by Angel Sefer
The next entry remaining in the diary wasn’t until three years later…
July 23rd, 1988
The angel of death will be knocking on my door in the middle of winter. A few months later, when the snow melts and the trees blossom, she will be born… Happiness and joy, but beware—the wolf is lurking in the dark…
There it goes again, Helena thought, and the blood ran icy cold in her veins. Reading this entry again, she was shocked to realize Eleana predicted her own death; and not only that, she predicted Helena’s birth as well, as Helena was the baby born a few months after Eleana’s death.
Helena drew a deep breath and turned the page. Frustrated, she found out there were no more entries in the diary. Now what? She was even more puzzled than before, and was left with so many unanswered questions. What was she supposed to do now? Should she tell Sophie about the diary?
All of a sudden, she had an idea. She would go to visit Asimina. The thought made her uneasy, but what else could she do? According to Dimitris and Sophie, Asimina knew a lot of things. And after all, it was Asimina who approached her first. Yes, she would have to ask Martha where Asimina lived and find a chance to go visit her.
This thought, even though disturbing, somehow made Helena feel a little better. At least she had a plan.
***
Saturday morning, Helena was sitting on the veranda, eating breakfast. Sophie had left earlier to go visit a great-aunt on the other side of the island. She had asked Helena to go with her, but Helena wanted to be alone for a while. She would be leaving in two weeks, and even though, she didn’t want to admit it, she was very sad.
Helena loved this place. For the first time, she felt she belonged somewhere. She liked the island and the people; she loved the sea and the smell of fresh, salty air.
Her thoughts flew back to England and her life there. She had a nice apartment and a few friends; and then there was Steve. It was strange she hadn’t thought about him at all. She knew now she belonged here. She didn’t want to go back. There was nothing waiting for her in England she couldn’t do without.
Oh! How she wished she could stay. What if things were different? What if her family was still rich and powerful, and they still owned the house and the business? She pushed her plate aside, frustrated. There was no use thinking like this.
Getting up, she started walking down the steps to the garden when she nearly ran into someone coming up. It was Alex.
“Hi there!” Helena exclaimed, all excited, and on a sudden impulse, she gave him a hug. She was so happy to see him. She really needed a friend right then. It was funny considering him as a friend, she realized, since she had only seen him once before.
"Wow!” Alex said and squeezed her tightly in his arms. “If I knew you would be so happy to see me, I would have come earlier."
"It’s really good to see you again!"
“It’s good to see you, too, Helena. You look wonderful!”
“Thanks,” Helena smiled warmly. Taking him by the hand, she led him up the steps to the veranda.
“Have a seat,” she said. “What would you like to drink?”
“Some juice will be fine,” Alex said. “It’s real hot today.”
“Yes,” Helena agreed. “I was thinking of going swimming in a little bit. Would you like to join me?”
“I have a better idea,” Alex said and smiled enigmatically.
“What?” Helena asked, feeling curious and restless.
“It’s a surprise,” he responded, and left it at that.
“I’ll go get your juice,” she said and started for the house.
“Why don’t you go get your bathing suit instead?” Alex suggested.
Helena stopped and looked at him for a second. “Okay,” she agreed, after a moment’s hesitation. “I’ll go get ready. However, I have to let Martha know where we’re going. I don’t want Sophie to be worried when she comes back.”
“You’re right,” Alex sighed. “Let Martha know we’re going on a boat ride to a beautiful cove on the other side of the island.”
"What a wonderful idea!" Helena exclaimed. This is exactly what she needed. Some fresh air and nice scenery to take her mind away from her gloomy thoughts.
"Great!" Alex said. "I’ve packed some sandwiches for lunch. I have so many things I want to show you. There is a secret place on the other side of the island. It’s just beautiful!"
"A secret place?" Helena laughed.
"Yes, we used to go there when we were children. It’s a small cove. The water there is crystal clear, and the sand is so soft to the touch. There’s also a cave. People say pirates used to hide treasures in there."
"That all sounds very exciting," Helena said, and felt impatient. She ran into the house to let Martha know where she was going.
***
Martha really liked Helena. She didn’t know her when she was little. The housekeeper back then was Katina—Martha’s older sister— who had passed away a few years ago. Martha had heard a lot about the beautiful, little girl with the golden hair and the blue eyes. When Helena got there, she felt as if she already knew her; and after she met her in person, she liked her even more.
When Helena told her she was going out on a boat ride with Alex, to visit a small cove with a cave on the other side of the island, Martha got alarmed. She had the feeling there was a storm brewing, and she didn’t find it a good idea to go out on a boat. Not to mention the fact, she didn’t trust Alex at all. She considered him foolish and reckless, and didn’t like the idea of Helena going out with him.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Martha said hesitantly.
“It’s all right, Martha,” Helena said. “We won’t be long.”
“But there’s a storm brewing...” Martha went on.
"The weather is just beautiful,” Helena insisted. "Besides, we’ll be back in a few hours," she concluded, and turning on her heel, she ran out of the kitchen.
