Alma felt all eyes on her "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Mirabel scoffed "People of the Encanto, you have all seen Alma as a wise and caring leader who put the needs of her community over all else. This is true in a sense Alma does indeed put the community above all else, including the happiness of her family."
"For years." Dolores continued "We have catered to your every whim, never once did you thank us who did the work but you all thanked Alma who did nothing but take all the credit strutting around like she was some sort of Queen and us her mere slaves."
"The only throne Alma sits on is her self-righteous ass." Mirabel gave a short laugh.
"How dare you!" Alma snarled "I am-"
"You're not anything anymore Alma, you're nothing. I am the leader of the Encanto, I am the head of La Familia Madrigal. Despite all your attempts to stop, all your attempts to crush me, I have prevailed. I stand before you today victorious." Mirabel grinned.
"Have any of you ever wondered why Mirabel suddenly disappeared after that gift ceremony? Ever wonder what happened to her? Why she just suddenly reappeared again?" Dolores asked "Well, today you will all find out the truth."
Mirabel's eyes scanned the crowd "The morning after I had my hopes and dreams quite literally fade away Alma made an announcement. I, at only five years old was stripped of my status as a member of the family. She got my picture removed from the family tree and any photos that had me in them were hidden. Ever wonder where I went when Casita was open to guests? Why I was forcibly dragged up to the nursery, thrown in and the door locked. If Alma remembered she would leave food for me but sometimes I wouldn't even get food, and Alma had the only key to the nursery so…"
"Casita couldn't open the door for us either, so Mirabel would remain trapped in there until Alma decided to let her out." Dolores continued for Mirabel "She was so ashamed of Mirabel she couldn't even stand you even seeing her face, now does that sound like the loving family woman she loves to portray herself as?"
"I had my reasons!" Alma protested "I was doing it to protect you all!"
"Protect us? From an undersized child?" Señora Guzmán gave a short laugh "Any one of us could have taken her down, she was a child. What harm could a young girl really cause?"
"You have no idea what that girl is capable of! The devil is in that one!"
"So that's why you abused me? To protect your precious community?" Mirabel's lips were in a thin line "You would grab your cane and beat me until I bled to protect everyone?"
Stunned silence spread over the gathered crowd for a few moments before chattering broke out, Alma could see looks of disgust sent her way
"She's lying!" Alma exclaimed "I never hit her!"
"MIERDA!" Mirabel yelled uttering a sorry to Dolores when she flinched and covered her ears "You would hit me regularly for no reason other than you could. You got away with it because you would force me to eat the food Mamá would leave for me while she went out and worked each day. Heal my injuries and hide the evidence."
Julieta climbed halfway up the stairs before turning to face the crowd "I believe my daughter's claims of abuse, she has emotionally abused her that much I know for sure is true so hitting her really would not surprise me. If any of you have doubts about my daughter's claims you can take it up with me personally."
"I heard everything." Dolores stated "I should've said something back then but I was afraid she would hurt me or hurt Mirabel worse…or just decide to get rid of Mirabel altogether."
"Get rid of her?" one villager asked "By putting her in the barn? That's what she did-"
"No, you idiot." Dolores snapped "I meant Alma could've just taken Mirabel and killed her, dump the body somewhere and claim she ran away and had an accident. You all would've believed it."
"I'm no murderer!" Alma snarled "I don't kill people, especially children!"
"No, you just abuse children and use your own family as slaves." Mirabel growled "For five goddam years you kept me as your prisoner! You abuse me mentally and physically! You never let me feel like part of the family! Birthdays, holidays, and parties you would lock me up and not let me be included! Then when Antonio is born you pull me aside you've arranged for me to stay in a damn donkey barn?!"
"Alma put you in that barn because you went after the candle!" Señora Díaz exlciamed.
Mirabel laughed "No, she told me this before I even went for the candle. In fact, I went for the candle in retaliation of this news, not the other way around. Then proceeded to tell you all the barn was a punishment. If you ask me though, going blind was enough of a punishment."
Señor Pérez stepped forward and turned around "Five years ago, Alma came knocking on my door. She insisted we take Mirabel off of her hands in return for all the work the Madrigals have done for me over the years. We don't have the room, we just have the barn but Alma kept saying that was fine. We didn't want the girl to live in the barn but Alma threatened to just dump her in the rainforest. So for the girl's sake, I agreed, at least she would be somewhere where someone could keep an eye on her. When she turned up at my barn with that burnt face I was horrified. Over the years I grew quite fond of young Mirabel, I just wish I had room in the house for her. When Dolores got exiled I welcomed her just as much. I've kept my tongue all these years for Mirabel's sake, but that's the truth. I have no idea who else she asked before coming to me."
"She didn't ask me." Señora Guzmán said "I don't have room either I would have tried to arrange something, I would've taken the poor girl in."
"I would have slept on the lounge." Mariano proclaimed "It wouldn't be a permanent solution but it would have given us all time to sort something out. But like my mother said, we were never asked if we could take Mirabel."
"She didn't ask me." one villager said.
"Me neither." said another.
Julieta's face turned into a deep frown "Did anyone get asked to take in my daughter? Anyone besides the Pérezs that is?" silence fell over Casita.
It was Señora Guzmán who broke the silence "No, we were all told Mirabel was exiled to the barn as punishment. We had no idea that Alma was already planning to kick her out even before the candle incident. Alma lied to all of us."
"HOW COULD YOU?!" Julieta shrieked making Dolores cover her ears "I knew you had planned to send Mirabel away but you told me that the barn was the last resort! You didn't even try!"
"I did what was for the best!" Alma knew she was rapidly losing the support of the town.
Julieta's expression darkened "For the best? FOR THE BEST?! That night was the worst night of my life! You took my baby away from me! She had done NOTHING at that point! Everything she has done, what she has become now is only a result of the way you and the rest of this damn town have treated her." she turned to the gathered crowd "All of you should be ashamed! Bullying a little girl so you can remain in favour with my mother and use our gifts. You hurt my baby girl physically and emotionally all while coming to be to heal your own wounds. You may of fell for my mother's lies but she was still a defenceless child!"
Mirabel chuckled "All I wanted, was for you to leave me in peace. I heard all your insults and saw all the looks you gave me. You stood to the side and watched me be beaten to the ground. I did nothing to you! NOTHING! But you treated me worse than the dirt you walk on, you turned against Dolores the moment she couldn't exploit her. Overnight you went from respecting her to basically wishing her death, with some exceptions such as the Pérezs and the Guzmáns you all make me SICK."
Pepa huffed and joined Julieta at her side "I know what you did to my daughter, she told me all about you ignoring her when she was harassed by two men. She told me about having her wrist broken, but you all ignored her cries for help. Be grateful I didn't flood the town for that or unleash a hurricane. Believe I was beyond furious when I found out.
"We're sorry!" a woman in the front cried out.
