Content warning:
This chapter has flashback scenes that contain the following.
. Depression
. Suicide baiting
. Self-harm
. Suicidal thoughts and intentions
This will be the only chapter with this content but I know some people can be upset over this kind of topic so just a heads up.
Mirabel was sprawled in an armchair with one of her braille books on her lap, she was content. It had been a week since she took over Alma's position and for the family at least it had been a mostly peaceful week. Mirabel had been spending most of her days reading and going out for her daily horse ride.
Dolores sat in the chair next to her with a novel of her own, a romance story of course. She was happy with her life once again, she had her family back and she had the man of her dreams. The only annoyance was that her curse of a gift was back, the earmuffs made it tolerable but still, she had gotten quite used to the peace and quiet.
Salomé wiggled her butt before pouncing on a ball of yarn with a mew rolling over she held it between her front paws kicking with her back legs.
Mirabel looked up briefly and chuckled "Salomé, you're a strange one."
"Ah, she just takes after her owner." Dolores chuckled.
"Excuse me?"
"You know what I mean."
Mirabel rolled her eyes focusing on her book running her finger along the page, she was quite proud to show off her braille reading skills. Another thing she could do that the rest of her family couldn't (besides Dolores) and wasn't just handed to her by a magic candle.
"You want to go riding today?"
"Of course." Mirabel smiled.
"Excellent, I do look forward to our riding sessions each day."
"I love being around Reina, just brushing her and feeding her an apple…it's all very calming."
Dolores nodded with a smile "Horses can have that effect." she bit her lip for a second "By the way were you having nightmares last night?"
Mirabel froze "How did you know?"
Dolores looked sheepish "Ah….I come out of my room at a night just to check on you." she admitted.
"You do?"
"Yeah I just worry, now we're in separate rooms…I need to make sure you're okay…"
"How sweet." Mirabel's face fell "To answer your question, yes I was. You know how it is."
Dolores marked her page in the book and closed it leaning over to Mirabel "What was it this time?"
Mirabel looked away "It's nothing important."
"Tell me, hermanita."
"It was…the cliff."
Confusion spread across Dolores's face "The cliff? What cliff?"
"You know Dead Man's Drop?"
Of course, Dolores knew about Dead Man's Drop, everyone knew about that. It was a large ledge that overlooked the whole valley, it was quite stunning but it was also the site of a terrible tragedy. Forty years ago a man plummeted to his death the day before his wedding, he was practising his vows before the big day and slipped. The name stuck ever since. "W-w-what about it?"
Mirabel sighed "I just dreamt that…."
"You dreamt you fell?"
"Not exactly…" Mirabel tapped her fingers on her other arm "More like jumped."
"What?" dread filled Dolores "Why would you jump off the ledge? Oh no…you're not planning to jump off are you?" she grabbed Mirabel's arm "Don't you even dare."
"Not planning, planned. "
"WHAT?! When was this?! Why?!"
Mirabel groaned, great now Dolores wasn't going to drop until she got every detail "My fifteen Birthday…I was just really…depressed…then I got told something…so I walked until I got to Dead Man's Drop…I was going to throw myself off to end the pain once and for all."
Dolores went through her mind, what the hell was she doing that day? She couldn't remember. If she had heard Mirabel on that ledge would she have gone to stop her? Dolores didn't know the answer to that, she would have liked to think she would have talked Mirabel down but if she didn't go when Mirabel tried starvation…why would she have gone when she tried jumping off a cliff?
Mirabel seeing Dolores's horror-struck face placed a hand on her shoulder "I promise hermana, I don't have those thoughts anymore. I got my family back, if I was going to do it I would have jumped that day."
"Hermanita, please be honest with me….how often have you had these thoughts?"
"Quite a lot over the years, but only actually tried three times…well one actual attempt you know about that one…the other two I backed out last second."
Dolores shook her head in disbelief, Mirabel had been having suicidal thoughts for years and she had done nothing. "Okay, so there was the starvation which was a failed attempt, the cliff where you backed out. What was the other time?"
"I was going to hang myself in the hayloft of the barn."
Dolores threw her hands in the air "How can you say that so casually?!"
Mirabel shrugged "Didn't think anyone would care, thought everyone would be glad if one day I was just…gone."
"No! No!" Dolores shook her head frantically "I would have been devastated for a start, your mother would have been devastated. Having to bury you would be the hardest thing Tía Julieta ever did. Antonio would miss you! I would miss you! Your father!"
"Didn't seem like it at the time, since Mamá and Antonio were the only ones treating me like an equal at the time…"
"Oh hermanita…when was this?"
"Last Christmas.."
"You were going to kill yourself…on Christmas?"
Mirabel just shrugged again not looking into Dolores's eyes "Depression doesn't care about the fact it's a holiday…if anything it just makes it worse."
"Do you want to talk about it? Getting it out into the open helps."
Mirabel looked around the room "I…"
"It's just us home."
Mirabel gave a heavy sigh "You promise it'll stay between us?"
Dolores placed a finger on her lips "It'll stay between us if that's what you want."
Mirabel patted her lap to call Salomé up, the cat obeyed jumping into her lap purring "I'll guess I'll start with the Christmas thing…since it comes first…"
December 24th, 1949.
The fourteen-year-old Mirabel walked down the street listening to the cheerful greetings of the townspeople to each other.
"Merry Christmas!"
"Feliz Navidad!"
"I just love this time of year!"
"Everything looks so festive!"
"This is the season of joy!"
Mirabel gave a heavy sigh, for her this time of year was painful it reminded her even further that she was alone. There were no holiday greetings for her, no exchanging of gifts, no singing Christmas songs…no….anything.
She stepped aside as a group of children ran past her laughing excited for presents El Niiño Dios will bring them wearing those festive little hats that made Mirabel want to reach out and smack them off her heads.
Walking forward she heard people pause in their conversations about the holiday celebrations to comment about her.
"Here comes La Diabla Del Encanto."
"There's evil in that girl's eyes."
"Evil in her heart."
"Keep her away from the festivities, she'll ruin everything."
"Wouldn't put it past Mirabel to do something out of spite."
Mirabel whipped her head around a glare in her eyes "Oh, believe me, if it wasn't for the children I would strike a match and burn all this stuff to the ground." before she could get a response she continued walking forward.
As she passed more happy families the lump in her throat grew, and she blinked back the tears that were threatening to spill this time of year was always hard for her the only day that could rival this was her Birthday.
Picking up the pace she approached the barn pausing to look at the wreaths on both sides of the barn's double doors, Señora Pérez had placed them there, especially for her. It was a touching gesture but it did nothing to ease Mirabel's pain.
Pushing her way into the barn her eyes were drawn to the corner where a small scraggly Christmas tree sat, she had found it discarded and borrowed a donkey cart to bring it back to the barn, she managed to steal a star and some baubles in hopes to cheer herself up a little bit. It didn't work.