Martha hesitated for a moment and then picked up the phone…
***
Helena ran upstairs and changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She made sure she took her bathing suit with her. Who knows? If that place were as wonderful as Alex described it, she wouldn’t be able to resist going for a swim. Helena was cautious about swimming in places she didn’t really know, but there were no sharks or anything like that around here. The only things she had to be careful of were currents, which sometimes were too strong even for the best swimmer. That’s why she had to swim where she knew the waters were safe. But Alex should know the currents, she thought. After all, he grew up on the island. So she had nothing to worry about, she tried to persuade herself, trying to ignore the warning bell going off inside her head.
She rushed downstairs and stopped for a second to look at Martha, who was standing at the kitchen door, squeezing her apron in her hands.
“I’ll be back soon,” Helena yelled over her shoulder, rushing to the French doors which led to the veranda.
Alex was waiting for her, and they took the narrow path to the beach. As they were going down the steps, she saw a beautiful silver grey speedboat anchored at the dock, right next to Dimitris’ white and blue one.
They made it down to the beach and walked on the dock to the speedboat. Alex got on first and reached over to help her aboard. Then he went and sat behind the wheel.
Helena joined him, lifting her face to enjoy the revitalizing caress of the sea breeze on her face.
The sun was shining bright and there were no clouds in the sky, except a big dark one further to the east. There’s nothing to worry about, she thought. This cloud was so far away. And in any case, if it got closer, they would return immediately.
As the speedboat engine came to life, Helena got all excited, like a schoolgirl on a field trip. Alex maneuvered the vessel away from the dock and out into the open sea. His moves were smooth, and Helena felt relaxed, since he seemed to know what he was doing and where he was going.
***
Hel
ena was actually having a good time. Alex turned out to be such a nice guide, and he knew a lot about the island. When they finally got on the other side—where the cove was—Helena held her breath. It was as beautiful as Alex had described it and more. She clapped her hands like a child and couldn’t wait to step on the secluded beach.
They decided to go for a swim and then have some lunch. Alex was already wearing his bathing suit underneath his jeans. Helena went behind some rocks to change into her bathing suit.
As she approached him on the beach in her light blue bikini, she saw the desire burning in his eyes, and a feeling of nervousness washed over her. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all, she thought and bit her lower lip, slowing down her pace. After all, what did she really know about Alex, besides that he was Stella’s cousin and had grown up on the island? She remembered the way he looked at her at the beach the night of the party and how uncomfortable it made her feel. And here she was caught in the middle of nowhere alone with him. What is the matter with me? Why am I acting like this and never listening to anybody? What am I doing out here all alone with a man I’ve only seen once before? She always knew her impulsiveness would get her in trouble one day.
Alex must have noticed her hesitation, and taking a deep breath, he walked towards the water.
Now what? Helena wondered. Maybe it was just my imagination, she tried to reason with herself. In any case, she couldn’t just stand there. She took a quick look around and was alarmed by the isolation of this cove. There seemed to be no other way out of there but the speedboat. So there wasn’t much she could do.
“Come on!” Alex yelled over his shoulder, as he dove into the water.
Helena watched him for a couple of minutes and then decided to follow him in the water. I’m just being foolish, she thought. This wasn’t the first time a man stared at her with passion and desire in his eyes. But this was different. She had never been in a situation where she was isolated in the middle of nowhere with someone she hardly knew. It’s too late now for second thoughts, she decided. All she could do now was play along and pray that Alex was the nice man he seemed to be at first.
She followed him in the water, trying to keep a safe distance.
Alex didn’t try to get close and was his cheerful, carefree self again. So after a while, Helena relaxed and let her guard down.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me, Helena,” Alex said, approaching her slowly. “I would never do anything you didn’t want me to do.”
Helena looked at him, and seeing the sincerity in his eyes, she let out a deep breath.
“It’s okay,” she murmured. “It’s just that we’ve just met...”
“I understand,” he reassured her. “I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. You’re a beautiful girl, and I have to admit that I like you very much. But I won’t pressure you into anything. I’ll just be your friend until you decide if you want me to be something more than that.”
“Thank you,” Helena replied, relieved, and gave him a warm smile.
After the air was cleared between them, Helena’s spirits were lifted again. She started enjoying the water, which was cool and refreshing.
They played and splashed in the water like children.
This is paradise, Helena thought. Too bad I’m leaving soon. Maybe it would have been better if I hadn’t come back, she thought bitterly.
"What's the matter?” Alex inquired, probably seeing the sadness in her eyes.
"I was just thinking how much I’m going to miss this place when I leave," Helena admitted.
Alex stared at her skeptically. "I didn't realize you’re planning on leaving," he said. "I thought you were back for good."
Helena looked at him and decided to change the subject. It was too painful for her to talk about leaving. She didn’t want to spoil this beautiful day with gloomy thoughts. "What about lunch?" she asked, "I’m starving."
"Me, too," Alex admitted. "I’ll race you to the beach."
Helena didn’t realize how hungry she was until he opened up the basket and pulled out the sandwiches made out of fresh baked bread with feta cheese, tomatoes, and meatballs. He had also brought some fresh peaches and grapes, as well as a bottle of wine.
