The dining room is crowded with illustrious people for our small intimate dinner. My dear and beloved lover Sibley was on my right side at the table, followed by Jacob, the wife of Magistrate Hale. At the end, in front of me, was John, to his right was the Hales' son, Andy, and to my left was Arnald.

Melissa Hale wore a red dress, like most Puritan women in that town, her blonde hair was tied in a bun that left soft locks swaying on her face. Jacob wore a black overcoat, along with pants and shoes of the same color.

Andy had reddish, long, straight hair, with no sign that he would ever have a beard. As for my dear magistrate friend, he wore a brown overcoat that shone in the dim light, his long hair tied in a ponytail faded from yellow to white. But the guest who interested me most was sitting on the opposite side of the table, wearing common clothes in shades of yellow and brown. His hair was long and fell on his shoulders. His eyes met mine as I gave a slight smile in satisfaction.

"I would like to make a toast to our host, Marcos Sibley, who has shown us that true piety and true beauty are equal to the same... adoration," the magistrate concluded.

"Certainly," interrupted Jacob. "Beauty is the last miracle allowed in this horrible and dark world." Jacob concluded, taking a little of the wine from his glass.

Andy looked furtively at young Jacob as his lips touched the crystal and conducted the reddish liquid to his lips. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that young Hale had such sinful tendencies, especially if they were toward our dear reverend. I wonder if the young man knows that our dear speaker from this morning's meeting sleeps with a prostitute every night in the place where my master frequently enjoys himself.

"Magistrate Hale and I are concerned about our daughter's inner beauty, Reverend Mather."

Arnold looks at his wife with discomfort at such a comment, but she insists on the subject. Meanwhile, Jacob looks at young Andy in a paternal way.

"Perhaps you could recommend a tutor for him. A Harvard man like yourself."

Andy looks at his mother, outraged by such a comment, and says politely:

"There is a limit to what we learn from books; experiences are our teachers. Don't you agree, Captain Aurus?" He looks at him with a smile on his face.

John doesn't seem comfortable with the situation, looks at Andy expressionlessly, and answers him:

"It depends on the experience." He gives a brief smile as he finishes.

"Yours must have been fascinating with the Indians," he says, placing his chin on his hand, using the table where we are dining as support.

That proximity was making me uncomfortable. John shouldn't mean anything to me; he had left, and in all these years, there hadn't been a sign that he was alive. He hadn't sent me even a message, and even after this, I was controlling myself so as not to do anything that involved killing young Hale in my dining room.

"They are so mysterious, so..." Andy continued while John smiled like a child who had just received candy from his mother. "Natural."

"Natural?" says Mrs. Hale with horror in her voice.

John looks at me with the same smile he was giving to the magistrate's son; his eyes were narrowed, which gave him a provocative air.

"Normal, I would say," continued Melissa. "Soulless savages."

John's expression changes in a fraction of a second.

"I assure you, madam, the Indians have souls." His tone is slightly altered. "If we have them at all."

Silence takes over the environment for a brief moment. I look attentively at Jacob, who shows a brief exaltation as he drops his cutlery on the plate while young Andy begins to laugh.

"Yes," said Jacob, losing his good humor.

John looked again with a smile at the Hales' son, who at that moment was laughing at the whole situation that was occurring. I wasn't liking what was happening; I had invited him for my own pleasure, but irritation was beginning to show signs in my body.

"And witches," I said, looking at him. "Do they have souls?" I finished ironically.

Sibley begins to move in his chair; his voice was trying uselessly to come out, but what was heard were confusing noises that irritated me.

"They do," says Jacob. "But I believe they have given them to the devil himself. In exchange for powers and everything they desire."

The reverend begins to play with the flames of the candles that are near him. The table is silent, except for the noises caused by Sibley, which increased my irritation.

"A contract," I say, feigning innocence.

"Indeed," Jacob seems to have all the knowledge within his own navel.

"Ironic, because I believe that by law, a..." I give a slight smile. "woman cannot enter into a contract except through her husband." I finish as Sibley makes noises again. "Alberto." His presence until now was not felt at my small intimate dinner, but as always, my lover's helper was always around for any eventuality.

"Yes, sir." He pulls the chair from behind, removing Sibley from the room.

"Not all witches are women," he says casually.

"And what do you think, Captain Aurus?" Andy looks at him expectantly, as do the others at the table.

