Thank you very much to The Walrus and the Carpenter for helping me Beta this document.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 3.-The perfect, the naïve and the stubborn.
I return to my room after dinner, still processing what I'd observed, and not feeling at all comfortable with Carlos—as he requested to be called. I am certain that no food or wine touched his lips, and yet his plate was suddenly empty. Where did the food and wine go? I have no idea.
Jacinta comes into my room and helps me out of the dress and the corset without uttering a single word. I take a deep breath as soon as it is off, but the air still doesn´t fill my lungs. She then helps me with my nightgown and hastily removes the pins from my hair, letting it flow freely down to my back.
The sun has already left and the moon is already high into the sky; the meeting took longer than I expected. It's not a good omen; it means Mama liked Carlos.
"You did well, Child," Jacinta gives me a brief smile and squeezes my hand.
"I didn´t like him, Jacinta," I answer her, earning an exasperated look from her. "He was too perfect," I say, measuring my words, and taking in her reaction, seeing what I should expect from Papa once I tell him.
"Child, tell the Mrs. what she wants to hear." Her voice is almost begging. "Don´t get into more trouble with her."
"That would be giving up, Jacinta. We are talking about Marissa´s future. I would never forgive myself if she was miserable, knowing what I saw and will see of her suffering once I am in heaven—if I manage to get there once I die." I make my way towards the bed and sit on top of it. I look at Jacinta; she is pondering my words, her face sad. I sigh and realize I may have been too harsh with her; after all, she is only looking after me.
"Do whatever you consider is right in your heart then, child, but promise me never to underestimate your strength. You are stronger than any of us in many ways." She gives me a smile. "For all I know you are going to outlive us all."
I chuckle at Jacinta´s unconceivable idea.
She becomes quiet the moment we hear the board of the floor creaking outside my room. Afterwards, Marissa enters my room; she is already wearing her nightgown.
"He is perfect!" she exclaims excited, jumping up and down and clapping her hands.
Jacinta rolls her eyes; she doesn´t need to say the words aloud for me to know what she is thinking. Too naïve.
"Did you like Carlos?" She sits right next to me.
I ponder my options; I can bring her spirits down gently, trying to minimize the pain, or just tell her my blunt opinion without sugar coating it.
"I didn´t like him very much, Marissa, sorry." As soon as I say it, her face falls.
She stays quiet for a short time, processing the information.
"But he is polite, attentive and quite handsome. What isn´t there to like? He is a complete gentleman." Her eyes begin to fill with tears.
"He is strange Marissa, and I get the feeling he is not polite and attentive the whole time." I put forward a gentle tone, but she gets mad.
"You are saying this because he beat you at chess?" She stands from the bed glaring at me.
"No, Marissa. Why would you even think that?" I shake my head, but she ignores me.
"It was just a game, Maya. Don´t blame him for wanting to win, and not being gentlemen enough to let you win," she continues rambling.
I know where she got the idea—Mama.
"Marissa, that is not it!" I would have a lot more respect for him if he actually beat me fair and square, which he didn´t.
I need to change my approach, and not let my opinion of him be the guide; it has been compromised.
"Look straight into my eyes and tell me if you felt a romantic connection with him. If that is the case I will keep out of your way." She is a romantic fool after all; it might take her a little longer to realize that he might admire the man, but doesn´t loves him.
Her face becomes hesitant and she starts biting her lower lip.
I knew it; she doesn't.
"Remember, Marissa, he won´t be forever handsome. No one can prevent the decadence that time brings, and he might be polite and attentive now, but it can also fade away. Circumstances in life change. If you truly love him and he loves you back, you will be able to overcome whatever obstacle life brings you," I say, not knowing exactly how much attention she is paying, or if my words are heard; she is staring into oblivion.
A new set of steps are heard approaching my room, and I immediately see Mama entering. Marissa looks at her and immediately leaves without answering me back. She will have time to think this new reasoning and analyze her feelings; let us hope she makes the right decision.
Jacinta follows her out the door without saying goodbye.
"Report." Mama looks sternly at me. Obviously, she didn´t come to say goodnight.
"He is different." I hesitate with my answer but continue, "He is not right for Marissa"
"I don´t want your opinion." Her face is as stern as her voice. "Does he have what he says he has?"
I know exactly what she talking about—money.
I nod. At least, that part seems true enough.
