Another Masquerade

Following his footsteps

 

The moment the idea for this story came up, I heard the song Lady in Red from Chris DeBurgh and song of Elton John “the way you look tonight” on the radio. Mix these songs and I think Diego’s and Victoria’s feelings are expressed.

 

The plot idea came from a picture I made of Victoria. On the web I found a couple standing/ dancing on a market in Brussel or Gent. The dress I wanted to use for another story, but when I showed a friend this manipulation, she asked me whether I could have made Victoria and Diego dancing. So I tried and succeeded. My friend had an idea for a story based on this picture and shared it with me. The ideas grew and two other story ideas popped up. She decided to write the last idea, which we will do together. (A vampire-Zorro cross over).

So she permitted me to make a story of the first idea.

The second story is also still in progress. 

 

Thanks to my good American friends Nancy and Amy for editing and giving feed back on my stories.

 

Enjoy the story.

 

Katinka

 

 

PS: This story is supposed to be dedicated to Duncan Regehr, Patrice Camhi and others. But of course especially to first since today it’s his Birthday (5 October).

Happy Birthday Sir.

 

***********

 

Another Masquerade

Following his footsteps

 

 

 

Totally impatient, the alcalde is sitting in his office, behind his desk.

“Where is that idiot now?” the alcalde says to himself.

“Mendoza!” he shouts to the closed door again. Annoyed, he stands up and walks over to the other side of his desk. He was so thrilled about his moment of inspiration ten minutes ago.

Finally, Mendoza enters his office. “Mí alcalde, I have your lunch here, the best tamales in the territory!” Mendoza smiles amiably and a little apologetically at the same time. “Señorita Escalante had to bake some new tortillas. Oh this is so delicious!”

 

“¡Silencio!” The alcalde raises his voice. “I didn’t send for you to discuss food, sergeant!”

He waves toward his desk and orders in a more friendly fashion, “put that down and listen!”

“Sí, mí alcalde,” Mendoza answers with a little voice.

“Sergeant, why is it that I can’t capture Zorro?” he asks softly.

It’s quiet in the office.

De Soto looks sternly and curiously at the same time at the quiet sergeant and shouts, “answer me, sergeant.”

“But you told me to be silent,” Mendoza replies boldly.

De Soto moves his head from the right side to the left, “Now, sergeant, why?”

“Uh, oh, don’t know,” the sergeant stammers, “maybe because we never know how and when he appears and what he has in mind for us.”

“Precisely,” the alcalde calls out enthusiastically and is proud that his sergeant has some brains left.

“What do we know of him, Mendoza?” he inquires to remind his soldier and introduce his new plan.

“Well, eh, .. he rides a big black horse, carries a whip and sword and sometimes he uses some bombs or something like that.” The sergeant tries to find out what his superior is up to this time. He feels troubles will come soon.

“What else, Mendoza?” De Soto walks to and fro down his office and grins at his portrait of Machiavelli two times. He seems to be very, very confident in himself. He definitely has a new plan.

“He is in love with señorita Escalante,” Mendoza almost whispers hoping this time the beautiful tavern owner will not be a part of his plan.

“And …,” the alcalde encourages.

“Mendoza looks in the air hoping to remember something more. After a few seconds Mendoza gives up, “What else is there to know?”

“What else? What else?” the alcalde shouts angrily, “he wears a mask, Mendoza, you fool!”

“So?” Mendoza can’t comprehend why that is so important.

The alcalde sighs heavily to calm his nerves. He slowly walks to Mendoza and puts a hand on Mendoza’s shoulder, “How about a party, Mendoza?” he proposes friendly.

“Oh, mí alcalde, …” Mendoza is thrilled beyond words about this idea.

“Sí sergeant, I think everybody needs a pleasant time. The emissary Risendo has been too tough on these good people, don’t you think?”

A big smile appears on the sergeant’s face. “Are you serious?” he asks a little uncertainly.

“Sí, sergeant.” The alcalde has never been more serious in his entire life. “Why don’t you hang these proclamations on the buildings around the plaza and in the taberna, after you ask señorita Escalante to prepare this event.”

Mendoza is really looking forward to this event and takes the papers, on which the event is described.

“A masked ball!” he shouts out in surprise.

“Ah, sí, is something wrong with that?” the alcalde inquires disturbed. He should have known that a masked ball wouldn’t suit these peasants.

“No, but I have never been to such a party,” Mendoza admits, embarrassed.

“Sergeant,” his superior says, trying to make him feel more at ease.

“Maybe this time we will get Zorro!” He grins wickedly and a hyena sounding laugh escapes his throat. He notices that his sergeant wants to ask another question. “Now go and do your duty,” he orders.

“Eh, but mí alcalde …”

“Now, sergeant!” De Soto turns around to start eating his lunch.

Mendoza salutes and walks to the door, where he is stopped by the alcalde, “make sure that the food is good and the tavern is decorated in style!”

“Sí mí alcalde,” Mendoza responds.

Shaking his head, De Soto watches his man leaving his office with a shaking head. Why does he have to be in this dusty, godforsaken place? And there is that elusive and invincible outlaw with an idiotic name, Zorro. How long must he stay away from his beloved Madrid? How in the world will he be able to capture this mysterious man? He can’t trust his men to do the job for him. They are so simple. He should drill them more often. Nonetheless, this plan must work!

“Yes, Machiavelli, this time we won’t lose our head!” A wicked hyena’s laugh fills the room as the alcalde laughs out loud at the thought of seeing this thorn in his side hanging on his gallows.

 

***

 

There was a time
I was everything and nothing all in one
When you found me
I was feeling like a cloud across the sun

 

 

In the meantime, Mendoza has called Sepulveda to help him hang up the proclamations. A few people watch the two men closely. One of them is Victoria, who sweeps her veranda at the front of her taberna. She stops cleaning and raises an eyebrow, while she wonders what the alcalde is up to this time. Her frown turns into a warm smile when Don Diego enters her view. “Hola, Diego, what brings you to town?”

“Hola, Victoria,” he greets her, happy to see her, “how about your lemonade?” He looks playful when he has approached.

She shakes her head and looks teasingly back, “I thought some señorita made you come to town.”

He blushes slightly and avoids her eyes, ‘Who would that be?”

Then his eyes pierce into hers, which makes her feel a little uneasy. “I … I don’t know, I just happen to see you in the pueblo a lot, lately.” She tries to sound confident.

Diego feels a little uneasy too, but he is saved. They are interrupted by Mendoza pinning up a copy of the announcement of the masked ball.

“What is the alcalde up to now!” Victoria raises her voice angrily at Mendoza.

“Nothing, señorita Escalante,” Mendoza answers, a little shocked by her firm approach.

“A masked ball, sergeant?” Don Diego interrupts. “What is the occasion?”

Diego is curious to know why the alcalde suddenly wants to have a ball.

With a big smile, the stout soldier answers, ‘the alcalde wants a time for relaxation for the people de Los Angeles.”

Diego looks pleased to hear it, but his good mood disappears at the rest of the sergeant’s response.

“Since Risendo has caused such stress here, the alcalde wants to cheer everybody up.”

“Since when does the alcalde care about us?” Victoria remarks defensively. At the same moment she lays her hand on Diego’s upper arm.

“Let me get your lemonade, Diego,” she addresses him heartily.

Diego looks up, getting out of his thoughts and responds absently that he will follow her.

Mendoza regrets reminding the young caballero of his twin brother whom nobody knew. Risendo was an enemy, his enemy; he almost faced death by the evil man’s hand. On the other hand, Mendoza really feels sorry for Diego and wants to make it up with him. If only he knew how.

He follows the friends into the taberna to announce the event verbally. Not everybody is able to read, but every citizen is invited.

Sepulveda has followed the sergeant’s orders by hanging a paper in the front of the taberna, near the counter.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT

 

MASKED BALL

 

To every citizen of pueblo de Los Angeles,

 

Everybody is invited to the Masked Ball

 

Saturday next week

 

At 8 o’clock in señorita Escalante’s taberna

 

This event will take three evenings.

 

Dress code is a costume,

no one is allowed to enter in his own clothes

 

 

 

Diego reads the announcement aloud, so every illiterate person will get the news and he will be sure of what the alcalde is planning. At the same time, inwardly some bells are ringing. Victoria is right. What does the alcalde have in mind for Zorro this time? He never gave a ball before.

 

***

 

The following days everybody is talking about the masked ball. Diego keeps his ears open to find out if the alcalde is planning some booby traps. He sits in the library wondering how he will dress himself for the ball.

The tailor is making a nice suit for Felipe, who will be a pirate. Diego thinks he looks good in the coloured clothes. Admirably, he stares at the happy young man, and suddenly he wonders how Victoria will come to the party. Or will she just serve as she always does?

No, she was too excited to not get dressed up. A pleasant smile crosses his face. Whatever she wears, she will always be a sight for sore eyes.

He imagines her wearing a rich wide dress with gold-thread spun in nice patterns on the fine and expensive material.

 

Felipe asks Diego’s opinion on his outfit.

“It really looks good on you, Felipe,” Diego tells him.

Felipe smiles proudly, then his features collapse into a serious one, *What will you wear?*

Thoughtful, Diego sighs deeply and shrugs his shoulders, “I honestly don’t know.”

Felipe’s tailor looks up from his work. While Felipe stares at Diego to come up with an idea, the tailor studies Don Diego.

“Señor, pardon me, but may I give a suggestion?” he asks humbly after a few seconds.

Don Diego looks surprised, but his face shows that he is open for his advice. “Of course you may, señor.”

“Well, it might sound odd, but I was told you like myths, legends, and fairytales, don’t you señor De la Vega?”

Don Diego simply nods, wondering what the tiny man has in mind for him.

“Well, I thought I could make you Hercules or Zeus since you are a good man, some heroic expression would suit you, señor. But how about something more evil and dangerous?” he shares his thoughts mysteriously.

“Go on,” Don Diego encourages out of curiosity.

