Chapter 4
�Well now, you are finally awake,� came a taunting voice from the depths of the room. �My servant seems to have done an excellent job.�
�Yes, excellent,� Diego thought bitterly, squinting at the tall young man who sprawled insolently in a chair before him, putting his feet up on the table.
�Do not tell me you do not recognize me, Diego,� the man stood up leisurely and walked over to his black-clad prisoner. �You are breaking my heart.�
Diego wrinkled his brow, thinking intently. �Victor?� he finally remembered. �Victor Fuentes?�
�Bravo!� Victor grinned. �I knew it would come to you.�
�What is this, Victor?� Diego said testily, straining his muscles to get the blood circulating again in his hands. �Are your affairs so bad that you have decided to become a common thief?�
�Be careful, Diego,� something elusive and dangerous flashed in Victor�s eyes. �I would not try the patience of my mortal enemy if I were you.�
�My mortal enemy?� Diego echoed, quite perplexed by this statement. �Since when?�
�Almost since the day you came to Spain.�
�That long, eh?� Diego taunted, carefully twisting his wrists, trying to loosen the ropes. �Are you not tired by now?�
Fuentes ignored the question. �I was the star pupil of the Academy before you showed up. I was popular, I was admired � I was the best, understand? And then you show up, and I begin hearing about this new student who seems to be besting everyone in his class. Pretty soon all I heard was �Diego de la Vega this,� �Diego that�. And what infuriated me the most was that I heard all that from the very people who sang praises to me.�
�So you got upset because you were losing your followers and worshippers,� Diego noted. �Was that the reason you made that scene in the �Paloma�?�
�Cantina �Paloma� was Diego�s favorite. Its quiet and peaceful atmosphere that went in such contrast with the perpetual noise and turmoil of Madrid reminded him of the little tavern in the pueblo de Los Angeles, and he made it a point to come there every time he could get away from his studies. But that Friday he did not get to enjoy the usual peace and quiet of the cantina. As he was finishing up his cup of hot coffee, inhaling delightfully its sweet aroma that seemed to fill the air completely, spreading its influence to the farthermost corners of the cantina, in stormed Victor Fuentes with a couple of his still faithful worshippers�
�Ah, so you remember that,� Victor seemed obviously delighted. �I knew I would make an impression on you.�
�If calling me names, slamming my table with your foot, and knocking the coffee cup out of my hands was your idea of making an impression,� Diego retorted angrily, �then, s�, you have made an impression on me � that of an imb�cil.�
A sharp blow in the face was a response to his remark. Diego winced, feeling a salty metallic taste of blood in his mouth.
�I warned you, de la Vega,� Victor hissed, bending over the young caballero. �I swore after that fight that I will kill you. No man humiliates me and lives unpunished.�
�I did not humiliate you, Fuentes,� Diego objected, feeling the broken lip with his tongue. �You were the one who wanted to duel in front of everyone in the University Court. You lost and��
�Silence!� The Spaniard drew nearer, breathing hard straight into the captive�s face, forcing the latter to pull back involuntarily. �You have humiliated me, and I have sworn that day that I would not rest until I beat you. I spent all my money on the best instructors. And all the while I dreamt of how I would have you crawl on your knees, begging me to have mercy on you, and how I would smile like so� (a most loathsome smile distorted his lips) �and thrust my sword into your heart up to the very hilt.�
Diego looked into the dark flaming eyes of the Spaniard and finally saw what eluded him a few moments ago � madness, utter madness flashed in them.
***
A soft clatter of hooves outside the shop attracted their attention. Victor turned toward the door for a moment, but that moment was all that Diego needed. His efforts were finally paid off � his hands were free at last (though for the price of having bleeding wrists). He jumped forward, knocking Victor off his feet. All he needed was to get to his sword that lay on the table next to his cape just a few feet away.
Manuel stood in his way with a knife in his hand. Diego swung around him, trying to stay clear of the blade. A shot rang out behind the young don, and the latter froze unsure if he was dead or alive.
�Diablo!� Victor threw the still smoking pistol aside in exasperation, as Manuel�s body thumped to the ground.
***
�It seems the odds are on his side now,� the first phantom remarked, observing the scene.
�Perhaps,� the second one answered calmly, �but not for long.