by Nas Magkasi
Adriana came in the door. He admired the lovely way she glowed, as if she’d swallowed fire. Perhaps she was even more beautiful than he remembered. He wanted to devour every inch of her with his eyes, have her imprinted in his memory for good.
He kissed her with passion. Her lips were a little cold, but it could’ve been from the breeze as she descended the house on the hill. She also tasted a bit like fish. But who was to say that Domenico didn’t taste like fish too? After all, it was their daily diet.
“How did it go with your mother?” he asked.
“Oh, you know, she ended up crying the whole night.”
“That overjoyed, huh?”
“She certainly was something.” She chuckled.
It was a new kind of laugh. Something higher pitched with a hint of mischief. He’d never heard her laugh this way, but perhaps she’d picked it up from the people she’d been living with for the past few months.
“She didn’t get upset again, I hope?”
“No,” Adriana said. “She’s fine.”
“That’s good to hear,” Domenico said. “She seemed to have calmed down before I left. Otherwise, I would’ve taken you with me.”
“Mother can be a bit much at times, but she and I are fine now.”
Domenico nodded. “I bet she was just relieved to have you back.”
“Precisely, darling.”
Domenico noticed her temples were dotted with sweat.
“Are you hot?” he asked.
He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and began to dab at her temples.
“Maybe it’s this tight dress,” she said. “I’ll feel better when we’re out by the sea breeze. Oh how much I love the sea.”
She turned to the window and stared out longingly.
“Of course,” Domenico said. “I have everything ready. Let’s go.”
Little things were different about Adriana. Things that he would only notice after extended time apart. The way she walked. Her laugh. The way she stared boldly into his eyes instead of shyly. He knew he needed to adapt to it. But sometimes he got the feeling that something in her had greatly changed. Not by anything particular that she’d said or done. It was just a feeling. Something about her had shifted. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Just something he needed to get used to.
He took her hand as they walked. Her palms were sweaty and burning hot that he had to unleash his grip. It was strange. Her lips were cold, but some part of her was hot.
“Adriana, are you feeling well?”
Her blue eyes widened.
“Why of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Maybe I’m just being overly concerned,” he said. “Or maybe it’s the heat that’s making you so hot. It’s just that your palm felt like it was on fire.”
“Oh, darling,” she cooed. “Maybe I’m just nervous.”
It was strange that she would pout. Adriana never used to pout or call him “darling”. She was way too demure and soft-spoken.
He spread out the picnic blanket on the sand. They found a quiet spot away from the fishermen who were coming back to shore. Domenico had taken a day off just to be with her. Gio decided to take the day off too. Domenico wasn’t sure where and why Gio was going, but Gio wouldn’t offer an answer.
He’d made all of Adriana’s favorite things: angel hair pasta, a cherry tomato salad. Adriana used to love to watch him cook. Her mother didn’t cook anymore and she had to fend for herself. That was how they fell in love. She used to come over and he and his mother, when she was still alive, taught her how to cook.
When Domenico spread out the food, Adriana didn’t comment at all. That was odd. She always made a fuss whenever he cooked for her and shower him with compliments. She only glanced at it and her gaze reverted back to the sea.
“Are you hungry?” Domenico asked.
She turned to him and a wide smile stretched back on her face. The smile was odd as well. Almost fake. The eyes didn’t smile, just the mouth, the stretched-out lips revealing two rows of teeth.
“Sure, I am,” she exclaimed. “Starved!”
The way she looked at the food said the opposite. She looked like she wanted to hurl.
“Are you sure you’re not sick?” he asked. “You can tell me.”
She shook her head. “Maybe I’m just getting used to being back and I feel a little dizzy, but it’s nothing serious.”
Domenico was concerned. “You might feel better after eating. Here.”
He gave her a plate of the pasta.
“This looks real appetizing,” she said. “Hmmm.”
“I bet you haven’t had this in a long time.”
“No,” she muttered. “Never.”
She was supposed to take a fork from the blanket, but she did something else that was odd: she grabbed the pasta with her fingers and shoved it into her mouth.
She chewed for a long time, her lips stretched out to maintain a close-lipped smile.
“This is delicious, thank you.”
“Did you learn to eat with your hands recently?” Domenico asked.
“Huh?” She was still chewing.
The old Adriana would’ve inhaled the plate in a minute.
“The old couple who took care of you didn’t like to use forks?”
“What old couple?” she asked.
Domenico grew really concerned now. Maybe Adriana did have brain damage.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “The ones who took care of me. Why, they ate with their hands.”
He slowly nodded. “Okay. That explains it then.”
He ate his pasta with a fork and Adriana watched him curiously.
***
Maj was so sick of smiling. She didn’t know how humans did it all the time. And being nice. Human affection and love. Calling him darling and my love. How nauseating. Almost as nauseating as the plate of what he called food that he tried to feed her.
It used to be so simple. As a siren, all they had to do was sing and the man would be wrapped around their fingers. How did it come to this? Everything about being a human was hard. Their bodies weighed so much. It was nothing like being out in the ocean – the freedom of swimming anywhere she wanted! It was only a few days, but she missed being out in the water so much.
