Elementary Virtue: The Prophecy

by Sonja Wuthrich

  They had a lot of fun and Ana tried on about twenty dresses. Leyla constantly supplied her with replenishment. When Ana finally was about to give up hope, Leyla appeared with a salmon-colored dress, which fitted her perfectly. The dress emphasized her slender figure and her delicate complexion, and Leyla whistled through her teeth, "Hey Ana, this dress looks like it was made for you. You look stunning in it. You simply have to buy it." Ana looked uncertain into the mirror, unfamiliar with such dresses, but Leyla looked at her encouragingly and jerked her thumb upward. "Ok, I'll take it," Ana said surrendering.

  "I am sure that you will be sitting next to a celebrity. You’ll have to give me a full report in our Judo Training." Ana shrugged, she wasn't into it, but maybe the event could be interesting, “Possibly, but let’s focus on Judo, do you still have time to come to the sports store with me?" Leyla checked her watch, "Yep, I think it’s ok if we make it a quick call." "Great, let me change quickly into my clothes then."

  When they headed to the sports shop, Ana could no longer hold back her curiosity, and it didn't even have anything to do with Gabe's order to question Leyla about a certain Gregory. No, she simply wanted to know how somebody could be grounded for eternity. "Leyla, can I ask you a question? I am wondering, why the grounding? What did you do?" She looked interested at her new friend. Leyla shrugged, "I have emptied my bank account because of a guy, and I haven't been honest with my parents. What can I say? I just messed up." She grimaced and pretended to cut her throat with her finger. “Wow, that must have been a special guy then. Sounds incredibly romantic and crazy, I can’t imagine doing such a thing for a guy. Was he the least worth it? I mean are the two of you still together?"

  "Yes, totally worth it and I would do it all over again. He is the love of my life. He always has been, as long as I remember."

  The discussion about this issue seemed to be over for Leyla. She pushed a few kimonos aside to check the size. Ana looked at her in awe, "I wish I could feel like that about someone, I always meet these pushy guys who are calling me all the time, taking my breath away. Besides, in the end, it turns out they don’t even care about me. I hate that. Are you still seeing him, now that you are on punishment?” Leyla looked up with an absent, painful expression, "No I don’t see him anymore, and I haven't heard from him lately. He had to leave. It is all a bit complicated. Be glad that you are not involved in anything like this. It hurts a lot." Ana had apparently figured out the kind of information Gabe was looking for without even wanting to. Leyla's gaze filled with pain. Ana felt compassion welling up inside her, "I'm sorry, I didn't want you to feel sad. Still it is nice to have such strong feelings for someone. I have never felt that way until now. I think I have never even been in love. Maybe I am not even able to love at all."

  Leyla rolled her eyes, "I've never heard such bullshit. Maybe you will even meet your soul mate at that event." She gave her a push and Ana chuckled, "You're crazy, that happens only in the movies." Leyla smiled, "Or in a story, didn't you say your mom wrote fantasy books?"

  "Ha, ha hilarious, you're so funny." The time had flown by, and Leyla had to go home, she truly feared the questions she would have to face eventually, from Gregory's stepparents.

  Ana didn't have a clue what to say to her stupid step-brother. She didn't have the slightest intention to tell him about Leyla being grounded and her love story. Which, however, seemed to have gone down the drain. Why else would this big love take off with Leyla's savings after all? It was strange and mysterious. On the other hand, maybe Leyla was just a naive girl who had fallen for a creepy guy trying to exploit her. Ana had no idea, but she would not say anything to Gabe or as little as possible.

  To be honest, Ana liked Leyla a lot better than Gabe. Finally, she was on a holiday and entitled to have some fun, not being used as some double agent. When Ana arrived at Gabe's apartment, he was not home. She grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the fridge putting a few ice cubes from the icemaker in a glass. Then she strolled on the huge terrace getting comfortable on a deck chair. She closed her eyes, enjoying the cool air. It was already September, and the big heat was over. Apparently, it got humid and hot in the summer and bitter cold in winter around here. Ana was more the sun worshiper as the winter enthusiast. In winter, she was freezing most of the time, which for sure had to do with her low body weight. Next winter, things would get better since she had gained some weight lately. She sighed pleasantly and stretched. When she was halfway dozed off, the shrill doorbell startled her. She didn’t know whether Gabe awaited visitors. There was also a slight possibility that her father would confront her suddenly. A scenario she would honestly rather avoid. Should she open the door at all? She had no idea but decided to press the door opener. Her mom came out of the elevator. She was apparently in a great mood.