“Why not be a vampire?” he asks enthusiastically.

“A vampire?” Don Diego raises his eyebrows.

“Sí, señor, I think that will suit you well. I doubt anyone would recognize you, even if you don’t wear a mask.” The tailor goes on, very excited about his idea.

“How come?” Diego asks, wondering how he wouldn’t be recognized.

“With the right make up,” the man replies soberly. “A very pale skin, red lips and dark eyelids, you will look like a different person.”

Diego thinks about it for a moment. This sounds like the solution. “And what about the costume? What do you have in mind for that?”

The tailor steps on one foot, holds one arm in front of his chest and puts his elbow of his right arm in his left hand. With the fingers of his right hand he plays with the ends of his moustache, “how about a black cape? And black clothes?”

“I would look like Zorro then!” Don Diego replies dryly with a displeased undertone.

“Or do you want to have it purple?”

Don Diego doesn’t like that idea either.

“I have got it!” the tailor cries out, “I will make you a black trousers and a black shirt, but that shirt will be more like a gown, by length; maybe I will make a gown of it after all. The cape will have a high collar in your neck. This cape should touch the ground or it should trail over the ground.  The inner side of the cape will be red and at the edges I will sew red figures.”

Don Diego nods approvingly. This sounds much better.

“If you wish I could sew some figures on your shirt too. How about large sleeves like those of wizards?” the tailor propose while his fantasy carries him away.

“Why not,” Don Diego accepts with a warm smile.

Felipe smiles broadly. He likes the idea of Diego being a wicked person for just three days.

“I won’t act like an evil person,” Diego says, trying to take Felipe’s pleasure away.

Felipe looks mischievously at his master. Diego decides to be silent.

Even the tailor doesn’t say a word. He knows the caballero is good at heart and will never ever dare to hurt anyone. How could he? He only cares for music, books, and art. This weak-willed man could not kill a fly, let alone insult a lady or play Dracula. Didn’t the alcalde once say that Diego was Jesus in a play? Here is the proof of his good, kind, and soft nature.

“Well, Don Diego, I think I should go back to my store to start making your clothes.”

He turns to Felipe, “I think your costume is ready, don’t you?”

Felipe turns around to see himself in the mirror, then he faces the tailor with a smile and bright eyes. He nods, but he gestures a sabre is missing.

Diego interferes, “I have a solution for that. I have that one I used for drama class in Madrid.”

Felipe smiles excitedly, eager to see it. Diego walks the tailor to the door.

“Don Diego, I will try to have your suit ready in three days; it’s very busy now, you see.”

“I will understand,” Don Diego replies understandingly.

“Graciás, señor. Adiós,” the tailor says humbly.

 

***

 

I need to tell you
How you light up every second of the day
That in the moonlight
You just shine like a beacon on the bay

 

[One week later]

 

Everybody is excited about the event, which will be taking place this evening. Many citizens have gathered in the taberna to find out how everybody will show up this night. Unfortunately, though perhaps it is for the best, not one living soul reveals his costume, except for one.

 

“Don Diego, how will you go to the masked ball?” sergeant Mendoza asks him curiously.

“That sergeant,” Diego replies earnestly, “is my secret.”

“But Don Diego, you know you can tell me. I won’t tell anyone.”

“What are those few hours waiting compared to a week?” Diego asks. “If we were talking of food, I would understand. This is just a masked ball, sergeant; you will see then.”

Diego lays a hand on the shorter man’s shoulder, “Do you wish to reveal who you will be, sergeant?”

“I will certainly not go as Zorro,” Mendoza states very confidently.

“Why not?” Diego inquires interestedly.

Mendoza closes the distance between himself and his friend, “the alcalde will try to unmask Zorro.”

“He is always planning to do that,” Diego replies as a matter of factly.

“Sí, but this time, he will recognize him without his black clothes or he will show up as himself. Everybody could be Zorro then,” the sergeant explains secretively, trusting and knowing that his friend would not tell another person.

Diego is glad, now, for deciding not to wear a mask at the ball. “And how will you go, then?’

“As Dionysus, of course. The alcalde suggested it. He was a Greek god of wine.”

Diego knew that, but he pretends never ever having heard of this god.

“A wine god, really Mendoza, it really sounds perfect for you.”

“Ah, sí, Don Diego, but Dionysus wasn’t only the god of wine,” Mendoza corrects.

“Really, sergeant, what else?” Diego asks interested with a smile.

“He was the god of the harvest,” Mendoza says, proud of his knowledge.

“Is that so, sergeant? Then it really suits you,” he says, tickling Mendoza’s ego.

 

“Señorita Escalante,” the alcalde calls out loud, making everybody stop his or her activities.

“What it is now, alcalde?” Victoria asks, agitated, with her voice raised too.

“I, hereby, confiscate your property,” the alcalde exclaims calmly.

“You can’t do that!” she protests with her hands on her hips.

“I thought you wanted the taberna to be the location for the masked ball,” Diego remarks, standing up for Victoria.

“All the preparations have been made, too,” Victoria adds.

“Sí Diego and it still will be,” De Soto grins his famous ironic smile. “And señorita,” he turns back to Victoria, “you may still live in your taberna, but I will be in charge.”

 “But alcalde, ….”

“Hush, señorita,” the alcalde warns, “I guess you don’t want to miss the masquerade, do you?”

“Really Ignacio,” Diego stands in front of his best friend, “you can’t do this!”

“Watch me de la Vega,” De Soto is pleased to tease them, “or do you wish to spend a few nights in my jail too?”

Diego shrinks back to keep his senses.

“Men, you know what to do!”

“Ohhh,” Victoria snorts between her teeth and walks way to her room with Diego on her heels.

 

“Victoria?” Diego knocks on her door for a second time. She finally opens with an agitated expression on her face.

“What is it, Diego?” Victoria asks a little impatient.

“What are you going to do?” Diego asks worried.

“Leaving, Diego. I can’t live with HIM under the same roof!” she shouts at him.

“Of course, I understand,” Diego replies calm with a soft voice. “Why don’t you stay with us? Father wouldn’t mind.”

 

Victoria smiles and briefly lets a hand rest on her friend’s upper arm, “you’re too kind, but I know a place to stay.”

“But where?” he asks alarmed.

“Oh, I have a friend, she will love me having as her houseguest,” she answers, “but Diego, if I need help, you will be the first to know.” She lays both hands on his upper arms in assurance.

“Are you sure?” Diego doesn’t like her being somewhere else.

“Don’t be silly, of course I am,” she laughs at his concerned face, “I will be fine, I assure you.”

“Remember, you will always be welcome in our family, Victoria,” he tells her with piercing eyes, attempting to change her mind at last.

 “Now if you please, I would like to pack my things and be gone.” She sounds a bit demanding, though she doesn’t mean it to be like that.

“Take care, mí amiga,” Diego says, regretting that he couldn’t persuade her to come with him to the hacienda.

 

***

 

“Is that you, father?” Diego asks, astonished, staring at the disguise his father is wearing.

“Sí, son,” Don Alejandro replies haughtily. “Well, what do you think Diego?”

“Nice.”

Felipe too is surprised by seeing this sultan in rich coloured clothes and a nice purple cape.

“Diego, look at you! You look like a demon,” Don Alejandro remarks, looking at a very pale face, blood red lips, and red colour around his eyes, except for the eyelids which are totally black.

“A vampire, father,” Diego corrects dryly, “allow me to introduce myself; I am Dracula.” His introduction sounds more like the way he once introduced himself as Zorro. [“The Legend Begins”]

Don Alejandro looks doubtfully at his son. “No woman will want to marry you by this appearance.”

The older man sighs deeply, but a smile appears when he faces Felipe.

Felipe grins, gets his sabre and points it at Don Alejandro.

“At least some young men know how to handle a sword,” Don Alejandro remarks displeasingly toward Diego. Diego just shrugs at his father and has a mind of his own.

 

The three of them leave the hacienda by horseback. No one will recognize them immediately, since they are using three of their new horse.

On the way to the pueblo they decide to enter the pueblo separately from several directions. Many people are arriving at the taberna. When Diego gets there, he is looking for Victoria, but he only sees some women who don’t look like her at all. Then he thinks he sees her at the other side of the plaza walking to the taberna.

Unfortunately, after a second look it is obvious that it’s not her, since this woman appears to have brown hair and is somewhat shorter. He follows his father into the taberna, hoping to see her. Felipe has already entered the establishment.

The taberna is crowded with people. Some peasants look like caballeros, others happen to be animals or villains.

Everybody seems to have a hard time in recognizing each other, so even friends are talking with their enemy. Some soldiers aren’t difficult to unmask, since they have to serve delicious food and nice drinks.

Diego feels really at ease, since he is able to put his other masquerade aside and be his true self. Only his father may notice this change of behaviour, but he may interpret it as a part of the masquerade. Besides, his father is too occupied with a widow to observe Diego’s performance.

Diego doubts his father will betray his disguise. On their way to the pueblo they all agreed upon keeping their identity a secret. His father truly loved the idea, so they agreed to not hang around with each other, as well.

 

Relaxed, Diego is observing all the people’s appearances. Nearly everyone is wearing a mask which hides their faces entirely. He loves the sight of the rich coloured mass and happy faces, shown by the bright eyes and happy looking lips from whom the mask isn’t hiding it very well. He doesn’t even mind recognizing the alcalde as Satan.

“How fitting,” Diego thinks sarcastically. “Better the devil you know, ….” 

The alcalde wears a red costume. On his forehead he has two little horns and on his back he has a tail which ends up in the shape of an arrow. Just his white beard doesn’t fit this disguise.

 

Then suddenly Diego’s heart stops when he watches into another direction. He can’t believe his own eyes. This is too much to be true. The most beautiful woman he has ever seen in his entire life is descending the stairs so elegantly. He never thought it possible to find such grace here in the colonies. The woman’s dress is totally red with some gold or yellow thread spun in patterns on the body on the front of the dress. Her sleeves are wide hanging around her hands, and ended with white lace or a look-a-like material. He can’t tell, since the distance between this Bella and himself is too large.

