Surviving Venice

by Anna E Bendewald

  Raphielli started to tiptoe past the open door, when Nanda cried, “Raphielli!” They all ran to her, but a wave of guilt reached her before her residents did. She’d been the cause of last night’s mayhem. Surprisingly, they weren’t blaming her for the attack and murdered staff. They huddled around, patting her on the back and petting her hair, all of them talking at once. “You’re okay! They didn’t get you! We saved Kate! You should’ve seen it—there were two of them! They had knives and guns!”

  Raphielli’s eyes met Paloma’s, and she saw no judgment there. Paloma mouthed, “You’re safe now.”

  As Mia and Dr. Risinger got the women settled back into their chairs, Raphielli excused herself and moved toward the office, but hesitated just outside the door when she heard Kate saying, “Ah, sì, Alphonso, she just arrived. You didn’t give me a chance to…I just buzzed her in.” There was silence and then, “How should I know where she’s been? Well, you shouldn’t have let her run off. She’s in shock. We’re all in shock to some degree. The drug you say the paramedics gave her last night can have serious side effects—psychotic episodes, thoughts of suicide, impaired judgment.” She listened some more and then sounded angry when she said, “Well if you say she was acting erratically you should have…”

  Raphielli could hear someone coming down the hall, so she cleared her throat and entered the room.

  Kate muted her phone and said, “It’s Alphonso, he’s worried about you. He and Cardinal Negrali have called every half hour this morning. Do you want to talk to him?”

  Another wave of guilt hit her. She took the phone and with eyes lowered to the scrubbed floors said, “I didn’t know you’d worry, I…”

  “You weren’t answering your phone,” his voice was hoarse with emotion. “I thought you’d fallen off a bridge when you didn’t arrive at work.”

  “I just needed a walk.”

  “It started pouring!” He sounded incredulous, and then his voice was tender. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

  “I needed a break.”

  “Ti amo, Raphielli. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sorry, too. Look, I’ve got to get some work done. I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Call me when you’re ready to walk home.”

  “Okay. Ciao.”

  Handing the phone back to Kate, she looked over at her desk. There was nothing on it. Her computer and files were all sealed inside transparent blue bags. She felt that eerie vertigo she’d felt seeing her shoes. Did evil leave a residue?

  “It’s unbelievable how far blood can travel,” Kate said tiredly. She wrapped her arms around Raphielli in a warm maternal hug from behind. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’m glad Salvio’s dead. I never met the man, but I’m sorry you got stuck with him.” Kate sniffed deeply. “You smell great. New soap?”

  Raphielli realized Kate smelled Gio on her and changed the subject. “I wanted to come over here last night as soon as I heard, but they gave me something to calm me down and I’m afraid it knocked me out.” Pulling back and turning to face her, she saw the bruises and claw marks on Kate’s neck. Her hand flew to her mouth in horror.

  “Oh, sì, my neck. Not as bad as yours was. When I finally go home, I’ll borrow your trick and cover it with a scarf.”

  “Are you in pain?”

  “I’d like to book a few sessions with your physical therapist. I’m too old to be beaten up.”

  “Is that your only injury?”

  “Also a few stitches in my scalp. I have a hard head.”

  “Per favore, go home now. I’ll send you my therapist’s contact information. If you have any resumes that I can start reviewing for our…temporary replacement staff.” She choked past a fresh lump in her throat. “I can’t believe they’re gone. So senseless.”

  “It’s all taken care of for now. Luigi told me in confidence that he believes you’re still in danger, so I brought in some of my family to cover the positions until the coast is clear. People I know I can trust. My aunt’s in the kitchen cooking up a storm, my cousin Constanza is a registered nurse and has taken over our medical dispensary, Azure will work double shifts at the guard post, and my nephew Gilly will cover the rest.”

  “You’ve got a lot of relatives.”

  “We are legion. Oh, and Cardinal Negrali’s been calling, probably about the funeral. But first things first. We have a new resident.” Kate withdrew a roll of Mentos from her pocket and popped one in her mouth.

  “New resident?” Raphielli blinked. “You did an intake last night of all nights? We’re at the limit.”

