Aimé's guest room was located far from Xibalba's bedchambers, on purpose since Xibalba didn't want anything to do with her, though judging by how things were going they wouldn't be surprised if he ended up granting her a room closer to his. The Candlemaker and Zipacna asked Roberto and Gael to make guard outside the room while they looked for 'something suspicious' in Aimé's room, they thought it wouldn't be wise to tell the servants about this.

Zipacna insisted on looking inside the drawers and the wardrobe, making the Candlemaker wonder if he wasn't looking for new additions to his collection. The Book of Life was floating nearby, flapping its pages anxiously, as if nervous. Meanwhile, as soon as Zipacna found the drawers with the underwear, he blushed and his feathers bristled in delight. He would have started drooling if Book hadn't smacked the back of his head to snap him out of it. Rubbing the back of his head, Zipacna continued to look through the underwear (while doing his best to control his hormones), the least thing he needed right now was getting an erection.

"There's nothing here." The Candlemaker finally concluded, closing the doors of the wardrobe, not before taking a look and making sure everything was as it had been.

"Heck, this woman does have a knack for hiding things." Zipacna commented, finally closing the drawers. "We could look around all day and we won't find anything!"

Roberto peeked his head in. "What exactly are you guys looking for?"

"I don't know! A bottle, a small jar, a vial, anything that could contain a liquid!"

" You think she'd put something she wants to keep a secret in a place where it could be found easily?" Roberto entered the room with a crossed look. "Think! She doesn't seem that naïve! Perhaps she has a secret compartment, there are many in this castle's rooms!"

"Maybe he's right." The Candlemaker said. "I mean, we know Aimé is no fool, she knows how to adapt. Just look at how she's doing right now!"

"But here? Where could we look?"

Roberto thought for a moment, before heading over to the bed. He recalled something about this bed… it had something to do with the bedpost. "Take a look at this, I think the bedpost has a secret stash. That could be the place where she keeps it."

Zipacna and the Candlemaker approached the bed posts and started to look for anything that looked suspicious, when suddenly the Candlemaker took notice that the top of the one close to the frame seemed to be unsecured. Curious, he grabbed it and, much to his surprise, he could remove it like a lid.

"Guys, I found it!" the wax deity put the lid aside, and found there was a small compartment inside, but his hand was too thick to slid in. "Huh, Robbie, could you get your hand in there? I don't think mine will fit."

Roberto approached and slid his hand into the hollowed bedpost, pulling up the stash. Inside, there was a pink crystal bottle with the shape of a heart.

Zipacna gently grabbed it and examined the bottle closely. "Judging by its shape, it's not that hard to guess what this thing is."

"We need to know what kind it is, there are many love potions, some are more potent than others." The Candlemaker stated. "And we can't take the bottle just like that, when Aimé comes to get more she'll realize it's missing."

"But if we leave it here she'll continue to use it on my brother!"

"Wouldn't it be easier if you poured what's left of it on another vial and put a liquid that looks similar in the original bottle? That way she won't suspect anything."

Zipacna stared at the bottle thoughtfully. "Sounds good."

But they better hurry before Aimé came back, she was capable of demanding him for sexual harassment.


Camazok spent the entire morning reading books about potions and spells, trying to find something that matched Marigold's symptoms, but up to now he had no luck. Without the poison's name or one of its ingredients there was no way he could find it. He had written on a paper scroll the ones that had the closest symptoms to Marigold's, and when the others came back they could cross them out. He had also called for Itzamna, that old god would be of great help. He should arrive on any minute, now…

There was a knock on the door. "Camazok, Lord Itzamna is here."

"Good, let him in!" Camazok replied, grabbing a new book from the pile and taking a look at its contents.

The imp opened the door to allow the elder god to go into the library. Itzamna nodded his head at the bat god. "Evening, Camazok."

Camazok left what he was doing to give him a small bow with the head. "Lord Itzamna, thank you for coming."

"I read in your letter that there was something urgent you, Juan Carlos and Lord Zipacna wanted to ask me."

"Right now it's only a suspicion, but Juan Carlos has the suspicion Marigold's recent symptoms are no causality."

"What do you mean with that?"

"Well, it started when Aimé started to have tea with her." Camazok stated, placing his book down. "He and the others went to gather some information about it, they should be here at any minute now."

Camazok wasn't done talking when out of sudden a flash of light overcame the room, and a few seconds later Juan Carlos had teleported into the library. "Heck, the others should make a manual about teleporting or something…"

"Ah, Juanoctis. Good timing that you join us." Itzamna was staring at Juan Carlos a bit indifferently.

