Women next door

Saturday morning began sunny. Tomek woke up at eleven. "What a weekend," he thought, crawling out of bed. He heard noises coming from outside. He got up and, scratching his penis, went to the window. He had a room in the attic, looked down at the neighboring property. From the window, he had a view of the garden, separated from the neighboring house by a low fence. Someone was moving into the house next door. He reached behind the radiator where he kept his cigarettes. He took out a bent Sobieski and lit it, opening the window. Despite his twenty years, he was still hiding his habit. He didn't even know if his parents would mind, but on the one hand, he was afraid of their reaction, and on the other, he felt a bit embarrassed to take out a cigarette in front of his mother or father and light it up as if nothing had happened. "Eventually, this day will come," he promised himself, shifting his focus to the move. Four large men were rushing back and forth, carrying furniture. They were carrying boxes, a table, and everything else. A woman came into view. The distance was long enough for him to assess her appearance, but he mentally decided she looked promising. She looked about fifty. He'd always had a thing for older women. The slender woman with glossy black hair, standing in the sun, caught his eye. He scratched his penis again, letting his imagination run wild. He wondered if her face would be just as attractive up close. Or maybe time had already done its thing, he wondered. Thinking about this woman and watching her feminine curves, her commanding grown men, he felt something come to life in his underwear. It didn't take much to get aroused. The fact that he was embarrassed to smoke in front of his parents, who, by the way, already knew about his "secret," wasn't his only Achilles' heel. There was something worse, namely, the fact that he was still a virgin. It was hard to say it was because of his appearance. No, that would make things a lot easier. He looked like an average twenty-year-old. Nothing stood out in any way. Slim, dark-haired, and utterly ordinary. Tomek was simply a terribly shy boy. He'd just finished vocational school and was wondering what to do with his life. He was already a loner, and when it came to matters relating to men and women, he became a complete whiner. He'd instantly turn red. And he felt like sinking into the ground. But now he was happy to have new neighbors.

As he stood there, spying on the woman, he noticed two more girls. They were probably in their twenties. It was impossible to tell their faces either, only their slim figures and hair as black as his mother's. He took a drag on his cigarette and began to daydream. Maybe one of them would notice him—he fantasized—or maybe it would even be something more. He finished his cigarette and, stubbing it out on the windowsill, put the butt back in the biscuit box. "Time to stop fooling around," he thought, and closed the window. He put it away and stopped at the window again, this time standing behind the curtain. Just then, he felt a stab in his heart. He almost jumped when he noticed one of the girls standing on the porch staring directly at him. He looked closer; there was no doubt about it. It couldn't be possible, he thought frantically—not from this distance, through the curtain? He asked himself. The girl, her hair blowing in the morning breeze, stood proudly erect, looking directly at him. He couldn't read her face; she was too far away. A shiver ran through his body, and he cautiously stepped back. He tried not to make any sudden movements. He sat down on the couch, feeling a cold sweat break out on his forehead. He still couldn't believe what had happened. After a moment, he gathered himself and approached the window. But not immediately. He moved his legs out in front of him very carefully, one by one. When he reached the window, he glanced through the curtain. Phew, he breathed a sigh of relief; there were no more girls, only men still carrying something new. He felt firsthand what it meant to have a weight lifted from his heart. Once he regained a little more courage, he began to reproach himself. What had I gone crazy in broad daylight? Where had this fear come from? And why the hell did I feel like a thief caught red-handed? After an hour, he couldn't remember if his sudden reaction was caused by the fact that he had an erection and thus the fear of being caught, or if there was something more to it. Something unnatural. After lunch, he left the house and spent almost the entire day out with his friends. He returned for dinner.

"Where do you spend all day?" his mother complained.

"Here and there," he replied philosophically.

"You'd better think about what you're going to do after the holidays," she continued setting the table.

"You promised to leave me alone for these two months.

" "Wash your hands, and quickly come to the table, call your father."

