An Escaping Prey
Esperanza adjusted the sheer white shawl on her shoulders before sitting down in the armchair by the sala fireplace. The shawl was her favorite; it smelled sweetly of rosewater, her mother's favorite scent. The room was completely empty, even the soldier that normally guarded the library door was gone. She rested the length of delicate white muslin on her lap. The half finished lamb slept peacefully inside the embroidery hoop.
She and Isadora were working on an altar covering for the church. It was to be the de la Vega tithe, thanks to God for saving Alejandro when he had been injured earlier that year. It needed to be done for Navidad and that was less than six months away. Also, it allowed her to be nearby incase any of the dons showed up.
She looked outside. Bernardo was sitting at the wrought iron table, working on a project. Something involving woodcutting. Again, a pretense to watch for the dons. He would alert Esperanza by tapping the handle of his knife three times against the wood he was working with.
Now all she had to do was wait for Isadora. Esperanza hummed as she threaded her needle and continued working on the lamb's nose.
Varga swished his rapier in the air. Lunge. En-garde. Lunge. En-garde. He had to be ready in case any of those foolish dreamers challenge him to a duel. The thin blade gleamed, hungry to be stained red.
Manuel came inside. "Señor, there's somebody out in the sala. Somebody you're very interested in." Manuel spoke in a low voice. Varga knew whom he was speaking of.
"Is she alone?" He asked, sheathing his rapier.
"Yes." Manuel smiled at Varga. "Do you want me to call her into the library?"
"Not yet," Varga said as he quietly opened the door. There she was. Sitting in front of the fireplace. Diligently embroidering a piece of fabric.
Out of the corner of her eye, Esperanza saw Varga standing in the library door. He was watching her. As much as she wanted to jump and hurry out of the sala, she knew this was what Varga wanted. He wanted her to be scared. So she continued to sew, wishing that Isadora would hurry up and come into the room.
Varga continued to study her from his vantage point. A white shawl was tied over her shoulders. Her dark burgundy dress was modestly cut, the hems edged with white lace. The thick black hair was wound into a bun resting on the back of her neck. Varga wondered what she looked like with her hair down…
The clock's ticking seemed to drag and was louder than normal. Esperanza felt her throat tighten and her breathing grew shallow. Still, she scarcely missed a stitch. She didn't mind sewing. Normally, it was even relaxing. Not tonight. It was hard to focus on the needle dipping in and out of the fabric.
He was still there, staring at her. And there was something…sinister…about his presence tonight. From that smirk on his face, she knew what he was thinking of. She felt sick.
Garcia suddenly opened the door. The tension disappeared; she saw Varga's face tense up in anger. Esperanza silently thanked him and the Virgin Mary for the interruption.
Varga was prepared to skin Garcia alive. "Good evening, Señorita Montoya." Garcia smiled at her and took his hat off respectfully. She nodded and smiled politely. "Excuse me, Administrado, but Don Alfredo is here to see Don Alejandro. I tried to explain that he wasn't here…"
"Of course, we've been expecting him." Varga smiled. Garcia saluted and left. Esperanza's green eyes widened. So she knows something will happen…Esperanza put her sewing aside and stood up, going towards the door. "Señorita Montoya. Where are you going?"
Esperanza paused. What should I do? Her mind raced as she tried to come up with an excuse. "I'm going to see where my duenna is. She was supposed to be here about an hour ago…"
"No, you're not. Come here." Varga had a tone of authority in his voice.
She rested her hand on the doorknob. "I…I shouldn't alone with you, not without a chaperone that is…"
"When Zorro infiltrated the hacienda last week, you were alone with both me and Señor Greco."
"I thought Isadora was in the other room and I didn't intend to stay there for long…" Esperanza was grasping at straws. She looked out the window. Bernardo wasn't at his post. Where did he go? Now it looked like Varga was going to order her to stay. Not if she had anything to say about it. Esperanza twisted the knob open and prepared to hurry out.
Varga's hand pushed the door closed. His other hand locked around her upper arm. She flinched under his touch. "I am in charge here and I say you're staying with me. Come here." He roughly pulled her towards the library.
"Let me go!" She began hitting his hand, trying to get free. Varga dragged her into the library. Desperate, Esperanza stomped on the toe of his shiny black boot.
It did nothing. If anything, he stopped and looked her. Esperanza's blood stopped. Varga's eyes held a cold and brutal gaze. "Have a seat." He growled as he shoved her into a nearby chair. Esperanza's elbow throbbed painfully as it hit the hard armrest. She rubbed it, wincing.