With another heavy sigh, she slumped down into her chair lately depression had hit her hard, and thoughts had been crossing her mind. Thoughts her mother would be horrified to know she was thinking.
What was the point in continuing to live at this point?
Why keep prolonging the pain?
Why not end it once and for all?
Why not do what the people in town told her to do and just kill herself?
Tears beginning to fall from her eyes she got back up retreating to her little stall, dropping to her knees she dug out something she had hidden there, a small flip knife she shoplifted a while ago.
No one knew about her little…habit. At least she was sure no one knew, maybe Dolores had heard her at some point but Mirabel didn't care.
Flicking the knife open she studied the blade red from dried blood, she was used to pain but this pain she was in control of.
In a motion she had done many times she ran the knife down the length of her arm watching the blood begin to sweep from her self-inflicted wound.
"Red…how festive." she mumbled to herself cutting another line into her skin. The things the townspeople say to her repeating in her mind.
Demon.
Curse.
Unwanted.
Unlovable.
Outcast.
Devil.
No one will miss you if you die.
Just kill yourself that would be the best possible thing you can do.
The stinging pain brought Mirabel out of her thoughts bleeding cuts now covering her arm. Pain and Mirabel were good friends, it's all she had known for the last nine years.
They all just thought she was some evil monster, they didn't understand…they just didn't understand.
A choking sob escaped her as she dropped the knife, every day she pressed on. Every day she tried to be brave like her Mamá told her to be but she just couldn't anymore. One more day in this world is one day too long for Mirabel.
Standing up on trembling legs she knew what she was going to do, she tried death by starvation but it didn't work. Besides, that took too long, and she needed something quick. If all went to plan she would soon be out of this life.
Pausing to grab the rope hanging from a hook she climbed up to the hayloft, no need to write a note. She was illiterate for starters and everyone would know why she did it anyway.
She pushed a crate into the right spot testing to make sure she would be able to kick it from underneath her once she was ready, the feeling of crashing to the floor confirmed she could.
"Okay…" Mirabel sighed setting the crate back up and stepping onto it "It'll be all over soon…" the crate gave her enough of a height boost to reach the rafter where she began to tie one end of the rope giving it a tug to make sure it was secure before taking the other end and making a noose.
"I'm so close to being free…" Mirabel's voice trembled as the tears continued to fall now fear was starting to creep in. What was waiting for her on the other side?
Would she get to join her Abuelo Pedro in Heaven?
Or was the town right and saying she was going straight down to spend eternity in Hell?
Or would there just be…nothing?
"Only one way to find out…" taking a deep trembling breath Mirabel slipped the noose over her head, now all she had to do was tighten it and kick the crate and it'll all be over.
She'll be….free.
Mirabel took a hold of the noose to tighten it around her neck but couldn't do it, something was keeping her back.
She thought about how Julieta would feel if she came into the barn and saw her hanging there lifelessly.
Her mother…the only person who never stopped loving her.
She couldn't do this to her.
She had to keep living…for her Mamá.
Taking a deep breath she removed the noose around her neck and after a struggle took the rope down stepping off the crate.
Sobbing she climbed down the hayloft hanging the rope back up in it's place walking over to her food supply picking up an arepa and healing the cuts on her arm.
When Julieta came later in the evening with a small gift and a plate of her special Christmas dinner Mirabel knew she made the right choice.
But she wasn't sure if the next time will have such a happy ending.
"Oh, hermanita." Dolores pulled Mirabel into a hug, now she knew what the 'strange sounds' she heard in that barn were. Mirabel had been self-harming. Pulling Mirabel tighter she began to think that what if Mirabel had gone through with it.
How much would everything have changed if Mirabel tightened that noose?
Dolores never wanted to find out, never. She would keep Mirabel on a leash before she would let that happen.
"I just thought….I could end the pain you know?" Mirabel took her glasses off to wipe her eyes.
"I understand hermanita…I understand." Dolores kept Mirabel in the embrace rubbing her back "It's okay, it's going to be okay."
"D-d-do you want to know about the other time?"
Dolores nodded "If you want to tell me."
"I do….like I said it was the day of my fifteenth Birthday…."
Mirabel woke up, today was the day. Her fifteenth Birthday.
Or better known as the tenth anniversary of her hopes and dreams being shattered.
Standing up she shook the straw off and began her usual morning routine of feeding the donkeys. The depression she had been battling for the past year still lingered. She had been hiding it well when she got the rare visitor, her mask she had perfected over the years still fooled everyone.
This was her silent battle, one she had to fight alone.
She hadn't made an attempt since Christmas, though she had started doing her little cutting habit more frequently healing herself before anyone could see.
Mirabel had found that the thoughts were returning the closer Antonio's own ceremony got. Antonio's Birthday was two months after hers. Two months, two short months and everyone will know the answer to if the magic is dying or if it was just her.
Feeding the donkeys Mirabel returned to the stall sinking into the straw, tradition stated she should have a quinceañera but Mirabel knew there was going to be nothing like that for her. Her big milestone Birthday will be like all the others she had since coming into the barn.
Julieta will come to her in the evening with a cupcake and a gift and sing her Happy Birthday. That was it, no pretty dress, no grand party. She doubted anyone else in the family even remembered.
Agustín had forgotten the last four Birthdays in a row so why would this one be any different?
She stood up and exited the stall in time to see Pepa's retreating form through the window having delivered her basket.
Mirabel bit her lip, maybe another person did know what today was that person being Alma. Alma probably knew very well what today was and was purposely keeping Julieta away sending Pepa to do the food delivery instead.
With a huff, Mirabel pushed her way out of the barn to take her food quickly darting back inside and dropping the basket on the table wondering what to do now. Her eyes drifted to her stall and as if she was being controlled by something else returned to it grabbing her flip knife from its place.
Letting out quiet sobs she ran the knife down her arm. Over and over until the stinging became too much to bear. Pulling her knees to her chest she let out loud pitiful sobs.
She wasn't sure how much longer she could go on, she's been fighting for her Mamá but it was a fight she was losing.
Her Mamá would move on with her gone, her Mamá was better off with her gone.
It was something for her to think about at least.
She wasn't sure how long she was sitting there when she started feeling really dizzy and on the verge of passing out, she knew it was the blood loss. With a groan, she stumbled standing up and walking over to her basket of food quickly grabbing something and shoving it in her mouth healing the cuts sitting in the chair to stop her head from spinning.
The thoughts returned in the form of the voices of the townspeople, taunting her, encouraging her but not in a positive way.
Do it today.
Take your knife and slit your throat.
You still have that rope…
Your mother will be better off without you.
You're hurting your family.
Save them and end yourself.
If you actually love them you'll do this.
Mirabel held her head letting out a scream, she needed air. Pushing out of her chair she pushed her way out of the barn and just walked, she paused on the path leading to Casita a look of longing on her face.
The door opened and a laughing Agustín and Félix emerged both holding an axe.
For a moment Mirabel felt hopeful that Agustín would remember what today was and at least give her a hug.
