Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
I tethered my horse to a tree outside the property, feeling a sense of urgency to get my sister and Salvador away from Felipe. I willed myself to find the courage to face his guards again.
Once inside, I strolled through the kitchen, looking like I belonged, nodding a greeting to servants who were scurrying about, busy with their chores. Carrying a tray of food, I walked through the doorway that led into the foyer.
Three guards stood talking nearby and glanced my way, but I kept going, ready to reach for my concealed knife. With a confidence I didn’t feel, I headed for the cellar.
I’d half-listened as Ferring had explained long ago that it was typical to keep supplies in the cold vaults, and apparently it was the best place for the prisoners.
A maid believed my story that I was new and guided me to the top of the stairwell, pointing down to the basement. As I descended, the dank prison smell brought back stark memories, and I tried to push the dark nostalgia away.
Alicia lay asleep in the corner of a squalid chamber, incarcerated in terrible conditions. But after checking a few other cells, I only found her. I was surprised to find the door to her cell unlocked. Careful not to startle her, I knelt close.
Alicia opened her eyes and sighed when she saw me.
“I’m going to get you out,” I whispered.
“Salvador?” she asked.
“I haven’t seen him.” I glanced around and turned back to face Alicia with a puzzled frown.
I helped her as she staggered to her feet. “Felipe told me he’d kill Ricardo if I left this place.”
She meant her son, but hearing my brother’s name stung my heart.
“I’ll find him, too.” I wrapped my arm around her waist to support her.
We moved through the dungeon, making our way up and out, and then lingered at the top of the stairwell, waiting for our pathway to clear.
“I can’t leave without them.” She trembled against me.
My gut wrenched when I realized Alicia didn’t look pregnant.
I stared at her pale, tear-stained face. “I’ll come back.”
“When Felipe sent his men to arrest us,” she murmured, her hand on her belly, “I lost the baby.”
I felt an awful, twisting grief and couldn’t imagine what she’d endured. “How did he know you were in Italy?”
She grasped my sleeve. “Felipe told me he intercepted a letter from Salvador’s mother.”
I let out a slow breath. “I promise I’ll go back for them.”
When we reached the stables, I found what looked like a fast horse and bridled him. I patted his neck, trying to earn his trust as I slid on the saddle and then secured the girth around his chest.
I turned to Alicia. “Promise me,” I held her arm to make sure she listened, “you won’t stop until you get to Miranda’s home.”
Alicia nodded. “I remember it.”
With my assistance, Alicia grasped the reins and mounted.
“Neither of you can stay there for long.” With caution, I led the stallion outside. “Felipe may come looking for you.”
Alicia sobbed. “I can’t leave them.”
“It’s getting dark. They won’t be able to catch you. Hold on tight.” I slapped the horse’s rump.
Alicia galloped off and I continued to watch her, making sure she didn’t turn the horse around. She rode well and was light in the saddle. I prayed she’d make it to Miranda’s.
When I turned back toward the stables, two guards came from out of nowhere. A fist struck my jaw, and a foot kicked me forward into the dirt. I spat out soil and then felt the awful pressure of a man kneeling on my back.
Muffled orders were shouted our way. The knee lifted and I sucked in air, yelling with rage as they dragged me away.
A lone soldier was ordered to guard me inside the mansion. His gruff expression made me look elsewhere, studying the office to become familiar with my surroundings.
An oversized mahogany writing desk was positioned in the center, and pretentious leather-bound books adorned the shelves. On the wall behind the desk hung a painting, a portrayal of the biblical tale of Belshazzar’s Feast.
Prince Belshazzar’s morbid expression matched my own. He’d made the mistake of insulting God. He, his wives, concubines, and other cohorts had imbibed from the sacred vessels stolen from Solomon’s temple. The prince glared back at a disembodied hand that reached out of a cloud.
The guard coughed and I caught him wiping his brow.
I turned my attention back to the painting where God scribed in Aramaic that Belshazzar’s days were numbered.
The door opened and several men entered, closely followed by Felipe.
Salvador was imprisoned somewhere within these walls. I had to persuade Felipe to let him go.
