There was no trace of Gabe lately, which was quite strange. She hadn’t seen him all week. Leyla was standing lost in thought in front of her locker arranging her stuff when Greyson appeared out of nowhere in front of her. She winced startled, and dropped a few books, as she hadn’t heard him coming. "Hey Leyla, I'm sorry I didn’t mean to scare you." She forced herself to remain calm. Her heart was pounding like a sledgehammer, "Oh. Hi Greyson, so we finally did it. Holidays. Yippee! I was already a bit absentminded. Are you going away?" He picked up her books giving them back to her, "Yes I’ll go to Italy with some friends," Leyla almost dropped the books he just gave her again. So, it was true, she thought, and felt nausea rising, "Where are you going to in Italy? Gabe and Angel going with you?" "We are traveling to Rome, to do a little sightseeing, and Angel is coming with us. As for Gabe, I'm not sure if he will be able to join us. Didn’t you hear about the accident? He and his dad were involved in a car accident last weekend. His dad is in a vigilant coma and Gabe was lucky, he wasn’t hurt that bad, but still got a laceration and a strong concussion. That's why he wasn’t at school the whole week.” Leyla was stupefied. That was why she hadn’t seen Gabe at school lately, something was wrong, Greyson didn’t tell her the truth. Gabe was their leader, and they would never go to Italy without him, leaving him behind even if he was injured. Something was incredibly wrong. "That would be a real shame," she said seemingly sympathetically, "but, his dad will he be all right?" She thought of Ana, if she had heard of the accident. Greyson shrugged, "I don’t know, but as far as I heard it’s pretty intense. The two of them were on their way back from Lake Simcoe, where they spent the weekend together, as the Ferrari got off the road. It's a miracle that they survived at all and that Gabe got away with a concussion." Leyla nodded agreeing, "There was more than just a guardian angel at work."
Greyson agreed and asked her about her holiday plans, and she tried to keep her answer as vaguely as possible, and wished him a safe trip to Italy. There was something wrong she felt it. Carmine Grande was in a coma, and Gabe had remained almost unharmed? Probably no guardian angel but a wily devil had been at work. Maybe Gabe himself had caused the accident? Didn’t his dad oppose of his travel plans to Sicily? She rushed home. There was still a lot to prepare and to discuss before their departure. Once she arrived home, she contacted Ana with Skype. She sometimes mixed up local time, but today it was all right. Ana was just having lunch when she called, and she was euphoric about Leyla's call. She was surprised to hear that her father had an accident and was even in a vigilant coma. No one had informed her, "I had no idea about it and Mom hasn’t heard anything as far as I know," she shrugged, "well, it's not that we want to stay in contact with him necessarily, but it is still funny that we haven’t heard anything. How is Gabe?" Leyla told her what she had heard from Greyson.
Ana thought too that the course of events was rather suspicious. She would check with her Mom if she heard anything regarding the accident. Then they chatted for a while about this and that. Ana was still in close contact with Saul. They were Skyping regularly, and he would soon go to Switzerland for a concert. So they would soon meet again. Ana was all excited about it. Leyla was happy for Ana, but still felt a twinge of envy. She truly wished for some normality in her relationship with Gregory, if there was still something like a relationship existing between them. When Ana asked about Gregory, she kept her answer vague but full of confidence. More confident than she was, and if she was perfectly honest, meeting Gregory in Sicily scared the shit out of her. The Crowd was packed as usual on a Friday night. Leyla arrived after having briefly called Brooklyn, who was on her way to Paris with her parents by now. The Akandos including Aiden, Mila, and Shane were already in the back of the Club, as usual. "Hey guys, I am sorry for being late," Leyla was a bit out of breath. She pulled Aiden to her side telling him about her conversation with Greyson earlier. Aiden looked around the Crowd, but there were none of the Vultures there tonight. "Folks, I think Gabe is up to something drastic this time around, and I further guess, that Carmine didn’t approve of his plans, so he simply got him somehow off the streets," he looked thoughtful at them. Thinking back to the story that had happened many years ago with the cat, he hadn’t forgotten how ice cold Gabe could be if someone were in his way. He sure was capable of anything, subtle but highly dangerous and not to be underestimated. "Enjoy your weekend guys be watchful and silent as a graveyard about the real reason for our -study trip. We will meet at the airport Monday morning. Please try to be on time," he lifted his beer bottle, "to a successful mission." All of them toasted to each other except for Leyla, who didn’t care for beer.