  "Hey muffin, sorry for coming so late, but Chris organized a reading for me, and I couldn’t refuse. He's such a sweetheart," she laughed dreamily to herself. Then she cleared her throat, "well, how are things going with Gabe?" She looked around, and didn’t see him anywhere. She then whispered, "Is he a pompous ass like his father?" Ana smiled, her mom was impossible, "You mean my father too? Honestly, I think he is quite weird!" She tapped suggestively with her index finger to her forehead, “and I think it's a little alarming if you consider that I have partly the same genes like him. I hope that I am not a bit batty myself, given the circumstances of my ancestry."

  Her mom laughed aloud "You, never! Cutie, you are my daughter, don’t you ever forget that. Or do I look as if I had roof damage?" she grinned blissfully and then threw herself on a classy living room suite. She took off her high-heeled shoes, "these damn things are going to kill me, and it's not usual for me to walk around on such killer heels." Ana had brought another bottle of mineral water and two glasses from the kitchen meanwhile. "Come on just admit that you wanted to impress Chris. You are flirting with him. Did he ask you out yet?"

  "I don’t know about that; it has been too long since I last dated someone. Honestly, I don’t feel like throwing myself on the dating market again. Being alone has its advantages. I can do whatever I want to and by the way, he is not even divorced yet. The poor man seems to have married a real money greedy beast. She doesn’t even want to let him see his daughter, and it breaks his heart. Good thing that she is sixteen by now and they meet secretly over lunchtime," she laughed, “Can you imagine such a thing?" “God, Mom I’m' breaking into tears,” Ana said sarcastically.

  "But can we please change the subject? Gabe wants me to spy on a girl. He thinks that he can boss me around. Nevertheless, I like this girl. She is nice, and I don’t care what kind of problem he has with her. The guy is trying to use me Mom. You have to give me some good advice how to talk him out of spying on that girl.” Her Mother looked worried, "Hard to believe, but it seems the young man is coming after his father. Then, I suggest that we move to the Hotel, because probably Carmine, your dad is behind it. I know him. He has always had others doing the dirty work for him in the past. I will tell Gabe, that we received an invite to stay at the Hotel because of the Awards or something like that. Don’t worry I will find some excuse."

  "That would be great for you to do Mom because Gabe gives me the creeps," shortly after her words had died away through the front door, and right on cue, he appeared. He had someone in tow. Ana and her mother remained both speechless for a short time, but her mom recollected quickly, "Oh, hi there Carmine, what a surprise! I didn’t expect you, and I would like to say that you look good. As you already know, I don’t tell lies, unlike you."

  What an embarrassing situation! Ana would have given anything to beam herself into another universe. She hadn’t seen her father for at least fifteen years. Last time she saw him was when he left her mother. He had never bothered to contact her in all these years, not even for her birthdays. She didn’t feel like talking to him ever again. Nevertheless, Gabe contacted her mother some time ago, after she started to have some success with her first book. Gabe indicated that he had
no contact with his father. That had been the only reason her mom thought it would be a good idea that she got to know her step-brother. They didn’t have many family contacts. Her beloved grandparents had passed away, and she had no siblings. It was understandable that her mom was upset. Perhaps they had been tricked, and she would never have agreed to meet her father, as things were now. Carmine Grande put on a radiant apologetic smile. He bared a row of obviously false dazzling white teeth. He ran his fingers in an uncertain gesture through his still mostly dark hair with some silver threads in it and looked as if he felt uncomfortable almost vulnerable.