"Listen to me very carefully." He said as he drew his rapier and rested the sharp point in the center of her pale neck. "You will get hurt if you try to stop me. Do you understand me?"
He wanted her to be scared. Esperanza decided to let him think that she was. It could buy her more time to find a way out and warn Don Alfredo.
Varga was satisfied as Esperanza nodded. She was shaking and her wide green eyes looked up at him in fear. "Good girl." He said as he sheathed his rapier. There was a knock at the library door. "Who is it?"
"Don Alfredo is here." Garcia said on the other side of the door. Varga felt his chest puff out in pride. Everything was now falling into place. The Eagle will triumph tonight.
Don Alfredo entered, scion of the proud de la Cruz family. But from his spies' reports, Varga knew the balding and heavyset man was a coward, trying to flee with his family. He should be easy to 'persuade'.
"I'm early but…Esperanza, what are you doing here?" Don Alfredo looked at her nervously.
Manuel gave Esperanza a warning glance to remain quiet. "That is of no concern now." Varga said as he stepped forward. "Did Don Alejandro ask you to sign an oath of loyalty to the King?"
Don Alfredo tensed. Aha! Varga felt the trap snapping on his hapless victim.
"So he did," Varga glanced at Manuel. Time to loosen his tongue. "Who else is on the list?"
"It was a trap…I won't betray my fellow hidalgos." Don Alfredo said firmly.
"Manuel," Varga glanced at his loyal aide. The man knew how to…persuade…hesitant people to spill information. Manuel grabbed Don Alfredo's arm and twisted it behind his back. The man grimaced. He heard the rustling of Esperanza's skirts as she stood up in protest. "Sit back down, Señorita Montoya." He warned her. Like he expected, she sat back down, looking at Don Alfredo apologetically. "Now then, who is on the list?"
"If you think this is how to get a caballero to speak, then I'm sorry to disappoint you." Don Alfredo warned.
"Very well, tie him to that chair." Varga ordered Manuel. The Eagle's neck had a throbbing vein clearly visible. Manuel shoved Don Alfredo in a chair, took a length of rope out of his pocket and began tying him to it.
Esperanza got desperate. She had to act. Whipping out the dagger that was still strapped to her calf, she leapt up and held it to Varga's neck. Manuel and Don Alfredo looked at her in shock. Esperanza felt her temper flare into a fire. "If either of you want to hurt Don Alfredo, you'll have to go through me." Esperanza shook.
Varga looked at Esperanza through a mirror on the other side of the room. His Esperanza. Her green eyes seemed to be alight. A few strands of her silky black hair escaped from her bun, flying about her face. So she does have a fire to her. It made her…appealing…her inner fire also blinded her to any sudden movements he made. "Of course." Varga gloated as he pushed his elbow into her stomach.
"Ah!" she yelped. Esperanza let go the dagger. It fell to the floor with a thud. Varga knew she was too distracted to put up much of a fight. He got behind her and grabbed her arms, just above her elbows. "You're hurting me! Let go!" Esperanza cried. She fought back but his grip tightened as she struggled.
She was so warm, he noticed as he pulled her closer. At least she'd be pleasant to lie next to at night. No. Don't think of that now. Varga reminded himself. He'd have plenty of time for her later.
The door opened suddenly. Esperanza saw that it was an older man in a blue suit. Manuel's face dropped. She heard Varga behind her take a sharp breath. "Señor Brighton!" Varga yelled, trying to put on a smile. "What are you doing here?"
"I should ask you that." Brighton spoke perfect Spanish, but in a thick accent. Esperanza didn't know where it came from. He looked at both her and Don Alfredo, obviously concerned and horrified. "Who are they?"
"Nothing, just a small matter to be taken care of." Varga tried to explain away. But Esperanza could see from Brighton's slackened mouth and wide eyes that he wasn't convinced.
"I was planning on doing the final negotiations. But thanks to this I've firmly decided that our business is finished!" Brighton slapped his hat back on his head and stormed out.
Zorro unplugged the peephole in the wall. He had been successful in warning the others but was too late to stop Don Alfredo. Bernardo had warned him that things were bad. But he didn't realize exactly how bad until he went to the library.
Varga and Hernandez had managed to capture Don Alfredo. He had been tied to a chair by the bookcase. Zorro's stomach tightened when he saw that they had captured Esperanza too. Varga was holding her by her elbows. Now George Brighton had canceled the deal to buy California. And Varga was furious.
"Damn the American!" Varga shouted, his face beet red. After taking several deep breaths, he continued. "There are others willing to buy California. He was just one of many."
