.｡.· ਉl̈́ਉ ﾟ ʚῖɞ.｡.· ਉl̈́ਉ ﾟ ʚῖɞ.｡.· ਉl̈́ਉ ﾟ ʚῖɞ.｡.·
Pepa walked towards Dolores's room ready to have a sit down chat with her daughter only to pause in horror to see the door no longer glowing. In a panic she burst through the door calling out "DOLORES!" her eyes darted all over the room but there was no sign of the young woman. A cloud starting to from over her head she went back out screaming "DOLORES IS GONE!"
Alma looked up and sighed "I'm sure everything is fine she's just doing it for attention."
"Come look at her door."
Alma rolled her eyes briefly but to humour Pepa made her way up the stairs eyes growing wide when she saw Dolores's door had gone dark "What does this mean? A door hasn't stopped glowing before."
"It means my daughter is missing." Pepa growled "We have to find her."
"She'll come home when she gets hungry." Alma replied firmly "She didn't get the attention she wanted yesterday so she is trying a different tactic. But if it means you get rid of that damn cloud I'll arrange a search party." with another glance towards the door she turned away. The door has gone out...what could this mean? Is the magic in danger? Are they all going to go out like that? One by one until we have lost it all? "Bruno!" she approached her son "Dolores has run away, please go look for her. She disobeyed me by leaving. If she won't come willingly bring her by force, I will not play her games."
Bruno nodded with a small smirk "Of course...of course..." he turned around and left Casita "Oh Dolores you're in trouble again.." he muttered to himself "Never can help yourself can you?" with a chuckle he made his way towards the town at a casual pace in no great concern to find his niece. He did spot a lone person slinking around the outskirts with a bag slung over their shoulder. His smirk got wider when he realised it was Mirabel. Turning so he was now walking in her direction luckily no one else was around...well lucky for him anyway. "Ohh Mirabel."
Mirabel growled under her breath hearing that voice, pulling her bag full of fruit closer she tried to ignore him but felt herself be shoved from behind and the ground came rushing up to greet her fruit spilling across the ground.
"Whoops." Bruno laughed "Where do you think you were going?"
"Get lost." Mirabel snapped back standing up and gathering the fruit up she was about to reach for the last piece when a foot came down on top of it squashing it into the dirt.
"Oh I'm sorry, were you planning on eating that?"
Mirabel shot Bruno a dirty look "What do you want?"
Bruno folded his arms "Oh nothing, you have nothing to offer anyway you're pathetic. Useless. Not even your own mother wants anything to do with you."
Rage filled Mirabel's eyes "It's all your fault! You and your stupid vision. You ruined my life!"
"And you made my life so much better, and you will not take it off of me again you little brat. I will not lose it to a damn child." he shoved Mirabel again with a chuckle "By the way...if you even think about trying to stand up to me..." he grabbed her chin "You'll be running for your very life by the time I'm done, I can get you ran out of this valley no trouble. I can even lie...who do you think they'll believe? Me or you? Cause truth is...no one cares about you Mirabel. No friends...no family...well no family that wants you anyway-UGH" Bruno grabbed a hold of his bleeding nose "You...oh you are so going to regret that." Bruno sneered at Mirabel "You have no idea of the mistake you've made."
Mirabel didn't show any emotion as she turned around and stormed off. She knew she had screwed up but he provoked her into it, just like he wanted. Bruno wanted her to react and was now probably going to spin some story about how she was just some dangerous psycho and him an innocent victim of unprovoked assault. All she wanted was to get some food she even grabbed extra for Dolores even Mirabel knew Dolores couldn't show her face in town right now so it was up to herself to get food for the both of them even if in Mirabel's opinion Dolores could easily go a few days without needing anything but she was out restocking her own supply so she might as well grab some extras not like it was any extra effort on her part.
She halted when a sudden downpour fell upon the town. I believe Dolores's absence has been noticed...oh Madrigals...you have no idea what's coming. Ducking her head she power walked through the rain towards the barn when she got close the barn door opened for her and Dolores waved her in. Now out of the rain Mirabel dropped the bag and shook herself like a dog.
