.

.

Chapter Two

.

.

Bruno's commitment to Katerina's challenge was...Well, more than she expected. He spent nearly every day with her when he wasn't future-seeing in his tower. She still had yet to make it to the top and see inside the "Cave of Wonder" as she called it, but she knew someday he would take her up there.

On one day in particular, she was walking through the market when shouting drew her attention away from a good-looking set of coloured pencils. She found Bruno waving at her frantically with both arms while an angry woman and a man shouting every profanity in the book chased him. A crying child sat in the woman's arms.

"What on Earth happened?" Kat asked Bruno as he grew closer.

"No time! Let's go!" He grabbed her arm and roughly pulled her through the crowded streets of Encanto. She yelped as the woman threw a rock at them, just barely whizzing past Bruno's head.

"Oye! ¿Qué les pasa?" she shouted over her shoulder, now fuming. Bruno noticed how close the furious family was growing and took quick action.

When they took a hard right, he pushed Katerina into an unoccupied alley. The force and unexpected nature of his shove caused the smaller girl to trip over her feet and fall into a pile of boxes. Bruno shushed her, unaware of what he had done. He peeked around the corner, waiting for his assailants to run past.

"I think they're gone."

"Great...Now can you help me?"

Bruno gasped and rushed to her side so he could help her untangle herself. He apologized profusely while checking her arms and legs for bruises or cuts.

"I'm fine, but what was their problem?" Kat asked when she finally got onto her feet. Bruno's worried eyes darted from her to the opening to the alley, just to make sure they were alone.

"I read their daughter's future…'' His heavy breathing forced him to stop for a second and recollect himself. Katerina's expression turned sour.

"You saw something they didn't like?" she asked while placing a hand on Bruno's shoulder.

The brunette nodded, sweat dripping from his temple, "She's going to get a fever that'll only get worse. Even Julieta won't be able to heal her."

"Even if it comes true—"

"When," Bruno corrected her, earning a scowl.

"When it comes true, it won't be your fault," she softened her gaze so that he knew she wasn't upset. Her other hand came up to grab his left shoulder and then pull him into a warm embrace. He practically melted into her.

"You're more than your gift, Bruno. If these people don't see that then to hell with them."

Bruno buried his face into the crook of her shoulder. "You smell like the forest," he sniffled. He felt her body bounce slightly when she laughed.

"Watch out or I'll have to turn into — What is it those kids keep calling me? The Witch of the Woods?" She pulled her shawl over her head and hunched over like a creepy sorceress. Bruno used his hand to hold back his laughter, only to have Kat poke his arm and pretend to chant in a made-up language.

"You're the least threatening witch I have ever met," he snorted. Kat fixed her shawl and smirked while playfully punching him in the arm.

"Come on, Scaredy-Cat. I'll protect you from those bullies," she took his hand in her own and slowly led him back to the market so she could collect her dropped things. Bruno didn't understand then but she meant what she said, wholeheartedly.

"Sleepover at Casita tonight?"

"Hell yeah!"

.

.

Katerina never really had enemies in the town. Sure, some of the younger children thought she was creepy and had come up with their own little ghost stories about her, but they never got out of hand. She had lived her life never really resenting anybody.

But when she locked eyes with her father, she felt nothing but pure hatred.

Martín Ruiz was her biological father, of course, but he never acted like it nor would he admit it. She was never allowed to call him Papá or even look at him (without permission). Her Mamá had known and even Julieta did, but what could they do? He was perfect to everyone outside his household.

Kat had been told by her mother to not make plans since she wanted to have a nice meal together before she got too old. Despite her very adamant protests, here she sat at the dinner table with both her parents for the first time in months. She had not spoken a single word since she walked into the house. Her rice would go uneaten, she had decided as soon as her mother sat the plate down in front of her.

"I hear you've become friends with Bruno?" Lupita asked her daughter with a smile. Katerina narrowed her eyes that stayed glued to the full plate. Slowly, she nodded her confirmation. This drew the attention of Martín.

"That freaky Madrigal boy?" he scoffed. Katerina clenched her fists as a fire burned within her.

"He's not a freak," she hissed under her breath. The table went silent and both her parents stilled.

