Thicker Than Water....

Chapter 10 - The Desired

I found myself lying on my bed.  I'd blacked out downstairs and someone, Vittorio, I presumed, must have brought me upstairs.  Quickly checking, I was relieved to find I was still fully dressed under the bed-throw. Not, I reminded myself, that that was a particularly important issue under the present circumstances.  I half expected Kula to be sitting, watching me, but no, she was nowhere to be seen.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, rose carefully, testing my balance before standing fully upright.  My head felt a bit odd.  It dawned on me that Kula must have drugged the tea I'd had earlier.  What did Vittorio call her? Priestess?  Just how long had she been prepping me for this day, I wondered.  Just recently?  Or since she married Peter?

Peter!  Oh god! Surely not him as well?  Was he in on this?  I prayed not. There had been no sign of him earlier.  He should have been back from the wake for quite a while certainly when I had had my "introduction" to Vittorio.  Was he OK? Had they hurt him? I had to find out one way or the other.

I opened my door. I was momentarily startled when the huge hulking frame of 'Snake-eyes', or ghoul, as I had been informed by Kula, instantly blocked my way. I was equally surprised to find that he didn't scare me now.  In fact, when I thought of things, I wasn't frightenend by any of this anymore.  How could that be? Was I still feeling the effects of the drug? Was it  the fact that I now knew my nightmares were nothing more than a prelude to these "people" coming into my life? Or was my concern for Peter my reason for feeling so strong? "Move it, ugly!" I growled.

The muscle-massed beast raised a solitary eyebrow.  He stepped aside.  That was easy, I thought, before quickly heading to the stairs. Soft classical music floated up from the sitting room.  Delibes' Flower Duet, from the opera Lakmé .  One of my parent's favourites, and mine, if I was honest.  I loved the harmonies of the two women, Lakmé and her servant Mallika, as they gathered flowers by a river.  It was a haunting, yet calming melody.

Kula was standing in the exact same spot as earlier on.  She turned as I entered, and eyed me narrowly.  This woman was a stranger to me now.  Cold, unfeeling, with a dark soul.  "Where is your husband, Kula?"

She stared in disbelief at my accusatory tone.  "He had to go home," she replied coolly.  "Business."

   "Convenient!" I spat.  I didn't know whether she was telling the truth or not. I merely dismissed her then, by strolling past her without a second look. 

Vittorio, lounged on the sofa, eyes closed, conducting the opera singers with an invisible baton.  "Ahh, you have awakened," he said, never opening his eyes.

   "So," I started, trying to sound more confident that I actually felt.  "Tell me about my birth mother."

Finally, his emerald eyes were fixed upon me.  "Impatient," he smiled.

   "Hardly! I've been adopted for twenty years, albeit news to me until recently."

   I heard Kula shuffle from one foot to the other.  Was my forth-right approach to her "master" a little too unnerving for her?

Vittorio's eyes sparkled in amusement.  "I am indeed fortunate that you are my Desired, Sienna."

  Oooh! That sounds so .....wrong! panted Baby Si.

 "I don't understand what that means, yet," I said, " but for now.....I want to hear about my birth mother."

His eyes were intense as he held my gaze. "Alright." He patted the space on the couch next to him, inviting me to sit.  I chose the chair opposite.  My defiance appeared to amuse him.  "Where shall I begin..."