Fruit of Misfortune (8 page)

Eros smacked his lips. “I don’t think Paulina
likes you very much.” He twisted the knife, inspecting the
sharpness. “To be honest, I don’t think she likes you at all.”

“Didn’t you hear
me? You need to leave. David will be home soon.”

“Mhh.” Eros cocked his head. “Should we be
concerned about David?” He slid his finger along the blade of the
knife. “Or should we be concerned about Paulina’s dislike for
you?”

“Why don’t we discuss my distaste for you,
instead?”

I rested my head on the headboard, feeling
lightheaded. I assumed it was from the lack of food in my
stomach.

Eros stood up and looked at me with a forced
smile on his pink, pouty lips. “Should I tell Camilla you’ll be
taking your breakfast in bed, or will you be joining me
downstairs?”

“When are you leaving Athens?” I asked.
“Soon, I hope.”

Eros laid the knife on the nightstand and
placed both hands on the bed. My stomach twisted with nerves. His
smooth, unblemished face was a few inches from mine, and my heart
began to beat faster. I shifted my sight, focusing on his
reflection in the dresser mirror behind him.

“There’s no need to continue with this act. I
know what you’re feeling. But you still think I’m influencing your
emotions, don’t you?” The tip of his forefinger touched the bottom
of my chin, turning my face toward him. “I had to learn that lesson
at a shameful price—a price I’m not willing to pay again.”

I slapped his hand away.

“More sob stories. Do you really think I’m
interested?”

“You, my sweet, are a very rude and spiteful
person. I pity your parents who didn’t teach you respect.”

“
You’re
preaching about respect?
That’s like the devil preaching about sanctity.”

“If you ever compare me to the devil again, I
will personally show you the infernal pits of hell.”

“Oh, I’m sure you know your way around hell
very well. Why don’t you go there now?” I said, stepping out of
bed, in the direction of the bathroom.

Just as I reached the door, he pulled me
against him, my back against his chest, his arm constricting my
movement. His other hand held my face stiffly, his lips on my jaw
as his spoke.

“If I’m ever damned to hell again, you’re
going with me.”

Again
? What did he mean by that? I
struggled and tried to break free of his brawn.

“You know what amuses me? Looking at you,
now—so closely—I don’t know what entices me. You’re not even
pretty.” With a slight shove, he set me free. “You should get
dressed. You look hideous.” Then he stuffed his hands into his
pockets and walked out the door.

My mouth hung open. I stared past the door
and into the hallway where Eros disappeared. Sure, I wasn’t
drop-dead beautiful, but to call me ugly? Never in my life had
anyone called me that. Unsure of how to feel, I walked to the door
and turned the lock.

In the bathroom, I splashed water over my
face, and then looked in the mirror. My skin was pasty. There were
dark rings below my eyes. My lips were dry and cracked. Eros was
right. The girl that looked back at me looked horrible. Or had his
comments made me so self-conscious that I was exaggerating? I
convinced myself that that was the case, and grabbed my cosmetics
bag.

As I reached for my phone on the nightstand,
I noticed the knife was still there. I wondered if Eros had been
telling the truth about discovering Paulina placing it under my
bed. I summoned up my courage and walked out of the room.

***

Paulina was washing vegetables in the sink. I
was hesitant to confront her, but I walked over to her and placed
the knife on the marble counter top anyway.

“You left this in my room,” I told her.

Paulina’s eyes broadened when she saw the
knife I set next to her. She tried to speak, but no words formed
from the syllables she uttered. A short silence followed, which
Eros interrupted. He had been watching us from the table.

“If you tell David what she’s done, she’ll be
unemployed by this afternoon.” Eros looked at me over the newspaper
in his hands.

“Please, Miss Isis, don’t,” Paulina said. “I
have my mother and sisters to support in Italy.”

“Are you going to let her off that easily?”
Eros asked.

“Do you mind?” I glared at Eros. “I was under
the impression you were on your way to hell.”

