The Cursed Veil (Editing & rewriting)

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

1615, Pamplona, Basque Country, Spain, Esmeralda Rodriguez, was the daughter of a high class family. Esmeralda was 16 years old, with blue eyes and black beautiful wavy hair, and pale white skin like snow. Her life has been has been perfect as the only child of her parents. Her father was widowed and mostly travelling to Scotland and England for commerce, he used to bring his daughter expensive gifts and she learned English with a gentlemen from Scotland who also spoke German and Scottish, as has been living in Austria a while and was originally from Scotland. His name was Viktor Collins. She admired him, he was the most attractive and educated man that she has ever met. Many princes and nobles have offered for her hand, since she turned fourteen but she never had an indentation to marry any of them. In the end they were all pretty boring and just wanted to brag along with a beautiful intelligent lady. She often asked Viktor about the faraway lands, where she would like to travel with him. Esmeralda was known very well to the aristocracy of Europe, they called her Pamplona’s Snow White.  The ladies used to throw jealous looks at her and the men followed her with their eyes in admiration and always complementing her.  She had all a lady needed, and wanted. Her best friend was her maid, Maria, a peasant, her father Alvero didn’t like this at all.   Little did he know that his daughter dreamt of adventures and disliked the noble luxurious Europe were peasants were not treated as people but as slaves. 

“Viktor, will you show me the world and let have adventures like in your stories?”-Esmeralda asked smiling charmingly. “Señorita Rodriguez, your father will never allow that.”-Viktor said almost getting up to leave. Esmeralda took hold of his arm and said in a fierce tone- “Viktor, I beg not be so polite to me. Please call me Esmeralda, not less and not more.  I don’t care what my father says. I don’t want to marry any of those slimy men. Oh I know many women would love to be in my position. There is no flare in though.”  A tear was in her eye. “I’m sorry I made you upset.”-Viktor stated. “That’s all you say?”-Esmeralda sobbed. “Do you want me to tell you listen to your father instead?”-Viktor asked. “I know you would never say that. You don’t look at me like the other men do.”-Esmeralda said with and empty look.  “I’m not what people think I am. I’m a bad person. I have killed people.”-Viktor started contradicting her.  “Don’t lie to me Viktor, someone like you wouldn’t do that.”-Esmeralda said almost laughing. “I never lie.”-Viktor said stern.  It was time for dinner and Maria came in and said- “Señor Collins, Esmeralda, la cena está preparada.”  (Sir Collins, Esmeralda, dinner is ready.)  “Gracias Maria”-Esmeralda said. She and Viktor went to the dining hall. Esmeralda slowly started eating the delicious food and drinking the good wine. Viktor drank a glass of wine and then got up, saying- “Esmeralda, will you please excuse, I’ll go out now. I will be back in the morning.”  Esmeralda nodded.  Viktor always left at dinner time and returned in the mornings. Esmeralda always wondered where he went and what he did and why he never said anything about it. Though she was curious, she never dared to ask him, she respected and admired him too much. 

Esmeralda was in her room after dinner and played piano when Maria came in and they started talking in Spanish. “I’m worried about you Esmeralda.”-Maria said stern with almost tears in her eyes. “Why so?”-Esmeralda asked careless. “I have noticed your feelings for Sir Collins. He is your teacher I know. I don’t like him. There is something demonic about him. You should tell your father that he should not come anymore.”-Maria said in a very serious tone. “Stupid woman, there is nothing demonic about him and that I love doesn’t mean I’ll marry him.”-Esmeralda said annoyed. She disapproved when people told her how to behave or what she should feel or not.  Maria was shocked, if Esmeralda didn’t marry, her father will be very upset. “You are a lady; you should not talk like this.”-Maria said upset.  “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings but Viktor is staying and I’m not going to become a noun either. “-Esmeralda said angry.  “What will your father say and the people?”-Maria worried. “Stop bothering me with that please.”-Esmeralda yelled. “I’m sorry, very sorry!”-Maria said bowing and walking towards the door to leave Esmeralda alone.  “Don’t go Maria.”-Esmeralda demanded. “Why?”-Maria asked irritated and surprised.  “You are my only friend I have and I would like you to come with me where ever I go.”-Esmeralda said in her lovely voice smiling. Maria has never expected Esmeralda to say this but she has loved the girl like her own sister.  “Where do you want to go, dear?”-Maria asked surprised.  “I don’t know yet but I want to have adventures, this life is becoming depressing.”-Esmeralda answered. Maria’s eyes filled with tears, she was scared. Esmeralda hugged her. 

