Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world belong to J. K. Rowling. In this story, Harry Potter is very old, and is known as 'The Great Wizard.' His name is Bellamy.

Chapter 33:

Inge travelled with Valencio and Tasha, and was with them when they were house guests at Dean Blockman's house, in New York. For the first time, Valencio found that people turned to stare after him in the streets, and there were whispers. Dean noticed as well, and wondered if Valencio had the slightest idea about wealth management.

He asked that evening, and Valencio answered, "In a cheque account."

"At what interest rate?"

Valencio looked at Tasha, who shrugged.

Dean said, "You have an accountant?"

"No."

"Do you know about paying tax?"

Valencio looked blank.

"Have you done a tax return since you started earning money?"

Tasha said, "The first two years. Dot helped us, remember?"

Valencio said ruefully, "I forgot, but I think they took tax out before they paid me for Son of Satan."

Dean smiled, "That's a relief."

Tasha said, "As soon as we get back, we'll find an accountant. There's one in Bogridge, I remember seeing the offices."

Inge said, "I know him. It's Angus McKay. He gets drunk a lot, and I had to slap his face one time."

Tasha laughed and said, "We'd best find one in Duich then."

Dean proceeded to give a lecture about the necessity for annual tax returns, and the importance of keeping all relevant records. And then he said, "There's another thing. It's criminal to have large amounts of money sitting in a cheque account and not earning decent interest. If you'll trust me, I'll invest it for you."

Valencio said, "I'd be very grateful."

Dean's wife, Amanda, laughed, "Too much trust! Would you have handed over your money to the drunken Bogridge accountant as easily?"

Valencio looked rueful, and admitted, "I might have done."

Dean said, "What about you, Inge? Do you know about these things?"

"We did a bit at school. I didn't forget. I just haven't had much to declare yet."

Amanda said, "You were in the same place as Vince and Tasha, weren't you, Inge?"

Dean looked at his wife, surprised, but Inge only said, "I prefer to keep that quiet."

Amanda nodded, "Understandable."

She looked back at Valencio, and said, "Vince, I'm afraid you're not going to be able to keep it quiet that you were Valencio Durano - not for much longer. It's now common gossip."

Valencio looked annoyed at Dean, who said, "I didn't tell her."

Amanda said, "It was one of my friends. She didn't even know I knew you. But she was showing a group of women two films, Son of Satan, and Spindrift. And afterwards, she showed us still photographs, of the boy, and of the man, and asked us what we thought. It was the day's entertainment. It was a 'Solve the mystery' day, which is a bit of a fad at the moment. The conclusion was definite - that Valencio Durano was Vince McDonald."

Valencio was looking at the floor.

Dean said casually, "Coffee, anyone? And Vince, if it's going to be common gossip anyway, you might as well claim your inheritance, which, incidentally, includes an estate in Italy, as well as the Trust Fund."

He left Valencio to think about it as he put on coffee to brew. Amanda joined him, and returned with two plates of cakes. She already knew that her guests were not interested in fancy cheeses, which she'd normally serve after dinner.

For a while, Dean and Amanda chatted casually about an art exhibition they'd seen.

Quite suddenly, Valencio said, "You spoke of an estate in Italy. Is that where I grew up?"

Dean said, "That's the one. It's been managed for several years by a man of your own age, whom you used to know, Giustino Fedi, and his wife, Anna."

"Giustino!"

Tasha asked, "Who was Giustino, Vince?"

"My best friend at school. He tried to help me when they came for me." He added, "But anyway, I can't claim. I have solid identity documents that prove I'm someone else. I'd be in trouble if they were shown to be false."

Dean said calmly, "All I have to do is convince the two other trustees. You could stay officially Vince McDonald, even say that you only bought the estate from the trust."

Tasha asked, "How could you prove it to the other trustees?"

"There are fingerprints on file from his room. We'd just have to compare fingerprints."

Valencio remarked, "I'm surprised there were any to find. Francesca was such a fanatical cleaner."

"It appeared that you may have gone out the window. There was a clear set on the external window sill."

Valencio nodded. "I woke up in the night, and knew they'd come back for me. So I went out the window, to go down the tree and clear out. But I fell and broke my leg, and Pervez was there, and then they had me."

He was looking at the floor, looking very bleak. Tasha sat on the arm of his chair, stroked his face, and said, "Pervez was scarred after you attacked him, did you know? Just a small mark on his neck, but at least he was scarred."

Valencio said, "That's a consolation."

Inge said, "I never knew you tried for Pervez, Vince."

"I jumped on him from above, and stuck a sharpened handle of a comb in his neck."