He has to remind himself to breathe in and out. He can tell by her skin, which hasn’t been covered by her black mask and red dress, she is in her prime of life. He can’t focus on anything or anyone but the Lady in Red. She is like an angel to him, a dream or worse, … her beauty is like a nightmare. He promised to marry Victoria by asking her the famous question. [“An affair to Remember”] He didn’t do that as the hero, oh, in some ways yes, but he asked her to marry the man beneath the mask.

Suddenly, he feels terribly guilty and looks away from her, when her eyes meet his. He swallows hard while he convinces himself that he is doing nothing wrong by just looking at this señorita, or even if they are dance together.

“This is all a game,” Diego tells himself and wonders how Victoria would react, if she was standing in his shoes.

“Small,” he thinks ironically, when he takes it literally, dreaming of her delicate small feet.

 

***

 

And I can't explain
But there's something about the way you look tonight
Takes my breath away
It's that feeling I get about you deep inside

 

Totally dressed up, Victoria walks down the stairs quite slowly. She is glad not having to wear this outfit daily. Her petticoat alone weighs more than her common clothes, which makes it hard to walk elegantly.

She is thrilled to meet her friends. She wonders whether they will recognize her. Besides, she hopes to find out who they are, too. It would be much fun when they can’t see her face which is almost entirely concealed by her big mask..

Just when she has descended the stairs, she is caught by a pair of dark eyes which make her shiver. There is something about those black and red encircled eyes, something dangerous, something adventurous, and at the same time, this person has a magnetic effect on her. But there is more. When she has a second look on the man and focus herself on his eyes once more, she reads something in his eyes. Something she has seen in somebody’s eyes more often. “Trust” and “devotion” are the words she thinks suit this pale looking man.

But in whose eyes has she seen the same expression, this kindness he shows, she is reminded of Zorro, but somehow she is also seeing Diego’s face on her retina. She pushes these images aside by shaking her head and trying to recognize other people.

Since she has no idea, she decides to avoid this man for a while, maybe this whole night, until she has made her opinion of him. She wishes he was Zorro. She won’t betray their love. She has waited for so long for him. It wouldn’t be fair, to let him down after all they have been through. However, she feels she knows what he needs. She is convinced of being his soul mate.

Now, she is aware of the attraction this man has to her; he is very dangerous, at that.

She dances with many men who have been bewitched by her beauty and magnificence and is having the time of her life. However, she is still aware of the man gazing at her all evening and wonders who he might be.

When Diego has finally found the courage to ask to dance with the Lady in Red, she has disappeared.

Diego is jealous of the alcalde is having had the last dance with her. Later he speaks to him and is more upset by the honour the alcalde has had.

“Isn’t that the most beautiful creature on this earth? I haven’t seen more beauty in my entire life,” De Soto is not believing it possible.

“Sí, beauty is everywhere on this earth but natural elegance is hard to find,” Diego remarks dreamily.

“Sí, perceptive point of view, señor,” De Soto turns around to face the man. “I believe we haven’t met señor. Ignacio de Soto.”

“Dracula,” Diego replies a little moodily, however, it is an act. The truth is, he feels like flying.

“Dracula?” De Soto repeats in surprise. He thought the man would reveal himself. Well, many haven’t told their identity, like his Lady in Red.

“Where are you from?”

“Transylvania,” Diego continues, and adds, wanting to leave him, “Excuse me, I need some more blood.”

De Soto becomes pale and watches the man leaving. Blood - did he say blood? He should arrest this man!

Diego finds his way to the bar and gets a glass of red wine. Under normal circumstances he wouldn’t drink, but this time there is an exception. He should forget about this Lady in Red. Where is Victoria, his preciosa?

“You’re under arrest, señor, for killing.” De Soto has found his courage and followed “Dracula” to the bar.

“Whom might I have killed, then?” Diego slowly turns around while he sips his wine.

De Soto’s eyes grow large when he sees the red liquid.

“Is that blood?” the alcalde inquires not believing that a man is capable of drinking a man’s blood. “Mendoza, arrest this beast,” he orders his sergeant feeling sick at the sight.

“Rats, alcalde, you can’t be serious,” Diego remarks displeased, almost sounding like Zorro.

“What? Rats?” Mendoza shrieks hearing of these animals. He moves his arms wildly in the air, and throws the glass of wine out of Diego’s hand onto the floor, shattering it into a thousand pieces.

Diego looks shocked at the pieces and back to the alcalde. Mendoza is still occupied with those rats being mentioned. He loses his balance and falls onto the floor between the pieces of glass.

Mendoza sits up when everybody regains their composure from the trance, caused by De Soto’s accusation.

The sergeant has cut his finger and licks it to clean his wound in an instinctive reflex.

“But this is wine, mí alcalde!” Mendoza cries out, when he tastes the sweet, rich taste of the red wine. Fortunately for Mendoza, he was wearing a purple gown, so the red spots haven’t spoiled his clothes.

“Of course I knew that,” the alcalde shouts back and tastes the wine too.

“Out of my way, sergeant,’ he demands of Mendoza giving him more space to leave. He leaves Dracula for who he is.

When he has almost left the taberna he turns on his heels all of a sudden. “Mendoza!” he yells, sounding like more trouble is coming.

“Sí mí alcalde,” Mendoza replies with a little voice.

“In half an hour I want the taberna cleared.”

“But how about the festival?” Mendoza protests.

“Now, sergeant, or do you wish to eat your crown?” the alcalde proposes. “Tomorrow there will be another ball!”

Temperamental, the alcalde goes to his office, where he thunders to his Machiavelli about Zorro, and the Lady in Red. Meanwhile, Mendoza orders his lancers to let everybody out.

“Well, at least,” De Soto thinks it being a salve for his wounded feelings, “if Zorro dares to visit his love, I will capture him. He will be a mouse in it’s mouse trap. He won’t escape my lancers this time.”

He has a few lancers staying at the taberna twenty-four hours, besides the señorita has locked up her. He hasn’t seen her whole day. Abruptly, he remembers not having seen her at the ball. Neither has he seen her leaving the taberna. She must still be in her room. No doubt, Zorro will show himself. “It’s just a matter of him time when he will appear!” De Soto laughs sarcastically at his plan.

 

***

 

The next morning, Diego is up very early.

“Good morning, Diego,” Don Alejandro greets him, pleased to see his son already up.

“Buenos diás, father,” Diego says, in a very good mood.

“Has this something to do with the Lady in Red?” Don Alejandro guesses right.

“Father, really,” Diego denies, but now it is no act. He really doesn’t feel like talking about her. He hardly could dream of anybody but her.

Towards Victoria he feels that he has betrayed her love for him.

“No, son,” Don Alejandro is delighted to notice some woman is having affect on his boy, “I saw you gazing at her the whole evening.”

Diego has a pained expression on his face, telling that he doesn’t want to hear more.

But in vain, his father continues, “You had the same sparkle in your eyes as De Soto and Victoria had when they thought that they had fallen in love with each other by one of Dr. Wayne’s potions. [“Love Potion Number Nine”]

“Hmmm,” Diego snorts out of frustration.

“What’s on your mind son?” Don Alejandro asks, aware of Diego’s change of mood. His son really can change so quickly from one minute to the other.

“Nothing father,’ Diego denies again, avoiding his father’s piercing eyes, “I was just thinking of my experiment.”

Don Alejandro rolls his eyes, “Oh, Diego, what am I going to do with you?”

Innocently Diego faces his father’s eyes and keeps staring with raised eyebrows, thinking, “I don’t know myself at the moment.”

“Oh Diego,” Don Alejandro walks away to do some gardening. “When will he ever become a man?” This question has haunted the old man ever since his son returned to Los Angeles.

 

Frustrated, Diego smashes his book across the room. Some pages have been folded and the book is very slowly slipping over the floor to crush the folded pages at last.

Diego stares at the book, regretting letting his anger go free and is a little shocked by his aggression as well.

Felipe enters the library and looks questioningly at Diego who still stares at his book.

“I am going to the tavern,” Diego suddenly says, standing up.

Felipe is wondering what is bothering him and watches the caballero leaving the library with a scared expression on his face.

Will he really tell Victoria who he is? Now?

Felipe recognizes the insensible attitude and decides to join him to prevent Diego doing something irrational that he will regret later, no doubt.

 

***

 

Arrived at the taberna, Diego notices that Victoria not is there. He also recalls not having seen her the night before. Where could she have been? How could he have forgotten all about her?

It isn’t busy since the garrison’s cook takes care of the food. Everybody knows this is much worse than Victoria’s cooking.

Diego understands completely why she isn’t present. He wouldn’t either, when De Soto put himself in charge of the “Guardian”.

He is desperate to see her, but even Mendoza can’t tell him where she might be. Felipe and Diego spend the whole morning at the inn. Mendoza and Felipe play chess. Now, the alcalde has put the sergeant in charge, Mendoza has a lot of time to enjoy himself with his lancers and friends. Sepulveda, one of Mendoza’s men, and Alicia and Pilar, the regular waitresses, are serving the few customers.

Diego feels restless, and decides to go home and change his clothes for a long ride with Toronado. Maybe he will find out where Victoria stays, or that some one outside the pueblo might need help.

Felipe has no choice but to let the master go. So, Felipe plays some other games with the sergeant. After a few hours he leaves too, to read some of his law books and to help Don Alejandro, if he asks him to.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, Victoria has been staying at her room in the taberna, thinking about last night, about this mysterious man, and about Zorro.

She heard the alcalde overreacting about that wine. She grins about his stupidity. This Dracula completely made a fool of the alcalde; and he deserved it!

How could he think this man would kill somebody for his blood, to drink it?