Her hopes were quickly dashed when both men just gave her a look surprised to see her so close to Casita before continuing on their way.
Agustín had forgotten her Birthday. Again.
"Well, Agustín, you're not getting my vote for Father of The Year." Mirabel muttered continuing on her way.
The life had been drained from her. She was living but not alive, all she felt was emptiness. Entering town didn't make her day any better she quickly found the grab rushing up to meet her and laughter filled her ears.
"Well well well." Rafael laughed "Look who it is. Better call Luisa, one of the donkeys is loose."
"Don't call Mirabel a donkey." Alejandro laughed "That's an insult to donkeys, they're not THAT ugly."
Mirabel couldn't fight back or even come up with a snarky remark in return, she just lay on the ground crying.
"Aww look at the baby cry, does the baby want her Mamá? Well too bad because your Mamá doesn't want you." Rafael laughed giving Mirabel a swift kick.
"Kicked while you're down, huh? You're nothing Mirabel." Alejandro sneered.
Mirabel rose her head tears streaming down her cheeks "Why do you do this to me? Why can't you just leave me alone? How about I jump off a cliff? Is that what you want? For me to kill myself?"
"Yes, that would be perfect actually. You should go do that, go find a cliff and throw yourself off of it or if you want I can even give you directions to the nearest one."
"Finally you're realising no one wants you alive." Rafael sneered "They'll probably throw a party at Casita when they find your body. Go on, do it. Jump."
"Jump. Jump. Jump. Jump." Alejandro chanted.
Mirabel couldn't take it anymore she scrambled to her feet and took off not exactly sure where she was going. She ran tripping as tears blurred her vision even more than it already was.
She slowed down to a walk and then a stop when she realised where she was, this was the path to Dead Man's Drop.
Jump.
She walked on until the ledge came into view coming to a stop again she took a deep trembling breath and took a step forward.
One jump would be all it would take.
Another step forward.
The pain would be over.
A step.
She wouldn't have to suffer anymore.
Another step.
It would all be over.
She kept walking until she was standing at the edge overlooking the valley, she glanced down it was a long drop. A fatal drop.
Just a jump would be all it would take.
Just a jump to bring the end.
The pain, the suffering, the misery all would be over.
Her life would be over.
Is this really what she wanted? To be reduced to nothing but a splattered mess at the bottom of a cliff ledge?
Maybe it was the best, her family wouldn't have to stress about the vision anymore. After all, she can't fulfil it if she's dead.
She didn't know what to do, once she took that jump she couldn't take it back she would be dead the second she hit the ground.
She could turn back around now and just go back to the barn.
Which option would be the best for her family?
Mirabel sighed "All this pain, all this fear began because of me…."
That's what Alma told her, wasn't it? It was all her fault.
"Is the thing they see the thing I have to be?" Mirabel asked the heavens "A monster, were they right? Has the dark in me finally come to light? Am I a monster full of rage and nowhere to go but on a rampage?"
Only the sound of the gentle breeze rustling the leaves answered her.
"...or am I just a monster in a cage?"
Mirabel didn't know what to do anymore "Do I keep on fighting? Or do I just let go? And will that take the pain away or only make it grow?"
She didn't want to hurt her family any more than she already has, if her death made her family happy and safe she would do it.
"My world is getting darker, and I'm losing my mind!"
This had to be what insanity felt like, she felt like screaming. To bring hurt onto others as they brought hurt onto her.
What if she hurt her family?
Mirabel squeezed her eyes tight "Is my family in danger as long as I'm alive?"
She could just jump right now, then they'll be safe from her.
Opening her eyes she looked back down to the bottom of the cliff, as far as she could see anyway "Do I kill the monster?"
The things she had been called rang in her head.
Demon.
Devil.
Curse.
Tainted.
Monster.
She would be free, but her family would remain in their enslavement. Would that be selfish? Maybe she could free them?
Free them, get them back and be a family again.
What a beautiful dream. Could it be possible?
If she died would the cycle just continue? Would her family remain nothing more than beasts of burden catering to the town's every whim? To Alma's every whim?
She couldn't do that to them, she had seen how miserable they were. She knew how to see behind the masks people put up. She wanted them to be happy.
What if she destroyed the miracle?
Isn't that what she tried that fateful night? If the gifts were gone the family would be so much happier. And the most important thing of all she could be with her mother again.
The town already thinks she's a monster, so why keep fighting it?
Everyone wanted her to be their villain, so why not become their villain?
Something new took over Mirabel, why should she let them win when she could be the one winning?
She no longer wanted to end herself, no she had something to live for now. Something to strive for.
Mirabel wanted revenge.
For herself. And for her family.
A sinister grin spread across Mirabel's face as she turned away and walked away from the cliff "NO! I have to stay alive and set my family free, take revenge and make Abeula pay for what she has done!"
Turning her head back around she let out a dark chuckle "Enjoy your precious miracle while you still have it, Alma Madrigal. For I am coming to take everything."
With the grin still plastered on her face she returned to the barn, looking at the donkeys in the stalls.
"It's my Birthday, I think Luisa should come visit me." she chuckled and one by one let the donkeys loose "Set donkeys free, Luisa will soon come."
Still smiling she picked up her embroidery and sat down to wait for Luisa, even if she didn't remember what today was, she'll still get to see her. That was something.
The thought of what she was now scheming made her grin wider, she couldn't wait to hear Alma's cries when she realises she has lost everything.
Life was worth living after all.
"So that was the point you chose vengeance? When you were literally on the edge?" Dolores questioned with wide eyes.
Mirabel nodded "Yep, pretty much."
"Did you also stop harming yourself? I need to know."
Mirabel looked away from Dolores "Ah….."
"Hermanita. Tell me."
"I kept doing it until you started hanging out with me. It was a habit that was hard to break, but after you came along…I never really thought about it. I got rid of the knife to resist any future…temptation." Mirabel fiddled with her fingers "I did…cut…when I got back to the barn after Antonio's ceremony…I know I shouldn't have done it…it was just…a hard night."
Dolores sighed shaking her head and feeling ashamed of herself. She wasn't paying attention while Mirabel was standing on a cliff edge considering jumping. If she had heard what would she have done? Would she have run there to try and stop her? Talk her out of it?
Would she have even made it in time? What if Mirabel did jump? Would the last sound Dolores heard from Mirabel be the sound of her body hitting the ground?
"Dolores? You're crying. What's wrong-"
Dolores pulled Mirabel close to her "Of course, I'm crying, you wanted to throw yourself off Dead Man's Drop!"
"And?"
"That's serious!" Dolores exclaimed "Do you know how your mother would feel if she knew?"
"If Mamá knew I have been suicidal she would get Isabela to make a vine leash and never let me go again."
"Exactly, maybe I should ask Isabela for a vine leash." Dolores gave a light chuckle trying to lighten the mood "But seriously, please hermanita if these thoughts ever come back please come talk to me."
"I will." Mirabel gave a soft smile "But I haven't had those thoughts since that day, I have to much to live for now."
