disclaimer: (gosh...don't these things annoy you? .) I don't own the X- Files or any of it's characters.

author's note: sorry if my previous style of typing was hard on the eyes, I was typing really fast, lol. Anywho, another thing, not everything that I type in Spanish is spelled correctly.

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Mulder left the family's residence and headed on over to the morgue. After speaking to Joseffina Cortez, he was beginning to understand a possible explanation for Marta, Yamil, and Luisa's deaths. From what she told him, her sister, niece, and nephew weren't into the religion very much. Could their deaths have anything to do with that? There was one thing he knew for certain though. Humberto Cortez didn't take too kindly to Mulder's questioning. He even assumed that Mulder didn't understand any Spanish when he yelled out loud to his wife "Don't tell him anything!" Mulder's Spanish may not be very good, but he understood that much. They were obviously trying to protect someone or something, but who or what?

South Miami Hospital's morgue.

1:15pm

"So what is that you want to show me, Scully?" asked Mulder.

"Well, while preformed autopsies on each of the bodies, I noticed that all of them had been drained of blood and any body fluid; completely dehydrated. They all have 3 wounds lined up on the biceps and triceps of each arm. Then I noticed something even stranger. On the back of each of their necks there is one huge puncture wound, and I examined the interior of the wounds they all had a blackish slimy substance." explained Scully.

"Were you able to identify the substance at all? he asked in response.

"Actually, no, I haven't been able to classify it's origin, but I did discover this." Scully turned off the lights. "It glows a deep blue in the dark." she said.

"Hnn, that IS odd. Do you think it could be from some kind of animal?" asked Mulder.

"That's a possibility, yes, or maybe some kind of poison they make and use in their rituals perhaps." Scully replied.

"That could be, but it still doesn't account for the wounds on both of their arms." Mulder pointed out.

"I think we should go back and continue questioning this family, so we can get some answers. This looks like some kind of cult ritual to me." said Scully.

'Or maybe it's more than that.' Mulder thought to himself.

After Scully had finished up everything she needed to with the autopsies, they were on their way. They weren't too far from the house when Mulder saw a Santeria store.

"Wait, hold on a second, Scully, make a u-turn in that plaza we just passed." he said suddenly

"Why?" she asked

"There's a Santeria book store in there. I want to see if I can find anything. Maybe you're right about there being some kind of ritual for these deaths." said Mulder.

When they pulled up to the store, they went inside. There were ALL kinds of books on Santeria. They looked in the English section. Scully picked up a book on Santeria Rituals, and Mulder picked one up about the legends of Santeria. They both didn't seem to be finding much until Mulder got a to a certain part of his book. It was labeled "Creatures of the saints".

"Hey, Scully, take a look at this." he said.

"What is it, Mulder?" she asked.

"According to this, every family or group follows a certain saint, but still have to perform ceremonies in respect for the others. They must conduct every sacrifice and ritual correctly, or there are terrible consequences. Usually the punishments are in forms of curses sent from the specific saints themselves, but check THIS out." Mulder said.

He pointed to a picture of a black reptilian-like creature. It had a long tail with 3 long sharp claws on each hand, and stood upright. The picture also depicted the creature biting it's victim in the back of the neck while holding it's arms in place, There was a long sharp tooth-like thing that came out and buried itself in the back of the neck. It glowed a dark blue.

"Don't tell me that you think THIS thing is responsible." said Scully.

"Well think about it. This book also says that it only comes out at night after midnight. And that it sucks the life out of its victims. It's known as the monstruo de Chango. Chango/St. Barbara is known as the god warrior and is considered evil, but still has to be respected. If members of the group or family do not respect worship him, Chango will send down this beast to kill them." explained Mulder.

"There's no way that some mythological creature can just magically appear and suck the soul or life out of people, that's ludicrous, Mulder, especially when we're dealing with a family that involved in a cult. These are clearly murders by a member or members in the family." argued Scully.

"Scully, with all that you've seen, you STILL aren't open to another explanation?" asked Mulder.

"It's not that, Mulder, it's just that this looks more like cult murders in a ritual, which we have ran into before may I remind you, so we shouldn't just place the blame on some monster without questioning if one or more of the family members is responsible." said Scully.

"Ok, fine, you're right. Now let's head over to the houses." said Mulder.

