Thanks for all nice reviews. I am glad you all like it. My thanks (again) to the artists Chris DeBurgh and Elton John for making such beautiful songs inspiring others to use their imagination, like me to help me write this story.

-Z-

-Song The Lady in Red-

I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright
I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance
They're looking for a little romance
Given half a chance
And i've never seen that dress you're wearing
Or that highlights in your hair
That catch your eyes
I have been blind

Diego, too, was searching for the one he was admiring, when he had entered the taberna. His breath was taken away when his eyes fell upon Victoria dancing with the alcalde, for the first time. He couldn't stop staring, she was so beautiful. Her clothes looked amazing, adding so much to her innerbeauty and it made him wonder how she was able to get the dress. Again, he could curse himself for not having recognized her earlier.
As he was watching the lovely lady, dreaming away by her appearance when he suddenly noticed that something had changed in the Lady in Red's attitude. It was very subtle, though and it inspired his senses to stay alert whereas surely something must go on.
He had seen her dancing with the alcalde and afterwards leaving to go to the kitchen. When she returned she seemed to have transformed. Her dress looked a little different, a little less elegant.
After this dance he noticed the Lady in Red returning to the kitchen with Mendoza and being back in a minute again with a glass of wine in her hand.
Diego thought this was very strange. How could a woman disappear to appear in a slightly different dress and later disappear again to return in the former costume?
Now it hit him; this was not one woman, but two, who were wearing almost the same costume. This woman had sleeves decorated with lace, where the other woman hadn't. He was confused; which woman would be his love, his preciosa whom he wasn't able to pick out the other evenings?
Something was going on, he was now very sure of that so he kept watching. He noticed Victoria leaving to go to the kitchen and the other woman reappearing with a tortilla. To him it was obvious they were playing with their alcalde. He was sure of that and observed this Lady closely. She didn't pay him any attention, the other did. Now he was certain that the woman in the kitchen had be his love and tried to find out whom this woman might be.
Diego was laughing at the sight of Alicia courting the alcalde.
"What is so funny, son?" the Sultan asked Dracula in a whisper after he noticed his son was having some fun.
"It seems like the Lady in Red is making Satan's life a living hell," he replied dryly. "Excuse me, señor Sultan."
Before don Alejandro was able to make a reply, Dracula was on his way toward the kitchen. Diego didn't dare to spoil Victoria's game and waited patiently until the other Lady headed back with Mendoza to the kitchen with another excuse. At first Diego thought that she was on her way to the counter to get another drink, but then he noticed that she got Victoria's glass and took it to the kitchen.
When Victoria returned to the ball with a full glass of wine, Diego got his chance to dance with her. "I see you prefer a better wine than they are serving at the bar."
Victoria was startled by this sudden approach, but she hid the surprise with a smile, "why would I take less, if I could have the best there is?"
"I admire your taste, good Bordeaux is very rare in these provinces," Diego flattered. "Care for a dance?"
"I hope you don't mind my finishing my glass of wine." She smiled sweetly at him. How could he refuse her having a little pause?
"Of course, all that dancing takes a lot of energy," Diego replied understandingly, and added whispering in her ear, "especially when you are teasing Satan this way."
"Teasing?" Victoria called out astonished, "what are you talking of?"
"I know that you're not the only Lady in Red, señorita Mysty," Diego explained softly with an admiring smile.
Victoria was amazed somebody had found out, but she had no time to deny it, since Satan was coming their way. In a very cold way, he greeted Dracula by a simple nod. Diego laughed inwardly. If only the alcalde knew who he is dealing with, I doubt he would act like this! Courting his enemy's lady.
Diego greeted him with equal coolness, "Evening, señor Satan, have you found some more bad souls for your kingdom?"
Satan looked at Dracula as if he would like to shoot him right here and right now. But Dracula continued before Satan was able to utter a word. "If you came here to ask this lady for the next dance, I am afraid to disappoint you, since the Lady has accepted my offer to join my world of eternal life."
Satan looked even more displeased and asked the Lady in Red, with his eyes piercing, and sounding like he would like to try to force her to deny it. "Is this so, señorita?"
Victoria was stunned by Dracula's insolence, but she understood that he was offering her a way out to escape this man.
"In fact, señor Satan, I did promise señor Dracula the next dance after I finish my glass of wine." She sounded a little haughty and she tried to keep her South Mexican accent.
"Then I request the second dance," Satan huffed, and turned on his heels to find another dancing partner.