Mirabel and Dolores's eyes began glowing alongside the candle making the crowd gasp. Mirabel laughed manically "Save your excuses and apologises because it's too late to change my mind or force me to give in!"
The rest of the Madrigals who had been remaining silent at the bottom of the stairs glanced at each other concern growing. They were really starting to wonder. Who was controlling who? Were Mirabel and Dolores controlling the candle or was the candle controlling them?
"I have begun a war that I intend to WIN!"
Dolores grinned at Mirabel's words, everything was going exactly how they planned. They had the candle, they had taken power, they had exiled Alma, they were exposing her and Mariano had confessed his love to her and they had a place to run to in Bogotá…yes everything is going just perfectly despite some hiccups along the road.
Bruno scratched his chin as the glow faded from Mirabel and Dolores's eyes he was afraid the magic was taking hold of them. He didn't know how the magic worked, could it be feeding off Mirabel's hatred? Was the candle sentient? Was it reacting to Mirabel's darker nature? Was Mirabel herself turning the magic dark?
Mirabel smiled when she saw the townspeople were afraid of her, now they know how they made her feel. Now they saw what a big mistake they have made, hearing their apologies and asking for her forgiveness brought her so much pleasure she couldn't describe. She had no intentions of forgiving any of them, but she had them under her control now. Provided they played her game by her rules she wouldn't hurt them. She just wanted to have some…fun. That's all. A little fun before she destroyed the miracle once and for all. She just wanted a taste of what being a leader is like and she loved it.
Dolores laughed "It's almost funny…isn't it? You have all made a victim out of the monster and a monster out of the victim."
"Shut up Dolores!" Alma snapped.
"Rude." Dolores hummed with a smile "It's not very polite to tell your host to shut up."
Bruno looked at his sisters and took a deep breath and joined them in the middle of the staircase "Ten years ago, I had a vision. But I reacted in panic and did not look into it more, I misunderstood the message it was sending. As a result mi sobrina was horribly mistreated. All of this happened because of the actions everyone else chose to make, Mirabel was always destined to be the next candleholder, but how she got there and what kind of leader she would be influenced by the actions of those around her. Had I realised this all these years ago we could've stopped this. It's my fault."
"Ha!" someone in the crowd spat "Typical, Bad Luck Bruno screws it up once again!"
"Whoever said that, shut up." Mirabel gave a chuckle "Don't blame Bruno for the way you all treated me like shit, every day I had to deal with your insults. What are you? A town of schoolchildren? Pathetic, really. Well, look at me now. Looking down on all you fools. But you all felt relief when Dolores and I disappeared huh? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you all but I had the time of my life away from your abuse."
Dolores laughed "You all looked at her with hatred and with fear but to the Bogotá people she was such a lovely dear."
"You two were in Bogotá?" Señora Pérez asked "But how did you both get out?"
Mirabel waved a hand "Oh, we found a way. Oh Señor and Señora Pérez I must thank you for providing my lodgings for five years, it was smelly and dirty but it was home sweet home."
"Oh…of course dear I just wish we could have offered more…"
"Oh don't worry yourself." Mirabel waved her hand again "Now where were we? Oh yes, I was exposing Alma." Mirabel let out another mad giggle "Such fun!"
Alma pushed her way to the front "Don't you all see? She's insane! She couldn't lead herself out of a cardboard box let alone the Encanto!" she gestured to Mirabel at the top of the stairs "Is that the type of leader you want? Blind? Looks like a damn ten-year-old?! What a joke."
"Who wants a leader that lied to them? Who abused her own granddaughter? Who admitted she was going to abandon a ten-year-old out where she'll be prey to a jaguar?" Mirabel's eyes narrowed "A leader who will throw out another granddaughter for just trying to care for her primita? A leader who cared more about her image than what her eldest granddaughter wanted? Forcing a granddaughter into a marriage for the purpose of bringing another generation of gifts. That's what she saw in her own family, the gifts not the individual."
Isabela saw her cue and stepped forward climbing the stairs but staying near the bottom "You have all known me as perfect Isabela. But the truth is…this isn't me. The truth is I hate this, I hate having to be perfect. Always having to have that perfect smile on my face, always having to grow perfect pretty flowers. Perfect. It always had to be PERFECT! Well, guess what? PERFECT DOESN'T EXIST!"
"Isabela! Stop this nonsense!" Alma cried "You know better than this! You're embarrassing yourself!"
"No, Alma. YOU'RE embarrassing yourself."
Mirabel cackled "Oh, this is beautiful. Not even your favourite wants to call you Abuela anymore, Alma. And what's better? She's disowning you in front of the whole town!"
Dolores joined in the laughter but stopped when she noticed the doors begin to flicker as cracks ran along the walls before stopping as suddenly as it started. She knew everyone noticed it too, well everyone except Mirabel who was too busy staring at the candle.
A few people in the back tried to leave but they couldn't get the door to open.
Mirabel chuckled under her breath "You will all leave when I say you can leave I am not done speaking to you all yet."
Rafael scoffed "If you think I'm going to suddenly bow down to you, you have another thing coming. I do not and will not respect you."
"I would expect nothing less from the likes of you." Mirabel said firmly.
"Just know, if you touch my sister I'll break bones you didn't know you had." Luisa snapped, okay she didn't like violence but she'll make an exception for those two. Or at least give them the scare of their lives. Luisa knew she was all bark and no bite when it came to threats like this, but they didn't know that.
"Oh, perfect. I even get my own personal bodyguard. Ah, being a leader is great." Mirabel giggled.
"What are you going to do to us?!" a woman called out.
"Hey! I know you! Señora Pezmuerto!" Dolores grinned "You're the lady with the dead fish!"
"Yes! Bruno cursed them!"
"I didn't even have a vision! I saw the conditions you were keeping that poor creature in and told you you need to move it to a cleaner and bigger bowl or it will die." Bruno threw his hands in the air "You didn't listen, so it died. Your fault, not mine."
"What about me?!" Osvaldo cried out "You said I'd grow a gut and now look at me!"
"Again! Not a vision!" Bruno cried "I just said you should watch what you eat or you'll gain weight."
"My head!" Señor Flores called "Look at my head!"
"All the men in your family are bald!"
Mirabel cleared her throat "Hey, stop blaming my Tío for your problems." she pointed to Señora Pezmuerto "You need to stop getting fish." now pointing to Osvaldo "You need a diet." she turned to Señor Flores "And you…other people have bigger problems."
"Didn't he ruin his own sister's wedding?!" Rafael laughed.
"It's been twenty-five years." Pepa said "I'm over it."
Félix laughed "And how many people get to say they got married in a hurricane?"
"Thank you." Bruno huffed taking note Alma didn't try to defend him once.
Luisa took a deep breath, deciding now it was time to stop holding back how she felt and went to stand at Isabela's side on the stairs.
"Luisa?" Alma asked "You're going to humiliate me too?"