"What did you say?" Martín furrowed his dark brows. Lupita turned to him with soft, pleading eyes. Don't...please.

"She didn't mean it, mi amor. She's just tired, right?" she argued quietly. "Why don't you run up to your room, Mija?"

"No," Martín demanded calmly. Katerina closed her baby blue eyes and held her breath, waiting for him to snap. "What did you say to me?" he growled.

"I said that Bruno's not a freak!" Katerina shouted, shooting up from her chair and slamming her hands on the table.

"Cariño, maybe you should just calm down—" "No, Mamá! You're always protecting him and I'm sick of it!"

"You're right," Martín sat his fork down with coolness and composure as stood up slowly. He towered above the nineteen-year-old girl, his form casting dark shadows around the poorly lit house.

"He's not as much of a freak as you are."

"Martín!" Lupita cried, grasping at her husband. Her attempts at saving her daughter were futile and all of them knew that.

"You use these hands of yours to paint, but what else have you done with them, Witch?!" Martín snarled while painfully wrapping his large hands around Katerina's small wrist. His grip was firm from years working as a ranch hand on the side.

"Stop it! You promised not to hurt her again!" Lupita sobbed, tears now leaking from her eyes. Her demand was met with a strong backhand that left her on the floor. Katerina's eyes widened and a gasp slipped from her throat. She ground her teeth together while struggling to release herself from her father's grasp.

"What did you do? Did you let him touch you? Did he put his grimy hands all over you?" he hoisted her up until her feet lifted off the ground. She kicked and clawed, cursed and scratched, but he just would not let go.

"Let go of me," she screamed before collecting the moisture in her mouth and spitting on his shoe. The shady man glared at her with unbridled anger and disgust.

His expression turned wicked as he pulled on her arm until a loud pop was heard. Katerina opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out, only the silent tears from her bloodshot eyes. She was thrown onto the floor, huffing and holding her dislocated shoulder. She could only cry as that demonio busted her lip open as well as left bruises and cuts scattered on her body. Where was her mother? Where were the neighbours? Where was anyone?

"B-Bruno," she whimpered unknowingly, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth.

"Go on and cry out for that piece of —"

The sound of pottery shattering filled the small home followed by a deathly silence. At first, Katerina thought it was all in her head, but when the beating stopped, she cracked one of her watery eyes open.

"Oh, mi cielo, lo siento. I never should have let him touch you. I'm so sorry, Mija. I'm so sorry…" Trembling arms wrapped around her form and did their best to hold her tightly. Lupita stroked her daughter's head and planted loving kisses on her hair until her cries quieted.

Kat stared at the eerily still body of Martín Ruiz, praying that he wouldn't get back up. The adrenaline rushing through her veins helped her think and keep her mind off the pain in her shoulder, "Mamá, we have to leave."

"Where should we go?" Lupita asked as she gingerly took her daughter into her arms and stood. When they stumbled out of the house and Katerina took one last look at the collapsed man behind her, she could only think of one place.

.

.

Alma was finishing up her duties around the house when a loud banging came from the front door. She poked her head into the kitchen just to make sure Pepa wasn't thundering or Julieta wasn't having a meltdown. When both sisters simply just stared at her with confused frowns, she turned towards the parlour.

With no warning, Casita threw its entrance open. The older woman gasped when her friend fell into the house with an unfamiliar girl in her arms.

"Lupita?" she dropped to her knees and gently shook the brunette. When she rolled her over, she noticed the smaller figure in her arms.

"Alma…I'm sorry, I – I didn't know where else to go," Lupita sniffled, quaking muscles yearning for sleep.

"Did you carry her all the way here?" Alma asked, staring at the teen who was maybe a year or two younger than her own children. The resemblance she held to Lupita immediately became clear. "Oh, Lupi, my dear, is this — "

"Kat!" Pepa cried, a vigorous snow cloud forming above her head. Julieta followed her out of the kitchen with a tray of cold leftovers she hastily snatched from the fridge.

"This is all my fault," Lupita wailed, clinging to Alma's dress. Neither of them cared about the snot that gathered on the fabric.