"But there are so many things strange about him—didn´t you notice…?" I put in quickly before she cuts me off.
"Enough, Amalia. I can´t rely on your opinion considering you are biased" she gives me a wicked smile, enjoying the affect her words have on me.
Yep, my suspicions have been confirmed; she did put that thought in Marissa´s head.
"I wouldn´t let a small matter like him beating me at a chess game bias my opinion. If he was right for her I wouldn´t let that simple thing get on in way. If I was her mother…"
"Then it's a good thing you aren´t." Her voice cuts me off. "I want the best for her, and Carlos is something way above what I was expecting for her."
"Didn´t you notice the way…" I start once again, my voice raising trying to get her attention.
"I am getting the feeling that you might be jealous, Amalia, now that Marissa is getting the attention." That certainly shuts me up. Why would she even conceive such a terrible idea? I feel disgusted at the thought. She is pleased with herself for making me quiet, a smug smile in her lips. "You will die an old maid."
Marrying has never been on my priority list. Being alive and taking care of my loved ones pretty much makes the list. Still, just answering her back with the hopes of making her mad is an opportunity I can´t back away from.
"I am only twenty. I wouldn´t consider myself an old maid, plus I still have time." I look at her rhetorically.
"Who would want a sick little thing like you?" she approaches me, whispering the spiteful words, making sure nobody outside the room hears her. "It's better if you never marry any potential husband. How about you make us all a favor and die?"
And Carlos thinks I am straightforward? Mama has just pushed me aside and claimed the title for herself.
She enjoys seeing when I do not retaliate. There isn´t anything in her words that isn´t truth, even if it is out of spite. However, it doesn´t mean that I like to be asked to die.
"He asked for her hand in marriage."
My heads snaps up when I realize what she just said. How can it be possible that he already asked for her hand? It is all happening too fast! I look straight into her eyes, hoping she is lying. Unfortunately, it seems to be the truth; her victorious look confirming my fears. "She is only fifteen! Why are you set up on getting her married so young? Give her more time to mature and enjoy life before she has the stress of playing the perfect wife."
"If she marries young she gets the best suitors—like Carlos." She walks towards the door, indicating that the conversation is over. "Plus he plans to return to Barcelona after the wedding."
My heart drops the moment the words leave her mouth.
I won´t be able to visit her, not with my health, and what will happen to Papa afterwards, when I die? He will be left alone and heartbroken, with none of his daughters with him anymore. I suspect Marian might be dead, and Mama will most likely go with Marissa. She has never been shy about her aspirations to go to Europe and leave this hellhole behind.
"Please, Mama, don´t." I stand up, tears in my eyes falling from my eyes.
"It is already settled. I will get your father's blessing before he goes to bed tonight, so don´t you intervene with all your nonsense." Papa knows I am observant; he trusts my judgment far more than Mama´s. I accelerate my steps trying to reach her, but I'm not fast enough, she grabs the handle of the door and closes it right before my eyes. I hear the key turning from the other side, locking me in. "She is to be married in a week," I hear her happily from the other side of the door.
I know Papa, he likes to keep his promises, like me, and if he promises Marissa´s hand there is no power in this earth that will make him change his mind afterwards. A great flaw in the Valencia family.
I drop to the floor; between the tears, my weakness, the dizziness and the pain I find it hard to breathe. I should have lied and told her that he was a charlatan, that would have saved me all this trouble, but since I don´t like to be lied to, I hate to lie as well. My only hope now is for Marissa to stand up for herself and tell Papa that she doesn´t want to get married. Or for a miracle.
I return to my bed exhausted and lie there crying my heart out for Marian, and wishing she was next to me. Also for Marissa, and the way Mama is taking advantage of her innocence. And for Papa, knowing he is going to end up completely alone with no daughter or a wife with him.
I don´t know at what point I fall asleep, but when I open my eyes once again I realize it's around midnight. The house has become completely quiet and I am not able to hear any rustle coming from the street outside my room.
I walk to the window letting the moonlight guide me. I look outside; the street's illuminated with the light from one of the brightest moons. Right in front of my room is the main Plaza from the city, decorated with beautiful gardens and paths that lead to benches that are spread all around, and right in the middle of the Plaza is a beautiful kiosk.
During the day the Plaza is full of people, women pushing baby carts gossiping; kids playing around it, climbing the kiosk stairs; or groups of young maiden flirting with a group of young man each group walking in opposite directions from each other, looking forward to when they will face and flirt, with eye contact or small phrases.
