Chapter 8
Chapter 8
I stared into Aristeo's bright green eyes, relishing how he held me, our hands intertwined as we followed the sway of the music.
My skirt twirled with the sounds of the drums as we performed the Salamancian rendition of the quadrille in front of hundreds of guests in the open night air under a moonless sky.
I welcomed the distraction, basking in the safety and familiarity of Aristeo's strong arms as he guided us effortlessly through the steps.He looked incredible tonight in his fitted black and white tux. I could tell by some of the envious glances of my fellow female classmates that I wasn't the only one who thought so.
As the end of the dance neared, we were surrounded by the overwhelming cheers and applause from the audience and our families, taking our final bows.
The girls all looked beautiful in their vibrant custom skirts, which came in varying shades of color. They melded into each other, mimicking the multitude of flowers that grew on the island.
I shared smiles of triumph and relief that this ordeal was finally over.
We were formally introduced to society and considered young adults in the eyes of our families.
"You were amazing, Dove," Aristeo said, bending over and whispering. "I don't think anyone noticed that trip." He laughed as we walked away from the dance floor, my hand held respectfully in his arms.
"Thank you for being so discreet." I nudged his shoulder.
He blushed, cleared his throat, and shook his head at my playfulness as we walked over to join our fellow classmates in the afterglow of our performance.
Samara was arguing with Kerby about how he stepped over her feet. "I would never wear the ribbon of a spoiled mama's boy," Samara said scathingly, glaring at her dance partner, appalled that he held a red ribbon towards her. It was a sign of his confession, one she clearly rejected. Snickers came from the rest of our group.
"You don't have to be such a bitch, Samara," Kerby sneered, his dark face snarling as he dropped the ribbon on the floor before stomping away angrily.
"What's new?" Nydia took the opportunity to interject into a conversation that she was not a part of.
I gave her a look to stay out of it, but she just shrugged, smiling coyly, looking like every bit of the princess she was. Her dress was deep scarlet red, with intricate, colorful beading and embroidery, easily the most extravagant of us all.
Second place had to go to Jamira and Lucia. Their sweet pink and yellow creations with extra padding were overdone, as with everything with my beloved cousins.
I smiled apologetically at Aristeo, quickly grabbing Samara's hand and dragging her away from Nydia's taunt. I wasn't protecting Nydia. I would have loved to see her put in her place.
I was protecting Samara from making a scene. The look on her face told me she was ready to drag Nydia by her hair across the dance floor.
We maneuvered our way through several "you girls look beautiful" and "wonderfully done" of various adults before hiding away from the party behind the old trees of the garden of the great house.
I removed my shoes to relish the cool grass beneath my aching feet. Samara did the same, chucking the sneakers she had snuck on before the dance. The smell of the ocean breeze filtered in and out, along with the sway of the trees. I always thought that was how they communicated with each other.
There was something solemn about being in the serenity of the night garden, the light pollution faded from our sight, and the sounds of the music echoed in the distance.
"I'm done entertaining the aristocracy of Salamanca tonight and their spoiled princes who don't understand the word no." She scowled, falling back to the ground, not caring if her dress got dirty.
"Kerby isn't so bad," I teased.
"Yeah, well, his hands wander way too much." She sighed and changed the subject. "Listen, we don't have to talk about it now," she said gently. "But I know something happened with you last night. Don't think I'll let it go." She eyed me, plucking a green leaf and waving it at me.She never let anything go. Samara held onto her hunches and grudges for life.
"I know you won't," I conceded, smiling. I would tell her eventually, but I didn't want to think anymore tonight about him . "Let's just enjoy the rest of tonight. It's the last day of the holiday," I implored as I stood up and slipped my shoes back on, instantly missing the feeling of grass beneath my feet.
I also knew the real reason Samara wanted to hide. She was trying to escape from her mother, who was bound to critique her for something she did, falling short of her impossible expectations.
But we couldn't hide forever, and I knew the ribbon dance would begin soon.
As I guided us back to the heart of the party, I caught my mother's eye, and she smiled proudly at me, winking and waving from a distance. Mami played the part of one of the senior members of the family and was a respected woman within the community. She had been flocked by women and men alike engaged in conversation.
My mother was a beautiful woman. Her skin was clear and bright, and she looked nothing of her age. Thanks to herbal concoctions, she defied the natural process. She had me later in her life and has always been alone.
I would ask her on occasions why she had never married. It wasn't that men had not tried to get her attention; she just never cared, dismissing the suitors with a smile. She would always reply with laughter and say she enjoyed having to tend to me and her garden.
