Elementary Virtue: The Prophecy (21 page)

Gabe felt invincible. He had manipulated this damn baseball and got away with it. Without him, the Blue Jays would have clearly lost the game. He practically helped them to their victory. Not noticed by anyone, they were all so eager that their home team had won, that they didn’t see clearly anymore. A ball like that nobody would be able to get, not even Jose Bautista. Without Gabe's help and a well-aimed blast of wind, the game would have been lost. It would have been over. The opposing team had apparently been aware, that something was wrong and protested after the game, but without any success. So, the Blue Jays owed today's victory to his ability to control the elements. He grinned to himself. It had undoubtedly been a brilliant move, and he made a fortune betting on the Jays today. So his dad could go to hell telling him that he had no strategy and got carried away by emotions. What he was capable of, his old man had no clue. He knew nothing about him. With Gary at his side, he was unstoppable. First, Gary was a sly asshole and second he had the best stuff there was. It had been Gary to give him the idea of manipulating the ball and bet on the Jays. Shit, he had made a small fortune even when he deducted the ten percent he promised Gary. Money was no issue anymore, and he didn’t even need his stupid father. He could start a business on his own anytime. No, the old geezer didn’t know a thing about him. He was the real leader of the Vultures, and he didn’t need any damn permission. On the contrary, maybe it was time to break the rules, stand up against him to claim his birthright and take his old man off the streets.

He certainly had it coming after all he had done to his mother. It was time that he ruled the Vultures. Gabe sank into a dark hole, whenever he remembered his beautiful mother, who had died in a car accident some time ago. The circumstances of her death mildly speaking were mysterious. Anyway, they had previously sent him to some boarding school. She appeared surprising him at the school a few weeks before she died. The purpose of her visit was to tell him that she would get a divorce from his father because she could no longer bear his cruelty. She head over heels had met someone and wanted to leave Carmine. Gabe never met the man. There hadn’t been enough time because the two of them had this horrible accident shortly after that and neither of them survived. Gabe was convinced that his father was behind it and that it was not an accident. Because he would never let go of his mother like that, she was his jewel, his puppet. Although Carmine had acted as a grieving widower at the funeral and cried his eyes off, Gabe knew better, his father was a damn good actor. Gabe loved his mother. She was the only person he really cared about. She had been gentle and loving trying to fulfill every wish, he ever had. She had spoiled him blind, only seeing the best in him. She had been so proud of him, and now she was dead. This Ana and her mother made such a fuss because Carmine hadn’t been a part of Ana's life and didn’t support her financially. They should have been glad that he left them alone, at least they had their freedom, and Ana's mother was still alive. Yes, Gabe smiled, he thought that it was time for Carmine to step back for once and all time.

Who knew, an accident had the possibility of happening to him, or if it could be possible to arrange. After all, Gary was quite a handy man when it came to cars. To loosen or cut a brake cable partly, should not cause any major difficulties. He grinned and picked up the phone, "Hey Dad. Do you want to go on a trip with me? We could go to our cottage at Lake Simcoe this weekend as we planned some time ago?
You, would like to go fishing? No problem. I'm glad we finally have a weekend for just the two of us. See you then," grinning he hung up the phone. It looked as if he didn’t even need Gary's mechanical skills nor any magical abilities that could be dangerous. No, Gary's pills and a canteen would be enough. The boat might tilt, or some Akandos could attack them. He had not yet decided, but one thing was sure his old man would bite the dust this weekend, and if necessary he would find someone to be blamed, like the Akandos. It came in quite handy because the Vultures needed a little kick of motivations to follow him to Sicily and if their boss weren't around anymore, they would be furious and ready for the battle. Exactly how he needed them, to come along with him and kill the Savior.

They finally needed to understand that the Savior had to die, even if the Akandos in Canada were not in immediate danger and would survive. Still according to the Legend, they all lost their powers. There were always doubters among the Vultures, and not everyone was eager to follow him unconditionally. Above all, his new opponent, Greyson, who still had a crush on this bitch Leyla. She had something going on with Gregory before he disappeared. He was sure about that, and he couldn’t understand why Greyson couldn’t leave her alone. What was so damn special about this chick, he didn’t get it. Greyson needed urgently to decide where his loyalties lay. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be needed any longer, and it was possible he would end up as fish feed as well. It was quite a brilliant plan, which would bring Gabe to the top of the Vultures. Still another thing bothered him. Gary knew excessive information, and maybe someday that became a problem, as Gary was a greedy fellow. He shrugged, it would be soon enough to think about it when things got out of hands. He would find a solution when time came, and he needed to.

