Then suddenly there was a turn around when two people entered Giacomo's life, getting him back on track again. On a hot summer morning seven years ago, when he woke up still slightly drunk on the beach and the sun shone brightly into his face, a tall- boy towered over him looking down on him. He looked at him with concern and asked him in Italian that sounded rather like English, if he was fine? The boy had a bottle of water with him and gave Giacomo some water, who was already quite dehydrated. He helped him get up bringing him back to the Circus. Giacomo was grateful and took the Boy in, who appeared to be traveling on his own. He offered him to stay and help with the Circus.
On the very same day Tiziana Nucci, the widow of a mediocre Mafiosi appeared at the Circus. She was a descendant of Ourday’s great-granddaughter Mara. She came to the Circus with her grandchildren Maria Rosa and Pino, who wanted to be artists. Tiziana had never obeyed the rules of the Mafia and as she was one of the exceptions having strong powers of the element earth like no other on the island, she enjoyed the respect of the corrupt bunch.
Finally, no one cared about being poisoned eventually. So, they ignored her more or less. The sparks flew immediately at first sight between Giacomo and Tiziana and ever since that day, she was Giacomo's life motivation and his muse. Her two grandchildren had become great artists and were traveling around Europe. Keanu, however, remained at the circus Motta and turned into jack-of-all-trades and a celebrated magician who got the audience under his spell with his fiery arts. Sometime later Tiziana found out that he had to be her brother Emanuele’s son. Emanuele had also controlled fire like no other. Ourday’s direct bloodline had strong powers, even if they had grown up in Sicily. Tiziana kept the knowledge that she was related to Keanu to herself, but was doing some research on her own. She found out what had happened before Keanu appeared in Sicily. She also found out who helped Keanu escape. It had been Yaros Damian, the owner of some restaurants in Malta. Tiziana contacted him and drew her research further concerning the Savior Legend, which the local Vulture-Mafia feared like the devil holy water.
Since the turn of the century was over for 15 years by now, they were expecting his appearance and their downfall anytime. The rumor mill was bubbling and Tiziana knew that the Milan were also waiting for the arrival of the Savior, as they had their own share of prophecy in it. Although they led a quit life after their agreement with the Sicilians, the pact could be broken anytime, then they would be at the Vultures mercy, and their powers wouldn’t help them to get their water supply. So, it was more like of a calm before the storm as a peaceful, carefree life. Giacomo had come up with the idea that Gregory Rossi could be 'Gaetano' the Savior, when she told him about the Milan side of the prophecy. He remembered that his old friend Bernard Johnson, who lived in Canada, had an adopted Italian step-grandson, who had been found as a baby wrapped in a peculiar blanket by a pastor next to his dead mother.
A blanket with four symbols on it, clearly representing the elements, who the mother was no one, knew. Any identity had disappeared from the State Archive. There were no documents about her to find. As if she had appeared out of nowhere. The Boy, Bernard said, had extraordinary blue eyes and was now in Canada with Bernard’s daughter, as there had been unusual incidents at his School in Italy. Besides, the boy must be around 17 or 18 years old by now. When Tiziana heard this, she simply added one and one and asked Giacomo to invite that boy to Sicily for a while. Keanu knew everything about the legend and the boy. Except for one thing, Tiziana hadn’t told him that she was actually his aunt. She had somehow failed to tell him. Otherwise, she would have had to tell him about Emanuele death and she was not ready for that. One day she would have to tell him. Anyway, then Gregory had arrived at the Circus and there had never been a doubt for Tiziana.
Even when she first laid eyes on him at the Airport, she knew he was the savior. She had felt it from the start. The Vultures might have ignored her, not bothering her, but the Maltese Family fired their secret weapon on Keanu, as they had heard about his powers. 'Giada' came to the Circus with a more than a specious excuse to take some lessons in acrobatics, which the Circus offered on a regular basis to obtain additional income. She beguiled Keanu from the beginning with her charms, which she undoubtedly had. Giada was a gorgeous young girl with an allure of mystery. Anyway, it came, as it had to come, Keanu fell for Giada and was no longer responsive to the outside world. He was mesmerized and followed Giada around like a puppy. For a while, Tiziana even thought that Giada felt something for Keanu. But, as it turned out, it had all just been a well-planned show. It had come to the attention of Giada’s father, that Keanu controlled the fire and he needed such a man in his ranks.
