“That smells divine, Eugenia, what is that?” Agata whipped off her coat in one swift motion, her skirts billowing as she shut the front door.
Eugenia gave her sister two loud smacks on each cheek, leaving smears of red lipstick behind. “Fresh Kompot, darling, made by our lovely Lucja.”
Agata shuddered. “That old hagis nothing but trouble. You never should have hired her, you know. The townspeople call her a witch, and I believe them.”
“I know, I know, but she makes the best food in all of Warsaw.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s the best.” Agata noticed the stains on her cheeks and frowned.
“Last week you ate three helpings of her Pierogies, I saw you.”
“Yes, yes. But she handles your children, Eugenia, your little babies. You can’t let some stranger handle your babies.”
“Oh, the children adore her. I can never get Iwan off her.”
“Where are the children? They should have given me my hugs by now.”
“Iwan, Halina!” Called Eugenia. “Your ciotka is here!”
The pattering of small feet was heard on the steps, followed an ominous creaking. Halina appeared, with Lucja limping behind here. “Agata!”
Agata swept her niece into her arms and hoisted her into the air. “My angel, how are you?”
Halina smoothed out her dress demurely. “Very well.”
Agata raised a brow. “How mature of you, Halina.”
Eugenia clucked, absentmindedly smoothing out Halina’s hair. “This one bleeds once and thinks she’s an adult now. You should see the way she dresses.” She grasped her daughter’s birdlike face in her weathered hands and gasped. “Halina Mazur, is that lipstick on your face?”
Halina squirmed away. “Lucja says I look like a young lady.”
Agata snorted. “Emphasis on the young.” She turned to the aged housekeeper. “How are you, Lucja?”
Lucja cleared her throat and tottered away. Halina giggled.
Agata raised an eyebrow. “Well, then.”
Eugenia sighed. “Oh, take no notice of her. All old people are a bit off in the head.” She noticed Halina trying to pour herself a glass of Kompot, and swatted her arm away. “Watch yourself, Mrs. Grown-Up-Lady. Don’t you go spilling that red drink all over your brand-new Easter dress.”
Agata got three chipped glasses out from the cupboard. “Let me.” As she poured the steaming liquid into the cups, she frowned. “Now, where did Iwan get off to?”
“Heavens knows,” Said Eugenia. “That boy will be the death of me, I swear to you.”
“I saw Iwan go off with Lucja to the woods this morning,” Chimed in Halina.
“That’s it!” Exclaimed Eugenia. “Lucja knows very well that the children are not allowed to enter that cursed place.”
“Because of the ghosts?” Agata winked at Halina.
“Because of the dangerous, filthy animals, Agata. Don’t you go filling my daughters head up with made up stories.”
“But there are ghosts, mama. Lucja told me. Everyone with unfinished business becomes a ghost. And she told me that the blood of the innocents drunk by the unknowing will bring ghosts back to life.”
“Halina! There will be no more of that nonsense in this house. Where did that fool Lucja get off to?”
“Fool or not, this Kompot is magical. Is it made with apricot or cherries?” Agata poured herself another glass.
Eugenia shrugged, distracted. “Both, I’m guessing. Our garden has had a very good harvest this year. Now, Halina, what else has Lucja been telling you?”
Halina dabbed at her lips daintily. “Lucja tells me a lot of things. A lot about magic. She tells things to Iwan, too. He gets stories from her all day long.”
“Iwan is getting more than just stories from me tonight,” Said Eugenia grimly. “Just wait for that little rascal to get down. He will never be alone with that Lucja ever again.”
“Lucja’s little boy died ages ago, poor soul,” Sighed Agata. “People say she’s never been the same since then. Maybe that’s why she enjoys the company of our Iwan so much.”
“She will not be replacing her boy with my son, I tell you that.” Eugenia peeked into the pot. “No more Kompot, any of you. I need to feed our Easter guests, and you’ve all had your fill.” She paused for a moment. “I’ll save a glass for Iwan, though. Kompot is his favorite.”
“Kompot is my favorite, too, mama, can I have another cup?”
“Very funny, lady.”
Agata headed up the stairs. “I’m going to check on Iwan. The chocolate I brought him will melt.”
