I will return

55

Ah, the delight of seeing N' Goo Tuana hold back... there, on the other side of the bar, swallowing the insult with tight lips. You're forced to serve your new customers, and seeing the look of surprise on their face is almost as satisfying as the insult itself. Seeing Fred and Daphne enter, N' Goo tries to hide the shock, although I know that it was a direct blow to his pride.

"It can't be... N' Goo Tuana, from Spooky Island," says Daphne, visibly surprised.

N' Goo forced to remain calm, replies:

"Yes, it's me... how have you been, Daphne?"

-Good. "I haven't seen you since you were arrested," she replies, tossing out that line like it's a light joke, but for N' Goo there's nothing light about that memory.

I see him struggle to smile, no doubt remembering how he ended up in prison; kind of an old joke that's not funny anymore. In my mind, the timing is perfect: he could have been spared that humiliation if he hadn't kicked me and made fun of me when we shared a cell. I remember how he dared to tell me that I could never maintain my transformation for more than a day. Well, now things have changed.

From Tom's eyes, I watch as N' Goo Tuana pours a couple of drinks for Fred and Daphne, and then leaves, still chewing on his frustration. Tom, under my control, remains silent, enjoying the show.

—Are you excited for the fight? —Fred asks Daphne, struggling to follow the conversation.

-Of course! —she responds enthusiastically. —I've wanted to see a wrestling match in person for a long time. And even more so now that they can call someone from the public to volunteer.

The enthusiasm in Daphne's voice is such that I notice how N' Goo Tuana, on the other side of the bar, drops the glass jar he was cleaning. The noise is enough to catch everyone's attention, including Daphne, who turns to him.

-Are you OK? —she asks, looking at him with concern.

"Yes... I'm just going to get a broom," N' Goo responds quickly, and motions to one of his employees to cover the bar.

With quick and somewhat rigid steps, N' Goo Tuana heads towards the winery. But I, from inside Tom, know exactly who he plans to go after: Zarkos. It is obvious that he intends to warn him or perhaps plan something. But I can't let that interfere with my plans. So I leave Tom's body and return to my little hiding place in the corner of the warehouse, where the Daemon Ritus is waiting for me at a table.

I look at it with determination and murmur to myself:

—You won't, N' Goo Tuana.

This time, everything is going to go according to my plan.