She has heard of vampires, but she is sure that this man was only in disguise and was NOT a vampire. She was told about these creatures when she was young. They would only live at night, drink blood, well this far there is a similarity. But they also should be able to read minds, and … have no shadow or reflected image in the mirror. She saw him in the mirror, which hangs behind the counter, when he got a drink.

Didn’t he have an orange juice? He only drank juice, except for that scene with the alcalde.

Somewhere in the back of her mind a bell is ringing, but she doesn’t pay any attention to it.

 

Today, she has decided to sleep as long as she wished and to do whatever she wanted to do. The girls will handle the taberna and the alcalde. If that isn’t the case, she could always run down and tell the alcalde or a disturbing customer what she thinks of that situation.

A month ago, she started making herself a fine dress. This one is not as elegant as the dress she wore last night, but nice enough for special occasions. Since last weeks, it has been so busy that she never got time to finish it. So, she is eager to pick up where she ended last time and finish it today. While dreaming of her mysterious men in her life and smiling at her masquerade, she sews the cloth.

She has great pleasure in nobody having discovered her secret. This time, she is secretly thankful for De Soto’s action. She could never have been so secretive when she had to stay in the taberna, serving her customers at daylight and getting ready for the evening just after dinnertime. The only thing she regrets, is having misled her best friend. She heard him asking after her this morning, poor man.

“Where has he been yesterday evening?” she thinks out loud. “Would he have stayed at home because of the alcalde’s action?” She knows he can be very moody all of a sudden.

She is silent and thinks about the question.

“No, he wouldn’t,” she is absolute certain of that. She doesn’t even think she had offended him in refusing his proposal to stay with his family these days. He left somewhat disappointed, but this wouldn’t have changed his heart of the festival.

But there was something about the way he offered to be her host. Well, a lot has happened last days, she takes it as it is, and looks forward to this coming evening.

 

***

 

And I can't describe
But there's something about the way you look tonight

It takes my breath away

The way you look tonight

 

Alicia appears just after dinnertime to help her as agreed. She is the only one who knows the true identity of the Lady in Red. Without Alicia’s help, Victoria couldn’t have been this mysterious, tempting, and loving Lady in Red.

She is glad to see her waitress again.

“Excited about tonight?” Alicia asks with a wicked grin.

“Why would I?” Victoria inquires innocently, while she takes another bite from her delicious dinner.

“I saw you watching that creepy man,” she confronts Victoria with her attentiveness. “Do you know who he is?”

“Do you?” Victoria answers by reversing the question.

“I haven’t heard anything about him, except for De Soto trying to arrest him,” she regrets not having more information to share, but she has other gossip to tell her. Victoria notices something is wrong, which Alicia doesn’t seem to like to share with her.

“What is it Alicia?”

Then, Alicia spits out, that most customers are staying away from the taberna, the cook’s food is terrible and everybody is missing her.

“I even heard Mendoza telling some men to gather a search party, and to look for you, if you are not back by tomorrow.”

Victoria feels a little guilty, but it also warms her heart that so many people care about her.

“How does the alcalde feel about that?” she asks somewhat bitterly, hiding her true feelings.

“He doesn’t know about Mendoza’s plans, since he only comes in the taberna to order somebody to bring his food to his office,” Alicia confesses.

 

While Alicia helps Victoria in her dress, she also mentions another thing, “I have never seen Don De la Vega staying at the taberna for so long, before. He just sat there!”

“Don Alejandro?” Victoria inquires, and thinks this is odd. Would Don Alejandro be so concerned too?

“No, I mean Don Diego,” Alicia corrects. “Is this tight enough?” Alicia asks referring to the corset.

“That is good,” Victoria answers, though she has to get used to this stiffness.

“But, didn’t he read then?” Victoria has seen him some other time for a couple of hours in her tavern, reading a book.

“Not at all, though he did read the announcement over and over again with a very displeasing expression on his face.”

“Why did he? Did he really look displeased?” Victoria can’t comprehend it, “he hardly shows any expression, except for his happiness about his experiments or a book.”

“I guess he hadn’t noticed me observing him,” Alicia figures out, “further he talked with some people and he asked me several times whether I knew where you are or whether I have seen you.”

Easy and very handy Alicia puts the blond wig over Victoria’s hair and starts fixating it to make a nice haircut of it.

“Please Victoria, put your hatred feelings against the alcalde aside and show your face tomorrow?” Alicia begs her.

While smiling at the beautiful lady, Alicia puts the black mask with tiny feathers at the edges on Victoria’s face.

Content and confidently, Victoria watches herself into the mirror and turns to Alicia, “mil, graciás. Let me help you getting dressed, now.”

 

***

 

And I can't describe
But there's something about the way you look tonight
It takes my breath away
The way you look tonight

 

This evening, Diego has decided to look for his love. She must be somewhere and somebody must know where she could be found. Maybe Zorro should search for her this night after all.

This evening, it is easier to recognize people. Once you see people more often and hear them talking, it’s not difficult to unmask them, besides some have talked so much, that they have revealed their identity. Though, many disguises are still a mystery.

Diego sips his juice, while he observes the crowd around him. He notices Alicia descending the stairs and decides to have a chat with her. What would be a better occasion than doing so during a dance?

Awkwardly, Alicia accepts Dracula’s offer to dance with him.

While Diego and Alicia are dancing together, Victoria appears on the balcony. She immediately sees Dracula and some butterflies are fluttering in her stomach again. This is not a good start of the evening. Zorro where, or better, who are you?

Victoria walks in the direction of the counter to get a glass of red wine. Even she has some changes in her habits. Normally, she would get a juice. She likes these changes to keep her identity a secret.

The sultan has noticed the mysterious Lady in Red arriving and wants to know more of her. By her elegance and grace, the Sultan is convinced that she would be a perfect match for his son. He can see why she has captured his heart, though Diego denies it in all colours and languages.

“Buenos noches, señora,” he greets politely, hoping she will correct him.

“Buenos noches, señor Sultan,” the lady greets back, with a smile half seen, since her mask only shows half her mouth. Her eyes shine brightly, but it is too dark and her mask seems to hide them well to see their colour.

“Tell me, señora, with whom do I have he honour of getting acquainted with? I am sure you have a different name than Lady in Red?” Don Alejandro’s eyes pierce into hers, while he tries to unmask her.

“You’re right,” she admits trying to speak with a south Mexican accent, which her brother taught her when he visited Los Angeles. Even the sound of her voice seems a little higher as does she speaks softly. Her haughtily accent should make others believe she is a woman of stature.

“My friends call me Mysty.”

“And what brings such a lovely lady as yourself, here?” Don Alejandro inquires further.

“I was just passing through, señor Sultan” Victoria answers sweetly trying to stick to her role.

Then suddenly she is out of air, when Dracula stands next to her. Immediately she covers her surprise with the sweetest smile she has ever smiled to a man, except for Zorro of course. “Buenos noches, señor Deadness.”

“Deadness?” Diego replies amused.

“Well, you look rather pale to me,” she clears out innocently, “besides I heard you were almost thrown in jail for killing, and drinking the victim’s blood.” She smiles at him teasingly and somewhat challenging.

“The name is Dracula,” he introduces himself courteous, bows over her hand and leaves a kiss behind on the back of her hand. This really takes her breath away. When she faces the mysterious man’s face again, she feels like she is fainting. Those eyes, … they have captured her, no less.

“Señorita Mysty,” she introduces herself reading the unasked question in his eyes.

Is this Victoria? Diego questions himself. Is she really my preciosa?

Alicia didn’t satisfy his answers, leaving him wondering whether Victoria would come to the ball or not. At least he knows she is doing fine. Still, his conscience is getting stronger to persuade him riding out as Zorro to find his love. But he won’t do that, since Alicia told him Victoria will come to the taberna tomorrow.

“May I have the honour of this dance?” he inquires to find out who she really is.

 

When he takes the lady in his arms he feels the chemistry between them getting stronger. He can’t understand why.

Victoria is the love of his life! Where on earth is she?

He is so busy with his feelings and trying to find out the true identity of this lady, that he doesn’t recognize Victoria is the one and only dancing with him.

Neither does she know her love is Diego, with whom she is dancing now. He has also changed in appearance quite a lot.

After this dance Diego takes her to the counter where he gets two drinks. Meanwhile he tries to figure out which woman of all these women is his love.

Victoria is asked for another dance and excuses herself, “Excuse me, señor Dracula, the pleasure was mine, I assure you.”

He takes her hand, and kisses it softly, “I am honoured to get acquainted with you señorita Mysteria.”

She blushes deeply and is very glad wearing a mask. Suddenly she wonders how Zorro would feel every time he wears it.

The other gentleman leads her to the dancing area. Diego is left behind, hoping to get Victoria in sight.

After an hour he hasn’t still seen her. He saw nothing but those admiring eyes of señorita Mysty. He is so fussed up, that he excuses himself from his father, the Sultan, with whom he had had a little conversation.

At home he gets some of his pictures he made of his love and keeps staring, while the memories are floating through his mind.

Out of the blue he speaks aloud very certain of his decision, “I should tell her who I am! This masquerade must be stopped!”

 

Victoria deeply regrets Dracula leaving the party. When she was dancing with Dionysus, she saw him leaving the party. At first she thought he just needed some fresh air, but when he didn’t return after half an hour, she was sure he was gone. From this moment on she felt empty and didn’t enjoy the party as much as she wished.

 

Now, she is back in her room, hearing the music playing and the people still chattering. She has time to think about her encounter with this Dracula. If it weren’t for Zorro, she definitely would have fallen in love with him. She loved the way he treated her, held her and talked to her. It reminds her a little of Zorro and a little of Diego.

 

Exhausted  from all these thoughts, Victoria falls into a deep sleep, dreaming about waking up and noticing a lonely red rose lying on her pillow.

 

***

 

With that smile
You pull the deepest secrets from my heart
In all honesty
I'm speechless and I don't know where to start

 

Quite early in the morning, sergeant Mendoza finds Victoria in her kitchen.