"Good, now how about we go riding?."
Mirabel nodded "Sure, let's go." she was happy to drop the topic.
Dolores smiled, she wanted to talk about it more but she figured it took enough courage for Mirabel to admit what she has already, it was a huge deal. "I'll just leave the note, they know we go riding but our mothers insist."
"Well, last time we went off without a word we were gone for three months." Mirabel chuckled.
"True…true." Dolores quickly wrote the note scanning over it to make sure it was right.
Mirabel and I have gone riding, we'll be back before dinner.
-Dolores
Satisfied she left the note where it would be easily seen "You bringing Salomé today?"
"No…." Mirabel glanced over to Salomé "Not today, besides she would probably rather stay here and nap."
"Probably." Dolores put an arm around Mirabel's shoulders and started walking towards the door "Casita, don't let anyone who isn't family in."
Casita flipped its tiles in response.
"Alright let's go!"
Soon enough Dolores had tied Reina to a fence post and Mirabel was happily brushing the horse's side.
Mirabel stood on an upturned crate to make it easier "Do you like that Reina? I would think it feels good, kinda like a message maybe?"
Reina turned her head to give Mirabel a gentle nudge with a low snort before lowering her head to pick at the grass.
Dolores emerged from the barn with the saddle and bridle "She brushed?"
"Yep." Mirabel said "...I think…" she squinted "Is that dirt?"
Dolores chuckled "She's fine." she swung the saddle onto the mare's back cinching it up before moving to the bridle "Alright, we're ready to go."
With Dolores's help, Mirabel clambered onto Reina's back "It's getting easier."
Dolores nodded in agreement mounting the horse so she was sitting in front of Mirabel when she felt Mirabel's hands wrap around her waist she nudged Reina into a slow walk. Dolores longed to gallop across the fields like she did when she was a teenager but Mirabel wasn't ready for that.
Mirabel chuckled as the pair rode into the town, people feared them now. She gave a cheerful little wave as she rode on by, oh how much she loved being in power. Her eyes met with Alma's making her chuckle again, Alma was clinging to the last of her dignity by the thinnest thread
Alma narrowed her eyes as Dolores pulled their horse to a halt and turned to stare at her, Alma kept their gaze for a minute before the look in their eyes started making fear creep up in her and she forced herself to look away. When she could bring herself to look back they were still staring at her, shuddering she turned and disappeared down the street.
"That woman is always so rude to me." Mirabel said.
Dolores chuckled nudging Reina back into a walk "She's terrified of you, it's hilarious." out of the corner of her eye she could see Rafael and Alejandro leaning against a wall watching them, she had noticed that every time she went out with Mirabel those two would be watching them.
Mirabel had not noticed but she could sense Dolores was tense about something, but whatever it was Dolores was not telling her. She just assumed that having her gift back was overwhelming her.
Dolores steered Reina out of town and down a path at the edge of the Encanto.
"Dolores…why are we going this way?"
Dolores was startled when she realised she was taking them straight towards Dead Man's Drop "Uh…I don't know…it's a nice view?"
"You're taking me to the place I told you I wanted to kill myself at."
"And so much has changed since then, you've come so far. You're not the same girl who stood on the ledge that day."
"No, I'm not." Mirabel growled.
"So, go back there. Confront that ledge-"
"Confront…the ledge? What do you want me to do? Yell at it?"
"No I meant you…oh never mind." the ledge came into view and Dolores drew Reina to a halt swinging down from the saddle and helping Mirabel down. She froze turning her head in the direction they came from, she could hear two sets of footsteps and two extra heartbeats. Biting her lip she frowned "Who is there?"
No answer.
Mirabel looked in the direction Dolores was looking "You hear someone?" a frown spread across her face when she too began hearing footsteps "We've been followed."
The two stood there watching and waiting, the footsteps stopped and they couldn't see anyone.
"Huh….maybe we're both losing it." Dolores shook her head loosening the saddle of their grey mare taking hold of Mirabel's hand "Stay here Reina."
"Yeah, stay here and do…horse….stuff…I guess." Mirabel gave the mare a pat with her free hand.
Reina let out a snort and lowered her head to graze, long white tail swishing at passing insects content with her life.
"She'll be fine." Dolores cast one more look over her shoulder before leading Mirabel forward stopping at a rock on the ledge and sitting down, pulling Mirabel down with her. "This is a nice view…"
"For a moment there I thought you were dragging me to the edge to push me off it."
"What?!"
"Just kidding."
Dolores shook her head "Mirabel? You don't have to answer this but…if…your plan didn't work out like this….would have given up?"
Mirabel sighed "If it wasn't for you…I would have given up. I would have done…it. Could have come back here to jump…used that rope…used that knife…."
"Oh hermanita, that just lets me be even more sure I made the right choice."
"I was pretty depressed for a while like I told you. Suffering in silence, wanted to ask for help but couldn't…I wouldn't get the help anyway so why bother."
"Your mother-"
"Wouldn't have been allowed to do anything, we both know it. Besides, she was stressed enough as it was with her duties. She didn't have time to worry about her daughter thinking of ways to kill herself."
Dolores pulled Mirabel closer "You know if these thoughts ever return you can ask for help right? Don't think you have to struggle through it alone."
"I know, Lolo. I got my family back. Now they can all actually be happy without Alma in the picture."
"It's been a wild ride since you came to me in my room, hasn't it? Did you have to be so dramatic with your entrance though?"
Mirabel chuckled "Yes, yes I did. The mysterious hooded figure, now who could it be? Oh, it's just little old Mirabel. Surprise."
"Then you just disappear into the night." Dolores laughed "You could have just walked out of Casita but nooo you had to make a big dramatic escape."
"Had to liven up my otherwise dreary life somehow."
"Well that's true-" the sound of a foot stepping on a twig made Dolores whip around "I knew it, someone has followed us. I can hear their heartbeats." she stood up from the rock "Come out and show you faces! I know you're there!".
A scowl spread across Mirabel's face when Rafael and Alejandro came into view "What do you two bastards want?"
"So rude."' Rafael chuckled "Surely the mighty leader of the Encanto should have some manners, yeah?"
Dolores put herself between Mirabel and the two men "What do you want?"
"What? We can't come and enjoy the view?"
"You two followed us from town."
"Well, yes. You see we have been asked by Señora Alma to help her with a little favour…she wanted us to give you a scare." Alejandro sneered at the two "But, what if we were to cause you to have a little…accident…and here you both are standing right on top of Dead Man's Drop. How sad it would be if you were to both have a little slip and fall to your deaths."
Dolores's eye's rose for a moment before narrowing "Our family will hunt you down if you kill us, and they won't just kill you they'll torture the shit out of you."
"Not if we make it look like an accident." Rafael smirked "We told you remember? We can make your deaths look like an accident."
"Once you two are dead the candle can be returned rightfully to Alma and peace may be restored." Alejandro dead.
