บท 36: A Man from Her Past
"How serious are you about this mortal woman, Lugh?"
Duncan looked at the man who asked him the question. He had to sigh. Even the Greek gods were curious about his love life and it was starting to irritate him.
Then again, being a god who fell for a woman who was writing about myths and creatures that mortals consider stories, all of them were patiently waiting for the ending of this budding relationship that he had.
They were suddenly the source of entertainment with the higher gods in every pantheon.
Like now, Zeus and some of the Greek gods decided to stay at The Belle for a week. A month after that, it was the Mayan gods. And another two weeks before that Odin was here.
All of them enjoyed their stay. However, what they really wanted was to see the woman who captured his attention.
Julie.
And she was almost nowhere to be seen. Duncan had to smile. Julie had been out of the coach house to eat and check if things were running smoothly at The Belle. Her visits would usually last for ten minutes. Then she would go back inside and write.
Duncan had been sleeping on the couch in her home two weeks. He was taking care of his little family. He had been the one doing the cooking, laundry, generally taking care of the house, and making sure everything that a husband could when his wife was busy.
"Why are you even curious about her?" Duncan asked back.
"She was the first mortal who had your attention this fast," Zeus said as he looked over the top of his aviator glasses.
Duncan had to shake his head. Zeus looked like those silver foxes that graced magazine covers nowadays.
Tall, sporting a white trimmed beard, and muscular. He was currently wearing a dark blue long-sleeve polo that was folded up to his elbows. It was accompanied by a white suspender and light brown khaki pants. The look was completed by a pair of brown suede shoes.
Duncan looked at him and sighed. He was right, Julie was the first mortal to ever gain his attention that fast. How fast? The moment he read her book…that was five years ago.
"She is simply amazing."
Was all he could say to the leader of the Greek pantheon.
How could he describe his emotions towards her? Intense. Passionate. Fierce. Those were the three words that would come first. Next was understanding, caring, and an open-minded outlook in life.
There were many words that he could use. But one stands out.
Mine.
Yes, Julie was his, and the thought of it makes him feel warm and fuzzy inside. He was a god. He should not feel like this. Yet when Duncan thought of her, he could not help but feel awed that their paths had crossed.
"Hmmm…" was Zeus' only reply. He was looking at the reception area where Thor was currently manning. There was something about his tone that made Duncan look in the same direction.
Thor was talking to a man who had a similar height as him. But that was all they shared. Apart from that, there was nothing else.
Yet why does it feel like they have something in common?
Duncan casually walked to the reception area so he could get a look at the man. He appeared normal. He was lanky but had this business tycoon aura about him. His jet-black hair was wavy, and it reached the collar of his jade-green polo.
He looked like an Asian version of Keanu Reeves. And from the accent he had, it seemed like he acquired it.
"Thanks, mate. I'm glad I was able to get a reservation. I was not expecting this."
[New Zealand?] Duncan thought. [What would he be doing here? It was halfway across the world?!]
Thor smiled at the man and said, "Ah, yes. We are happy to accommodate guests from other hemispheres. But, would you mind telling me, what brought you here?"
Duncan hid his grin. Thor must have sensed the same thing. He was not a noisy receptionist, so this was the first time he had inquired about a paying guest.
"Oh, I'm here for the book signing."
Both of them raised an eyebrow at that simple statement.
"Book signing?" Thor asked. The man had been in the reception area taking care of things since he arrived two months ago. He, of all people, would know if there was an event happening he was the first person to know.
"There is? I never thought…"
"Oh, it is not a live event. It is more like an online thing. I wanted to meet her. I knew her for a long time. An' would like to congratulate her." The man said.
Duncan could not help but to read his thoughts. What he read though made him frown and clenched his fist.
This man was part of Julie's past.
He was not the father of her children, thank the Heavens. But he was one of the men who had caused her pain. He was the first man she loved and talked over the phone till she slept.
He was Sasuke.
Of course, that was not his real name. That was the name he kept calling himself in his mind. He was about to dig deeper but Thor was already reading his name on the records he have.
"Mr. Castillo? Did I say your name properly?" T asked.
"Oh, you do not need to be this formal. You can all call me Migs," he replied with a smile. "And yes, you did say my name properly. Is there something else that I need to do?"
Duncan could not help but like the guy. He was polite and was not rude to T. The last set of mortals who checked in was grating on T's nerves. This...Sasuke was different.
"Oh no, I was wondering which author you were talking about. The Highlands boasted many good authors. I wonder which one will be having an online event." T said.
Duncan chuckled. T was bluffing. The only author living in these lands was Julie. So whatever made him say those words, he has no idea.
"Nicollette Claude," Sasuke said. "I knew her a long time ago. She was…something special to me once," he continued. There was a soft smile on his face as he recalled the past.
Duncan suddenly felt a stab of pain in his chest. Who was this man? What does he want from the woman he had discarded? He left her crying, so why now?
The basic primal need to mark Julie as his was strong. She was still on the verge of rejecting him, and this man was threatening his claim to the only person who holds half of his soul.
"Migs?"
Julie's voice was full of questions and confusion when she noticed the man standing in front of the reception area.
Duncan wanted to snatch her away. Or better yet sic Failinis to him. He was not a violent god, not by the long shot.
So why does it feel like Duncan was about to lose her?
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