Spirits, Demons, and Humans Chapter 26, an el tigre fanfic

Song used: Dancing and the Dreaming by Peter Hollens and Evynne Hollens. Nightcore version with Manny and Frida.

When Rodolfo and Maria were still dating he invited her to a spiritual dance. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea but he assured her that humans were welcome. It had been arranged by his mother who had a soft spot for humans. She arrived just as the moon was rising wearing a dress that consisted of a white under dress, a gold over dress, and long sleeves with ruffles over her shoulders. Her hair was styled with gold thread and she looked wonderful. In fact she was the most beautiful woman there.

"You look magnificent." Rodolfo said.

"Thank you." She said.

"Thanks for coming."

He took her over to meet his parents and siblings.

"Mother, Father this is Maria." He said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." She said giving them a polite curtsy.

"Likewise." His mother Dora said.

"Yes, hope you like the food." Jorge said.

Music played and everyone began dancing. It was old European style music and folk songs like that. Maria giggled as she danced with Rodolfo, it was the most fun either one of them had in awhile. Then one song in particular began playing. It was an old song that had been sung by lovers for generation to generation.

"Oh I love this song." Maria said.

"Me too." Then an idea came into his head. He smiled, took Maria's hand, and began to sing.

"I'll swim and sail on savage seas
With never a fear of drowning
And gladly ride the waves of life
If you would marry me
No scorching sun nor freezing cold
Will stop me on my journey,
If you will promise me your heart."

Maria giggled and sang the verse.

"And love
And love me for eternity
My dearest one, my darling dear
Your mighty words astound me
But I've no need for mighty deeds
When I feel your arms around me."

They began to dance as they sang.

Rodolfo: "But I would bring you rings of gold
I'd even sing you poetry
And I would keep you from all harm
If you would stay beside me."

Maria: "I have no use for rings of gold
I care not for your poetry
I only want your hand to hold."

Rodolfo: "I only want you near me."

Both: "To love and kiss to sweetly hold
For the dancing and the dreaming
Through all life's sorrows
And delights
I'll keep your love beside me
I'll swim and sail on savage seas
With never a fear of drowning
I'd gladly ride the waves of life
If you will marry me...

If you will marry me..."

The spirits, demons, and humans clapped for the couple, Dora Rodolfo's mother smiled at he display but her husband Jorge was not pleased with this display neither was his brother Tito. After the dance Jorge requested a word with his son in private.

"Father you wanted to see me?" Rodolfo said meeting him.

"Yes I wanted to talk to you about you're human friend."

"Maria? Oh yes, do you like her?"

"Well she seemed nice, very lovely but tell me is this just a fling?"

"A fling?"

"Like the ones I had before I married your mother?"

Rodolfo sighed. He knew this was going to come up sooner or later.

"Father...She's not a fling...I love her and someday I'm going to marry her."

"What? But she's a human."

"I understand that but-"

"You know we are forbidden from marrying humans. We can have flings with them but never serious relationships and may I remind you that you are engaged."

"To a woman you picked for me. I never decided to marry her you did! Father I know you mean well but it's my life and my choice. Not yours!"

"Boy you take far too much after your mother."

"Good! Better than being like you!"

"Watch yourself! I may be old but I'm still a demon and I'm still your father!"

"Whatever just don't have a another heart attack like last week."

...

"But Mom! I don't wanna try out for the school play!" Frida complained.

"Honey you need something to boost your credits." Carmela said.

"I have something Mom, it's called a band."

"You don't get into college for that." She said. "Just try out please. Look you won't do sports, you won't join the cheerleading squad, and you say that the school band is not your style. You need something."

"Alright."

She stayed after school with all the other students who chose to try out. T.J and Andrea tried out too because they both loved the theater. The play the school was doing was written by one of the teachers, Lupe. It was about a beautiful human princess who had to marry a wealthy king to save her kingdom from poverty but a spirit warrior was in love with her and was courting her in disguise as a human peasant. She said it was based off events she had witnessed. Try outs lasted for six hours and Frida was relieved when it ended.

"Where were you three today?" Manny asked.

"Trying out for the theater." T.J said dramatically.

"Really? How'd that go?"

"It was the most boring six hours of my life." Frida said. "I can't believe my mom made me do this. I hope I got a minor role."

"Come on Frida if you ask me it's a pretty good play." Andrea said.

"Well I don't do live preformances.'

"What are you talking about? You play in a band."

"Yes but I don't wear ridiculous costumes and pretend to be somebody I'm not."

"What's this play about anyway?" Manny asked.

Five minutes later...

"Well that sounds stupid." He said.

"It's a love story." Andrea said.

"I don't care that mushy stuff is...Ick!"

"You clearly have no appreciation for the arts." T.J said.

The next day after school they announced the roles.

"Okay everyone here are your parts." Mrs. Gonzalas said. "T.J as the priest, Andrea as the lady in waiting, Pedro as the guard, Nico as the king, Juan as the spirit, and Frida as the princess."

"What?!" Frida cried. "I don't...I can't do that!"

"Now don't be shy dear you'll be great. Okay everyone be here for practice tomorrow."

"But-"

"Oh man!" Manny laughed. "I can't wait to see you on stage wearing a dress!"

"Shut up!" She cried. "I can't do this."

"Relax Frida all you have to do is say a few lines, sing a song, and kiss somebody." T.J said.

"Time Out! She has to kiss somebody?" Manny said.

"Either Juan or Nico."

"Frankly I hope it's Juan because he's afraid to kiss girls." Frida said.

For the next few weeks when the four of them weren't out hunting for Tito, Frida, T.J, and Andrea were at play practice while Manny had to continue the hunt alone and he found it irritating. He could hardly wait for the whole thing to be over because not only did it bother him that he had to search by himself but he couldn't stand Nico constantly flirting with Frida. That pig kept making cat calls at her and gross innuedos. He was unbelievably grateful that Frida's character and Juan's character ended up together especially since Juan was so shy around girls until...

