Glamorous - A Grace Bishop Novel - Chapter 16
© Denise Bossarte
Eli sat in his spacious office
resting in his plush leather chair. He knew it wouldn’t take long until Anthony came to find him there, not after
where he left it with Miss Bishop. He was looking forward to the upcoming
conversation; it was long overdue.
Anthony came through the open door, already beginning his tirade
two strides into the room.
“Shut the door,” Eli said, interrupting him.
Anthony started at the tone in Eli’s voice and did what he was
told. When he approached Eli’s desk, he looked as if he would start up where he
left off when entering the room.
“Sit down,” Eli continued, pointing one finger at the chair on
the opposite side of his desk.
Anthony took his seat, and this time made no attempt to speak.
Eli gazed at the boy across from him, barely into his twenties
and as arrogant as they came. He could only blame himself for not taking
Anthony to task before now. He had let the boy continue to build his ego over
his standing amongst the Paranoms at the theater and his perceived position as
Eli’s favorite.
It was convenient to let Anthony’s growing vanity go unchecked.
It motivated him to take on tasks and responsibilities at the theater Eli was
weary of dealing with on a regular basis. But the appearance of Miss Bishop
changed that today.
Eli let the silence continue. He was waiting to see what affect
it would have on Anthony and giving time for Anthony’s emotions to either calm
or reach a boiling point. Whichever direction the boy’s attitude went would
give Eli insight into the course of the conversation he would need to have with
him.
After some time, Anthony broke the silence, his emotions making
his voice tremor with their intensity. “You will make me work with this Aperto
Rotto, Mio Signore?”
Eli smiled to himself at Anthony’s question. In one sentence the
boy both defied and supplicated him, which exemplified both his intelligence
and his stubbornness.
“Yes, Anthony, you will help Miss Bishop with her problem.”
“But why, Mio Signore? Why would we help an Aperto Rotto?”
Anthony’s confusion was clear on his face.
“You do not bear the Wings, and yet you dare to question me?!”
Anthony recoiled in fear in reaction to Eli’s anger, and then
froze.
Eli sighed to himself. The Paranorms’ fear of Aperto Rottos was
well founded. The Family helped to instill that fear and maintain it as a
precaution against exposure of their world. He resolved it would be better to
talk to the boy rather than simply intimidate him.
“Anthony, why do you despise the Aperto Rottos?” Eli asked in a
milder tone. He began the effort to get Anthony beyond his prejudices in order
for him to prove some benefit to Miss Bishop.
“Because they are not true Paranorms, only broken ones,” Anthony
declared.
“And the Norms?” Eli countered. “Do you hate them as well?”
“The Norms are dull animals; the Aperto Rottos are true
abominations!”
Anthony’s statement surprised Eli. He had not realized the full
vehemence of the boy’s anger and derision. He rebuked himself for not paying
closer attention to Anthony’s attitude. This perspective would only lead to
risks down the road for The Family and the Paranorms.
“You see the Aperto Rottos as monsters, like Shelley’s
Frankenstein?” Eli suggested.
“Yes, of course.”
“Why?” Eli let the question hang in the air.
Anthony tried to answer, but Eli interrupted him again. “No,
tell me why you feel this way. Not
what Marcella and the rest of your family told you.”
Anthony paused, and then said “Because they are uncontrolled,
untrained, and are without loyalty to the Paranorms or The Family.”
“And you know this from personal experience? From meeting Aperto
Rottos and seeing what they can do, before today at least,” Eli challenged.
Anthony hesitated. “No. I have not met an Aperto Rotto before
today, but everyone knows how dangerous they are to us.”
“Dangerous, uncontrolled, untrained, and without loyalty. That
is your argument against them?”
“Of course.”
“Uncontrolled and untrained, yet today Miss Bishop read Sergey’s
Dagger with more precision than you yourself ever did.”
With more precision than anyone but the strongest clairvoyants
ever have, Eli admitted to himself.
Anthony had the decency to look embarrassed.
Eli realized some of Anthony's reaction to Miss Bishop was based
on the stories he was raised on by his family about Aperto Rottos. But some of
the underlying emotion was jealousy at her ability. Her abilities, he corrected
himself.
It must be a large blow for Anthony. He held a position as the
strongest Paranorm at the theater, and it must annoy him for an Aperto Rotto to
show him up in ability. For Miss Bishop to arrive at their doorstep with an
unprecedented second ability.
Eli decided he would need to help Anthony get some perspective
on Miss Bishop’s situation.
“Why do you think Miss Bishop came to us today?”
“According to her, she wants help to find and stop someone
preying on girls.”
“An Aperto Rotto, who Sophie says only found out about the
Paranorms’ world a few days ago, comes to us seeking help for Norms unable to
protect themselves. She faces an unknown situation out of loyalty to a friend
at what she can only perceive as great risk to herself.”
