me. " Don't you have anything else to do? " I asked. " No. Because your friend doesn't remember that evil soul. I have to ask around. It's lot harder for me now. " " So, go do that. " I snapped. " Naah.. Watching you cook is better. More enjoyable. " Emerson flashed his teeth. I rolled my eyes and resumed cutting the potatoes. I felt a whoosh at my back. I turned and I came face to face with Emerson. He can not touch me. But I felt like his breath was caressing my cheeks. My blue eyes met his grey ones. And I felt something static in his stare. " Let me help you. " He breathed. I nodded, gulping. He took the knife from me with his magic and backed away, and saw black hair and black eyes. " Ashten. " I squeaked. His hands were fisted. " Ash, the snacks will be ready in a few minutes. " I said, walking towards him. He fisted his hands and unfisted his hands. Then nodded. " Emerson is making the snacks. You can come sit with us. " He said. " Yes. Let's go. " I practically ran after him. Our relationship just started, I don't want a misunderstanding to wrap it's tentacles around us.

I sat beside Ashten this time. Gustin raised his brow at me. I shrugged and turned to Ashten. " Tomorrow is Rose's birthday. How should we surprise her? " I asked. Of course I couldn't forget my best friend's birthday no matter what happens. " Let's back her favourite cheesecake for her. Ooh and let's bake strawberry delights. You two love those. We will take it to her home at midnight. " Ashten said. " Great idea. But I can't bake. " " I will help you. Don't worry. " Ashten smiled. " I will try my best. " Yes. I am going to try for my best friend. I am going to bake. " Let's start making it after dinner. I am going to help you, too. " Gustin said. " You should. You are a great baker. " Ashten said. " He is? " I frowned. " Yes. He loves desserts. So, he learned baking. To bake on his own. " Ashten said this secret to me. " It's nothing. " Gustin said, dismissing it with his hand. " It's everything. I didn't know. That's great, Gus. I can call you Gus, right? " " Yes. You can, Winter. " Gustin smiled.

" Snacks is ready. Frittata. " Emerson said, dramatically and kept the tray on the table. " It's not snacks. It's dinner. " Gustin said, chuckling. " Winter was making frittata. " Emerson shrugged. " Yes. Because I am in the mood for it. And in dinner, maybe we will eat salad. And that will be it. " I said. " Good idea. Let's eat. " Gustin rubbed his palms. And we digged in the Frittata. And let me say. It was amazing. I was floating in paradise after eating it. Ashten and Gustin agreed with me and thanked Emerson. I have got to agree, if I would have made this, this wouldn't have this amazing. " Emerson, you really are a great cook. " I gushed. Emerson bowed and welcomed us. " I heard that it is Rose's birthday. Can I bake the strawberry delights for her? " Emerson asked. " You can bake strawberry delights? " I gushed. When he nodded, I jumped from the chair. " What? I love strawberry delights, Man. Why haven't you told me? " I whined. " How did you know to bake it? " Ashten asked. " My mother used to bake it for me. I like it, too. " Emerson smiled. I nodded. " I am going to make extra for you. Don't worry. So, Can I? " He asked. I looked at Ashten. It was his idea after all. " Of course you can." Ashten said. Emerson's eyes shone with delight. " Thank you. Let me bring the ingredients. " He said and vanished. " He does that a lot. " Gustin commented. " So, you don't remember that face? " I asked. " No. I really don't. I only met him once. How can I remember his face by meeting with him once? " He asked. " True. " I sucked my lip. And caught Ashten's hungry eyes at me. I stopped doing it and asked, " I think you should do something extra if you want to impress her. " I said to Gustin. " Impress whom? " He looked at me like I am a damned soul. " Come on, Gustin. Everyone knows that you like her. " I said. " Like whom? " Oh, he is still acting. " Rose. " I said loudly. Gustin backed away in his chair, like someone struck him with an arrow to his heart. " What? Do you think everyone is blind? " " Do you

.. Do you think.... Rose knows it? Is that why she is scared of me? " Gustin stuttered. Gustin : The Playboy stuttered because of my beautiful curly red haired best friend. Rose, you have magic. " Rose is blind. She is exceptional. " I waved my hand to dismiss him. He sighed with relief. " But if you really want to impress her, you should stop scaring her and start doing nice stuffs for her. " " Why is she scared of me? " " Really? Look at you. You don't smile. You don't laugh that much. You are Ashten's bodyguard and your physique. All of it scares her. She is shy and quiet. You should be more nice to her, maybe. Maybe then she will stop being scared of you. " " Why are you helping me? I know you don't want me to date her. " " I didn't know you could bake. My Maw always said to me, " A man who can bake, even if her poses to be a brick, he is dessert from the inside. " I shrugged. " Yeah. Maw told me that too. " Ashten laughed. " What should I do? " " Bake something entirely different for her. And buy some orchids for her. She hates Roses. People think that she might love Roses as her name is Rose. But she hates it. And don't buy anything red. That's all the hint I can give you. " I said. " Thank you. I know what to do. And I have to leave now to start making it. " Gustin stood from his place. " But dinner? " " I am going to eat something later. And Don't worry. That Frittata will keep me full for a while. I should go now." He said and turned to the door. " Behave, Kids. " He said over his shoulder and left. " Wow. He can really be someone's father. " I commented. Ashten's Shoulder shook when he laughed. " Come on. Let's start baking. We will have dinner later. " Ashten said and offered me his hand. I gladly took it and we went to the kitchen.