"Pepa, make sure Bruno doesn't see her," Julieta ordered, much to the confusion of her mother. Where did this child come from? Pepa nodded and whipped around so fast that a cold breeze and snowflakes scattered behind her.

Unbeknownst to them, Bruno hadn't been able to sleep well that night. Something kept eating away at his brain — a worry that he couldn't shake — until all he could do was stare at his ceiling. When a decent amount of time passed, he threw the covers off his body and began his walk of shame to the kitchen. Julieta had already cleaned up and done the dishes, so he figured the room would be empty.

Imagine his surprise when he found the kitchen lights on and the fridge left open but no one occupying it. His head turned towards the house's entryway when he heard muffled sobs followed by shushing. He was in no way prepared for what he would see.

The first thing he saw was his mother sitting on the floor then Lupita Ruiz crying into her dress. There was another form in her lap but he couldn't see.

"What's going on?" he called, eyebrows scrunched together.

Pepa was both thundering and snowing at the same time while Julieta shoved a cold slice of pie into the mouth of Tía Lupita. No one had answered him yet. He walked a bit closer and widened his eyes when his sisters tried to usher him back.

It was too late. He had already seen her.

Bruno pushed past his siblings and dropped down next to Katerina. She was out cold with her arms wrapped around her torso as if she'd fall apart without them. One of her eyes was starting to bruise and her shoulder seemed slightly out of place.

"Kat? Hey, wake up," he shook her lightly, but to no avail. He shook her harder. Nothing. Julieta handed him a cookie which he broke into a small piece with trembling hands. After watching her eat the cookie, he waited for her to wake up. Something wet dripped down his face in the moment of silence. He didn't even know he had been crying.

"You know this girl, Brunito?" Mamá Alma asked with a confused yet worried tone. Bruno just nodded. He was worried for Katerina, yes, but why had his family not come to get him? Why did they try to hide this from him?

"Bruno?"

Using his sleeve to wipe away tears, he smiled down at his best friend. Her head sat in his lap which meant that he could feel the tremor that raked through her body.

"Sí, sí, estoy aquí," his voice cracked. Katerina cracked open one of her hazy eyes; the usually bright blue irises glossy from tears.

"Bruno," she immediately jumped into his hold. She released her grasp on herself and clung to the familiar boy before her. He could tell the movement of her injured arm brought her immense pain but he didn't want to let her go just yet.

"Eat this, mi amor," he urged without thinking through his words. No one seemed to notice as he coerced the other half of the cookie into her mouth with no argument. She whimpered while she chewed, her wounds slowly healing. It was a strange sensation when her shoulder snapped back into place. The Madrigal's winced when the loud pop rang through Casita. Bruno felt like throwing up.

"Kind of pathetic, huh?" Kat's half-lidded eyes were growing heavy again.

"What?" Bruno asked with brows creased in concern. His best and maybe only friend dug her head into his chest and nuzzled it with her face. It's warm, she decided.

"I'm an adult and I'm still being knocked around like this…" Her lip trembled and she bit it hard. Bruno frowned, knowing she was dead wrong.

"No matter what age you are, it's still not right," he scooped her up then got to his feet.

"Pepa, Julieta, help me take Lupi to the guest room. Bruno — "

"I got her."

Alma's words got caught in her throat at the fierce look given to her by her son. Her eyes danced between him and Kat. Bruno looked all grown up, resembling his Papá even more with that determined and protective stare. She nodded sharply and then began tending to Lupita.

Bruno took Katerina to his room and placed her in his bed. The rats came to see what had happened and ended up being therapy animals for the shaking girl.

He didn't leave the room for the rest of the night or the day after, much to Kat's chagrin. She scolded him when she had enough energy to but he argued that she was still gaining her strength back. It was more of emotional healing than physical but he didn't mind caring for her. When she would cry, he was there to hold her and comfort her. It sounds bad but he wished it could be that way all the time.

Alma had been brought up to speed about Bruno and Kat's friendship. She seemed happy but asked far too many questions for Lupita's liking. No one was good enough for her Brunito, after all. However, the look in his eyes when he held the broken girl made her wonder if maybe she had some potential for friendship.

