Shattering Zoella's Demons

  “This is a private session. You’re intruding.”

  Thanks to the glasses she was wearing, they didn’t recognize her. Tony touched her shoulder in assurance before he sat down in a seat close to the stage. Secure in her safety, she climbed up to where the teacher was on the stage.

  “I was just passing by. I heard you yelling,” she said.

  “Hi guys.” She waved to the orchestra. They waved back with wide grins.

  “You are intruding, miss. You must leave.”

  “Stubborn aren’t you,” Zoe said under her breath moving around him.

  She was surprised when he grabbed her arm. Unfortunately for him, Tony moved fast. He was on the stage before Zoe could say anything.

  “Let her go.” Tony ordered menacingly, making the orchestra gape.

  The conductor was so surprised by the size of Tony he did so right away.

  Stepping back from Zoe, the conductor complained, “She’s the one trespassing.”

  “No touching.” Tony maintained, making the conductor frown and the orchestra members glance at each other, murmuring amongst them.

  “Don’t mind him,” Zoe said nonchalantly. “He won’t bite. Just don’t provoke him.”

  The conductor glared at her but was glad to see Tony retreat though not too far. He went to lean on the wall at the edge of the stage. Zoe moved to the violin section and smiled at a young woman.

  “May I borrow your violin please?”

  “Sure.” The young woman gave Zoe the violin.

  “Thank you. I’ll just be a moment.” To the conductor she said, “Will you allow me to demonstrate?”

  “Like I have a choice,” the man grumbled giving Tony a nasty look.

  Zoe laughed and turned to the orchestra.

  “May be if you hear this, his anger will make sense,” she said, lifting the violin she continued. “A trill is a rapid alternation of two tones. Listen.”

  Pressing down on the strings with her fingers, the movement natural for her, she passed the bow over the strings making a trill. She did it again and the orchestra started in surprise. There was no question that she knew what she was talking about.

  “Your piece should sound something like this.”

  Closing her eyes, she played the violin piece from memory. The music she’d heard them play alive in her mind and transforming to the violin. It was a simple piece compared to the real devil’s trill. Playing the sequence they were having a problem with, she stopped at the end of the score and opened her eyes.

  “How?” the conductor gasped. “You didn’t read the score.”

  “It should be like that,” Zoe said embarrassed by the show.

  She’d forgotten that people didn’t have imaginative minds like her own.

  Returning the violin to the girl, she said, “Emotion is the key in this piece. Emotion and knowledge make your conductor happy and master your score first. Otherwise,” she winked, “he’ll keep yelling.”

  With a quick wave, she turned to leave the stage grateful that Tony was there to help swing her down. Hurrying out of the auditorium, she started for the exit.

  “Hey, miss!” Someone called behind them.

  “Tony, get me out of here.” She begged him.

  “Hey,” the voice was too close for comfort. “Will you stop moving? I just want to talk.”

  “Zoe, he doesn’t seem to recognize you,” Tony said though he kept up the pace to the exit. “It won’t hurt to talk.”

  “It would be a matter of time,” Zoe said with a shake of her head. What had she been thinking she chastised herself? “I—

  “Hey,” the man said appearing in front of her.

  She gasped, “How?”

  “I have my ways,” he said with a grin.

  Looking down, Zoe almost laughed when she saw the skateboard.

  “I just want a second of your time. That is if you’ll hold off the pit bull.”

  Zoe, too stunned by the man’s determination hadn’t noticed that she was now standing behind Tony who stood arms crossed staring down the conductor.

  “Why should I? I told you I was sorry for trespassing.”

  “Never mind that, I can’t believe you,” the guy said his eyes wide with excitement. It was too comical; Zoe had to hide a smile on Tony’s shoulder. “You were amazing. Who are you?”

  “No one, this no one is also leaving, as soon as you get out of the way. By the way, you’re causing a scene,” Zoe said looking around significantly at the students whose attention was turned to them.

  “Never mind them. I’m going to start begging. I want you to be coming to the orchestra practices. Please. They are so awful, they need help and I think I’ve found it. You can’t refuse. You’re not doing anything else, are you?”