Halina gasped. “There’s chocolate?”
“None for you, my dear,” Said Eugenia. “Don’t go spoiling your appetite before the Easter feast.”
Halina pouted, a temper tantrum brewing, but before she could say anything Lucja came back in. She peered into the big copper pot. “You drank?”
“We-well,” Stammered Eugenia, “Agata came in, you know, and she wanted to try your Kompot. I gave Halina some too, I didn’t drink it all. It was very good, Lucja.”
Lucja nodded. She spat a menacing-looking glob of yellow phlegm onto to the floor, before grabbing a dented broom from the cupboard and leaving into the garden.
“I really wish she would stop doing that,” Muttered Eugenia, crossing herself. “So uncouth.”
“She’s going into the woods, mama,” Said Halina, peering through the curtains. “Do you think she’s cleaning up the woods with our broomstick?”
“Hopefully she gets lost in those woods and never comes back,” Said Eugenia. “Cooking genius or not, that woman is not staying in our house anymore.”
Just then Agata came down the stairs, looking worried. “Iwan isn’t in his room,” She said. “And his new Easter clothes are in a pile on the floor.”
“That boy!”Eugenia was rapidly turning an ominous shade of red, so much so that she started resembling a glass of Kompot. “I slave at the kitchen all day long and this is how that wretch repays me? Pah!”
“Maybe Lucja is sweeping him out of the woods with our broomstick,” Noted Halina.
“There she is now, at the gate,” Cried Agata. “Oh, do give her a piece of your mind, Eugenia.”
“I will,” Said Eugenia, swelling with justified anger and just a little bit of self-importance. “Lucja! Come in here. Now, please.”
Lucja looked up for a moment, then started walking away with a briskness none of them knew she possessed.
Eugenia muttered to herself, then thumped the door firmly. “Lucja!” Halina jumped.
Grudgingly, Lucja walked towards them. “Yes, madam?”
“Listen here now, Lucja. I’ve decided that we don’t require your service anymore.”
Lucja shrugged. “Fine.”
Eugenia was aghast. “Lord, woman, are you not in the least bit bothered?”
She shrugged again. “You say go, I go.”
Agata wrinkled up her nose. “Heavens, what is that smell?”
“I smell it too,” Said Halina. “It smells like the beef mama is hiding in the pantry.”
“I am not hiding that, Halina, I was saving it for a special occasion. Is that my good beef in your bag, Lucja, huh? Is that why you want to get away so fast, so you can feast on my food though I’ve been feeding you for free all these weeks?” Eugenia tugged on Lucja’s worn cloth bag. “Come on now, show it to us. Your jig is up.”
Lucja hissed, snatching the bag away. “I no show.”
“Aha, so you do have something to hide, don’t you?”
Agata had been creeping behind Lucja during this interaction, and swiftly snatched the bag away. “Ha!”
Lucja glowered as Agata triumphantly spilt the contents of the bag onto the floor.
“Oh, I knew it!” Shrieked Eugenia. “Bones! You sliced the meat off my delicious steaks and gorged on it all yourself, didn’t you? I bet you didn’t even cook it first, you heathen. For heavens’ sake, Lucja!”
Agata frowned. “I don’t think these are cow bones, Eugenia. The shape is wrong. They’re too small, too fragile looking.”
“What else did you murder, then huh?” Said Eugenia, working herself into a state. “My goats, my sheep? My whole fucking barn, huh Lucja, you cow!”
Agata bent closer to the pile. “It’s almost as if…”
Halina pulled something off the floor. “It’s Iwans’ good watch. He never takes it off, ever.”
“Oh, ho!” bellowed Eugenia. “So not only you steal my food, but you steal my sons’ precious belongings! Have you no shame, Lucja?”
Then Halina startled everyone by dropping to the floor and wailing as if shot. Eugenia, looking disturbed, went to her. “My darling, what is it? Did she steal something of yours, too?”
“N-no…” wailed Halina, unable to catch her breath. “It’s the blood of the innocents, mama.”
“What, child?”
Agata turned pale. “The blood of the innocent, drank by the unknowing.”
Slowly, they all turned to look at their cups. The few remaining red drops winked back at them.