Luisa ignored Alma "For years I have been the muscle for this whole town, I skipped meals to complete the tasks you assigned me. I was on my feet from sunrise to sunset. Not once did any of you thank me, and not once did you stop to think you could handle it yourself."
Alma took a deep breath "It's your duty, Luisa-"
"WILL YOU SHUT UP FOR ONCE?!" Luisa shouted at Alma for the first time in her life.
"Damn." Camilo whistled "Didn't see Luisa snapping coming at all."
"Luisa?" Julieta asked in concern.
"Sorry sorry, that kinda slipped out there." Luisa looked down at the ground "Some of the things you had me do, you could have all done yourselves. Some of the things you had me do were just ridiculous. Moving the church? Rerouting the river? Why? I'm human too, I may have super strength but I still get tired, hungry, and thirsty. I am NOT your packmule. You have been working me since the day after my fifth Birthday. I have given you all fourteen years of service and not once have any of you ever thanked me!"
"Now I feel bad getting you to round up all the donkeys all the time." Señor Pérez said "I don't understand how they kept getting out all the time."
"Oh, that was me. Sorry bout that." Mirabel said.
"You were letting out my donkeys?!" Señor Pérez asked in surprise "Why?"
Mirabel sighed "So I could see Luisa, if I let the donkeys out she would round them up and bring them back and then I'll get to see her…even if it was only briefly."
"You let the donkeys out just to see me?" Luisa turned to face Mirabel "I knew it was you doing it this whole time but it was all because you wanted to see me?"
Mirabel nodded "Pretty much…that and it was entertaining for me. I did get bored and lonely by myself you know?"
"See!" Alma pointed a finger at Mirabel "Trouble!"
"Oh, I don't mind Alma." Señor Pérez reassured waving a hand "There was no harm done."
"Luisa." Mirabel smirked "Would you like to continue?"
Luisa nodded "I am sorry but I am done, I want to live my life. I gave up my childhood and teenage years for this town. Now it's my turn to be selfish. I'll help if there is an emergency but other than that from this day forth I QUIT." she looked up to Mirabel who nodded in approval. Luisa was never the best at standing up for herself, Mirabel had outright called her a 'doormat' but now she felt like a weight she didn't even know she was carrying had been lifted.
"Well, today is certainly interesting." Dolores hummed rubbing her chin.
"I stand by my daughters." Julieta said "I will have food on hand for emergencies and I'll heal the children, but other than that I QUIT."
"I'll be expressing whatever emotion I please, you can all deal with my focus is my family." Pepa huffed "I never asked for this gift, and I'm done suppressing my emotions you have no idea the mental strain it has put on me. But for forty-five years I have catered my mood to your weather needs. Nope, no more."
"Yeah! Tell them mi vida!" Félix cheered.
Camilo hopped up next to his primas "You know everyone thinks shapeshifting is cool, which it is. But what people don't understand is how tiring it is to hold a form. It's a lot of strain, and you all expect me to hold a form for hours. YOU want a break? I want a break! I get being a mother is hard and all but how come you get to take a nap while I pose as you for hours? You left me at only five years old to babysit? That's messed up."
"But…Alma told us that the gifts were given to the family to help us all." a woman cradling a baby said.
"Alma said." Mirabel mocked with a laugh "Well, what Alma said doesn't matter anymore. What matters is how my family feels."
"Sorry, but I can't do it anymore." Camilo shrugged "I spent so much time being someone else I hardly know who I am. No one ever asked for just Camilo. But now I'm going to take the time to figure out who I am. Sorry, if you want a babysitter ask someone else. I'm not their parent, you had the kids you raise them." he shrugged again "Maybe one of you can start a daycare or something."
The mothers of the town looked at each other and then back at Camilo clearly not happy with the arrangement but in no position to protest.
Antonio looked at the crowd before joining his brother and cousins "You all made my family sad…you made Mirabel sad…you were all so mean to her. Why did you have to be so mean to her?! You hurt her for no reason! Stop hurting Mirabel and Dolores! Or I'll make Parce eat you!" Antonio pouted making the family snicker quietly.
Agustín and Félix looked at each other not knowing what to say, deciding to say nothing they walked up the stairs to stand next to their wives leaving Alma standing at the bottom alone.
"Well well, looks like my family has spoken, they're not going to let you exploit them anymore." Mirabel chuckled.
Dolores nodded "And do remember, I do hear everything." she tapped her ear "So be sure to behave yourselves, yes?"
Mariano grinned "Yeah! Go, Dolores!"
"Dolores, your boyfriend is an idiot.' Mirabel muttered.
"Be nice." Dolores whispered back.
Mirabel just chuckled quietly "Oh, but this is me being nice."
Señora Díaz scowled "Demons."
Dolores turned to Mirabel with a hopeful look "Can I say it now? Please please please."
Mirabel nodded "So eager, hermana. Go ahead."
Dolores grinned "Everyone, I have a BIG announcement." she looked around "Did you all know that Señora Díaz is having an affair with Señor Jiménez?! The husband of her lifelong best friend, the betrayal!"
Señora Jiménez who was standing on 'Mirabel's side' whipped her head around "WHAT?!" she turned to her husband "IS THIS TRUE?!"
"No! She's lying!" Señora Díaz said "Honest! I'm loyal to my husband."
"I promise amor, we are just friends I get along with her because she is your best friend but there are no other feelings involved." Señor Jiménez took his wife's hands.
Dolores snickered "That's not what you said when you were cuddled up in bed together."
"What does Dolores mean?" Antonio asked innocently "I cuddle in bed with Mami all the time."
"Eh, don't worry about it." Camilo said quickly.
"My husband and my best friend?!" Señora Jiménez couldn't believe it.
"She's LYING!" Señora Díaz protested.
Señor Díaz looked at his wife "Amor…why would she make such claims?"
"Because she works for La Diablo del Encanto!"
Mirabel raised her hand "That's me!"
Señor Díaz glared up at the duo "I'm sick of you two! Why couldn't you just stay in Bogotá?!"
"Because I had…unfinished business here." Mirabel said smugly "And no use getting mad at us, you're the one who had an affair."
Señor Díaz frowned and looked from his wife to Mirabel and Dolores before shaking his head pushing back the nagging feeling, Mirabel and Dolores had no evidence and they were trouble. But still, he would be keeping a closer eye on things from now on.
Señora Díaz was fidgety after everyone's gaze, these goodman demons. She knows what she is doing is wrong but it was none of these two's business. She for a minute was tempted to give these two a special treat from the bakery, one with an extra ingredient added-a nice dose of poison.
She pushed that temptation back, as much as she felt they deserved it. Besides if she poisoned Mirabel and Dolores she would have Julieta and Pepa banging on her door calling for her head, it wouldn't take the family long to put two and two together.
Señora Jiménez bit her tongue, she wasn't going to cause a scene in front of everyone, she knew Dolores had no evidence for her claims but her husband has had several unexplained absences. If it was true…well both would be ex-husband her husband and her would-be ex-best friend better find that exit out of the valley.