  Hiding another smile at the enthusiasm, Zoe said, “I’m a very busy person.”

  “Very busy,” the man said, “hmm…with enough time to be in AMS in the middle of the day.”

  “What’s it to you? Maybe I had business here. It’s a music school,” Zoe said mildly.

  “Fine, I’m sorry. Please. Can’t you make time at all for my lowly students?”

  Tony’s shoulders relaxed under her palms. It was a signal that he approved of the idea. Taking her hands away from her bodyguard’s shoulders, she sighed. “What do you think I can do for them that you’re not doing?”

  “That stuff about emotion and knowledge it sounded good.”

  “You can do that,” Zoe said.

  “Not the way you just did it. Your way seems better,” the guy said. “I’m desperate. They have a competition coming and they are not ready.”

  Zoe stared at him for a moment. He really did seem desperate. Standing there now holding the skateboard, she was surprised to see that he was probably as old as Robbie was. Twenty- eight or so, dark hair that was not too long fell over his forehead and curled against his neck. His eyes were brown and very kind. He was sincere in his request.

  “Hmm…” Zoe said moving from behind Tony. Her hands back in her jean pockets, she sighed. “I’ll think about it.”

  “But—

  Zoe raised an eyebrow. “Tony here will give you the details when I do decide to help. You’re an interesting man. I’ll give you that. If you’ll excuse me now, I have to go.”

  The passionate conductor watched as she headed for the exit. Giving the bodyguard a furtive glance, he was surprised when Tony told him,

  “Tell her your name. Hurry before she leaves.”

  “Demetrius,” he called out after her. It was really nice when she turned with a smile. He felt compelled to say his name in full. “Demetrius Avinoff.”

  “I’ll be seeing you,” Tony said to him, hurrying after his charge.

  Demetrius was left standing there staring after the strange pair. What an interesting woman, he thought. He didn’t even know her name, but she seemed somehow familiar.

  *****

  “We’ve got a situation,” Danny said the next morning as the family sat down for breakfast. “Before we all run off to Athens, we’ve got to deal with it.”

  “What’s up Danny boy?” Kenny asked, pouring a cup of coffee for Jessica at the side table.

  “Quit that,” Danny said. “I thought I weaned that off you.”

  “Never,” Kenny laughed. “What’s up?”

  “Julia Harden is coming to London. She should be landing any minute now,” Danny said.

  “What!” Jessica and Gabriella said in shock.

  Danny winced at the expected reaction before he met Kenny’s gaze. “She says Steve Harden is getting out on parole in November. They need Zoe to testify to keep him in.”

  Kenny forgot the coffee and turned to glare at Danny, “Over my dead body.”

  “I figure that’s the same way Zoe feels. Her recent activities should make sense now,” Danny said taking a seat before his plate of eggs and bacon.

  “How can you eat right now
?” Jessica asked, staring at her older brother.

  “Well, what else can I do? This family takes a lot of energy out of you,” Danny said on a full bite.

  “What does she want?” Gabriella asked, puzzled by this latest development.

  “She wants to talk Zoe into testifying,” Danny said.

  “Never,” Kenny said vehemently. “You hear me, it’s not happening.”

  “Kenny,” Jessica said standing up to pat Kenny’s arm.

  “No, Jess. That woman is part of the problem in case you’ve all forgotten she accused Zoe of breaking apart her family, like it was a choice.”

  “Kenny calm down,” Jessica soothed. “I understand how you feel, but think about it rationally. We don’t want that man out either. He could be trouble.”

  “Jessica is right.” Gabriella seconded. “Things are calmer with him inside.”

  “What do you plan on doing about Julia?” Danny asked sipping his coffee. “Should she go to Athens with us?”

  Gabriella sighed at the coming battle. Because that was what this was going to end up being, the past had an interesting way of returning.

  *****

  Julia sat nervously in her seat and stared out the airplane window at the Heathrow airport. Behind her, her twin teenaged kids moved around the luxurious Learjet in excitement.