“Con mio, Buenos dias señorita Escalante, you’re back!” he calls out, very glad to see her.

“Buenos dias, sergeant,” Victoria greets back as if she has never left her establishment.

“You know, this morning your kitchen really smells good!” the sergeant states, inhaling the air of roasted chicken and other backed vegetables. Victoria smiles warmly at him, and stirs the food in the pan.

“We have really missed your cooking,” the sergeant continues.

“I am sure you did, sergeant,” Victoria replies ironically.

“Oh, but señorita,” the sergeant protests, understanding the misplaced remark he made, “we missed you too, of course. I am sure Don Diego will be very pleased to see you’ve returned.”

Victoria smiles again; this man is so excited and so friendly.  “I hope he won’t be the only one!”

Mendoza looks at her with an odd expression on his face, which makes Victoria laughing. “Everybody has missed you, but Don Diego seemed to be very worried about you.”

Victoria stops stirring. Her friend sounds so serious, besides she has heard this before. She suppresses the suggestion that Diego has a crush on her. “Oh, Mendoza, we have always been good friends,” she lectures him.

“True, true,” the sergeant admits, though he sounds doubtful; “To me he seems to be very protective of you….”

“Sergeant, he has always been like a brother to me,” she cuts in and changes the subject, “Here, taste this.”

“What is it?” the sergeant asks before he takes over the spoon.

“Taste it,” Victoria gets a very little impatient. She is curious to know how the sergeant will react to this new recipe.

So the sergeant puts the spoon in his mouth and tastes the food, “Con mió! This is truly delicious!” He seems to be in heaven now, since he closes his eyes and tries to taste the food again, after he has swallowed it.

“This, Mendoza,” Victoria answers his former question, proudly, “is my new recipe.”

“Oh, señorita Escalante, this is great, it’s the best food I have ever eaten! before.”

Then he sees her unsatisfied expression, “except for your other meals, of course.”

Victoria smiles warmly at him, enjoying her moment of glory.

She hears more noise coming from the other side of the wall of the taberna and decides to leave the preparations for lunch up to the sergeant, and show her face in the other room.

 

When Victoria leaves the kitchen, her eyes fall upon her handsome, tall caballero friend who is standing at the bar. She notices him looking a little distressed, but on the other hand he seems to be happy or maybe in love. At least he is not on this earth.

“What’s on your mind, Diego?” she suddenly addresses him.

He is startled, “I beg your pardon.”

“Where were you with your mind?” she asks him, thinking his behaviour is a little strange.   She observes him suspiciously from head to toe.

“Hola Victoria,” he greets with a warm smile. “I see you are back again.”

“Really, Diego, you’re not thinking that I would leave the tavern totally in the hands of our alcalde?” she asks him ironically.

“No, I don’t think you would,” he states.

 

“So, what brings you here to town, today?” she inquires, hoping her friend will open up with her. “I heard you were here all morning, yesterday.”  She looks playfully at him, “Did you come to see me?”

Diego is caught off guard. “Why, yes, I was wondering where you have been,” he admits, stumbling over his words. “I am glad you’re back.”

“¡Gracias, Diego,” she thanks him with a sweet smile and adds, “Oh, Diego, you know I can take care of myself.”

“I know,” he answers sternly, “but I don’t like the idea of something happening to you and nobody nearby to help you. How about Zorro? I am sure he would feel terrible if something happened to you.”

Victoria thinks about it for a moment and has to agree with him, though she doesn’t admit it, “I am sure Zorro knows too, I am capable of taking care of myself.”

Diego has to laugh inwardly, “You have told him twice, now.” Instead of saying this, he smiles warmly at her and asks her for some lemonade. This woman can make him so crazy.

“My other reason to visit town is to get some nice stories about the ball for the newspaper. I heard that everyone has been greatly interested in a certain señorita,” he informs her innocently.

Victoria has an idea about whom he is talking, but she pretends to be ignorant about it. “Why is that, Diego?”

“I think she is too mysterious,” he answers lightly.  “Did you, by any chance, check in some new female visitors a few days ago?”

“I  would have to check,” she replies.

“If you please,” Diego asks her with a charming smile.

“You know I respect my visitors’ privacy,”  Victoria answers with a smile, and she asks him why this woman is so mysterious.

“I guess it must be because no one seems to know her whereabouts. I have also heard that she would look like an angel.”

“Aha,” she looks at him, understanding his real question, “why don’t you ask me whether I will give you her room number so you can speak to her yourself?”

Diego’s cheeks turn red and he almost chokes on his juice. This is really embarrassing. All he wanted today was to find out who this Lady in Red was and see his sweet, lovely soon to be wife again.

“That wouldn’t be necessary,” he replies, coughing over his juice and deciding to drop his search for this moment.

Victoria senses that Diego has lost his heart to a woman, maybe this one. She can’t really tell why; maybe because of this reaction or maybe because he is acting more nervous around her.

“You’re not telling me you lost your heart to this woman, are you?” she inquires, getting closer to him, her eyes piercing into his.

“Really, Victoria, me and women?” His laugh sounds like music to her ears, but she also hears a sad undertone. “I just seem to scare them off,” Diego adds dryly. “It doesn’t matter how I behave or what I wear.”

“How about your love?” she suggests.  “You told me once that there is a woman in your life.” Her voice sounds comforting and understanding.

His deep blue eyes stare at her, while he hangs on her counter. After a short silence he says slowly, “If there was a way, Victoria….” He sighs deeply.

“Is a way? Why, Diego,” Victoria interrupts, “you’re so smart, I thought you would have a solution for convincing her that you would be the one for her.”

Diego laughs since he feels a little embarrassed again and shakes his head to hide it. Besides, it is kind of funny that she is giving him advice to steal her heart.

“Mí bella amiga, if only I could find a way to make her look through my appearance, I am sure no solution would be necessary. I am afraid she has different opinions on me and I don’t know which one will stand, if I tell her my true feelings.”

Victoria is taken aback by the depth of his feelings and the openness with which he speaks to her. Con mio, who would have thought this.

“I know exactly how you feel,” she tries to hearten him and let her distressed feelings go.

He looks at her, his eyes telling her that she has his complete attention.

“What do you mean?” Diego asks, alarmed, wondering what he had done wrong as himself or as Zorro.

Victoria looks over Diego’s shoulder to see where Mendoza is hanging out now and to see if there are any soldiers around to overhear her private conversation with her friend. The taberna is almost empty. The few customers have gathered in one of the corners far from the counter. Diego follows her eyes and suspects that she wants to talk about Zorro “Is it about Zorro?” he whispers to encourage her.

She lowers her eyes and nods almost invisibly.

“Did you happen to see him at the ball?” Diego asks, after he has averted his eyes and is scratching behind his ear innocently.

She faces him again and starts telling him what is bothering her. “I can’t believe Zorro hasn’t picked me out at the ball.”

“Why not?” Diego asks, confused. “What do you mean?”

“He always gives me red roses. I thought he would recognize me by my wearing a red dress.”

Diego takes another sip of his juice and swallows hard. He is really amazed. How could he have not recognized her!

 

“I don’t know what to do anymore, it just seems he doesn’t want to know me anymore; it has been two weeks since I last saw him.” She sounds desperate and her eyes are pleading for him to help her.

“I think you should be patient;  he will show himself. ” Diego tries to comfort her by putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

 Neither of them had noticed that three caballeros have entered the taberna for lunch. They sit quietly at one of the tables.

“Do you think he will come tonight?” she asks a little hopefully.

“I don’t think he would leave a beautiful señorita like you waiting,” Diego answers confidently and drinks his last lemonade.

She wanted to ask him how he knows that, but he doesn’t give her a chance, since Diego stands to take his leave. “I need to see whether my experiment is working.”

This is only half a lie, since he wants to pay alcalde de Soto his regards as Zorro without even being dressed as Zorro. He doesn’t really mind cutting off this conversation, all of a sudden. Victoria is getting too close to guessing his secret.

He really should tell her who her hero behind the mask is, but he had better tell her as Zorro; not as Don Diego.

“Well, good luck then,” Victoria replies, a little disappointed. She should have known this would happen after their great conversation.

“¡Gracias!” he replies, laying a coin on the counter. His warm smile causes a strange feeling in Victoria’s stomach.

“Shall I see you at the ball?” he inquires, pretending he hasn’t found out her secret.

“Tonight, I will be at the ball, don’t be afraid of not dancing with me anymore,” she answers a little mysterious.

He looks shyly at her, “it would be a loss indeed.”

“You will come too, won’t you?” She hopes to find out who he is, since she hasn’t seen him the other nights.

“Of course I will,” he assures her so confidently she can’t misunderstand him. “See you tonight.”

“Until tonight, Diego.” She watches him leaving and heads back to her kitchen to prepare lunch. She feels much better having talked with him and wonders even more what his disguise was. She can’t help replaying those two nights and faces to find out.

Mendoza gives her less time to pay a second thought to it, since he had eaten all her food for lunch.

“Mendoza, you’ve eaten all the food!” she exclaims, quite upset.

“Did I?--no, I could never eat that much,” he says, feeling  ashamed.

“Oh, Mendoza!” Victoria put her hands on her hips and thinks how he could make it up to  her.

“I am really sorry, señorita Escalante,” he says, trying  to be friends with her again.

“You’d better,” she raises her voice, while she heads to the vegetables and starts chopping them. “Now I have to make this lunch all over again! And you will help me!” She points with a knife into his direction. He won’t refuse her demand, now.

“Of course, I will,” he swallows his pride away, “but will you please put that knife away, señorita, you could hurt somebody with it.”

Victoria has made her point and lays the knife back on the table. She tells him to start preparing the meat and to put some water for the rice on the fire.