She hated walking, those rigid human legs that she had to maneuver. It took her forever to travel. How did humans even run with such things?
This girl’s body was cold at first, but she was burning up, thanks to the demon’s spell. All she wanted to do was to rip off this detestable dress and plunge into the cool waters.
Instead she had to sit here and make eyes at a human that she couldn’t even eat, consuming vile human food instead. What was it, some rubbery dough? She’d rather eat a tuna fish.
She couldn’t bear another bite. If she were to have her way, she’d lay Domenico on the sand and use the fork and knife that he was so fond of to carve out pieces of his flesh and meat. She heard that humans often used fire to cook meat, so she would have to try that too.
She salivated at the thought of it, and couldn’t wait to get married. On their wedding night, she’d tie him to the bed and begin roasting him.
Which meant the sooner she got him to marry, the sooner she’d get to taste him.
For now, she couldn’t resist kissing him. She got to lick him and get a taste of what was to come. That damn demon would destroy her if she did something more.
She pressed her face hard into his. At first he was taken aback, but he pressed in too. She slipped her tongue inside his mouth. Unfortunately he still had the taste of human food and she slipped her tongue back out. She kissed his face, his neck, his chest. His shirt got in the way, so she ripped it open and licked down, tasting his nipples, his chest hairs.
“Wow,” Domenico exclaimed. “When did you get so wild?”
“I could eat you,” Maj said.
“I missed you too, but people might be watching.”
It was too hard for her to stop. She nibbled a
t his flesh, sucked and left hickey marks all over his chest. She so desperately wanted to draw his blood to her lips.
“I really want you,” she muttered.
“I want you too.”
He struggled, but succumbed to her touch, although he seemed to be in pain. The stupid guy had complained earlier about her skin being too hot. Let him burn. She grabbed him in all the hard places, squeezing him everywhere, hoping he’d let out at least one yelp of pain.
All of a sudden she pulled away, breathless.
“I can’t sleep with you,” she asked. “Until after marriage, of course. Then we can make all the love we want.”
Domenico looked confused. He looked at her strangely for a few seconds. Then he pulled out a piece of bread from the basket.
“Break it,” he said.
She didn’t know why, but it might’ve been some strange human ritual. She pulled the bread in half. Something fell from it.
It was a ring. A diamond bulging from its outer surface.
“Adriana,” he murmured. “I’ve wanted to marry you the moment I set eyes on you. Please do me the honors of being my wife.”
Maj snapped her head back and cackled. Wasn’t that how humans displayed their joy? By laughing.
“Yes! Of course I will. This is really the happiest day!”
“My mother gave this to me before she died,” he said. “I think she always knew I would give it to you. I’m telling you because I want you to know that that’s how long I’ve wanted to marry you.
Domenico slipped the ring on her finger as Maj pretended to beam. Indeed the diamond did look pretty. Maybe this wasn’t a bad gig if she had this pretty little thing. For the first time all day, she smiled for real. Domenico would soon get a lovely ring of his own.
Chapter Six
Mistico had visited Adriana and Domenico on only two more occasions. She mostly stayed away because they only had eyes for each other. Plus, Adriana didn’t seem to care about Mistico’s presence. It was as if she didn’t recognize Mistico at all.
Domenico came one night to tell her that he and Adriana were getting married. She was happy for them and of course wished him well. She’d expected them to get married, as that had been the plan all along. Domenico had talked about it often even when Adriana had been missing. It was what he wanted and she would support them.
He invited her to go wedding dress shopping with them in the town of Portella, where there was a boutique of wedding dresses.
She agreed. This time, she hoped to reconnect with her best friend. Perhaps Adriana’s distance was all in her head. Adriana had been through a lot after all, and maybe her memories hadn’t all come back yet.
“Mistico, darling!” said Adriana when she arrived at Domenico’s door. “Is that a new dress? How fantastic! Green looks great on you!”
Mistico hugged her as a way of greeting. It was odd how enthusiastic she was. Adriana never used to be so…extroverted.
They set off immediately to Portella on a buggy. The couple sat on one side while Mistico faced them.
Nothing was odd. Adriana had her arm wrapped around Domenico and leaned on his shoulder. He looked content. She kept showing Mistico the ring and talked about how lovely it was. Yes, Mistico agreed it was quite lovely. She told her so, yet Mistico had the burning feeling in her stomach again.
This is not Adriana.
Mistico squeezed her eyes shut. Then she turned to the scenery. They had to pass through the forest to reach town. Her father lived nearby. Could he sense this too?
She watched the trees to calm herself, hoping that the burning feeling would go away.
It wouldn’t.
It’s not her. It’s not her.
Stop it, she told herself. She was just jealous. Adriana deserved happiness and she shouldn’t be so petty.
Finally they reached the wedding dress shop in town, and Mistico was relieved to be on her legs. Walking would help her stomach perhaps, and quell the voices in her head.
“Welcome to the shop,” the shopkeeper said. She was a matronly woman in her fifties.