They laid their beach towels down and sat on the soft, golden sand, eating and enjoying the beauty surrounding them.
"I must have died and gone to heaven," Helena said and sighed.
Alex looked at her and smiled. "I know I’m dead,” he said, "because I’m sitting here with an angel."
Helena gave him a warm smile. "Be careful what you say, I might take you seriously someday." Before he could say anything, she continued, "What about the cave? When can we go see it?"
"As soon as we finish our meal,” he replied.
Helena couldn’t eat another bite. She lay back on her beach towel and closed her eyes.
Everything was so nice and simple with Alex. Why can’t Dimitris be like that? She was astonished by her thoughts. Why did she have to think about him? Every time she was having a good time, his thought would come and haunt her. She could see his handsome face with the dark brown eyes staring at her disapprovingly. Why doesn’t he like me? Does he think I’m going to try to get the house back? And how could I do that, even if I wanted to? She decided to leave all these complicated thoughts for later. For now, all she wanted was to relax and have a good time.
“Let’s go see the cave,” she said, and got up.
"Let's go," Alex agreed, "and after that, we should be getting back."
Helena raised her head and looked at the rocks surrounding the little cove.
"There’s no other way you can get here, only by boat,” Alex said, seeing her look. "That’s what makes it so private."
"It’s beautiful,” Helena said. “I can’t wait to see the cave.”
They walked towards the entrance of the cave. The entrance was big enough to allow light to penetrate inside, but in any case, Alex had brought flashlights for them.
All of a sudden, Helena felt a cold chill and hesitated.
“What’s wrong?” Alex inquired.
“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I just had a weird feeling…”
“Everything is fine,” he reassured her. “I’ll go first,” he added and walked inside the cave.
A minute later, Helena followed him. The moment she stepped inside, she was fascinated and forgot her first negative impression.
It was chilly in the cave, but she didn’t care. There were hundreds of stalactites and stalagmites in different shapes and colors. The ground was wet and slippery, and Helena had to be careful walking. It was like a magic kingdom, and she felt like a princess.
Alex explained to her that it took hundreds of years for each one of the stalactites and stalagmites to form. The ice had taken the form of objects and animals, and they had a good time trying to guess what each stalagmite resembled the most.
They lost track of time, and when they finally left the cave, they were surprised to see the sky covered with heavy clouds. Alex was alarmed and told Helena they had to hurry up. That's when they heard the first thunder. They put their clothes on in a hurry, picked up their stuff and carried it to the boat.
When they left the cove, the wind was blowing hard. The speedboat was rocking pretty badly. Helena felt sick to her stomach. She sat in the back, holding on tightly to her seat. Alex was fighting the wind and the waves. He was trying hard to keep the boat away from the rocks—they were too close to the rocks of the beach, but the howling wind wouldn’t let them get farther out. She wanted to help, but she didn’t know how. She knew nothing about boats.
It seemed they were at the same place forever. The wind got stronger, and it was raining hard now. Helena was freezing, soaked to the bone. She was really scared… she should have listened to Martha. She knew they would be worried about her, but nobody could come to their rescue until morning.
"We have to go back," Alex yielded. "There’s no way we can make it in this weather.
We’ll go back and find shelter in the cave for the night."
Helena knew he was right. Then again, she hated the thought of spending the night in the wet and cold cave with no supplies or dry clothes. She knew she would be sick by next morning, but better sick than dead. So she had to agree with Alex to go back. After all, what choice did they have?
Alex was trying to turn the boat around. All of a sudden, they crushed into the rocks. The boat rocked violently. Helena lost her balance and found herself in the water. When the initial shock was over, she started fighting for her life. The waves were pulling her under, and she couldn’t breathe…
Something hit her on the back, and she screamed. It was a piece of wood from the boat. She was already tired, so she desperately grabbed hold of it. She tried to float on it to rest her aching legs and arms. She had to find Alex.
She called out for him and looked around. She could see other parts of the boat floating, but Alex was nowhere to be found. She called out his name one more time, and she thought she heard something to her right. She started swimming towards there as fast as she could. She finally saw him, floating a few feet away from her. Like her, he was holding on to a piece of wood from the boat. She got near him and saw he was in worse shape than her. There was blood on his forehead; he must have hit it when the boat crushed into the rocks.
"We have to make it to the beach," Helena yelled, in order to be heard over the howling of the wind.
"You go ahead,” Alex said. "I can't make it. I’m too tired already."
"I’ll help you," Helena yelled at him, trying to sound reassuring.
"No!" he yelled back. "You go ahead. You’ll never make it with me."
Helena wasn’t listening. She grabbed hold of the piece of wood he was holding on and started kicking her legs towards the beach. She was exhausted and aching all over, but she wasn’t about to give up. I have to help him. I just can’t leave him behind. She tried as hard as she could, but she couldn’t make it far. The wind and the waves were working against her. Her arms were numb. She could no longer even feel the wood beneath her skin. Her grip was weakening, and she’d kicked for so long, fighting the waves, that her legs barely rippled the water with their movements. She realized, alarmed, that the fortune teller had been right. I’m going to die.
