Chapter Seven
Scipio circled Galatea like a vulture waiting to strike his prey, "I gave you specific instructions not to go outside, Galatea!" He scolded.
Galatea stared at her pale feet as she slowly cradled back and forth on the swing, "I thought it was Mosca who told me to stay me to stay inside." She whispered.
"Yes, but I was the one who told Mosca to tell you to stay inside the Stella. Don't you ever listen to me, Galatea?"
"I did. Not anymore."
"What?" He asked.
"Not anymore, Scipio. I won't be deceived by your lies. You probably know the truth about me." She rose up from the swing and turned her back to him.
"No, I don't. I haven't found anything yet."
"Yes, cause you're so busy swimming in your own money, you rich liar!" She turned around and poked Scipio in the chest.
"Galatea, h-how did you find out?"
Galatea took the picture of the fire from her back pocket and gave it to Scipio, "By that. You could've been honest with me, by telling the truth."
"I told everyone else." Scipio lied.
"But not me. Not some girl you found out on the street without a clue of who she is, where she came from, or anything. I'm not worthy of your information, am I?"
"Galatea, I wanted to tell you."
"When?"
"I kept thinking about the day everyone would find out who the real Scipio is." Scipio replied. "I thought it was best for everyone to find out now until things got out of hand."
"So…"
"I told everyone that I'm rich, have a father, everything, and I don't like it one bit." He knelt before her and held her warm hands.
"You're a boy who has everything and parades around as a boy who has nothing?" Galatea asked.
"Yes."
"You're stupid." She broke from Scipio's touch.
"What?"
"You have a family that loves you and your memories are perhaps better than mine."
"That's where you're wrong. My father doesn't give a damn about me, and my memories of home…" Scipio hesitated.
"Are very unpleasant?" Galatea knelt down on the ground beside him.
"Yeah. I think I would be better than a rich boy than an orphaned thief." He sighed.
"No. I accept you as plain, kind-hearted Thief Lord Scipio rather than the rich boy Scipio that nobody appreciates."
"Accept? Most people say love."
"Love? I would say that, but I don't know the definition nor the feeling of it."
Riccio walked out from backstage and jumped down to approach the two, "He's tied up, he's also coming to. It's probably a good time to question him."
"Fine." Scipio got off the floor and brushed the dirt off his pants.
"I'll come with you." Galatea jumped up.
"No, you stay here." Scipio commanded. "You caused enough trouble for one day."
She felt left out. How could she solve the mystery of her past if she couldn't get any clues, especially this man? She sat back down on the swing and looked at Riccio, "Scipio told you everything?"
"Y-Yeah, he did."
"It shows that you guys took it very well."
"I overacted a bit, but Mosca broke it down for me." Riccio replied. He kept looking at Galatea, whether the mischievous idea would win over his conscience. For Riccio, the mischievous ideas would always win. Riccio stuck out his index finger and poke Galatea in the shoulder.
"Hey, what was that for?"
"Did you feel that?"
"Yes, it hurt."
Riccio reached for Galatea's face and pinched her cheek, "What about that?"
"Yes, Riccio!" She said as she got up. "I don't know what Scipio told you to make you do that." She rubbed her cheek and left.
"You have no idea." Riccio muttered underneath his breath.
--
Later, everyone watched as Scipio gathered his things, "The man didn't give me much. I'm sorry, Galatea." He apologized.
"That's okay. I'll try to be patient. If you'll excuse me, I have to get ready for bed." She said as she left the room.
"We're so dead if that guy brings the police here. Where will we go?" Mosca asked.
"There's no need. I covered his head with a bag, and we'll move him out in public when I think it's time for him to leave." Scipio explained
"Did he say anything?" Hornet asked.
"No, he was mumbling. Galatea hit him pretty hard with that skillet. About what I said today, don't say anything to you-know-who. I'll be back tomorrow." Scipio announced as he left.
"It's getting late, we should get some sleep." Mosca yawned as he stretched out his arms.