Mirabel growled stepping out from behind Dolores "I think it's time we reach you both a lesson."
Dolores glanced at Mirabel "We're fighting?"
Mirabel nodded "I'm legitimately tired of being walked all over by these insecure babies who think that they are men."
Rafael launched himself at Mirabel bringing her to the ground "Remember, this time Luisa isn't here to save you."
Dolores was brought to the ground by Alejandro with a cry of rage she swung her fist making a connection with his nose.
"Oh, you're going to regret that!" Alejandro hissed "You're both dead."
Mirabel dug her nails into Rafael's arm and drew them down leaving long thin lines in which droplets of blood formed."
"Did you just SCRATCH me?!" Rafael cried out.
"Good thing I didn't trim my nails now isn't it?" Mirabel hissed taking advantage of the fact he was distracted and punched his stomach with full force.
Rafael staggered to the side winded giving Mirabel enough room to quickly roll away from him "You demon!"
Dolores and Alejandro were both locked into their own fight. Dolores would land a hit before quickly darting to the side before Alejandro could land a hit. She was taunting him delighting in his growing frustration. "What's the matter?" she laughed "Killing us not as easy as you thought it would be?"
Alejandro growled throwing out another punch that Dolores dodged "You're not going to win this!"
Dolores scoffed as she dodged again a moment of panic filling her when she went to close to the edge and nearly went over. Moving quickly away from the edge she glanced over to Mirabel and to her horror, Mirabel and Rafael were edging closer to the edge "MIRABEL WATCH-" she was tackled to the ground.
Alejandro laughed "Never turn your back on your opponent."
Ow ow ow ow Dolores winced, all four of them were covered in cuts and bruises. Mirabel and Dolores were fighting for their lives, Dolores quickly glanced over to their horse who was watching the fight. She had to get herself and Mirabel out of there before one of them went over the cliff. Better to run than die.
Rafael had gotten Mirabel into a tight hold and was dragging her to the edge "Time to send you back to Hell where you belong."
Mirabel struggled in the man's hold "DOLORES! HELP!".
Dolores's eyes widened in horror "MIRABEL!"
Mirabel took a tight hold on Rafael "Push me down and I'll drag you down with me, so I would think about your choice."
Rafael just chuckled giving Mirabel a kick the sudden rush of new pain making Mirabel let go "Don't worry, once you're gone we'll see that your hermana is swiftly reunited with you."
Dolores shoved Alejandro off of her and ran towards Mirabel "MIRABEL!"
"Dolores! Help!" Mirabel cried one foot was over the edge now "DOLORES HELP ME!"
"GET OFF OF HER!" Dolores pulled Rafael back which also pulled Mirabel along with him once she had enough room she grabbed Mirabel's arm with one hand and shoved Rafael back with the other. Pulling Mirabel away she hugged her "You alright? That was close."
Mirabel nodded "I'm fine…just shaken." she couldn't hide the fact she was trembling.
Alejandro looked over his shoulder back to the path "Come on bro, let's forget it. We've scared them shitless." he glanced back down to the edge "I don't want to go over a cliff over these two, we can get them later."
Rafael shook his head "No, at least one of them is dying today." he launched him back at the pair.
Dolores gulped and shoved the man as far back as she could "LEAVE US ALONE!"
Rafael stumbled backwards and losing his balance a foot slipped over the edge of the cliff "SHIT!" His arms flailed around trying to grab onto something but there was nothing to grab onto and he fell backwards plummeting off the ledge.
"RAFAEL!" Alejandro screamed sprinting forward "NO!"
Dolores could hear the sound of the body hitting the ground and the sound of the bones snapping and winced. She didn't mean it…even if he did deserve it but she didn't mean it. She just wanted to get him away from Mirabel.
Alejandro stood there in shock "No…no…" he turned to glare at Dolores and Mirabel "MURDERERS! MURDERERS!"
Mirabel's face was unreadable. Just like that one of her biggest enemies was dead. It was sudden and unspectacular. Here one minute and gone the next. "We didn't kill your brother, his own stupidity killed him."
Alejandro pointed a thumb at Dolores "YOU PUSHED HIM!"
"I didn't mean to send him over the edge! I just wanted him away from my hermanita!" Dolores growled "We were defending ourselves! Your brother was going to murder my hermanita!"
"Mirabel deserves death! You both do! You're both going to pay for this!" Alejandro backed off "I swear I'll kill the both of you!"
"You failed today and you will fail again." Mirabel said "Now run along before you end up like your brother." she chuckled.
Alejandro glared at Mirabel with as much hate as he could muster "It should have been you going over that cliff. You should have jumped all those months ago when we told you to! You piece of shit!"
Mirabel laughed "And yet, I'm alive and your brother is dead. What were you expecting when you attacked us at this height? Go. Now." hatred filled Mirabel's eyes "I'm very pissed off right now, so unless you want to see what the bottom of Dead Man's Drop looks like as you plummet towards it, go. Your brother had the chance to leave, you attacked us and we defended ourselves."
Alejandro growled "Murderers…cold bolded murderers."
"It was Rafael or Mirabel. And why would I save Rafael over Mirabel?" Dolores scoffed "I didn't intend for him to go over. But he had every intention to send Mirabel over."
"Oh you did it on purpose, you're both monsters." Alejandro started backing away from them "You will both burn in Hell for this! YOU WILL BOTH PAY!" he turned and ran.
"I must say, I'm not too saddened about this." Mirabel clicked her tongue "I would even call it karma, we didn't kill him we were just defending ourselves from unprovoked assault." she started walking towards Reina "Let's get out of here."
Dolores blinked, Mirabel was completely unphased by the death she just witnessed, a small smile was on the girl's face as she stroked the horse's neck. For Mirabel, all this meant she had one less problem in her life. Looking back over her shoulder to the ledge behind her she had to admit, she wasn't too sad either. She would never get the image of seeing Mirabel with one foot over the edge out of her head.
At least it was someone who deserved it, even if she didn't mean for it to end like this.
Dolores walked up to Reina and tightened the saddle up helping Mirabel up "Come on, let's get these bruises and cuts healed." she mounted up sitting in front of Mirabel as usual waiting until she felt Mirabel take hold before nudging the mare into motion.
"He'll come after us." Mirabel said after a few minutes of silence "But he won't be able to do anything, you didn't kill Rafael and no one in the family would believe him over you. Besides, I'm the leader my judgement goes and like I'm going to choose my tormentor over my hermana."
"I know that, I'm not worried about myself I'm worried about you." Dolores said "He'll come after you he knows that will hurt me more than any physical wound ever would."
"He won't be able to do anything to me."
"Maybe not, but we'll be wise to remain vigilant. He has hated you for years now he thinks you have not only caused the death of his mother but his brother too."
Mirabel rolled her eyes "I didn't tell Señora López to jump in the river after me, appreciated very much so but she chose to sacrifice her life for mine."
"I know that, everyone with half a brain cell knows that. But that's not what Alejandro thinks. If the Señora never went after you she wouldn't have died that day."