Alma sneered "What's wrong with you two?! Why would you bring up such things in front of everyone? Have neither of you have any shame? What are you hoping to achieve?"
"Revenge, Alma." Mirabel grinned "Revenge, they showed me no compassion or mercy. Honestly, I don't know what you were all expecting." she chuckled.
"It looks I stirred up trouble amongst two childhood best friends, I am proud of myself. Such fun." Dolores softly clapped her hands "Hey, I never asked for this stupid gift. Don't blame me."
"Dolores used to be such a good girl, until Mirabel ruined her." Alma growled "One by one she poisoned this family's minds."
"But I thought I was useless and good for nothing." Mirabel tilted her head "I thought I was the one who would never make anything out of her life. Or did you mix me up with yourself?"
"I have made plenty out of my life!" Alma tried pushing her way up the stairs but her own grandchildren blocked her from getting to Mirabel "I raised my three babies into adults, watched my daughters get married and have babies of their own, watched my community grow, watched our miracle grow stronger."
"Then along came Mirabel." Mirabel said in a singsong voice "I made a joke out of you."
"You…you….there's a special place in Hell for you Mirabel."
"Indeed there is, it's called a throne."
"Well at least you know where you'll be going, demons like you don't get into Heaven."
Mirabel shrugged "Neither do child abusers, looks like you'll be stuck with me forever and ever."
Alma and Mirabel held each other's gaze, Alma growing more and more uneasy as a smile that wouldn't look out of place if somewhere to draw a picture of the devil spread across Mirabel's face.
Oh Alma, you should know scaring you shitless is one of my favourite pastimes and all I have to do is smile. Mirabel laughed in her head.
Behind Alma everyone else took a step back upon seeing Mirabel's face, they feared her. No one wanted to be the one Mirabel lashed out on.
Alma couldn't keep Mirabel's piercing gaze any longer, the girl's misty eyes were burning with the utmost hatred. She turned her head away as she felt herself tremble.
"You know what?" Mirabel spoke "I'm bored of you all now, leave. Just know Alma is considered any enemy and if my second in command here tells me she hears you helping her well there will be consequences."
The gathered crowd didn't waste a second before turning and rushing out of Casita as if their lives depended on it. Only three remained-Mariano, Señora Guzmán and Alma.
Dolores made her way down the stairs towards Mariano "Mariano…"
Mariano took Dolores's hands "Dolores what is going on? What are you doing here?"
"Justice, Mariano. I'm doing this for my family."
Mariano was concerned about the look in Dolores's eyes "But I'd hate for you to do something you will regret."
"Regret getting justice for my hermanita? Never, this town stabbed me in the back. They would have been happy to watch me get beaten into the ground!" Dolores growled "Listen, Mariano, I'm sorry you have to be witness to all this but…they have hurt us so much.."
Mariano cupped Dolores's chin "Please don't do something stupid, I know you're angry but…is this worth it?"
"It's worth it." Dolores said firmly "We're just going to teach some lessons this town isn't going to forget…that's all."
Mariano looked up at Mirabel "Mirabel, don't you know the path of hate is a dangerous track? You take one step and it's hard to turn back, it pulls you along and though it is wrong it feels right."
"I don't remember asking for your opinion." Mirabel snapped.
"But don't you see this path you're on leaves a permanent mark? It'll feel good at first but then it'll slowly turn dark, with each passing day you'll be further astray from the light."
Where does he come up with this stuff? Mirabel made her way down the stairs "The path I'm on is a path paved in black, I'm taking that road and I'm not looking back. Each twist and each turn leads straight where I'm yearning to go."
The family looked at each other as Mirabel approached Mariano, there was no way Mirabel was going to listen to Mariano. No way.
"Yes, it's true my path is dark but I see where it ends." Mirabel tipped the candle dripping wax onto her hand sending a golden glow up her arm "My rivals will fall as my power ascends!" she shot a smug look at Alma.
"You…I…I." Alma growled.
"Despise me? That's fine, I've taken what's mine and more."
Dolores chuckled "Not like you, you lost your family, you lost your fame. From the leader to the family shame."
Mirabel turned back to Mariano "I do appreciate your concern, Mariano but Dolores and I know what we're doing you just keep being a big dumb hunk."
Mariano opened his mouth and turned to Dolores who just smiled.
"Oh don't you worry about us, okay? You just hang tight while we take care of business then we can all go to Bogotá." Dolores planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Dolores kissed a boy!" Antonio burst out.
"I did." Dolores smiled softly at Antonio grateful to him for the change of topic, she loved Mariano but they were going to do this. They came so far to just give up now, it was the right thing to do she was sure of it.
Pepa wasn't sure how to feel. On one hand, she knew Dolores was interested in Mariano, on the other hand she was not ready to admit her baby girl was grown up now. Yet you're fine with your baby girl taking over an entire village? Pepa shook her head, that was different, totally different.
Félix took a deep breath, well Dolores could make much worst choices. Mariano was a fine enough man, but still, he would be keeping an eye on him. Only the best for his little girl.
Mirabel was staring at Alma "What are you still doing here?"
Alma ignored her walking past purposely elbowing Mirabel in the side as she did so stopping in front of Mariano "Mariano…why don't you want to marry Isabela?"
Mariano forced a polite smile on his face "I mean no offence Señora Alma, Isabela is a fine friend but she's nothing more than a friend. I am in love with a Madrigal girl but it is not Isabela, it is Dolores."
"Dolores can have him." Isabela said with a wave of the hand.
"But-" Alma tried to say.
"Oh for the love of the lord above, give it up Alma. I'm not going to force Mariano to marry Isabela, if he wishes to court Dolores he has my blessing." Señora Guzmán shook her head.
"He has my blessing too." Pepa said "Though he hurts my baby girl, he'll get a bolt of lightning up where the sun don't shine."
Félix nodded in agreement.
Mariano gulped as he glanced over to Mirabel who met him with a steely glare, no it wasn't Pepa and Félix he would be afraid of. Not that he had any intentions of hurting Dolores, ever.
Alma pursed her lips together, this was not how she planned things at all.
"Alma, your presence annoys me. Get out of my casa." Mirabel flicked a hand "Casita if you would please."
The floor moved underneath Alma pushing her towards the door "Wait! Stop this! Casita! Stop!"
"Casita doesn't obey you anymore, it obeys me." Mirabel chuckled "Now bye-bye."
Alma was forced out of Casita the door slamming behind her, left standing dejectedly outside she turned and walked back towards the Díaz house. She could see the fear on the faces of the townspeople as she passed. She swore to herself she would bring Mirabel and Dolores down but now she wasn't sure what she could possibly do. Mirabel was more powerful than ever and with the backing of every Madrigal most were not going to make a stand against her.
"Child abuser."
Alma turned her head at that voice but couldn't locate where it came from as more voices joined in.
"Doing that to a little girl."
"Dump her in the rainforest she was gonna!"