Anthony refused to comment.
“This Aperto Rotto lost both her parents three years ago. She
was raising her younger brother by herself until he died in a car accident
which almost killed her. Then she discovers she has abilities beyond rational
explanation.”
Anthony started to interject, but Eli raised his hand to keep
him quiet.
“Have you ever thought about what it must be like for Aperto
Rottos? How an accident releases powers they do not understand, nor have a
context for? With no family of Paranorms to explain their gifts to them, teach
them or guide them on how to use those gifts? To explain the tenants Paranorms
must live by to survive in the world of Norms? How to support and be loyal to
The Family? All these things available to you since birth, but none of it
available to someone like Miss Bishop.”
It pleased Eli that Anthony was listening to what he was saying.
He hoped it was not to be preparing counter arguments, but to absorb what he
was trying to impart.
“What would be a clairvoyant’s first experience with a ghost in
your family?”
Anthony hesitated before saying, “With another family member who
stayed on as a ghost to train new clairvoyants.”
“Yes, a relative who would manage the first encounter for the
clairvoyant at a certain age. Someone who always would be available as a mentor
as the child grew into their ability. And what about Miss Bishop? What was her
first experience with her gift, her first experience with seeing ghosts?”
“I don’t know,” Anthony admitted.
“Her abilities came to her in the hospital. You know we have
Paranorms working there in various positions to keep an eye out for newly
‘born’ Aperto Rottos, and they identified her right away.
Can you imagine being besieged by ghosts who suffered sickness
and pain and death and aren’t aware of their situations? All attracted to and
wanting something from a clairvoyant Aperto Rotto? And Miss Bishop, a new
gifted, with no understanding or control of her ability.
That is why most of the Aperto Rottos are institutionalized or
commit suicide. They cannot take their situation. They have no way to manage
their abilities, and either go mad or find a permanent way to escape by killing
themselves.”
Anthony grew sober at the scenario Eli was drawing for him.
“But somehow, somehow, Miss Bishop survived. She learned to
control her abilities, to understand them, and to use them for a purpose. And
to do it well.”
The strength she showed in personality and the power and focus
of her “untrained” skills were remarkable. How had she done it? Was it her
training as a police officer that allowed her to dissociate from the brutality
of what she must have seen and experienced upon “waking” at the hospital?
She didn’t have a family to support her, but were the friends
there for her enough? Or was there some other factor he was not seeing that
helped her survive and to thrive. Help her gain control over her abilities and
still be able to function completely in the Norms’ world? Eli forced himself a
stop his speculations and to focus on his conversation with Anthony.
“Do you think you would have done as well if you were in her
position?” Eli challenged.
Anthony sat in silence, processing all Eli said to him. It was
obvious he was struggling between what he learned about Aperto Rottos since
childhood, and the story Eli recounted to him for this particular Aperto Rotto.
“When you offered my help to Miss Bishop, Grace, what were you
expecting me to do?” Anthony inquired after a pause, all arrogance gone from
his voice.
Eli didn’t let his pleasure at Anthony’s question show, but he
was happy at the absence of an argument.
“Whatever you can to help her solve this case, in a way that
maintains the tenants and protects our world, but stops this man. Consider
yourself an ambassador for the Paranorms, if you will. It is your opportunity
to bridge the gaps you described in the understanding and experience of Miss
Bishop. Trust her judgment, but guide her where you can. Until there is a
resolution, we will postpone your participation in the show.”
Anthony looked surprised, but
satisfied, if not thrilled, with the assignment.
“Do you think you can do that, Anthony?” Eli asked.
“Yes, Mio Signore. I can do that.”
“And you cannot share with Sophie, Marcella, or anyone else in
your family about what happened here today. Nothing, understood?”
Anthony appeared uncomfortable, but agreed “Yes, Mio Signore.”
“And if Miss Bishop asks more questions about Paranorms or The
Family, particularly The Family, be sure you tell her I said she needs to come
to me for the answers.”
“I am not supposed to share The Family is Wiccen even if she
asks?”
“No, not one word. She has enough to deal with right now; she
needs to focus on her case. I have been careful to avoid spell craft in her
presence to keep her unaware of my true nature. I will tell her about The
Family when the time is right.”
“Yes, Mio Signore.”
“Then we are done for today. Take the time between now and
Tuesday to get ready for your meeting with Miss Bishop and her friends.” Eli
said in dismissal.
Without another word, Anthony rose and bowed, then left the
room, closing the door behind him.
Eli settled back once again into his chair.
Ah, Gabriella, he mused. I am trying to
follow your advice, although I am sure there is still more for me to ‘see.’ Is
your favorite protégé ‘awake’ yet?
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