Tasha said with satisfaction, "He turned blue, couldn't breathe, but they took him away and cured him, unfortunately."

Inge said, "It was Pervez took me, too. A pity you didn't kill him!"

Valencio said, "I was told he was imprisoned for attempted kidnap, and looks different now. One of his intended victims kicked him in the face."

Inge beamed, and Tasha said, "You didn't tell me that!"

"Forgot. Other things were happening at the time."

Amanda asked, "What did they do to you for attacking him, Vince?"

"I was barely punished that time." He looked up and smiled, "I hit Botan too, the same day. Only hurt him a bit, though."

Tasha said, surprised, "I didn't know that, either!"

"It was after you were all sent away. I was up a tree, and manoeuvred myself above Botan to jump on him. Clearly remember jabbing the weapon into his side, but then they did something, I guess, and they had me again afterwards. Didn't severely punish, though."

Amanda said softly, "How old were you then?"

"Twelve, but it's a different life. A long time ago." He said firmly, "Best forgotten," and took a sip from his coffee. "It's cold. I'll get myself another."

Amanda said as he disappeared, "I'm surprised he survived."

Tasha said, "He was treated differently to the rest of us. If one of us was even what they deemed insolent, we would not get away with it. But Vince was frankly rude, which pleased us all. And no-one else would have survived attacking the bastards, but punishments never stopped him, and they never quite killed him. Nearly, several times. Yet they loved him."

Valencio had returned, and was leaning against the wall, sipping his coffee. He said mockingly, "Never loved enough to be freed!" He added, "I'm not claiming. Not yet. One day, I guess."

Dean said calmly, "The other trustees are not pushing. They know you're alive. I told them. The estate is looked after. I visited not long ago, and Giustino has apparently heard rumours that you're alive, as well. You'll get a welcome when you decide to go back."

"In spite of what I was used for?"

"It might be embarrassing, but no-one with any sense would condemn."

Tasha said sadly, "My family condemn me."

Inge said, "Mine too. They just try and conceal it."

Amanda said firmly, "Then they're not sensible people. And don't worry. I'll be as close-mouthed as Dean always has been. He never told me Vince's real name, never told me how he knew him. Never even slipped, and said Valencio instead of Vince."

Valencio smiled at her, "One day, you'll have to try one of our holidays. We'll teach you to ride a horse."

Amanda returned his smile, and replied, "One day, I'd like that."

Later that night, in bed, Amanda asked Dean, "The ones who took them, were they ever punished?"

Dean replied, "Vince says not to his satisfaction, but there's nothing they can do. A lot of them are dead, and it no longer happens. Different control, and the one who looks after them, the one they call John, married their leaders."

"Leaders plural?"

"Apparently. Must be Muslim, I suppose. They can have more than one wife."

"Has he told you anything more?"

"He clams up if I ask for too much. I learned more today than ever before."

"Inge, poor little girl. She must have been just a child!"

xdividerx

Not long later, Vincent McDonald was deeply involved in acting. It was a challenging role, and he was giving everything to it. He was often tired at the end of the day, but was looked after. As for the previous film he made in Hollywood, he had both Ronny Vale and Jorg Volker making sure he was not exposed and vulnerable. Several of the minor actors kept an eye on him as well, especially Dave Lonergan, aware that he was a target. Dave was the one who'd been especially pleased when he hit Phil Henderson.

Another of the actors was Kerry Vane, and he also seemed to like being with him. Valencio didn't take to Kerry, in spite of the friendship offered.

Valencio knew most of the camera crew, most of the other workers, and was surprised that one Neil Fletcher, who'd been in England, was with them. He felt comfortable, at home, doing the job he was born for.

Inge found herself a small flat of her own, though not far away from the apartment, not much larger, rented by Valencio and Tasha. She started her course only a week after Vince started work. Whenever possible, Valencio and his escort, usually Jorg in the morning, would drop her off at the classroom where the students always met, though they could be found almost anywhere after that, learning about all the different aspects of movie making, from set design to animation. It was a comprehensive course, though not deep, not in just six months.

Tasha knew enough people now that she was seldom bored, and was beginning to learn to spend. After all, Vince was earning very big money, and there was the prospect of a lot more, as soon as she persuaded him to claim the money that was due to him. Sometimes she had pleasant daydreams of appearing in furs and diamonds, in a luxury car, and just showing her family that she was important and worthwhile after all.

