Venomous lips

“Beware of the being who watches, who sniffs the air in search of power! Remember the colors, those that determine your destiny, your fortune. Combine, create, and use with care, not too much or too little, just enough to avoid danger,” my grandmother whispers. “Emma, run... run!” she screams with wide eyes full of fear.

I wake up suddenly and stifle a scream of terror at the sight of someone sitting at the foot of the bed.

“It’s about time,” he purrs. “Should we ask Doc to join the party?”

With the barrel of a gun, he touches Dante’s feet until he wakes up. He sits on the bed and rubs his eyes, unable to believe that this is really happening.

“Ivan?” he asks after an eternal few seconds.

My heart beats rapidly, so much that it hurts. I cling to Dante as much as I can and try to hold back the tears uselessly, soon they slide endlessly down my cheeks.

Dante puts an arm in front of me protectively, and that simple gesture provokes a laugh from our visitor.

“Don’t worry, I won’t start with her,” he says still with a smile on his face.

“What do you want? I thought things were settled between us,” Dante snaps without moving away from me.

“Yes, they were, until I heard that your little friend has something that could be useful to me...”

“For God’s sake, what can she offer you that you don’t already have?” Dante asks incredulously.

“Power,” Ivan replies. “Up, both of you.”

Dante gets up without feeling any shame due to his nudity, letting me cover myself with the sheets like a tunic.

“Who told you that? She only offers editorial services, unless you want to distribute a book with your memories, I don’t see how she can help you; if it’s about the guards or fear that she’ll talk, I’ll work for you again, but don’t hurt her,” Dante insists as he approaches him.

“I can get a doctor anywhere, just as I can make a witness danger disappear with a single bullet, but what she has in her hands is hard to come by in any other place, or even in another life,” he responds, looking at me intently.

I hold the sheets that envelop me tighter, I know exactly what he’s talking about, but I can’t understand how someone I’ve never seen before has knowledge of that.

“To the kitchen, now,” he orders, pointing to the door with the gun.

Dante is the first to step forward, takes my hand, and guides me down the hallway. Just one glance at the back of the waiting figure’s hair was enough to recognize her... Malia.

“Hello, Emma,” she says, approaching me before taking me by the nape of the neck and kissing me.

Her lips no longer taste like cherries, a bitter taste floods my mouth. I try to retreat, but her hand still holds me firmly. I can’t get away until she wants me to.

“What’s wrong, baby, don’t you like my real flavor?” she asks, tilting her head. “Of course... The lipstick I used that day was Obsession, how have you been dealing with that? It must be hard to want something all the time that you can’t have.”

She smiles and sits down again, this time looking directly at us.

“What do you want?” Dante asks again, not understanding what’s going on.

“She knows what we want, you’re just a filler so she can give it to us,” she clarifies contemptuously.

“They’re in my dressing table,” I finally say, Dante looks at me expecting an explanation.

“I’ll be right back, honey,” Malia says to Ivan, getting up and walking towards me, “you’re coming with me,” she adds, taking me firmly by the arm.

“Why are you doing this to me?” I inquire, feeling betrayed.

“Why not?” she replies, amused.

It’s true, why wouldn’t she? I take a deep breath and guide her as she wants, hoping it will be enough. She takes each of the seven vials and puts them in a small bag, then takes me back to Dante.

“You’ve got what you came for, now leave!” Dante exclaims, standing between them and me.

“Not everything,” Malia points out. “Didn’t your ancestors tell you the whole story, Emma? This is just one of the two components, only you can use them. It’s your blood that carries the necessary magic to make it work.”

“So, what, you’re going to take my blood too?”

“No, I’ll take you, our personal blood bag, but before that we must verify that everything is true... Any suggestions, Emma? None? Let’s use this one,” she says, taking the orange vial.

“Please, no,” I plead, stepping back as she approaches.

“Call the other two,” she says, uncorking the vial.

“But the door will be unguarded...”

“Call them!” she orders, with an unrecognizable voice, no longer sweet and soft like when I heard her sing.

Ivan nods, takes the phone and writes something. Soon two armed guys join the redhead’s entourage, Dante is still standing in front of me, shielding me with his body.