Especially in times like these, when they feared the arrival of a savior and rumor had it that this mysterious boy was already on his way here. Therefore, the Vultures had to arm themselves with strong men having powers like Keanu. So, the Di Benedetto's and the Maltese family were doing their best to convince Keanu to join them. Giada’s father gave him a luxurious yacht and promised him his daughter's hand. But, Keanu was as loyal to Giacomo as he was lovesick and he refused to join the Vultures. For this reason, Roberto Di Benedetto decided that a dead Keanu was better than one who fought against him. He instructed Giada to lure him into a trap, where they first tricked him with a poison, so he wasn’t able to defend himself with fire. Then they whipped him badly and finally threw him with cement blocks on his feet into the sea at the port of Capo d ‘Orlando, according to an old Mafia tradition. How he had gotten out of there no one would ever know. But, since then, there were not only scars on his body it had also affected his soul and his trust in people, especially the female kind.
His heart and soul had deep scars. She had hoped that he would become a little softer through his friendship with Gregory, as he was hard and cold lately. Now Tiziana sat there with an immovable expression on her face next to Giacomo at the table in front of a bunch of hostile-looking Milan. Ubana spoke up, "We are meeting here today, because of yesterday’s events during the Blood Moon which can’t be denied and further actions have to be discussed." There was complete silence in the room. It was so quiet one would have heard a pin drop. "The lightning, the storm that churned up earth and the screeching noise. The legend has come true, the spirit of Jamiro and Aaliyah have been released. The two amulets have been united, only one in existence is able to do this, and there is only one conclusion. He must be on our island." There was a babble of voices. Everybody was talking at once. Ubana banged his fist on the table in front of him, " Silence, everybody and listen to me now. The situation is serious. You know what it means, if that boy is here and has freed the spirits. It is our duty to help him, so that he will be able to bring the amulets to the crater without being killed on his way there."
Again, there was a murmur of voices to be heard. Ubana raised his voice, "It is written in the ancient scripts. We have no choice, we must break the pact and connect with him." A young, bearded man stood up, "If we do that, they will give us no more water and terrorize our families.” Ubana silenced him with a wave of his hand. "Like I said, we have no choice, the script is clear and indisputable. We'll drive to the north. We're going to Mellieha." The bearded young man got up again pointing his finger at Tiziana and Giacomo, sitting next to Yaros, "And what are these two scaremongers doing here?" he asked angrily. Yaros stood up raising his hands, "Tiziana and Giacomo have been our allies for a long time, strictly speaking, for seven years. Since Keanu was banished because of the fires. The poor boy had no idea that he could control fire and we chased him away like a dog. Tiziana and Giacomo have taken him in and helped him ever since. Then Giacomo tracked the Savior down and brought him to Sicily, where Keanu trained him. They are on the island since a couple of days. Actually, they are in my house in the north by the lake." The bearded young man sat down on his chair, shaking his head, "If we support the Savior, what will happen to our families, while we are away helping him get to the crater? Who will protect them? What will happen to our f
amilies? Shall we leave them behind defenseless, just like that? "
"They won’t be defenseless and the Vultures have other things in mind than to attack someone for now. We’ll leave tomorrow to Mellieha to find out what our Savior and Keanu are up to." No one dared to revolt this time. Yaros and Ubana looked at each other Ubana glanced at the audience, "We will meet tomorrow morning at dawn to head north."
Arrival of the Milan
Gregory slept like a stone after last night’s spectacle and he was hungry as a wolf when he woke up. He quickly got out of bed, took a shower, and got dressed. He stormed taking three steps at a time down the stairs to the kitchen and made some coffee. Then he opened all of the cupboards in search for some food. In the third cabinet, he found what he was looking for. He piled cornflakes in a bowl and poured milk over it. Keanu didn’t seem to be around. He scooped the cereal into his mouth when his phone buzzed. He stopped, who had his number except Leyla? He reached for his phone thrilled to see Leyla's image. He got ready to hide his true feelings. He had to stand firm. It was for her own good. Surprised, he saw that he had received a video message. Curious, he played it. The picture showed a band of loitering guys that seemed strangely familiar. He realized at once that they were the Akando guys from Scarborough High. James and Matt turned to the camera, "Hey, man, this is our battle rap for you,” he snapped and loud rap music sound was to be heard.