It was all she needed.
As we made our way to our assigned seats, the announcement had been made for the coveted ribbon dance. I felt the butterflies in my stomach swirl as Aristeo walked towards me with a dreamy smile.
And just as suddenly, he stopped alongside the sudden commotion.
"Dove, isn't that…?" Samara whispered, standing still beside me, her eyes wide with apprehension.
The gentle fluttering of the butterflies in my stomach stopped, twisting violently into something else, my smile disappearing.
Meroveo.
The shift in the air was immediate; he seemed to swallow it all.
He stood out amongst the cluster of men and was greeted with reverence. The rich darkness of the tailored suit showcased his effortless confidence, and he captured everyone's attention with a commanding presence.
There was something in the very wind that obeyed him.
Tio Franco puffed up happily at the sight of him and eagerly approached him, immediately greeting Meroveo with unusual enthusiasm.
I noticed the two other men that stood at his side. The striking resemblance between them was unmistakable.
They had to be his brothers.
The man to Meroveo's right wore round yet modern glasses. A neat, complete, dark beard covered his stoically handsome face. He wore a dark navy vest suit, his hair styled into a classic parted cut. He wore no expression on his face. Behind his scholarly frames was something sinister about him, menacingly cold and aloof to his aura.
The man to Meroveo's left was tall and a little slender, with a bristling chaotic energy to his walk. Something wild and untamed in his nature, with a wide cocky smile, showing off the gold diamond teeth covering his top canines. I saw the numerous tattoos under the exposed skin of his blood-red silk shirt. His hair was the same black coal, shaved at the sides and back, the top long enough to slick back into an edgy retro look.
All three of them were uniquely menacing.
But it was Meroveo who petrified me the most.
His gaze found mine despite the crowd, pinning me to the spot with a possessive, primal stare. He occasionally nodded at something my uncle would say, but his silent focus was on me.
I grabbed Samara's hand, backing away slowly to escape somewhere to hide before my uncle saw me.
But it was too late.
"Dove!" Tio Franco said, smiling, waving to come towards him insistently. Greedy excitement twinkled in his bloodshot eyes as he looked at me adoringly in a way he never had before.
I felt the familiar tremble in my knees, frozen under his gaze as my uncle called out to me again.
"Dove, you don't have to," Samara whispered, her voice low and quiet. She squeezed my hand, silently telling me not to go.
But we both knew the uproar that would happen if I didn't. Ignoring my uncle would be the ultimate disrespect in front of our guests, and he wouldn't be so forgiving.
I was frantically looking for my mother but couldn't find her in the crowds. She must have gone into the great house to help with the kitchen.
Taking a breath, I walked towards the men, maintaining my composure and stood with confidence, something I knew his stare could see right through.
"Dove." My uncle beamed at me as he brought me close to him. "You remember Mister De Los Santos from your cousin's wedding a few weeks back, no?" Tio gestured towards Meroveo expectantly.
"Yes," I answered politely, meeting Meroveo's eyes."It's nice to see you again, Mister De Los Santos."
His lips quipped with amusement as I intentionally refused to call him by his first name."Dove," he said my name. The syllable sounded so intimate coming from his lips, his gaze following me the entire time.
I gave my hand out for an impersonal and mannerly handshake. Against my will, he gently kissed the back of it, the shock of it going up and down my spine.
"Mister De La Santos is back in Salamanca for business. I invited him tonight to celebrate you becoming a young woman." My uncle grinned.
"You're mistaken, Tio Franco. Tonight has rarely anything to do with me and everything to do with honoring Our Lady of The Sea." I did my best to remain polite, but I felt the anger trickle in with my words.
"And I am eternally grateful to your Lady," Meroveo answered. His eyes lit up as my uncle's greedy smile turned sour at my words.
"My brothers, Hector and Roman," he introduced them. I smiled politely at them both. Hector said nothing, only tipped his head silently in greeting, while Roman smiled widely, looking at me with brazen curiosity. Up close, I could see the small upside-down cross tattoo under his eye.
"If you would please excuse me, Mister De Los Santos, my mother is probably looking for me," I said quickly, turning and practically running away like a scared rabbit under the paw of a relentless wolf.
I refused to look back.
I had to focus on calming the painful heartbeat in my chest. I assured myself that Meroveo could do nothing to me here. I was safe with so many people around.
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn't notice Aristeo calling me.
"Dove!" He finally caught me by the arm."Are you okay?" he asked as he looked back to where my uncle stood with Meroveo.
"Yes." I smiled brightly, hating that I wasn't brave enough to look back.