When the alcalde had left the young couple, Victoria turned to Dracula, "how would you have gotten me into your world of eternal life, señor Dracula?"
"Por favor, call me Draco," Diego teased with a charming grin, "I guess you know what vampires are and how they live?"
Victoria looked a little uncertainly at her companion. Is he kidding me? She sipped her last wine, and accepted Dracula's arm to lead her to the dancing area.
"And what do you exactly have in mind for me?" she asked when they had set the first steps of this dance.

The lady in red is dancing with me
Cheek to cheek
There's nobody here
It's just you and me
It's where i wanna be
But i hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget the way you look tonight

Diego was amused by her questions and decided to tease her a little. He held her in a firmer grasp and moved a bit closer to her than was appropriate. He felt her tensing a bit, but neglected her reaction, and lowered his head so he could whisper in her ear. Victoria felt his hot breath on her skin, making her shivering a bit by the whole action. In a tempting tone Diego started telling her about his plans. "I thought about asking you to join me for a nice walk outside the taberna, where we would find a romantic place. When we are alone I will take you in my arms to give you a warm hug. You know like this." His right arm lowered a little on her back folded around her getting her even closer to her dancing partner. It made her blood sing and forget about her surroundings and only listened to Dracula's words. Those words kept caressing her skin wile he continued, "I would tell you how beautiful you are and that you are the only star in the darkness who is able to lead the way to paradise." Diego paused while a small smile appeared in one of the corners of his mouth. He really enjoyed this moment. The silence added more romanticism to their heated moment. He could see her pulse increasing and wished they were indeed outside in the darkness sharing a private moment.