 

***

 

And I can't explain
But there's something about the way you look tonight
Takes my breath away
It's that feeling I get about you deep inside

 

 

Victoria can’t wait to be at the ball this last evening. Before dinner, Victoria disappears with the excuse that she needs to rest before the ball. Alicia comes to her rooms some hours later to help Victoria get dressed in the large, beautiful dress Victoria made herself a year ago, after Zorro asked her to marry him. Then, she was sure that he is a true caballero. The dinner he brought to the cave was so good that she was sure he must be a caballero. Besides, he always behaves like a caballero, except for the way he enters her establishment; he often uses the window. In addition, he has entered her room more than once, which is absolutely not appropriate for a gentleman to do.

After this very romantic affair, Victoria decided to surprise him by having a very elegant dress. She made it herself when she had some lone siestas. She had bought the cloth for this dress on some markets in Santa Paula and San Diego, when she was there for business. Unfortunately, she had never had the right moment to wear her beautiful red dress, since Zorro always comes and goes whenever it suits him. The only time she was able to spend more time with him than a fleeting moment, she ruined it. [“Ultimate Justice”]

She saw someone was stealing the poor box. Zorro wasn’t around that moment, so she turned to the cuartel. But when she had told Sepulveda, Zorro was stopping the thief. Zorro couldn’t stay any longer, since the soldiers were getting ready to hunt the hero down, again. She wonders whether Zorro will show up tonight. She sighs deeply out of frustration, while she helps Alicia getting dressed, too.

“What is troubling you?” Alicia asks a bit concerned.

“Well,” Victoria starts, “I hope Zorro will come tonight.”

“Why do you doubt he will  be here?” Alicia asks over her shoulder.

“I have a feeling that the alcalde is up to something,” Victoria admits with some venomous tone in her voice. “Why do you think that these lancers are guarding my tavern day and night? Zorro must know something about it; why else wouldn’t he have picked me out?”

“Sí, I have noticed those lancers,” Alicia admits, and wants to cheer up her friend’s spirit, “I am sure he will come. Besides, you told me Diego will come tonight, too! I think he looked much better after you had spoken to each other. He seemed content to me.”

Victoria thinks about her friend’s words. “You are right. I wonder how Diego will be dressed.”

“Why don’t we find out at once?” Alicia suggests with a smile, looking almost as elegant as Victoria in her red dress and black mask. This night Alicia wears a different costume than the day before. Victoria offered to change Alicia’s dress to make it look more like hers. After Mendoza had made up with her, she got a great idea to make the Alcalde pay for troubling her. She discussed her plan with Alicia, who totally agreed and loved to play the game with her.

Victoria smiles wickedly at her twin, “But first we’re going to play with the alcalde!”

First, Victoria goes downstairs and walks straight towards the  alcalde, who is dressed as Satan again. Victoria still thinks this is not his colour. She asks him to dance, though there are a few people around. During this dance she tries to make him believe she admires him. De Soto feels really flattered.

 

“May I have the great honour of having this dance with the great Master?” she asks Satan in a humble way.

“In fact,” Satan replies, “the honour will be mine.” The alcalde takes the Lady in Red toward the dancing area.

“I guess you must be very powerful, señor Satan,” the Lady in Red states in a south Mexican accent, after a short silence.

“That is true.” The alcalde is flattered at this perceptiveness, however, at the same moment, he is afraid of her knowing who he is. What if she is one of the citizens of pueblo de Los Angeles? He is aware of some strangers being in the pueblo, so he hopes she is one of them, who has no opinion on him. “What makes you say that?” he asks interestedly.

“Who could not obey the great Satan, Ruler of the underworld?” the Lady in Red remarks playfully and adds  with mock seriousness, “one must be very scared of you.”

At first, the alcalde feels awkward, but he is  a gentleman and remarks, “I notice you’re not one of them.”

Victoria grins at the thoughts of her own, and agrees, “I love power and stature.” She observes Satan’s red painted features, “Besides,  money is my ally.”

“Really?” the alcalde asks approvingly.

Victoria looks straight into Satan’s eyes, ignoring the question, “I am fortunate to have found a man with vision in these dusty colonies.”

Victoria looks a little displeased at her surroundings to make a point.

“I thought you were from Mexico?” the alcalde asks confused, wondering what brings her here, and hoping he will be able to persuade her to stay.

“That’s right,” Victoria agrees,  sounding like she regrets it. “I should never have left Spain.”

“What brought you here?” Now, the alcalde fears she must have a husband, who brought her to Mexico.

“That’s a long story,” Victoria cuts off the conversation politely. “If you will excuse me, I am in a need of a glass of water.”

 

As planned, after the dance, Victoria leaves to go to the kitchen to get some fresh water. She refuses Satan’s assistance. De Soto wants to guard the door, but Pilar suddenly starts a conversation with him. De Soto is so occupied with Pilar that he hasn’t noticed Alicia coming downstairs. She walks towards the alcalde and wants the next dance with him. She also is flattering him in a way that he feels that she is returning his feelings.

Before she is able to start flattering him, she has to cut off the questions about her whereabouts. “I don’t want to spoil this evening with such a charming companion, do you?”

“No of course not, pardon me,” Satan replies a little embarrassed.

“You are forgiven, señor Satan,” Alicia laughs inwardly. Normally, the alcalde wouldn’t care a bit about her feelings. This power feels good.

“Did I tell you what a good dancer you are?” Alicia changes the subject to a safer one.

After this dance, Alicia turns to Mendoza asking him whether he has a good red wine in the kitchen and asks him to come with her to check the wine. Mendoza is shocked when he sees the other Lady in Red standing in the kitchen.

“Don’t say a word about us, Dionysus,” Alicia warns holding up a finger.

“Oh, no, of course not!” he stumbles, wondering why these señoritas look the same.

“Dionysus, here is the best wine there is,” Victoria remarks with a wink towards Alicia. Mendoza is confused. How could the other señorita know about the wine, or have they switched in front of him so fast that he hadn’t noticed?

He allows the other woman to take  him back to the party, leaving the first one in the kitchen behind.

De Soto almost runs towards the Lady in Red, who is receiving her glass of wine from the wine god.

“Would you care for the  next dance,” Satan almost begs her. Pretending to be eager, Victoria accepts his request and sets her wineglass aside.

During their dance Victoria notices Dracula standing in one of the corners of the taberna. Her cheeks flush at the sight of this dangerous looking man. Something in his appearance has changed. His mood seems to be better than the evening before.

She smiles at him and returns her attention back to Satan, telling him he is the greatest and most powerful man in the world; the world of death.

After this dance, she asks Dionysus for after a snack . “I heard you have the best recipes in the territory. I hope you can get me a fine snack . I will follow you to the kitchen.”

Before Mendoza is able to protest, he is on his way to the kitchen with the mysterious and beautiful woman leading him by his arm.

“Dionysus, your recipes are truly a feast for the mouth,” Alicia says, excited about their performance, confusing the sergeant even more.

With a tortilla in her hand, Alicia takes the sergeant back to the crowded room.

“Dionysus, pretend nothing is going on,” Alicia tells him with a smile.

The very moment they have returned from the kitchen, De Soto stands next to the Lady in Red asking for the next dance again.

Before Victoria enters her kitchen she looks over her shoulder and notices her admirers watching her. She smiles a little wickedly in the direction of Satan. Her game is working; he is totally blinded by love, and has no idea that she and Alicia are playing with him. That will make him think twice about  trying to capture mió precioso by confiscating my property. Her smile is getting warmer, when she looks around into the taberna, hoping to get a hint from her love. But all she captures is a charming smile in return from the mysterious, dangerous man Dracula. It takes her breath away for the second time. She really has to do her utmost to keep her attention on the trick she is playing on the alcalde. She already feels the excitement at picturing the disturbed, disappointed, and maybe insulted face of the alcalde’s.

 

***

 

Diego, too, is searching for the one he is admiring, when he has entered the taberna. His breath is taken away when he sees Victoria dancing with the alcalde, for the first time. She is so beautiful. Again, he can curse himself for not having recognized her earlier.

Even he notices that something has changed in the Lady in Red’s attitude.

He saw her dancing with the alcalde and leaving to go to the kitchen. When she returned she seemed to have transformed. Her dress looks a little different, a little less elegant.

After this dance he notices the Lady in Red returning to the kitchen with Mendoza and being back in a minute again with  a glass of wine in her hand.

Diego thinks this is very strange. How could a woman disappear to appear in a slightly  different dress and later disappear again to return in the former costume?

Now it hits him; this is not one woman, but two, who are wearing almost the same costume. This woman has sleeves decorated with lace. The other woman hadn’t. He is confused; which woman would be his love, his preciosa whom he wasn’t able to pick out the other evenings?

Something is going on, so he keeps watching. He notices Victoria leaving to go to the kitchen and the other woman appearing with a tortilla.

They are playing with our alcalde. He is sure of that. He watches this Lady closely. She doesn’t pay him any attention, the other did. Now he is certain that the woman in the kitchen must be his love and tries to find out whom this woman might be.

Diego is laughing at the sight of Alicia courting the alcalde.

“What is so funny, son?” the Sultan asks Dracula in a whisper.

“It seems like the Lady in Red is making Satan’s life a living hell,” he replies dryly. “Excuse me, señor Sultan.”

Before Don Alejandro is able to make a reply, Dracula is on his way toward the kitchen. Diego doesn’t spoil Victoria’s game and waits patiently until the other Lady heads back with Mendoza to the kitchen with another excuse. At first Diego thinks that she is on her way to the counter to get another drink, but then he notices that she gets Victoria’s glass and takes it to the kitchen.

When Victoria returns to the ball with a full glass of wine, Diego gets his chance to dance with her.  “I see you prefer a better wine than they are serving at the bar.”

Victoria is startled by this sudden approach, but she hides the surprise with a smile, “why would I take less, if I could have the best there is?”

“I admire your taste, good Bordeaux is very rare in these provinces,” Diego flatters. “Care for a dance?”

“I hope you don’t mind my finishing my glass of wine.” She smiles sweetly at him. How could he refuse her having a little pause?

