SENORA MARIA CONSUELA MONTEMAYOR

On page 141 of Vamps and the City, Darcy interviews each of the five harem ladies. The interviews were later edited into the reality show. Maria Consuela’s interview was scheduled to appear in the fifth show when she judged the men on their strength (page 321).

Darcy: Maria Consuela, would you please tell us about yourself?

Maria Consuela: If you insist. I will be brief for talking about oneself for too long does not display the proper amount of humility.

Darcy: Don’t worry about that. You’re a very humble person.

Maria Consuela: Pray, do not flatter me. Pride is evil.

I was born in Castile in 1455, the daughter of a humble merchant. Times became difficult, and my father was in danger of losing his olive oil business and our home. He agreed to take on a young partner from Leon who was willing to invest a goodly amount in our business so it could flourish.

My mother was opposed to this new arrangement. She had heard strange things whispered about the young man in the marketplace. It was rumored he hid a dark, evil secret. Many suspected his conversion to Christianity five years earlier was false, and that he secretly persisted in following Judaism. My father wanted to dispel my mother’s fear, so he invited the young man to our house so she could meet him.

The minute I saw Alfonso Montemayor, my heart belonged to him. It was clear to see that he was an honest and humble gentleman. He was very handsome, intelligent, and wealthy, but never boastful of it. And to my surprise, he seemed equally enamored with me. My father was delighted, for he believed having Alfonso for a son-in-law would be the answer to all our problems. My mother still feared Alfonso, for she claimed he was too good to be true. Anything so perfect had to be a tool of the devil.

My mother’s obsession led to our downfall. She told the Spanish Inquisition of her suspicions. They were already watching Alfonso and attempted to arrest him during the day. When they could not find him, they brought my father in for questioning. Where was Alfonso hiding, they asked. My father did not know. He had never seen Alfonso during the day. This only made the Inquisitor suspicious of my father. They decided he was hiding a dark secret about Alfonso, and they began to torture my father.

My mother was so overcome with remorse, she ran off to a nunnery and refused to leave until my father was safely released. Alas, I never saw her again. My father slipped into unconsciousness without revealing anything. The torturers sought a new victim. Alfonso’s betrothed—me.

They came for me in the evening. As they tied me to the rack, I cried out to the Lord to deliver me from this evil. Then, an amazing thing happened. Alfonso suddenly appeared in the chamber. He tossed the guards against the stone wall and bit the torturer on the neck. That was when I realized that Alfonso did indeed have a dark secret. But I never blamed him for it, for I knew deep inside he was a good man. We have all fallen short of the grace of God.

Alfonso rescued me and my father and whisked us off to a safe place. He found a doctor for my father. I was so grateful that I agreed to share his curse with him. The next night we were wed and Alfonso transformed me.

We were very happy. Alfonso became coven master of Spain for the period from 1550 to 1650. He supported the harem, but would have nothing to do with them since he was faithful to me. My poor Alfonso died in the Great Vampire War of 1710. I have been in mourning for him ever since. As the widow of a war hero, I was given a honorary post in the harem of the French coven master. After the Second Great Mortal War, I was sickened by the constant violence and asked to be moved to a harem in America. Although I require a master who can take care of me, I could never become involved with one. I will never betray the memory of my dear Alfonso