My gaze returned to the painting.
“You’re unable to appreciate the significance of such a masterpiece,” Felipe said.
I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “Where’s Salvador?”
Felipe moved closer to the canvas. “God’s reckoning with an arrogant man,” he said, leaning in close. “Belshazzar believed himself greater than his creator. Sound familiar?”
“God destroys Belshazzar’s seat of power,” I said. “Sound familiar?”
Felipe turned to face me. “My men have gone after Alicia.”
Belshazzar’s eyes bulged and the petrified expressions of his guests reflected the horror of my own drama. I steadied myself.
“No reaction?” Felipe looked amused.
A guard handed him the knife that had been confiscated from me when I’d been searched earlier.
“Was this for me?” Felipe drew closer. “I can add conspirator to your list of crimes.”
“Where’s Ricardo?” I asked.
“At home.” Felipe picked up a parchment from his desk and handed it to me. “I assumed you’d pay a visit, so I had this prepared.”
The lawyer’s scrawl was familiar, as was the content. I reached for the quill on his desk and signed it.
Felipe snatched the paper back. “I see you’ve finally agreed to cooperate.”
Having just signed over my entire estate to him, I tried to stay focused, telling myself that such things were unimportant.
“Where is Salvador?”
“Well, I’m afraid the news isn’t good.” Felipe seemingly paused to check my reaction and then said, “Any act of treason is punishable by death. Salvador’s alliance with you seals his fate.”
“But you’re friends with his father.”
Felipe glared. “Meddling in my affairs has consequences.” His fingers tapped against his leg in that familiar frenetic rhythm.
A wave of nausea hit me hard.
“Out,” he ordered the guards, and then waited until we were alone. “I want the dancer.”
“What?” Stunned, I searched for words. “Wait…listen to me…”
Felipe opened the door and with a thin smile, he turned and shrugged. “Your widow will become my whore.”
He was gone before I could get to him.
The guards dragged me across the foyer, following Felipe, past the startled gazes of servants, to the edge of a courtyard where a large crowd had gathered.
I panicked.
In the center of the courtyard, Salvador fought against three soldiers, and judging by his wounds and bloodstained clothes, they’d been sparring for some time. Steel blades clanged and I caught a whiff of sweat and blood in the air. My legs almost gave way.
“Hold back,” Felipe ordered his men.
These were seasoned swordsmen who were well-fed and rested. Salvador had no such advantage, and his balance was affected by his weakened state.
I grappled with the guards to get free, but they tightened their grip. Salvador staggered back against the assault, struggling to grasp his weapon’s hilt.
“This is not the way a gentleman defends his honor,” I shouted at Felipe.
“He has no honor,” Felipe said.
“Let me fight with him.”
“And ruin my entertainment?” Felipe nodded to a six-year-old boy who watched from nearby.
Ricardo, the child with my brother’s name and my sister’s eyes, ran to Felipe, clutching a small sword fashioned just for him.
Having lived with Salvador for most of his early years, I wondered how Ricardo would react. Salvador had adopted him, caring for him as his own. The child didn’t understand what was happening. Wielding his sword, he stabbed at an invisible opponent.
“Ricardo.” Felipe signaled to the boy. “Should your uncle fight?”
“Say yes,” I pleaded.
Ricardo frowned.
Felipe laughed and turned to his soldiers. “Continue.”
They besieged Salvador, thrusting their swords at him. One man closed in, while the other two stalked him from behind.
“Don’t make the boy watch this,” I said, stumbling forward.
A guard punched my stomach, winding me.
Salvador caught one of his attackers by surprise and struck his arm. Blood poured from the man’s wound, and his opponents forged ahead, inflicting viscous strikes. Salvador’s sword fell. They strode around him, closing in like animals.
Felipe gave me a bitter smile. “I’ve outmaneuvered you both.”
“Spare him.”
“Your life for his?”
“Yes.”
“How noble.”
Salvador looked at me, his expression filled with sadness and affection.
“Salvador, raise your sword,” I shouted.
His eyes glazed over as a rapier sliced into his back, and he sank to his knees, falling forward into the dirt.
