Here’s the 3rd chapter!  It took me long enough!  Lol…

Chapter 3:  Meeting the Victims

Miguel heard light, quick steps through the front hall.  The door opened, and he came face to face to the most beautiful creature he had ever set his eyes upon.  He thought that she must be a siren, she was so beautiful.

The girl that opened the door had long, dark brown, silky hair that fell to her waist in gentle curls.  Her eyes were the deepest blue Miguel had ever seen.  They looked as peaceful and as breathtaking as the ocean.  Her face was young and had no creases in her skin, except for the slight lines next to her eyes due to her smile.  Her smile reached to her eyes and showed brilliant white teeth.

She wore a long, flowing blue silk gown that matched her eyes. It laid perfectly on her, and was cut modestly.  The sleeves widened out as the lengthened, and reached to her knuckles, leaving her long slender fingers visible.  She wore feminine boots that matched her gown.

She reached out a slender hand and smiled even more.  “I am Mercédes Hernandez, daughter of Rafael Hernandez.  You must be Señor Lopez.  Welcome to our home.”

Miguel took her hand gently in his and kissed it.  “Your assumption was correct, Señorita.  But please, call me Miguel,” he answered.

She curtsied as Miguel let go of her hand.  “Please, come in, Miguel.  Let me show you to the parlor.”

Miguel entered, and she called for a servant to take his things to his quarters.  Mercédes walked quickly a step in front of him.  She walked fluidly and gracefully, her feet barely making a sound.  She was just a few inches short of Miguel’s 11 hands (A/N:  I think people back then used to measure height by hands.  I read a book where they did that.  My hand is about 7 inches long, so 11 hands would be 77 inches, or 6’ 5” (I was going to do 6’3”, but 77 was an easier number for a hand 7 in. long)), so she had long, fluid strides.  She almost glided along the hard wood floors.

Then she stopped and opened a door to her right and stepped in, beckoning Miguel to follow her.

The room they had entered was as picturesque as the outside of the house.  The hard-wood floors had an elaborate, soft carpet covering it.  There were two comfortable red couches and two matching arm chairs with golden tassels on the armrests.  There was a huge, shiny black grand piano, and in front of the piano was a large bay window with red drapes pulled back around it.  Through the window Miguel could see a calm clear creek running, green grass, and a large, peaceful forest behind the creek.  In front of the creek stood two comfortable whicker chairs like the two out front, with drawing pads, books, and drawing pencils.  Miguel could clearly see the beautiful, pink and purple sunset over the top of the forest.

            And sitting in one of the big armchairs was unmistakably Señor Hernandez, with Señora Hernandez and a young girl whom Miguel did not know, but who looked oddly familiar, sitting on a couch.

            Señor Hernandez stood up and held out his hand.  “I am Rafael Hernandez.  Welcome to my home.”

            Señor Hernandez was a tall man, only a bit taller than Miguel.  He had short, dirty-blonde hair, and was thin.  He had the same blue eyes as Mercédes.  He had an air of confidence about him.  He seemed very friendly.

Miguel took his hand and shook it.  “I thank you for your hospitality.  I hope I am not inconveniencing you in any way.”

“No, no, we are pleased to have you here, Miguel,” said Señor Hernandez kindly.  “May I introduce my wife, Pilar?”

             Señora Hernandez stood up.  She was her daughter’s height, and looked a lot like an older version of Mercédes.  She had the same long, brown tresses, but she had brown eyes.

            She reached out her hand.  “Welcome to our home, Miguel.”

            Miguel kissed her hand.  She was a kind woman, he could tell.  She reminded Miguel of his own mother.  He felt a stab of pain at the thought of her.

            “We are terribly sorry about your parents.  From you friend’s description of them, they sounded like wonderful people.  I have been looking forward to meeting you.”

            Miguel knew at once that he like this woman.  “Thank you, Señora.  I am very grateful for your kindness in taking me in until I have enough education to get a good job,” he answered.

            Señora Hernandez turned to the girl next to her.  “This is our daughter, Graciela.  She is not biologically ours, but she was sent to us for an education ten years ago, and her parents unfortunately died not long after, so we took her in and raised her as our own.”

            The girl, who had seemed in a daze while staring out the window, jumped out of her reverie, stood up, and extended her hand to Miguel.  He took her hand and kissed it.

            When she finally looked at him, he was surprised to hear her gasp, but he was the only one who heard.  She had a look of recognition in her eyes.

            She had jet-black curly hair that fell to her waist.  She also had vivid green eyes.  Now Miguel knew why she looked familiar.  She looked like an older version of his little sister.  But Federigo’s men had found out that Miguel’s sister, Graciela, still lived in Barcelona.  So this could not be his precious sister, although she was about the right age.  Yes, the name was the same, the age, and she looked so much like himself, but it couldn’t be her.

            He was jerked from his puzzling thoughts by Señor Hernandez’s voice.  “You will be learning many things here, and hopefully, you will become one of the family.”

            Then Miguel and Mercédes sat down, and they all talked for awhile, getting to know each other.  Miguel could feel Graciela looking at him often while they sat there.

            “Mercédes, Graciela, why don’t you perform for Miguel?” Señora Hernandez asked the girls. The girls stood and strode over to the piano.  “You sing first,” he heard Graciela whisper.  Mercédes nodded, and Graciela took her seat at the piano.

            Graciela was a wonderful pianist.  Miguel thought she was better than any pianist he had ever heard.  She put her all into it, and she looked like she was lost in the music.  She put a lot of feeling in her music.

            When Mercédes started singing, Miguel’s heart almost stopped.  She was as good as Graciela was at the piano.  She put feeling into it, and sang incredibly well, and she seemed not to notice the people around her.  Miguel found himself lost in the sound of her voice.

            When they stopped, Miguel applauded enthusiastically.

            “That was amazing!  I’ve never heard anyone perform so well!” he exclaimed.

            The girls switched places and performed well again.

                                                            ***

            As Miguel lay in bed that night, he thought about Graciela.  She can’t be my Graciela, he thought.  Trying to convince himself, he thought, she’s too tall to be Graciela.  Mamá wasn’t that tall.  And Graciela couldn’t possibly be here.  Mamá and Papá wouldn’t send her away.

            Then his thoughts drifted to Mercédes.  He couldn’t help but feel drawn to her…But she probably has many beaus already, and anyway, I couldn’t put her in danger by being with me.  The life I lead does not allow me to fall in love…If I do, then my love will suffer…

            He felt a surge of hatred toward Federigo that was not unusual.  He vowed to himself that he would protect this family and its money, even if it meant his life…

Was that good?  Please review and tell me!

Namarie,

Alleyne Ellessedil