Sun Moon & Stars Volume II Call Of The Skull Men

CHAPTER 9

Shomak's car halted in front of a big apartment building. He parked the car and guided Ela towards the lift. It had started to rain on the way. Even though they rushed towards the entrance they got drenched.

She noticed Shomak pressing the twelfth-floor button entering the lift.

"Where exactly are we going?" Ela asked shaking strands of her hair to brush off excess water. He pulled her towards him with a jerk and whispered, "to my mother's flat."

He was about to kiss her but the lift had arrived at its destination. "Come on," they stepped out of the lift and walking through a long corridor reached Sudha's flat. Shomak opened the door with the keys he had pocketed earlier as Ela read the nameplate designed on oval maple woodcutting: Dr. Sudha Moitra.

She followed Shomak inside. It was very dark except for the balcony lights that glowed a shade of yellow and flickered under the heavy rain thrashing on the window panes. Shomak didn't bother to put on the lights and watched Ela going towards large transparent sliding windows overlooking the street.

The rain had slowly partnered with gushing wind and was now hitting the windows in full force. Ela gripped her saree looking out on the streets that seemed empty except for a few cars parked here and there.

Shomak turned her towards him in one swift move. He kissed her hard keeping a firm grip on her waist. His hands slide up and held her neck tightly. There was some kind of urgency and domination in his kiss that Ela couldn't recognize. Shomak was suddenly behaving in a very restless manner, which made her worried. "Stop rushing!" she smiled whispering over his lips.

She frowned suddenly getting a pungent stink of sulphur mixed with rotten flesh. Shomak's body emitted reddish vapours. He then slowly opened his eyes and stared at Ela with a half-grin. Ela's smile disappeared; seeing the familiar black of Shomak's eyes transforming into deep red gradually and his veins protruding through his skin in a dark blue shade she shuddered. He smirked dragging Ela's face closer to his lips, "You are mine Purnima, marked and ready for mating with a host!"

When Nishi had left Nandan there was a soothing calm breeze blowing across the theatre complex. Hence she, like others, had underestimated the weather reports. But halfway towards Gorkel's house, it had started to rain heavily. Somehow driving slowly, keeping her fingers steady on the steering wheel, Nishi managed to reach the narrow north Calcutta lane.

This visit was particularly irritating for her because of two reasons. First, she hated Girish who was a complete pervert and second Gorkel's house was on the other side of the city. The journey from Nandan to Gorkel's house was almost an hour and had it not been for Ela she wouldn't have made the effort.

It was a struggle for her to find a good spot in that narrow lane for her hatchback. However, she managed. Cursing her late friend for leaving such an important diary to his irresponsible brother Nishi walked down towards his house. After about ringing the bell four to six times Girish opened the door. "Hi Nishi!" he flashed a welcoming grin which Nishi ignore. Sidestepping she marched towards Gorkel's study, "Spear me the courtesies, we both know you lack in that part!"

Unlike his brother Girish was a disorganized individual who preferred things jumbled up. Hence, Gorkel's study was now a complete mess. While he searched for the diary Nishi patiently waited to scrutinize the fellow.

She was meeting Girish after a long time. His straight hair reached up to his neckline, his jawline had become sharper, he was way taller than Gorkel and of course, he was well built compared to the skinny boy who reluctantly left Kolkata on his brother's insistence.