Maddalena's face looked out of the mirror at her and it made her angry. She pulled the letter opener from the desk drawer and stabbed her own hand violently. The pain was immediate, and gratifying. She wrested control from the child with a sneer. She pulled the letter opener out of her hand and stared through the hole as she willed blood to her hand to heal it. This was going to be a chore.
She picked up her coat and headed for the door. It had been stupid of Josephine to make Stan angry, she would not let her do the same thing with Constantino. This conversation would go much more smoothly.
When she arrived at the mansion, she checked her hair and face one last time to make sure the child had washed away all the blood, nodded, and walked up to the door. She knocked twice and then waited.
As usual Maddalena is shown in to the study where Constantino waits with a roomful of ghostly denizens. He stands in front of the fire tossing what appear to be sheets of music into the small flame. He smiles and gestures towards a seat for his "cousin," before turning to the assembled wraiths.
"I want that learned as soon as possible. Start tonight, continue through the day if you have to. It has to be smooth, and your performance must fill the audience with emotion. I can make things very easy on you all should you meet my expectations, and trust that you would not want to disappoint me."
Tino looks to each of the ghosts. "You may go now."
Unbuttoning his jacket and taking a seat he smiles again.
"Sorry about that interruption, cugina. Would you care for a drink?"
He waits for a response and instructs the ghoul to attend to it before continuing.
"So tell me how I am so lucky to be graced with your presence again this evening."
Maddalena sits in a chair as if this is her home too. She watches the wraiths as they leave and then locks her eyes on Constantino. Her smile is small and cold.
"I would love something to drink." She remains silent as the ghoul pours her a glass of wine and then leaves the room. She nods to herself when she feels they are alone.
She stares at Constantino intently, her eyes boring into his, her mind reaching out to him. She knew that even if she couldn't see or hear anyone, didn't mean someone or something wasn't listening....
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