Besides Vince, there were other well-known actors in The Papacy Scandal, such as Nick Kingsley, who usually played action heroes, but would have to use different skills this time, and the veteran actor, Romano Berlisconi. Jean-Pierre and Bobby were not in the movie, though they were working not far away. They were halfway through a movie called Justinian, and sometimes shared the 'Streets of Rome' set with them, even a lot of the extras. Peter Vojkovic, the Cossack, was also in that movie.

In the fourth week, Peter Vojkovic came across Valencio in the gymnasium, apparently alone, exercising on a rowing machine. The Cossack wasn't planning on waiting until Vince's movie finished this time, in case he missed his chance, as he had after Aegean Romance. He approached, but Valencio stood out of the machine, straightaway, raised fists, and said very coldly, "Keep away from me."

Vojkovic took a step forward, all the same. He just had to hold him maybe, and Vince could be his.

Valencio raised his fists a little more. Ronny came in. He'd only been to the toilet. He said, surprised, "Pete?"

The Cossack laughed, "Poor Vince is a bit paranoid, I'm afraid. Surely he knows that not every man is after him."

Valencio said, very quietly, "Be careful, Vojkovic. I'm not entirely rational about some things."

Vojkovic said gently, "You don't have to be frightened of me," and he turned and walked away.

That night, again, the Cossack watched the uncut version of Son of Satan, recently acquired. His companion was Kerry Vane, who shared his house and bed, though it was always discreet. Even Kerry's girlfriend didn't know, and he did have a small flat of his own. Kerry was nineteen now, almost twenty, at home in the environment. He socialized widely, and was known to be a reliable source of drugs of various kinds, and very knowledgeable about their use. He lived modestly, and was beginning to accumulate a large amount of money, invested prudently.

Tasha was out most days, but she and Valencio socialized as a couple only very moderately. They went to a party at Nick's once, but left early, and a few times to small parties at the home of Jean-Pierre and Bobby, but it was a larger party that the Cossack wanted.

He and Jean-Pierre were friendly, and his home was conveniently close. He thought his opportunity might come at Jean-Pierre's place. Vince was too paranoid. Just a little of the sedative would give him the chance. Not rape, of course. Just reduce his defensiveness enough to come close and rouse the reciprocal desire that he was convinced that Vince had for him. Vince wanted it, too, and if he didn't, all he had to do was say no. Young Jeremy Watkins had said no, and he'd accepted it, and Kerry had taken him home.

Three months after Valencio started the movie, he asked Schuster, "Does poor Romano really have to kiss my feet?"

Romano smiled, "I've had to do a lot worse in my acting career. But anyway, I have no intention of making any contact."

"It seems a very odd thing to be doing! Are you sure the pope really does it? Or is someone having a joke with us?"

Schuster explained, "It's a very old tradition. He kisses the feet of his priests sometimes, as a ritual act of humility. Sometimes the cardinals kiss his feet. This time, he kisses your feet."

"So how am I supposed to feel about it?"

"How do you think your character would feel about it?"

Valencio scratched his head, and then offered, "Thoroughly embarrassed, actually!"

Schuster gave his thin smile, and said, "You look embarrassed, then you feel empowered, look up at the ceiling, and almost glow."

"Now Schuster, I might be able to cry on command, but glowing?"

Schuster laughed, and said, "You'll have some help from Mickey with the lights. Read it over and think about it. You have at least twenty minutes. Romano, get a touchup from Dani. You have to look more ill."

Romano nodded, and went to Dani, who had her equipment ready for the touchups needed.

Valencio took his script, sat down, and read it over, shaking his head again. He still didn't quite understand this scene. Look up, and feel empowered. He glanced up at the ceiling. A perfectly ordinary ceiling, but there was a lighting man high up, and as he watched, a stand-in was put in position, and a light was shone on his face.

"More subtle," ordered Schuster, "And only gradually becoming more pronounced."

Valencio frowned, and looked back at his script, but not reading, thinking. How did a man feel suddenly empowered? He smiled. He'd felt very good when he'd killed Charandev that time, but the glee of a thirteen-year-old boy was probably not what was wanted. Empowered. Had he ever felt empowered?

At the back of the studio, there were twelve trainees, including Inge. The teacher was quietly pointing out the arrangement of lights and the cameras, and talking about the walls of the 'room' where the action would take place. "All movable. You can't lean on walls around here, as you might just go crashing through."

One of the trainees asked quietly, "McDonald. How do you think he'll play the scene?"

The teacher shook his head. "I can't imagine, and by the sound of that brief conversation, neither can he."

Valencio didn't hear. He was deep in the past. There had been once, long ago. It was when he'd been at his most helpless, when Adil was going to kill him with the Spell of Pain, and in front of all the women, though at least not the children. Not Helene and Emma. He didn't think it was empowerment that he'd felt that day. More an acceptance, though he'd cried to begin with.