"Well, he ain't wrong there. If she just stayed on the riverbank she wouldn't have hit her head on that rock and drowned."
"But you would have drowned."
"Doubt there would have been many tears shed."
Dolores took a deep breath and began listing off names "Myself, your mother, your father, Luisa, Tío Bruno, Antonio, Camilo, Mami, Papi, Antonio, Isabela-"
"Isabela? Are you sure?"
"She never stopped loving you, even if she showed the opposite, she had to put on a facade for Alma."
"Tía Pepa? Tío Félix?"
Dolores sighed "Mami and Papi never hated you really, they just had a baby born and then you go for the candle….they both admitted they reacted on the emotion of the moment and the guilt ate at them. But then started changing, they recognised you less and less. Of course, they didn't hear what I heard, how the town treated you. They just fell into Alma's line of beliefs that you were this evil demon. But once they gave you a chance…they saw who the real monster was. They knew all of this was wrong."
"Tía Pepa went from calling me a demon and telling me to get out of Casita to threatening to strike someone with lightning if they look at me the wrong way." Mirabel chuckled softly.
"She's protective of her nube, that's what she said."
"Why does she call me nube anyway?"
"Because like a cloud you were always hovering around."
"Seems fair."
They arrived back at the barn and Dolores pulled Reina to a stop, she could still hear Alejandro damning both their names and vowing payback. It was true she pushed Rafael, but sending him over the ledge was never her intent she just wanted him to back off. Swinging down out of the saddle she pulled Mirabel down sighing when she saw the cuts, bruises and blood on Mirabel's body "We'll just give Reina a quick brush down and put her in her paddock, we'll come back later and give her a proper groom after we heal ourselves."
"Okay." Mirabel said watching as Dolores removed the saddle. She felt relief at Rafael's death, after five years of torment he was out of her life for good. Wasn't what she had planned for him but life was full of surprises. And she did get revenge in the end, and that was all Mirabel cared about. Getting payback on those who wronged her and those she loved.
A small smile formed on her face as Dolores handed her the horsebrush and she stepped into her crate. She began humming a small tune as if she had just gotten back from a regular old ride. Now she just had to deal with Alejandro and that would be that dealt with.
Dolores brushed Reina's otherwise, Mirabel's reaction should have concerned her but it didn't. After spending so much time with Mirabel she could now read the younger girl like a book. She could tell Mirabel was pleased. And isn't that what Dolores wanted most these days? To see her hermanita happy?
Dolores patted Reina's side the grey mare turning her head to look at her with a snort "Just a quick brush down for the moment girl, we'll come to pamper you later.".
Reina snorted again turning her attention back to the grass in front of her.
"Let's get you in your paddock." Dolores led the horse into the paddock letting her go "You behave yourself now."
Reina let out a whinny before cantering across the paddock letting out small bucks on the way.
"I'm so glad she doesn't do that while I'm riding her." Mirabel commented watching the mare "I could never stay on."
Dolores just silently nodded putting an arm around Mirabel "Let's go home."
-V-
Julieta sat in the kitchen sipping coffee waiting for her daughter's return. She knew how much Mirabel loved being out on her horse but she still worried.
What if Mirabel fell off?
What if Reina bolted?
What if they got lost?
Ok, she knew the last one shouldn't be a concern, even if they did get lost Dolores could simply use her hearing and follow the sound to find their way back.
But she worried nonetheless.
The sound of the front door opening had her on her feet, sighing when with relief when she saw Mirabel and Dolores enter, but that relief was gone again when she saw they were injured.
"What happened?!" Julieta asked in concern as she fussed over Mirabel "Did Reina throw you both?"
"No, Reina was a total sweetheart as usual." Dolores said "Alma arranged for us to get attacked."
Julieta's blood ran cold "What?"
"We rode up to Dead Man's drop." Dolores said "Just to enjoy the view, we stayed away from the edge." she quickly added.
"And what happened?"
"Rafael and Alejandro approached us, they followed us from town. They said they were doing Alma a favour and started attacking us. We fought back. Rafael had gotten Mirabel into a hold and was dragging her to the edge to throw her off."
Julieta held a hand over her heart, her own mother arranged this. No, that woman wasn't her mother anymore as far as Julieta was concerned they were total strangers.
"I pulled them both back and got Mirabel away from him. Alejandro wanted to go but Rafael launched himself at us again, to protect Mira I pushed him. But I pushed him harder than I meant to and he stumbled….he went over the edge…."
Julieta didn't need to be told anymore, she knew the man was dead. Closing her eyes with a sigh she pulled Mirabel into a hug, she could have lost her baby. The image of Mirabel falling to her death played in her mind.
Mirabel sighed "Alejandro blames us for Rafael's death, he says we'll pay for it. But it was self-defence. He was going to kill me Mamá. Dolores saved me again."
"It's okay baby, it's okay." Julieta murmured rubbing Mirabel's back "You both had every right to defend yourselves."
"I'll admit I'm not too sad that he's dead. It's what he deserves after the five years of hell he put me through." Mirabel chuckled "They are right, karma IS a bitch."
"Come…come get something to heal yourselves. Julieta said quietly.
Dolores followed Mirabel and Julieta into the kitchen accepting an arepa with a nod of thanks. She studied an arm watching as the cuts and bruises disappeared as if they were never there.
Julieta kissed Mirabel's forehead after she healed her injuries "My sweet girl, why did you two choose Dead Man's Drop of all places? The view is lovely, yes but it's so dangerous."
Mirabel glanced over to Dolores with wide eyes. Don't tell her, please Mirabel pleaded in her mind.
"I just thought it would be nice, we were peaceful until those two turned up. I wouldn't put Mirabel in danger." Dolores said.
"I know you wouldn't." Julieta smiled softly.
"We'll be fine, Mamá. Alejandro can't do anything to us. I'm the leader my judgement is final, what am I going to do? Send myself to prison?" Mirabel laughed "Rafael's own stupidity and stubbornness killed him."
Julieta bit her lip "I still worry…why don't you just destroy the candle and we can all go to-"
"NO!" Mirabel interrupted "I'm not done here yet."
"Okay..okay…just don't do something stupid."
"I'm not the bitch who arranged for her own flesh and blood to be attacked." Mirabel whacked the table "Alma will pay for that."
"Alma has gone to a new low." Dolores frowned "She must have figured if she couldn't beat us she would get rid of us."
Mirabel leaned back in her chair arms folded across her chest "Well that backfired horribly on her, didn't it? All she did was get one of her precious few followers killed."
"We have to get her to admit to setting it up in front of everyone." Dolores scratched her chin.
A wide grin spread across Mirabel's face "And we will, I got a plan hermana."
"Admit what?" Pepa entered the kitchen pausing "Dolores? Mirabel? Why do you two have blood on you?"
"Alma sent Rafael and Alejandro López to attack us and try to throw us off of Dead Man's Drop."
The sound of thunder filled the kitchen "SHE WHAT?!" Pepa shrieked.