Katerina's father hadn't left his house for a few days, either. Most of the town's people still had no clue what transpired and Kat doubted that would change. Alma didn't want to make a prize bachelor of her town out to be a monster who nearly killed the daughter no one knew he had. Whatever sense that was supposed to make flew right over Kat's head.

In the months following the incident, Katerina and Lupita took shelter within Casita. The two women were adapting in different ways.

Lupita was enjoying life away from her husband. She had yet to tell anyone in town what had happened — per Alma's request. She was popular enough in town to have her week-long absence be noticed by many of the inhabitants of Encanto. No one was given a true answer on what transpired, of course, but she would happily stroll through town knowing a burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

Katerina was a…different…case. She was hiding in Bruno's tower for most hours of the day, even if her curly-haired friend wasn't present. She would only come out to talk with her mother or to grab a quick snack, then she'd return to her cave. The townspeople were made aware of her relationship to the Ruiz's but other than a few questions, no one had said anything. She was, as Fèlix once put it, a ghost.

Despite the events of the past few months, Alma arranged for a meeting between Katerina, Martín, and Lupita (with her as the mediator) to set a punishment they thought to be appropriate and talk about property. When Bruno found out, he was…less than thrilled.

"You cannot be serious," he grumbled in disbelief. Kat scoffed as she threw on one of his old ponchos. After spending so long together, neither of them was phased by little things like her stealing his clothes every once in a while.

"I'm just going to make sure that pendejo gets what he deserves. With the help of Alma, of course," she sighed, throwing her hair into a high ponytail that failed to tame her curls. Bruno gave her an "are you crazy?" look.

"If you think I'm going to let you go then you're — "

"I'm what, Bruno?" Kat snapped with that same snappy undertone she loved to use when agitated. The room fell silent as the two stared into one another's eyes with a tenacious fire. Emerald fought diamond and vice versa.

Bruno took a deep breath and raked his hands through his hair, "You're impossible." He wrapped his arms around his shorter friend and embraced her. He found it was the easiest way to calm her down and it gave him time to take in her earthy scent. When they parted, he cupped her face in his hands, slightly squishing it. "You're also important to me. I'm not going to let you go there by yourself."

"I thought I was supposed to be protecting you?" Kat giggled and booped his nose in hopes of erasing the tense mood she made. Bruno felt heat rise into his cheeks as he removed his hands from her face and rested them on her shoulders.

"But that being said — uh — I will definitely be coming with you," he chuckled awkwardly. Katerina sighed as she turned towards the entrance of Bruno's room. A hefty exhale ghosted her lips as her brows furrowed.

"I guess we should get this over with…"

.

.

She hated it. She hated it so much.

Sitting in front of that demon made her blood boil. He hadn't taken his eyes off her and she felt like ripping them right out of their sockets. She'd take her own eyes out if she could. God had forsaken her with those same crystalline orbs as him.

"Señor Ruiz — " "Please, Alma, call me Martín," his eyes finally left the young woman. He smiled kindly, earning a scoff from Katerina.

"Drop the act," she snarled. Bruno grabbed one of her hands under the table and gave it a light squeeze, calming her a little.

"It's no act, mi amor. The only thing I'm guilty of is not claiming you as my own," Martín spoke with a falsified caring tone. Lupita stared down at her lap while her breath turned shaky.

"We're here to keep things civil, Martín. We'd appreciate it if you'd tell the truth," Alma calmly folded her hands over the Ruiz's dinner table.

"We're here to make a deal," Lupita finally looked up at her husband. They locked eyes for a second. Alma noticed the momentary flicker of resentment in the baby blues.

"Alright then," Martín's smile persisted. "Let's deal, Lupi."

"You stay away from Lupita and her daughter. In return, no one has to know what you've done," Alma explained sourly.

"Why should I give up what I love?" Martín leaned forward slightly, reaching his hands out to his daughter and wife. His large frame coming closer made Kat's muscles tense up and her eye twitched in annoyance.

"What you love? Are you kidding me?! Does this look like love to you?!" She stood up so fast her chair fell over behind her. The livid young woman lifted up her poncho and loose shirt to reveal the bruises on her stomach and back. Her arms and face had already healed thanks to Julieta but these were taking much longer.