He went to the bathroom. She irritated him with her constant teasing and the way she treated him like a brat. Her short, corpulent figure always reminded him of her constantly bustling about the kitchen and rooms with a dishcloth. Leaving the bathroom, he shouted at his father into the house. He, on the other hand, was constantly absent. Average height, thin, with gaunt shoulders, and a balding man. The worst part was that the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Although they couldn't connect, they were very similar. The senior loved to spend time in his little room, cluttered with books. Or read the newspaper in the garden. Quiet, unassuming, he always gave way to his wife. Tomek sometimes wondered how they had gotten along.

After dinner, he lay in his room in the attic. He remembered his new neighbors and went to the window. He opened it, and a pleasant summer breeze blew into the room. He reached for his cigarettes and lit one. There were no lights on in the house across the street. Strange, he thought, as if no one had moved in. There was no trace of the morning bustle. The sky was already dark blue and dotted with stars. He glanced at the dark outline of the house. Something was keeping him from forgetting the new tenants. He kept glancing, trying to make out anything beyond the black windows. He looked up at the moon. The house was becoming a mystery to him. It was like a magnet. It seemed to be winking at him invitingly. "Are you curious?" It seemed to be whispering. "Come, come and see what I'm hiding." He stubbed out his cigarette and hid it in the box. "Enough," he said aloud to himself and went to bed. A moment later, he heard a scratching sound at the door. A large German Shepherd timidly entered. "Close," he said indifferently. The dog stood on his hind legs and pushed the door open until it slammed shut. He walked over to the bed and sniffed at his master. Hearing no protest, he jumped onto the bed and lay down, placing his head on Tomek's stomach.

For an hour, he tossed and turned. As soon as he fell asleep, a girl appeared, staring directly at him. His breathing quickened. Although it was bright outside and morning was just beginning to awaken the neighborhood, there was nothing joyful about him. He couldn't quite put his finger on it. But the atmosphere was very heavy. This time, he saw her face. A beautiful face. A slightly elongated face with high cheekbones. He saw her full, blood-red lips and slightly pale complexion. Her round, black eyes stared straight at him. This time, his silhouette was clearly visible in the wide-open window. The sill reached about his knees. He knew something was wrong; normally, the sill was higher. Yet, he stood in that window, exposed to her gaze. Then he saw the girl's eyes express sneer. She extended her index finger toward him and burst out laughing. Her sister and mother followed suit. They laughed at him, mocking him, pointing. He looked down and understood. His penis flexed in his briefs. And they mocked his unexpected erection. The women bared their even white teeth. He quickly grabbed the window and slammed it shut.

He woke up covered in sweat. The slamming window roused him from his sleep. When he sat up in bed, he still didn't realize what was happening. He could still hear the mocking laughter. He glanced out the window. It was dark. His digital watch showed two a.m. He heard the window slam again. He glanced over his shoulder. His ajar window was slamming in the wind. He got up and went to close it. His knees were still trembling from his brief, restless sleep. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. The wind was howling outside. It was getting stronger; a storm was brewing. He had just grabbed the window frame and was about to close it when he noticed a figure on the other side of the fence, in the neighboring garden. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and squinted. The pale blur turned out to be a girl in a nightgown. She was standing barefoot on the grass. Her black, wind-blown hair was an incredible sight. She stretched her arms toward the moon, as if wanting to embrace him. She looked incredible in the middle of the night, barefoot in her nightgown. Tomek was absolutely astonished; he couldn't help but notice her feminine curves; the wind was his ally at that moment. However, when she turned toward him, he jumped in fear. He jumped back, leaning back against the wall next to the window. His legs immediately felt like jelly. Even though he was in his room and his parents were sleeping downstairs, he didn't feel safe at all. He had a vague feeling that no door posed a problem for his new neighbors. The shepherd was asleep and didn't even move, while Tomek was drowning in fear. He no longer had the courage to check if she was still there. He ran to the bed and lay down, shaking.

In the morning, he woke up tired and sore. He'd had nightmares all night about the dark house and its new tenants. He felt that now that they had new neighbors, everything would be different. He was beginning to believe these weren't ordinary people. In the light of day, he pronounced somewhat more lenient sentences. Everything he'd seen that night no longer seemed so nightmarish and mysterious. He went down to breakfast.