“Of course, all that dancing takes a lot of energy,” Diego replies understandingly, and adds whispering in her ear, “especially when you are teasing Satan this way.”

“Teasing?” Victoria calls out astonished, “what are you talking of?”

“I know that you’re not the only Lady in Red, señorita Mysty,” Diego explains softly with an admiring smile.

Victoria is amazed somebody has found out, but she has no time to deny it, since Satan is coming their way. In a very cold way, he greets Dracula by a simple nod. Diego laughs inwardly. If only the alcalde knew who he is dealing with, I doubt he would act like this! Courting his enemy’s lady.

Diego greets him with equal coolness,  “Evening, señor Satan, have you found some more bad souls for your kingdom?”

Satan looks at Dracula as if he would like to shoot him right here and right now. But Dracula continues before Satan can say a word. “If you came here to ask this lady for the next dance, I am afraid to disappoint you, since the Lady has accepted my offer to join my world of eternal life.”

Satan looks even more displeased and asks the Lady in Red, with his eyes piercing, and sounding like he would like to try to force her to deny it. “Is this so, señorita?”

Victoria is  stunned by Dracula’s insolence, but she understands that he is offering her a way out to escape this man.

“In fact, señor Satan, I did promise señor Dracula the next dance after I have finished my glass of wine.” She sounds a little haughty and she tries to keep her South Mexican accent.

“Then I request the second dance,” Satan huffs, and turns on his heels to find another dancing partner.

When the alcalde has left the young couple, Victoria turns to Dracula, “how would you have gotten me into your world of eternal life, señor Dracula?”

“Por favor, call me Draco,” Diego teases with a charming grin, “I guess you know what vampires are and how they live?”

Victoria looks a little uncertainly at her companion. Is he kidding me? She sips her last wine, and accepts Dracula’s arm to lead her to the dancing area.

“And what do you exactly have in mind for me?” she asks when they have set the first steps of this dance.

Diego is amused by her questions and is teasing her a little, “I thought about asking you to join me for a nice walk outside the taberna, where we would find a romantic place. When we are alone I will grasp you in my arms to give you a warm hug. When you feel comfortable in my embrace I will lay my hand on your cheek and the other on your shoulder. Then, I will bite you in your sweet, delicate neck, and do the same with my wrist. After that, I will share my blood with you.”

Except for the last actions, this offer sounds really romantic and tempting, but the latter is scaring the hell out of her. She looks a little uneasily around the taberna, which makes Diego regret his remark. The dance has almost finished and he knows that he has little time to make it up with her.

“Instead of giving you eternal life, I could also offer you a….”

“Excuse me,” Victoria interrupts abruptly.

Diego follows her eyes to the person Victoria is staring at. Both see a man disguised as King Ferdinand. In his hand he is holding a red rose.

“I …I must go,” she stumbles hastily, though she regrets this man isn’t her love, whom she has been looking for, these three evenings. And she is off, on her way to the man with the red rose.

Diego has no other choice but watch his love walking toward another man. He can’t protest right now, he would reveal his identity in the middle of all these soldiers. He remembered Mendoza telling him that the alcalde has planned to capture Zorro, if he dared to show his face in the taberna. This ball was nothing but a trap.

He notices that Victoria stops halfway and is making up her mind. She looks around at the taberna, seeming to be very confused. Diego notices another man carrying a red rose, too. To this man’s credit, he is taller than the first man Victoria saw with a red rose.

Unexpectedly Victoria changes her direction. With his eyes, Diego follows the line where Victoria may have come to her new goal. Then he sees Zorro standing in the doorway of the taberna. Con Dios, this can’t be happening?!

Victoria walks straight into the person’s arms. Diego can’t watch this, but he has to, to be certain nothing will happen to Victoria.

As predicted, the alcalde orders his lancers to arrest this Zorro. The music stops by this rude interruption. “Lancers, arrest Zorro!”

Zorro gets his sword and parries some attacks. But something is wrong in Victoria’s opinion. There is something about the way he defends himself; Zorro doesn’t defend himself, he mostly attacks. Every second it becomes more obvious to Victoria that this isn’t the real Zorro. But who is this man?

When Zorro has been defeated, the Sultan interferes to prevent the alcalde from doing some injustice. “Alcalde, why don’t you just leave this man alone, and have a good time at this ball? This is a masked ball, remember! This man only wanted to be Zorro for just one time. Now, you have spoilt his pleasure!”

“Get out of my way, Don Alejandro,” the alcalde huffs; “this is Zorro! Everybody knows that.”

Then he turns to Mendoza who is standing next to the accused man, “Mendoza, arrest the señorita too, since she has been in league with this outlaw.”

“Is that so?” Everybody hears a woman haughtily saying, and everyone turns to see the person belonging to that voice.

Diego was dazed when the alcalde wanted to throw Victoria in jail and was looking for a way to help Victoria out of this situation.

De Soto’s mouth falls open when he sees the other Lady in Red coming closer, and is speechless for a few moments. Then, he regains this amazement and orders the sergeant to arrest Victoria, anyway.

“Beware, alcalde,” Diego calls out fiercely, and gets everybody’s attention which reminds him to behave more like the dull Diego de la Vega than like Zorro.

Victoria is stunned and feels that she is losing control over her muscles. The roses those men wear are making her dizzy. Finding out that this charming Dracula turns out to be her best friend, though she isn’t a hundred percent sure yet, is too much for her. Nobody but Diego or Don Alejandro would ever stand up for her the way this man is doing right now. The way Dracula is talking reminds her of the first day Diego had arrived from Madrid. Somehow these last evenings he has shown he hadn’t lost his charming manners at all. She can see in all his manners this is her best friend Diego de la Vega. She can see through all his disguise very clearly now, except for the other part of this mysterious man; the dashing and heroic side. Just one moment she thinks he is Zorro, but when he continues, sounding more like the Diego she has known as the man he is, she is convinced that he is not Zorro.

 “You just shut up, creepy fellow,” De Soto shouts at Dracula.

“Can you prove that this man is Zorro?” Dracula is not intimidated by the way the alcalde addressed him. “Can you prove that this lady or the other is in league with that man?”

Diego feels quite angry, but lets his anger come out in small amounts.

Meanwhile, Alicia walks towards Victoria and starts walking around her. After three circles she takes Victoria by her hand to make her do the same thing. Victoria’s mind is so clouded, so she allows Alicia to tell her what to do, and lets the men fight over her and over this fake Zorro. She is glad that there are still people helping others in need.

De Soto gets confused, and can’t decide which Lady threw herself in the arms of Zorro. This Dracula is really annoying and he can’t really concentrate on the ladies because of the unpleasant discussion he is having with this creep. Now, this is the second time this man is standing in his way.

“Mendoza, don’t you just stand there! Unmask Zorro!”

“Alcalde,” Diego warns again. “you know this is not legal!”

“Proceed, sergeant!” De Soto encourages his man. So Mendoza does as he is told.

“Señor Dracula, I told you to stay out of this. This is Zorro! And these women have insulted the government by pretending to be one woman;  they are clearly in league with Zorro!” De Soto shouts agitatedly at Diego, who still isn’t impressed. At the same time, Don Emilio’s son Ricardo is revealed.

“Mendoza, take these women to the cuartel,” Satan orders.

Victoria can’t handle this commotion anymore and faints.

“Alcalde,” Diego raises his voice, moving quickly to catch Victoria before she hits the ground.

 

***

 

This whole evening long, Don Alejandro has watched his son closely. Something is telling him that his son knows the identity of this lovely lady. If he is wrong, then, he knows a way to make this lady get closer acquainted with Diego.

“Señor Dracula, take her to the kitchen and make sure she feels alright before she returns.”

So Diego does as he is told and lifts Victoria off the ground to take her to the quiet room at the back of the taberna.

De Soto wants to stop Diego, but then Don Alejandro prevents him from doing so. Don Alejandro moves to block the alcalde’s way and adds in a warning tone, “I wouldn’t do that, if I were you!”

De Soto looks indignantly at the Sultan.

“Alcalde, you don’t believe Ricardo is Zorro, do you?” Don Alejandro laughs ironically.

“Of course he is! Now, step aside,” De Soto sounds very confident and venomously, “I want that lady, and I want everybody to remove his mask, so I can see your faces!”

Don Alejandro doesn’t move an inch, and starts laughing. Everybody in the taberna follow his example.

 

In the meantime, Victoria has regained her consciousness. She sits on a chair staring at Diego’s face, not really comprehending what happened a few seconds ago. She only hears the alcalde furiously quarrelling with Don Alejandro, but she doesn’t realise what they are quarrelling about. She watches Diego’s worried but calm features and remembers him having proposed something to her . She just can’t remember whether she has accepted it.

“Are you really going to take me to your world of eternal life?” she asks with a small  and trembling voice.

Diego raises his eyebrows. This question, he hadn’t expected to hear. He feared that she would have found out his whole personality, but now he doubts she is aware of his identity.

“I wouldn’t have bitten you in your neck, señorita,” Diego confesses softly.

“What would you have done then?” Victoria asks suspicious.

“I would have given you a red rose,” Diego answers calmly.

Diego and Victoria look at the curtain, wondering what is so funny out there. Then, Victoria watches Diego’s face again, while she feels weak in her head.  The next second, she watches her hands lying on her lap, and a soft ironic laugh escapes her lips. “What is it about all these men and red roses this evening?”

Diego is silent for a few seconds, searching for the right words without revealing too much of his identity. Or maybe he should. He faces Victoria, “They must have overheard our conversation earlier.”

The alcalde feels like a complete fool and turns to Mendoza, “Take the prisoner to the cuartel; he will hang at dawn!”

After that, he faces Alicia, who is still wearing her mask. “As for you, I will deal with you later. If I don’t, make sure you never show your face here again.”

After these words he looks defeated and insulted at the citizens and shouts, “Lancers, I want the taberna cleared within thirty minutes. The party is over!” Aggressively, he turns toward the door and leaves the festival.