From the wooden chair, he stood and stalked
toward me. For every step he took, I took a step back until the
small of my back hit the far end counter. I was cornered. Eros’
stare burned through me.

“Leave us, Paulina,” Eros said, without
turning to look at her.

“No, Paulina, don’t.”

“Paulina, if you don’t leave, I’ll make sure
you’re fired within the hour,” Eros said.

Paulina looked at me, and I shook my
head.

“I’m sorry, Miss Isis,” Paulina said and left
the kitchen.

“I’m tired of your attitude,” Eros hissed. “I
won’t stand to be spoken to like this. You
will
respect me,
or I’ll teach you what it’s like to beg for the mercy of Deus in a
forsaken land.”

I knew I couldn’t push Eros’ buttons any
further. No matter how daring I might’ve seemed, I was actually
afraid of what he might be capable.

“Speak,” Eros said, through gritted his
teeth. “Where’s your uncouth language, now?”

But I had nothing to say to him. All I could
do was stare to the side.

“Well?” The palm of his hand slammed down on
the counter, and I jumped.

“Stop harassing me, and I’ll stop being a
pain. What do you think you’re going to accomplish by it,
anyway?”

“I’m trying to liberate you from a mistake
you’ll regret for the rest of your life. Open your eyes, my sweet.
You weren’t made for him.”

“I don’t care what you think.”

“It’s not what I think, it’s what I know.”
Eros lifted the Star Crest from my chest. “He marked you like
livestock. What kind of man brands a woman? A rancher… or a
pimp.”

My mouth dropped open. I pushed him
away—though, not very far.

“You’re a jerk,” I said.

“Am I?” Eros stare was fixed on me. Then,
without warning, one of his hands was on the back of my head and
the other on my jaw. His lips pushed against mine, forcing my mouth
open. I stilled, feeling the tingling sensations that his touch
provoked in me. His lips tasted like his breath, like cherries.

After a moment, Eros pulled away and took two
steps back. I breathed again, and straightened my back.

“Stop trying so hard to hate me,” he said,
and then he spun around and left.

The heavy copper pot hanging on the wall
would’ve worked well to bash Eros’ succulent mouth into a bloody
mess. But how convincing would my act be when I hadn’t even fought
him off? Why didn’t I?

***

Camilla watered the flowering bushes with a
hose that was too short for the immense green garden. I set the
apple I had picked up from the kitchen counter on the bench next to
my phone. I thought about Paulina and the knife. What was the
purpose of the knife? Did she really hate me?

Though I had the urge to scribble in all the
things that were wrong with my life in my journal, I had left it in
the house where Eros was—probably fluttering his wings, dancing
around in his heart-print diaper. I wanted to avoid being cornered,
insulted, angered, and then doubting my emotions afterwards. There
was no way I was going in there.

Glancing at the time on my phone, I wondered
when David would be back. Hiding in the garden wasn’t the best
plan. I was getting muggy and restless, and Camilla kept trying to
feed me leaves from the rows of herb plants that grew along the
side edge of the garden.

The bench vibrated as my phone rang. David
was at the other end of the line when I answered.

“How’s your day been?”

“Okay.” I was paranoid that somehow he
already knew about Eros and was about to raise questions.

“Have you been feeling sick?”

“Not at all,” I said. “Will you be coming
home soon?”

“I’m driving there now, but there’s a lot of
traffic.” There was a brief pause. “I’m anxious to see you. I feel
like I’m neglecting you, and I’m worried.”

“You don’t have to worry. I’m sure I’m fine.
It’s probably just a bug. But once your mom arrives, she’ll be able
to feel what’s wrong to me,” I said, watching Camilla return to the
house.

“I hope so,” he said. I heard cars honking on
the other end of the line. “Traffic’s moving, again. I’ll be there
soon.”

“Okay,” I sighed, wondering how long “soon”
would be. I couldn’t stand being out in the toasty sun any longer.
The dizzy spells from not having eaten were starting to annoy
me.