"You finally deigned to wake up," he was immediately offered a treat by his mother.

He didn't even broach the subject. He took a seat at the table and began piling toast on his plate.

"You could have said something to him," she insisted, directing her anger at her husband.

"Leave him alone, it's vacation," he said without much engagement.

"Of course, vacation now, then winter break, and so on."

She spoke only to herself, muttering under her breath. Her father began to eat breakfast; it was obvious he was on tenterhooks. He was just waiting to go to his study. This time, Tomek was pleased with the morning bustle. After an unusual and stressful night, this daily clamor from his mother kept him sane. Some things never change, he thought. He could fly out of the room on a broomstick, and she would probably shout after him not to wander aimlessly around town. After breakfast, he slipped upstairs to his room. He sat at the computer until he felt tired and went to bed. Voices woke him. He could hear his mother talking to a woman downstairs. He emerged curious; they didn't often have visitors. His mother called to him on the stairs.

"Come here and say hello, we have new neighbors."

He went downstairs, surprised, to the living room. His mother was sitting at the coffee table, all excited about her new neighbor. She seemed delighted. Sitting next to him in an armchair was the woman he'd seen on the first day they moved in. She was beautiful; the fifty years she undoubtedly had on her shoulders hadn't done any harm to her. Her black hair, gently waving, fell over her slim, shapely shoulders. Large, black eyes gazed at him curiously. She looked like Monica Belluci, except she was real, within arm's reach. She wore a black dress with thin straps. Her pale skin was smooth and fragrant. She crossed her legs. He glanced at her unexpectedly exposed thigh. She had shapely legs, and he saw her shapely hips pressed comfortably into the armchair.

"Pleased to meet you, young man." Her voice was deep and incredibly feminine.

"Hello," he muttered, embarrassed.

Her beauty electrified him. Although he was afraid of her, it fascinated him at the same time. He felt his face turn beet red. She extended her hand to him. When he shook it, he felt an incredible electric current. A slight shiver ran through his body. Her soft skin seemed to caress his trembling hand. He felt a pleasant warmth. Without a word, he sat down on the sofa opposite her.

"You're growing into a true gentleman," she complimented the boy. The deep timbre of her voice was incredible.

He glanced at his mother. He waited for her to blurt out something in her own style. But no. She chattered happily. She seemed to no longer notice her son. The words flowed from her lips like a rushing mountain stream. Tomek wondered why he'd sat down. He wanted to escape. But this woman, her beauty and voice, almost captivated him. He swallowed, feeling himself getting an erection again. He watched her legs. Shapely calves perfectly positioned beneath her high-heeled shoes. A true lady, he thought. She seemed so out of place in this house. His mother, always cackling and bustling with a dishcloth. He glanced as the woman shifted her legs, this time from right to left. Because she did it slowly, the light material of her dress revealed much more than a troubled twenty-year-old should have seen. His eyes immediately lit with desire. He slid his gaze over her thighs from the knees up. He thought she smiled at him.

He hadn't even noticed that both the beautiful neighbor and his mother were looking at him. Their expressions were strange. What? He wanted to ask, surprised. They turned their heads towards him like herons, gazing at him with round eyes.

"What a rascal, that son of yours," the woman snapped.

"I'm telling you, I keep telling him to get a grip," his mother chimed in.

"And what will become of him?" the woman wondered.

"Cover yourself, young man," his mother shouted.

He looked down at himself. He almost jumped when he realized he was sitting there completely naked, like a Turkish saint. The worst part was that he had an erection. His penis was pointing at the chandelier. He couldn't believe they were staring at him and she had nothing to cover her naked body. And his mother, too. His face burned mercilessly.

"You little pervert," the woman snarled.

"Tadeusz, take this young pervert away this instant," his mother shouted.

He covered his face with his hands. He couldn't look at them. He couldn't believe it. Shame covered him from head to toe, instead of the blanket he longed for. He thought he was about to sink into the ground.