 

Victoria looks up so quickly that Diego fears  she will attack him for having hidden his big secret for so long. Instead, Victoria is surprised that Diego reveals his identity. But the fact that this charming Dracula IS Diego is very confusing. Diego seems so very different these last evenings compared to how he normally behaves. How long has he known that she is the Lady in Red? And how did he found out that tonight there were two?

Diego waits for her reaction. He is prepared for everything that may happen. But he didn’t count on Alicia storming into the kitchen.

“Are you alright?” she asks Victoria, throwing herself at Victoria’s feet, which forces Diego to move aside.

“I am alright,” Victoria replies, telling the truth.

“What is going on?” Victoria asks, a little worried. The alcalde thundered so loud. Somehow,

Victoria feels strangely safe with Diego in her kitchen.

“I think you had better leave now, señor,” Alicia suggests, “the alcalde wants the taberna closed, now.”

Diego looks doubtfully at Victoria. He doesn’t feel like leaving her alone now. But he doesn’t want to cause any trouble and decides to go, only if Victoria wants him too.

“Will you be alright, señorita?”

Victoria hears the concern in his voice and feels flattered.

“Of course, she will!” Alicia cuts in, “she isn’t going to die, unless you helped her.”

“Gracias,” Victoria calms Alicia by placing a hand on Alicia’s shoulder. Then she faces Diego again, smiling, “Gracias, I’ll be fine. Thank you for your concern, Draco.”

Diego smiles, wondering why Victoria doesn’t mention his real name, and leaves the kitchen. “Adiós, señoritas. Buenos noches.”

Both of the young women watch him leaving the kitchen.

“He didn’t do anything improper, did he?” Alicia asks alarmed, when Diego has disappeared. She still thinks Dracula is a scary person who isn’t to be trusted.

“Not at all, Alicia, he is a true caballero,” Victoria smiles, and stares at the curtain, trying to understand her mixed feelings.

 

De Soto is back in his office and complaints about the masquerade. He failed again to capture Zorro. Maybe tomorrow he will be able to capture this outlaw. Surely, the hero will show himself to prevent this innocent man from being hung. The alcalde touches his beard. No, this wasn’t Zorro, but who might this mysterious man be? He can’t remember having seen anybody looking like Zorro.

He looks out the window and notices everybody leaving the party. Somehow he regrets having finished the party like this. He did have a good time. A splendid time, until he found out that the most beautiful woman in the world turned out to be two. Two women he hadn’t identified either.

This dusty place will drive me insane, if I don’t get back to Madrid very soon!

 

***

 

The next morning Victoria wakes up early. Though it is very dark, she notices a lone rose lying next to her on her pillow. This must have been Zorro’s rose. She doubts Diego would have done this. He is not in love with me! He always treats me like his sister. Besides, he knows I am in love with Zorro. But…there was something about the way he proposed that weird idea of having a walk outside and sharing blood. And later he said he would have given me a rose. But, what if he… no he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t want to kiss  me, would he? Could he really be in love with me?

Victoria is a little embarrassed at the thought, though she secretly wonders what that would be like, kissing this handsome caballero. Diego has never ever given any sign of being in love with her or anybody else. His only interest goes to his books and experiments. When he made this odd proposal, he didn’t seem to be very serious about it, either. No, Diego would have said this quite differently, if he had been serious about it. Then it hits her, he would have given her a rose out of friendship to hearten her since Zorro hadn’t picked her out. Didn’t he confess that his disguise was Dracula by just saying that some must have overheard their conversation? He felt sorry for her then.

Good old friend, Diego. Victoria smiles at her good friendship.

 

She picks up the rose and smells its scent.

“Gracias, mí precioso,” she whispers into the air with love filled eyes.

In a good mood, Victoria gets dressed and starts cleaning up the taberna from last night’s  party. Then she hears some commotion in  the plaza. How could she forget? Don Ricardo was supposed to be hung today for being Zorro!  Still, Victoria can’t believe the alcalde wants to go on with this insanity. She smiles when she thinks of how disgusted the alcalde was when Dracula, actually Diego, suggested he would drink blood, human blood. This is very ironic indeed. Diego could never be so cruel!

Victoria hurries outside toward the plaza, hoping she can make people change the alcalde’s mind, or else she will do it herself. She hopes Zorro will come. She is dying to see him, as a matter of speaking.

A few other citizens have come to the plaza, watching the gallows being prepared. Victoria sees Don Alejandro entering the pueblo gates. As always, Diego has stayed at home.

“Hola, Don Alejandro,” she greets the most influential  caballero in a tense voice, when he has come much closer. She hates to see Don Ricardo hang.

‘Hola, Victoria,” he greets with a warm smile.

He turns to face the gallows. “This man;” he sighs, feeling some anger boiling, “will he ever learn this is NOT the way to govern this pueblo correctly!”

He looks back at Victoria, “I don’t know why the king has never done a thing about this insanity. He wouldn’t have approved this, would he?”

“I wouldn’t think so, Don Alejandro. But wouldn’t Diego and Risendo have been right on this subject, that the king has other things on his mind, in Spain?” she suggests, very displeased with this fact, if this is the case.

“Hmm,’ Don Alejandro says absently, watching the garrison, “if only my son would act more like a caballero than reading his books or sleeping all day long.”

Victoria looks curiously at the older caballero and wonders whether he wasn’t proud of his son last evening. Diego really stood up for her and this fake Zorro. She wonders what he would have done and said, if she hadn’t fainted.

And now, he is the old friend she has known since he returned from Madrid.

“Everybody knows, one should not disturb his beauty sleep,” she sighs, feeling mixed up about her chameleon friend. 

Then all of a sudden, everybody becomes silent, when the drums are heard. De Soto and some lancers come out the cuartel. Don Ricardo is walking in the middle of this group.

Sergeant Mendoza and a lancer lead the prisoner up to the gallows. De Soto follows them with the parchment on which the crimes of this prisoner have been written down.

When the prisoner is ready to be hanged, the alcalde unfolds the parchment.

“I wouldn’t mind reading that, alcalde,” a firm voice echoes over the plaza.

Everybody looks up to see where the voice came from.

“Zorro!” De Soto shouts and everyone on the plaza cheers.

“Sí, alcalde, it’s really me!” Zorro answers animatedly.

“Men, get him!” Mendoza shouts, since it is his duty to capture this masked man.

Two other soldiers approach Zorro with their swords pointed at their enemy. With a circling motion, the hero is able to disarm the two lancers at the same moment. The swords fly in the air and land in front of the alcalde’s feet.

“Lancers, get him!” De Soto feels powerless. “Mendoza, don’t just stand there hugging that stupid horse!”

Mendoza is stopped by Toronado. This smart horse doesn’t leave Mendoza a chance to approach its master.

Zorro hits the two men to knock them out, and prepares himself for the next attack. People on the plaza are cheering in encouragement.

A few lancers are standing at Zorro’s left side, not moving an inch, just watching the action, and not wanting to attack, since they know it will be an useless effort, like it always is.

Zorro decides to attack them. During this fight, with these five soldiers a few others have found their courage to interfere. But Zorro kicks them out of this fight or he parries once or twice, and they drop out as well.

 

Finally, Zorro has found the moment to end his pleasure. This was good for today’s exercise, and it will prevent him from getting bored.

Now, all the lancers have been knocked out, and Zorro demands the alcalde to let Don Ricardo go free.

The alcalde snorts, but he tells Mendoza to do so.

“Zorro,” De Soto cries out loud, “next time I will have your head!”

Diego whistles for Toronado, who comes for his master right away.

“Careful, alcalde,” Zorro grins, amused, “you will have the rest of me too.”

Having his moment of victory, Diego leads Toronado into Victoria’s direction. “I hope you had as much fun at the ball as I had. You were hard to pick out; I hope you can forgive me for that.” Victoria’s heart warms by his confession, and hope fills her whole being when he continues. “Be patient, my love, our time will come!”

Then he turns back to the alcalde, “Alcalde, did I mention I wasn’t able to give you my regards for the ball, last night?”

The alcalde looks displeased at Zorro, wondering what insult he will receive this time.

“I guess this would be a right moment, don’t you think?”

He doesn’t wait for the reply, “Enjoy it!”

Zorro tells the citizens that nobody will be hurt, and urges Toronado to run off, when the first explosions of the fireworks are heard.

Some people run back to the buildings for shelter. But when they see the nice colours and some strange figures forming in the air, they just keep watching with open mouths, staring at this beautiful sight.

Zorro has watched his work with a content smile from a distance, and leaves for home when it’s almost finished. He should be in bed before his father returns.

 

***

 

A few hours later, the De la Vegas enter the taberna for some lunch. Diego carries a book in his hands which he lays on the table and starts turning the pages after he has taken a seat.

Felipe joins him and starts talking to him. They have a livid, but silent conversation, and Felipe is very interested in what Diego is telling him. Don Alejandro watches the younger men from a distance, while he is talking to Don Emilio. It seems Emilio’s son has learnt his lesson. He probably will never try to court the hero’s lady again.

 

Victoria too watches the la Vegas from a distance. She smiles about Don Ricardo having wanted to court her. It’s just that her heart really belongs to Zorro, which makes it more difficult for anyone to capture it. Besides, the alcalde has a way of  helping her to stick to her love, since he is desperate to capture the hero, even if this is not the real hero. She watches her best friend closely. He is so relaxed, easy going, and feels so much interest in his hobbies. Then, she frowns while she observes Diego more closely. Who would have thought Diego could be that scary, but very charming Dracula?

She wouldn’t mind seeing more of this side of her best friend. She gets their regular drinks and places the glasses in front of them on the table. The last glass she puts down is Diego’s glass. Before she sits down to join her friends, she briefly looks into Diego’s eyes, wondering whether he could also be her dashing hero.

No, he couldn’t be Zorro, he is still too studious!

 

 

 

THE END

 

 

 

 

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