Poisoned

Part 5

Disclaimers in Part 1


Padre Benitez joined everyone in the parlor. "She'd like to see you, Don Diego."

The man nodded. "Don Diego, may I...?" Mendoza asked.

Diego smiled. "Of course, Sergeant."

"I should see her as well," the Alcalde said, following after them.

Alejandro put a hand on his shoulder. "That's not such a good idea. She's very ill, Alcalde. No offense, but she probably wouldn't care to see you."

His jaw dropped and he left in a huff. The Padre chuckled. "You're right about that, Don Alejandro."

Diego stood back as Mendoza walked over to Victoria. She smiled at him. She was very tired, but she didn't mind a visit from her friend. "Senorita," he said, taking her hand.

"Thank you for coming to see me, Mendoza."

"It's the least I could do for such a beautiful and kind lady. You will always be remembered."

"Mendoza, will you do a favor for me?"

He nodded. "Si, anything."

"Will you tell Zorro," she said, glancing at Diego, "if the worst should happen, it wasn't his fault and it was my choice to save him. Promise me you'll tell him, Mendoza!"

"I promise, Senorita Victoria." Mendoza bent over to kiss her forehead. With one last smile, he left the room.

Diego slowly moved over to her, pulling up a chair. "Will you lie next to me, Diego?" He hesitated, but saw the pleading look in her eyes and decided it couldn't hurt. She wrapped her arms around him. "I love you," she whispered, drifting off to sleep.

"I love you too, Victoria," he replied. As he lay there, Diego realized what his father meant when he mentioned the love he saw in Victoria after mass...

The Alcalde stormed up to Diego. "What is the meaning of this?" he growled, holding up the latest edition of The Guardian. "Zorro does more to help the people of this pueblo than I do? This is an outrage! I order you to retract this article at once!"

Diego crossed his arms. "I'm sorry, Alcalde, but you can't hide the truth and you can't order me to do anything. As you may recall, I'm not one of your Lancers."

"You are under arrest, Senor!"

"What for?" Alejandro asked angrily.

Padre Benitez walked over to them. "Alcalde, there is no need to arrest Don Diego. The Lord knows what the truth is whether it's in the paper or not."

The Alcalde thought for a moment, then realized the Padre was right (not that he'd care to admit it), and stormed away.

"Nicely handled, son," Alejandro said.

Victoria smiled. "Si, it was, Don Diego."

Her face froze in his mind and Diego could see all the love she had for him. Not Zorro, but Diego...

Victoria held tightly onto Diego. She didn't want to leave him. Especially not after he had revealed his secret to her. She realized that she had known it was him deep within her mind, but she had refused to believe it. She then began to wonder what would happen to him if she didn't make it. She didn't want him to be in pain, she didn't want him to stop being Zorro, and most of all she wanted him to be able to love again.

Victoria suddenly opened her eyes to find herself standing outside of the De la Vega hacienda. The sky was a bright blue and the sun was shining. "Victoria." She looked around, but saw no one. "Hija..."

Her eyes watered. "Mama?"

"Si, it is me."

She rushed to her. "I've missed you so much!"

"You cannot hug me, hija," she replied, stepping back.

Victoria was confused. "But why?"

"Because you are not dead. In fact, you're not going to die anytime soon."

"I'm not?"

"No," she replied. "Diego has saved you, just as you have saved him. He needs you more than ever, my hija. Go to him."

She was torn between going to the man she loved and staying with her mother. "How can I leave you, Mama? I miss you!"

"I miss you too, but you have to go. He' says it's not your time. We will see each other again one day. I will always live in your heart."

Victoria nodded. "You are right. Will you tell Papa how much I love him?"

"I will. Adios, my Victoria."

"Adios..."