He felt his skin burn mercilessly. He wanted to burn up in that instant. Turn into a pile of ash. A voice came to him from somewhere in the distance. He didn't understand anything until a moment later he came to. He gathered the last of his courage to look at them.

"Tomek, what's wrong with you, boy?

" "What?" the man asked stupidly.

He saw them watching him anxiously. He looked down at himself. Everything was normal. He was wearing his clothes. He was confused. He didn't know if he was daydreaming or if this was some satanic sorcery on his neighbor's part. But she was also looking at him anxiously.

"Mrs. Róża says she has two daughters, are you listening?

" "Yes, I'm sorry, I don't feel well."

"Maybe you could come over, they're home now. They don't know the city, you could be friends."

He couldn't believe what the woman was saying. On the one hand, his desire to meet the girls was immense, but when he remembered one of them standing in the garden last night, it sent shivers down his spine. He wouldn't go into that house now for anything. He had to get out of it.

"I'd love to, but I feel terrible, I have to go to bed now.

" "Well, yes, you wander around God knows where all day and you're having consequences," his mother said, unable to contain herself.

He looked at her angrily. He felt embarrassed that in the presence of this beautiful woman, his mother treated him like a puppy.

"But nothing happened, we're neighbors, and we'll probably have another opportunity."

He thought the woman had class, unlike his mother, who barked and attacked without a second thought. She had no subtlety at all. It wouldn't even occur to her that I'd want to be taken seriously, at least in the presence of strangers, he thought furiously.

"Róża, if you think they should even meet this loafer, then maybe we should invite them here."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had a strong urge to throw himself at his mother and tear her to pieces. He stood up and said goodbye, stopping the torrent of words tumbling from her lips. "It's better if she doesn't spark any more ideas," he thought, turning on his heel. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw something. No, I must have imagined it—he was struggling with his thoughts. He walked up the stairs. He was still wondering if the woman had winked at him knowingly or if he had just imagined it. In his room, he threw himself on the bed and covered his face with a pillow. He hoped his mother's plan wouldn't work and that the two mysterious girls wouldn't show up any time soon.

When night fell, Tomek prayed for a quick sleep. Feeling the sleepy shepherd beside him, he felt more at ease. The presence of another living creature energized him. Sleep came around midnight. He hadn't been in his reverie for long when a woman he'd met visited him. He heard her electrifying voice. "Maybe you'll come over, they're home now. They don't know the city, you could be friends"—it still rang in his ears. He saw her sensual lips, moving them temptingly. As she approached him, he watched with desire as her hips swayed rhythmically. He glanced at her cleavage; her shapely, firm breasts seemed to be forcibly stuffed behind her black bra. "I know what you're thinking," she whispered to him with an understanding smile. "You're growing into a gentleman." Her melodic voice still sent shivers of excitement through him. She purred, reaching out her hand toward him. "Mmmm," her whisper was as clear as crystal. His throat went dry as the soft, sexy purr turned into an increasingly insistent growl. His vision blurred, and he was left alone in the darkness. Someone was growling furiously. Sweat broke out on his forehead. He could almost feel the darkness brushing against him, heard footsteps, or maybe he was just imagining it. The growl grew louder. Finally, exhausted by fear, he opened his eyes. The shepherd dog stood next to the bed, growling, and stared at the wall. Tomek looked up in surprise.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked, as if the dog could answer.

"Grrrrrrrrrr," the shepherd dog ignored him.

In the moonlight streaming into the room, he could see his companion's muzzle, furrowed by an angry growl. He lay down on the floor as if ready to pounce. Tomek glanced fearfully at the wall. A desk with a computer stood nearby, but it seemed to be focusing a little further away.

"There's nothing there," he said uncertainly to the dog.

