บท 75: Chapter 75 - Dinner in the mansion
Producing a new show was more labour intensive than Leonardo thought. Not only did he need to approve the script, but details of the set, stage set-up, sound, lighting, costumes, performers... The list of details he needed to check seemed endless.
But on the one hand, it was fun.
The story behind the new show was far more magical than he had imagined. Literally a dance performance with music and choreography that could captivate children. A show that the whole family could enjoy.
There was only one question that made Leonardo anxious.
Marriage.
In the middle of the show he could "fake" a wedding with Benjin. As far as he could tell from his new team, no one would have noticed the wedding details. It would be in Leonardo's small part in the show, where he would introduce himself to the audience and hand each of the main attractions a few items his father had left.
Opening the drawer of his desk, Leonardo stared at the box where the objects were kept safe. It was amazing how his father had everything prepared, blindly trusting that Leonardo would succeed him even though they had barely spoken in recent years. Either it was overconfidence or it was Vicente's doing.
In any case, Leonardo only needed to give the brooches to the attractions, and only Benjin would wear a golden ring.
And so, in front of Diablo they would be in a bond that chained Leonardo ever tighter in Dreamland.
Diablo...
Never saw such a fellow, but witnessed his power the other day. Luckily the dancer didn't have too many complications thanks to Giovani's first aid. However, this completely messed up the rehearsal schedule, as a replacement had to be hastily trained. In addition, Leonardo was strict about the safety of the equipment, leaving it to Mr. Barley to carry out the new inspection.
His head was aching with so much to do. Massaging his temples, the boy found himself wishing for an end to the supernatural nightmare.
With a silent atmosphere, Leonardo checked the time and then looked out the window to see the lights of the park being switched off. Following his new habit, he got up from his chair and tidied his desk, leaving all his work organised for the next day. Once everything was tidy, Leonardo left the office and walked through the silent corridors and up the dark stairs to the dining room.
The smell of food was already filling the room. And from the clatter of cutlery and pot lids, Vicente must have already been taking care of the final preparations for dinner.
Sitting down on the chair at the end of the table, Leonardo crossed his legs and rested his head on the palm of his hand, closing his eyes to enjoy his last moments of silence. He made an immense effort to keep his thoughts from being burdened by the endless worries of his work, such an effort always seemed futile. It seemed that his brain didn't know how to switch off from work mode, always getting anxious and imagining the different kinds of doomsday scenarios that could befall him.
As if it wasn't enough to steal his nights of sleep, now such thoughts wanted to steal even his daily life.
However, the sound of the door opening and the conversations, as well as the smell of pitch, were the miracle he needed to drive those thoughts away. The warmth that enveloped his body made him feel at home. It was his place in the world.
— I'm home, Leo!
— Did you have a good rehearsal? — Leonardo grinned as he looked back to find Benjin's bright smile.
— Of course! It was definitely fun to rehearse with such bad people and show that I'm superior to them.
— You're spending too much time with Ray, you're picking up his arrogance.
Leonardo dragged the chair round enough for Benjin to sit on his lap. The blush on the trapeze artist's cheeks was a charm in itself, almost making the young master believe his lover was shy. But surely his puppet was endeavouring not to attack him right then and there.
— But I really am better than the others. My act will be the climax of the show.
— You're only trying like this because the young master is taking part, otherwise you wouldn't even have agreed to do an act outside the circus — Ray mocked as he sat down in his seat.
— And did you need any other reason?
Leonardo let out a low chuckle and stroked Benjin's hair. It was all very well for him to be spoiled like that, he liked the fact that he was held in such high esteem.
— Ben, please sit up straight. Mr. Monteccello will be here soon and I don't want him to think you're shameless.
Pursing his lips, the trapeze artist wrapped his young master in a hug.
— What's wrong with me sticking to my Leo?
— Ben...
Grumbling, the trapeze artist climbed off Leonardo's lap to sit beside him. To his displeasure, Ray seemed to laugh at his frustration.
— That's right, we need to give the detective the impression that we're normal humans. That way he can continue playing house with the young master.
— Careful… — murmured Leonardo with a thin smile.
— That doesn't mean you're off the hook too, Ray — Vicente served the dishes on the table and scolded the magician with his gaze — Your teasing needs to be tempered too.
— Is it so bad that I'm on my fiancé's lap? — Benjin grumbled, still with a beak.
Well well well, looks like your favourite puppet was in need of some attention. He cast furtive glances in Leonardo's direction, as if waiting for some order from him. A single word would be enough to make Benjin jump back into his lap.