"Oh!" Juan Carlos blushed deeply when he realized the old god had heard him. "I'm sorry, I…"

"Anyway, Camazok has told me you have some… suspicions regarding your wife's condition."

"Did you find anything, by the way?" Camazok inquired.

"I spoke to one of the maids who tended to La Muerte when she grew ill. She said that Marigold's having the same symptoms as her, and it all started with a package of tea that was sent to her anonymously." He glanced at Itzamna. "She also said not even you could tell what was wrong with her."

Itzamna looked down sadly. "Indeed. When La Muerte's illness was so rare that neither I nor my wife could come to a diagnostic, Xibalba has never forgiven me for that, even though he has never showed it. That is why he has not called me to check on Marigold, he doesn't trust my judgment anymore, he probably believes I won't be able to help her either." He frowned in thought. "It started with tea, you say?"

Juan Carlos nodded. "She said La Muerte received a package of a tea as a gift, without a remittent. Clara said that as soon as she started drinking it, the symptoms started."

"What kind of tea makes someone fall ill…?" Camazok wondered out loud, before starting to look through yet another book.

"Did you get a sample of that tea?" Itzamna asked.

"No. Clara said La Muerte drank all of it, there was not a single package left."

"I have never heard of such a brewage killing just like that, unless…" No, it couldn't be possible.

"Unless what?"

"Unless it is poisoned."

Juan Carlos's eyes opened wide like plates and his pupils shrunk. Camazok lifted his gaze form the new book with a bewildered expression and lifted ears. "Poisoned?" he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You mean to say someone poisoned La Muerte…"

"No. It is only an assumption, I cannot assure it without proof." Itzamna stroked his beard thoughtfully. "If he wad a sample of that tea maybe I could have found anything in it, but Juanoctis says there's none left… And without a name either it doesn't help."

"You mean to say that Aimé is poisoning Marigold and Xibalba?" Juan Carlos inquired.

"Not Xibalba. That can be for certain, she would never harm him of all people."

"Then she is giving him a different thing?"

"A love potion!" Out of sudden and in another flash of light Zipacna and the Candlemaker teleported into the library, the Candlemaker holding a small vial with the reddish liquid in his hand. "She has been using a love potion on him! That's why he's been changing his behavior around her!"

"I knew she was up to something!" Zipacna growled. "The fact that she's a woman is the only thing that saves her from getting a good breathing!"

Juan Carlos thought for a moment. "It does make sense… Xibalba's been getting nicer with her after he hated her guts not too long ago."

Itzamna held out his hand for the vial. "Let me see." When the Candlemaker handed him the small vial, he uncorked it and took a sniff, wrinkling his nose in distaste. "Indeed, this is a love potion, but it doesn't smell like any I've ever smelled before."

"Can you tell what it contains?"

Itzamna took more sniffs to identify the ingredients. "yellow roots of gander goose… menstrual blood, snake fangs, siren scales… and a bit of wolfsbane…"

Camazok immediately started to look through the pages of the book he was currently reading, skipping over to love potions, until he found the one with those ingredients.

The Aphrodysium is one of the most powerful love potions ever created by gods, brewed by Aphrodite herself during the time of the Greek pantheon. To attract the desired partner it must be daily given to him or her in a drink during a year, once it is complete the desired partner will be permanently under the effects of the Aphrodysium.

"Does it say anything about an antidote?" Zipacna inquired urgently.

Camazok continued to read.

The antidote to Aphrodysium consists of one single dose of the potion; however, additional ingredients must be added. Black cat hair, bat wings and mule urine, then it must be given to the afflicted person. If the antidote was prepared properly, the person affected by the potion should vomit a black liquid, the potion he or she consumed.

"Mule urine…?" Juan Carlos's face was all green, and it took him every bit of effort not to throw up there and then.

"If you knew what other ingredients they used to put in potions back in the day…" the Candlemaker chuckled.

Zipacna glanced at Itzamna. "If we give you what we have, how much time do you think it would take you to make the antidote?"

"If I can get all the ingredients right away, about an hour. I'll let you know when it's ready." Then he was gone in a swirl of autumn leaves.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Camazok stated, closing the book. "We know what Aimé has been giving to Lord Xibalba, but we don't know what kind of poison she's been using on Marigold! What are we going to do about that?"

"For now, we make sure she doesn't drink anymore of that tea." Juan Carlos said. "And we talk with Xibalba, we need to let him know what's going on."