He began to stare at the wall. The shadow was much darker there. He couldn't see anything. He glanced around the room. He felt strangely uneasy. The same room that had held all his secrets at that moment seemed alien, menacing. The pale moonlight seemed to peer into the room curiously, deepening the darkness. He wasn't sure anymore if the shadows were lengthening, creeping across the floor toward him, or if he was just imagining it. But fear slowly enveloped him. And suddenly the computer turned on. Tomek felt a surge of panic. Panic was stealing his breath, blurring his vision. These things happen, he tried to explain to himself rationally. The monitor flickered in the darkness, but that was all. He saw the shadow of a man on the wall. It moved from one end to the other. The room spun before his eyes. A wild fear flowed from somewhere within. It rose from his stomach and spread throughout his body. With the last shred of willpower, he jumped out of bed and rushed to the light switch. He turned on the light. In the split second the light flashed across the room, he noticed something like a hand disappearing into the wall. It looked as if something, someone's hand, as absurd as it sounded, was trying to emerge from the wall, but, surprised by the light, as if startled, it plunged back into it. He was soaked. He was breathing as if he'd run at least two kilometers. He scanned the room with a wild gaze, searching for any anomalies. Silence reigned all around. He went to the radiator and took out a pack of cigarettes. He lit them for the first time, not at the window, but sitting on the bed. The shepherd had barely stopped growling, too, but he still stood bristling and confused. Tomek inhaled the smoke hungrily, unable to shake it off. His hands were trembling. He didn't sleep a wink that night. He smoked a pack of cigarettes and left the light on.

Only when the sun rose in the sky, illuminating everything around him, did he doze off, almost unconscious. Five hours later, he was awakened by his mother's screeching voice. She was calling him for dinner, never letting up on a few of her remarks directed at him. He reacted with complete indifference.

"Look at how he looks," she squawked over dinner, trying to interest her husband.

"He's sleep-deprived," he replied curtly.

"And what's he supposed to look like?" she persisted. "He walks around like a sleepwalker all day, or disappears with God knows who for half the day, or wanders aimlessly around the house."

Since no one supported her tirade, she calmed down after a few minutes. Tomek ate and decided to leave the house. He didn't want to go back to his room. He no longer felt safe there. He needed to spend some time with someone normal. He returned for dinner that evening.

Entering the house, he noticed one of his new neighbors. It was a girl standing on the porch. She stood still, staring at him. Her face betrayed no emotion. It was hard to tell what she was thinking. For the first time, Tomek could examine her from such a distance. It was clear she had taken after his mother. She was just as beautiful and alluring, though she didn't yet possess the aura her mother exuded. A shiver ran through Tomek as he felt her gaze on him. She followed him home with her gaze. Inside, in the hallway, he caught a whiff of that scent. It smelled of musk. He knew they had a visitor. He entered and saw it for himself. Mrs. Róża was sitting in the same armchair as before. Her dress was a slightly different color, though similar in cut. It was as if she wanted to emphasize her assets. And she had plenty of them. He found himself delighted to see her, even though she also filled him with apprehension. But looking at her magnificent body was a powerful emotional rollercoaster. A sort of reward for a sleepless night. Although he connected this woman and her mysterious daughters with recent events. He didn't have the slightest doubt about it.

"Where have you been again?" his mother greeted him.

"At a friend's." He didn't want to get into a hopeless discussion with her.

"Mrs. Róża and I are wondering when you'll show her daughters the city."

He didn't answer, just made an unspecified sign in the air. He didn't even want to hear about it. He was afraid of these girls. He was afraid of the neighbors, who never had their lights on at night. He'd love to shout it to their faces, but he knew he didn't have the courage.

"What a child, for heaven's sake," his mother turned to her neighbor this time. "Perpetually unconscious, perpetually absent, he's taken after his father."

Apparently, she caught herself, having gone too far and fell silent as quickly as she had begun.

"But don't be so harsh," the woman replied softly. "He's a real man now."