Biting into the crispiness of the ripened
apple, I made up my mind to step inside the house and go to my room
to freshen up.

The bed was already made, and the wilted
tuberose flowers had been replaced with new stems, their aroma
permeating the room. Because the stench of sweat was sharp on my
skin, I decided to take a speedy shower.

Someone knocked on the door as I was slipping
into my sandals. I froze, wondering if it could be Eros. I was
hesitant to open the door.

“Yes?” I said in a loud voice.

“I have fresh towels, Miss Isis.”

Relieved it was Paulina, yet uneasy at the
same time, I opened the door for her. She looked past me as she
walked into the room, nestling the towels against her bosom. From
the side of the doorway, Eros appeared with a wide grin.

I rolled my eyes.

“Knock, knock,” Eros said.

I crossed my arms and stared at him.

“I said, ‘knock, knock’. Come now, play
along.”

“Who’s there?”

“Aardvark,” he responded, and I stayed quiet.
“Keep going.”

“Aardvark, who?”

“Aardvark a million miles for a smile from
you.”

Feeling a smile coming on, I bit my lips and
turned away from his view. That was the cheesiest joke I had ever
heard.

“I’m a good joker, oui?” He chuckled. “By the
way, that was an apology.”

“Excuse me.” Paulina was asking to be let
through the door. She glanced at me from under her lashes as she
left.

“And you think that’s apology enough?” I
narrowed my eyes.

Eros raised his shoulders. “Oui.”

“You called me a prostitute.”

“No.” He arched his brow. “I called David a
pimp. That’s different.”

“I’m
not
doing this again. This—this
game of yours, it’s getting old.”

“What a shame. I thought we were just getting
started, being as you kissed me.” He reached for my face, and I
stepped away from him.

“No, I didn’t,” I said. “And keep your voice
down.”

“But you did kiss me. I’ve never let an
unattractive girl kiss me, you know? You should be flattered that
you’re the first.”

“Stop it. Just, stop it, okay? David is going
to be here any minute, and I don’t want him to find you standing by
my door. I don’t want you to come near me at all.”

“Because you’re falling in love with me?”

I breathed in a sharp breath. “I don’t even
like you.”

“Really?” He cocked a brow. “Then why didn’t
you pull away from that kiss?”

I turned my face and reached for the door.
“Go, Eros, please. Just leave me alone.”

“I know you mean that.” He looked at his
shoes. “I know you’ve meant it every time.”

“Then do it. David doesn’t deserve this.”

“Do you know how many times I’ve wished to
have Dahveed’s life? A caring mother that tends to him. A strict
father that’s made him a good man. Brothers that protect him.” Eros
looked to the ceiling and raised his arms over his head. “How much
longer do I carry on this punishment?” He cupped his hand on his
ear, then shrugged. “He never answers. He’s upset and ashamed of
me. I don’t blame him.”

I stared at him, both brows high on my
forehead.

“I’m not a lunatic.” He rested the back of
his head on the doorframe. “There was a time when Deus would speak
to me, when I was younger. He stopped after the conviction.”

“You were on trial?”

Eros pressed his lips together and nodded.
“It was a discrete hearing. Not even David knows about it, and I
tell him plenty.”

“So why are you telling me?”

“Well,” he said, “you seem to know how to
keep a secret.”

Was he talking about not telling David about
his advances? And what had he been punished for? Could it have been
for what he did to Veronica?

“How long ago was that?” I asked, giving into
curiosity.

“Too long.” We both turned when we heard
footsteps in the hallway. Paulina was carrying sheets to David’s
room.

“Sounds to me like you must’ve really outdone
yourself.”

“I bet you’re itching to know what I did,
aren’t you?”

“Not really. Sometimes staying in the dark is
better.” I swung the door in, attempting to close it, but Eros
blocked it with his foot and pushed it back open.