"Leave that to me, kiddo." Zipacna said. "He's more likely to listen to me and the Candlemaker than you, no offense."

"None taken. I think I should be the one who talks to Marigold."

"I don't think it would be wise to tell her about this just yet." The Candlemaker stated. "She has grown attached to Aimé, if you just come out of nowhere and tell her 'Hey, Mari, guess what? Your aunt is poisoning you and giving your father a love potion' she'll think you're nuts!"

"I agree with the Candlemaker on that one, Juan." Camazok added. "We should make first make sure she doesn't drink anymore of that tea while we gather more proof."

Although reluctant, Juan Carlos had to admit that they had a point there. The top priority was talking with Xibalba, he needed to know what was going on.


It took Marigold about an hour to open all of her father's gifts, but she enjoyed every second of it. Baby clothing, toys, decorations for the nursery and even a baby basket. A few were her own when she was a baby, she could tell it meant very much to him. She was glad to see her father getting along much better with her aunt, she might even say he was developing feelings for her, no matter how many times he denied it. She, and everyone present in the room, were caught by surprise when one of the gifts didn't have her name on it, but Aimé's.

"F-For me?" Aimé couldn't believe it either.

Xibalba shrugged. "Well, since you're going to have a child too, I guess it's only fair."

Aimé ripped the colorful paper and lifted the lid of the box, gasping when she found a small blue onesie with white skulls and lavender trimming. "Ay, Balby, it's beautiful."

Marigold glanced at her father nervously when her aunt referred to him by the childhood nickname her mother used to call him, but it seemed Xibalba didn't mind. "I'm glad you liked it."

"I see you are getting much better along." Marigold giggled.

"Don't get your hopes up yet, sweetie." Xibalba chuckled.

"Have you seen Juan Carlos, by the way?"

"The last time I saw him, he said he was going over to visit Camazok. He was going to tell you, but he thought the Land of the Cursed wouldn't be good for you." Xibalba huffed. "At least he does something right for once."

"Leave the poor boy alone, would you?" Aimé sighed. "He's already has it tough with being a first-time father. You should know it of all people."

Before Xibalba could retort, the Candlemaker zipped into the room, panting and with an alarmed look on his face. "Xibalba, I need your help with something!"

"What is it?"

"It's urgent! I'll explain you on the way!"

"Don't worry, papá, we'll show you the other gifts later." Marigold told him, placing her hands on her bump. "Besides, we're not going anywhere."

Although reluctant, Xibalba stood up and followed the Candlemaker swiftly out of the dining hall and through the halls of the castle. "Mind to tell me what's going on now?"

The Candlemaker turned to him with an apologetic expression. "You're going to get angry for this, man, but it's for your own good."

"What the heck-?" Xibalba was caught off guard when out of sudden a hand from behind covered his mouth and another pinned his arms behind his back. He soon recognized Zipacna's smell, and let out muffled growls and curses as he struggled to get free.

"Hermanito, we have to discuss something with you." Zipacna whispered, wrapping his wings around his brother. "But no here, she could hear us."

Xibalba stopped his thrashing momentarily when he heard the word 'she' pronounced in such a tone, and was about to inquire what he was talking about when the Candlemaker teleported the three of them to the Cave of Souls, the only place where they wouldn't be eavesdropped on. As soon as Zipacna released him Xibalba stepped away and glared daggers at the other two gods. "What in tarnation is going on?!"

"Xibalba, we have to tell you something about Aimé." The Candlemaker said with a tone of urgency.

"What's wrong with Aimé?!"

"Nothings wrong with her, physically at least." Zipacna muttered with crossed arms. "I can't say the same for her mental faculties.

"Go straight to the point, would you?!"

"She's poisoning your daughter!"

Silence. Xibalba stared at his brother and the Candlemaker with bewilderment, before growing angry once more. "What are you talking about?" he hissed.

"Marigold was perfectly healthy before she came!" Zipacna snapped. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed! She has the same symptoms as La Muerte!" he regretted his harshness when he noticed his younger brother flinching at the reminder. "And it all started when she started to have tea with Aimé!"

Xibalba stepped back. "What are you…?"

"And your attitude! It's driving us nuts! What happened to you, Xibalba?" the Candlemaker joined in. "Four months ago you didn't even want to see her picture, and now look at you, man! You even give her presents!"

"It was just courtesy." Xibalba growled softly, crossing his arms and looking away with an uncertain frown.

"Come on, Xibalba! You would have never changed just like that! She's using a love potion on you!"

