Chapter One
How long can hatred dwell in the heart of a man? How much vengeance does it take to satisfy a hurt pride? The heart of Victor Fuentes was filled to the very top with that vile black substance that the ancient Romans called "odium." He spent the last three years building up on his hate, boiling in his own dark thoughts, hoping that someday he will have the opportunity to execute one of his terrible fantasies on the man who so humiliated him. Victor hoped that Fate would be kind to him and show him the way.
And Fate, indeed, led him all the way to the very place where his sworn enemy lived.
However, at the time when Victor Fuentes and his two companions reached the outskirts of El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the thought of revenge was far in the back of his mind. There was a more important reason for his leaving Spain. As hard as it was for Victor to admit it, he was broke, absolutely broke. He did not even have money to pay his landlord. Naturally, after a couple of months of nonpayment, Victor found himself out on the street with Manuel – his only servant who decided, for reasons he could not even explain to himself, to remain at his master’s side.
They had no place to go, and Victor was already contemplating the horror and humiliation of sleeping somewhere in the park, when Manuel mentioned that he had a cousin in Los Angeles. And, while Manuel wrote a letter to his cousin notifying him of their arrival and asking him to meet them on the outskirts of Los Angeles, Victor sold his horse and bought two tickets on the ship "Santa Rosa" figuring that Manuel’s cousin should receive the letter just about the time their ship reached California.
And, indeed, they waited no more than a couple of hours before Luis, Manuel’s cousin, rode out to greet them with two extra horses.
"How far do you live?" Victor inquired.
"Not very far, señor," Luis replied, nodding a greeting to his cousin. "My shop is just a few miles away from the pueblo by El Camino Real."
"Your shop?"
"Sí, señor. I am a blacksmith."
Victor turned to his servant with an indignant look on his face, as if saying, "Do I look like a person who would be sleeping in the blacksmith’s shop?"
Apparently, the proud señor had quickly forgotten that not so long ago he was in danger of sleeping out on the street. But Manuel decided it was best not to mention that, knowing his master’s temper. Instead he calmly suggested, "Perhaps Luis could loan us some money so that señor and I could stay in the inn."
Luis gave his cousin a bemused look and then nodded understandingly, acknowledging the whim of this capricious don. All these noblemen – rich or poor – were a very annoying folk in Luis’ view, pampered and spoiled from their very birth. Luis was certain that someday he would be able to repay their kind with the same or even a worse treatment. But for now he obediently reached into his small shabby-looking purse and handed Victor half its contents, which should just have been enough to pay for the room at the inn and, perhaps, even a modest supper. "Meet me at the shop tomorrow morning, Manuel," Luis said, putting the purse back into his chest pocket. "I will try to find something out regarding additional money… if you know what I mean."
Manuel grinned, looking at his master as if asking for his approval. The latter nodded calmly. It was settled.
Chapter Two
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