Schuster glanced at him, and didn't interrupt.

Valencio stared at nothing, remembering. He didn't think he'd ever given it much thought, afterwards. But as he had scratched at the number on his arm, trying to obliterate the badge of slavery, he'd become confident that he could face it. It would all be over then. Maybe a quarter hour pain at the most, and then blessed peace. Never again to feel a man inside him. Never again to be hurt by Adil, or anyone else. Had that been empowerment? A helpless boy of thirteen, in the hands of his captors. A slave, sentenced to death. And he'd known he could face it.

He smiled, though there were tears in his eyes. Maybe it had been empowerment. He could do the scene now. Not worry about what he was doing with face and hands. Just be that boy again, facing death, confident that he would not dissolve - or not until the torture began, and there had never been any point trying to be brave while under the Spell of Pain.

He rose and shook out the gorgeous robes of the cardinal. Schuster nodded at the one who fussed over costumes, and she went and fussed, as Valencio waited patiently.

He hadn't realized, but they'd been waiting on him. Valencio went and stood with five other cardinals, for the solemn walk towards where the pope sat waiting, looking tired and ill. No-one spoke to him, understanding that he was now Cardinal Richelieu.

Schuster looked at him, hopeful. He'd deliberately not given much in the way of guidance, partly because he himself was not at all sure how best to achieve the effect. He spoke to Romano. "Do your best this time, Romano. Don't assume the first take is only for practice."

Romano glanced at Valencio's abstracted face, and nodded. Schuster checked around. He wanted no mistakes.

The solemn walk began, six cardinals in their elaborate robes. The young cardinal singled out, who did as ordered, sat in a particular chair, and showed surprise and some embarrassment, as a junior priest was instructed to remove his footwear. Romano came forward, hobbling slightly, and performed the slightly ridiculous action.

Valencio looked upward, and an expression of peaceful acceptance replaced the uncertainty. He could do this. He was the one, and he could do it. Schuster beamed as the lighting was gently raised, so that the face of the young cardinal glowed, for a moment unearthly in its beauty.

He held the scene, caught a cameraman's eye, and pointed to Romano. He wanted more from Romano, who hoped his satisfied face was sufficient.

At last, Schuster said, "Cut." Then, "Vince, don't lose it. We need it again."

Valencio walked back to the beginning mark, and waited as Schuster talked to Romano. He didn't even listen. He was concentrating, still in the past, using that old experience to demonstrate something fictional.

Three more times they did it. Then Schuster said, "We're going to change the scene. It now occurs in the chapel. Vince, go and sit down, but stay here. Romano, you others, half hour break, while the set is changed."

Valencio went to the back of the room, and sat in the tiered seating, inconspicuous. Inge plumped herself beside him, and said, "How did you do that. It was magnificent!"

Valencio jumped, and looked at her, not quite knowing what to say.

Schuster strode across, and snapped, "What the hell do you think you're doing, young lady? You should know better than to interrupt an actor."

Valencio rose, glaring, and put an arm around the waist of Inge. He said, very coldly, "This is Inge, Schuster, a very dear friend."

Schuster hesitated, looking at his actor's face of anger. He'd never seen him look so coldly furious. He said calmly, "Inge, sorry I snapped. Just that I cannot allow Vince's concentration to be broken." He glanced at the other students and the teacher. "You're doing the traineeship?"

Inge said, in a small voice, "That's right."

"What are you interested in?"

Valencio looked at the girl he still held. Inge spoke bravely, "I can't think of anything better to do than direct, as you do. I'm sorry I messed up Vince. I didn't understand."

Schuster said, "Come and see me when the course is finished. Vince, you might as well have a proper break now. Talk to your friend, have a swim, whatever you like. Come back refreshed in an hour."

Valencio nodded, and said to Inge, "What did you want to know?"

Inge said humbly, "I only wanted to know how you did it."

"The so-called empowerment?"

Inge nodded. The teacher and the other students were now a lot closer, and also listening.

Valencio shrugged, and said, "Most of it was just the lighting, plus I remembered something in my past, and used that."

Inge looked at him, frowning thoughtfully, then suddenly grinned. "I bet I know what you were remembering!"

Valencio smiled back, "I doubt very much that you do."

The teacher said, "I guess you'd best have your break, Vince, as Mr. Schuster said."

Valencio nodded at Mardi, and smiled at Inge, "He wasn't even letting me go away. You did me a favour."

Inge said, "I didn't really."