For a moment, it seemed to him again that she looked at him somehow differently. Her breasts heaved as she looked at him. Even in his dreams, he wouldn't have dared to say such a woman could flirt with him. But was I just imagining it? He wondered to himself. As he stood there, looking from her to his mother, a sound pierced his brain. For a moment, he heard only a strange humming sound, as if he were suffering from a migraine, and then he heard that beautiful, deep, soft voice clearly and distinctly. It was as if something had to attune itself to his inner self first. Mrs. Rose's voice. "You'll have to visit us eventually," he couldn't believe what he was hearing. He glanced at his mother, who, oblivious, was adjusting her perm. The woman sat in an armchair, smiling innocently at him. But her eyes spoke louder than her body. Her eyes seemed to say, "Yes, you hear correctly." He felt terribly strange. He'd never experienced anything like this. Yet, for the past two days, he'd been experiencing uncanny events. Despite everything, he glanced again at his incredible neighbor. He wanted to feast his eyes before escaping to his room.

"You're bringing shame on the whole family with your behavior," he heard as he wordlessly headed back to his room.

In his room, he tried not to look at the spot on the wall where he'd seen the black hand at night. He also avoided his computer. Outside, it was getting gray, and he felt sick at the thought of the approaching night. He decided to focus all his attention on his neighbor. He closed his eyes and began to fantasize. It wasn't the first time he'd conjured up explicit scenes in his mind, scenes in which he played the leading role. But this time was different. He would never have suspected himself of such fantasies involving women. Yet they appeared as if on their own, as if he had no control over what he dreamed of. As if his erotic fantasies had chosen him, not the other way around.

He couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned. The shepherd had either wandered off somewhere or didn't want to spend the night in this room anymore. He felt lonely and anxious at night. If I can't sleep, at least I'll smoke, he thought, crawling out of the bed. He opened the window and took out his hidden cigarettes. The pack was running low, so he took out the last one and crumpled it in his hands, hiding it in the box. He inhaled deeply and looked at the neighboring house. Despite the darkness, he couldn't see any lights in any of the windows. The proximity of the house sent shivers down his spine. Though he knew it was foolish. It wasn't the house you should be afraid of, he corrected himself mentally. Thunder rumbled, and rain began to fall. Carefully at first, as if lazily, then picking up speed. He felt a cooler breeze on his face, carrying the scent of freshly turned earth and flowers. He could almost feel the hot asphalt steaming, wafting that peculiar scent through the air. He stubbed out his cigarette, and when he turned around, he jumped with fright. Across from him, about three meters away, stood the girl from the neighborhood. Actually, it wasn't just her apparition. She looked like a ghost, half-transparent. He couldn't see her clothing clearly; it was too pale, and the wallpaper on the wall showed through. But he could see her face. A younger version of Mrs. Rose. The girl opened her mouth, but he couldn't hear anything. Only after a moment did the buzzing echo in his brain again, followed by the words. "It's time," he heard inside his skull. He backed away so much that a single step would have been enough to send him tumbling out the window. The apparition reached out, and he immediately saw the black hand reaching out of the wall the night before. At that moment, the apparition vanished. He felt the increasingly familiar feeling of fear return. His legs felt heavy as lead. He couldn't even make it to the bed; he sat down on the floor by the window. His mouth was still open in astonishment. And he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. After ten minutes, he stood up numbly. He felt trapped. He knew there was no escape, they wanted him, and there was nothing he could do about it. He looked back at the house. Through the pouring rain, he could see the ominous silhouette of the dark house. It stood there, as if crouched in the darkness, dripping with rain. It was waiting for him. Or rather, someone was waiting inside. And he wouldn't take no for an answer.