"I don't know, I think some things are unbelievable. Like an honest Frenchman or a person faithful to another," he said the words looking into my eyes; I could feel the weight in each of the words directed at me. He stuck the knife into a piece of meat and then put it in his mouth. "Things I'll only believe when I see them," he said, chewing.

"I worry more about the attack of French and Indians than about witches. What is your opinion, Captain Aurus? Are we very vulnerable?"

My eyes rose; the air changed in seconds. Only one person at that wooden table felt the same as I did; his eyes sought mine, but my mind was concentrated on the man who looked at me with disdain, without even imagining what I was capable of doing.

John looked down, and I could see by his reaction that he felt something on his thigh. I had control of the situation, of what he could see, and curiously, I put the vision of Andy between his legs, biting him affectionately; his face was static. He looked at Andy, who was chewing a piece of lettuce, and again looked down where he saw my face biting my lower lip and holding his rigid member, just from the vision he was having.

"Are you alright, Captain Aurus?" I said ironically.

He looked in my direction, confused; everyone at the table stopped, and silence reigned for a few moments. He swallowed the piece of meat; Arnald turned to me again; he was aware of what was happening.

"I think the abundant food didn't agree with me," John was uncomfortable.

"Fresh air might help," I said, giving a brief smile.

I distance myself from everyone's company; my thoughts were on John even though he wasn't present there at that moment. So, like many of my decisions, I did the most obvious thing possible: I headed toward the wooden door, opening it and closing it behind me. The dogs were barking, and the icy breeze flooded the outside of the house; John was on the parapet of the small veranda that gave access to the street.

The torches illuminated the path while horses wandered with their coachmen between the comings and goings of some citizens. The silence that was between us lasted for a few moments; my mouth did not wish to initiate that dialogue, but I took courage and pronounced each word slowly and clearly, preparing myself not to be affected by any defense he might use.

"They told me you were dead."

"Was that before or after you married Sibley?" I felt the arrogance in his voice.

"I remember someone telling me the war wouldn't last even a year," I imposed my voice.

"It wasn't up to me," he lowered his tone of voice.

"I waited for you," I continued, "years and years, without a word." The hurt was in every word that came out of my mouth.

"I couldn't write."

"No. Of course not. You were too busy saving the country."

"Not exactly," he paused and turned, looking at me. "I was captured."

For an instant, my armor had been knocked down; my eyes met his, and even after so many years, he made me feel that everything would be fine if we were together. His hand went into his pocket and from there took out half of a coin.

"Their shaman told the others not to take this from me," he raised the coin; my eyes were beginning to show signs of weakness. There were so many feelings mixed in my heart. "He said the universe itself was made of vows, and breaking them brings consequences. I know this is just half of the silver coin, and silver is not lacking for you now."

He walked until he stood in front of me; his hands held mine. How many times had I dreamed of being able to touch him again, to have him by my side.

"Marcos, come with me. Now," he continued, "tonight, I have money in a bank in New York. It's different there, not a single Puritan in sight. It's not too late; we can be together. Anywhere but here." His voice is seductive.

"New York?" I look at him with a trembling voice, but his words began to organize in my mind. Was he really doing what I thought he was doing?

"Yes."

"Was that before or after being captured?" I was no longer in a condition to be in his presence; my legs weren't moving correctly. "You leave here in one night and return," I say, outraged, "and return years later and think that..." Words fail me, and tears were about to fall.

"Marcos," he extended his hand to me.

What was going through my mind? I was considering holding his hand; my eyes were fixed on that opportunity to go with him. Our hands touched; he approached and held me by the shoulders. I felt his warm breath on my face, his eyes fixed on me, and even though my body was out of control, I was calm because I was in his arms. His eyes closed as his mouth approached mine; our lips met, and after so many years, I was surrendered to him again. Surrendered. A snap in my mind wakes me from the trance I had just entered.

"No," I move away from him. "I can't; it's impossible. He would never allow it."

The wooden doors open, and the figure of Magistrate Hale appears on the balcony, looking at us curiously. John didn't move for an instant, remaining in front of me a few steps away. I didn't give myself the luxury of keeping my attention on Hale; I needed to compose myself.

"Well, Mr. Sibley. Not even you have the right to monopolize a guest as fascinating as Captain Aurus, for whom I have a rare gift. A cigar of tobacco from Guiana and a cognac."

"I'm afraid all this food... and civilized drink knocked me down, magistrate," John said, looking at Arnald.

John left through the same door, followed by the magistrate, leaving me alone on the balcony as tears finally fell down my face.