Hernandez, who had been standing by Don Alfredo, walked over to Varga. "We should get back to business then. Your wish will be granted, Señorita Montoya." Hernandez said as he took a candle from its wall-sconce. Zorro realized what he was going to do and plugged up the peephole. He had to get them out of there. Carefully, he pushed back the bookcase. Nobody was watching.
"You think a candle is going to make him talk?" Esperanza asked, breathing slowly and deeply. She was trying to remain calm. Through the mirror on the wall though, Zorro saw that she was frightened. They saw each other. His plan had been formed. He leaned close to the wall-sconce on the other side of the bookcase. Esperanza blinked once and got ready.
"When he sees it burn your pretty face, then he will." Hernandez grinned evilly as he put it up to her face. Now! Zorro and Esperanza concurrently blew out the candles.
The library went black. Varga was livid. "What happened? Who blew out the candles?"
"I don't know, Señor." He heard Manuel rustling through the desk, looking for the matches.
"Get those candles lit again!" Varga tightened his grip on Esperanza's arms. Then he heard it. The sound of a knife cutting through rope. That could only mean one thing…Manuel managed to relight the candle in his hands. Varga jerked himself and Esperanza around. Sure enough, Zorro was almost finished cutting through the ropes that bound Don Alfredo to the chair. "Zorro!" Varga yelled.
The Eagle's mind twisted as he struggled to find a way to stop this fox. Finally he thought of one. He gestured Manuel over with his head. The faithful servant pulled out his hunting knife and touched the long blade's edge to Esperanza's neck. She flinched but he made sure she couldn't get away. "If you don't surrender now, my associate will kill her."
There was a quick flick of Zorro's sword. Manuel let out a cry and dropped the knife. Varga suppressed a shiver as he saw the letter Z carved into Manuel's neck. It was beginning to bleed. "Let her go or you'll get one just like it." Zorro warned Varga in a dangerous voice. The rapier's now red tip was now close to Varga's face. The fox's brown eyes glittered coldly.
Varga, afraid, loosened his grip. Esperanza ran to the library door. She nodded a grateful look at the outlaw. Varga studied Zorro. Was that a look of relief? Did the fox have feelings for his Esperanza? Jealousy burned. As soon as he got that fox impaled on the end of his sword…
"Don Alfredo, get out of here." Zorro ordered. He didn't need to be told twice. Varga watched in disappointed fury as his catch ran out the library. Manuel picked up his knife and took two steps to the door. Zorro pointed his rapier at him. "I swear I'll kill the man who chases him! Understand?" Manuel, holding his hand to his neck, hesitated then began chasing Don Alfredo.
Esperanza followed out. No! He wasn't going to lose the only thing he had left today! Varga lunged after her. He caught the edge of her soft shawl. "Let me go!" Esperanza tried hitting him. He only pulled harder on her shawl. A loud tearing sound ripped through the room. Esperanza's shawl had a long rent in it, allowing her to get free. She ran out the door and was gone.
Zorro touched the tip of his rapier to Varga's throat. He casually dropped the torn piece of cloth. The fox was angry. That shawl had belonged to Esperanza's late mother. He knew how special it was to his best friend. Now it had been ripped. At least she hadn't been hurt too.
"Sit down." Zorro pointed his sword to the chair Don Alfredo had been tied to. "Don't make a sound. And don't expect more company. The last invitation has just been cancelled." He warned as he began tying Varga to the chair. He'd worry about Hernandez in a minute. Right now, he thought as he gagged Varga with a swath of cloth he had brought along, he needed to keep the Eagle from screeching and giving him away.
Esperanza ran towards the stable. She had to make sure Don Alfredo got away. It wasn't long before she caught up to Manuel outside the courtyard. Catching up, she grabbed his shoulders and yanked hard. "Leave him alone!" Esperanza yelled as she began kicking and beating Manuel's back and legs.
"Get off, you annoying little fly!" Manuel pushed her with what seemed like all his weight. Esperanza fell backwards, landing on the packed down dirt. She winced as her elbows and tailbone throbbed. Helplessly, she watched as Manuel fled into the stable-yard. Don Alfredo cried out for help before being silenced.
Esperanza heard Garcia behind her. "Señorita Montoya! What happened?" His big hands helped her stand up. Garcia looked at her, concerned, his large hand on her shoulder.
By now, she was violently shaking due to the turmoil of the evening. "Manuel…Don Alfredo…in stable-yard." She gasped as she pointed to the archway of the stable-yard. Garcia drew his thick sword and ran into the yard. She hurried after Garcia.
