by Helena Rose
Marisol was trying to let the guests out, when she realized that the door was locked.
"Cristobal!" She cried in desperation, "Cristobal, the door won’t open! We're locked in!"
Cristobal called Lucas and José.
"Forget Raquel," he shouted over the din. "Let's get out of here alive!"
The three ran towards the heavy door, forcefully trying to break it down with their shoulders. But it was solid wood and resisted their attempts.
Raquel smiled wildly. Everyone burn in hell! No one will save you from my vengeance! She was enjoying the spectacle of destruction, when she was grabbed by her arm.
She turned annoyed and found herself in front of her archenemy, Viviana Vargas de Coronado.
"Damn witch," cried Viviana. The anger she felt for her old enemy burned in her veins, and without thinking, she slapped her violently.
Raquel gave a cry like a wounded beast then she attacked Viviana, grabbing her by the arms.
"Tonight is the last time you will interfere, Viviana," She cried "I’m going to put an end to your and your daughter’s life!"
The two women engaged in a violent struggle. Raquel, in her madness, seized Viviana and pushed her to the ground. Then she sprang on her, grabbing her throat.
Grinning, she tightened her grip around Vivian’s neck as hard as she could.
" You’ll die, whore," she hissed, grinning, "I’m going to put an end to your days!"
Lucas and Cristobal, aided by Don José continued to try to open the heavy front door. The flames were already sweeping through the western part of the room, guests continued to scream in terror.
Aurora suddenly felt scared.
" Where’s my mother? I can’t see her."
José looked at her in alarm.
" Don José, I need help!" Cristobal had overturned a table and wanted to use it as a battering ram.
"Go Don José, I’ll look for my mother," exclaimed Aurora. She left the men and went back to look for Viviana.
The heat was becoming unbearable her velvet dress suffocated her. She looked around and suddenly saw two figures slumped on the ground, entwined in mortal combat.
In terror she recognized her mother’s dress. She ran quickly towards the two women screaming.
She came behind Raquel and grabbed her, yanking her away. Raquel lost her balance and released her grip on Viviana’s throat.
Aurora pushed her violently away and Raquel slammed into the drinks table, smashing bottles of alcohol that soaked her dress.
Raquel’s face was now a mask full of hatred and revenge.
"You’ll all die!" She gasped, "You can no longer escape!"
She then ran away, victim of the demons in her mind.
Aurora ignored her and, worried, bent down to help her mother. Viviana was rubbing her neck with a grimace of pain on her face.
"Are you alright, mother?" Aurora asked worried.
" Yes..." Replied Viviana hoarsely, "I'm fine ... Raquel is completely crazy!"
Aurora helped Viviana to her feet.
"We must go, mother, Lucas and others will manage to open the door!"
Vivian nodded and together they headed for the exit. The room, brightly lit by the flames, had become a stuffy and hot cavern. The guests had begun to cough furiously due to the smoke. “ We’ve done it," shouted Lucas suddenly. The door finally gave way with a crash, and with cries of relief, the guests began to run outside.
Aurora felt the cool night air hit her in the face. Hurrying, she helped Viviana outside.
" Everybody out!" Cried Cristobal. "Marisol, let’s go!"
Marisol ran to him and everyone poured onto the grass, gasping from the heat and smoke.
"My mother, I can’t see her," cried Marisol "She’s not out here!"
Lucas, without waiting, quickly ran back into the burning house. He saw Doña Clara half-conscious on the ground, next to a large burning cabinet. He ran to assist her, as she no longer had the strength even to cough. He was trying to help Doña Clara to her feet when he heard a cry of alarm that came from the door behind him.
Aurora’s frightened voice made him turn around just in time to see Doña Raquel who was about launch herself at him.
" Bastard," cried Raquel. "It's all your fault! I should have killed you years ago when you were still a child, as I did your father! But now the great purifying flames will eliminate you from my life forever!"
Raquel threw herself on Lucas, with the clear intention of scratching his eyes out.
Lucas grabbed her by the wrists, his green eyes full of hate staring at her angrily.
"Damn you Raquel, you’ll never be able to repay the world for all the evil you've caused! Now you'll end up in jail to rot for the rest of your days!"
The two were dangerously close to the flames that blazed behind them. Raquel tried to wriggle free from Lucas’ grip struggling violently.
"Let me go! Let me go!" She shouted. She did not realize that she was so close to the flames, until the train of her dress, soaked in alcohol, burst into flame.
Lucas' eyes widened in terror and he suddenly let go, Raquel began to scream in pain as the flames devoured her, turning her into a human torch. Lucas hesitated for a moment, trying to find a way to help her, but soon realized that there was nothing more to do. He turned, quickly took Doña Clara in his arms, and carried her out onto the lawn.
Marisol crying clung to her mother, while Lucas hugged Aurora.
"It's all over, my beloved." He whispered, "now everything will be fine."
Aurora turned and saw the roof of the grand ballroom succumb and fall in. Shortly before the crash she saw Raquel’s burning body withering, victim of a terrible torture, while she uttered inhumane cries. Then nothing.
Aurora hid her face in Lucas’ chest and began to cry softly.
" The whole house is on fire," she heard Cristobal say. In the distance, the estate’s alarm bell began to ring, alerting the peones that came running.
"Maybe it's a good thing," Lucas replied. "Tonight we tried with the party to get rid of all the evil and all the pain that has happened here, but the hatred left by Raquel was too strong. It’s better to let it burn down."
Lucas turned to Cristobal.
"We'll build a beautiful new house, Cristobal, according to your and Marisol’s wishes, a home where you and your family can live happily forever."
Yolanda smiling and holding the twins in her arms welcomed Lucas and Aurora on their return to the Zacatecas hacienda. The train ride, as usual, had been quite tiring.
Aurora and Lucas dined, tired and silent. Then, at certain point, Lucas suggested going out into the garden.
" Let's go and look at the stars," he said.
Aurora nodded happily. She put on her cloak, and holding hands, they went outside the main living room onto the lawn, their eyes turned towards the night sky.
The air was cool and crisp and the black sky was clear and studded with myriads of silver stars.
Lucas and Aurora kissed passionately.
"Now we can live happily, without any worries. The past is truly dead and buried."
"Yes, it is true, but how much effort for so much happiness ..."
Lucas smiled.
"Do you remember when we met for the first time in the market on the day of your return to Tampico?" Lucas asked, "You couldn’t stand me!"
Aurora laughed.
"And when you treated me so badly at father Julian’s? Or when you suggested the secret pact for the first time... "
"We’ve suffered, but in the end look what we have! And if it hadn’t been for your crazy idea of the forbidden promise, who knows maybe we would never have got married and we would not be enjoying our love."
Their lips met again.
"We should make a new promise," Aurora whispered, breaking away from him.
"Like what?" Lucas asked curiously.
"To live happily together forever."
"I agree!" He exclaimed, kissing her passionately again. And Aurora knew t
hat this latest agreement with Lucas would prove a success.
THE END
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue - One year later