Happy Sunday, all! How about we continue on with the party?

Enjoy!

Linny

Chapter Fourteen

Diego could feel the energy crackling between them. It was like the air during a lightning storm. It was drawing him closer, making him eager for a taste of her. As his eyes solely focused on hers, he brought his head down to be closer to her. Her scent danced on a light breeze; a delicate and floral perfume. Wildflowers.

Her breath danced across his cheeks as it became shallow and uneven, her lips parting slightly. Her pupils had become almost black in the night as they danced between seeing into the depths of his eyes or examining his lips. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips as he watched her lose herself in the moment.

She seemed just as eager for his kiss.

"Olivia," he whispered her name on a hoarse breath. He wanted this more than he wanted to breathe, but he wanted to know for certain that she wanted it too.

He couldn't remember ever wanting a kiss more. From any other woman. There was just something about her that had drawn him to her since the moment they'd met. Their talks and adventures since that fateful day had all culminated in this singular moment. He wanted to hurry up and feel her lips pressed against his and yet, at the same time, wanted this moment to last forever.

"Diego," she breathed his name ever so lightly that he hadn't been certain that she'd said it; that his mind was only making him believe that she had.

She placed a palm flat against his chest, the heat of her hand burning the flesh hidden underneath the thick fabric. With a shaking breath, her eyes fluttered closed as she leaned up toward him.

It was all the invitation Diego needed. A smile curled to his lips as he bridged the gap between them. It was as if time had slowed to an excruciating pace. His entire body trembled with anticipation and the rest of the party faded away around them.

He felt her fingers tighten around the lapel of his jacket, silently urging him closer with an ardor she couldn't contain. His nose brushed against hers in the lightest, feathery touch and he could swear he'd heard her whimper in response.

They were so close that he felt that if he moved any closer that she would melt into him and they would simply become one.

Almost...

His eyes fell closed as he angled himself. Just a centimeter more and he would feel her silky smooth lips underneath his own.

But, the touch never came. A scream pierced through their silent bubble, forcing them both back to reality.

There was a buzz-like murmur among the party-goers that was mixed with the gasps and whimpers of terror.

Dozens of eyes turned to see a figure in black standing on top of the wall near the main gate. A hood was draped over the man's head and only his eyes were visible under the mask he wore.

"Zorro!" Someone called out, but Diego couldn't recognize the voice in his befuddlement.

"Lancers," Ramon called out to alert his men—though they were already on an alcohol-infused alert—and he took a step forward as he reached for his saber. He paused when the man in the mask pointed a gloved finger in his direction, his gaze like cold steel.

He produced a dagger from his belt and quickly took aim. The blade flew through the air with a whoosh, lodging itself in a post beside the Capitán's head.

There was another scream of fear from one of the female guests as she instantly fell faint into the arms of the man standing beside her.

Diego placed himself instinctively between Olivia and the masked stranger. The newcomer was calling out Ramon in a challenge and he did not want her getting hurt in the process.

"Don't be foolish, Diego," she urged him in a hushed tone as she gripped tightly at his back. He didn't make a response as he focused on the tense interaction occurring in front of them.

"You wish to challenge me, señor?" Ramon questioned as the façade of an officer who had seen plenty of battles slid seamlessly into place.

The hooded figure nodded, his stare never faltering and his lips never moving. It was almost unnerving how he could say so much and yet not say anything at all.

"Then, you will not harm any of these gentle people." It was not a question. If the masked man wanted to fight Ramon, he would leave no room for debate about harming the rest of those around him.

The hooded figure pointed once again at the Captain as if saying: "just you".

"Very well," Ramon conceded. "Garcia," he turned his attention to his soldiers, "gather your men and follow me."

Sergeant Garcia glanced at the masked man and wistfully back at the freshly-poured glass in his hand. Sighing heavily, he placed it gently back down onto the hors d'oeuvre table and reached for his saber. "Lanshersh," he cried out a bit drunkenly, "to armsh!"

Diego rolled his eyes as he watched each uniformed man stumble out on unsteady legs, while their commanding officer strolled out of the gate, completely sober and rigidly stoic. If they wanted to catch this masked intruder, they were going to need Zorro's help.

As the last soldier vanished, Diego became jostled as the party attendees broke into a frenzy. Terror took hold of each of them and caused a panic.

He lost sight of Olivia as he was turned around in the confusion but perhaps it was for the best anyway. He would need to quickly change if he was going to catch up with the soldiers.

Although in their drunken state, it probably wouldn't be all that difficult, he internally told himself with a shake of his head.

Bernardo stood beside his father as the rest of their guests filtered out of the patio to their horses and carriages. Soon, the three of them were all that were left.

"It looks like the party is over," Diego joked momentarily before he turned serious. "Are you alright, Father?" Don Alejandro had been standing near the Captain when the masked man had arrived and Diego had been fearing for his father's life when the knife had been thrown.

"Yes, fine," Don Alejandro steamed angrily. "Though I am madder than a bull in a pen. Of all of the places to call out the Comandante, why did he have to choose here? At a party in his honor?"

