Beware The Fury

by C. I. Lopez

  An eternity seemed to pass while waiting for that second drink, which strong village traditions obliged him to accept. During the delay, he contemplated the irony. His lifelong love of music and his pride at being asked to join the town band were now interfering with his deepest desire. He wanted to be with the girl he loved with all his heart.

  The idea of suffering through another drink caused Federico to act on impulse when the second drink arrived. The Mayor lifted his massive arm from Federico’s shoulder to reach for his glass, raising both arms high to toast the young musician. Federico took advantage of being temporarily released and bent low to the floor, feigning becoming sick by gagging loudly. The action created an opening within his circle of friends, wary of soiling their band uniforms with whatever Federico’s might expel.

  While free of the Mayor’s grip, Federico grabbed his clarinet case and rushed out of the cantina. In his wake, he heard his older companions laughing at what they suspected was the young man’s shame due to his lack of tolerance to alcohol. Running toward the church with his heart overflowing with youthful anticipation, the teenage boy was proud that his friends had been fooled by his trick.

  *

  After the band had stopped playing, Yasmin had watched impatiently, hoping to see Federico walking along the street toward the church. She waited on the steps as they had planned, her disappointment growing as she wondered what could be keeping him. Her young mind began to panic at the thought that Federico could have forgotten about their plan to meet at the church. She was naive, and her imagination led her to doubt Federico’s interest in her. As the tears began to flow down her cheeks, Yasmin sat down on the church steps and placed her head in her hands to cover her tears.

  It was at that auspicious moment that a young man with a shifty reputation noticed the prettiest girl in town alone on the church steps. Even better, she seemed to be crying, and he saw his opportunity to console her.

  At the sound of footsteps climbing the church steps, Yasmin thought they must belong to Federico. Quickly, she lifted her head to look instead directly into the eyes of a stranger.

  Toni Alfonso wasted no time in gently reaching for Yasmin’s hand and brushing it against his lips in a theatrical move. A gesture that flattered Yasmin and made her smile through her tears.

  “Why would the most beautiful girl in town look so unhappy on this day of celebration?” Toni sat down next to her and gently moved a lock of her tumbling auburn hair back from her face.

  In a gesture of maturity, Yasmin explained that she was waiting for her boyfriend, and she was only crying because he seemed to be delayed. She proudly let Toni know that Federico was going to ask for her hand in marriage that night.

  Like the rest of the town, Toni knew that Yasmin was now fifteen years old, and she and Federico planned to become engaged soon. The rumor mill never stops in small towns. For Toni, the knowledge that she was a virgin and an innocent made the seduction of this girl that much more appealing.

  The sound of the church bells exploded into every part of the town, inundating it with the music. This unbalanced Yasmin, and made the pair burst out laughing, thus breaking the tension of the moment.

  Toni noticed the girl let her guard down with her laughter. Taking advantage of her vulnerability, Toni pulled Yasmin close, telling her that he had seen Federico and his band companions entering the local cantina.

  Although shaken by what Toni just said, Yasmin pulled back, pushing Toni away, and said that it explained why Federico was late and he’d probably be arriving at any moment.

  Toni wasn’t about to allow this opportunity to slip through his fingers. Chagrinned, he asked Yasmin whether she knew that the pretty barmaids had a tradition of introducing the youngest member of the band into manhood on this day

  Yasmin’s lips parted as she listened in disbelief.

  “This year it will be Federico,” Toni lied, fully aware there was no such tradition. “I think he’s found something more entertaining than a simple walk home, and he’ll be tied up for a while.”

  “What are you saying?” Yasmin yelled at Toni, feeling as if a stone had just been jammed into her stomach. Sobs shook the girl as she pushed Toni aside and turned to run away from him. She ran into the dark area under the canopy of trees, heading to the trail behind the church. Yasmin was hoping to catch up with her sister, Eva.