At nighttime it's usually empty, except for young maids meeting with their boyfriends—such as Jacinta and Jose, who are currently siting in a bench, the plaza all for themselves.
Jacinta looks at Jose, while he is holding her hand, but I am not here to peep on Jacinta and Jose in their intimate moment; instead, I look up to the sky and see my friends the stars, welcoming me with their shine. So many times they have been my companions during my many sleepless nights, as I tried to find the constellations that I read from an astrology book. However, I am not here to do that either. I start praying to God, not for myself—I´ve given up on praying for my health to improve—but for my family.
"Please, God, protect Marissa. She is still too young to get married. I would love for her to experience more time being single and enjoy life, and then, when she is old enough, find somebody that loves her and who she loves back. Right now her future is not looking very promising, especially with this stranger that plans on marrying her, and taking her away from us. I know deep within my heart he had something to do with Marian's disappearance."
My prayers are interrupt by a laughter, and a shushing noise coming from the plaza. I look down and see Jacinta and Jose saying goodbye. They are still holding hands, and Jose takes advantage of Jacinta being distracted and pulls her towards him stealing another kiss from her, and earning him a small slap on the shoulder afterwards.
"This is the kind of love she should have, someone that knows how to make her happy and completes her; somebody with whom she can forward to the day to ending so she can share a special moment with. Not someone that can give her a position in society, or buy her every whim she or Mama have. Marissa will be unhappy in the end, and it will kill her. She has so many plans in her mind; did you know she has already picked the names of her unborn babies, and has a clear picture of each one of them?" I can´t help at chuckling, remembering her telling me how she wants at least eight kids, four boys and four girls. "So how about we make a deal, you and I? My life has no meaning; I am just a sick, useless girl with nothing to look forward to. I´ve pretty much given up fighting, expecting death to finally to take me. Therefore, make this stranger choose me instead of her. I will take her place no matter the cost that comes with it. Let my life have new meaning and a reason to keep on fighting, and when you consider it right, bless me with the opportunity to be in your presence. In return, keep Marissa and Papa safe. That is all I ask. Amen." I dry my eyes from the couple of tears I shed.
I look down and see Jacinta hugging Jose, smiling at each other. I feel a pang of envy; I would love to experience that kind of happiness, but it has never been on my cards. I turn around and head back to bed.
"Good Night, Sir," I hear Jacinta´s voice.
With curiosity winning over, I turn around and look outside again, wondering who could be wandering the street at this time of night. I recognize the figure and his elegant stride—even if I did just met him today. My anger rises.
Jacinta and Jose look at him as he approaches them and then stops. My eyes might be too tired, because I don´t realize when Carlos pulls Jacinta from Jose´s hold and embraces her, kissing her in the neck. Jose immediately raises his arm and is ready to punch him, but Carlos lifts his arm and throws Jose to the kiosk where he hits his head hard on the metal rail.
How can he even do that? Jose is taller and heavier than Carlos is, and yet, he threw him as if he was a mere pebble on the path.
Before Jose hits the floor, Carlos is standing next to him, grabbing him from the neck and pulling him closer to him, as if kissing him on the neck as well. I can´t stop looking at the scene; it's all happening so fast, and is completely unbelievable.
Carlos then drops Jose, his body falling hard to the floor, his chest not rising. I know that Jose is dead. I quickly glimpse to where Jacinta is and see the same outcome; her body lying on the ground, her eyes open with no life inside them.
"NO!" I whisper, and back up, taking a couple of steps from the window, still looking at Jacinta´s body. My mind processes the sight of my Nana's dead body on the Plaza floor, hoping with each moment that passes to see her raise, when a figure blocks my view of her. Carlos is suddenly standing in front of her, looking directly at me, as if he heard me.
I back away quickly and head to door as fast as I can, my strength faltering once again. I hold the dresser to stabilize me, when a cold wind hits my back. I turn and see the window of my room open.
That can´t be possible, it has been locked since last winter. In addition, it's on the second floor—too high to climb in such a short time.
I grab the first thing my hands get a hold of from the dresser—the container of powder that Jacinta puts on my cheek to add some color to them. I remember once it accidentally got into my eyes, and it hurt, stinging my eyes and momentarily blinding. I make my way towards the door and jiggle the knob hoping it opens, but it's locked.
