Grimoire

Alex:
Well! …These almost forty-eight hours I have been away from her have served me to realize that the more time we spend together, the more the little witch comes to fascinate me and the more she despises me.
So, she has filled up with enough courage to ask it head-on. Mhm, how intriguing. She is so resolved and serious, I have never seen her like this. It's as if her haircut had taken away all her spark, all that energy that makes her so different and special in my eyes.

Yolie:
He looks me up and down. I don't know what he is looking for but it makes me uncomfortable. I bring my arms to my chest in a defensive posture and wait for his response. His eyes twinkle maliciously.
— I need you to perform a ritual. The next moonless night, you will have to dance naked, in the nearest cemetery. Then we will fuck like rabbits in heat on one of the graves and that's it. You will be able to return home. – he smiles.
I'm frozen.
—If you think I'll do that, you're more insane than I thought! - I explode, taking as many steps away from him I can.
— Good! - He applauds satisfied. - There is my little witch. I was worried about you. Now, don't get upset, that's not what I need from you. Your mission is very important, you'll see. Come with me.
He turns around, walking over to a small glass case near the far wall of the library. He takes out the silver rosary and inserts the key, opening the cabinet.
From it he takes out a very old book. It is huge and lined with gray leather. A belt with a buckle keeps it closed, on the cover there is a phrase written in Latin:

**Vim veneficae in gemini passione et in luce lunae excitandis.**

Alex offers me the book and I take it. It weighs a lot.
—It's fortunate ... you like reading so much. I hope you find it interesting.
—What is this? What does it contain? - I ask.
—Truth is, I hope you tell me. Hopefully, it will be a book that contains the spells and recipes of a very powerful sorceress.
—A sorceress? - I repeat, flustered.
—Yes. One with whom you share family ties.
He takes the book from me when he sees that I wince at its weight and we walk towards the couch. We seat down on it.
— You see ... magic or the genes that make you susceptible to certain supernatural forces, are transmitted from generation to generation from mothers to daughters. In your family, by the way, the power is enormous. You are the last living descendant of the Sorceress who wrote this book.
My head hurts. My thoughts go in a thousand directions at once.
—You mean I'm ... I'm some kind of witch?!- I screech, standing up and walking nervously to and fro, in front of him, shivering with cold.
—Yes. You are. You and all the women in your family before you. At least on your father’s side.
—It's impossible. Aida, my grandmother, lived almost seventy years and never flew on brooms nor prepared or casted spells on anyone. - I reply sarcastically.
—The broom thing is nonsense. However your '' Aya '' was adept at preparing concoctions. There was no one in all of Havana who knew more than she about natural medicine and the use of herbs to combat diseases and ailments.
—That doesn't prove anything. - I mumble as I wonder how does he know that's what I used to call her?
—Doesn't it? Then, what about you?
—What about me?
—Yes, you. How many times have you opened your eyes and suspected you'll have a bad day? How many times, while you were on duty, did you presage the arrival of a particularly difficult case?
—Simple coincidences, nothing more. - I let out a muffled whisper.
— Oh yeah? And how many times have you had the name of a person you know haunting your thoughts for days, only to discover that that person got injured, died or suffered some tragedy?
I pale
—How do you know all of this?
—Let's say that a couple of centuries ago I began to desperately search for a descendant of the Sorceress, afterwards, whe I found this book I also needed someone who could be able to read it. It took a long time, but I finally found you and your grandmother, ten years ago.
Ten years ago I was sixteen.
—Can't you read it?
He shakes his head.
—It is not written in any human language. It’s not even one of the many dead ones. This book is sealed with
magic and only a carrier of it will be able to understand the secrets it keeps hidden.
—Carrier? You speak as if it were a disease.
—It's just a way of saying.
I realize suddenly.
—That's why you've been calling me "little witch”, right? You wanted me to get used to the idea, so that I would assimilate this news more easily; at the time you gave them to me.
—I'm surprised- he says- you're really smart, precious.
I roll my eyes at him.
—If you found us ten years ago, why has all this happened now? My grandmother would have served you the same for your purposes ... - I shudder. A sick idea twists my guts.- Aya, she died the same night they hit me. When I woke up in the hospital and the nurse told me, I thought the news of my accident had killed her but they said no, they said my grandmother had already been dead for an hour when the hit and run happened. You said someone tried to assassinate me. Her also? Is it possible that she was bled to death by one of you? Do you think...?
— No. Your grandmother had all her blood when the necropsy was done. Believe me I was there. Her heart failed. Her death was of natural causes. But you're right, the person who tried to kill you was at your house. There were very slight traces of scuffle that the police misinterpreted. I think the attacker wanted to know your whereabouts and fear for your life may have triggered the heart attack that killed her.
My legs give under me and I fall to the ground, in tearful hip.
Aya died because of me. It wasn’t the news of the accident that killed her but the person who tried to kill me must have mistreated her and scared her to death.
—Patrick and I were at your house five minutes before you were hit. Your grandmother was lying dead in the kitchen. From there we caught the scent of her attacker and we followed the trace, but we found you when you had already been hit.
He approaches me trying to wrap his arms around me in an attemp to console me.
Oh no. I'm not going to be fooled again.
I dry my tears quickly and straighten up to whatever standing my measly one-foot height gives me, walking backwards and getting as far away from his enslaving touch as I can.
—What is it? Why are you running away from me, little one? - He asks in a tone of voice ... sounding almost... hurt.
It's time to put the cards on the table.
—Look Alex, I'll be clear. I agree to try to read that... book. But in return you will have to do something for me.
—I'm not going to send you back to Cuba, don’t even think about it. - He snaps angrily.
—I didn't think you would. After all, you need to make sure that I really do my best to figure out whatever it is you want to get out of there. - I say pointing to the book.- No. What I propose is an agreement. I will study the pages of that thing and you will let me out one day a week. Yulia tells me that the other side of the island is somewhat rustic, but there is still a fairly populated city.
—I'm going to fire Yulia! - He yells angrily. Opening and closing his fists convulsively.
—Do whatever you want. Overall, I already have a bad reputation with the islanders because of what happened to Kostas and his family. Fire them all but I warn you, you won’ t find people willing to work here for less than a month and be fired over one of those to a tantrums of yours.
—Tantrums? - He repeats almost laughing.
—Yeah, tantrums. And another thing, I demand that while I'm under your roof, you won’t kiss me, touch me or enter my room while I sleep again.
His eyes become as huge as dishes. I have left him speechless.