  “Trust me, we need to keep this one. She’s a sixteen-year-old kid but she looks about fourteen. She was naked and bloody when she turned up in the rain.”

  “Poor girl!”

  “Held captive and serially raped for more than a week, but the pregnancy test was negative. I put her in the nurse’s quarters because all the beds in the dorm rooms are in use. Also, Detective Lampani wants her to stay there so he can sneak through the kitchen to visit and question her as needed.”

  Rapheilli followed Kate down the back hall behind the kitchen. “What’s her story?”

  “Her parents took her to a house and left her there to be raped…by Salvio.”

  Again, that vertigo feeling of doom. He was still trying to make an heir.

  Kate knocked lightly on the door. “Benedetta? It’s me, Kate. May I come in?”

  “Sì,” came a soft voice.

  Kate opened the door to reveal a girl wearing one of the shelter’s sweat suits. She had dark red cuts and scratches on her pale forehead and hands. One hand was splinted and bandaged. She was lovely, long and slim in a coltish way like a twelve-year-old in the midst of a growth spurt. She looked achingly vulnerable. Dark brown hair cascaded over one shoulder pooling in her lap, she had big pouty lips and looked at Raphielli with inquiring eyes that were somewhere between brown and green.

  Kate gestured to Raphielli. “Benedetta, I’d like to introduce…”

  “I know who you are,” she said without glancing at Kate. “You’re the barren wife.”

  Raphielli had been unguarded because of the girl’s frail appearance, and she felt the label like a slap.

  “You have no idea what you are talking about.” Kate’s voice was firm. “Apologize per favore.”

  Raphielli said, “Kate, can you give us a moment?”

  “I’ll be right outside.” She looked upset and left reluctantly.

  Raphielli regarded the girl who now looked both sullen and smug.

  “You’re pleased you got a reaction from me.”

  The only reply was a little cock of her head that conveyed, And what if I am?

  Refusing to be baited into an adversarial exchange, she sought to align herself with her newest resident as best she could. “You’re correct. In the two years we were married, I was unable to give Salvio a child.”

  The girl continued to look her over in a rude manner.

  “So, my husband raped you?”

  “Sì.”

  “You think you’re superior to me. Why is that?”

  “My parents considered it an honor to offer me up to have the Scortini heir.”

  “So did my mother and nonna when they married me off to Salvio.”

  Her whole demeanor brightened. “So, you are one of the faithful.”

  Raphielli looked at the girl with new eyes. “I take it you don’t mean a Catholic.”

  The girl shut down. “Never mind, forget it.”

  “Okay, I’m going to draw something, and you can tell me if it’s familiar.” Raphielli went to the desk in the corner, took out a pencil and paper, and quickly sketched the symbols that had recently become so familiar to her: a sun, a moon, and the earth in a lunar eclipse, and a figure of a man standing in a boat. Handing the paper to the girl she asked, “Mean anything?”

  “Oh, sì.” She looked relieved and less like an angry child. “You are one of us. You were just trying to throw me off with the Catholic comment.”


  “Did Salvio ever sneak you into our palazzo? Possibly through a secret passage?”

  “To the water temple?” Her eyes lit up, and then she looked disappointed. “No. I’ve never been inside the Scortini Palazzo. My grandparents went there, but I only worshipped in the little temple under the safe house that I told Luigi and Kate about last night. Hey, will you take me to your palazzo so I can see the big temple?”

  Raphielli felt protective over this girl who was apparently even more innocent than she’d been. “Certamente, Benny, I’ll show you the temple. Can I call you Benny? But, it’s important that we keep this as our secret.”

  “Sure.” Benedetta flipped a hand in dismissal. “I know never to speak of the Alithiní with outsiders. Not even Luigi, and he’s really cool for a detective.”

  “You can call me Elli. My friends do, and I’d like us to be friends.”

  The girl smiled and then picked at the tape on her splinted hand.

  Raphielli had heard Salvio refer to the Alithiníans last night. She was sure this was the first person she’d come across who was actively devout to the religion the Catholics considered so dangerous. “Listen Benedetta, I know what Salvio did to you was savage…if it’s what he used to do to me.”

