Deal with the devil

Uno

“I can’t believe that you’d rather travel at this time of night to such a secluded part of the countryside, instead of having a big party night in the city,” Iphigeneia complained, as they drove along the narrow country road in an old Hispano Suiza J12 automobile.

“And my God! Where did you get hold of this old jalopy, it smells of rotting carcass,” Iphigeneia carried on complaining, referring to the classic Spanish-Swiss limousine they were driving, which was so large and cumbersome it could hardly traverse the small country roads.

“I can’t miss Aunt Lisa’s death anniversary, Iphigeneia,” her friend Maria explained for the umpteenth time. And my grandpa likes it when I arrive in his old car, which he gave me to look after. It’s a solemn occasion, and the vehicle adds an aura of respect and dignity.”

“But can’t we just go tomorrow?” Iphigeneia pleaded.

“We’re already on our way, you know. And Grandpa and I promised on her deathbed to visit her grave every year, pray and make offerings in remembrance of her tragic death. And anyway, we’re only one hour away now.”

“Okay. Whatever, girl,” Iphigeneia lazily answered.

“Besides, it’s only three more days until the anniversary, on October 31st, and there are some things I need to prepare. You know she was my favourite aunt. Most Filipinos only celebrate the babang luksa, the first death anniversary, but our family celebrate the death of special loved ones every year, to ensure their souls are still not wandering the Earth.”

“Oh my God! Where did you dig up all that eerie stuff?” exclaimed Iphigeneia?

“It’s not eerie, it’s very tragic what happened to me and my grandpa, her father. I can tell you later,” said Maria in way of explanation.

Iphigeneia fell into silence, and Maria carried on driving through the dark silent night, with only the thrumming of the car’s 12 cylinders to keep her company.

Maria’s Spanish ancestral home is in a secluded part of the countryside, some distance from the old town of Vigan, in the province of Ilocos Sur – some three or four hours’ drive from Baguio City in Luzon by way of San Fernando following the western coast.

The two young women work in Baguio as legal clerks, and had been given a few days free from work, as their offices were being refurbished. They thus took the opportunity to set off on a little adventure together. But Maria had not wholly informed her friend and colleague Iphigeneia why she wanted to drive to this remote part of the countryside.

After driving many hours, Maria saw the old dilapidated signpost that read, “Villa Luciano – 2 milla”.

After driving for a while longer, she could finally see the old iron gates of the villa, which happened to be open. She glanced over at Iphigeneia and saw she was still sleeping. On driving past the open gates, Maria decided to wake up Iphigeneia.

“Iphigeneia? Wake up, we’re here,” said Maria.

Iphigeneia finally woke up, lazily yawning.

Iphigeneia and Maria had met in the legal department of the local government offices in Baguio. Maria had worked one year more than Iphigeneia and was an executive officer, while Iphigeneia was only a junior executive officer.

Iphigeneia was assigned to Maria, so that Iphigeneia could also become a fully qualified executive officer. Despite their role as mentor and student, they had become close friends.

“Have we arrived at the old man’s villa, huh?” Iphigeneia asked, still a bit sleepy.

“Yes,” Maria replied while manoeuvring the large old car, and parking it near the front entrance.

“My god! This villa is enormous and really ancient,” Iphigeneia exclaimed.

“It certainly is, ha-ha,” said Maria.

“But it’s a little bit scary,” Iphigeneia added.

“Yes, because my grandfather is so old now, and can’t take care of it like he used to, especially after my grandmother and aunt died some years ago. That’s why it looks abandoned and overgrown – almost like a haunted house, ha-ha,” Maria said humorously.

“Yes, haunted. That’s the right word.”

“Maybe there’s some supernatural things inside, let’s find out,” Iphigeneia said excitedly.

“You think so?”

~

The two young women took their baggage out of the car’s trunk, and headed for the front door.

Maria knocked hard on the thick oaken door, and shouted out, “Abuelo, we’re here.”

“I think he’s already asleep?” Iphigeneia said.

“I don’t think so. I told him what time we would be coming,” she explained.

“Alright if you say so.”

Maria tried the door handle, and found that the door was unlocked. So they both just entered the large villa.

“Let’s go straight to the kitchen, because I’m starving,” said Maria.

“Sure, me too. I didn’t have any lunch or dinner earlier, so for Pete’s sake give me food or I’ll die soon,” Iphigeneia said animatedly.

“For real? Where do you get all your energy from?” she said to Iphigeneia?

“I’m just gifted in that way,” Iphigeneia said laughing.

They walked through several large rooms, before finally getting to the kitchen.

“Why don’t you check on your grandpa?” Iphigeneia asked.

“I will. I’ll just get something to eat first, and then go upstairs,” she replied.

Iphigeneia sat down on a chair in the dining area of the large kitchen.

Maria discovered there wasn’t much to eat in the kitchen’s butlery, so she just made some bread and jam, which she gave to Iphigeneia. Iphigeneia hated such simple food, but was starving and had to eat it as she had no other choice.

“I swear, I’ll wake up early tomorrow and drive to San Fernando, so we can buy some proper food,” she said while eating the bread and jam and gulping down a cup of hot cocoa, which Maria had made.

Maria decided to go and see how her grandfather was doing upstairs.