I took out all the ingredients but only the flour was so high that I couldn't reach it. Ashten said that he will pull it out. But I insisted. I can not bake. So, I have to do these little things by myself. I took a chair and placed it on the needed place. I hopped on it carefully and took out the flour. But before I can give it to Ashten, My chair slipped and I fell. I closed my eyes tightly and was getting ready to hit the floor but two strong hands caught me. I opened my eyes and it met with his black eyes. " I told you I would do it. " Ashten scolded. " I can not bake. I can do these things for least. " " Stop it. You are going to bake with me. " He said. " If I do bake with you, I am going to mess everything up and your hard work will all go to vain. " Ashten looked at me. Really looked at me. " You are afraid to bake, too. Why? " Yes. I am afraid. I am afraid of everything. How can I not be? Rose and Maw are perfect. And I could never bake. I could never bake like them. " I can not bake lile them. I always make a mess. " I said, lowering my head. Ashten sighed and put me down. He pulled me close by my waist. " You don't have to bale like anyone else. If you mess up, I am going to make another one. And if that is messed up, I am going to make another one. But you are going to bake with me for Rose's birthday." " And if it doesn't taste good? " " Then we will spend whole night to bake a single cake. But you are going to bake. " He said, holding my face in his hands and looking deep within me. He always does that when he wants to make me do something. " Prick. " I cursed. " Gorgeous. " He said, smiling. And then his smile faded and hunger returned to his eyes and he licked his mouth. His gaze falling over my lips. I pulled him closer and leaned in. We were just a breath away but Someone dropped some bottle. We turned and saw Emerson. Something was visible in his eyes. But he hid it. " Sorry. I just broke the syrup bottle. I am going to go now. I need it. See you later. " And then he vanished. I didn't dare open my mouth. Ashten turned towards me. I shrugged, like I didn't care what happened just now. But I don't know why and I don't know how but I do care. I don't know why I feel these feelings. It's so confusing. Yes, Emerson is my friend. But he knows Ashten and I are in relationship. He shouldn't care and it shouldn't matter what he thinks. But I do. Maybe a little bit but I do. " Let's start baking. " Ashten said. I nodded and we went to work.

*Emerson*

I kicked a pebble on the street. They were about to kiss. Kiss. Come on. They are in a relationship. They have kissed a dozen times. I shouldn't care. But I do. Why? I kicked another pebble and it hit the wall. I still have to find that evil soul, which Gustin, If I remember his name correctly, doesn't remember the soul's face. I kicked a can. Kids these days. Doesn't even know where to throw wastes. I shool my head, and I put the can in the dustbin nearby. " Wow. Emerson is picking up trash. I didn't knew I would see this day. " I turned and saw Vincent, one of my friend. He was a hunter back in the days. " Vince. " I gave him a bear hug. " Why are you picking up trash, bro? " He asked. " I have got nothing to do. " " Well, I have plenty if things to do. Jacob has appointed us to find the " Kingmas." He air quoted. " You are in that group? " " Yes. I was a hunter, remember? " I nodded. " Did you find anything? " I asked. " No. Nothing. This Kingmas is clever. Whoever he is. He is very very clever. He doesn't leave any clue behind. " Vincent said, sighing. " You look tired, Man. " I said, patting his shoulder. " I am tired. I know souls can not be tired but this Kingmas is making us suffer. Everyone in the group is frustrated. " He sighed again. " Tell me if I can do anything about it. Okay, Bro? " I said. " Yes. Sure. Didn't Jacob give you any task? " " Yes. He has. He has told me to search for an evil soul who told my friend's friend to run away from Reinshart. " " You mean your girlfriend's friend? " My old friend smirked at me. " She is my friend. " I said. " Yeah. Yeah. Fool yourself as long as you can. " My friend said and disappeared. Is that what I am doing? Fooling myself?

I am fooling myself if I am falling for her. A soul, and a human can not be together. They can never be together. It's impossible. I shook my head, and went to buy the strawberry syrup that I dropped.