"The girl wouldn't have survived the night."
"A jaguar would have eaten well."
"She lied to us all."
"Even had the family fooled."
Alma huffed, this was the thanks she got for everything she has done for this community. Soon as Mirabel had the power they all start following her. Mirabel didn't care about the community, Mirabel cared about Mirabel's interests and nothing more.
She had to get that candle out of that girl's hands, she was starting to feel like she was losing her own mind. Mirabel had to go, Dolores had to go. She was desperate now. They both needed to be taught a painful lesson, a lesson that will send them fleeing once again.
Alma saw Rafael and Alejandro and an idea came to her, with a smile she walked up to them "Hello boys."
"Señora Alma." Rafael greeted.
Alma muttered a quick prayer that Dolores was too distracted by Mariano to be listening to her "Boys, I am hoping you will do me a little favour.
The brothers looked at other in confusion. "What kind of favour?" Alejandro asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Mirabel and Dolores…can you two…deal with them?"
"You want us to kill them?" Rafael was surprised by the request.
"NOI" Alma cried "No…don't kill them just wound them a bit, give them the scare of their lives so they'll flee and not come back."
Rafael chuckled "That can be arranged… it'll be hard to launch an ambush considering Dolores's gift but we'll see what we can do."
Alma nodded, desperate times call for desperate measures and these were desperate times "Remember, do not kill them. The point is to scare them."
"Don't kill them, got it." Alejandro gave a salute "We'll make sure they get the message."
"Thank you." Alma nodded and continued walking. No, she wasn't losing her mind, she was just taking care of a problem. Giving the duo a nudge to leave on their own terms no one could trace it back to her. Her mind was perfectly sane thank you. Mirabel was insane not her. She was perfectly fine.
Mirabel used dirty tactics so she will use dirty tactics, even if it doesn't get her the respect she once had back she wanted to see the smug grin wiped off that cursed girl's face. Make Mirabel realise she's not as high and mighty as she thinks she is. She has already lost everything thanks to that demon so if it was possible to fall even further she was taking Mirabel down with her.
Mirabel had won the battle but the war was not yet over.
-V-
That night a party was going on in Casita, not a big party by any means just a small family party quickly thrown together celebrating Mirabel's return to Casita. And as Mirabel commented it doubled as a victory party.
Music droned out from the phonograph as Mirabel enjoyed her first family event in ten years.
A smile was on Mirabel's space as she danced with Dolores both laughing both having the time of their lives and between the two of them, they knew it was a victory dance.
Félix stood watching with Pepa "Hey mi vida, you know what I love?"
"What's that?" Pepa questioned not taking her eyes off her daughter and niece.
"The fact Mirabel kicks her Abuela out of the house then throws a party to celebrate it. I just find it hilarious."
Pepa playfully rolled her eyes as she kept watching "Wait, that dance Mirabel is doing isn't that…"
"The one we taught her, yes."
"She remembers that dance?"
"Well like I told her, once you got it down you won't forget." Félix chuckled.
"I remember teaching her that, she was only three years old…" Pepa smiled "She begged us until we agreed.".
Pepa remembered that day very well, it was one of her fondest memories. Until it turned into a nightmare that was.
Twelve years ago…
Pepa and Félix were dancing around the courtyard, both had a strong passion for dance, they fell in love because of dancing and it was a passion they had passed onto their daughter, they tried to get Camilo interested but so far no luck.
Pepa heard a familiar giggle and she came to a stop a rainbow formed over her head as a little girl came toddling towards her.
"Tía Pepa! Tío Félix!" Mirabel was grinning as she clutched a piece of paper with a childish drawing on it "I drew you a picture!"
"Oh hello, nube should you be out of bed? Your Mamá said you were feverish last night." Pepa bent down kissing the little girl on the head.
Three-year-old Mirabel had to be one of the cutest things in the world.
"I don't feel sicky, and I'm sicky ALL the time." Mirabel complained "I wanted to draw a picture."
"Can we see the picture?" Félix smiled.
Mirabel nodded beaming and held it up "It's a butterfly and a rainbow!"
"Oh nube, it's a beautiful drawing. And you're giving it to us?" Pepa gushed.
Mirabel nodded "Uh-huh!".
"Well, we are honoured to own this masterpiece." Pepa accepted the drawing "Thank you."
Mirabel bounced on the spot "You got a rainbow!"
"I do, isn't it better than rain?"
"I like the rain."
"You do?"
"Yeah!"
Pepa chuckled "Well, don't stay out in rain okay? You know how easy you get sick."
"Ok, Tía." Mirabel smiled pausing for a moment "Tía Pepa, Tío Félix can you teach me to dance?"
Pepa hesitated, she wanted to teach her dulce nube to dance of course but she was worried that with her condition it would be too much for her "I'm not sure nube, what if you get too tired?"
"I'll take a nap. I promise. Pleeeasse." Mirabel gave Pepa and Félix wide eyes.
How could they say no to that face?
"Alright, alright. We'll teach you your own special dance." Félix chuckled "How does that sound?"
"A special dance? Just for me?"
"Just for you."
Mirabel bounced up and down "Yay!"
Félix laughed "Alright, now remember Mirabel once you got it down you won't forget."
Mirabel nodded eager to start "I won't forget!"
"That's our mariposa!"
The couple spent the next hour teaching their niece to dance delighting in the little girl's giggles, soon enough they had their own little dance.
"Look at me!" Mirabel giggled as she danced around the courtyard.
"Look at you go." Pepa smiled "You're a natural." she smiled for a moment more before it began fading as Mirabel's movements became more sluggish "Nube? You feeling alright?"
Mirabel felt her limbs growing heavy as a familiar pressure built up in her chest and a cough escaped.
"Mirabel, come sit down now, alright?" Félix's voice dripped with concern.
Mirabel didn't get a chance to respond before she burst into a coughing fit gasping for breath in between, before Pepa or Félix could catch her Mirabel collapsed to the floor gasping for breath in between coughs.
"No no no no no." Pepa cried out as she dropped down next to the girl "Breathe nube…breathe."
Félix was already on his way towards the door "I'll get Julieta!" Dolores was in school otherwise they could've just gotten her to fetch Julieta. At least Julieta was easy to track down, she would be at her stand like usual.
Pepa's rainbow had turned into a cloud that was growing darker by the second, she should have known this would happen. Mirabel's body just couldn't handle much activity. She just wanted her nube to be happy, she loved seeing her nube happy.
Pepa was grateful for the fact Camilo had gone out with Bruno for some tío and sobrino bonding today so she could put all her focus on her nube.
Mirabel was exhausted her tiny body trembling with each cough she closed her eyes small whimpers escaping between the coughing.
"Hang in there, Mira." Pepa scooped the little girl up in her arms and rushed up towards the nursery and sat down on the bed with her "Tía has you, nube." she rubbed Mirabel's chest "Your Mamá is coming." she placed a hand on Mirabel's forehead, it was warm.