Dolores's hands flew to cover her ears.
"Sorry, Ratoncita," Pepa kissed Dolores's head "But did I hear that right?"
Dolores nodded "Rafael was killed, he went over the ledge."
The cloud above Pepa's head grew "Aye…"
"He was going to kill Mirabel." Dolores shuddered "I pushed him but it wasn't my intention to send him over I swear! I was just trying to get him away from us."
"I believe you, mija." Pepa caressed Dolores's cheek "You did a great job protecting your hermanita."
"Alejandro said we'll pay for what we did, not sure what he is planning to do but he's going to do something."
Pepa shook her head "He won't come near you two if he knows what's good for him, I"m sorry he lost his brother but it was self-defence. And I think I will be having a talk with Alma. That woman is not my mother so I shall refuse to refer to her as such.."
"She crossed the line long ago, now she's just digging herself a deeper and deeper hole." Julieta spat "Trying to get my baby killed. What the hell she was thinking?"
Dolores scoffed "She was thinking 'if Mirabel and Dolores were to die, I could swoop in and get the candle back.''
"She isn't getting the candle back." Mirabel smiled "She'd have to take it out of my cold dead hands."
"That's pretty much what she was trying to do."
Salomé entered the kitchen tail beginning to quiver when she saw Mirabel, letting out a meow of greeting she jumped up onto Mirabel's lap giving her a headbutt and purring.
"Hello, Salomé." Mirabel scratched behind the cat's ears "You have had a nice nap on the windowsill?"
Salomé blinked up at Mirabel letting out another meow before curling up on her lap with purrs rumbling from her throat.
Mirabel smiled running a hand through Salomé's fur "It won't take long for Alma to learn her plan has failed, so she'll try a different tactic to get the candle off me."
"I'll keep an ear out." Dolores said "She won't get the jump on us, I let my guard down today. It will not happen again."
Mirabel nodded "I will call a family meeting tonight to discuss this matter. Alejandro will bring trouble but it's nothing we can't handle. Luisa could deal with him on her own. Where is everyone else anyway?"
Dolores tilted her head "Papi, Tío Agustín and Tío Bruno are having 'men's time' whatever that is supposed to mean. Camilo has taken Antonio to look for frogs and Isabela and dragged Luisa along to go search for plants."
"Living their lives and not being slaves." Mirabel beamed "Most excellent."
"Alma would never approve." Dolores chuckled.
"What's Alma going to do about it? Come throw me off the cliff herself?"
"If she goes mad enough, she'll try to kill you herself."
"She won't even get to touch you." Julieta quickly said "If she kills you I'll kill her."
"You'll have to beat me to it." Pepa thundered.
Dolores just chuckled "Well you'll both have to beat me won't youse?"
Mirabel laughed "Ah, I feel so loved. So warm and fuzzy inside."
"You're awfully jolly for someone who could've died."
"I nearly died the night I was born, I'm used to near-death experiences at this point. I must be immortal or something."
"Well, don't go testing that."
"I wasn't-"
"I know you." Dolores put her hands on her hips.
Mirabel chuckled again "You look like a stern mother when you do that."
"I'm being serious!:
"So am I."
Dolores shook her head and walked towards the kitchen entrance "I"m going t"o go back and give Reina a proper groom. Are you coming?"
"For my girl Reina? Always." Mirabel stood up holding Salomé in her arms "Let's go."
Pepa and Julieta watched the two leave once again.
"I can't believe it…she actually tried to get our daughters killed." Pepa spat.
"Bruno warned us that the rift between them would grow….but I didn't she would go this low." Julieta shook her head in disbelief "And now a life has been lost."
"Would rather him than Dolores or Mirabel. Sounds harsh but it's true."
"I must say I agree, but I do not want to see any more death. Even though I just want to bury Alma right now."
"We can arrange that…"
"Pepa!"
-V-
Anotino laughed as the frog hopped away "Bye!" he waved. He was going to miss his gift, but it made Mirabel so sad. Mirabel got hurt because of the miracle. His family was excited about moving to a place called Bogotá. He wasn't quite sure about leaving the Encanto but Bogotá must be a good place if Mirabel and Dolores stayed there for so long.
Anontino just hoped there were a lot of animals in Bogotá "Camilo? Are there animals where we are going?"
"Oh sure, remember what Dolores said? There are cats, dogs, birds, birds and more birds."
Antonio giggled "Do they have birds there?"
"Nah, why would there be birds there?" Camilo laughed.
"Are you going to miss your gift?"
"Yes and no. I'm going to miss having fun with it and shifting into people for pranks. I am not going to miss having to use it to serve the community. You're going to miss yours aren't you?"
Antonino nodded "I'll miss being able to understand the animals…and my friends like Parce, Chipsi and Pico."
"Well, you can't have a jaguar in Bogotá I'm afraid. But I'm sure if you ask Mami and Papi will let you get a pet, there are pet birds."
"I want a pet bird."
"Well once we're settled in I'm sure. Bruno won't go without his rats and Mirabel has Salomé so no reason you can't have an animal too."
"What about Reina?"
Camilo rose an eyebrow "Reina?"
"Mirabel's horse. Her name is Reina."
"Oh right right, well I think Dolores said something about keeping her stabled at the hotel owned by those two people they met."
"Oh." Antonio sat down "Where will we live with no Casita?"
Camilo sat down next to him "We're going to build a house for all of us."
"It won't be the same."
"No, it won't." Camilo sighed "It'll be very different from what we have always known. But we'll be okay, we're still Madrigals with or without magic. The gifts aren't what makes us Madrigals, that is a lesson that took as far too long to learn."
"I'm happy Mirabel and Dolores live with us again."
"So am I, hombrecito. So am I." Camilo looked up to see Alma walking towards them and frowned. Antonio had not yet noticed her so he stood up grabbing Antonio's hand "Hey, why don't we see if we can catch Mirabel and Dolores at the barn and maybe Dolores will lead you around on Reina for a bit?"
"Yeah!"
"Well let's go then." Camilo snuck a look over his shoulder watching Alma's expression turn into one of anger. Camilo just scoffed and led Antonio away.
Alma could try all she wanted but what she had done was unforgivable. Just as the family had once shunned Mirabel on Alma's orders they were now shunning Alma on Mirabel's orders.
The tables really had turned.
-V-
"HA!"
Luisa looked down as blue pollen splattered her shirt "Isa…are you going to do this to every shirt I own?"
Isabela didn't answer, she was looking completely different. She added some purple to the tips of her hair to represent her baby sister which was something that would give Alma a heart attack if she saw.
Luisa looked up at the sky "Now I have two nutty sisters."
"You say something?" Isabela looked up holding a cactus.
"No no…nothing."
Isabela shrugged and then spun around "I never knew I could do all of this! LOOK!"
Luisa looked around at the cactus-covered ground "Ah..great…but isn't this a safety hazard?"
Isabela waved a hand in dismissal "It's fine."