  “Mum, I can’t believe it. Who are these people again? How come we’ve never met them before?” Terrence Girgorio said, chewing on twizzlers. “I didn’t know we had rich relatives.”

  “Terry, you’d better not act so shameless when they show,” Sarah Girgorio said giving her brother a roll of her eyes. She sat calmly in her seat. She looked proper in her jeans and sleeveless top, her hair in pigtails and a comic book in her hand.

  “Someone has to be excited for the family,” Terry replied, his gaze straying to their mother. In his baggy jeans and long t-shirt, and a red sox cap on his head, he was every bit the rowdy boy in class. “Its summertime you know, we’re supposed to be having fun.”

  “You’re such a jerk.” Sarah complained lifting her comic book up to read it.

  “Snob,” Terry shot back.

  Julia listened to their bickering and was about to stop them when the lovely flight attendant came in from the cockpit area.

  “Mrs. Girgorio,” She said, “bear with us a while longer. There has been a flight plan change. The other passengers will be arriving shortly.”

  “Yes, of course,” Julia said noting that her kids were now quiet and watching the flight attendant warily. “May I ask who the passengers are?”

  “Oh yes,” she smiled. “I do believe it will be Signora Castille, Mr. Danny, his sister and her husband.”

  “Thank you,” Julia said with a slight frown.

  What could have caused the sudden change?

  The flight attendant hurried off and Terry moved to sit beside her.

  “Mum, what’s going on.”

  “I’m not sure. It seems as though our flight’s not over,” Julia answered gently. “We’re about to get company though. So please behave.”

  Terry was just about to ask who the company was when the commotion came.

  Glancing up, Julia frowned as a harried young man came in carrying bags. Behind him was a man in a black suit. He was talking rapidly in to his phone in Greek. When he saw them, he paused.

  “Tia Julia,” he said, with a charming smile. It was Danny. When she started to get up, he waved her down and leaned to kiss her cheeks. “Good to see you, Terrence, Sarah. Please excuse me.”

  He continued talking into his cell phone.

  Julia’s attention was drawn to the next wave of people. A young woman dressed in a black trouser suit. She carried a laptop bag and a carryon bag.

  “Hello. I’m Tamia.” She greeted them generally.

  Behind her came Jessica, Julia could never forget how the girl looked.

  She was different now, elegance oozed from her without effort. In a gorgeous turquoise blue summer dress, her blond hair falling to her shoulders, she was a far cry from the co-ed Julia had known.

  “Hi, Aunt Julia,” Jessica greeted, leaning down to hug her, a cloud of channel perfume wrapping around Julia. “I hope your flight was fine.”

  “It was very good.” Julia answered elated by the reception.

  Then again, Gabriella had drummed courtesy into her children. They were elite socialites.

  “These must be the twins,” Jessica said. “Terrence and Sarah, you’ve grown up.” She teased them. “They don’t remember me.”

  Terrence widened his eyes at that unable to believe he could forget her. Sarah shook her head at the expression on his face.

  Kenny walked in next which surprised Julia. Never in her dreams had she imagined that he’d marry Jessica.

  “Julia.” He greeted holding out a hand.

  Julia shook his hand politely, though it was obvious that he wasn’t feeling cordial toward her. At least he was nice to her children. He even sat down beside Sarah and asked about her comic.

  Gabriella came in last and Julia got to her feet. She hadn’t seen her older sister in a decade. Gabriella was her only other family in this world.

  Swallowing hard, Julia said, “Buon giorno Gabriella.”

  Gabriella stood staring at her sister for a moment, taking in the younger woman with her black hair stylishly cut to her shoulders. Her lovely olive-skin was a testament to their Italian heritage. She was shorter than Gabriella remembered. Then again, height was something the Girgorio women didn’t have.

  Meeting hesitant dark eyes, Gabriella smiled. “Julia, buongiorno come esta, how have you been?

  Julia moved to hug her sister. Tears shimmering in her eyes as Gabriella hugged her back.

  “I’m fine now,” Julia murmured against Gabriella’s neck. “I’ve missed you, Gabby.”

  “Me too,” Gabriella said pulling back to kiss both Julia’s cheeks. “Where are my twins?”