"You punched Bruno." there was a smile on the older girls face.
Mirabel looked over to Dolores "You heard everything huh? Well that's just...wait you still have your gift? I though for sure you would of lost it."
"I do..it's more muted than before but it still works, you really shouldn't of done that you know." Dolores chuckled despite herself.
"The bastard provoked me into it!" Mirabel growled.
"I know that." Dolores replied calmly "But they are not going to believe you over him." she tilted her head listening "Lucky for you they are more concerned about looking for me right now. They shouldn't look here...why would I be here? But if they do I can hear them coming giving myself plenty of time to hide."
"Sooner or later you'll have to reveal yourself to them but for now..." Mirabel chuckled to herself "I must say I looking forward to hearing what cover up they come up with to explain your disappearance." she picked her bag back up and pulled out a piece of fruit throwing it to Dolores who caught it easily "It's not the home cooked meals you are used to feasting upon but you'll have something to eat tonight at least." putting the bag of fruit away she frowned as the rain became heavier "Lovely weather we're having." she said sarcastically as she retreated to her blanket wrapping it around herself.
Dolores bit into the fruit as she picked a corner to huddle in bringing her knees to her chin as she watched Mirabel who sensed Dolores's eyes on her turned her head in her direction.
"You don't have to sit on the other side of the barn you know..." Mirabel looked away "I don't bite."
"I'm comfy over here for now."
"Suit yourself." Mirabel shrugged not really caring.
Dolores reached out with her hearing she could hear the family searching for her she expected to feel some sort of guilt or shame but instead she just felt satisfaction, she gave all the warning signs but they refused to see them now they can deal with the consequences. When she had that candle...no when she and Mirabel had that candle she no they will finally be seen. She must say she was looking forward to the day she could see the look of utter defeat on Alma's face. She looked over to her cousin who was staring blankly at nothing. Of course they would have to learn to get along and Dolores admitted to herself now she no longer had to worry about what the family thought she would like to form a relationship with Mirabel. If Mirabel would let her. If would make their plan go a lot smoother.
Dolores stood up and made her way across barn sitting outside of the stall Mirabel was in.
"I thought you were comfy over there?"
"We might as well get used to each other's company."
"Well do forgive me in advance I don't exactly have much practice with the whole socialising thing."
"I am well aware of that fact."
Mirabel jumped when a loud clash of thunder boomed overhead "Wow, the weather witch sure is unhappy."
Dolores shot her a quick glare "That's my mother you're talking about."
Mirabel merely chuckled "She's not your mother anymore mi amiga. You think she'll still want you when she finds out what you've done? I mean no offence but come on face reality. Like you said you're just like me."
"You know I've heard Julieta talk to herself, she still loves you."
"Loves me so much she leaves me in this barn to starve." Mirabel replied sarcastically with an eye roll "Oh yeah the love I feel just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside."
"She didn't want to stop feeding you but Alma threatened her that she would send you away with the traders if she didn't."
It was such a small thing but hearing Dolores already dropping the 'Abuela' name instead just using Alma made Mirabel smile "Is that so?"
"Alma is afraid of you."
Mirabel looked over to Dolores a slight tilt to her head a glint of amusement in her eyes "Oh? The great powerful Alma Madrigal is scared of little blind me?" she gave a short chuckle under her breath "That pleases me...really it does. And I haven't even done anything yet...well besides that one candle incident."
Dolores leaned forward this was already a lot more interesting than her usual dull routine "Oh yes, I can hear her muttering to herself about how she can stop you. Thing is she is so sure you're going to destroy the magic, she'll never expect you...well us to steal it right from under her nose."
"You seem quite excited by all of this."
Dolores shrugged "Yeah well...you know how it is. You read my diary...you know my feelings I tried...I really did try. But trying wasn't good enough for them and it never will be good enough."
"Ah but that's why you and I are going to make them pay, aren't we? They have failed to see the result of their neglect but one day..they will." Mirabel smiled her eyes holding a sinister glint "We're going to make the Madrigals forever regret what they have done to us."
