WitchBite

The Fortune

 I stood in front of his mother, silently infuriated. In some petty, jealous way, I was dumbfounded. How was every family member that I had met so far, just some living example of pure, enigmatic, beauty?

That's not to say that I found Aramis beautiful. He wasn't ugly. I didn't think about it.

Pearly whites on display from a wide, gentle, smile formed of lips a vibrant red. Her skin was a dark brown, and flawless without a single freckle or mole to be seen, save for the odd few that peppered her nose and along her upper cheeks.

Her hair was piled upon her head in a large swirl of thin braids, allowing full display of her long neck that was adorned with a single, silver chain that clutched a small garnet at it's centre.

A black dress, the culmination of the thousand-thousand life works of insects, all for the purpose of of the privilege of being placed upon her shapely body.

"Welcome, my love" She said sweetly. Her accent some amalgamation of African and English. It was comforting, and warm as she presented her cheeks. I suddenly remembered myself, planting a kiss on either one.

"Thank you, and thank you for welcoming me into your home. It's beautiful" I said, all too aware that Aramis was watching attentively. Like he was presenting a project or macaroni painting, and was awaiting approval. Or a gold star.

"Nonsense, all are welcome here, my love. Aramis told me he had made a friend. I am glad to see he's settling nicely" She laughed, nudging her son in a familiar manner. I became aware of where Aramis got his overly sunny disposition from. Every syllable from the rose red of her lips, dripped with a happiness and warmth that made even the most introverted part of me feel welcome.

She smiled sweetly before looking behind me at no doubt more guests arriving. I had barely enough time to splutter out any more formalities of me being polite before she excused herself, gliding off to attend to other attendees.

"I never got to know her name." I commented dryly "Won't she think I'm rude?"

"What? No!" Aramis reassured, "She just fusses over her guests. She won't rest as long as a guest is untended to. She'll feel it tomorrow" He giggled.

"Well, could you tell me her name? So I'm not left feeling rude afterwards?" I asked, as my eyes poured over the other few guests that had arrived, along with the ones that were already mingling. They all seemed the "uppity" type. Fine clothes, and nasally laughs. I didn't recognise a single one, but I suppose that was to be expected.

"Oh, it's Limbani. Limbani Atlee" He answered cheerfully

"So you're Aramis Atlee then?" It was a question that probably had an obvious answer, but considering the almost extreme differences between the family appearances, I had to wonder.

"That's usually how family names work yes" He laughed, clapping a hand on my back as I scowled. "Now. I promised you a drink did I not?"

***

I was glad to see that the company wasn't all stereotypically upper-class elders. He led me into another room in the house, and a level of calm over took me. I could hear the loud chatter of Victoria somewhere amongst the small gathering of well dressed bodies.

The music was loud, but not overwhelmingly so. It vibrated at my fingertips, and thumped my chest in a rhythm that seemed easy to pick up. The lights didn't twinkle with the cleanness of white that was in the previous room with Aramis' mother. They were darker, and colourful. Painting different textures and colours to the skin that was available. Casting vibrant phantasms of shadow that writhed among the movement of bodies. Like an ethereal serpent, swimming through a river of flesh- -