Esmeralda had totally forgotten when her father wanted to be back from his journey again. As she was opening her eyes she heard Viktor and Alvero conversing.  She came into the living room dressed and styled as always. She greeted her father, who handed her a gift from London. It was a beautiful necklace. She thanked him for it but actually hated the gift. Viktor stood up and bowed before her, saying- “Señorita, I have just told your father how well you have learned English. I will now leave and wish for you that the men you marry, will value you.”  She was upset but she didn’t want to show it in front of her father.  She smiled and said-“Thank you very much, Sir Collins. Have a good journey.”  He bowed and nodded.  Alvero started conversing with Viktor about his business and plans for his daughter as she left them and run to the fields to find Maria. Completely out of breath she found her friend. “Maria, I need your help now, urgently.”-Esmeralda said.  She asked Maria was peasant clothes and covered her head with cloth and then waited for Viktor to come out of the Villa. 

Viktor did not take the coach, he just walked into the streets, and Esmeralda followed him at distance, disguised as a peasant.  Viktor noticed her smell in the air and hoped that he was just imagining it. “Viktor, I found something so tasty. Read her mind, she has followed you. Wow.”-Sven called drinking Esmeralda’s blood.  Sven had been a good friend of Viktor since childhood and was angry on him because of Connor’s death.  “Let her go Sven. She is a known lady in Europe, you can’t kill her.”- Viktor said turning around.  “My friend, I will not kill such a beautiful lady. I will make her my lover. “-Sven answered, drinking all her blood and then biting his wrist and giving her his blood. “What have you done? She is an aristocrat.”-Viktor was furious. “Oh that’s even better. That’s why her blood was so sweet.”-Sven said grinning. “You got me into trouble now, you bastard.”-Viktor shouted. “Interesting, this lady is your responsibility now. Ask for The Cursed Veil Council in Paris and bring her to me, once she is transformed and ready, please. Then I will stop following you and never bother you again.”-Sven demanded.  “Ok, I will do as you say.”-Viktor said.  “Very good Viktor, I will be awaiting her.”-Sven said pleased.

A week passed and Esmeralda was happy about being a vampire now. She now had sparkling violet eyes; her black hair was shinning like ebony in the sun light. She was more beautiful than before.  Viktor could not resist her, his lust kept growing towards her day by day. “This is much better than what I have dreamt of.”-Esmeralda said pleased as Viktor was staring at her. “It can also be wicked. Please be careful.”-Viktor said pissed. “You are with me, so there is nothing to worry about.”-Esmeralda giggled. “Tomorrow morning, we will travel to Paris. I got business there.”-Viktor said stern. “Wow, that’s nice.”-Esmeralda was excited. She caught Viktor’s eye and started seducing him, he took complete advantage of it. As they were done, Viktor apologized to her. “Darling, please don’t be sorry. It was great. I love you.”-Esmeralda said pleased. Viktor kissed her.

A week later, Viktor left Esmeralda with Sven as that was the deal. Sven was astonished that Viktor did as demanded. He was very eager on having lots of fun with Esmeralda.  “I need to go on a journey, alone now. You will be save here, Esmeralda. I will soon come back honey.”-Viktor told her, and kissing her cheek. He was a good liar. Sven’s flirt attempts were unsuccessful, so he tortured Esmeralda, letting werewolves eat her flesh and save her before she was dead. Those dam she-wolves were angry and talked about wanting to eat her out completely next time. Esmeralda was terrified; she hoped that Viktor would return soon.  He never came but she didn’t give up waiting.