Page 41 of In the Garden of Monsters

“Do you think Ignazio didn’t come because he’s angry with me?” I asked as we trudged up the road. The first few raindrops were beginning to fall.

“Maybe,” Jack said.

I looked at Paolo, the only Italian among us.

“It is rude to say no when offered food, but it’s also rude to force someone to eat something. I cannot say, Signorina Julia.”

We walked the rest of the way in silence, the wind growing stronger and stronger. I wished I had a ribbon to tie back my hair and keep it from flying into my mouth. Dalí and Gala had run ahead, but I stayed back with Jack and Paolo, who were burdened by the equipment. The rain was coming down harder, and by the time we reached the town, we were drenched and Dalí’s painting was ruined.

“I’m sure they will be furious with me,” I said, looking at the smeared paint.

“It’s not your fault,” Paolo said.

“Tell that to Gala.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get her off your back,” Jack assured me. “She turns into a kitten with the right words.”

Not wanting to know what words those might be, I was relieved that Gala, Dalí, and Ignazio were nowhere to be found when we returned to the palazzo.

“I think I’m going to spend time in the library this afternoon,” I said, mostly for Paolo’s benefit. I hoped he would tell me more about the diary.

“I wouldn’t mind falling asleep on the couch as you read to me.” Jack winked, and I blushed. “But I don’t want to rile Gala up any further.”

I left them to finish putting away the equipment and headed up the stairs. At the top landing, Demetra materialized from the shadows. A bolt of lightning flashed, illuminating her hollow eyes. A waft of petrichor hit my nostrils, and while it seemed to emanate from the maid, I knew that mustn’t be true. It had to be from the rain on the stones of thecastello.

“Madonna Julia,” she said, bowing her head in deference, “I have drawn you a bath.”

I had never been called Madonna before and was grateful for all the art history classes I had taken or I wouldn’t have known it was an archaic way of addressing noblewomen who had gone by the wayside centuries past.

Her action surprised me. “But how did you know I even needed one? Or when I would be coming back?”

Demetra only looked out the tall arched window toward the dark skies. A massive crack of thunder made me jump. “I can assist you with your bath if you desire. Let me help you out of those wet clothes, shampoo your hair.” She sounded eager, which made me uncomfortable.

“No, no. I will be fine on my own,” I insisted as another flash of lightning brightened the corridor.

I made my way to the bathroom, locked the door, removed my dripping garments, and slipped into the tub. The maid had put a silky oil that smelled of oranges and almonds into the bathwater. Closing my eyes, I luxuriated in the warmth.

Julia...

My eyes flew open. The room was empty.

Julia...

I couldn’t tell where the voice was coming from. “Who are you?” I whispered back.

I am Julia.

I did not like this game. “No, I am Julia. Please, leave me alone.”

Thunder broke above the house. The lights flickered wildly before dying completely, and I was immersed in absolute darkness.

I couldn’t breathe. I sat there, listening for movement, terrified that I would hear someone—or something—in the room with me.

BOOM!A massive crack of thunder shook the house.

I huddled in the bath, my heart pumping so furiously I thought for sure I would die of heart failure and they would find my lifeless body naked in the tub in the morning.

She loves you, the voice said, so faint I wasn’t sure I heard what it had said.

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