With a nod from Felipe, his men let me go and I sprinted into the center of the courtyard, skidding on my knees, and pulling Salvador into my arms. Blood poured from his wounds. I pressed against them, trying to stop the flow. Several of his fingernails were gone. They’d tortured him first.
“Alicia?” Salvador gasped out.
“She’s safe.”
“I told him nothing,” Salvador whispered.
I glared at Felipe, full of hatred.
A trickle of scarlet leaked from Salvador’s mouth and onto his chin, his breathing becoming labored.
My vision blurred with tears. “I’ve always loved you.”
Salvador forced a smile and then his head fell against my chest, his eyelids half-closed. I rocked him into death.
Salvador was ripped from me, and the soldiers pulled his body to the edge of the courtyard. A sword landed near my feet. Everything felt surreal.
Standing now, my shirt soaked with sweat and Salvador’s blood, I judged my assailants carefully. If I took out one man at a time, I could survive this ordeal.
I took the first attacker by surprise, my weapon slashing his thigh. He collapsed, badly wounded. Turning awkwardly, facing the man behind me, I defended his lunge, metal clashing against metal. An aggressive thrust and I had the other one down. Now one man remained.
Two more soldiers stepped into the courtyard. A dreadful wave of futility caused my throat to constrict.
A perfect life waited for my return, and if I failed, Annabelle would be left vulnerable and my boys threatened.
Felipe smiled.
I was attacked from every angle. A blade cut into my side, knocking me off-balance, and I landed heavily on the ground. Dust sprayed up into my eyes. Through gritty vision, I saw my assailants gathering around me.
I sprang to my feet and leaped back, ensuring distance between us.
Then I hurled my body forward, swiftly striking another man who swayed to my right.
The tip of my weapon sliced his forearm.
A sharp pain tore into my lower back, and another blade was thrust into my right shoulder. The pain made me light-headed.
Another fierce strike to the back of my head threw me forward. Face down, ignoring the torment of each breath, I tried to hold on. Desperate to save my sister and get back to my family, I fought to stay conscious – and lost.
I awoke later to the sound of laughter. Felipe stood nearby.
Bound to a large pillar positioned at the edge of the courtyard, I was unable to move. Sweat stung my eyes. My limbs were numb. A few torches provided some light, but not enough to see the edges of the courtyard.
The rapier I’d used lay a few feet away and beside it stood Ricardo. He waved his own sword in the air.
“I didn’t want you to miss this, Velde.” Felipe’s fingernails dug into my jaw, and he raised my chin. “The handling of fine weaponry runs in the family. Your nephew will be a great swordsman.” He motioned to Ricardo. “Provide your uncle with a demonstration.”
Through bleary eyes, I focused on the child’s sword and my chest muscles tightened, forcing air from my lungs. It was impossible to struggle.
“Straight through the heart, boy.” Felipe stepped aside. “Swift and sure.”
Ricardo hurtled toward me.
Stupefied, I watched the silver tip penetrate my stomach, and felt a searing, blinding agony as it reached my spine.
Somewhere far off, I heard a crowd cheering.
“I shall have words with your teachers, boy.” Felipe’s voice was distant. “Their lessons in anatomy are lacking.”
The inevitable strikes without mercy followed.
Feeling a terrible numbness, I forced my eyes open and saw my blood gushing down to stain the earth at my feet.
A small, abandoned boy lay bound again in the mausoleum.
I was laughing with Annabelle. I heard Eduardo and Jacob but couldn’t see them.
I craved one last embrace from them all.
The ghost of an Andalusian cantered, hooves soundless against the dusty earth.
Yet clouds of ash rose in its wake as though stirred by something real.
Its flanks shimmered, eyes gleaming hollow and ancient.
What felt like my last breath snagged in my throat, as time unraveled in loops as it passed.
Limbs feeling heavy as the world dimmed, colors bleeding together, vision blurring, sounds folding inward, like silence remembering a scream.
The horse vanished into a void, leaving only the scent of forgetting.
Drifting close to death, fate’s spiraling momentum dragged me into a silent darkness.