  Ana had to admit that he had an incredible charisma and still looked good for his age. He had that certain something women usually fell for. His tanned face looked friendly if you missed that vicious line around his mouth that didn’t entirely disappear even with his charming smile. He looked at them with his pale green eyes, «My dear, don’t tell me that you are still angry after all these years? Do you still feel sorry about our time together?" Certain arrogance spoke from his words, looked like he couldn’t keep up his innocence for a long time. It was quite obvious that her mom would outburst in rage within seconds. Ana darted over to her and put a reassuring hand on her arm. "Don’t let yourself get provoked, Mom, let’s get out of here." Her mom nodded, and they headed for the door. "It was nice to have met you, Gabe." Ana waved at him, and they left the classy apartment without looking back.

  "I am sorry muffin, what did I think when I brought you here? Gaby and your father are apparently in cahoots together on this," hectically she pressed the button for the elevator. Gabe came running out of the apartment out of breath. "Please don’t go," his moss-green eyes had a pleading, almost desperate expression, "give him a chance, I know he's not a real charmer and diplomacy is a foreign word for him. At first, I didn’t want to deal with him, and my mother felt the same way. He kept on looking imploringly at Ana's mother, "But he seems seriously changed. He has grown older and is suffering because he doesn’t know his children. He says he wants to make it up to us. Please come back and listen at least to what he has to say. If you still want to leave after that, he will understand. You and Ana are the only family I have left except him, and my mother died last year, “Gabe could be very convincing if he wanted to. Ana and her mom looked at each other, "Ok, I can’t believe I'm saying this, but we’ll give the old selfish moron a chance!"

  Gabe's eyes widened in astonishment at what she said. "Don’t look at me like that Gabe, this man brings out the worst in me, even in my vocabulary. Unfortunately, there are no good feelings when I think about him, rather some unbridled lust to murder him, if I may say so." She put her hand on his arm, "What happened to your mother?"

  "She died in an accident."

  "Oh, sorry to hear that." Gabe shrugged, "It was a difficult time." Ana and her mom followed him back into the apartment, where Carmine meanwhile struggled with the coffee maker, which snorted and squealed, "Hey Dad, I told you that you have to descale the thing. Otherwise, it will explode sometime soon. It would be nice if you listened sometimes." Gabe looked amused at Carmine, “As a matter of fact I have brought back your daughter and her angry mother, what about that? So, please behave and don’t screw it up this time around." Carmine Grande looked up, and his pale green eyes sparkled. For the first time in her life, Ana understood why her mom had fallen for him. If he felt like it, he could be charming as hell. He came towards her reaching out for her, and her mom stepped immediately aside. He hugged Ana then he held her at arm’s length. "Let' me look at you! At last, I have waited a very long time for this moment. It is unforgivable that I have neglected you and your half-brother for so long.

  I was an ambitious idiot who only thought about work and I suppressed my feelings. Now I want to make it up to the two of you. After all, what is more, important than family in life?" Ana’s Mom cleared her throat, "I am sorry to disturb this touching scene that takes place around fifteen years later than expected. You didn’t even pay for her pacifier or any child support. I guess the show, for the father of the year, is postponed until tomorrow. Ana and I have to get ready for the awards tonight. So, if you will excuse us for now. I am sure you will understand that, won't you my dear? You always have been such an understanding and nice kind of guy".

  Her voice dripped with sarcasm. Winking at him, she pushed the now clueless feeling Ana for the second time out of the apartment door. They left Carmine Grande speechless and Gabe gleefully grinning behind. It served the manipulative old geezer right, finally challenged by someone for once.

  Family and Other Disasters

  Leyla tried to sneak unobtrusively into the house when she returned from her shopping trip with Ana. Only the thought of confrontation with Shannon and Franco made her feel sick and provoked slight nausea. When Ana asked her why she was grounded. Leyla had told her, that she would do everything in an exact manner if she had to. Leyla didn’t regret anything for one second that had been the truth. She would do it again. But, it also reminded her of how damn lonely she felt and that she hadn’t heard anything of Gregory since he left.

  She hoped that he arrived safely in Sicily and that he hadn’t jumped out from the frying pan into the fire. She tiptoed cautiously up the stairs to her room. Downstairs from the parlor, she heard voices. It sounded as if there was a fierce debate going on. The voices grew louder, and she heard someone sob, Leyla was sure that it was her aunt, Shannon. Sure thing, it was terrible for her not knowing where Gregory was. On top of everything, Shannon didn’t have a clue what was going on with the legend and all that other unreal stuff. She couldn’t admit or believe in the idea of him having abilities that were, let us say, out of normal. It was certainly easier not to deal with it at all.