Mila pushed Shane hard in the side making him almost spill his beer, "Did you hear that? If memory doesn’t fool me, you are the one, who can’t keep his mouth shot, don’t you Shane? So, this time, around, you will have to keep silent as the graveyard. Do you really think you can handle this, blabbermouth?” She was leering at him. Leyla shook her head, sometimes Mila was simply too much, she was about to walk by, as she didn’t feel like listening to any further embarrassing attempts Mila made in her clumsy way to get Shane’s attention in the most impossible ways, when something totally unexpected happened. Shane turned around grabbing Mila, pulling her to him with an unexpected move. "Oh, come on and shut up Alice, now you're due," he grabbed her roughly by the back of her head and kissed her. The kiss looked more like a punitive measure than a loving approach. Leyla was standing beside them not able to get past them, as they completely blocked her passage. Aiden looked amused in her direction, their eyes met and they grinned at each other. Leyla squeezed past the two, who would probably not move apart each other soon. Now that they finally made it, they wouldn’t stop kissing soon. The punishment had apparently turned into passionate kissing meanwhile. She pushed her way past them. Aiden took her aside grinning, "It was about time, the tension in the air between these two was almost unbearable." Leyla nodded, he was right. The air had literally burned between them. She looked at them still kissing not noticing what was going on around them. So, now it was official, she was going to be the only one of her friends dying a virgin. Her coffin would bear the inscription - returned unused.
Aiden touched her arm, "Everything okay with you?" She sighed, "Everything is fine, but I can hardly wait, to get on that plane."
"I can imagine," he said turning to James, who had asked him something. Leyla felt alone, abandoned, and depressed. She should be full of anticipation completely over the moon, but all she felt was fear. Fear about Gregory being serious not wanting her anymore. Fear that he was going to die. Fear that she would not see him again, and finally fear of the moment in which she would see him again.
Something big is about to happen
Gregory could hardly believe his eyes. What were Donna Tiziana and Giacomo doing here? What did they have to do with the Milan? He was upset, standing in front of the assembled group looking rather hostile than friendly at him. The only fact that calmed him a bit was, that Keanu, Yaros, and Milos were by his side, although it was not exactly clear to him what was going on and whether the hostile glances were meant for the other two guys by his side. One of the Milan, a tall blond dude with shoulder-length hair falling into his face, looked at him in such a grim and hateful way that Gregory would have liked to buzz off and take a hide. No one was saying a word. All of them seemed to be waiting for him to give a speech or something. Unfortunately, Gregory didn’t have a clue what he was supposed to say, what they expected of him. He felt like a rabbit being chased by a horde of wild dogs from one disaster to another without understanding why and what it was supposed to do. He felt that way since the damn story had started and neither Aiden’s nor Keanu’s explanations had ever helped to change that feeling. Well, maybe with their help he had been able to become a bigger, stronger rabbit, but the dogs that chased him were, unfortunately, becoming bigger too. With pointed teeth, they were sharpening their knives, if he didn’t behave as they wanted him to. So what did they expect of hi
m? He truly had no clue and therefore he didn’t know what to say to them either. Undecided what to do next, he stood there looking at the crowd of about twenty or more mostly young people.