  “Sì.” Her lips pressed together, and her nostrils flared in anger.

  “And since you still have both eyes, I know you followed his rules.”

  “He threatened to cut one out if I looked anywhere but the ceiling…during...”

  “Benny, what happened to you wasn’t an honor. You were trafficked by your family, and it’s because of what I endured with Salvio that I founded this shelter. You can stay here as long as you like. We’ll keep you safe. I promise.”

  “Grazie, I’m planning on staying for a while. I’m not going back there, but I know the Alithiníans and my parents are looking for me. They’ll want to return me to Salvio.”

  “Salvio’s dead.”

  “Oh.” The girl balled her good hand into a fist and scrubbed her knuckles along her knee. “Good. I mean, the faithful are going to freak, but I’m glad.”

  Kate opened the door, poked her head in, and pointed to their office mouthing, “Cardinal Negrali.”

  Raphielli wasn’t in the mood to confess all the sins she was racking up and felt a strange woozy feeling. Maybe she was tired or it was an aftereffect of last night’s sedative. But there was no putting him off now.

  She found Cardinal Negrali sitting on the office sofa waiting to hear her confession.

  “Padre, I wasn’t expecting you today, not after everything that’s happened.”

  “I had to see you after last night. Your trials just keep coming. I’m at your side through all this.”

  “Grazie, padre.”

  “The police questioned you?”

  “Sì.”

  “The police didn’t find the temple, did they? We can’t have word of that dangerous cult getting out.”

  “No. But then, I’ve lived in the palazzo for years and never suspected it was there. The police have no idea.”

  “Bene, bene. Your mother and nonna have not come to pay a condolence call to you?”

  “No, they would only come to take over my household. There’d be no condolences.”

  “Were you able to sleep?”

  “Sì.” She neglected to tell him she’d taken a drug.

  “Any nightmares?”

  “No. I slept…deeply.”

  “Really? That’s good news, and very unusual.” He was staring at her intently.

  She caved. “I became hysterical when I heard who died, and the medics gave me a sedative.”

  “Understandable. Has the Mafia don contacted you? Giancarlo Petrosino?”

  “No. Now that he’s killed Salvio, I expect he’ll return to Palermo,” she lied.

  “All the better. Now, before we pray for the souls that were lost last night, is there any other burden you have to share with me, my child?”

  Today her sins were heavy, but she was absolutely not ready to share them. “I want an annulment,” she blurted and was surprised to hear herself say it.

  He gave her a disappointed look and ran his hands over his cross and gold chains. “A grave request.”

  “But padre, Salvio has to have been one of the worst husbands in history.” She couldn’t believe she had to plead her case. If he knew her at all, he’d know she’d want to put that awful time behind her.

  He fixed her with a look of paternal kindness. “His failure to be a good husband has nothing to do with your fidelity to the lifelong contract you made before the Almighty. Now, let us pray together…” He knelt down on the floor and brought his hands together. She joined him on her knees as he began to pray, “Absolve, we beseech thee oh Lord, the souls of thy servants who are dead to this world…”

  As soon as he left, she went and found Paloma. The poor thing had only just started to come out of her shell in the last few days, and since the cathartic cry the two had shared, they had a special bond. “I’m glad I found you. You know we have a new girl?”

  “Sì. I got a glimpse of her as Kate took her into the nurse’s room. Just a kid.”

  “Well, I only have permits for ten residents and…”

  “She makes us eleven.”

  “Right.”

  “Does one of us have to leave?” Paloma’s bruised face sagged. “Oh, shit. Is it me? Oh shit.”

  “I was hoping you’d come live with me.”

  “Wuh-wuh…live with you?”

  “Your bedroom would be at my home, but you’d still come here every day.”

  “Pinch me!” She held out an arm. “I mean…I really like it here, and the women are growing on me…even their kids…but I’m psyched to live with you and come here every day. I promise I’ll be a good roommate.”

  “Kate’ll handle the paperwork. Pack your things and you’ll come home with me tonight.”