The evening performance had been a huge success as usual and tomorrow they would fold up the big top and go to the mainland for their fall/winter tour to start, but Donna Tiziana was anything but happy. Brooding she sat in her trailer, she had consulted her Tarot cards for advice and seen death and destruction. What could be looked at best-case scenario as the end of something and a new beginning? But, things first had to collapse and be destroyed before something new could arise. On the other hand, since Gregory and Keanu had disappeared, she had somehow lost hope for a new beginning. Donna Tiziana sighed, even if she didn’t believe a word of what Antony said. In his opinion, they had killed each other and that was just not possible for Tiziana. But, it was a fact that the two of them hadn’t come back and were gone since that day. It had been a week by now.

Giacomo was a true bundle of nerves, it seemed as if he expected to be attacked anytime. Donna Tiziana did understand him very well, because without Keanu they were in danger. Once the Di Benedetto Clan or other families got wind of him being away, the damn threatening would start all over again. There would be the threats for protection, the money issues, and many other unpleasant matters. She felt tired and didn’t know if she was strong enough to stand her ground this time against the Di Benedetto or any other clan. Since what had happened with Keanu, they had come to a truce and had left her and Giacomo in peace. Thanks, also to the successful debut of Antony and Valentina, which had contributed to the peaceful phase. The Circus Motta had successfully formed some great artists who appeared around the globe in well-known Circuses like the - Cirque du Soleil - and had therefore helped to get many young Sicilians off the street and into the Circus, giving them some purpose in live. At least three-quarters of the youngsters of the important families on the island would certainly be unemployed, or hit the road as a contract killer for the Mafia or worse, if it hadn’t been for the Circus Motta Benedetto. Each of her grandchildren or any other child of her tainted family, which could be brought to the right path, was a soul rescued out of the clutches of the Vultures and the Mafia. Antony was a good kid, which he had proved once again when he arrived full of despair about the fact that Gregory and Keanu were going to kill each other. He had a good heart and none of the wickedness of the Cinisis and she hoped and prayed to god every day that even Valentina didn’t have any evil in her.

Tomorrow they would leave the island and the way it looked it was high time for it, because when the family got wind about Keanu not being in the Circus anymore, it was only a matter of time before someone would show up. Giacomo had already gone to bed and his loud snoring filled the trailer. Donna Tiziana lay down beside him, but except for the snoring, which had really reached deafening proportions, there were too many things going through her head to sleep. After a sleepless night, she got up and made herself up carefully. Giacomo was still asleep and it was not necessary that he understood at first glance that she was worried. She left the trailer and walked with her head held high for the buffet breakfast at the dining tent. Most were surprised to see her so early in the morning. It was only seven o'clock in the morning and there were not many people around, because today there was no performance and the Big top would be folded away for the voyage, most slept a little longer. Donna Tiziana sat at a table a little aside from the entrance with her cappuccino and a brioche reading the morning newspaper. There had been flooding near Messina, the river had overflown the banks and a small community called Barcelona had been swamped. Donna Tiziana snapped upset. It was no wonder that each time a few drops of rain fell from the sky, that village was swamped.