However, Leonardo agreed with Vicente. They needed to take care of themselves when they were around Giovani. And Benjin let his true face slip out when he got... too excited.
Stroking Benjin's head again, Leonardo smiled amiably.
— It's all right, Ben. Soon you can have all the attention you want.
An ear-to-ear grin appeared on his flushed face. Excitement and euphoria seemed to mingle in Benjin's imagination. It seems that Leonardo had made him create high expectations for that night.
— Yes, Leo!
— It's a good thing the guest room isn't under the young master's bedroom. Otherwise, he'd think the mansion is haunted by moaning in the middle of the night. — Ray pinned his fork in the air.
— Boys... Please. — Vincent asked, already tired.
— But our Vinnie has made the spare room under yours, since you don't do anything. That must be why you're so frustrated, watch out for jealousy Ray.
— The mark on Aslan's neck doesn't look like the work of someone who does nothing, — Leonardo mentioned occasionally.
Suddenly Aslan let the cutlery fall to the floor. The blush on the blond's cheeks denounced that, indeed, something had happened between the two. Come on... How could no one notice that something was going on between them? Ray had been grinning like a beast all week, and Aslan had been covering his neck even though the weather was starting to get warm with the end of winter.
It was only when he was in the mansion that Aslan slipped up, showing the mark on his neck.
— I can't believe it...
— Did you guys really do that?
Leonardo stifled a laugh at Benjin and Vicente's incredulity. It shouldn't be that surprising, it was only a matter of time before the two of them were together for good.
— As a magician, there are certain things I can do without anyone knowing. I can teach you a trick or two if you like, Ben.
— Gi has arrived!
The girl who had been silently ignoring everyone suddenly said something. And immediately jumped out of her chair to go to the kitchen door waiting for someone. It wasn't long before the detective arrived holding his coat and removing his police cap looking exhausted.
— I'm home.
— Gi!
The detective gave a tired smile and stroked Viola's hair, who seemed pleased to see her friend around.
— Did you have fun today, girl?
— Uhum, uhum.
— Sit down, detective. I was already serving dinner.
Giovani didn't protest, he let Viola drag him along until he was sitting next to her at the table.
— You've been coming back late to the mansion. And I don't see you much in the park, has something happened?
— There are some protests going on in the city centre, so... I've had to turn in for a few nights to take care of the mess.
— Eat well and get some rest, Giovani. It's not good to be exhausted.
— Before that, I need to talk to you — the detective said so seriously that everyone at the table fell silent, paying attention to the two of them — and it might be something very uncomfortable.
— Oh no, not you too. Leo's mine today!
— Ham, I just need to report something about the investigations. It won't take long.
— No, it won't!
Benjin looked angry, to Leonardo's surprise. The young master held his fiancé's hand and smiled to himself.
— It's all right, Ben.
— It's not! We've barely had any time together since you started producing the opening of Winter Flavour. And now he wants to steal our free time too?
Giovani didn't answer, which also meant that his request for a private conversation wouldn't be withdrawn. The investigations involved those non-human attractions, and Leonardo needed to keep his policeman friend on a tight leash to find out what he knew.
He would do whatever was necessary to protect Benjin and the others.
— All right, we can talk in the office after dinner.
— But Leo!
Holding Benjin's hand and kissing his knuckles, the boy tried to calm his puppet's rage.
— Tomorrow is my last day of vacation. It's okay to stay up all night, if you know what I mean.
Like a firecracker, Benjin's face reddened to such a colour that he went mute. The others present pretended not to have heard, and helped themselves to dinner, ignoring Leonardo's brazen flirtations.
Even the young master felt embarrassed, but if it was necessary for him to be shamelessly malicious in front of the others in order to appease his fiancé, then that's what he would do. He just needed to swallow his shame, especially when the others were doing their best to hide the mocking smiles from their faces.
Dinner went on as it does every night. Aslan being teased by Ray and Benjin, Viola being looked after by Vicente, Leonardo and Giovani chatting about college. It had only been a few months since the detective had moved into the mansion to look after the girl, becoming part of Leonardo's routine like a huge family.
It would be that way that he could keep everything under control while picking up clues here and there to avoid further disturbances. And right after dinner, when the two of them gathered at the Evilian's office, Leonardo was preparing for that moment eager to know Giovani's new findings.
The big question was what he could do to prevent Giovani from finding out everything and being in danger.
He could become Diablo's new target.
— Sit down, Giovani. Would you like some coffee?
— No, thank you. I'll just tell you what I need and then go to sleep.