  Still incredulous of what she’d heard, Yasmin stopped for a moment. Her eyes quickly looked one more time to the street where Federico should be appearing, only to see the sun setting over the treetops. The air was still warm and scented with the intoxicating scent of the local flora mixed with the miasma of wood smoke and outdoor cooking, leftover from the festivities. Before she realized it, Toni was standing next to her, showering her with comforting words, which only made Yasmin break down crying.

  “I want to find my sister,” she told Toni, turning to get away from him.

  Toni pushed Yasmin onto the grass under the dark shade of trees behind the church. He kissed her forcefully, and while she struggled to get away, his greater strength held her firm on the ground. He rapidly undid his clothing and expertly pulled aside Yasmin’s underwear, preparing to deflower the beautiful young virgin.

  “What are you doing?” Yasmin screamed in terror before feeling the powerful thrust as the most private part of her body was penetrated. The girl screamed in pain as she struggled to disengage herself from the forceful invasion of her body. Her clothes became rumpled, and her pretty braids disheveled from her efforts.

  Toni gripped the arms of the panicking teenager who was trying in vain to extricate herself from her attacker.

  Yasmin was in a panic, staining her pretty white dress on the grass in the struggle. Her screams were muffled by Toni placing a hand tightly over her mouth.

  Once satisfied, Toni stood up, and as he looked down at the distraught girl, he told her that she was lucky to have lost her virginity with him. He said that from now on, she would enjoy her sexual pleasures more with her future husband. “Federico will be a lucky bridegroom.” Toni zipped up his pants and strolled away, leaving a hysterical and confused girl behind huddled on the grass.

  A few moments later, Eva arrived at the church hoping to catch up with Yasmin and Federico, but she didn’t see either one. As she was about to leave, she heard a burst of mocking laughter coming from behind the building, which made Eva want to get away and fast. Still, she was sure she also heard her sister’s voice coming from the same direction. As she moved toward the familiar voice, Eva saw a laughing Toni talking to Yasmin as he was walking away.

  “You know you wanted it, you little slut. Don’t scream at me.” As Eva crossed his path, in a rush to her sister’s aid, Toni turned toward Eva. “You should know that she never said no.”

  A bright-red bloodstain showed up in Yasmin’s underwear as she arranged her skirt into place. She regarded it as a sad reminder of her lost virginity, and with the knowledge that all she had dreamed of experiencing with Federico was changed. Yasmin decided right then to save her reputation and lie about everything that happened without mentioning a word about Toni.

  Eva agreed that they needed to lie to the family about this. Since the incident took only a few minutes, Eva asked Yasmin to remain where she was and to be very quiet. Meanwhile, Eva went to the front of the church to make sure Federico wasn’t there waiting.

  Yasmin, who was still trembling from fear and anger at Toni, did as her sister suggested. Relieved that Federico was not at the front of the church, the sisters began to plan their deception for the family. They swore to keep the secret of what had happened to Yasmin.

  *

  The attack on Yasmin occurred while Federico was miserably trying to break away from his band friends. He ran towards the church, arriving shortly after Toni had diverted Yasmin into the dark areas behind the building. Crestfallen, Federico realized that Yasmin had probably gone home with Eva in complete disappointment with his tardiness. He ran to the trail in front of the ch
urch to reach Yasmin before she arrived home. He knew he owed her an apology for having disappointed her on such an important day.

  *

  Meanwhile, Narcisa sat on her rocking chair, finishing sewing the hem for the unpleasant Irene who kept changing her skirt lengths every season. Narcisa was distracted, thinking of a conversation she’d had with the young Federico a few days before. He’d told Narcisa that he was planning to ask for Yasmin’s hand in marriage after the town’s festivities. This filled Narcisa with unparalleled happiness.

  Ever since those two children started talking about getting married one day, Narcisa knew her future would be assured. She would be spending her old age looking after grandchildren at Don Jose’s grand ranch house instead of sewing with her arthritic fingers. Fully expecting Federico to arrive at the house with her daughter shortly, Narcisa dreamed of her future, occasionally laughing out loud at the very idea. The mere prospect of someday living at the Montenegro Ranch made Narcisa giddy with joy.