Before he came to a decision what to do, he heard a loud unfriendly voice. The voice came from the guy with the long blond hair. He threw his hair back with an angry gesture, staring at him. His dark eyes were narrowed to slits. He raised his hand pointing at him, "Is this you prophesied savior? The one who is supposed to bring the amulets to the crater? You can’t be serious! I mean look at him. He is nothing but a kid. He looks scared as shit even seeing us here. I am asking you now, what do you think will happen when he will be eye to eye with the Vultures and the Mafia Brothers? The Boy won’t leave the shit house; he is going to sit there all day. I say, forget the crap we don’t need that kid. We are doing well without getting involved in that kind of shit. Screw the amulets and the fucking legend. All this superstitious crap is making me mad! We no longer live in the Middle Ages, damn it. Do you really want to follow that kid to Sicily and rush yourselves into perdition? Look at him. He is nothing but a ridiculous little dwarf, some kind of self-important nobody. I will tell you what we should do, we should get him on the next boat to Sicily with the two amulets, and we are not holding him back, no way. Let the moron go to Sicily if he wants to go there. We haven’t had any problems with the Vultures since the pact. So I say we will make sure that it stays this way. Who's with me?"
Murmurs went through the crowd, and Gregory felt incredible anger rise within. He had never even wanted any of this and now this guy accused him of getting them involved in things they didn’t want to do. Fine, he thought, who needed these idiots. He was on the verge to singe the head of that damn blond dude when a second angry voice beside him brought him off stride. Milos spoke up, "Quiet, damn it!" he raised both hands and stepped forward, and then he pointed at the blonde guy, "what about you, Mikiel, I guess you know it all then? Hear me now, and listen carefully, I am only going to tell this once. When did you become such an asshole? Did Mommy and Daddy not pay enough attention to you! Is it the same old story that made you a murderer and a psychopath?" the blonde went into battle position, "I am no murderer and the only psychopath, I see here is you."
With a single gesture, a flame jerked up becoming a fireball aimed at Milos. A cry went through the crowd. Gregory reacted instinctively blowing the fire with a well-aimed blast to the side. Unfortunately, the flame hit a car, parked on the side of the house with full forces, which immediately went up in Flames. With a further movement of his hands, Gregory brought up water from the lake, making it spill over the vehicle and on the gathered Milan. They all looked like drowned rats and no one said anything at first. Gregory was surprised how the elements obeyed him within seconds. He had not even made any special effort. The thought had been enough. That was quite scary, but on the other hand, it was also an incredibly good feeling. He had to be careful with his thoughts it seemed though, keep them under control. The blonde guy screamed, it had been his car, a blue Jeep that had been hit by the fireball. "You did that on purpose, come here and fight like a man, you coward."
Gregory stepped up to Milos his eyes on Mikiel. The stare of Gregory's unnaturally bright blue eyes, an afterglow of practicing his skills, made Mikiel clearly lose his confidence and had him look away. "People of the Milan, I am telling you something now, and it will be the first and last time that I will address myself to you. I never asked for your help, and I can go through my struggle alone. There is another prophecy about me, which doesn’t have much to do with your pathetic amulets and Jamiro. The destiny as the legend says is to overthrow the corrupt Vultures with their Mafia methods and to free the citizens of Sicily from their burden. They have suffered enough with the Mafia, and they don’t need the Vultures to make their lives even harder, as some of them have unyielding magical power and are using them to suppress normal people. My responsibility so to speak is to break Ourday's curse and to placate the elements, that's the real reason I have to go to the Etna and not mainly the amulets. But, if you want me to, I will bring them along with me to throw them into the crater. That's up to you," then he gave the blond guy a cold stare.
"I wonder why you attack each other with fire, as I had been informed the Milan ruled earth and water, seems that the vultures are already among you, which I find quite odd.” They all looked at him silent and Keanu joined him. Gregory continued, "Don’t you read any newspapers? The Etna has become as active as it hasn't been for more than twenty years lately, which is quite scary, don’t you think so? So if there will be a major Eruption it could as well have an Impact on your beautiful island, think about that Scenario for once, instead of being as hostile. Keep in mind that I don’t need you, any of you. I'll bring your amulets to the Etna if you want me to and I will break the curse for all of the Onendas so that everyone can continue to live a normal life again, without being threatened and without any magical powers. Most of the local Vultures in Sicily may not have powers or only weak ones, but there are always exceptions, you should know that yourself. Take an example from Keanu's father. Besides, I've met some Vultures in Canada who had very strong powers. One of them even has caused a lot of trouble poisoning a punch at a school prom. So, I am telling you, that if you don’t want to come with me to Sicily, that's fine with me.
