The American (part 3)

Sofi came around the corner, recognizing the place that marked the entrance to the Encante. Just a few days ago she and dozens of other Encantados were frolicking and dancing in these warm waters. And now instead of a collection of beautiful people swimming around, there was a single figure floating forlornly in the middle of the pool. Sofi cupped her hands over her mouth in shock. It was Joshua's dead lanky body that bobbed in the placid water.

A strange form dipped up out of the water and swiftly swam to the edge of the bank where Sofi stood. A dark body emerged from the pool and approached her. Amancio's orange eyes blinked casually in the moonlight. 

Sofi swallowed before she asked, "Amancio, is he . . . dead?"

Amancio explained, "I tried to erase his memories, but I couldn't. I told you I wasn't strong enough."

Sofi stood there in astonishment. She had no intentions of getting Joshua killed. Amancio didn't notice her shock as he moved some hair out of her face and said, "Sofi, it's better this way. He didn't tell his crew where he was going. And since he went missing in city, they won't investigate the river. It's all going to be okay."

Amancio took Sofi's chin in his hands and kissed her full on the mouth. Sofi battled with her conscience.

This is wrong.

No. Joshua deserved it.

But he wasn't supposed to die.

How else would we have stopped him from invading the river? You lied to him, you led him to the river, and you knew exactly what would happen to him. Accept what you are are – Encantado.

Sofi ripped away from Amancio. "No!"

Amancio's expression flaunted a mask of confusion. Sofi reached up and grabbed the necklace he made for her. She ripped it off her neck and flung it at his feet.

"I am not a monster!"

Amancio reached out his hand to comfort her. Sofi nearly fell into the trees as she stumbled backwards. 

 "No! Get back. Stay away from me, Amancio!"  

The fire in Amancio's mango eyes dimmed. He lowered his quivering hand as he realized what he had done.

"Sofi, I'm sorry. I couldn't control it. I couldn't stop myself."

"Get away from me!" Sofi hollered before she took off into the darkness. Amancio sank to his knees and watched Sofi disappear into the forest. 

With violent self-hatred, he pounded the ground beneath him. Bits of mud and dung flew up into his face. Into his mouth and eyes. The young Encantado did not shout or holler. His anger was beyond that. He just continued to slay the earth until he punched out a pit deep enough for him to lay face first in.

"Master, help me," he moaned. He knew Julio would not approve of his actions in this situation. He would be furious that Amancio made Sofi run off again. But the young Encantado didn't care. He needed someone to talk to. Why did he kill that human so impulsively? Why had he let his instincts get the better of him?

"Master, where are you?" he called out again. "I need you!"

There was no reply. Amancio closed his big orange eyes and cried silently in the dirt.

Why am I this way? he thought miserably.

Then he stopped crying briefly and did something that he would have never dared to do before. Eyes still closed, he tried to remember what life was like before Julio became his mentor. 

In the past, Amancio would always get headaches when he tried this. This time, however, it was different. Julio was not around and the thought of Sofi abandoning him made him desperate. Obtaining his memories was the only chance he had of getting Sofi's trust back. So he searched and he searched and he searched.

Out of of all of the contemplation and strain of thought, he came to understand that he could not do this alone. He needed his Sofia.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sofi took off before the apology left Amancio's lips. She tore through forest, barely able to see past her coat of salty tears. In her distress she managed to make it home and climb into her room through the window.

The tears finally stopped dripping onto Sofi's pillow. Her rasped breath slowed and her wet, red eyes closed. She fell forward on the mattress with one last sob. The last thing that she thought before she drifted off was the hope that she wouldn't dream of any Encantados. Her wish was in vain.

Sofi awoke to the touch of fingers lightly sweeping against her face. She opened her eyes to see indeed two fingers gently pressed against her cheek. Her gaze clicked upward into Amancio's hypnotizing eyes watching over her.

Sofi sat up fast, which made Amancio recoil a little. He was sitting at the other end of her bed cross-legged. The moonlight coming in from the open window illuminated half of his flawless body. His bright eyes burned orange in the darkness. It was strange to behold such an intimidating figure with eyes as innocent as a child's.

"What are you doing here?" Sofi hissed. 

Amancio put his finger to his lips and whispered, "It's okay. I'm still in disguise." He pointed to his dull brown hair. 

Sofi crossed her arms and said, "I don't think my brother is going to be very happy if he finds a boy in my bed, whether you're an Encantado or not."

"I'll be quick. I came here to apologize and to tell you that . . . I've made a choice."

"A choice?" Sofi repeated skeptically.

Amancio nodded and continued, "From the moment I met you, Sofi, I've been playing two sides of a single game. I tried to be loyal to my mentor and to you at the same time. I know that it was wrong and I realize now that this isn't going to work. I need to choose. My mentor, Julio, wants me to turn you into an Encantado. Half of me wants to obey him, but the other half wants to befriend you and get back my memories.

"You have no idea how confusing this is for me right now. Master torments me, pressures me to prove myself as an Encantado, and the reason I blindly followed is because I desperately want to go home. But I also want . . . you. Sofi, I must be the craziest Encantado in the whole Encante, but I want you more than I want paradise. That's the truth."

"You would really just abandon your master just so we can keep being friends?" Sofi questioned. 

Amancio explained, "Julio's been like a father to me for as long as I can remember, but it's become obvious that he doesn't care about me as much as I thought. He was the one who left me here to patrol this side of the river. He knew very well that hardly anyone explores these waters. To put it simply, he abandoned me. As soon as he found out that I came across someone who was a possible threat to our world, he came to my aid. Now I know that he just wants to use me.

"Sofi, I know that after all I've done, you probably don't believe me. You probably think that Julio sent me here to say all of this. If I do obey him, I'll obtain paradise and eternal youth . . . but I would give it all up to keep your friendship. Please believe me, Sofi. I'm telling the truth."

Amancio sat there and observed Sofi's cold silence. When it seemed that Sofi was not going to bend, he reached for the open window, about to sling himself out. Sofi took him by the arm and pulled him back onto the bed. She sighed, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I believe you, Amancio."

Amancio gave one of his warm smiles and embraced her like a human blanket. In doing so, he reunited her with the shell necklace and tied it on her. Sofi hugged back and smiled when she saw out of the corner of her eye, Amancio's hair slowly changed from brown back to red. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Is this a dream, Amancio?"

"No. I'm really here tonight. Don't you notice my scent? Sofi, I promise that from now on, I'm yours and nothing else will come between us."

Sofi opened her eyes to release a tear. She badly wanted to believe his words were true. And so she forced herself to believe, swallowing the doubt that poisoned her gut. She held Amancio harder and focused on the moonlight pouring through her window and the dreamy way it illuminated the yellow butterfly perched on her sill.

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Obrigada,

~ Coco