Galatea gazed over the others from the upstairs balcony, holding a black bobby pin in her hand.
"Galatea?" Hornet called out to her.
Galatea looked down at Hornet, "Yes?"
"I have some pajamas you can use and Prosper can get you a mattress." She replied.
"Okay, thank you." Galatea smiled.
3 o' clock in the morning, Galatea slowly crept downstairs and walked over to the janitor's closet. From pulling out the bobby pin out of her hair, Galatea tried to jimmy the lock without making a sound. A click of success, she gave out a sigh of relief and entered. She found an unconscious man tied to a chair along the wall of the room. Slowly walking up to him, Galatea gently touched his cheek, "Excuse me, will you kindly wake up?" She whispered.
Antonio gave out a grunt, causing her to give out a quick gasp.
Galatea found a bucket of ice cold water in the corner of the room and duct tape on the shelf. She tore a piece of tape and placed it over Antonio's mouth. Holding the bucket over his head, Galatea winced in hoping to succeed, "I'm so sorry." She said as she dumped the bucket over his head.
Antonio's eyes shot wide open as his scream was muffled. He looked up at Galatea and squirmed in his chair like a worm.
"Shh! Please be quiet, sir. I didn't mean to wake up like this. This may hurt." Galatea said as she pulled the tape off his tape so quick like a band-aid.
"Ow!" Antonio winced. "It's you. It's actually you."
"Yes, it's me, but I don't know who me is, that's why I came to the mansion for answers. Who are you, how do you know me, and how do I know you?"
"You ask a lot of questions. You're very curious, I can give you that. I'm Antonio Connell, a graduate student from Harvard, I'm the head geneticist at Massimo labs."
"You didn't answer my last two questions." Galatea tilted her head.
"Listen, kid…"
"Kid?" Galatea asked.
"You don't have a name."
"Of course I have a name, it's Galatea. Well, that's what my friends call me."
"Friends? Heh, you've changed so much. You've strayed off the path of what you were supposed to be.
"Supposed? How was I suppose to be? Ladylike? Proper? Why can't you tell me who I am?" Galatea got on her knees, letting the pink silk of her nightgown to get dirty.
"The truth will hurt you more than me. You're a special girl, Galatea, but you won't be that special girl for long." Antonio sighed.
"I don't understand. You're my only chance of finding my identity and Scipio -"
"Scipio?" Antonio interrupted. "How do you know Scipio?"
"Well, he was the one who found me in the alley. He promised to find out who I am, who and where my parents are, basically everything about me."
"He might as well give up. Finding your father is useless." Antonio scoffed.
Galatea's eyes widened, "I have a father? You must tell me his name, please." Galatea turned her head to hear the footstep coming into the dark room, "Somebody's coming." She turned her head left and right and hid in a dark corner.
Prosper entered the room wearing nothing but gray boxers, "Who's there?"
"How many cups of sugar does it take to get to the moon?" Antonio moaned.
A confused look appeared on Prosper's face as he slowly backed away, "Scip was right, she did wack him hard." He said as he left.
Galatea waited until the footsteps faded as she came out of the corner, "You see? Scipio doesn't want me to find out the truth for some reason. Can you tell me the truth?"
"I can't. I don't see why you can't find out yourself."
"I tried today and looked what happened. Besides, I'm too scared and weak."
"You're not like that, believe me. Frightened, yes, but you'll take time to adjust."
"You think?"
"Yes, but time is short. Listen, Galatea, leave Venice, and go somewhere away from civilization."
"Why?"
"I can't explain that to you."
"Typical." Galatea crossed her arms.
"You should get some sleep." Antonio whispered.
"OK." She said as she walked out of the doorway.
"Wait! Can't you untie me and let me out of here?"
"I'm an amnesiac, not a miracle worker."
I'm so sorry for not writing in a long time. Colorguard practice has been hectic and history homework is piling on. But I promise to write whenever I have time. BTW, I will give a million imaginary dollars if you could spot a quote from a certain Disney movie in here.