The day was fairly uneventful for the first little while. I did some house and garden work. By the middle of the afternoon though, I had cleaned and organized everything I could get my hands onto. Not seeing anything else to do, I grabbed my parasol and decided to go for a stroll along the beach. It is technically on our land, after all.
Walking through the sand with my bare feet squishing against it, I was simply enjoying myself. The salty sea air, the gentle mist blowing in my face, the little crabs and other sea life scurrying about- it was all magical. That familiar sound of splashing nearby made me look outward onto the water, hoping to see a dolphin or a turtle, or maybe even one of those purple fish I've seen swimming on occasion around here. But no such luck. Just as soon as I heard the splashing, it was gone again. Letting out a wistful sigh, I continued with my leisurely walk.
My feet did come to an abrupt halt though, when a voice- a familiar, horrible voice- sounded from behind the big rocks. "What are you doing, Ciccio?! I said this way! Mamma mia! What did I ever do to deserve such idiotas for friends?!" I think he still would have seen me even if I made a run for it. Instead I stood there still as a statue and braced for the worst. Rounding the rock of course they saw me; Ercole's face lightening up like it was Christmas morning.
"Tesorina! Look, boys; it's my pet!" Oh god…. My hands curled into fists as he stomped over to me with all the swagger and grace of a drunk pigeon. "What are you doing out here in the sand, little one? Come to see me hunt? Ah, of course you are! You wouldn't miss a chance to see your man hunt those nasty beasts, would you?" "Uh, you're hunting what now?" I inquired while inspecting those very tall and sharp spears they were carrying around all willy nilly. Talk about disrespect for the weapons you wield.
"We're hunting sea monsters!" The crony named Ciccio spoke to me for the very first time. I blinked down to him alarmed and Ercole gave him a swift slap upside the head. "Of course she knows that, stupido!" I literally just asked what they're hunting….. I think he just didn't like another man explaining something to me- oh, the irony. He flashed me another sleezy, toothy smile.
"It's true, tesorina. We hunt those terrifying monsters! Cause, heh, we're the only ones brave enough in the village to do it," does he ever talk to anyone else? Like anyone? The whole village seems obsessed with sea monsters from my viewpoint. Still, I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes and shaking my head; unlike with Uncle I didn't have to worry about disrespecting him.
"You really don't believe in sea monsters, do you?" "Ah, now don't be frightened, pet. Your fear is clouding your judgment. I assure you, they are real! And they are as horrifying as you can imagine. But don't worry, I'll protect you from those monsters," Ercole took a dangerous step toward me, immediately prompting me to take a step back. His slimy tongue ran along his bulky teeth again and I thought I might be sick. This guy gave the word "creep" a whole new meaning.
A drop of sweat rolled down the back of my neck. "B-Be that as it may, this is still private property and…." "Private property? No one owns the ocean, my sweet," yet another step was taken in my direction. My foot slid back even further in the sand. "Y-Yes, but the beach is. I-It belongs to my uncle and I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate you hunting anything on his land," or even being near me, for that matter. He waved his hand in a dismissive fashion. "Bah. Your uncle would have no problem with us butchering those beasts. Why! I bet he'd be thrilled at me keeping his niece safe!" Does he literally have to spin everything I say to be in a positive light for and about him? It was so insufferable!
My feet kept sliding and sliding that I was starting to lose my balance. I just wanted to get away from this jerk! My brain raddled for something, anything to make him go away. Luckily- or perhaps unluckily- Ercole lowered his harpoon and placed his fist on his hip in a relaxed posture. "Eh, I'm getting peckish anyway. Why don't you invite us in for dinner, tesorina? We can get to know each other better over a meal, ah?"
I don't think I've ever looked at anyone the way I did at him just now. I…. I mean… I just….. I'd heard of men being horrid before, but this was on a whole other level of rude. No gentleman would ever ask a lady to invite him to dinner- that is the furthest thing from a gentlemanly move right there. I was so in shock that I didn't know how to reply immediately. What does a proper lady say to that? He may be no gentleman but I am still a lady of stature! I wasn't about to low my feminine demeanour for the likes of him. Still, I was utterly disgusted beyond words. Forget the rude villagers or the fact that everyone here believes in sea monster; he is, by far, the worst part of Portorosso I've experienced so far.
I felt like I was going to cry when he took yet another large step my way. His thin hand was about to reach up for me. "Well, pet? Invite us in! Your uncle is home, yes? He'll be our chaperon, since I know you honour the practices of high society. He'll get to know me better too! It's a win-win!" I wanna die. Is it possible to die of embarrassment? Cause if it is, I'm dropping dead soon. "Tesorina?" He waited rather impatiently for me to say something. "I uh…. T-That won't be possible today. I'm sorry." "Not possible? Course it's possible! Look, if you don't have enough food they don't need to eat, right guys?!" His friends flinched and awkwardly nodded their head. Oh my god.
"No, w-what I mean is Zio is…. busy at the moment, so….." "Well, when will he not be busy?" Ercole's tone was growing more aggravated. "Uh…." I didn't want to tell him that Uncle wasn't in Portorosso currently; knowing him that could end very, very badly. His foot had the audacity to tap a few times before his arms flung up in the air. "Alright then. How about you and me go get some gelato then, eh? Cool off from this summer heat." "Oh no! I promised Zio that I wouldn't leave our property today- not while he's…. busy." "Oh, come now, pet. I'm sure he wouldn't mind you accompanying me for a little while. He can't expect you to be perfect all the time." "Really, Ercole! I told my uncle that…." "It'll be fine. Come on, little one; come with me." "I said no!" "Ha! I know what that means! When a girl says "no", what she really means is "yes but later"." "Uh, no. That's not…." "Come, tesorina! Let's finally spend some time together!"
It was at this point that something splashed the back of Ercole and with force too. He instantly spun around on his heels, looking super angry. "Who did that?!" His friends shrugged and their idiotic leader glared out at the water. "Sea monster! Get me my stabbing spear!" That's when my heart went into overdrive. I didn't want to see any poor, defenceless sea animal get slaughtered in front of me and definitely not by this maniac. I ran a bit toward him, desperately clasping my hands up at my chest.
"There's are no such thing as sea monsters, Ercole!" I hollered in a half-cry. He shot me a look from over his shoulder. "No? Then what just splashed me, hmmmmmm?" "It was probably just a wave! There's obviously nothing out there!" "What if it's hiding behind that rock?!" He pointed to the big rocks with the tip of his spear. I felt my blood already boiling over. "Of course it's not! Sea monsters don't exist!"
Ercole's friends flinched dumbfounded while a now angry-looking Ercole spun back around to face me. He marched back my way, his face contorted with rage. "You think you know about such things? Ha! What does a city girl like you know about the sea, hmmmmm?!" This was the first time Ercole had ever yelled at me, and it shook me. Me and his friends. I think they were just as bewildered as I was. I did nothing; I said nothing, too frightened to move an inch. I wasn't "afraid" afraid, but this was certainly a side of him I'd never seen before. Well, directed at me anyway. One of his friends cleared his throat as to remind Ercole what he'd just said to me.
Hearing this, Ercole immediately flinched and blinked several times. Then he straightened up his posture and pulled down the rim of his shirt. His expression was pensive, if somewhat insincere. "Forgive me, my pet. I don't know what came over me. I apologize." "I-It's… I-It's ok. I think I should head back inside now though… b-before it gets any later." "Yes, go in tesorina. We'll eat dinner together soon this summer. Have a good evening." I don't think I could have run out of there and away from him quicker. My legs carried back inside the garden walls and into the safety of the locked gate faster than I'd ever moved in my life.