  Suddenly, the sound of hurried steps approaching brought her back to the present, hoping to see her daughters arriving from the festivities accompanied by Federico. Instead, what she heard was the distressed voice of Federico asking if Yasmin was home.

  Narcisa jumped out of her rocking chair, responding in an anxious voice. “No, she’s not, Federico. I was expecting both my daughters to come home with you!”

  Devastated, Federico explained to Narcisa how he had been delayed for his meeting with Yasmin and Eva. When he saw they were not at the spot designated to meet, he ran the whole trail toward Narcisa’s house. He’d been hoping to meet the two sisters on the trail, assuming they must have headed home, tired of waiting for him. He felt so dreadful for having disappointed Yasmin but thought she and Eva would have arrived home by now. He desperately needed to apologize to them and explain the reason for his delay.

  “But neither of my daughters are home yet, Federico,” Narcisa repeated, worried at this turn of events. She was quick to place the blame on his negligence. “I counted on you to bring them home safely.”

  Federico was stunned into silence, distressed at having upset his girlfriend’s mother.

  Narcisa said, “I hope your actions haven’t caused harm to my daughters.”

  Fortunately, the two girls appeared on the trail at that moment.

  Before starting the walk home, Eva had re-plaited Yasmin’s braids with the colorful ribbons, as well as she was able, lacking a comb. She cleaned her sister’s teary face as well as she could with her own handkerchief. Eva couldn’t wash away Yasmin’s shame. The fifteen-year-old was still traumatized, shaken and pale, deeply distraught at what she had experienced.

  Yasmin was having difficulty walking, caused by the pain between her legs, but blaming a sprained ankle for the sake of her mother and Federico. It took a supreme effort on her part to appear calm while Eva related their made-up version of the story. The tale included Yasmin running into the woods, having being told by a stranger on the church steps, that Federico would be at the cantina with the bargirls for most of the night.

  Eva told how she followed her crying sister, who took the longer trail home because she didn’t want to meet anyone in town in her shame. She said that Yasmin, blinded by her tears, had tripped on a ridge, falling into a small gulley. By the time Eva was able to reach her, Yasmin was disheveled from the tumbling fall, which explained her slightly disheveled appearance and the grass-stained dress.

  Unable to face Federico’s apologies, Yasmin ran to her room, leaving Eva to make excuses for her. Eva explained how Yasmin had suffered a terrible shock and needed time to recover. She assured Federico that her sister would be fine once she’d had some rest and heard the truth from Federico.

  Suddenly fearful that Federico might change his plans regarding her daughter, Narcisa hugged the boy reassuringly, regretting having been so hard with her accusations. She suggested he return in the morning with his father to complete the arrangements for their engagement.

  Yasmin refused to see her mother that night and cried herself to sleep in her sister’s arms. The faithful Eva hand-washed Yasmin’s stained clothing.

  PART ONE

  Chapter 2

  Love, or Lust?

  A contrite Federico, who hadn’t been able to sleep all night, arrived early at Narcisa’s house, while the two sisters were still in their upstairs bedroom. He approached the woman in the dining room, where he asked for Yasmin’s hand in marriage.

  Narcisa was more than happy to accept the boy’s offer but told him they’d have to wait for Yasmin’s approval and for his father to arrive before making it official. Yasmin’s mother was fond of the boy she’d helped raise, and she enjoyed his company while they waited for the rest of the family.

  It wasn’t long before the two sisters came downstairs, holding hands for support. When Yasmin saw that Federico was already there, she was happy to see him. She realized she had been lied to by a spiteful stranger. Federico was telling the truth about the night before. All she wanted was to have their relationship returned to normal and to begin their courting.

  Don Jose arrived at Narcisa’s house, and he felt the need to apologize for the misunderstanding of the night before between Federico and Narcisa’s daughters. He asked about Yasmin’s well-being, having heard of her stressful night.