She sat there for a few more minutes until she heard feet running up the stairs and Julieta rushed into the room "She collapsed Julieta."
"Félix told me what happened." Julieta hurried over "He stayed to watch my stand." she took Mirabel from her sister.
Mirabel creaked an eye open "Ma…má?"
"Mamá has you baby girl, Mamá has you." Julieta kissed her forehead.
"Feel sicky." Mirabel mumbled letting out another cough too harsh for her body.
"It's okay baby, you'll be okay." Julieta reassured as she rocked her daughter "Just breathe baby…just breathe just like we practied."
Pepa left the room not needing to be told what Julieta would require. A damp cloth to soothe the fever, some honey to soothe Mirabel's throat and a bucket in case Mirabel needed to vomit.
By that evening Mirabel's condition had crashed even further and she was bedridden once again. Alma was once again hovering at Mirabel's side checking every few minutes to make sure her heart was still beating. Constantly feeling her chest to make sure it was still rising and falling.
Despite everything, the moment Mirabel was allowed to walk around again she insisted on showing everyone her dance.
Pepa lived to see that smile.
Pepa shook her head bringing herself back to the present Mirabel was now dancing with Antonio while Dolores had accepted Mariano's invitation to dance. Surprisingly it was Mirabel who insisted Mariano and his mother stay, Mariano was surprised as well but quickly accepted much to Dolores's delight.
She turned her head laughing quietly to herself watching Julieta and Agustín dance together, Agustín stepping on his wife's feet every few steps, apologising than doing it again.
Camilo was doing everything possible to draw attention to himself with his exaggerated dance moves. Typical.
Bruno was just standing awkwardly in the corner. Also typical.
Isabela had let herself loose, she had discovered she could colour things with pollen and now nothing was safe. Her pink dress had been replaced by a dark blue one red and yellow streaks on it. Her hair now had yellow, green and blue streaks through it.
Pepa couldn't help that it represented each 'side' of the family. Blue for Julieta, green for Bruno and yellow for her own side. Pepa could see how happy Julieta was seeing her oldest in her family's colours. But then there was Mirabel who was still in purple. Chuckling she called out "Mirabel, where's your blue?"
Mirabel paused "Huh?"
"You're Julieta's daughter aren't you?" Pepa smiled "That side wears blue."
"Yeah, where's your blue Mira?" Camilo laughed.
"We wear blue, Pepa's side wears yellow and red and Bruno's side wears green." Luisa looked down just as Isabela threw pollen at her leaving a dark blue streak on her white top.
"Bruno's side consists of Bruno and no one else." Camilo laughed.
"...thanks." Bruno said.
Mirabel threw her hands in the air "Why is this family colour coded?!"
"She has a point." Bruno said "Why are you all colour coded?"
"It's just how we do things in La Familia Madrigal." Pepa laughed.
"Hmmm-" Mirabel frowned "Well I still think it's weird-HEY."
Isabela grinned at her work, a streak of dark blue now running through Mirabel's hair "You needed something blue, you're welcome."
Dolores chuckled "You seem happy Isabela."
"I am…for the first time in a long time I truly am. I can finally be who I really am, oh by the way Dolores take this!"
"What-" Dolores was hit by pollen and her hair now had a red streak
"Looks good on you!"
Mirabel chuckled "My my, look at you now. You're actually interesting now-" she was startled when a pair of arms was thrown around her.
"I owe this all to you!" Isabela exclaimed as she held Mirabel in an embrace,
"I have changed my mind, can we have old Isabela back?"
Julieta walked up behind them pulling both into a hug "You'll get used to it, you've done great Mirabel. I'm proud of you."
"Pfft, if Alma saw me hugging Isabela…I don't want to know…considering what she did to me after Isabela's quinceañera." Mirabel groaned.
"Wait, what happened?" Luisa asked "What did she do?"
Mirabel bit her lip "She…"
"You can tell us Miraboo." Agustín joined them "She can't do anything to you now."
Mirabel turned to Dolores who nodded in encouragement "Okay…" she took a deep breath "Well it all started when I went to give Isabela her Birthday present…"
A nine-year-old Mirabel skipped towards Isabela with a smile on her face, it had been four years since her failed ceremony. Four years since her imprisonment in Casita began.
But by now Mirabel had perfected the mask that hid her pain, no one could see the pain in her eyes or seem to realise how forced her smile was.
"Isa! Isa!" Mirabel cried as she skipped up to Isabela "ISA!"
"It's IsaBELA, not Isa, you're not a baby anymore Mirabel call me by my proper name." Isbaela snapped.
"I'm sorry." Mirabel whimpered "I just wanted to give you your present for your cutesy-aira."
"It's quinceañera. Not 'cutesy-aria'. Just how stupid are you?!"
Mirabel looked "I'm sorry…I can't pronounce some words good."
"Well if you can't say them properly don't say them at all you just sound stupid."
Mirabel blinked back the tears "I'm sorry…."
Isabela rolled her eyes "Just give me your stupid present,"
Mirabel handed over the gift "I made it myself!"
Isabela unwrapped the box revealing a small plush cactus "What is this?"
"It's a cactus!" Mirabel said excitement creeping back up "I saw them in a book and Mamá told me what they were. Do you like it?
Isabela studied the plush for a minute before scowling "Like it? I HATE IT!" she threw the plush back at Mirabel "It's not perfect, can't you do anything?"
Tears filled Mirabel's eyes "I thought you might like cactuses…"
"It's CACTI, not cactuses, it's a good thing Abuela doesn't send you to school you'll embarrass this family with how stupid you are!"
"Isabela!" Julieta appeared behind her "Don't you speak to your sister like that! Apologise now or this party is cancelled."
"But Mamá-"
"This is your first and only warning." Julieta folded her arms.
Isabela rolled her eyes "Sorry."
Mirabel just nodded wiping at her tears.
Alma walked up "Isabela, Dolores says people are making their way here now. You go greet them at the door."
Isabela nodded "Of course, Abuela." and without a backwards glance towards Mirabel walked off head held high.
Alma glared at Mirabel "Julieta, you go do what you have to, I'll deal with Mirabel."
Julieta opened her mouth but not wanting to cause a scene on her daughter's big day closed it again and after giving Mirabel a kiss on her head and reminding her that she loved her hurried off to the kitchen.
Mirabel knew what was coming from the look Alma gave her, despite how often it had happened Mirabel was still surprised by the rush of pain as Alma harshly grabbed her up and picked up the cactus plush hurriedly dragging her up the stairs.
"Come along, before someone town sees you." Alma growled.
"Why can't I be at the cutesy-aria?" Mirabel's voice quivered.
"You know why, we can't have you near the town. And we certainly don't need a bad omen like you at Isabela's big day." Alma dragged Mirabel into the nursery closing the door behind them pretty much throwing Mirabel onto the ground.