First time it had happened a few years ago and the mayor - his name was De Capitani, - got some funds from the Italian government conceded to seize measures to ensure that this tragedy didn’t repeat itself and more innocent people lost their lives. He hadn’t done anything of the sort, but blown the money on women and booze or whatever. Now the citizen demanded his resignation and he tried to silence them with tall tales. It was disgusting, to see how corrupt politicians were. Again people had died, among them several children. On this island, nothing would ever change. If Gregory would be able to do his job, at least the machinations of the Vulture-born mobster would come to an end. The old pure resident Mafia families tended to stay among themselves and made out their problems among themselves. So to speak, they were even the lesser evil. The Vultures on the other hand were interfering everywhere and were so proud of their shamanic background, although they usually had virtually no powers at all. Which in Tiziana’s eyes was clear to be understood as a god’s punishment for their evil machinations. Unfortunately, they found out that Vultures from other countries, who had not been born in Sicily, had very strong powers. So, they started to look for them, trying to convince them to work for them. They had been so keen to have Keanu in their ranks, and for the exact same reason the Grande family had their training unit overseas, from which they certainly hoped to get access to, untamed power. Yes, they dreamed even to dominate the old families of the original Cosa Nostra in Cuor Leon. This bunch of delusional morons. That was the reason the Canadian Vultures would get here to make sure that Gregory disappeared for good from the surface of earth. This would get them another 100 years to continue their ruler ship and gain control over the island, if the volcano didn’t destroy the whole Island this time around.

Disgusted Tiziana threw the newspaper aside, now her appetite was gone. She pushed her brioche aside sipping her coffee, when she suddenly heard the sound of an approaching car. Who the hell came out on the peninsula early in the morning, on the day of their departure? Alarmed she looked in the direction of the noise. A black Mustang came to a halt with squealing wheels. The car looked familiar. It looked like Keanu's Mustang, but she was not sure. And she couldn’t see who was driving it. The driver seemed to be alone. Therefore, it couldn’t be Gregory and Keanu who returned. Nevertheless, hope rose that maybe at least one of them was coming back. In any case, the arrival didn’t bode well, she felt it. The car stopped not far from Donna Tiziana’s table. A figure in a black jumpsuit and a black hood got out and came towards her. Looked as whoever it was didn’t want to be necessarily recognized. As the figure came closer, Donna Tiziana saw that he was of a delicate shape of stature. Maybe a boy from Solanto who intended to hire for the Circus hoping they would take him to the mainland. Relief came up for a short time, until the moment the figure took off the hood.

Giada di Benedetto was standing in front of her. She looked like an Amazon, Tiziana thought to herself. God, this girl was a real beauty, in fact she reminded her of herself when she was young. Pride and beauty, combined with a damn good self-confidence. She shook her long copper mane, glittering in the morning sun, which had been tousled by the wind and the hood. She looked at Tiziana from her almond-shaped gray gold-flecked eyes. Donna Tiziana was not thrown off balance that easily. She had experienced too many uncomfortable situations in her life. She gave an easy look and smile to her unexpected guest, "Giada what a surprise. What gives us the honor of your visit, so early in the morning?" She looked at her mockingly, trying to act as condescending as possible. Which was a bit difficult given the fact that Giada was standing in front of her and she had to look up to her. Giada smiled disarmingly grabbing a free chair and sat down. Donna Tiziana beckoned a member of the staff to bring Giada some coffee, "So tell me dear, what are you doing here?"

"I beg your pardon. I wanted to visit Antony and Valentina because you are moving on to the mainland today and I haven’t seen them for quite some time." Tiziana frowned, "But your family has no contact at all with their family, you are even not very well disposed towards each other, the Cinisi communities and Di Benedetto communities hate each other. As far as I know, they rather get in each other’s way sometimes. Isn’t that corrupt mayor, I read about in the newspaper, this Emanuele De Capitani one of them, your father can hardly like such behavior, does he ever?" Giada smiled again and her pearly white teeth shimmered, "The young generation doesn’t want anything to do with such nonsense, we are friends now Auntie"
"Please don’t call me Auntie, I am choosing my relatives recently myself, you're confusing something, because you certainly don’t belong to the illustrious circle. For I haven’t quite forgotten what your clan did to Keanu and you've watched them without even flinching. The worst part of it was, that you called such a thing actually love!" Giada didn’t say anything, she just stared at her silently, "If this was love, I am asking myself, how you would express hatred, if your so-called love was as cruel as it could be? It will be hard to exceed everyone’s expectations."