  Having accepted his request to become engaged, it was time for the two elders to sit at the table and make plans for their children’s engagement party. Don Jose offered to have the celebration at his ranch, with fireworks and Mariachi bands to make the public announcement of the engagement of his only son.

  A much more animated Yasmin listened to the plans with delight as she imagined the entire village celebrating with them. Yasmin put aside the unpleasant incident with Toni the night before. Instead, she and Eva talked about dancing all night at the party.

  Don Jose told Federico that from now on, he would be expected to dedicate part of his day to learning how to be a proper ranch owner. He must learn all the responsibilities that it entailed as he would one day inherit the Montenegro Ranch.

  In the excitement of the moment, Federico reached his arms around Yasmin’s tiny waist. He pulled her toward him to give her their very first kiss on the lips, much to the amusement of the two parents and Eva’s enthusiastic applause.

  Narcisa said, “To demonstrate our approval, you two may go for a walk outside for an hour to plan your future while the rest of us talk.”

  Eva watched with sadness as Yasmin concealed the slight difficulty in walking as a result of the events of the previous night.

  Once out of sight of their parents, Federico couldn’t wait to kiss Yasmin again, more passionately this time, and he was surprised at how ardently Yasmin returned the gesture. In all his short life, he’d been told that women did not feel the same passion as men, and he was delighted at his fiancée’s reaction.

  *

  After Federico and Don Jose left, an excited Yasmin ran up the stairs to her room, where she hugged her sister, and they danced around their bedroom. All the while, Yasmin talked about the white wedding dress and the plans for her upcoming marriage to Federico.

  “Can you imagine, Eva?” Yasmin said. “I am going to have an engagement party and a wedding bigger than any ever seen in these parts.”

  “The important thing is that you will be marrying the young man you’ve loved since you were a little girl.”

  “Eva, you’re so sensible. Of course, I’m fortunate to have my dream come true, but I’m also excited about the parties. I hope that when the right man comes along for you, the celebration will be just as grand.”

  “Finding the love of my choosing will be enough of a celebration for me.” Eva wondered if she would ever feel the excitement of planning an engagement party and a wedding for herself one day, but she was thrilled for her sister.

  Thinking that her younger sister was already engaged to be married, made the seventeen-year-old fear becoming an old maid. Perhaps she’d neve
r have children of her own. Nevertheless, she looked forward to participating in all the festivities.

  “With any luck,” Eva said, “among all the people mother is inviting, I might meet someone for myself at your engagement party.” Eva did not bring up Yasmin’s encounter with Toni, hoping that Federico’s love would heal her sister of that dreadful encounter.

  *

  The next morning, when Federico returned eager to begin courting his bride-to-be, Narcisa let him in and sat him down at the kitchen table. “Federico, now that you and Yasmin are formally betrothed, and waiting for the formality of the engagement party, I am aware of how eager you both are to begin courting. Consequently, your father and I have agreed on the two of you being allowed to share the noon meal with us every day if you so wish.”

  Slightly disappointed, expecting more, the young man accepted. “I would like nothing better than to be able to see Yasmin every day, Narcisa.”

  “In that case, I believe you and Yasmin will be allowed to take a walk after dinner for about an hour every day you come here, and you may do so without a chaperone.”

  Breathless with the excitement of this new freedom to be with Yasmin, Federico responded with a big smile, “I accept both offers.” He leapt from his chair and hugged Narcisa.

  *

  The two teenagers began their official courting period. They cherished their walks into the woods full of the delights of being in each other’s company. They shared passionate kisses, which in time led to soft caresses and more intense and daring touches. Each day their behavior grew more heated and bolder.

  Yasmin accepted their limited intimacies with an abandon that Federico never expected. Yet, her willingness made it harder to control his own sexual impulses. Federico was determined to respect Yasmin until their wedding day. Don Jose had explained to the young man about the limits of their courtship. Although Federico tried to follow his father’s instructions, resisting Yasmin’s bolder advances was becoming very difficult.