I am no one, I'm nothing

Capitulo Dieciocho

The cock crowed with a screechy yowl, signaling the early beginnings of morning as streaky rays of orange and red sunlight crept over the horizon. Aldonza stirred from her position in Pedro's arms, trying to untangle her limbs from his and shift out of the heap of skin and blankets without waking her lover. Delicately, she peeled his hand from her shoulder and snuck out from underneath his heavy arm. Her exposed form was silhouetted by the faded sunlight that caused the curtains to dance and the morning to whisper a timid 'hello.'

"Might I always wake to such a vision." Pedro crooned as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and watched Aldonza's backside as she searched for a clean shirt and skirt for the new day.

"Oh, stop that." She growled playfully. "You're beginning to sound like that old crack-brained Don Quixote."

Pedro barked out a quick laugh, rearranging himself on the bed and pulling the sheets taut around his figure. "Does he really talk like that to you?"

"To me?" Aldonza repeated with a snarky attitude. "Why, yes, Pedro. Haven't you heard, he thinks I'm a lady."

"Well, anyone with eyes could see that." He stated with his characteristic smirk. "Your curves, your breasts, your hair." He stood behind her and wrapped his hands around her middle, pressing his naked body against hers. He toyed with the hem of her shirt and lifted it up, maneuvering his hands so that they were searching the skin underneath it, fondling and caressing with delicate fingers that drove Aldonza wild with desire.

"He thinks I'm a proper lady, one raised by the silver spoon." Aldonza managed to get out as she leaned her neck back onto his shoulder. Pedro stooped to ravage the exposed, tender skin with kisses, causing Aldonza to moan colorfully.

"That's not very lady-like." Pedro chastised as he removed his lips from her skin and turned her around with strong hands, adjusting her blouse before placing a kiss on her sternum, mouthing over the permanent, degrading scar.

"It's all a façade, remember?" Aldonza questioned in a serious tone, smacking his shoulder playfully as she struggled to remove her figure from his and pull on her skirt.

"Remind me." Pedro stated, leaning towards her with his hands leaning against the bureau. Aldonza was trapped between the piece of furniture and her lover, and she looked around curiously before meeting his gaze.

"I... I am going to approach the Padre, like usual, and tell him I desire to start truly becoming a woman of God in all ways. And you..." She reached out a single finger to poke his nose with a bouncing motion. "You, Pedro Antonin, are going to play the role of the dirty stableman, who's trying to veer me off course. This will get the Sisters talking, who will try to convince the Padre to kick us out for our sinful ways. But, being compassionate and a man of God, the Padre will never do it but will instead approach you, ideally with me tagging along, and ask you to change your ways.

"When the Sisters see that the Padre is not taking the action they desire, we will see if they will resort to violence-meaning the sword in the old room."

"And that's where we'll see which side Don Quixote is on, correct my smart little kitty?" Pedro asked with a grin.

"Correct." Aldonza told him, turning to face the mirror to adjust her hair and apply the day's makeup. "Are you prepared to be mean to me? For the plan?"

Pedro brought back a hand a gingerly smacked her butt, causing Aldonza to leap forward with a surprised "Oooh!"

"As long as I can see you in the evenings, I am prepared to do anything. It's vital for us to figure out just how far the Sisters are willing to go before we make our exit. And you're sure," Pedro began, toying with her hair as she pulled it into a coarse bun. "You're sure the Sisters placed the weapon there?"