"Hello, Amalia."
My blood rushes to my feet, my breath catching, the moment I hear Carlo's voice on my back. I turn, hoping it's just a figment of my imagination, but he is standing just a few steps from me. I immediately react and throw the container of powder at him, hitting him straight in the face. The container shatters and the powder covers him.
This should buy me some time.
I start kicking and banging the door as hard as I can, hoping to wake up somebody to come and help me. After a couple of hits, I feel a hand grabbing my arm, pulling me away from the door, making me turn around to face him. I try to pass him but he has me trapped.
"I had so many plans for Marissa, now that Marian is gone," he says seriously, his crimson eyes looking straight to mine. He lifts his hand and grabs my chin—no more gloves to hide the coldness of his skin; it makes me shiver from his touch. "You were right, Marian was a beautiful girl. Too bad Jacqueline grew tired and jealous of her."
I feel my heart falling into pieces. I suspected Marian might be dead, but always had a small shred of hope that I might be wrong. Now the confirmation is clear; I don´t know if Carlos, or this so called Jacqueline, are responsible, but either one should pay for it.
"Marissa is a nice replacement—innocent as Jacqueline but not as beautiful as Marian." He chuckles at this last part.
"Stay away from my sister," I manage to say bravely.
"Why should I? She will be a wonderful pet for Jacqueline, and keep her entertained while I am out," he says, letting go of my chin.
Maya, think! Say something smart—something that will entice him to take you instead of her. My mind starts to think quickly; he has said 'just said as innocent as Jacqueline'.
"Marissa entertain Jacqueline?" I give a small fake laugh that I don´t even believe myself with my poor acting skills. "Usually Marissa is the one that needs to be entertained—unless you plan on both of them sewing a cushion for years," I say nervously, but manage to see doubt in his eyes. "Good luck with that," I add for good measure.
He stays quiet, pondering my words.
"Marian once told me about you." He steps backwards and crosses his arms. "She said you were the brains of the family. I can see you are not dumb; you were, after all, close to beating me at chess,"
"I was not close—you cheated!" Anger takes precedent over my fear, which honestly is dumb considering my situation.
Damn pride!
"Observant and stubborn as well, I see," he says, raising his eyebrows, and pissing me off more. He stays quiet deciding, "You could be Jacqueline´s pet; you're no doubt creative enough to keep her entertained."
I stay quiet letting him think aloud.
"I am intrigued now. You might be an interesting little addition to my coven, Amalia." He smiles and approaches me, trapping me once again against the door.
"Coven?" I don´t know what the word means, but just saying it makes me tremble. It seems my plan might have worked, but honestly, I don´t see how it will have a good outcome for me.
"You are in luck that I just fed. I might be able to control myself." He sniffs me, and I don´t understand a single word of what he is saying.
Fed? Control himself? What in heavens name is he talking about?
"Welcome to the family, Amalia," he whispers, his cold breath hitting my ear, making me shiver.
Before I can even react, he bends down, his cold lips reaching my neck. I gasp from the touch and wimper when his teeth pierce my skin. I am literally paralyzed; I try to scream but I can´t.
He retracts his head and smiles. I lose focus; my hate and fear forgotten thanks to the worse pain I´ve ever felt in my life. It spreads like a fire from my neck to rest of my body. The beating of my heart accelerates at an impressive rate, spreading the pain in waves through my body with every beating of it.
After a while, I am able to scream and beg somebody to take pity and kill me. Nobody answers my screams or comes to my aid. I lose track of everything; the only thing that matters is the searing pain and the beating of my heart.
I never thought that death would be this painful or long. Then again, am I really dying?
Authors Note:
This story is a prelude of one of the main characters from my story Solstice. I hope that it will help you understand a little bit more about her character and her abilities.
If you will like to continue reading more about Maya, you can find it in the following link:
s/9490419/1/Solstice
In addition, you can read the prelude for William, the other main character of Solstice at:
s/9982607/1/Red-Moon
Thank you very much to The Walrus and the Carpenter for working her magical wand and helping me Beta this document, not everybody is as brave to beta for someone that English is not their native language. Thanks to Mina Rivera for working in such a wonderful banner for Bright Moon.
Above all a special thank for all of you that donated to this wonderful fundraiser and to the people that work to make this fundraiser possible.
