THE COVERED LADY - Legend 5 - Juan Fernando Bermeo
Some men go out at night looking for a body.
She’s out there looking for a name.
“La Dama Tapada (The Veil-Covered Lady)” is a dark, seductive retelling of one of Quito’s most iconic legends: the spirit of a beautiful woman who walks the colonial streets at night, face hidden behind a black veil, choosing her victims among men who treat women as disposable objects.
In this version, her name is Cristina.
In life, she was a sex worker—mocked in public, desired in secret, and finally betrayed and murdered by a client who thought her life was worth nothing. In death, she becomes something else: a silent judge wrapped in perfume and silk, waiting at the corners where drunk, “lost men” roam looking for pleasure without responsibility.
Her dress clings to her shape, her scent is irresistible, and her voice is soft as honey. She takes her victim by the arm, walks him through the narrow streets under warm lantern light, and offers what he thinks he wants. The price is simple: look under the veil.
When he finally sees her true face, the terror is not only in what he sees—it’s in everything he ever did, said, and thought about women like her.
This PDF eBook includes:
- A complete, fully edited story of around 4,500 words
- 8 atmospheric illustrations plus the cover, showing the colonial streets, the veiled figure, and the moment of revelation
- A modern reinterpretation of the legend that treats Cristina not as a “monster,” but as a symbol of violence against sex workers, misogyny, and the hypocrisy of “respectable” men
- Author’s reflections on sex work, stigma, and respect, showing how certain forms of violence can “call” La Dama Tapada to choose a new target
Perfect for readers who enjoy feminist horror, urban legends with social critique, and Latin American ghost stories, “La Dama Tapada (The Veil-Covered Lady)” is the fifth legend in the Quito’s Urban Legends series—but works perfectly as a standalone tale.
Download the PDF, step into the dim colonial streetlights…
And ask yourself: if you met her tonight, would she see you as a victim—or as the reason she still walks?
This PDF eBook includes: A complete, fully edited story of around 4,500 words 8 atmospheric illustrations plus the cover, showing the colonial streets, the veiled figure, and the moment of revelation A modern reinterpretation of the legend that treats Cristina not as a “monster,” but as a symbol of violence against sex workers, misogyny, and the hypocrisy of “respectable” men Author’s reflections on sex work, stigma, and respect, showing how certain forms of violence can “call” La Dama Tapada to choose a new target Perfect for readers who enjoy feminist horror, urban legends with social critique, and Latin American ghost stories, “La Dama Tapada (The Veil-Covered Lady)” is the fifth legend in the Quito’s Urban Legends series—but works perfectly as a standalone tale. Download the PDF, step into the dim colonial streetlights… And ask yourself: if you met her tonight, would she see you as a victim—or as the reason she still walks?