Revelations
Disclaimer: This story was written solely for the enjoyment of other Zorro fans and is not intended to infringe on any copyrights held by Goodman/Rosen Productions, New World Television, Zorro Productions, the estate of Johnston McCulley or anyone else.
Chapter 1
It was a nightmare. Victoria had never felt so miserable. Why hadn't she listened to Diego? It was all her fault. Victoria sat at the table in the kitchen her knees under her chin and contemplated the events as she had done the nights before.
It had started the day when the deputy governor from Monterey had arrived with his soldiers. He had demanded that the alcalde arrested Zorro within the next days.
As a reaction the alcalde had threatened to imprison some peasants with the intention to use them as bait for Zorro. When Victoria had wanted to step forward to protest against his actions, Diego had tried to restrain her with a warning look and his upheld arm. She had continued to move forward and Diego had grabbed her by the arm whispering to her that she should not interfere this time. But she had told him that he had no right to tell her what to do and had protested out loud. It had been the first time she had seen him angry at her when he let go of her arm. She should better think of the consequences of her actions before acting, he had said. At least she was doing something at all, she had answered. She knew she had hurt him the moment she mouthed the words. But it had already been too late then. The alcalde was only too happy to imprison her instead of the peasants. He knew she was a much better bait.
As expected Zorro had come in the night to free her. The lancers hadn't been a problem. Just when they were racing across the plaza, one of the deputy's soldiers had seen them. Zorro had mounted Toronado and ridden out of the pueblo. But she had seen him falter on Toronado when the soldier had shot at him. He had barely clung to his horse when Toronado had taken him away.
The alcalde was gleeful when he declared Zorro either dead or severely injured in his speech later in the tavern. He especially thanked her for being the bait.
She hadn't been able to stand it anymore then. She had ridden to the de la Vega hacienda to talk to her friends. She wanted to apologize to Diego. He had been right when he had tried to restrain her and if she had listened, Zorro would have been safe then.
She had met Diego in the library surprised to see her. When she had tried to talk with him, he had been very curt to her. He had said he was in no mood of talking, because he had a headache. He had indeed looked very pale when he retreated to his room leaving her standing in the library.
Alejandro had tried to comfort her later, but he couldn't take the guilt from her. Zorro's death or injury was her fault and now even Diego was cross with her.
The next day Alejandro had told her that Diego had left for the northern estates of the hacienda with Felipe. That had been weeks ago. Even Alejandro had been surprised that the two of them had been gone so long, but with Diego he never knew what to expect.
The alcalde had been right about Zorro. He never appeared again while the deputy was in town and no threats to peasants were able to lure him out of his den. He had the lancers search for Zorro's body but they didn't find him. Nobody knew what had happened to him, but probably nothing good.
She wished everything would be like before the deputy came. Somehow she didn't know whom she missed more, Zorro or Diego. Never before had she realized how much her friend meant to her. She missed his quiet presence in her tavern and his support he was always willing to give. He was more part of her day to day life than Zorro and she couldn't bear to lose his friendship any more than she could lose Zorro's love. She longed to see Zorro and have him hold her. But what would she do if she had lost them both?
She dropped her head on the table and began to cry.