Again, Xibalba turned to see the other two gods in bewilderment and shock. This time, however, he did not grow angry, and there was actually a glint of hope in his eyes. "Que…?" his uncertainty returned. "How can I be sure you are speaking the truth?"

"You don't trust me?" Zipacna gave him a hurt expression. "You would trust a woman who nearly ruined your marriage over your flesh and blood?"

"I'm not saying that! All I'm saying is that you could be misunderstanding things!"

"As a matter of fact, we do have a bit of proof." The Candlemaker said, and the Book of Life flew closer, opening pages until it had reached Xibalba's Story. "Here. Take a look at your Story, you know Book never lies."

Xibalba approached the Book of Life and started to read the latest pages, starting from the page that read that Aimé had moved into his castle. As he continued to read, his eyes widened in shock and disbelief, until he could not bear it anymore and he closed the Book of Life shut, making it fly behind the Candlemaker. He couldn't believe it… Though in reality, a part of him wasn't surprised that Aimé would resort to such a low trick, and relieved that he wasn't falling in love with her. But to poison her own niece, and now that she was going to bear a child…

Sighing, Xibalba turned to look at his friends once again. "So, what now?"

"Itzamna is already working on the antidote." The Candlemaker said. "Once you take it, you'll be back to your Aimé-hating self."

The dark god clenched his fists. "I'm going to kill that woman." He hissed, his teeth growing sharp. "Trying to seduce me is one thing, but trying to kill my daughter, her own niece, and now that she's pregnant…?! I'll kill her!" He was about to storm out of the Cave of Souls when Zipacna stopped him.

"Hey, hey, wait a minute!" he yelled. "You can't just go and accuse Aimé of that! She'll know her cover is blown, and you know that woman is capable of anything to get what she wants!"

"And Marigold has grown attached to her!" the Candlemaker continued. "She'll probably think you're making it up because she knows how you hate her! And we don't even know what poison Aimé is using!"

"So we just stand by and watch as that bitch kills my daughter slowly?!"

"First you have to take that antidote, then we'll figure out what to do next!" Zipacna pushed him away from the entrance once more. "Try to calm down!"

Xibalba was about to retort when suddenly an owl emerged from one of the waterfalls with a vial in its talon, and descended upon the three gods, dropping the vial on top of the Book of Life before flying back into the waterfall. The Book of Life carefully floated down towards Xibalba so he could grab the vial; it was filled with a purplish liquid.

"That was quick." The Candlemaker commented.

"Is that the… antidote?" Xibalba inquired, taking the vial and examining the liquid.

"Eyup." Zipacna nodded. "Just drink it and you should throw out all the filth Aimé put in you."

"What is it made of, by the way?"

The Candlemaker and Zipacna glanced at each other nervously, before glancing back at him. "Believe me, you don't want to know."

Oh, well, what did he have to lose? Xibalba removed the cork of the bottle and, reluctantly, closed his eyes shut as he drank its contents with one gulp. A horrible bitter taste overcame him, and then came the burning sensation in his throat. His stomach churned, and his blood went cold like poison, the dark god had to support himself with the Book of Life to avoid collapsing. His feathers bristled and were trembling with disgust, and then he felt the contents of his stomach coming up his throat. The Candlemaker and Zipacna stepped back when Xibalba started to vomit a black liquid unto the stone floor. The strange substance was bubbling, almost like the tar that made up Xibalba's body, before it dried up, leaving a black spot on the floor.

Xibalba was sweating as he came back to his senses, rubbing his temples to try and soothe his pounding headache.

"How do you feel, hermanito?" Zipacna asked.

It took him a while to answer. Xibalba realized that all 'affection' he had developed over the months for Aimé had vanished, and felt nothing but hate and spite for her once more. What a relief. "That accursed woman is so going to pay for this." He growled with newfound hostility.

The Candlemaker laughed. "He's back!"

"Okay, could you tell me now what are we going to do about my daughter?!" Xibalba snapped. "Give me one good reason not to storm into the dining hall and drag her out by the hairs!"

"Hey, Xibalba, maybe the best would be that for now, you act as if you didn't know anything and you were still under the effects of the potion."

"WHAT?!"

"We don't know what she may be capable of if she is found out! She is capable of hurting your daughter directly! Only until we can find an antidote for Marigold!"

Xibalba muttered something under his breath, but he knew they were right. He knew Aimé was capable of anything to get what she wanted and to whoever stood in her way; but this time he had to worry not only about his daughter, but for his grandchild as well. If it had to be this way, so be it.

"Very well."