Glamorous - A Grace Bishop Novel - Chapter 17
© Denise Bossarte
Eli smiled to himself as the
air stirred in the room. He knew Gabriella wouldn’t
hesitate to come to him once Anthony was gone. He closed his eyes and with a
fingertip drew the symbol for second sight on the ink blotter on the desk.
Lesser Wiccen would have needed to use a more permanent method
to draw the symbol, like chalk or pencil, to make the spell work. Eli was
powerful and practiced enough his will and a cursory drawing sufficed to
activate the spell.
He opened his eyes to see Gabriella sitting at ease in the chair
Anthony had vacated.
“Welcome, Gabriella. Thank you for your help today.”
“That made for an entertaining morning, Little Raven.”
Eli chuckled at her use of his pet name. She gave it to him long
ago, but she would always think of him that way, despite the intervening years.
“I was curious when you asked me to help with the testing.
Marcella and her family would be the ones to deal with the clairvoyant
Paranorms; I expected this would have to be something special. Something
special indeed. An Aperto Rotto with TWO abilities! Where did you ever find
her?” Gabriella’s face glowed with interest.
Eli grimaced, then said “V’ ‘asked’ me to test her.”
“You mean Viora commanded you to determine the extent of the
girl’s powers,” Gabriella said.
“Yes.”
“Your sister keeps a sharp eye on what is happening in her
domain. What brought her attention to this one, this Grace?”
“V’s had this girl watched for a while, now. I believe the
tipping point came when Miss Bishop reached out to one of Marcella’s family and
was asking about her ability.”
Eli paused for a moment,
tapping his fingers on the desk.
“I do not think V is aware the girl has two abilities. I think
that is something I will keep to myself for a while.”
Gabriella looked at Eli, the concern obvious on her face.
“Do you think it is a wise choice to keep things from your
sister? Do you want to engage her in these types of games?”
“My HALF-sister does not need to know anything more than this
girl is a true Aperto Rotto,” Eli said in a growl. “Especially when Grace’s
problem might be related to one of V’s damnable pets!”
Gabriella sat, waiting for Eli’s temper to cool. Even after all
these years, the tension between the siblings was a constant presence.
“What are you planning to do about Grace, then?” she asked,
redirecting the conversation.
“For now, nothing. Anthony will find out what is going on and
will keep me informed.”
“You won’t share with Viora that Grace has multiple powers, but
you also won’t do anything to help Grace.”
“Help her? What do you expect me to do?”
“Give her an education on her powers,” was Gabriella’s
exasperated reply.
“Gabriella, a Paranorm is the Paranorms’ problem, even an Aperto
Rotto. If she needs help with her powers, she should go to Marcella and her
family.”
Gabriella gave him a stern look.
“You know full well Marcella will not accept this girl, an
Aperto Rotto, into her family. Even with your formal recognition, which you
have not given, it will be a challenge to get their family to accept one such
as Grace. It is rarely done.”
Eli’s face remained untouched by emotion, and Gabriella could
not tell if her arguments were having an impact.
“You are not even willing to mentor her like you do the other
Paranorms here at the theater?” Gabriella asked.
Eli gave Gabriella a considering look.
“What is your interest in the girl, Gabriella? Why push for me
to become involved with this Aperto Rotto?”
“Because for once, after too many years to recall, you are
finally interested in something!” Gabriella said, leaning to the front of her
chair in her earnestness.
“You have sat back and shown nothing but apathy about your life
for too long.” Gabriella eyed him. “I thought this one sparked something in
you, but maybe I am wrong.”
“I told you this is something for the Paranorms to deal with. If
you are this interested in the girl, you should mentor her yourself.”
Gabriella stood and walked up to the edge of the desk, forcing
Eli to look up at her.
“Elijah Sidotti, you are acting like a stubborn child. I was
your mentor for years at your mother’s request. She was my cousin and dear
friend, and I gladly took on the challenge of a difficult student.
It is not my place now to
mentor this child. I have done as much as I can for her. She is yours. It is
your place to help her from here. To help her as I helped you.”
With a swirl of air,
Gabriella’s form vanished, leaving Eli alone in the
room.
Eli sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. It had been a
long while since he had received such a lecture from Gabriella. He was
irritated at her for making him feel like a scolded child. But also curious at
her insistence he become involved with Grace’s life beyond assigning Anthony to
work with her.
Gabriella was not telling him everything underlying her desire
for him to mentor Grace. But if his suspicions about the girl’s problem were
correct, her problems had become his.
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