"I'm sorry Abuela…"
Alma took a deep breath and rose her hand bringing it down hard across Mirabel's face "I told you the other day, today is important and to stay here where you can't ruin anything."
"I'm sorry…" Mirabel whimpered "I just wanted to give Isabela her present-"
"What present? This…thing?" Alma held up the cactus plush "This is trash!" she threw it at Mirabel "No one wants your silly handmade presents Mirabel, it's cute when your four but you're not four anymore."
"Mamá loves it when I make her things…"
"Oh, she's just saying that to make you feel good about yourself."
Mirabel jumped up "No! You're lying-!" she hit the floor again hard as Alma struck her.
"Do not talk back to me you little brat." Alma huffed "I let you live in my house and eat the food provided for my family, be more grateful!"
"I HATE YOU!"
Alma's lips twisted into a snarl "Excuse me?"
Mirabel was thumping the floor in a tantrum "I HATE YOU!" she screamed as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Alma growled striking the child again "Stop acting like a toddler, people will hear you." she took a deep breath "I'll deal with you tomorrow, people will be here any minute." she walked towards the door "I'll bring you a plate when we serve the food." with that said she slammed the door locking it behind her.
Mirabel remained sprawled on the floor sobbing for a few minutes before crawling to her bed aching from the hits she had gotten, curling up with her plush kitty she called Mr Jingles and sobbing into the plush fur. Her best friend was a stuffed animal, but it was who she told her secrets to and who she dropped her mask around.
"I don't understand Mr Jingles. She used to love me, why doesn't she love me now? Is it because I didn't get a gift?" Mirabel choked back a sob "I wish you were a real kitty….I wish I had a real friend."
The party carried on upstairs, the town blissfully unaware that up the stairs a broken-hearted little girl was starting to question her own worth.
"Wait what happened to Mr Jingles? You loved that thing." Luisa asked
"Alma took him…" Mirabel sighed "The one thing I had to bring me joy and she took it."
"Mariposa, would you like to continue?" Julieta ran her hand through her baby's hair.
Dolores buried her head into Mariano, she heard everything that happened now she would be hearing it from Mirabel's point of view.
Mirabel nodded, as much as it hurt she was tired of keeping this secret. She was done with hiding what Alma really did to her behind closed doors. "Okay…the morning after Isabela's party…"
Mirabel stood to the side while the rest of the family got their breakfast, Alma had told her time and time again that Mirabel may only serve herself after everyone has taken their share.
One by one the family members filed past her without even a glance, with the expectation of two. Julieta who paused to give her a quick good morning kiss and Dolores.
Dolores stopped and looked at her for a moment with knowing eyes, she heard everything that went on in that nursery last night. She opened her mouth to speak but quickly changed her mind and with a squeak took her place at the table.
With a sigh, Mirabel took her breakfast and sat in the only empty seat left, which ended up being the one next to Pepa. Quietly she sat down still not meeting anyone in the eyes.
Pepa thundered giving Mirabel a look as she sat down beside her, Félix touching her arm to soothe her and so with a small scoff she went back to ignoring Mirabel.
Mirabel didn't pay attention to anything Alma said, didn't take part in the talk of the party or about Dolores's own coming up. It didn't matter, Mirabel wasn't included anyway. She never was. She wasn't a real member of this family,
Mirabel didn't miss the looks Alma would send her when no one else was looking, she knew that look. Alma wasn't going to let her 'bothering Isabela' last night slide.
And she was right, when breakfast was done and everyone had left to go to work or school Alma grabbed Mirabel's arm and dragged her up to the nursery.
"They could have seen you last night!" Alma hissed "And do you know how bad that would have been?"
Mirabel nodded fresh tears already falling "I'm s-s-s-orry…I just wanted to-'
"This is not about what you want, Mirabel. It was Isabela's day, not yours."
"I'm sorry.."
"How many times have I told you, Mirabel? The best use you have is to just stay aside."
"I"m sorry." Mirabel repeated
"No, I think you need to relearn your lesson." Alma disappeared quickly returning with an object.
Mirabel's eyes rose in fear "No! Please Abuela I'm sorry!"
Alma kept a tight grip on the cane "Well it seems this is the only way you can learn."
"No please!"
The first hit was made.
"I'm sorry!"
Another hit.
"Abuela it hurts!"
It was no use, Mirabel's cries fell on deaf ears as her body took strike after strike. The unfortunately familiar sight of blood started running down the poor girl.
Alma landed one final hit before stepping back, the cane now with a thin coat of blood on the end "Have you learned your lesson now?"
Mirabel nodded eyes vacant.
"Good." Alma stood up straighter "I'll go get you an arepa and something to clean up with. I don't want to have to keep teaching you this lesson." she left.
Mirabel remained sitting there feeling numb until Alma returned with an arepa, mop and bucket and some supplies for Mirabel to clean herself up with.
"Here, eat before someone sees you like that." Alma practically threw the arepa at Mirabel.
Mirabel obeyed eating the arepa the healing magic doing its work and her injuries disappeared.
"Good now wipe the floor and clean yourself up." Alma said turning towards the door "You can stay in here for the rest of the day."
"Yes….Abuela." Mirabel's tone was emotionless.
"Good, oh and Mirabel. Don't you even think about showing your face at Dolores's party. Am I making myself clear?"
"Yes, Abuela."
"And no more silly homemade gifts either."
"Yes….Abuela…" Mirabel had crawled over to pick up her cat plush clutching it close "I'll stay here…and clean up."
Alma frowned storming over to Mirabel and snatching the stuffed animal.
"MR JINGLES!" Mirabel screamed.
"You're nine years old Mirabel, you're too old for stuffed animals. I'm taking this."
"No, please! Don't take him! He's my best friend!"
"Best friend? It's a stuffed animal you foolish child, it's time to grow up." Alma with the toy tucked under her arm left the nursery locking the door behind her.
"MR JINGLES!" Mirabel screamed as she ran towards the door banging on it "GIVE HIM BACK!" but it was no use. With another scream, Mirabel went back to her bed ignoring the blood for now and cried into her pillow.
That was one of the few precious things Mirabel had in this life even if it was just a stuffed animal and Alma just took it.
After she could cry no more she sat up and went to her window, the closest she got to the outside world. Sometimes she wished she could be out there too, out in the community.
But instead day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year she remained in the walls of Casita.
This wasn't her home, this was her prison.
She was serving a sentence for a crime she didn't commit.
Mirabel took a deep sigh and began to sing, something she does to comfort herself. Especially since Dolores stopped singing to her.
"Every day when I get up, I pray that someone sees the sadness in these lonely eyes and shares their love with me."
Wouldn't that be nice? Julieta did as much as she could but she was always so busy so Mirabel spent most of her days alone.
"As I grow older I really need to find a way to heal the hope I've lost…I really need a sign."
Mirabel had just about given up on hope, but she still clung to the last bit she had hoping one day her family will love her as they did before she disappointed them by not getting a gift.
