Carpathian 10 - Dark Symphony

Toni worked their magic on me." Paul held out his hand to her. "Come and join us. I told Tasha and Toni I badgered you until you agreed to marry me. Toni has big news. Even bigger than ours." He didn't wait to see if Antonietta would relate the information.
    "Byron was able to heal her eyes enough that she can see."
    "That's impossible. Toni saw every specialist possible, and they all said it couldn't be done." She turned to her employer. "How could he have healed your eyes?"
    "He has the gift. It isn't perfect, Justine. My brain doesn't have the connections it needs between sight and objects. I try to keep my eyes closed most of the time and rely on my other senses. It's much easier. If I have my eyes open, and whatever I'm looking at moves, I feel very sick. Sometimes I see strange shapes and objects, like I'm connecting with the wrong image. It's weird."
    "But exciting," Justine said. "Toni, I know you're very angry with me. I know I deserve it, but I don't want to lose our friendship. This is my family. I love you very much. It was wrong of me. I can't change what I did, as much as I'd like to, but I'd like to find a way to show you how sorry I really am."
    "I'm hurt, Justine, not angry. I'm trying to understand."
    "I'm going to stand up for Toni on her wedding day," Tasha announced, "so there's no need to get all buddy-buddy, you two. And Marita can forget it, too."
    "Well, of course you'll stand up for me, Tasha, but there's room for Marita and Justine, too."
    "You're really limiting your colors, Toni," Tasha warned. "Marita looks awful in pastels, and Justine is so pale—"
    "Tasha." Paul reprimanded.
    Celt suddenly lifted his head from Antonietta's lap. His entire body tensed alertly.
    Antonietta moved uncomfortably, her skin itching, her stomach doing a strange flip. Dark dread gathered in the pit of her stomach. A shadow seemed to pass through the room. It was more in her mind than in reality. An ominous warning.
    "Toni," Tasha rubbed her arms as if suddenly cold. "What's wrong?"
    "I don't know. Do you feel something odd?"
    Paul slumped back against the pillows, his hand in Justine's, his eyes closed. Justine shook her head for both of them. "Everything seems fine to us, Toni."
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    Dark Symphony
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    "The dog is acting funny," Tasha reported. "He looks dangerous."
    "Stay with Paul," Antonietta said. "I want to check on Nonno. Celt can go with me. He's a good guide."
    "Do you really think something's wrong? I can call Diego," Tasha offered.
    Antonietta didn't answer. She didn't bother to try to use her eyes. She needed speed, and it was so much easier to rely on Celt. He paced at her side, his body maneuvering her around every obstacle in the hall and down the stairs. Byron. She connected instantly with him. How far away are you? She sent the impression of the dark shadow. Of impending danger. Of dread.
    Stay inside the palazzo. I will come to you immediately, and Eleanor and Vlad are on their way. I have tried to touch Josef, but he is not responding or is incapable of it. Vlad says the same.
    He was with Nonno in the courtyard.
    Stay inside, Antonietta.
    "As if I would," she muttered rebelliously. "Franco!" She raised her voice, something she seldom did, hating to interrupt what she knew was an important talk, but needing him.
    "Helena! Come out to the courtyard and help me find Nonno." She leaned down toward the dog. "Celt, I'm counting on you. We don't want anything to happen to Nonno or young Josef.
    She pushed open the French doors leading to the terrace that opened into the courtyard.
    Celt didn't growl, but a nearly inaudible sound rumbled in his throat. His body seemed to vibrate with tension.
    Antonietta inhaled deeply and caught a pungent odor. Something wild. Something deadly. She hung on to Celt. "Find Nonno, Celt. Show me where he is."
    "What is it, Signorina Scarletti?" Helena asked, coming up behind her.
    "Have you seen my grandfather?"
    "Don Giovanni was out in the garden as he is most evenings. That young man, Josef, was with him. They must have walked into the maze."
    "Please tell Franco to follow me. I'm going to look for Nonno."
    "Yes, of course, I'll tell him immediately. Do you need me to help you?"
    "If you would get Franco and tell him to be careful," Antonietta said, "that