Chapter 15

(Isabella POV)

I took a breath trying to figure out the best way to answer his question, "It is complicated." He looked at me, "But you still owe me an answer." I was starting to panic, trying to figure out what to do. I let out a breath, "When the people in town were expelled from their old village some people were trying to catch them and someone sacrificed themself to keep their family safe, his sacrifice embedded magic into the candle and we were given a miracle."

"Who?" Caleb asked as he grabbed my arm to turn me around to face him. I looked down at my arm and back up at him. He let me go quickly, "Who sacrificed themself?" I smiled shaking my head, "I'm not going to answer that one because it is related to topics that we aren't going to discuss." I let out a breath before looking back at town, "I need to go back." I went to walk back, "Wait you have one more question." Caleb said. I smiled back at him, "I'll save it for another time. See you in town."


(Caleb POV)

I don't know what was going on with me. I watched as Isabella was making her way back to town. I had to shake it off though. I needed to figure out how this miracle worked before they got here. I needed to do my job. I needed to do it for the General. I took out my notebook and wrote down what I learned quickly before heading back to the shack that I was staying at. I cut through town and saw that they were re-building the Ramierez's house. "Caleb," someone called out. I turned to face them and saw a bunch of people looking as Nina came over to me, "Hi Nina." She smiled, "They are re-building my house now." I smiled, "Yeah it looks like they are." I looked up at everyone, "Need any help?" Someone came over and handed me a hammer, "They can use some help with the roof."


(Isabella POV)

I made my way through town. I don't know what was going on with me or why I was thinking about telling Caleb all these things that I shouldn't. I was walking through town when I saw the Ramierez's house. Luisa was supposed to be helping out today so I went to see if there was anything I could do. That was when I saw Caleb helping out with the roof. I don't know how long I was looking but someone came up behind me, "You're starring."

I turned and saw Luisa, "I'm not." I looked at her, "And why aren't you helping?" She shrugged, "I had stuff to do this morning and then I saw Caleb here. I wasn't sure if I should use my gift or not." I bite my tongue about the fact that her strength, although enhanced by her gift, was pretty clear to anyone that saw her. Instead I focused on this, "Did that stuff have anything to do with your friend." I could see a blush come across her cheeks, "I'm going to go check on the..." her voice teetered off as she ran away.


(Caleb POV)

I looked down below and saw that Isabella was talking to someone else from town. As soon as the other person left Isabella looked up at me. We made eye contact and neither of us seemed to want to look away. She suddenly turned her head and ran off in the other direction. I shook it off and refocused on building the roof, but my mind stayed on Isabella the entire time. Why was she on my mind so much? Why was she such a mystery?


(Isabella POV)

- 2 months later -

It had become more clear that the town was comfortable with Caleb. No one told him anything about the miracle but, he had begun helping out with the town and they all talked to him now, answering some of his questions and more. I, however, started to distance myself away from him. I had to. I was getting way too close and I needed him to leave before Daniela's ceremony. He already knew more than anyone would have wanted him to know but now, Dolores had just announced that she is pregnant again with triplets.

I made my way into town and let out a long breath. I was just trying to get through my day when I heard someone come up behind me, "Where have you been?" I turned and saw Caleb. I smiled, "I have been around." He shook his head, "No you have not. You have been clearly avoiding me, besides you are the one is supposed to be helping me with everything in town." I shook my head, "You know your way around pretty well now besides people in town do seem more likely to help you now too." "But you are the one who is supposed to, at least according to the Candleholder" Caleb said. I turned to face him, "I have to go, please excuse me."


(Caleb POV)

Isabella has been avoiding me for a few weeks now. Every time I saw her in town or on the outskirts of the fields where I worked she would turn the other way. I knew she was still around though. There was always more weeds that were inexplicably growing during my shifts for Enrique. This was the first time we spoke in a while but, even this was too quick before she scurried away. Was I getting close to figuring something out? Is that why she was avoiding me?

I had to go to work so I began to make my way to the fields and smiled to myself when I saw the extra weeds begin to grow randomly I smiled to myself knowing that Isabella was nearby. "You going to the party tonight?" Javier asked me, he worked at the field next to me. "What party?" He shrugged, "The Madrigals have some type of announcement and are having a party tonight. Probably means that one of them is having another kid." I looked at him confused, "And why does that mean they are going to have a party?" He rolled his eyes, "Because of the gif-" His eyes then widened as he looked at me, "Never mind, I wasn't supposed to mention that. Just know that there is a party at Casita tonight."

I looked back at the treeline as I thought about everything I knew. I knew that Isabella, her mother, her sister and her Abuela were all affected by the miracle. I knew that no one else in town seemed to have any type of gift and her cousins seem to be interesting as well. Now they are having a party because, what is assumed, one of them is pregnant and it might mean a new gift. The story that Isabella had told me involved someone sacrificing themself and she mentioned that her Abuelo had died that night. Was the miracle linked to her family? I saw a shuffle in the tree line and knew that Isabella had left now. I needed to talk to her and I was going to do it tonight.


(Isabella POV)

I kept my eye on Caleb from a distance for the rest of the day before going back to Casita to help get everything ready for the party tonight. The kitchen was busy as people were cooking for the community as Casita was decorating itself. People from town were making their way over and the party was beginning. I enjoyed being on the dance floor and dancing with the kids in the family. I was trying to avoid everyone today besides my family especially after being confronted by Caleb in town today.

I began twirling around Daniela and Laura when I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see Caleb standing there, "Isabella we need to talk." I smiled, "Um Caleb I'm kind of..." before I could finish. Daniela and Laura smiled at us, "I think Mama is calling me." Daniela said as they were running away. I looked at Caleb as we were in the middle of the dance floor and a slower song was being played. Caleb held out his hand, "May I?" I nodded my head as we began to dance in the middle of the dance floor.

Neither of us say anything while we dance. I don't talk because I don't know what to say whereas I have no idea why Caleb wasn't saying anything. He just kept his eyes on me and I kept my eyes on him. I let out a long breath as the song came to an end and went to walk away from him but, Caleb didn't let go of my hand. Instead he went in the same direction as me and pulled me to the side, "Isabella we need to talk alone." I let out a breath and guided him up to my room. I closed the door behind us, "Caleb." "Isabella, what is going on with your family and the miracle?" I looked at him confused, "What are you talking about?" "You're family are the only one's with gifts aren't you, the miracle is only because of your family, isn't it?" I opened my mouth, "Caleb..." He came closer to me, "Isabella don't lie to me." The space between us was becoming smaller and smaller. As my heart was pounding in my chest and my lips parted slightly as I looked up at him, "Caleb..." "Isabella," he said looking down at me leaning in closer. I leaned in closer to him closing the space between us.


Author's Note

Sorry for not posting for a little while. I actually had gone on a vacation out of the country and wasn't near my computer. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and look forward to writing more in the future.