  Julia laughed and moved aside so that Gabriella could see Terrence and Sarah. “They’re mischievous terrors.”

  “Really,” Gabriella chuckled hugging Terrence and kissing his cheeks. “Young man, you’ve gotten quite tall since I saw you. Do you remember me?”

  Terrence glanced at the older woman and shrugged. He liked how she’d hugged him. It felt like the way his mother did it when he was hurt.

  “No.”

  “No?” Gabriella shook her head, then turned to Sarah, “how about you young lady?”

  She hugged Sarah and kissed her cheeks too. “Have you forgotten?”

  Sarah smiled shyly. “I remember a little.”

  “Well, that’s good.” Gabriella twitched her nose. “I’m your aunt. You call me Tia Gabby. Those tall men and women who just walked in are my children. They’ve grown up now, so I’ve no one to spoil. What do you say to me spoiling you instead?”

  They both laughed at the words and Gabriella grinned. Happy that they weren’t scared anymore, she nodded to Tamia who came over immediately.

  “See that they get everything they need.”

  “Yes, Signora,” Tamia said and directed the twins toward the back of the plane where a living area equipped with an entertainment center was situated.

  Once the flight was underway, Gabriella turned her seat to look at Julia and asked, “Whose bright idea was it to send a letter to Zoella?”

  “Sandra Carpenter,” Julia said. “It’s routine, Gabby. We figured she’d respond to it as soon as she got it.”

  “What a mess.” Jessica sighed. “You should have called instead. This would have been handled better.”

  “We haven’t talked in so long,” Julia said, her gaze moving from Jessica to Gabriella. “I realize how awkward the situation is, and I know that there are questions floating around. I’m here to get it over with so that the hearing can go smoothly. I want that man behind bars as much as you all do.”

  “Really,” Kenny jumped
in his tone cold. “How easy it sounds when you say it.”

  “What Kenny? You can’t still be angry with me can you?” Julia asked. “I’m on your side now. I was wrong alright, I apologize.”

  “Save it,” Kenny said quietly. “You have no right.”

  He walked off leaving them all seated there in silence.

  Julia sighed, glancing at Gabriella and her children.

  Wringing her hands in her lap, she said, “I’m desperate. I’ll do what I must.”

  Danny closed his eyes at the words.

  Jessica got up from her seat. “This is a surprise to us. I assumed Steve would serve his full sentence of twenty-five years. No considerations for parole ever came up before.”

  “So I thought,” Julia said, keeping her gaze on Jessica as she paced the carpeted floor. It was a Castille characteristic. She remembered that Alexis had done it too.

  “His lawyer has been working hard on the good behavior card,” Julia said.

  “What happens if Zoe doesn’t testify?” Danny asked. “Is there another way to keep him in?”

  “It’s unlikely,” Julia said. “It has to be the key witness. The victim of the crime has to testify.”

  “Do the twins know?” Gabriella asked.

  “No.” Julia shook her head slowly. “I couldn’t tell them about their father.”

  “Good. They don’t need to know.” Gabriella sighed. “We have to protect their innocence at all costs.”

  A pregnant silence filled the air and after a moment Julia could stand her curiosity no longer.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “Athens,” Gabriella answered. “Your letter has wrecked more havoc than you thought.”

  “I’m going to find Kenny,” Jessica said quietly. “You’d better catch Aunt Julia up to the situation. This is going to be hard enough at is.”

  *****

  “Afternoon Alain, Aunt Athena,” Zoe said cheerfully as she entered the house using the kitchen door that afternoon.

  Alain stopped spooning batter into a cake tin and stared at her in surprise. Athena who’d been busy helping Zan tie his shoes looked up too, a frown playing on her forehead.

  “What’s wrong?” Zoe asked, sitting down on a stool at the island table.

  “Is everything okay with you?” Alain asked, continuing his work. “What did you have for lunch?”

  “Nothing yet, I hope you kept some fettuccini for me,” Zoe said eyes wide at the horror of the stuff having ended. “I’m hungry. I was hoping to get some.”