Reaching up to grasp the knife that still stood in the wooden post, he wiggled it free and examined it briefly. It was very similar to the one Zorro had pilfered from the Capitán's office. He would have to closely examine it later, though. "I don't know, but I plan to find out," Diego responded softly as he noticed the house servants beginning to clean up the remnants of the festivities. With the motion of his head, he urged Bernardo and his father to follow him inside the house. They disappeared into the study before speaking again. "Bernardo, get Tornado saddled quickly. I don't want to lose the trail."

Bernardo nodded and disappeared into the secret passage behind the bookcase.

His father snorted in exasperation. "With the amount the soldiers had been drinking tonight, I highly doubt it will be a difficult trail to follow."

"Yes, but while I agree that Sergeant Garcia and the rest of the lancers had been drinking quite intensely, Ramon was not. He and the masked man are the two I am worried about."

"I don't understand, though, Diego. Why save the Capitán one day and try to kill him the next?"

"I am not certain that he was trying to kill him. But, I can't prove it until I know more. Do not wait up for me. I feel as though this will be a long night." Patting his elder on the shoulder, Diego walked the same path Bernardo had a few moments earlier, leaving his father to stew in his own thoughts.

The trail the soldiers had left was as clear as if the sun had been shining high in the sky. The line of hoofprints their horses had left on the dirt roads were clean and distinct. They were headed toward the pueblo. Further along the trail, Zorro was met with broken branches and even a soldier so drunk that he'd fallen from his horse and just remained on the side of the road.

Zorro stopped momentarily to check on him, but the loud and sonorous snores emanating from the soldier told the masked vigilante all he needed to know.

Had this been the plan all along? Have someone arrange for the soldiers to drop their guard enough to drink themselves into unconsciousness for their own vile reason? As he approached the group of drunken uniforms struggling to remain in their saddles, Zorro believed this theory more and more.

Without a word to them, he urged Tornado forward, kicking his heels into the animal's flanks and resting low against his back. Tornado didn't need a verbal command. He and his master had been on enough missions like this that he instinctively knew what was being asked of him. And being a horse who loved to run, he gave in willingly.

Passing the lead horse, the outlaw noted how Sergeant Garcia drooped in his saddle. The wine he had consumed was taking its toll on the large man, lulling him to sleep.

Unable to allow the opportunity to pass by, Zorro saluted the half-awake soldier with his familiar sly smile. "Sleep well, my fat Sergeant."

"Gracias, Señor Zorro," Garcia mumbled, sleepily. His head drooped a bit lower right before his small eyes popped back open. Lifting his gaze, he was met with the figure of El Zorro riding beside him. "Zorro?" Confused by his presence, Garcia fought against his drunken stupor and tightened his hold on the reigns.

Saluting again, the fox chuckled as his horse began to lead by a length. Then it was ten and then he was gone. But not before calling out an "Adiós Sergeant" before disappearing into the night.

"Oh, the Comandante is going to be angry when he hears about this."

"Why should we have to tell him?" Corporal Reyes questioned, being a voice of reason for once, despite being quite inebriated.

"Because, we are soldiers, stupid. The Comandante must be told about this."

"But, how could Zorro have come from behind us when he was already in front of us?"

The Sergeant opened his mouth to respond but found that he had no answer.

The Comandante's trail had been more difficult to pick up. The roads were heavily traveled during the day and fresh horse tracks were not the easiest to see at night.

Zorro had had a hunch that the impostor was leading the Capitán somewhere and the man thing in the direction he'd seen them go was the pueblo. He could only conclude that they were headed there. But, why?

He would get his answer soon enough, he surmised when he caught sight of Ramon's white Andalusian just ahead of him.

The impostor was just ahead of him as well. He was keeping a distance between them, yet he constantly looked over his shoulder to make certain he was still being followed. Odd.

Now, Zorro was certain the impostor had drawn out the Capitán. And it made him all the more curious to see why.

He ushered Tornado to quicken his pace. He wanted to go only fast enough to catch up with the Comandante. Any faster and he could spook the other rider.

"Good evening, Capitán," Zorro greeted genially as Tornado caught up to the Andalusian.

"Zorro?" Ramon's shocked reply was as expected. Eyes wide, he shifted his gaze from the vigilante on his right to the one a dozen horse-lengths ahead of him.

"Surprised to see me?"

"Well, you have to admit, señor, when one sees a man in black, conclusions will be drawn." The humor in his tone pierced the steel-like facade of the soldier, but it never made his determination falter.

"I will accept your apology, Capitán. But, I will also warn you that this could be a trap."

"I wouldn't be a soldier if I hadn't considered that."

Zorro could think of quite a few soldiers who didn't exactly fit into that category. Yet, he didn't comment on it. "He's drawing you to the pueblo," he said, instead. "Perhaps someone has noticed the lack of soldiers on duty."

Ramon opened his mouth to question the Fox on how he was aware of such knowledge then he remembered that Los Angeles was a small pueblo and word traveled quite fast among the people. "My men are more than capable, señor." But the wavering bravado told the vigilante all he needed to know about the Comandante's faith in his men.

"I will assist you in any way that I can." Zorro was surprised at his own words, but if it was for the good of California, then he would do whatever it took.

"Be careful, Zorro. Or the people will start to believe you are on the side of the law," he quipped again.

"Only the side that benefits those same people."

They fell into a quiet understanding as the pueblo came into view. Each man steeling himself, they prepared for whatever was about to come.