Carnem Levare Read Online Free PDF

cowered away from him.
Instead, she pressed against him. “I enjoyed making love with you.
I will never forget all that we have experienced together. You must
understand, however, I am not yours—”
    “ No, Anastasia. You promised me
forever.” He could not believe what she said. The woman he’d
cherished from birth was dismissing him. “This is not possible. You
said for always.”
    “ I am sorry, Stefano. You will meet
another woman. You will fall in love again. You will
have—”
    “ I will never love another
woman.”
    “ You will. And you will treasure
her the same.”
    “ I will hate all other women!” He
was now sobbing, leaning into her lap. His mumblings died at her
skirt. Life meant nothing without this woman. Pain and disdain
bubbled deep within. “I will never love again.” He raised his head
at this promise. Sparkles of light from beyond the dock reminded
him that this should be a happy time. But he simply couldn’t see it
that way.
    “ I will never forget you, Stefano.
Now you must take me back.”
    “ You’ll understand, Anastasia. You
love me . . . yes.” His head moved up and down. “We’ll remain
together. You will not ever regret it.”
    He would never take her back. She would eventually
be thankful he’d kept her there. Reasoning could not convince
Stefano otherwise.
     
    *****
     
The Awakening
     
    After Stefano was thrust back into the mortal world,
he went in search of his family home. Inside he found his mother
burning candles and chanting along with her friends. The room was
otherwise dark. Five of them sat about a tiny circular table that
was covered with a black skirt. Each woman was covered in matching
mourning shades. Their fingers clung desperately at each other.
Mrs. Bonaro’s voice rose well beyond the others. The ritual halted
after twelve minutes.
    “ Is he here?” one of the ladies
asked.
    “ Can you feel him?” another
inquired.
    “ Stefano was my son, I always sense
his presence.” Mama Bonaro was irate. Her actions were
sharp.
    “ One year, my friend . . . you've
journeyed into this darkness for one year. When will you stop?” A
friend mumbled from across the table. “We know nothing of spirits
and traveling the realms, only what has been discovered this
year.”
    The woman to Mrs. Bonaro’s right released her grip.
“We have called up Stefano’s spirit countless times. He has not
come to us. Perhaps he is not dead.”
    “ Anastasia’s body was found wrapped
in his coat—”
    “ He was never found—”
    “ Let it go, please?”
    “ My son is buried in the waters. I
need to know his soul is at peace.” Mrs. Bonaro’s strength was
waning. “He would never leave me. My son fell into the arms of that
harlot. He is gone because of her.”
    No ! Stefano cried out. Anastasia would
never hurt me . I am the murderer !
    “ I only wish that I could bring her
back to life, so that I could kill her as well,” his mother
declared. She pulled out a lock of hair, wrapped it in cloth and
allowed the parcel to singe to nothingness. “I hate the entire
Soranzo family! May their souls not rest until I see my dear son
again. I curse their lives and their generations to
come.”
    Stefano paced.
    He fretted.
    He stomped.
    Rage made him a viable threat. The angrier he
became, the more his abilities came alive. Upon feeling his
vibrations, Stefano paused. The room became silent. He started
moving once again. Nothing . . .
    Mrs. Bonaro looked around, her eyes briefly settling
across the room. She stared down her co-conspirators.
    “ I curse the spirit of Anastasia
Soranzo, until my son is found and his soul is at rest.”
    Stefano wailed. He began tossing aside every object
that he could grasp: lamps, cups, figurines. With each step,
Stefano was able to incite fear in the inhabitants, except for his
mother. The other women cowered together, slowly backing away from
the fluttering candle.
    To this madman’s dismay, Mrs. Bonaro continued on.
Each declaration she