Alex:
The witch doesn't understand it. Even if I wanted to stay away from her, I wouldn't be able to. I can't stand being away from her for long. My trip to Athens proved it to me. I was restless and moody the entire time.
I’m like an addict, and the worst is that the only thing I crave for her isn’t her blood. Her body attracts me powerfully. The memory of her nakedness,her delicious skin, her moans, her passionate kisses drive me crazy.
I roar in helplessness.

Yolie:
His roar has rendered me deaf for three seconds. I didn't expect him to react like that, I imagined he wouldn't be happy, after all I’m taking away the entertainment he had at hand. This is just a slight setback for him, “women love the Kyrios very much" as Yulia would say, he will find someone else to have fun with sooner than I imagine.
—You won't believe it, precious, but what we have, what exists between us is not a common attraction- . Alex whispers through his teeth. - You are as incapable of staying away from me as I am from you.


Yolie:
His roar has rendered me deaf for three seconds. I didn't expect him to react like that, I imagined he wouldn't be happy, after all I’m taking away the entertainment he had at hand. This is just a slight setback for him, “women love the Kyrios very much" as Yulia would say, he will find someone else to have fun with sooner than I imagine.
—You won't believe it, precious, but what we have, what exists between us is not a common attraction- . Alex whispers through his teeth. - You are as incapable of staying away from me as I am from you.
—Stop saying stupidities, Alex. You were in Athens for almost two days and I didn't even miss you. What's more, I would have been perfectly happy if you’d never returned!
—You're angry and I understand it. - he whispers compassionately. - Your grandmother's death weighs on your conscience but do not blame yourself for it.
He tries to hug me again but I glare at him.
—I don't blame myself for what happened to my Aya. It wasn't my fault but yours! You somehow led the killer to us, I'm sure. You said they tried to murder me because of you. I hate you! So ... either you leave me alone or I swear I'll stick a knife through your bloodsucking heart.
Alex laughs out loud, tousling his hair with his hand, merrily.
–—You say the most incredible things at the most inappropriate of times. Mhm. All right, little witch. I will leave you alone. But keep this in mind ... you will need me. There will come a time when desire will prevent you from thinking clearly. You will want my kisses more than water and you will miss my caresses more than you miss your happiest memories. Come get me then, you know where to find me.