Though Scully brought up a great point, and her explanation may very well be it, Mulder still wasn't satisfied. The bodies had the same wounds as the victims in the book that Mulder was reading in the Santeria bookstore. Even how the slimy substance grew a deep blue in the dark, just like Scully had shown him. It made sense to him. About 5 minutes later they pulled up in front of the Cortez residence. They knocked on the door of the tacky aqua house. Joseffina answered it. Her friendly brown eyes squinted with the sunlight.

"Oh, hello, you come back to ask eh question about my sister and her children, Senior?" she asked.

"Yes, I have, and this is my partner special agent Dana Scully. She's also investigating this case with me." Mulder said to her. Scully introduced herself and shook the woman's hand.

"Come in eh side." said Joseffina, motioning them to come in.

"Are any other members of your family present?" asked Scully.

"Oh eh yes, they live in eh houses, they eh...eh...how you say? connectado." Joseffina tried explaining and motioning with her hands.

"Do you mean, connected?" asked Mulder. She nodded in agreement.

"Yes eh this house, eh pink, and eh yellow. Marta used to eh live in eh yellow house, and my other sister, Gisela live in eh pink house." Joseffina told them.

What about your husband, Humberto was it?" Mulder asked.

"Oh, he eh sleeping now. Si quiero, eh If you want, you speak to Gisela and her children." she offered.

"Ok, thank you very much Mrs. Cortez, we'll do that." said Scully.

"There is eh door that is eh connectado to her house, but eh, go to front door, cause she no know you." Joseffina said.

"That's fine, thanks." said Mulder.

"Oh eh y Senior?" she asked Mulder, who turned around.

"Queiro café Cubano?" she asked him, remembering how he had enjoyed it before.

"Sure, gracias, Joseffina." he said,

"Y para la seniora?" gesturing if Scully wanted some as well.

"Oh, coffee? No thank you, gracias." said Scully

"See, you're learning more Spanish already." Mulder said to Scully playfully.

After Mulder finished his coffee, him and Scully walked over to the pink house, which was right next door as Joseffina said it would be. Mulder knocked, and the door was soon answered.

"Hello, how can I help you?" asked the young woman. She was taller than Joseffina, maybe 5'2. She had a bronze tan and long wavy hair. It was dyed a blondish brown color with highlights. She looked about 25 and was very skinny. Her olive eyes met Mulder's when she spoke. She had a slight Spanish accent.

"Hello, how can I help you?" she asked checking Mulder out. Scully noticed this right away.

Mulder was about to speak when he was cut off by Scully.

"Yes, I'm special agent Dana Scully with the FBI, and this is my partner special agent Fox Mulder. We want to question you about the deaths of your aunt and cousins." Scully said as she flashed her badge, Mulder did the same.

"Oh, I see." she said with a slight attitude in her voice toward Scully. She introduced herself and shook Mulder's hand. "My full name is Yanina Perez De la Rosa Rodriguez."

"I noticed that you all have long last names, but that yours starts different." said Mulder.

"Oh well, let me explain that." said Yanina as she motioned them to come inside. "It's actually three last names in one. The first name is my father's last name and then the other two are my mother's maiden name along with its family prefix. That's common in Santero families. The prefix shows what group or family of Santeros you're a part of. like my mother, brother, and I have the same first last name. Then, my tia Joseffina has Cortez in front along with her daughter. Tia Marta and her kids was Martinez." explained Yanina.

"I see..." said Scully

"So what can you tell me about your aunt Marta and your cousins; Luisa and Yamil? asked Mulder.

"Well, they were our family obviously, but they weren't very into the religion. In my opinion they were a set back." said Yanina

"Why would they be a set back?" asked Scully

"Because, our rituals could never be truly complete, and that angers the saints." Yanina explained.

"What can you tell me about monstruo de Chango?" asked Mulder curiously.

Yanina avoided the question. "Well, I was on my way out. I don't really know much about what happened. Maybe you can speak to my brother and mother." she said while getting up and stepping out the door then winked at Mulder.

Scully didn't trust her one bit. Just then a man that looked in his 30's came into the living room. He was about 5'9 and also had bronze skin, his hair was dark brown and short, with hazel eyes. He was a lot friendlier than Yanina. His accent was a bit thicker than his sister's.