"Why do you want to change the play?" Lupe complained to the drama teacher. It turns out the drama teacher didn't like the ending to the play, he wanted it to be a tragedy. In which Juan's character was deleted and the princess would end up marrying the cruel and greedy king who would abuse her and she would commit suicide due to her misery.

"It's more dramatic this way." He said. "Now Frida for this I need you to very sad and miserable and Nico I need you to be very lustful and possessive with her."

"With pleasure." Nico winked at Frida and puckered his lips at her. She gagged. "See ya opening night sweetheart."

"Go get stuffed!" Frida snapped. She angrily went to leave with her friends. "I can't believe I'm gonna have to actually kiss that slime."

"Drop out." T.J suggested.

"I can't. Mom won't let me back out and neither will the teachers and the other actors."

"It's just one scene." T.J said. "It'll be over in like five seconds."

"I really don't like how he changed it." Andrea said. "It was supposed to end with this beautiful song and you worked so hard on it."

On the night of the play the audience was filled parents hoping to see their kids in the production and supportive students. As for Manny he was hot on the trail of a demon that served Tito.

"There you are you overgrown lizard." He chased after the demonic reptilian monster. It dug a whole and began to tunnel underground through town and toward the school. "Oh great!"

Meanwhile Frida was preforming on stage wearing a white and cream colored long sleeved dress, light make up, and her hair styled with a pearl comb. They were doing the scene where the king would force himself to the princess even before they were married.

"My dearest I am grateful that you have agreed to be my wife." Nico said.

"Don't flatter yourself my lord." Frida spoke. "I only agreed to save my country not because I have any desire for you. You may have my hand but you shall never have my love."

"You'll come to love me soon my dear." Nico putting his hand on her waist. "Even though we are not yet wed we should have night of passion."

Manny glitched his teeth and growl when he saw Nico kiss her cheek.

"Manny calm down." T.J said. "Remember it's just a play."

"You will keep your distance sir." Frida spoke.

"You are mine woman! So you shall submit to my desires." Nico said sternly.

He scooped her up and threw her on to the prop bed then climbed on top her but just as lips were about to touch her...

"Hold it!"

Someone pulled him off her and began to beat him senseless. Frida looked up and was horrified to see it was Manny. She quickly ran to stop him, she grabbed his arm, and pulled him away from Nico.

"What are you doing here?!" She cried breaking character.

"What do you think? Saving your life!"

"This was supposed to happen!"

"Yeah? Since when? You weren't supposed to kiss him!"

"Things changed you idiot!"

"Uh my lady?" Andrea said.

"What?!"

She pointed toward the audience who looked very confused. It was then Frida realized she hadn't of informed Manny of the changes they made to the play but then again she didn't count on him showing up to watch.

"Um who is this guy?" Nico asked.

"Uh...This is..." She needed to think of something quick. "This is my secret lover."

"I'm your what?!" Manny said confused. Frida grabbed his ear and whispered something to him.

"Play along or the next time you take a catnap I'll shave you." She then got back into character. "Yes my secret lover! My dearest one I know you love me so but I'm engaged so you must forget me."

"Uh...No! That is unfair...that...You must marry this pig!" Manny improvised. "I feel stupid." He whispered to her.

"And you think I don't?" She whispered back.

"Foolish man!" Nico shouted. "She is mine. So give her to me or die like the coward you are!"

"COWARD!" Manny lunged for Nico.

"Manny no!"

"Say that to my face!" Manny began punching him again.

Suddenly the stage shook then a large lizard demon burst out from under the stage hissing at the two of them. Nico got up and ran away screaming like a girl. Manny scooped up Frida and jumped around the stage dodging the hungry demon that kept trying to swallow them. Andrea quickly threw Frida her bow and arrow to her, Frida pulled out an arrow and shot it at the beast injuring it. Manny then roared and killed it with it with his claws.

"Could you please explain to me what just happened? And why you're here?" Frida asked Manny ignoring the audience.

"That demon came here to kill everyone and the reason I'm here was to stop and save you!"

"Well I don't need saving! I'm not a damsel in distress!"

"I don't care what you are! I'm going to protect you no matter what! Even if it costs me my life!"

She went quiet, feeling nervous they ran off the stage and prepared for the ball scene with Nico's character and Frida's character. But T.J locked Nico in the closet.

"What are you doing?" Manny asked him.

"Do you know the song?"

"What song?"

"The one Frida and Juan practiced."

"I guess. Why?"

"Just trust me."

He signaled to the musicians to play the song for the show then pushed Manny on stage to Frida. He froze, blushed, and went stiff but after Andrea gave him a poke with her spear he started to sing.

He felt a hand grasp his and saw it belonged to Frida and she encouraged him by singing the next verse.

"And love me for eternity
My dearest one, my darling dear
Your mighty words astound me
But I've no need for mighty deeds
When I feel your arms around me."

They danced as they sang.

Manny: "But I would bring you rings of gold
I'd even sing you poetry
And I would keep you from all harm
If you would stay beside me."

Frida: "I have no use for rings of gold
I care not for your poetry
I only want your hand to hold."

Manny: "I only want you near me."

If you will marry me..."

The audience clapped. While the drama teacher wasn't too thrilled with the change Lupe loved it.

"You did wonderfully." Lupe said to Frida. "And I'm not sure who you're friend is but he was good."

"Thanks." She said. "I'm curious though you said your play was inspired by actual events, what were they?"

"My friend's relationship with her boyfriend. You may not believe me but she dated a spirit."

"Oh I believe it." She said. "I definitely believe it."