"I never knew my gift could be FUN!" Isabela laughed as she grew some sundew "NO ROSES!"
Luisa gave two thumbs up "Just be careful."
Isabela spun in a circle making it rain jacarandas "It's a hurricane of jacarandas!"
Luisa shook her head in amusement, it was amazing to see Isabela finally being herself and having fun without the pressures to be perfect. But it was also messy…very messy.
"And I all of of this to Mirabel." Isabela laughed.
"Ah, she's crazy too." Luisa laughed "I'm the only sane one among us three."
Isabela let out another laugh creating a vine and swinging off."
"What is that vine even attached to?" Luisa wondered "Isabela come back!"
"I'M FREE!"
Shaking her head Luisa slowly followed dodging the cacti and sundew Isabela left in her wake jumping back when Isabela came swinging back towards her.
"This is the best!" Isabela dropped to the ground.
A woman approached them "Luisa! Can you reroute the river?"
Luisa facepalmed "Didn't Mirabel call a meeting about exactly this? Didn't I tell everyone I quit?"
"But-"
Isabela picked up a cactus and threw it at the woman "She said she quit!"
"OW!"
"Sorry." Luisa said quickly "But she is right, I quit."
"But-"
Isabela threw another cactus "Get off your lazy asses and build another bridge!"
"Isa stop throwing those things." Luisa hissed.
"No." Isabela began pelting the woman with cacti "Mirabel said you can't use our gifts for your benefit anymore, if you have an issue with it go take it up with her. She's the leader now, not Alma."
The woman opened her mouth to say something but changed her mind closing her mouth and running off as fast as the cacti stuck to her would allow.
"Was that necessary?" Luisa asked.
"Yep." Isabela said "She won't bother you again will she? Mirabel is going to laugh when I tell her."
"Mirabel will be disappointed she wasn't here to see it."
"Yeah, she would." Isabela chuckled.
"Well, we'll all be headed to Bogotá soon hopefully."
"She seems to like this leader thing though."
Luisa shrugged "She'll get more of tormenting Alma eventually and make her watch as she destroys the candle. Once that is done we are out of here."
"I want to start a cactus garden when we get a new house." Isabela grinned "I'll plant some flowers but I'm more into the spiky plants. Even without my gift I still love plants."
"I'm not sure what I'm going to do…I'll work it out when we get there. I do enjoy working when it's reasonable."
Isabela nodded "Mirabel will probably just hang out at home most of the day unless someone takes her out."
"Well she's blind, her options will be… limited. She seems pretty happy to just read her braille books though. Or Dolores takes her riding."
"There is one thing we have to get for her in Bogotá."
"What's that?"
"Therapy."
-V-
Salomé lifted her head to the light of the moon casting shadows on the walls of the bedroom. She was snuggled up against the sleeping Mirabel who was cuddling her jaguar plush.
Yawning the cat stood up and stretched jumping off the bed. She liked to patrol the casa of a night, never quite sure what she was supposed to be looking for. Nudging the door open she slipped into the hallway.
She was just a cat, therefore, didn't understand much of what was going on with the humans. All she knew is that her job was to comfort her girl.
Salomé knew when her girl was happy, sad or angry. There was one woman the one they called 'Alma' who made her girl angry. The one they called 'Dolores' who was always around made her girl happy.
She learned that some humans were good and some bad and the ones she lived with were the good ones and that's all she needed to know. She had food, water, shelter and love. What else did a cat need in life?
There was a boy called 'Anotino' who could understand her. A woman who could make any plant appear, a woman who appeared to change the weather.
There was a lot of thunder earlier, and a lot of shouting. Everyone was angry and upset about something. She heard the name 'Alma' she associated that name with bad things.
Salomé accepted this as normal, just a strange quirk of these humans. Everyone had their place and her place was to comfort her girl, her Mamá.
She could sense something different about Mirabel, the way she moved seemed like she wasn't sure what was in front of her. She heard the word 'blind' being used when talking about Mirabel but Salomé couldn't understand it.
Sometimes Mirabel could start breathing heavily and appear frightened, in those cases Salomé would sit with her purring until it stopped. The other humans would praise her for it, that was what they expected from her.
The scent of a rat drew her attention as she dropped in a crouch before quickly straightening back up. No, the boy who can speak to animals told her not to hunt the rats. Salomé wasn't happy at first but after the boy talked with her some more she agreed to leave the rats.
She began to sense a new presence turning around she saw a man standing there, but there was something different about this man. She had seen him quite a few times but even if her family was around no one else seemed to notice her.
The bird Pico (who is also isn't allowed to hunt) also saw him she knew. Strange, very strange but she had a feeling this was a good man.
Pedro smiled "Hey there girl, you watching over my nieta?"
Salomé meowed.
"I can't understand you, but I'm glad I chose well when I picked you to send to Mirabel. You both needed each other."
Another meow.
"I can't believe what happened today….I knew those two men wouldn't just scare them." Pedro sighed "'It's a mess Salomé…it's a real mess."
Salomé tilted her head.
"Oh, don't mind my rambling." Pedro chuckled, he was talking to a cat how bizarre. But he was also a spirit and no one else could see him yet. But he felt like he was getting close. He could see Mirabel pause and look in his direction when he called her name but would shake it off and mutter something about hearing voices in her head.
He was getting closer to breaking through to her, he had given up on Alma. He could never forgive what she has done.
Pedro hoped Alma wasn't expecting forgiveness from him in the afterlife because she wouldn't be getting it.
He had entrusted their family to her and this is what she did to them. Abusing their miracle mariposa.
"All of this…could have been avoided. It wasn't Bruno showing the vision it was Alma's reaction to it, she started distrusting Mirabel the moment that door faded. Sure if they saw the other side to the vision things will have been different…or if only it was clear that Mirabel was to take over as head of the family one day."
Salomé scratched her ear bell of her purple collar jingling.
"Maybe in another life, all my family is happy. But that life is not this life we must live in this world not one in our fantasies."
Salomé tilted her head again letting out a meow.
Pedro chuckled "I like to think you understand me. Now, you get back to Mirabel's side. I'll stay out here and watch over things, okay?"
Salomé meowed jumping to her paws and walked up the stairs pushing her way back into the bedroom.
"Ah, you do understand me. Now if only I can get Mirabel to do the same."
But it was just his luck Mirabel inherited Alma's stubbornness.
And here is the second chapter for November, just like I said.
Some more backstory and someone gets yeeted off a cliff.
And a google search told me that children in Colombia don't wait for 'Santa Claus' to bring them gifts on Christmas but rather 'El Niiño Dios' will come on Christmas Eve to leave children presents other the tree. The more you know.
I was going to have Dolores and Mariano do some dating but it would have made this chapter too long so it's been moved to next chapter.
Dolores ain't no murderer, it was an accident caused in self-defence.
I'm not sure if I'll get another update out in December due to the holiday season but I'll try.
If I don't, have a happy and safe holiday season and a happy new year.