  Leyla sighed and closed carefully the door behind her. She wanted to get some rest before she had to deal with her family, get a little private time, and stall the inevitable discussions. She lay on her bed tangled away in daydreaming. She imagined how she would flee with Ana to Switzerland and enjoy the bright blue sky and the cool mountain air in a beautiful mountain setting. That would really clear her head. Maybe all she needed was some change of sceneries. She could almost feel the cool air physically. When between the mountains of a clear turquoise lake Gregory’s face appeared in her daydream right in front of her. His eyes sparkled in so many shades of blue that she could not help but to stare at him hypnotized. He took her hand pulling her towards him when all of a sudden the lake became an erupting volcano. They both were in a sea of lava, and the fall into the crater seemed inevitable. Leyla awoke with a start she must have dozed off. Her phone was vibrating on the pillow beside her. It was Aiden, "Hey, how's it going?" Leyla sighed, "Real bad that much I can tell you. Gregory's step-parents have shown up, and I would do anything not having to talk to them. Getting out of their way for as long as possible, because I have no answer to their questions. Believe me. I am in deep shit."

  "Well then, in this case, I am sure that you like my plan. Brooklyn, Mila, and I have decided that you have soaked long enough in your misery and that it is time for you to get out among people. Besides, Shane is in town." Leyla laughed, but it sounded anything but happy, "Great and how do you think I will get out of here? Did it cross your mind, that I'm grounded?"

  "No problem, we have figured it all out. You did empty your bank account right? So I think your parents would appreciate it you had a job earning some money to stock up your empty account again." Leyla was suddenly wide-awake, "And what job will it be that makes me earn that much money on the fly?"

  "Did I say a word about making money on the fly? No, the job will take until the fall break, and we would all join in. There is this new Club where new bands get their chance to play, and they hire high school kids as waiters to keep up bartending service. Coincidentally, the owner is, what a surprise, a friend of my father's new wife. Yes, you heard it right, he married Jacqueline, and she is almost my age, but he married her anyway."

  "But I thought you hated your dad a
nd his new girlfriend, I mean wife?"

  "I still do Leyla, with all of my heart. But, we can't let slip such an opportunity through our fingers. Jacqueline is doing everything possible to make my dad and me get closer again. She's determined to improve our relationship so that we can all be a happy family again," his voice dripped with irony. "Which speaks for her, you have to admit it," Leyla said. Aiden growled, "Yes, I know, but I still think that this marriage sucks, and my old man sucks too. That will never change. I'll never forgive him, even if Jacqueline may not be the gold digger I thought at first."

  "I get it, so tell me what are you up to?"

  "Mila, Brooklyn, the Akandos and even your admirer from the opposite side Greyson, have volunteered, to wait tables at the Crowd. Giving away their pay for your little problem, which would result in you not being grounded any longer"

  Leyla remained speechless for a moment, "I'm touched, but why Greyson? Isn't he a member of the Vultures anymore?"

  "Well, you know that he likes you. Don’t you? Besides, he thinks that it was all Gregory's fault. On top of it, he took off with your money. Angel doesn’t understand why he likes you that much. She also doesn’t share his opinion about Gregory at all. Sometimes I even reckon that she is somehow into Greyson in a weird kind of way. But apparently he doesn't give a shit about her opinion. He is an odd bird that Greyson".

  "Oh, and another thing that is strange, Gabe is almost friendly lately. I heard him say, that you probably were a victim of circumstances. Yes, it is true I heard it with my own ears when he said it, to Greyson. Besides, do you know what else I heard him say?"

  She shook her head, "What?"

  "He said that Gregory was a criminal, and the only reason he disappeared was because he stole your money and took off.” Leyla raised a brow, "You got to be kidding me!" It seemed high time to mingle once again. She would for sure find out what the hell was going on, "he is a moron, so what? Now tell me, how you are going to convince my parents?"