The door to the room opened and his mother entered. He glanced at her and realized something was wrong. She stood with her eyes closed. She held the door open with her body and guided him toward the exit with her index finger. As he moved toward the door, he could get a closer look at her. She looked as if she were sleeping, even though he was standing there, urging him on. She looked as if she were some kind of puppet, with someone invisible pulling the strings to make her move. He left the room, speechless. Downstairs in the hall, he spotted his father sitting in an armchair. He was reading a newspaper. He was about to speak when he noticed that his father, too, had his eyes closed. He looked grotesque with the newspaper in his hands and his eyes closed. Tomek opened the door and stepped outside. He walked the few meters to the neighboring house, and as he approached the front door, it opened of its own accord. He felt numb, his mind numb, as if dazed by it all. Inside, it was pitch black, barely broken by the light of the streetlamps. He heard a growl somewhere in the corner. A guttural growl that sounded just like the one he'd heard at the zoo, passing the lion's cage. Deep, chilling. He could hear it approaching him. Whatever it was. He stared into the thick darkness from where the terrifying sound was coming. On one hand, from somewhere, he had the feeling that nothing could happen to him. At least not at that moment. However, he lost that feeling as the growl came alarmingly close. Suddenly, he saw a flash of white teeth. He saw nothing but a row of white teeth and fangs. Huge, long fangs. There was no telling what would have happened to him if it weren't for the voice from above.

"Leave him alone," he heard, commanding. He couldn't doubt it. Only Róża, his beautiful neighbor, had such a deep, melodic voice.

In an instant, the growl stopped. The flash of teeth was also enveloped in darkness. Apparently, the beast had closed its mouth obediently. However, when he sensed movement from the other side, he heard a voice. Despite everything, something was approaching him. He cowered in fear. And suddenly he saw one of Mrs. Róża's daughters emerge from the darkness. With a hiss, he released the air he'd been unconsciously holding in his lungs. The girl wore tight jeans that didn't reach her waist and a T-shirt short enough to reveal her flat stomach. An earring glinted in her navel. She looked at him with a wary expression. She stopped just a few centimeters from him and brought her face close to his. Tomek stood still. He had the uncanny feeling that it would be best to behave as he would in the presence of a rabid dog. "Don't make any sudden movements," he screamed silently. Finally, she moved away slightly, which he received with a sigh of relief. He looked up, but all he could see was the outline of the woman standing there.

He started up the stairs. He took only two steps and the familiar scent of musk reached his nose. The very scent and presence of this strange woman made him feel a little more confident. He felt a girl, her daughter, following him. Upstairs, he saw candlelight. Light filtered from the open door leading to a room. He entered and saw Róża standing in the middle of the room. Beside her stood another girl. She looked slightly different from the one behind him, whom he had already noticed earlier, in front of the house. She had long, straight blond hair. She stood clinging to the woman. Although he assumed it was her other daughter, he had the impression that their caresses held something far from motherly tenderness. Róża brushed the girl's hair, and she nestled into her shoulder.

"Hello, Tomasz," the woman said.

He didn't respond. He couldn't. He stood, confused and surprised by all this. He could still hear that terrible growl in his head. The girl behind him brushed past him and joined her mother. She snuggled up to her, standing on her other side. He fixed his gaze on the woman. She looked as dazzling as ever. Her black hair gleamed in the candlelight. Shadows crawled everywhere, and he no longer wondered if they were mere shadows or something more. The warm candlelight provided a pleasant light, but everything outside that magical circle was plunged into darkness. Rose wore the same black dress she'd worn when she'd first visited their home. He could see shadows dancing on her thighs, making the dress seem to peak and trough.

"Leave us," the woman demanded.

The girls moved toward the exit. Their catlike movements didn't escape his notice. Their young, lithe bodies swayed in rhythm with their footsteps. They passed him close. Very close, almost brushing against him. He wasn't sure if this was an aggressive gesture, meant to provoke him, or the opposite. He was no longer certain of anything.

When they were alone, she motioned for him to sit in the armchair, and he sat down obediently. She sat down opposite him.

"Forgive them, they're still immature and don't trust you.

" "Are they your daughters?" he asked, surprised by his own boldness.

"The one with the black hair, yes," she smiled warmly at him, "but we're all family."

He listened intently to her melodic, deep voice. She spoke calmly, quietly, and gently. Yet, every word was clearly audible. He stared, mesmerized, at her heaving breasts. A shadow danced in the gap they created before disappearing beneath her dress. Seeing his interest, she smiled.

"You like me, don't you?

" "Yes," he stammered, embarrassed. He knew it would be foolish to lie. His eyes burned at the sight of her.

"I want you to join our family.