"When you feel comfortable in my embrace I will lay my hand on your cheek and the other on your shoulder." Lifting up his left hand he tried to visualise his proposal, though he didn't touch her. He took her right arm with his motion upward and smoothly laid her hand upon her shoulder. The effect of it was even more seductive than touching her at all. He also lowered his head a little more. Totally captured by Dracula, Victoria closed her eyes and enjoyed this moment of mystery, feeling like a woman in love. Butterflies were jumping and bouncing in her stomach now. If Victoria didn't know better she would have sworn she was there with Zorro. It felt so good being in Dracula's arms whispering those words of flattery ."To realise that we both can enjoy the eternal existance enjoying each others love and passion., I will bite you in your sweet, delicate neck, and do the same with my wrist. After that, I will share my blood with you."
Victoria's eyes flew open and all romantic feelings were gone and she almost jumped out of Dracula's arms. Except for the last actions, this offer sounded really romantic and tempting, but the latter was scaring the hell out of her. She looked a little uneasily around the taberna, which made Diego regret his last remark. The dance had almost finished and he knew that he had little time to make it up with her.
"Instead of giving you eternal life, I could also offer you a…."
"Excuse me," Victoria interrupted abruptly.
Diego followed her eyes to the person Victoria was staring at. Both saw a man disguised as King Ferdinand. In his hand he was holding a red rose.
"I …I must go," she stumbled hastily, though she regretted this man wasn't her love, whom she had been looking for, these three evenings. And she was off, on her way to the man with the red rose.
Diego had no other choice but watch his love walking toward another man. He couldn't protest right now, whereas he would reveal his identity in the middle of all these soldiers. He remembered Mendoza telling him that the alcalde had planned to capture Zorro, if he dared to show his face in the taberna. This ball was nothing but a trap.
He noticed that Victoria had stopped halfway and was making up her mind. She looked around at the taberna, seeming to be very confused. Diego noticed another man carrying a red rose, too. To this man's credit, he was taller than the first man Victoria saw with a red rose. Unexpectedly Victoria changed her direction. With his eyes, Diego followed the line where Victoria may have come to her new goal. Then he noticed Zorro standing in the doorway of the taberna. Con Dios, this can't be happening?!
Victoria walked straight into the person's arms. Diego couldn't watch this happening, but he had to, to be certain nothing would happen to Victoria.
"Lancers, arrest Zorro!" As predicted, the alcalde ordered his lancers to arrest this Zorro even the music had stopped by this rude interruption.
Zorro got his sword and parried some attacks. But something was wrong in Victoria's opinion. There was something about the way he defended himself; Zorro doesn't defend himself, he mostly attacks. Every second it became more obvious to Victoria that this person wasn't the real Zorro. But who is this man?
When Zorro had been defeated, the Sultan interfered to prevent the alcalde from doing some injustice. "Alcalde, why don't you just leave this man alone, and have a good time at this ball? This is a masked ball, remember! This man only wanted to be Zorro for just one time. Now, you have spoilt his pleasure!"
"Get out of my way, don Alejandro," the alcalde huffed; "this is Zorro! Everybody knows that."
Then he faced Mendoza who was standing next to the accused man, "Mendoza, arrest the señorita too, since she has been in league with this outlaw."
"Is that so?" Everybody heard a woman haughtily saying, and everyone turned to see the person belonging to that voice.
Diego was dazed when the alcalde wanted to throw Victoria in jail and was looking for a way to help Victoria out of this situation, but wasn't given time to think of something by the intrusion of the other woman. De Soto's mouth fell open when he saw another Lady in Red coming closer, and was speechless for a few moments. Then, he regained this amazement and ordered the sergeant to arrest Victoria, anyway.
"Beware, alcalde," Diego called out fiercely, and got everybody's attention which reminded him to behave more like the dull Diego de la Vega everybody knew than like Zorro.
Victoria was stunned and felt that she was losing control over her muscles. The roses those men were waving made her feel dizzy. Finding out that this charming Dracula turned out to be her best friend, though she wasn't a hundred percent sure yet, was too much for her. Nobody but Diego or don Alejandro would ever stand up for her the way this man was doing right now. The way Dracula was talking reminded her of the first day Diego had arrived from Madrid. Somehow these last evenings he had shown he hadn't lost his charming manners at all. She could see in all his manners this was her best friend Diego de la Vega. She could see through all his disguise very clearly now, except for the other part of this mysterious man; the dashing and heroic side. Just one moment she thought he was Zorro, but when he continued, sounding more like the Diego she had known as the man he was, she was convinced that he was not Zorro.
"You just shut up, creepy fellow," De Soto shouted at Dracula.
"Can you prove that this man is Zorro?" Dracula was not intimidated by the way the alcalde addressed him. "Can you prove that this lady or the other is in league with that man?"
Diego felt quite angry, but let his anger come out in small amounts.
Meanwhile, Alicia walked towards Victoria and started walking around her. After three circles she took Victoria by her hand to make her do the same thing. Victoria's mind was so clouded,that she allowed Alicia to tell her what to do, and let the men fight over her and over this fake Zorro. She was glad that there were still people helping others in need.
Whereas De Soto had been distracted by Zorro and Dracula, he was confused when he turned back to the Ladies in Red, and couldn't decide which Lady threw herself in the arms of Zorro. This Dracula was really annoying and he couldn't really concentrate on the ladies because of the unpleasant discussion he was having with this creep. Now, this was the second time this man is standing in his way.
"Mendoza, don't you just stand there! Unmask Zorro!"
"Alcalde," Diego warned again. "you know this is not legal!"
"Proceed, sergeant!" De Soto encouraged his man. So Mendoza did as he was told.
"Señor Dracula, I told you to stay out of this. This is Zorro! And these women have insulted the government by pretending to be one woman; they are clearly in league with Zorro!" De Soto shouted agitatedly at Diego, who still wasn't impressed. At the same time, don Emilio's son Ricardo was revealed.
"Mendoza, take these women to the cuartel," with red cheeks the alcalde ordered now really completing the image as Satan.
Victoria couldn't handle this commotion anymore and fainted.
"Alcalde," Diego raised his voice, moving quickly to catch Victoria before she hit the ground.

-Z-

This whole evening long, don Alejandro had watched his son closely. Something was telling him that his son knew the identity of this lovely lady. If he was wrong, then, he knew a way to make this lady get closer acquainted with Diego.
"Señor Dracula, take her to the kitchen and make sure she feels alright before she returns."
So Diego did as he was told and lifted Victoria off the ground to take her to the quiet room at the back of the taberna.
De Soto wanted to stop Diego, but then Don Alejandro prevented him from doing so. Don Alejandro moved to block the alcalde's way and added in a warning tone, "I wouldn't do that, if I were you!"
De Soto looked indignantly at the Sultan.
"Alcalde, you don't believe Ricardo is Zorro, do you?" Don Alejandro laughed ironically.
"Of course he is! Now, step aside," De Soto sounded very confident and venomously, "I want that lady, and I want everybody to remove his mask, so I can see your faces!"
Don Alejandro didn't move an inch, and started laughing and quickly everybody in the taberna followed his example.