Martín simply stared at her with indifferent eyes. Those cursed orbs flickered down to her hand when she sat down. The hand that Bruno was placing under his own. This action put a disgusted frown on the older gent's face like he had been triggered.

"I didn't do anything that wasn't deserved, Witch," he spat, dropping his ruse. Bruno snapped his gaze onto him with absolutely furious eyes. Alma's scowl deepened as Lupita whimpered and grasped her arm with one desperate hand. She was scared.

"Kat, sit down," Bruno whispered to his pal as he coaxed her back into her chair. Martín scoffed.

"Trained her well, have you?" he barked, dark brows furrowed with fury.

The room fell dangerously silent at that. Katerina's eyes widened and a shuddering breath slipped out of her throat. Bruno's jaw hung open then closed repeatedly as if he was thinking of something to say.

Lupita was the one to act this time. She stood up and slapped her husband, shocking nearly everyone in the small house. She had been so quiet until now.

"Bruno is Katerina's first true friend, thanks to you not allowing her to socialize. He cares about her and you are trying to turn that into some evil sin!" the once mousy woman shouted.

"It seems I haven't taught mine well enough," Martín smiled. That demon had the audacity to smile while taking jabs at his own family. He turned his gaze to Bruno, "What did you do to that one? In what filthy ways did you put your wicked hands upon what you've claimed as yours?"

He couldn't do it anymore. This high-and-mighty preacher talk was the end of the line for him. Although, he couldn't help but think about the "claimed as yours" part of his rant. She was his, was she not? No. He wasn't going to rationalize these incessant ramblings.

Bruno snapped open his leafy-green eyes that began to glow as a breeze blew through the house. Even though no windows or doors had been opened, dust and leaves tracked through the door were swept around.

Kat watched, partially intimidated and partially amused. She had heard about his power of clairvoyance but never saw it in action. It was scary, yes, but also beautiful to her. The way his eyes glowed with animosity…

"You will die hated and unloved," Bruno snapped, images flashing through the reflection of his eyes.

"I think you should control your boy, Alma. Wouldn't want any accidents to happen because of that short temper," Martín's cocky smirk returned. Kat's demeanour shifted in a fraction of a second. Bruno watched her visibly tense at the suggestion.

He was quick to stand up and follow her out the door, carefully watching Martín in case he decided to make a move. Without another word, the two of them left the house that was no longer a home.

"Bruno, I'm so sorry," Kat folded her arms over her chest uncomfortably once they were outside. Her sniffles and trembling shoulders made Bruno frown. "I know you're not like that, but he...he's just so stubborn and angry and – and — "

"Shh," he stroked her hair gently as she buried her face in his chest, "I know, I know. It's okay. He's just trying to get to you. You have nothing to be sorry about."

"You didn't have to come. You didn't have to see that," she clenched a fistful of his faded green poncho.

"But I did. I know how horrible he treats you and Mamá does too. He'll get what's coming to him," he assured her. He paused for one thoughtful moment, "I didn't...I didn't scare you did I?"

"No, I actually thought you looked kind of cool, all glowed up," Kat looked up at him with her puffy, bloodshot eyes and an appreciative smile.

"I think he was caught off guard, though," Bruno chuckled, remembering how Martín flinched when he had shot to his feet. Katerina bit her lip to keep herself from laughing but failed. Bruno allowed the sound to invade every inch of his mind. That is until his psyche wanders back to something the monster had said.

He hadn't claimed her, not in the way Martín was suggesting (his cheeks flushed at the brief thought), but she was his wasn't she? They had been through so much together, it just felt natural to call her his own. What made him feel that way? He had no clue.

"I...I love you, ya'know," he mumbled, slipping his hand into hers as they made their way through the town. Kat cackled and used her free arm to throw a playful punch his way.

"I love you, too. You're my best friend, dummy," she hummed, oblivious to the sincerity of his confession. Bruno knew this was horrible timing and decided she wouldn't know his true feelings just yet. He'd just ride out the best friend wave for as long as he can. She'd understand in due time or he'd be driven crazy.

Until then, he'd wait for her in the dark abyss that was the friend zone.