Page 89 of Eternal Craving

During the voyage, Felipe had requested he leave the Niña and join Columbus on the Santa Maria. Felipe had claimed that he had important information for Columbus and the transfer had been permitted by Vicente Pinzón.

Felipe boarded the Santa Maria a mile from Haiti, or as Columbus preferred, Hispaniola. Soon after, the Niña’s mast snapped, causing no real issue for the ship, other than a rattled crew. Suspicions arose, but the journey took precedence, and with no time for an investigation, the expedition continued. Despite Felipe’s protestation of innocence and his previous alliance with the king, the court case was not dismissed as more evidence came to light.

Firstly, the letter addressed to the king was examined and confirmed to be written in Felipe’s handwriting. Next, the knife found on him was the size of the very one used to saw through the mast of the Niña. The king’s investigators had discovered Felipe’s secret room, tipped off by a local source. Other papers were discovered. More condemning still was evidence that Felipe had practiced the king’s signature and had in hispossession a forged royal stamp, which was undeniable proof of treason.

Felipe’s once tanned complexion now paled as the judge proclaimed that the evidence had decided his fate.

It was done.

After all the pain he’d dealt to others, this ending seemed too gentle, clean and quiet. He hadn’t earned such mercy.

In a blind fury, I returned to our refuge. Back in the living room of the French-styled home, I stared out of the window. Melancholy, my new acquaintance, was brought on by my inability to find any kind of relief in Felipe’s undoing.

My thoughts had been so consumed with revenge that I’d given little thought to our future, and I’d avoided the real challenges ahead.

I considered that my altered emotions resulted from my transformation. My capacity to love had not changed, for I felt the same affection for my son as I always had. I’d also developed a deep attachment for Sunaria, but this ability to murder and feel less guilt than before surprised me. I was even afraid of myself, or should I say feared what I could become.

Felipe had led me here. These were the consequences that followed that night in the bullring, my last night of innocence.

I hoped that Sunaria would remain by my side and together we’d face the future, the ultimate unknown.

Sunaria allowed me the illusion of control.

Looking out at the grey landscape, I wondered if I’d ever accept not seeing a sunrise again. Until now, I’d never given much thought to the profoundness of daylight, the colors that only a sun could sustain, exquisite hues now lost to me.

“Carpe Noctum.” Sunaria’s voice came from the corridor.

I turned. “Seize the night?”

She lingered by the door. “You may lose the day but gain so much in return.”

“Like?”

“Always looking young.”

I laughed bitterly.

“I don’t like seeing you like this.” She wrapped her arms around me.

“Why don’t I feel some kind of vindication?”

“Because you need answers.”

“It’s incredible that Felipe fell for our ruse.”

“He believed what he wanted to.”

After a long sigh, I asked, “How do I move on?”

“You prevent the inner demons from consuming you.”

“My demon is lying in a prison.”

I spun round and she took my hand. With my heart in my throat, I followed her, ascending the stairs. We headed for the rear bedroom and, sensing something was off, I kept glancing at her expression.

I had an uneasy feeling as I turned the corner and entered the room.

Felipe was crouched low, unshaven and bedraggled, his once white shirt now crumpled and filthy. He was chained to the fireplace.