BLACK ROSE (COMPLETED)

19 -

No matter how much the rose petals tried to dry me off, it would be a stretch to say I was entirely dry when I was soaked down to my underwear. Thankfully, Derin, ever so thoughtful, offered to lend me some clothes.

We ascended to the second floor of the villa, entering her room. Derin's bedroom was so vast that, with a little effort, a family of four refugees could probably live there, managing as best they could. I dare say, if you included the walk-in closet at the far end, you could comfortably fit a family of eight or ten with plenty of room to spare. With the hundreds of garments in her closet to inspire them, perhaps one of the children might grow up to be a successful fashion designer, their life transformed.

As I casually surveyed the room, I heard a faint hissing sound. The sound of a snake, and it was coming from directly behind me.

"Derin?" I called out without turning around, my tone almost dismissive. "I've seen that snake transformation trick before, in the school bathroom. Don't waste your breath. You won't scare me a second time."

"Pardon?" Derin replied, coming closer and looking at me with puzzled eyes.

Wait a minute... Even with Derin by my side, the hissing hadn't stopped. It was still there, right behind me!

My eyes widened in terror. "De-Derin," I stammered, my voice betraying my fear. "If it's not you this time, then what's hissing behind me?"

"Tısssotti."

"Tısssotti?" I repeated, confused.

"Yes, my anaconda. I got him while I was on holiday in Italy."

"How delightful," I muttered sarcastically, frozen in place with fear. "Does he bite?"

"He doesn't bite."

"Well, that's a relief."

"He swallows, Ece. Whole. In one gulp, without a bite!"

"W-what!"

"Do you know what snakes love to eat most, Ece?"

"What?"

Derin placed a hand on my shoulder, leaning in close to my ear to whisper in a voice dripping with menace, "Spiders... Especially a big one like you. Simply irresistible."

The hissing grew louder, closer. Tısssotti was undoubtedly creeping up on me from behind.

"Look, I'm already scared enough as it is. Could you please not make this situation any more dramatic than it already is? And get Tısssotti away from me, pretty please?"

Derin gave a playful pinch to my cheek. "I don't know who else I'd tease if it weren't for you, Ece," she said with a grin. "Tısssotti! Back to your lair at once! How many times do I have to tell you not to snack on my guests!? Hmm?"

As Derin scolded Tısssotti, the hissing slowly faded away. It seemed the snake was obedient after all and slithered off. For the second time that day, I had narrowly escaped death... Perhaps I should have stayed home, peacefully praying eight to ten rak'ahs of Sunnah instead of attending this birthday party. Then none of this would have happened.

With Tısssotti's departure, Derin turned back to me, her voice light. "Now that's taken care of, where were we?"

"I was just about to recite the Shahada in fear," I replied, still trembling.

"That's not what I meant. I was going to lend you some clothes." Derin disappeared into her walk-in closet, emerging moments later with a selection of clothes and a pair of sneakers. "I don't have anything modest for you, my little spider. But I think these will fit you."