"Hello." he said in a confused tone.

"Hi, I'm special agent Fox Mulder, and this is my parter special agent Dana Scully." said Mulder.

"Oh, well, would you like my full name or-"he was immediately cut off by both Mulder and Scully simultaneously saying "No!"

"Your first name will be just fine." said Scully.

"My name is Juan Carlos. My mother is Gisela, and my sister is Yanina, who you just met."

"What can you tell us about your aunt and cousins?" asked Mulder.

"Well, they were nice people. I mean, I never had a problem with them or nothing." said Juan Carlos.

"Your sister told us that they weren't very into your family's religion, and that they were a set back." said Scully.

"That's true, but I wouldn't say they were a set back. Don't listen to Yanina, she is the only one who thought that, because she never got along with them. Especially Luisa. They were about the same age you know. Yamil was closer to my age though, him and I got along just fine." said Juan Carlos.

"What can you tell me about monstruo de Chango?" Mulder asked again.

"Oh, that? Honestly, I really don't know about all of that stuff. I mean, I practice Santeria and all, but I don't know like every little detail, I'd tell you to ask my mother, but she's out at Navarro, the local market. Maybe my tia Joseffina knows?" Juan Carlos said.

"Alright, we'll do that. Thank you for your help, Juan Carlos." said Mulder.

"No problem, if you need anything else, just come by anytime." said a very friendly Juan Carlos.

"We'll do that, thanks." said Scully.

Then they left. As they made their way back to the Cortez's residence, they spoke among themselves.

"He doesn't seem to know much about what happened." said Mulder.

"No, but Yanina DOES. She didn't obviously didn't take too kindly to our being there, or mine anyway, and didn't get along well with the Martinez's." said Scully.

"Yeah, but that doesn't make her a suspect. Not yet anyway. She was probably just in hurry to go somewhere. It looked like we had interrupted her leaving." said Mulder.

"Well, that's true, but I think she's hiding something." said Scully.

They knocked on the Cortez's door, and another girl answered. She was about 5'4 and about average body type, but a little more curvy. She had shoulder length black hair, with dark brown eyes. She looked like she was in her 30's and spoke with a light Spanish accent.

"You must be the FBI agents my parents told me about. She greeted both of them. Hi, my name is Victoria, I'm their daughter."

The FBI agents both introduced themselves as well. Then, Sophia invited them in.

"I know you want to know about my tia Marta and my cousins Luisa and Yamil. I was very close to them. I couldn't believe it when I heard what happened. It just hit me like a ton of bricks. I-"Victoria's eyes began to water. "They didn't deserve this. Who cares if they weren't devout Santeros? It didn't matter, they were loving and sincere. I don't know who would think of doing this to them." she said.

"What can you tell me about monstruo de Chango?" asked Mulder.

"Oh, el monstruo de Chango? I'm not to familiar with it, but my mother knows a great deal about that stuff. Our family mainly prays to Lazerous. He's our family's saint really. My mother probably knows though, but she went out with my tia Gisela to Navarro." said Victoria.

"Alright, we'll ask her another time, but how would describe Yanina's relationship with your family?" asked Scully

Victoria scowled at the mentioning of her. "Excuse my French, but Yanina is a bitch. She doesn't like anyone but herself. The only thing that's good about her is that she's one of the most devout Santeros in our family."

"Do you think she could possibly be involved with their deaths?" asked Scully.

"Well, she may be a bitch, but I don't think she'd go as far as to killing someone, especially her family." said Victoria.

"Well, thank you for your time, Victoria, we'll stop by early tomorrow." said Mulder.

Victoria nodded.

I was now after 5:00. How time did fly in their line of work. They decided they'd continue their investigation the following day, when everyone was home. That way they could gather them all in one place.

"Mulder, I think I'm going to take another look at those bodies, I want to see if I can find any fingerprints or anything else that might give us some more clues as to who or what caused this." said Scully.

"Alright, but let's go back to the hotel and get maybe get a bite to eat. Then we'll leave again. and while you're working on the bodies, I'll see if I can go into the Martinez's house and get a look at that crime scene finally." suggested Mulder.

"Good idea." said Scully.

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(well, that's it for chapter 3. In the meantime I'm gonna go watch the X- Files, because it's on right now, lol. I'll post more soon. R and R!)