Valencio shrugged. "I did it once, I can do it again. It's no big deal."

He nodded casually to Inge, Mardi and the other students, most of whom he'd met, and walked towards his dressing room to change. He wanted a swim, and then he'd have to try and do what he'd done before. He hoped he could do it.

Mardi remarked to the students, "Try interrupting any other of the big actors, and they'd blow tripe out of you!"

The Cossack was notified that Vince was probably at the swimming pool, but that others were with him, as usual. He came just to look. Ronny looked at him suspiciously, but Vojkovic only regarded the smooth action of Vince as he tirelessly lapped the pool. The body so perfect, his action easy, the remembered feel of him in his arms, struggling, and then relaxing, submitting. One day.

He said a casual few words to Ronny, that he'd come back later. That poor Vince was a bit paranoid sometimes. Ronny nodded, knowing perfectly well that Peter Vojkovic wanted Vince. He didn't have the reputation of making unwanted advances though, and there was no reason to think that Vince was in the slightest danger from the big man.

Valencio hadn't noticed his presence, and was again abstracted. He said nothing as Dani put new makeup on his face, this time a foundation containing tiny iridescent particles. It would give an additional glow when his face was lit. He was costumed, almost in silence. This was a great actor, and those who worked with him, knew it, and unlike Inge, knew not to interrupt when he was like this, preparing for an important scene.

Schuster was anxious, checking that everything was right. He hadn't expected this scene to be important, but now he thought it would be a turning point in the movie - the moment when Cardinal Richelieu became a target, and not only for human machinations.

This time when the cardinal looked towards the ceiling with the additional help of the iridescence of make-up, the effect was more pronounced. This time, he looked at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and raised his hand, just slightly, in an echo of the hand of Adam, touched by God, which was one of the illustrations that covered the ceiling.

Schuster beamed, and the cameras kept rolling, until Valencio quite suddenly looked down, dropped his hand, and stumbled slightly, walking back to take his place with the five other cardinals. A camera caught a look of completely genuine animosity on the face of Nick Kingsley, and Schuster noted it. It could be used. For Schuster, gifted and expert director that he was, used people.

"Just once more, and this time, the moment it's done, I want a long shot of the other cardinals."

Vince went and leaned against a wall, but Dave took a quick step towards him, and said, "Not there, Vince. Come and sit down."

Valencio glanced back at the teetering wall, and apologised. But the mood was lost, and he could not recover the intensity that he'd shown in the previous takes. Schuster wasn't worried, it was the other cardinals he wanted now - the looks of confusion and of resentment. From Nick, something close to hatred.

Over the next two weeks, there were more scenes that left Valencio tired and drained. The other actors were optimistic. The movie would make an impact, and was moving logically to a climax. Schuster spoke to Tasha, who gave him the information he wanted - the date of the London premiere of Marriage Mart, July 14th.

"A fortnight's break for Vince, then, to include that. The last few months will probably leave him thinner than after Son of Satan."

Tasha said, "He gives a lot."

Schuster nodded, "The last actor I directed with his type of genius, was oversensitive, and wound up overdosing on drugs. Died a few years later in an institution."

"Vince is a very strong person. He's survived a lot, and now he's getting the rewards he deserves." There had been no problems at all that Tasha knew of, and she loved it when she was with her husband, and he was pointed out as a film star. He was doing what he was made for. Tasha knew.

The date of the break for Valencio was fixed for July 12th to July 27th. There would not be a break for most of the cast, and not for the crew. Filming would continue - filming of the plot to bring down the one who seemed touched by God. Schuster told Tasha to be sure that Vince rested, and relaxed.

Tasha smiled, "We'll just go home. He's never so relaxed as when we're home."

"Going to the premiere next Saturday?"

"Yes, and the party. Jean-Pierre was insistent. He says he wants his Oscar for Desert Highway."

"He might easily get it. Dick told me he's never seen him better."

Tasha was out again the following day, a house party on Stuart's yacht. A couple of days later, there was another entertainment, a 'Solve the Mystery' day at Verna's place. Stuart was there again, on her 'detective team,' and she had a good time with him, arriving home after Valencio, and a little giggly from the alcohol consumed.

Valencio knew he was prey, and was careful. Tasha was also prey. Stuart was nearly sixty, a touch portly, if always well-dressed. He liked the thought of luring the wife of Vince McDonald into his bed. Vince McDonald, over twenty years younger than himself, and so very good-looking.

Some of Tasha's 'girlfriends' thought she was naive. Surely she realized that Stuart was after her. But Tasha had no experience, in a prison from the age of thirteen to thirty-nine.

xchapter endsx