The poor chap looked like exhaustion itself. Deep-set eyes and hunched shoulders seemed to represent the weight of the world on him.
— I know this might make you uncomfortable, but it's about your brother's death.
A shiver ran through Leonardo, leaving him on alert.
— All right, go on.
— My team investigated the train and found tapes from the security system. Old tapes, to be precise. And one of them was from a camera that was in the train area.
— What?! They had cameras in the area of the train?
— That's what it sounds like, you didn't know that?
Leonardo was a child at the time he explored the park, why would he be interested in security cameras? What was more surprising was that the police team at the time didn't know about it. Giovani spoke as if it was a golden clue, something he didn't know.
What the hell had happened back then? Was it his father who hid the alleged tapes?
— What was on them?
— It showed you and your brother walking through the park, Agenor following you to the train... When you get on, the image goes static and only comes back when you are off the train and the bodies are already lifeless.
Leonardo remembered this well.
His fists clenched as he remembered the fallen bodies in front of him and the pain in his throat as he began to cry out loud. The dread he felt was a strange and unpleasant sensation. It was not like ordinary fear, it was something immense and indescribable. Those were the sensations that haunted Leonardo even in his dreams to the point where it became unbearable to stay in Dreamland.
Holding his hands to prevent them from shaking, the boy tried to keep calm.
Everything was fine.
He was close to several people and even a policeman. He was safe.
— Did you find anything on those recordings?
— A shadow of someone wearing a top hat — Giovani said almost in a whisper — It looked like someone was at the back of the train hiding, only being able to see his shadow.
— But it was night, and the place was full of trees. Where would the light come from to have a shadow?
Giovani rummaged in his trouser pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Unfolding it carefully, he showed it to Leonardo. As soon as he saw the image, Leonardo's heart raced and his eyes widened in surprise.
— The train's headlight was on? How? That train has been buried there... for decades.
Giovani nodded, pointing at the shadow in question. Peeking his eyes, Leonardo saw the silhouette of the guy and the possible top hat. He didn't have to think too hard to realise what it was. Or rather, who it was about.
— Do you remember seeing Vicente that night?
Swallowing dryly, Leonardo couldn't remember many details. All he could remember was his brother and the abuser being there... and a fourth presence who had a devilish grin on his face.
But it wasn't Vicente.
Vincent never smiled in that mischievous way. And the tips of his hair were dark, not wheat-blond like Vicente's. He had a fourth bloke, but it wasn't Vicente.
— I remember there was someone else, but it wasn't Vicente — he said at last, sighing in frustration at not being able to remember the fourth bloke's face — It was someone tall, at least I got the feeling looking up, but it wasn't Vicente.
— How can you be so sure?
— Vicente always accompanied my father, he hardly left his side.
— That doesn't mean he didn't go out. It could have happened that night and Vicente could have turned up at the scene of the crime.
— It's not him, Giovani.
— Kid, I know it's hard — the detective commented cautiously, holding Leonardo's hand to comfort him. His warmth calmed the boy's nervousness — Because you've known Vicente for so long, it's hard to imagine that he could be a suspect. But in all the security footage we recovered from that box, only he wears a top hat.
— Do you want to interrogate him?
— Hm, it would be a lie if I said no. He could be behind the disappearances, as this train seems to be the scene of something bizarre again.
Leonardo was certain that Diablo was behind the disappearances. He had proof with the dancer's accident, since none of the main attractions were there at the time. And it wouldn't be hard for a demon to sneak in and create a disaster. Plus he had somehow control over the main attractions. The supernatural power factor could not be forgotten, ever.
The problem was that he couldn't be as sure about his brother's death.
But it was still a hypothesis.
A hypothesis that Leonardo wanted to prove as soon as possible.
— It must be his doing then...
— His who?
— Did you check if the train's headlight still works?
— No, right after we found that clue, we had to take care of the protests in the centre. Why?
The train seemed to be the link to all those strange happenings, only Giovani's team didn't find anything abnormal about it. Except Leonardo knew about the supernatural stuff that went on around Dreamland, which meant the same thing could extend to the train. If he could investigate properly, maybe he could find an answer.
— If you have some free time tomorrow afternoon, we can go and see the train.
— Are you sure? I don't want you to be in shock like last time.
— I'm fine, I need to face it somehow. And the answer I'm looking for might be there.
— All right, we can see the train tomorrow.
Giovani put the printed image away again and was about to leave the office when Leonardo called him again.
— Please don't talk about this with anyone. Since you suspect them, then you and I will take care of it ourselves.
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