Don Alfredo was curled into a ball, frightened but thankfully unharmed. Manuel had taken out his large hunting knife, the same one he had threatened to cut Esperanza with. The blade gleamed. Garcia stepped in front of him. "You will leave Don Alfredo alone!" He bellowed angrily and then gave a quick glance at Don Alfredo. "Run, Don Alfredo. Save yourself."
"I won't let you fight my battles for me, sargento." Don Alfredo insisted, still proud.
"It's my fault you're here in the first place. Now get out of here." Garcia said. Manuel lunged at the fat sergeant. The man's hunting knife was deflected out of his hand by the thick sword. Esperanza had come up with a plan and ran over to help Don Alfredo finish saddling his horse.
As they fiddled with the straps of the saddle, Esperanza asked Don Alfredo. "You know where my family's home is located?" He nodded as he mounted the horse. "Go there and hide. I'll make sure Zorro knows where you are. It's empty so nobody should go looking for you there."
"Gracias, Esperanza." Don Alfredo smiled and spurred his horse into a gallop. It wasn't long before he disappeared into a cloud of dust.
By this point, Garcia had Manuel in a headlock, trying to get him to drop the knife. "I will have you broken to Private!" Manuel groaned.
"Not before I have broken you in half!" Garcia held on. Esperanza saw a flash of silver aimed to Garcia's side. Manuel's face held grim determination. Oh no…
"Sargent Garcia! Look out!" Esperanza warned, covering her face with her hand. She didn't want to see him get hurt.
Manuel cried suddenly. Esperanza moved her hand and saw Manuel lying on his stomach, still. Garcia rolled him over, the hunting knife's handle stuck out of Manuel's chest. Esperanza leaned against the wall, the shaking returned.
It was all over by the time Zorro managed to reach the stable-yard. Garcia was checking on Hernandez's bleeding body. Esperanza, her hair wildly flying about and quaking, was leaning against the adobe wall of the stable. "Are you alright?" He went to Esperanza first.
"I will be as soon as I stop shaking." She looked at him, checking for any injuries. Zorro shook his head to reassure her that he wasn't hurt. "Is he…?" Esperanza looked at Garcia and Manuel.
Garcia nodded with an ashen face. "And Don Alfredo?" Zorro asked. "Did he get away?"
"Si, he did." Garcia took out a handkerchief and patted his face.
"I sent him to the caves by the shore." Esperanza nodded at Zorro. She had used the code. He understood that she was talking about her family's abandoned house. "I told him that I'd tell you."
"Thank you." Zorro prepared to leave before Garcia broke his silence.
"He was trying to hurt Don Alfred and Señorita Montoya. I tried to stop him. I'm sorry but he tried to kill me." Garcia pointed a shaking fat finger at the body.
Zorro's anger at Garcia dissipated. The soldier might be a sometime annoyance and hindrance. But he proved his worth tonight, saving two lives. Garcia did his best. He gently squeezed Garcia's shoulder. "You did well, Sargent." Zorro said before he ran across the yard, vaulted over the far wall and to Tornado.
"Find Zorro. Bring him to me alive." Varga growled at the assembled soldiers who had freed him. They clumsily left the library, their boots loudly slapping against the floorboards. He rubbed his burning wrists, wriggling his fingers to get the feeling back in them. God, he was surrounded by such incompetence…his eyes fell upon the torn white piece of fabric lying on the floor. Esperanza's shawl.
Varga picked it up. It was still warm, faintly smelling of rosewater. A couple strands of long black hair clung to the fabric. As he felt the silky fabric over his fingers, he noticed her dagger on the floor. Its blood-red wooden handle glowed in the candlelight…
She knew Zorro was coming. The more Varga thought about it, the more he felt the trigger beginning to snap. She tried to warn Don Alfredo. She helped that outlaw infiltrate the room. Fire burned. His fist tightened. Varga wanted to go and shake some sense into her. His father had taught him well. The only way to keep one's wife faithful and meek was to beat it into her…
Wait…calm came into him. He'd pay her room a visit later tonight. A smile came over his face as he stuffed her shawl into the pocket in the lining of his coat. Everyone would be asleep then. This would be the only time he'd be…gentle when she disobeyed her. Time to lay down the ground rules. It was time for her to see that the net was closing tight around her world and that she'd have nowhere to run…except to him.
A/N: DUN-DUN-DUN! What will happen next? Warning and Spoiler: next chapter contains tons of fluff (no, not a Varga/Esperanza pairing. That would be really gross, not to mention incredibly cheesy). Don't say I didn't warn you.