For a moment, both of them fell silent. Donna Tiziana stared at Giada reproachfully. Suddenly Giada bent over the table taking her hands, "I know that you hate me, but believe me. You don’t hate me as much as I hate myself." She looked at Donna Tiziana imploringly, "I had no chance against my father, I had to do what the family expected me to, even if you can’t understand it and you will never forgive me. I still love Keanu. You have to believe me. I will always love him, but I will never be able to be with him." Tiziana frowned at her. This could be nothing more than a nasty trick. She had to be on guard because Giada was up to every trick she knew it very well. Giada let go of her hands, running her hand in an uncertain gesture through her shiny mane, "I've seen Keanu and Antony a few days ago." Donna Tiziana tried not to show her surprise. "He was in Capo d ‘Orlando and took the boat to go fishing with Antony. He left me the Mustang. But as he has not yet returned the boat and you are leaving today, I wanted to check with you whether the two of them are not going with the rest of you to the mainland? Aren’t they artists in your program?"

Donna Tiziana didn’t know what to do. What was she supposed to say? She thought feverishly about how to wriggle her way out of this difficult situation, but the burgeoning joy about Gregory and Keanu apparently being alive and sailing away was hard to conceal. She wanted to send that selfish Girl away and give Giacomo the good news. She heard Giada’s voice becoming louder like through a thick a fog, "Auntie, did you hear me? I haven’t told Daddy yet because I thought that he’ll bring the boat back today." Donna Tiziana pulled herself together saying, "I have no idea where he is." Giada was becoming suspicious, the older woman was apparently not telling the truth, that much was clear she would somehow find out where Keanu was and why he hadn’t come back. She would also find ways and means to find the Savior. She was sure that he was hiding somewhere in the Circus. She would look at each one of them, and no one would stop her from doing that, especially not an aging diva who sat here in front of her trying to play innocent. There wouldn’t be that many guys with extremely blue eyes strolling around that damn Circus.

In her mind, she was planning her strategy how to convince Donna Tiziana to show her around the Circus, when a strawberry blond, tall, handsome boy and a pretty girl passed by the tent laughing and teasing each other. The girl punched the boy in the side and Giada caught a few snatches of their conversation. "You're such an ass Antony, Clark's way too old for me and besides, I have no time for stuff like that." The two of them disappeared laughing into the tent and Giada watched them with narrowed eyes. How did the girl call that boy? But wasn’t Antony supposed to be sailing with Keanu somewhere on the ocean? She jumped up. Someone was trying to make a fool out of her. Either Keanu or Donna Tiziana, this old witch. She would find out immediately. She darted the older woman an evil look, "Auntie when I told you Keanu came to Capo d ‘Orlando with your grandson Antony, you haven’t mentioned that Antony is still here. Why did you do that?" Donna Tiziana sat there dumbfounded, what was she supposed to do? How was she to stop the raging fury that would pounce on poor Antony any minute? Giada rushed furiously towards the food tent.

Antony was at the coffee machine. He needed a double Ristretto, since the story with Keanu and Gregory he didn’t sleep well and as a result, he mostly felt as if he had been run over by a truck every morning. He wondered if the two idiots had killed each other, or whether they had come to their senses. He hoped so, he had done his best to prevent them from doing the stupid duel, and when he had come back with Giacomo and some friends to the stone pit, they were gone. He stretched and yawned. However, the yawning got stuck in his throat turning into coughing, when he was torn around roughly by someone. A gorgeous looking girl was standing in front of him. "Shit, are you Antony?" He stopped coughing and croaked hoarsely, “Well hello," putting on his most charming smiles.

"Yes of course I'm Antony, who else should I be?" Giada turned on her heel storming out of the tent back to Tiziana’s table. She passed by hissing at her. " I’ll get you for that, Auntie, you’ve tried to play me pretending you didn’t know that Keanu has taken the Savior to some place where no one is supposed to find him. You wanted to fool me old woman, but you're going to regret that. I’ll tell Daddy everything and then you all are history." She got into the Mustang letting the engine roar. With screeching tires, she drove off, leaving a cloud of dust behind her. Giacomo, who had been awakened by the noise, came to Tiziana's table looking at her quizzically. Antony came running out of the food tent, out of breath, he stopped at Tiziana's table, "Does this mean that Gregory and Keanu are alive?"

Donna Tiziana nodded obviously still shaken, "I guess it does, but it also means that we will not survive for long if we don’t get away as quickly as possible. Giada will be back soon with her Mafia friends." "Well folks, lets pack up our stuff immediately, we can get on an earlier ferry boat then," Giacomo said. He understood how serious the situation had become.