Sometimes she wishes she was never born.
"I need to know that there can still be a miracle…for me."
Mirabel wiped at her eyes, it wasn't fair. Where was her miracle? Where was her happy ending? Why didn't Abuleo Pedro give her a gift like her sisters and cousins?
"Please, Abuelo, I'm ready for my miracle. I promise I'll be good, I promise I'll serve my community. I just want to be like the rest of my family."
Because that's all she wanted, to be included.
"Abuelo please tell me. Why do they all hate me?"
But all she was was a broken heart the world has forgotten.
"I'm sorry for what I've done, please just make me like everyone."
Why did she have to be different?
"What is wrong with me? I have failed my family.."
A failure, that was what she was.
"Please send me my miracle..."
Mirabel had to face it, only a miracle will save her from her situation.
Moving away from the window she walked over to where her sewing supplies sat and picked up a headscarf. She had made it for Dolores's Birthday present. But what was the point? Dolores wouldn't want it.
Fresh sobs starting she stuffed the headscarf into the bin before picking up the cactus plush and doing the same. She had worked so hard on both gifts but no one wanted her silly handmade things.
Her Mamá probably threw her things out when she went away. Wiping at her eyes she went back to her window looking out longingly at what she could only describe as freedom.
"I will wait for a miracle."
Back in the present Mirabel hadn't noticed the tears streaming down her cheeks shaking her head she turned around "E-excuse me…I'm going to have an early night." before anyone could say anything she made her way to the stairs into her room.
"I heard…it all.." Dolores's voice trembled "That's why I suddenly broke down crying in the classroom that day."
Mariano rubbed her back "Oh amor…I'm sorry…"
"Don't be sorry for me, be sorry for Mirabel."
Julieta's expression was deadly, for a brief moment she was tempted to experiment on her mother. If she out put poison in her food would her gift cancel it out? After what Alma had done to her baby it was oh so tempting to test that out on her.
Isabela could only weep into her hands "I thought…I thought she would just get a scolding…I didn't think…"
"None of us thought that what was happening." a raincloud was over Pepa's head "Oh my nube…I treated her so badly."
"We all messed up mi vida." Félix rubbed her shoulder "We made a terrible mistake."
No one else could speak, each new thing they learned about what really went on right under their noses seemed to get worse and worse.
"Excuse me…I'm going to go check on Mira." Dolores said her goodbyes to Mariano and fled up the stairs and into Mirabel's room.
Julieta went to go follow her when Agustín put a hand on her shoulder.
"Let those two have a private talk, amor. Dolores knows more about it than us." Agustín smiled sadly.
Julieta sighed "Okay…they have half an hour alone but then no one is going to stop me from hugging and kissing my baby."
Agustín chuckled "I don't think anyone would dare to try and stop you."
-V-
Mirabel sat on her bed Salomé curled up on her lap, she stared blankly ahead as she stroked the cat's soft fur.
The door opened and Dolores quickly entered quietly shutting the door behind her "Hermanita?" she sat down on the bed.
"I just hate her…so much."
"I know hermantia, so do I." Dolores put an arm around Mirabel "I'm sorry for what she did to you."
"You have nothing to apologise for you…sorry you had to hear all of that."
Dolores sighed as her eyes went to the candle "She did all that over a candle."
Mirabel stood up walking over to the candle "Alma tried to kill my spirit but she greatly underestimated me…everyone did. They all thought I was a joke."
Dolores quickly joined her "No one is laughing now, Mirabel."
A smirk tugged at the corner of Mirabel's lips "No they're not, I'm not a scared little girl anymore. I have become more than anyone could've dreamed. This was always my destiny, that's what Bruno said. I have simply taken what has always been mine."
"I"m proud of you hermanita, you have come so far. And I'm proud that I get to be right at your side. Never did I dream that one day I'll get to help you lead this place."
"I never thought I would get to lead this place."
Dolores grinned "You deserve it, I loved seeing Alma humiliated. That hateful, vile woman…the things she put you through."
"As a child, I learnt that the world can be cruel, a game to which there are no rules. Thieves are forgiven and justice is blind but this time the justice is MINE!" a grin started to spread across Mirabel's face.
"The justice you deserve." Dolores beamed.
"The past is a story it tells us all who we are, it robs us of glory and leaves us with nothing but SCARS!"
Dolores felt something stir inside her, it was a feeling that had come and gone since she touched that candle. She couldn't explain it.
"All ever I wanted, was a life that was rightfully mine. Now it's my time to THRIVE not just SURVIVE!"
"We'll both thrive, us and our familia." Dolores stared at the candle "No one can stop us now, they knocked us down but we got back up."
Mirabel picked up the candle as that 'demonic glint' as Alma loved to call it returned to her eyes and that devilish grin plastered her face spinning around she let a maniacal laugh "All I ever needed was a moment to even the odds." she held the candle up as the flame flickered "With power to rival the GODS the stars align to my design." the glow returned to Mirabel's eyes "It's all I ever wanted."
"We're not done yet are we hermanita?" Dolores asked the glow returning to her eyes as well.
Mirabel shook her head "I'll make all those fools regret what they have done to me."
Dolores put a hand on Mirabel's shoulder "They will regret it, Mira. We'll teach them a lesson they won't forget."
Pedro stood unseen to the duo observing them. Mirabel was mad, no doubt there but something dark was taking over Dolores.
He tried reaching out to them but couldn't get through right now, he wasn't going to give up but he was greatly concerned. Alma had arranged for those two men to ambush them, he wanted to warn them but he couldn't.
He just hoped they would get away, he didn't trust those men to just scare them and as much as he loved his nietas he didn't want them to join him any time soon.
"Don't let the power rule you, Mirabel. This…what you have become…this isn't you." Pedro pleaded to deaf ears "Your future lays in Bogotá, don't destroy it for temporary satisfaction…please."
Pedro watched as the door opened and Julieta ran in and started smothering her daughter with hugs and kisses and uttering apologies she didn't need to give.
The candle was returned to its spot on Alma's…no Mirabel's windowsill. Pedro walked up to it with a sigh, this flame had caused so much pain. He could see the cracks lining the walls, he knew soon Casita will come crashing down he just hoped his family wouldn't be crushed in the fall.
He turned back around to where the now sleeping Mirabel was carefully being changed into a nightgown before being tucked into bed.
A sad smile spread across his lips "Good night, mi mariposa. I'm here…I promise I'm here. I'll do everything I can to save you."
Hi, here's another chapter.
My move went well, it easy fairly easy since I moved to a house in the same town.
I went back and reread everything and did cringe at myself, the writing style back then has me thinking 'why?'
I think I've improved but maybe that's just something I tell myself so I sleep better at night who knows.
There will be another chapter this month, probably right at the end of the month but there will be one.
I'm taking extra shifts at work so I'll have extra Christmas shopping money and currently only write a little bit each time in the evening.
Hope you enjoyed it, if not I'm sorry I tried.