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
Pepa's cloud grew as one by oneher family returned home from searching Dolores without any news of her missing daughter. "Where is my daughter?!"
"Pepa, calm down." Alma scowled "I'm sure she is fine she's just doing it for the attention. Give her enough time and she'll come crawling back home."
"What if something is wrong?" Pepa's frown deepened "She was upset yesterday-"
"She's doing it for attention." Alma repeated "I won't hear anymore about it."
"But her door...something is wrong."
"I said I won't hear anymore about it. I have enough to deal with without Dolores's temper tantrums." the sound of the door opening again drew her attention letting out a small gasp when Bruno entered nose dripping blood "What happened?"
Bruno shot Julieta a dark glare "Mirabel punched me for no damn reason. Damn brat."
Alma's face darkened "Did she now? Well she is going to have to watch herself, but if she wants to start trouble I will bring her trouble." turning to Julieta "Get Bruno something for his nose. NOW."
Julieta glared at Bruno muttering under her breath, she wouldn't lie the thought of Mirabel just punching Bruno right in the face amused her even if that was what even happened. She wished she could get away with that some days. She hated her brother, no she hated the man that had replaced her brother. On the night she lost her youngest daughter she also lost her brother, because the Bruno Madrigal she now knew was not her brother. She selected the oldest arepa she had on hand which in Julieta's opinion was more than he deserved and stormed back to the courtyard shoving the arepa into Bruno's hands without a word.
She glanced up to where she could see Dolores's now solid door. Odd...really odd. She was concerned for her sorbina she hoped Alma was right for once and this was just an attention seeking attempt it was much better than the alternative that something horribly wrong has happened. "Pepa?" she asked her sister "What did she say to you last night?"
"She was asleep when I went in didn't want to wake her I knew she was having migraines since she had her painkillers out...and I didn't get time to talk to her this morning either so..." Pepa looked up towards the door "I know she was upset but to runaway...I have no idea what is going through that girls mind."
Félix placed a hand on Pepa's shoulder "She'll come back home mi vida. She is a Madrigal after all, she knows she belongs here in Casita with the rest of us. She's upset and is making space for herself...she'll come home." he tried to reassure his wife.
Pepa sighed as her husband tried to shoo her cloud away "You think we should just leave her be?'
"Yes, she'll come back when she is ready..of course still keep an eye out for her but don't force her home. She's a grown woman she can handle herself."
"If...if you're sure...but..."
Félix whispered into Pepa's ear "I have people in town looking out for her, just don't tell Alma you know how she is."
Knowing that there was people looking for her daughter helped calm Pepa down and the cloud faded the rain stopping with it.
Bruno scoffed at the arepa he was holding "Really? Julieta? Just how old is this thing?"
Julieta didn't answer.
"It was your barn brat that did this."
Alma agreed with him "Julieta get him a fresh one, honestly."
Julieta didn't speak but did as she was told returning with the fresh arepa passing it over without even looking at her brother
Alma frowned at the interaction, the two were so close as children but ever since Mirabel's exile Julieta could hardly stand to look at him. Oh course she's mad that was her baby girl a voice in her head told her. But surely Julieta realised by now it was for the best. When Alma would see Mirabel's eyes she could see something demonic in them, she could see the cruelty behind that smile. No there was nothing but darkness in Mirabel's heart but Alma wasn't going to make the first move as long as Mirabel just stayed away from the family Alma would have nothing to do with the girl. But if she was going to start attacking the family well...Alma wasn't going to stand for it.
Clearing her throat "Bruno, you say it was Mirabel that attacked you?"
"Yep."
"Hmm...like I said earlier that girl better watch herself, she's on very thin ice as it is."
Isabela chuckled "I told you she was crazy."
"Isa..." Julieta groaned "Please don't start, I'm really not in the mood tonight."
"What? It's just the truth. Everyone knows it, she lives in a barn and talks to herself. She isn't right in the head." Isabela flashed a smile and with a wave of her hand making flowers bloom made her way up the stairs and retreated to her room.