In the meantime, Victoria had regained her consciousness. She sat on a chair staring at Diego's face, not really comprehending what happened a few seconds ago. She only heard the alcalde furiously quarrelling with Don Alejandro, but she didn't realise what they were quarrelling about. She watched Diego's worried but calm features and remembered him having proposed something to her . She just couldn't remember whether she had accepted it.
"Are you really going to take me to your world of eternal life?" she asked with a small and trembling voice.
Diego raised his eyebrows. This question, he hadn't expected to hear. He feared that she would have found out his whole personality, but now he doubted she was even aware of his identity.
"I wouldn't have bitten you in your neck, señorita," Diego confessed softly.
"What would you have done then?" Victoria asked suspicious.
"I would have given you a red rose," Diego answered calmly.
Diego and Victoria looked at the curtain, wondering what was so funny out there. Then, Victoria watched Diego's face again, while she felt weak in her head. The next second, she watched her hands lying on her lap, and a soft ironic laugh escaped her lips. "What is it about all these men and red roses this evening?"
Diego was silent for a few seconds, searching for the right words without revealing too much of his identity. Or maybe he should. He faced Victoria, "They must have overheard our conversation earlier."
The alcalde felt like a complete fool and turned to Mendoza, "Take the prisoner to the cuartel; he will hang at dawn!"
After that, he faced Alicia, who was still wearing her mask. "As for you, I will deal with you later. If I don't, make sure you never show your face here again."
After these words he looked defeated and insulted at the citizens, then he shouted, "Lancers, I want the taberna cleared within thirty minutes. The party is over!" Aggressively, he turned toward the door and left the festival.

Victoria looked up so quickly that Diego feared she would attack him for having hidden his big secret for so long. Instead, Victoria was surprised that Diego revealed his identity. But the fact that this charming Dracula WAS Diego was very confusing. Diego seemed so very different these last evenings compared to how he normally behaves. How long had he known that she is the Lady in Red? And how did he found out that tonight there were two?
Diego waited for her reaction, while he was prepared for everything that might happen. But he didn't count on Alicia storming into the kitchen.
"Are you alright?" she asked Victoria, throwing herself at Victoria's feet, which forced Diego to move aside.
"I am alright," Victoria replied, telling the truth.
"What is going on?" Victoria asked, a little worried. The alcalde thundered so loud. Though, somehow,Victoria felt strangely safe with Diego in her kitchen.
"I think you had better leave now, señor," Alicia suggested, "the alcalde wants the taberna closed, now."
Diego looked doubtfully at Victoria. He didn't feel like leaving her alone now. But he didn't want to cause any trouble and decided to go, only if Victoria wanted him too. "Will you be alright, señorita?"
Victoria heard the concern in his voice and feelt flattered.
"Of course, she will!" Alicia cut in, "she isn't going to die, unless you helped her."
"Gracias," Victoria calmed Alicia by placing a hand on Alicia's shoulder. Then she faced Diego again, smiling, "Gracias, I'll be fine. Thank you for your concern, Draco."
Diego smiled, wondering why Victoria didn't mention his real name, and left the kitchen. "Adiós, señoritas. Buenos noches."
Both of the young women watched him leaving the kitchen.
"He didn't do anything improper, did he?" Alicia asked alarmed, when Diego had disappeared. She still thought Dracula was a scary person who wasn't to be trusted.
"Not at all, Alicia, he is a true caballero," Victoria smiled, and stared at the curtain, trying to understand her mixed feelings.

De Soto was back in his office and complaint about the masquerade. He failed again to capture Zorro. Maybe tomorrow he will be able to capture this outlaw. Surely, the hero will show himself to prevent this innocent man from being hung. The alcalde touched his beard. No, this wasn't Zorro, but who might this mysterious man be? He couldn't remember having seen anybody looking like Zorro.
He looked out the window and noticed everybody leaving the party. Somehow he regretted having finished the party like this. As a matter of fact, he did have a good time. A splendid time, until he found out that the most beautiful woman in the world turned out to be two. Two women he hadn't identified either.
This dusty place will drive me insane, if I don't get back to Madrid very soon!

-Z-