"You're shaking," he said, concerned. "Do you want me to get your mother or Samara?" he offered gallantly. "Why don't you have a seat?"
"No, I'm okay." I took a deep breath and willed my hands to stop shaking.
The announcement was made loudly over the speakers, calling for all the lovers to return for the ribbon dance.
"What I would like to do is dance with you," I offered quickly.
He grinned as his eyes lit up, taking my hands. We walked to the dance floor, joining the other couples, a mixture of both old and young.
My eyes connected with Samara's. The relief on her face was comforting. She had a wiggling Amias in her arms, with a ribbon tied around his hand as he protested. She laughed maniacally, winking over at me.
"I don't want to marry you!" Amias protested, trying to escape, but I knew he loved the attention.
I couldn't help bursting out in laughter. But I still couldn't shake the feel of the burn of his lips on my hand as Aristeo held me.
I smiled as Arsisteo pulled a bright blue ribbon from his pocket. I knew he wanted to give me his just as much as I wanted to give him mine.
"I want to let you know how I feel, Dove," Aristeo said, meeting my eyes with bashful sincerity.
Before he could wrap the ribbon around my wrist, I heard Meroveo's sudden, deep voice behind me, jolting like a crack of thunder.
"Boy."
His deep voice addressed Aristeo alone, his tone eerily calm. The silent threat was heard loud and clear in that single word.
Aristeo opened his mouth to protest, but any word that would come out faded when he met Meroveo's eyes, slowly letting go of my hand.
I stood in horror as Meroveo dismissed Aristeo with a simple movement, not bothering to look at him a second time.
"Here we are again," Meroveo smiled at me as if nothing had happened. "You look beautiful."
His dark eyes pierced my own as he pulled something from his pocket, taking my hand and wrapping it around my wrist.
It was the white ribbon that he took from me.
The intention was evident in his eyes, possessive and daring me to protest in any way. He held my wrist captive. The strength in his hand felt like it could easily break mine, yet he held me gently.
"Dance with me." He posed this as a suggestion, not the command that I knew it was.
I scanned the sea of faces, watching our every move, looking for my mother so she could stop this and keep him away from me.
Tio Franco stood with a salivating grin, exchanging words with the males in my family that surrounded him, watching with the same sickening glee.
Julian was the only one who seemed disturbed. His usual goofy face was stern and rigid, and he stared openly hostile towards Meroveo.
"My mother," I whispered fearfully, finally finding my voice as I trembled in his arms, trying to step away. But Meroveo stopped me, guiding and swaying us to the music, and I felt helpless in his arms.
"La Senora Demitria is quite a force," he agreed, sounding impressed as we danced. His intoxicating smell of leather, mint, and smooth tobacco drew me closer to him. "Did you dream of me?" he whispered in my ear.
His fingers curved softly onto my waist. I blushed as I felt my stomach tighten. The touch was tender–too intimate, too familiar."That's good to know, little Dove," he chuckled, smiling down at me.
He had a nice smile.
In a matter of seconds, I felt myself being ripped from his hands.
My mother furiously pulled me behind her protectively. Samara stood beside me, her hand slightly shaking as she held mine.
"I thought I made myself very clear." My mother stood bravely facing him, anger pouring from her words.
Murmurs and whispers came from the watching crowd, yet no one was brave enough to interfere.
"Good evening, Senora," Meroveo said, addressing my mother's fury with a calm and even tone, never losing his composure.
"I know you," my mother threatened. "I know the evil of what your family does." The words poured from my mother's mouth like hot venom. "These people may fear you. They may fear the shadow that has cursed your name, but I do not. The god you share your soul with has no power over me."
By this time, Tio Franco had made his way to us, along with a red-faced Tia Ida and a scowling Julian, rushing not far behind them.
"Demetria!" my uncle called out in warning, trying to stand before my mother as Tia Ida tried to grab hold of her.
"Por favor, Demetria," Tia Ida begged, her plea fearful and desperate as she tried to pull my mother back.
Mami raised her hand sharply, a single finger held in warning, effectively silencing my uncle's protest.
Hector watched by Meroveo's side, observing the scene with a calculated interest in silence. Roman, the younger of the two, was grinning wildly, clearly excited by the commotion.
"I do not love money like my brother. I have given you my answer," my mother said in cold warning.
Meroveo glanced at me, and I saw the clear resolution in his eyes. It struck hard in the deepest parts of myself.
"I'm afraid you misunderstood me, senora," Merveo said politely, with a calm and confident smile. Maintaining his composure against her ferocious anger.
"She's already mine."