Chapter 8: The village (part 5)

 “It’s about Heracles. Alice didn’t see his soul. Instead, she saw a shape of sword. Do you know what it means – mother?” said Lily.

Aunt Calliope stopped at right the time Lily mentioned to the sword but she kept herself behaved normally, didn’t turned to her daughter. “You sure that she mention to a sword.” said aunt Calliope in her normal tone. 

“Yes, a sword. What does it mean?” said Lily, looked at her mother hopefully.

“I don’t know.” said aunt Calliope shortly, “Anyway, what exactly did she talk to Heracles?” 

“Not much mother. She told she couldn’t find his soul. Instead, she told us about golden lights, very bright covering everything when she tried to see Heracles’s soul. And when she broke in the light, she only saw one sword stuck in a stone. She didn’t give Heracles any forecast, just told that his near future would relate to the sword. It is the first time mother – the first time I heard Alice can’t see the soul of a person. Heracles must be a strange person, right – mother?” said Lily.

“Yeah – Alice’s ability is unique. It helps her see everyone’s soul. I mean that no one can hide his or her soul from of her eyes.” aunt Calliope stopped for a while thinking. “Heracles is one special case.” she added.

“It’s the only way to explain.” said Lily thoughtfully. “But,” Lily suddenly spoke up, “What do you plan to say them mother?”

“I will say them what they need to know.” said aunt Calliope.

“What they need to know.” repeated Lily in her mouth.

“Yes.”  

The voices of Lily and her mother vanished after that; the kitchen got more quietly. Instead of it there were sounds of boiling soup, sounds of flickering fire. Aunt Calliope sliced some herbs, chopped a tuber then put all of them into her soup. A small pop spread out, a cloud of steamed appeared flying up on her pot then quickly scattered away. There had a hint of iridescent yellow on surface the soup at the moment spreading out attractive flavor that if Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda were there, they would not force themselves not to salivate. It’s really attractive flavor. Lily on other side was baking some fruit cakes, smelled and realized what the flavor was at one. She stopped, turned to her mother.

“You use the recipe again – mother?” said Lily.

“Yes, I use it.” said Aunt Calliope, turned off her fire, “Do you finish them?” she added.

“I’m done it right now.” Lily said.

“Let them to me.” said Aunt Calliope, walked to Lily, “Go and bring them here.” 

“Okay, I will go to call them.” said Lily, gave her mother the baking shovel. She made her way leave the kitchen, passed the corridor crossing her and her mother’s bedroom then coming to the room Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda were. She stopped at front of the door, knocked on it. 

“Heracles, Amelinda, Gwen – are you inside?” she called.

“Yes, we are.” voice of Amelinda spread out. 

“The dinner is ready. My mother is in the kitchen waiting for you. I will go and light some candles before it gets dark. You yourselves come to kitchen.” said Lily, leaving. Heracles could hear Lily left the place heading to the living room. 

“We go.” said Heracles, stood up. He, Gwen and Amelinda had been sitting at the table from the time they got back. The light turned very weak going through the window not to light the room much. Sun was very low and red. Heracles made his way to the door first. Gwen and Amelinda were after him. When they opened the door and walked out, Lily had gone to the living room away from their eyes. Some candles had been lit there; they could see flickering lights coming out from them. They stood in front of the door waiting for Lily’s appearance but she didn’t so they went. All candles hanging above people’s heads on the wall along the corridor had been lit up. Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda passing them walked into the kitchen. As soon as they in there, a delicious smell rushed into their nostrils. It came from the big pot put at the middle of the table. 

“You are here. Help me bring the things to the table.” said Aunt Calliope, bringing plates of fruit cakes.

“Let me do it.” said Amelinda quickly then hurriedly walked to Aunt Calliope and got the plates of fruit cakes from her then brought them toward the table, laid them next to the pot. Heracles helped Aunt Calliope take sets of bows and plates for people while Gwen brought the basket of pita bread and according to it were roasted meat skewers, tzatziki sauce and salad been neatly in plates. When everything was set on the table, aunt Calliope appeared with tray of something looking like roasted turkey. Steam emanated from glossy brown outer it giving people sweet smell. Aunt Calliope put her tray at the middle of the table right beside the pot. 

“I tried to do something familiar to you. Think you like them.” said Aunt Calliope. She stepped back the fire, took of her kitchen gloves. As soon as she turned back to them, Lily appeared. They all made their ways sit down. 

Under the flickering light of candles standing at two side of the table, they held hands, closed their eyes then Aunt Calliope prayed. When she finished, they released hands and the dinner started. Aunt Calliope stood up, grabbed on knife lying on the tray. She made a cut on the roasted turkey. The glossy brown outer was split, white meat appeared accompanying with violent steam rushing out up then scattering away bringing an attractive flavor to whole the kitchen. The roasted turkey was still very hot; the honey covering outside kept heat inside it. Aunt Calliope sat down after she cut the roasted turkey in pieces. 

“Enjoyed--” she said with a gently smile on her face.

“Try it. My mother has spent long time to prepare it.” added Lily. 

“Yes – I’ll taste it first.” said Gwen excitedly; he turned to Heracles, “It’s long time we don’t eat roasted turkey.” He leant forward, took some big pieces of roasted turkey to his plate then got back on his seat. “Hmmm – I try it now.” he said, grabbed on his knife and fork, cut his pieces of roasted turkey into smaller pieces enough for him to eat. The glossy light yellow gravy came out as Gwen press his knife on one of his turkey meat pieces, looked very juicy and sweet. He turned much impatient using his fork stabbing on one piece taking it up to his mouth. The glossy gravy dropped down on his plate. Gwen put the piece into his mouth and started chewing. 

“God, it’s still very hot.” he groaned, opened his mouth breathing out then chewed again with one hand waving in front of mouth. “But, it’s really delicious.” he added.