Adriana smiled at her. Mistico noticed how strange her smile was. It was rubbery and stretched. She bared teeth, as she’d forgotten how to smile. Her eyes were blank. Not full of warmth and light like the Adriana she knew. But maybe she was just being too judgmental.
“We’re getting married tomorrow,” Maj said, gesturing to Domenico.
“That soon?” said the lady. “How lovely, congratulations. We’ll have to find you the right dress today now, won’t we?”
“Yes, we better,” Maj showed off her ring as well. “Isn’t it lovely?”
“That is certainly some diamond,” remarked the shop lady. “It might just be the prettiest diamond I’ve seen in the 30 years I’ve worked here.”
“Thank you,” Maj said. “I need a beautiful dress to match. The best one that you’ve got.”
The shop lady began gathering up a selection of her frilliest dresses. Mistico was concerned for Domenico because she knew that they cost a pretty penny. He was certainly not rich.
“Are you sure you can afford this?” Mistico whispered.
“Don’t worry about it,” he replied.
But she could see that he was worried by the tense look on his face. Or maybe he was worried about other things. Like the fact that the girl trying on the dresses wasn’t Adriana…
Mistico tried to steer Adriana to the less expensive dresses.
“What about this one?” she touched a long lace number. It was lovely and romantic, perhaps something Mistico would choose for herself one day.
Adriana wrinkled her nose. “It’s too boring. Who would wear something like that? Right Domenico?”
“You can pick whatever dress you like,” he said. “I’m sure that you will look beautiful in any of them.
“Men,” Adriana said, shaking her head. “They don’t know anything about fashion.
Mistico spent the rest of the day watching Adriana try on one dress after the next.
Something was definitely off. For as long as Mistico had known her, Adriana never really cared about shopping or clothes. She wore the same five dresses on rotation for years, and she’d been perfectly content. When she did have to buy a new dress, she would never go for the ostentatious ones. She’d grab the simplest one and bought it without caring to try it on.
“Just who are you?” Mistico blurted out.
Astonished, Adriana let go of a dress on a hanger and turned to her.
“What do you mean?”
Mistico scrutinized her and Adriana stared back with hard eyes. Neither of them blinked.
“I never knew you care so much about fashion,” Mistico said.
Adriana let out a careless laugh. “But it’s my wedding day. The dress is the most important feature of all. Next to the ring of course.”
The burning feeling in her stomach was back again. Without giving Domenico and Adriana an explanation, she ran out of the shop clutching her belly.
She’s lying, she lying. She’s not Adriana. Adriana is gone.
***
Mistico ran to her father’s house in the forest. She knew in her gut that whoever was getting married to Domenico was definitely not Adriana. Maybe her story was true that an old couple did rescue her from a faraway town, but who’s to say that they didn’t do something to her? Changed her somehow. She had to ask her father about necromancy. He had to help her uncover the truth.
Her father was a hermit who usually puttered around his garden. When she arrived, he was down on his knees, talking to a garden snail. He wore regular human clothes now that he renounced being a wizard, just an old man with a short white beard and clear grey eyes.
She could see why he loved the gardens so much. It had every color of roses in bloom and there were peaceful creatures like the snail to converse with. It did beat being out in society sometimes, even Mistico had to admit. Humans could be a harsh bunch. The recriminations that villagers of Tetro had given her father when
her mother died by accident had been severe. They had wanted to burn him.
“Ah, Misty,” he exclaimed at the sight of her. “What a lovely surprise. I was just about to have tea with biscuits. Care to join me?”
Misty exhaled. “Sure.”
She helped him bring out the teapot and the cups out onto the garden table.
“Lovely day, isn’t it?” he remarked. “Where are you coming from, the flower store?”
“No, from Portebello. I –”
Zannan wouldn’t let her finish. A dark cloud seemed to loom over his eyes. “What troubles you, my dear?”
His eyes met hers, probing, curious. He could sense her when he got in tune. It happened when they were close, and she was his daughter; they were connected by blood and by their shared powers.
“As you know,” she said. “Adriana’s back.”
He nodded and listened closely.
“Something’s wrong,” she said. “I don’t believe that she is really Adriana. I’ve observed them and each time I get a burning feeling in my stomach when I’m around her. Do you know what I’m talking about, Father? Does it have something to do with listening and trusting my gut?”
“It depends,” he said, taking a sip of his chamomile tea. “Sometimes the pain is a manifestation of emotional pain.”
“I’ve been observing Adriana,” she continued. “There’s something vacant and dangerous about her. I can’t put my finger on it, but I get the burning sensation in my gut and a voice that tells me it’s not really her. Can you help me figure it out?”
She filled him in on the details, reiterating the story that Adriana had given them as the reason of her disappearance.
“Could the couple have done something to her? Maybe they have powers too. It’s hard to believe that Adriana could survive an entire night at sea on a log. My theory is that she died and necromancy was performed on her.”
One of his caterpillar eyebrows rose.
“Necromancy does not exist as far as I know,” he said. “Once the human soul is gone from the body, when it returns, it needs to find a fresh body. A dying corpse can not contain a healthy soul.”