" "Excuse me?" he didn't hide his surprise.

"We need a man, you're the right one."

"Who are you?" his voice was becoming increasingly concerned.

"Don't you know?"

Her voice was growing lower. Mysterious shadows flitted across her face. She looked into his eyes. Her lips parted slightly. He felt a shiver run down his spine, her hair standing at attention. Her eyes seemed to say, "Don't be afraid," but two gleaming white fangs protruded from her mouth. Even in the pink candlelight, he noticed her pale complexion. Her eyes gleamed more and more. And yet, they became something different, eerie. Two vertical lines stared at him, chilling his blood. "Don't be afraid," she addressed him, just as she had at home with his mother. The voice rang in his head, echoing throughout his body. "One small bite, and you'll be with us forever." He couldn't cover his ears to block it out. The voice crept through his brain, reaching every nook and cranny of his body. She drew closer to him. Her face was barely an inch from his own. He could smell her scent. Fear warred with the desire he felt at her proximity. Her scent and smooth skin irritated his senses. Silence fell in the room, broken only by the pattering rain and their breaths. She touched her nose to his cheek, and he felt a shiver of excitement, followed a moment later by a sting in his neck. He groaned, partly in surprise, partly in pain, but she compensated by placing her hand on his thigh. She stroked him as if to soothe him. It worked, and with more than enough effect. She realized it when her hand encountered an unexpected obstacle. He felt dizzy when she finally stopped. He felt nauseous. He didn't know if it was from fear or blood loss. He looked at her. Her fangs were no longer as snow-white. Dappled with his own blood, they gave her a rather eerie appearance. Her face was beautiful, menacing, and fascinating. A thin red trail ran down her chin. It flowed down her neck and onto her breasts. She saw him watching, fascinated.

"I know your fantasies," she said, her voice resonating in his ears like the most exquisite melody.

She pulled him down to the floor. The room, filled with intimate candlelight and the monotonous sound of rain, swirled before his eyes. He didn't even notice when the two girls appeared beside them, as if floating silently from the darkness swirling beyond the circle of light.

He didn't know where he was or what was happening to him. He felt a strange tingling in his veins. As if some foreign substance had been injected into his blood, and with each beat of his heart, it spread throughout his entire body. The tingling spread throughout his entire body. He felt a throbbing pain in his joints. He was aware that his body was transforming, mutating, changing his body. He was becoming stronger. He had visions, strange figures flashing before his eyes. He felt a terrible pain in his gums as two white fangs pierced them. It only hurts the first time – he heard Rose whispering, though he couldn't see her, he felt her presence. She sat beside him, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a wet cloth. His muscles flexed as if trying to tear him apart from the inside. He heard her whispering the whole time. She explained what was happening to him, knowing every phase of his transformation by heart. He didn't know where he was or how much time had passed. Finally, when everything stopped, he fell asleep. When he woke up and opened his eyes, they were there. All three of them.

"It's over, it's done," Rose whispered.

"Where are we?" he asked, looking around the room.

"Peacefully, far from where you lived."

He felt his strength returning. Soon he would experience his new abilities. Abilities that would accompany him for centuries. For now, he was gaining strength. They lived in some cabin in the forest, far from people. One day, he finally managed to get up and went outside. Rose was sitting on the porch, staring into the forest. It was already dark, but he was surprised to find that he could see perfectly. A bit different, yet fascinating. He sat down next to her.

"I'm glad you're feeling better now; you need to regain your strength.

" "Is there another surprise waiting for me?

" "We'll leave this place in a few days."

They sat staring into the dense forest. That incredible voice echoed in his mind again. "I'm glad you're with us," he heard Rose say. "I'm glad I can be with you," he replied in the same tone. He wasn't even surprised by his new ability. A moment later, the girls appeared and sat down next to him in silence. "Say hello," he heard her voice again. "They're your sisters, we're family now." He felt strange, knowing the word "family" was understood somewhat differently by them. He fell into thought as the woman's delightful whisper echoed in his mind once more. "Soon you'll know all of her."