  “You’re the coolest, Raphielli.” As Paloma moved off toward the elevator, her limp was less noticeable. She really was improving since her arrival.

  When Alphonso came to walk her home, she introduced him to Paloma who looked up at him and said, “You’re even more handsome up close.”

  He gave her an embarrassed smile as she explained, “All the gals inside gather around the security monitors in reception when you come to pick Raphielli up.”

  “I had no idea you were all so bored in there,” was his shy response.

  They walked slowly to accommodate her pace. Since it wasn’t raining, it was a nice stroll through the sestiere, with the lamplights illuminating wispy winter fog. Approaching the palace, Paloma said, “I can’t believe I’m going inside Palazzo Scortini. It’s friggin’ huge, like an airport…and spooky.”

  Inside, Dante took their coats and offered a courtly bow to their guest. “Signora, welcome.”

  Paloma pressed a hand to her healing ribs and bowed stiffly. Then she realized it wasn’t called for and blushed. “Call me Paloma. Signora’s my mother’s name.”

  He chuckled and turned to Raphielli. “Zelph is waiting for you in la Sala Baùtta.”

  “Grazie, Dante. I’ve called Domina, and her team’s delivering a fresh bed for that orange and gold room by the nautical observation gallery.”

  “Sì, la Sole Vista room. Her team already delivered the bed, and also boxes of items Domina wants Paloma to have.”

  “I’m in la Sole Vista room?” Paloma breathed. “Sounds nice.”

  “It is, and it’s on this floor not far from my suite. Most of the rooms are upstairs on the second and third floors, and are not only a long way away, but haven’t been used in years.”

  Paloma stood uncertainly as Dante disappeared with her tiny suitcase.

  “Why don’t you relax with me, Alphonso, and Zelph before dinner,” Raphielli suggested.

  As they walked off toward la Sala Baùtta, they passed through enormous halls and rooms, all of them dark. Paloma said, “Wow! Your fireplaces are the biggest I�
��ve ever seen.”

  “We don’t use most of them.”

  “My father was a chimney sweep. As a kid I used to work with him, clean brushes, go into tight spaces because he was pretty fat. I could tell you all about yours if we ever get so bored you’d want to hear about them,” Paloma said with an edge of pride to her voice.

  Alphonso perked up. “That’d be helpful. We’re learning about the layout of this place.”

  “We’re doing some updates,” Raphielli explained. “Installing security, things like that.”

  “I don’t see servants running around.”

  “No.”

  “Kinda crazy I know, but I imagined that musical where servants would do everything for me.”

  “Sorry to disappoint.”

  “I’m not really disappointed.”

  “I have a maid, Rosa, and you’ve met Dante, and I have a part-time cook,” Raphielli said.

  “A real knockout of a cook,” Alphonso sighed.

  “Well, that’s something,” Paloma said while squinting at another fireplace as they passed.

  Giselle was grateful for the heavier clothes Daniel had loaned them. She, Markus, and Yvania followed him through low stone tunnels strung with naked light bulbs overhead as Daniel unlocked and relocked several doors. They’d come this way last night, but she hadn’t taken much notice. Finally, they came out from behind an ivy-covered trellis in a cloistered stone courtyard that housed plants in boxes of all sizes. It was an ancient stone garden that was sheltered, and the stones radiated the sun’s warmth back to the plants.

  Markus asked, “Daniel, you say we are safe here. Even from your public visitors?”

  “Quite safe.”

  “Who has access to us?”

  “The property is vast, extending out to the motorway and deep into the forest. The visitors roam many areas, but nowhere near here. The gates to the public areas are open between ten and six o’clock every day. Down the hill, visitors have access to the shops on the east side of the property, the small chapel just over another hill, a restaurant. Also our petting zoo, and cheese house near the main parking lot, which you cannot see from here in the main abbey compound. Buses park there, and the tourists stick to those areas. The people who venture out around the east grounds are going on nature walks, bird watchers, or the painting society. No one has permission to move inside the compound’s wrought iron fencing, come west approaching the abbey’s hill, or toward the west sector where our actual farm is.”