"
Hey Yo Gregory, we won’t leave you Homie,
Side by side till the end, believe it Homie.
The Black Vultures are far too strong
The Akandos will follow you in the battle
The toughest gang on the planet will make them rattle
Listen to this shit, we are coming from the shadow
Hey Gregory we are coming, no matter what. "
Gregory couldn’t help, but grin. These idiots, but he damn loved each one of them like brothers. The camera took a swing, at a rather perplexed-looking Aiden past an encouragingly smiling Brooklyn coming to a halt. Then there were Leyla and Mila both looked serious into the camera. Mila looked like she was ready to fight and Leyla's face was sad. Gregory was thunderstruck. As if someone just slapped him in the face. They would come, no matter what he did. Whether he wanted them here, didn’t matter to them.
Somehow, that thought filled him with joy. They stuck by him, even Leyla after he had dumped her in such an uncool way over the phone. On the other hand, it scared him like shit. What if they all died because of him? He didn’t even know if he stood a chance against the Vultures and the local, not to be underestimated bunch, with all the help he could get. It was all just too much. What happened last night and the big responsibility that weighed on his shoulders. He felt infinite sadness and despair rising within. Maybe he should end it all jumping off the cliff, or hang himself. The world was far better off without him. He dropped his spoon on the floor and sat on the porch swing on the terrace. Lost in thought, he rocked back and forth. That was how Keanu found him sometime later.
"Hey, the kitchen looks just as if something exploded. Have you had breakfast?" Gregory didn’t answer, he was staring silently into distance to the horizon. Keanu stood beside him, peeling a banana, "Ever heard of cleaning up?" Gregory still didn’t answer. He just stared dully ahead of him. As if he was miles away with his thoughts. He kept his phone in his hand. "Uh, oh," Keanu frowned, "I know that look, guess Arielle texted. Bad news?" Gregory looked at him and Keanu hadn’t been kidding, he truly knew that look very well out of his own experience, as if someone did no longer want to keep on living and thought seriously about jumping of the nearest cliff or hanging himself at the nearest tree. "That bad?" Gregory didn’t answer, but he handed Keanu his phone and continued to stare into distance.
Keanu plunked on to the swing, which groaned as if it would buckle beneath him. Gregory winced looking up irritated. Keanu clicked on the video message watching the Battle Rap. He grimaced as if he bit into a lemon, "Somehow infectious, the boys got talent they could hit the charts. And who is standing next to Arielle? Pocahontas?” Gregory got up turning around furiously, "You're such a sarcastic, insensitive asshole," he stormed into the house and Keanu didn’t follow him. He watched the video message again. He played the rap a few times. The boys actually had made an effort with the lyrics and there was no doubt that they were serious and would appear on scene. The end of the message, focusing on the two serious-looking girls, was giving him the shivers. This Leyla seemed deadly serious about it. No matter what Gregory said to her, she didn’t seem to be impressed about it. On the contrary, she seemed to have decided, that she would come whatever the consequences were. The other girl looked a bit like Valentina, but she had something wild, Indian about her, that clearly lacked Valentina. She was like a hardcore version of Valentina. The thought brought a grin on his face. Gregory came back still angry and grabbed his phone. "What is there to grin about, you stupid asshole? You think it is funny that my friends have decided to die because of me. You really make me sick." Keanu could be very fast, Gregory already knew that, but he had forgotten about it and was suddenly reminded when he was lying on the floor and Keanu’s forearm pressed him to the ground.
"There is only asshole around here and that is you. I'd be giving everything to have friends like that, standing behind me and a girl who genuine loves me. If they want to come to help you, it's their decision and their responsibility." He let go of him, "If you’re asking me, you don’t deserve them. Continue to crawl away in your self-pity." He got up and went into the house. Gregory remained dazed on the floor. A moment after, he heard the car roar. He stayed a while lying on the cool stone floor. Keanu was right and yet he still felt guilty. Veronica, the small roundish housekeeper stuck her head through the porch door, "Is everything alright boy?" Behind her, a tall handsome man stepped out onto the terrace. He looked like one of those chief physicians in the doctor series, walking with flowing gowns through the hospital corridors. One of those guys’ women gaze at with a silent sigh, a doctor with the charisma of authority about him, snow-white teeth, and graying temples. Gregory stumbled to his feet reaching his hand toward him, "I'm sorry, I must have dozed off," Gregory said apologetically. The man looked at him knowingly and smiled, and as Gregory had suspected, his teeth were indeed perfect and dazzling white, the kind of white that was almost ridiculous emphasizing his dark complexion.