If I die before having accomplished my destiny, so be it. Unfortunately, however, this could have severe consequences for you, no one knows. I will be on my way to Sicily soon, with or without you. Some Akandos will be at my side, they don’t know any fear, even if they are not really in danger of any volcanic eruption because they all live in Canada, no big deal. But, they are my friends and I can count on them, friends are very rare in life."
He turned and left without saying another word disappearing into the house. After a moment of silence, they all spoke at once. Keanu stepped forward raising his voice so they fell silent again. He lifted his hands, "Folks, didn’t our clan always want to free Jamiro’s and Aaliyah’s Spirit? Did wealth become such an issue to us that we forgot where we came from?” he pointed in the direction where Gregory had disappeared a few moments ago. "He's our only chance to free ourselves from the oppression of the Vultures and the rich powerful families in Sicily. One thing must be clear to you in all fear to lose your riches. We are not free! As soon as we will not dance to their tune for once, they will not hesitate to cut the water supply. In case, you forgot; This Island has actually no drinking water, except for the reservoir, which you see in front of you and a wannabe-desalination plant.
What's wrong with you people? Remember when you condemned me and chased me off the Island because I triggered a fire in my ignorance?" He turned halfway as if he was leaving. Then he turned around again, "You are nothing but a selfish bunch, thinking only about yourselves, and I swear to you, this attitude will catch up with you sooner than you would like. In any case I'll go with Gaetano to Sicily, and I will try to save our honor or what there remains of it," he was already halfway on the way to the house when Ubana’s voice stopped him, "Keanu, wait! " He had an agility no one would have expected of him. Climbing to the steps of the porch and turning to his people he said, "He's right, we don’t have to allow the Vultures to push us around like this and stay back lethargically. We need to help Gaetano to bring the amulets to the volcano. Our origins required it and that the Etna has become that active, the first time in twenty years, is a sign that we cannot simply ignore. I say we go with him, and we help him." When they didn’t seem to listen, and their exited voices kept on talking, he took out a gun shooting once into the air. Although it was only a signal gun, kept on each boat for an emergency, the blast didn’t miss its effect. Everyone looked at him in surprise. "I say we escort him to the volcano - which doesn’t break our pact with the Vultures if we don’t influence the elements. Are you with me?" The Milan looked at each other uncertainly, and Mikiel with his long, still dripping wet hair finally spoke, "Okay, old man, we will give him safe conduct, but
if the Vultures should attack him, we will not stop them with elemental weapons. We are only his escort, nothing else. We are no slaves of the Vultures and never will be, but we will comply with the pact. Besides, this prophesied savior can defend himself quite well, as we all were witnesses previously and have seen with our own eyes. Let’s vote then, who is coming along to Sicily?" he looked at the crowd. After a moment's thought, all of them raised their hands except for Donna Tiziana and Giacomo. Mikiel raised his hand. "Now that it is all clear, we will meet at dawn and set sail with - the Petala -."
Keanu could hardly believe it. What had gotten into Mikiel? He had never thought that he would agree to join him, even providing -the Petala- his boat, which meant -Small Fire -. Mikiel used to be his friend before he caused the fire and everyone had been against him. Mikiel played him quite ill and had brought up those who hadn’t been against him so far until all of them wanted to chase him off the island. Keanu didn’t know exactly where Mikiel's hatred towards him had come from all of a sudden. Maybe he had lost someone he loved because of him. He didn’t know and would probably never find out. However, it had come as a surprise to Keanu to see, that Mikiel had power over fire today and he wondered how that was even possible and what was going on? But, now was not the time to ask questions. He had to forget the grudge he held against Mikiel and be grateful that he was voting for the mission, even if he didn’t want to interfere, and probably would not flinch if Gregory would be killed. He was the same self-centered bastard, who cared only about the amulets that had to be thrown into the Etna, so the legend thirst of the Milan clan was allayed. He shouldn’t care how Mikiel got his sudden change of mind. The important issue was, he committed to going to Sicily. Now he had to find Gregory and tell him that the Milan were going with him. Who knew what this young hothead was going to do?
Elementary Virtue: The Prophecy Page 30