Alma huffed before walking up the stairs pausing when she realised her door was wide open, she never left her door open. Entering her room she looked around seeing nothing out of place. Her eyes landed on the candle but again nothing seemed to be wrong. The candle was the same as always, no signs the magic was in danger. She had no idea how to explain Dolores's door. Would it begin to glow again when Dolores was found and brought back? Where did she even go? Alma was annoyed at Dolores's deliberant act of disobedience. She told the girl to stay in the Casita and yet the girl decided to just take off resulting in drama Alma really didn't need to deal with right now.
She has enough to deal with when it came to the threat of Mirabel, she knew she should of sent the girl away when she was younger. Of course they could still force her out of the valley but there was nothing stopping her from just turning around and coming right back.
Alma would do everything in her power to stop that prophecy coming into fruition.
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
Dolores yawned as night settled in her stomach beginning to growl for it's expected dinner but she was out of luck tonight, Mirabel could only steal what she could carry and that would have to last them. Once Dolores could start getting out and about she could contribute to food but in the meantime they were stuck sharing Mirabel's measly rations. A blanket was thrown at her startling her she looked up to see Mirabel walking away without a word. She took the blanket in her hands, it was old and dirty but it was better than nothing.
Mirabel laid down in the stall pulling her blanket over herself taking her glasses off setting them on the upside down bucket she had placed there now finding herself in a world without sight. She heard footsteps enter the stall and the sound of another body lowering themselves down but didn't say anything. Not her barn after all she couldn't tell Dolores where she can and can't go here.
Dolores knew she could of picked anywhere else in the barn to sleep yet she still picked the stall for what reason she didn't know herself. Though she laid as far away from Mirabel as physically possible which wasn't much. These stalls weren't designed for humans to sleep in after all, she could still reach her arm out and touch Mirabel. A frown spread across her face when Mirabel's whimpers of starvation reached her ears, listening to it from Casita was bad enough but being here in the flesh listening to it...ugh. The sounds of someone starving were not pretty to hear but Dolores knew it was even worse for Mirabel to experience.
Dolores shifted in her bed of straw trying to get comfortable missing her soft bed at that moment. Today didn't really go to plan she thought she would be out of the Encanto by now not sleeping in an old barn with her exiled youngest cousin as a roommate. Turns out Alma is right, Mirabel is evil Dolores thought to herself with a silent chuckle. Wait if I'm her partner doesn't that make me evil too? I did try to destroy that candle this morning after all. I got the scars to match so to answer my own question, yes I am 'evil' but they can't say I didn't try to be the good girl.
Mirabel laid with her back to Dolores listening to her shifting constantly in the straw. She was pleased oh so very pleased. For once everything was going her way. While she was not expecting Dolores to turn up at the barn scarred from already attempting to destroy the miracle she would take it. Faster and easier than her original plan to slowly manipulate the vulnerable and unhappy now former Madrigal that's for sure. She greatly underestimated Dolores and just how much hatred she held in her heart.
"Ugh this is so uncomfortable."
Mirabel gave a grunt of agreement "Of course it is, we're sleeping like a pair of stupid donkeys."
Dolores let out a snort "Looking at the donkeys they are probably more comfortable." a pause as her stomach growled "And I'm hungry."
"Well you better get used to it, you're living on the streets now."
"Still better than living with Bruno." Dolores scoffed that earned a small chuckle from Mirabel.
"Bruno...that man walks with his head held so high I'm surprised he can see where he is going."
Dolores adjusted her position again "If you're going to punch him again, give me a shout so I can come watch."
"Encouraging me to commit violence already?"
"Just saying, that's all."
Mirabel groaned closing her eyes. Tomorrow she thinks she'll hang about in town see if and could spy on the Madrigals a little bit. Dolores could just listen from here that is true but Mirabel interested observing their behaviour, study their body language. Will they pretend like everything is fine? The thought of the Madrigal's horror when they realised Dolores had betrayed them for her brought a smile to her face.
Now she has Dolores on her side her revenge is really going to start.
.｡.· ਉl̈́ਉ ﾟ ʚῖɞ.｡.· ਉl̈́ਉ ﾟ ʚῖɞ.｡.· ਉl̈́ਉ ﾟ ʚῖɞ.｡.·