"Gregory, right? I am pleased to meet you. I have heard so much about you. My name is Yaros and I own the house. Where's Keanu?" Gregory knocked off the dust of his jeans, "I guess I’ve annoyed him, that’s why he drove away.” Yaros patted Gregory’s shoulder going ahead of him into the house." "Yes Keanu is quite explosive and emotional, I'm used to it. Now about us, I think it's time that the two of us had a talk."
Chayton Moonworthy
Leyla felt stupid, standing in front of the classroom, waiting for Moonworthy to come out. Students rushed by looking puzzled at her. Shit, she thought when she saw Greyson strolling along with a couple of guys. What was she supposed to do? She quickly went back into the girls' loo. She didn’t feel like talking to him. She crashed into someone, "Oops, not so rough," she heard a voice sounding amused. Leyla turned around, it was Greta an exchange student from Denmark, with straw-blond hair and big blue eyes she had bumped into. "Hey, you do look rather pale, are you okay?"
Greta had a strange accent and was sometimes rather difficult to understand. She nodded and quickly closed the door behind her, as she saw Greyson coming closer. Greta followed her gaze, "Man that Greyson is a hottie! He follows you around, right? Always creeping around you, man you are such a lucky girl. He really is a piece of work. I wouldn’t mind sinking my teeth into him," she licked her lips. Leyla raised her eyebrows. European girls were open when they wanted to get down on someone, not as clammed as she was herself. Still, if she thought about Ana, probably not all of them were as bold as Greta.
"No problem here, you can have him, I don’t want anything from him."
"Then
you don’t mind if I’ll give it to him real good?" she looked lustfully through the half open door, "look at these muscles, if the rest keeps up the promise he’ll be a real grenade."
"God," Leyla rolled her eyes slightly annoyed, "as if sex was the most important thing in life."
"Of course, it is what could possibly be more important?" Greta looked astonished at her, with her baby blue, round eyes. Leyla didn’t feel like talking to Greta about the importance of sex in their lives. She pointed to Greta's chin and grinned, "You've got a little drool on you face, but seriously, you have my blessing, but he's a nice guy and I like him, so go easy on him. You seem to be quite briskly when it comes to the opposite sex. So, please don’t hurt him. He is not that kind of guy, if you know what I mean."
"Hey, don’t worry, I’m not going to eat him alive. I just want to have a little fun while I'm still young," she still looked through the crack where Greyson was standing with his buddies. "I'm only going to nibble at him a little," she gave Leyla a slight push, as if she made the best joke ever and left the girls loo. Then she walked over toward Greyson, "hey handsome," she said coaxingly. Leyla waited a few minutes until the coast was clear, and then she hurried out of the girls' loo. She just saw Moonworthy disappearing into the teachers’ lounge. Damn it, she had to talk to him. The Amulet, she had seen in her dream, didn’t go off her mind. It was possible that it was just a dream and that it didn’t mean anything, but what if it wasn’t? She just had to show Moonworthy her sketch. She went outside with her lunch and sat on a wooden table. Mila and Brooklyn were both sick. Some stomach flu got around and Leyla didn’t feel like joining Melissa. She could do without her gossiping. Suddenly Aiden was standing in front of her and sat down beside her, "Hey you, your two girlfriends seem to have caught the same virus, but you seem to be ok.” Leyla nodded poking listlessly in her salad, "Yes, and my appetite has nothing to do with a virus, well maybe a virus on two legs,” she laughed sarcastically. Aiden pulled out his phone, "I wanted to show you the video message I sent Gregory today," he played the video. Leyla sighed, "This is not bad, but I look like I'm on my own funeral. Did he get back to you, so far?"
Elementary Virtue: The Prophecy Page 23