Chapter 4: A Blessing and A Curse
Dolores and Mirabel climbed the stairs slowly in silence before at last they reached the picture and Mirabel spoke, "are you happier?"
Dolores met Mirabel's eyes, pain and conflict radiating from her, "that is the first time since the ceremony that someone has asked me that. Since that moment, I have only been used to relay messages to others. A tool for the village. An emblem for grandmother."
She paused for a long moment, eyes downward, "if you use your power. We may no longer be the Madrigals, but we would be people again."
"Then I will not tell Abuela."
The relief that washed over Dolores's face was killed in an instant as a voice asked, "not tell me what?"
The painting swung outward to reveal Abuela standing there with Antonio.
"See? I told you the rats told me that Mirabel was talking to Uncle Bruno in the walls. Abuela! She even has a Gift!"
Mirabel's heart sank.
Abuela stiffened, "is that so? Thank you, Antonio. It is past your bedtime though. Run along and we will make your favorite for breakfast tomorrow. I need to talk to Mirabel about her Gift."
Antonio nodded and ran off with his animal companions, disappearing quickly into the shadowed halls.
"So, you talked with Bruno in the walls, did you. Took Mirabel to see him, Dolores?"
Dolores squeaked more than spoke a reply, but Abuela wasn't listening. Her hard stare was focused entirely on Mirabel, "and you have a Gift. That is wonderful. You are properly a Madrigal at last. What is it, child? What have you brought the family?"
"Please try to understand Abuela. It will be hard at first. But my Gift is going to help us. If you let me."
"I will not ask again."
Mirabel gulped, Dolores shook her head ever so slightly before stiffening under Abuela's gaze, "I dampen the magic from the candle."
"I knew it. And you were going to keep it a secret. From the beginning you have been nothing but jealous of the family. And now you were going to steal their Gifts? Our strength? First at the ceremony and now, you have sought to undermine us at every turn."
Rage coursed through Mirabel, "undermine you? I was a kid! I needed you! I was scared and confused, and you stood there. You turned on me, and left me alone! Jealous? You put your own son in a cage and left him to rot. And if you have heard what your other children have to say, they haven't fared any better."
"They are blessed!"
"They are cursed. The candle has been a burden to them!"
Abuela sent her sprawling with a back hand, "how dare you speak of Pedro's sacrifice like that."
Mirabel hit the floor, the smell and taste of blood filled her senses. The tension that she felt the other day leapt to the surface and burst as anger turned everything red. She sprang to her feet, wheeling on her grandmother, only to hear the sound of sundering stone roar around her.
Cracks erupted from beneath her, tearing through the house. Throughout the house, cries of alarm filled the air. Her family streamed into the courtyard as her Abuela looked at her in horror and disgust.
"Stop this right now!"
But Mirabel couldn't hear her over the rush of blood in her ears and the beat of her own heart.
"I said stop it!"
The cracks grew wider, the house groaned.
"The candle!" Someone cried.
Above in its perch, the candle was sputtering as it teetered on the edge of its alcove.
"I've got it," Isabella said, as vines grew around her and raised her gracefully into the air. With ease she plucked the candle up and began to descend back to where her family was waiting with growing alarm.
As she passed over Mirabel, disaster struck. Mirabel felt another surge and the resistance against her getting weaker. More cracks sprang into existence, and suddenly the vines carrying Isabel withered and decayed, dropping her.
Luisa sprang into action, launching herself across the courtyard, and snatching Isabel from the air, to bring her down safely. The roar deepened, and with a loud snap, the foundations of the tower above gave way. Everyone fled. Everyone, except Luisa.
"No!" The words died on Mirabel's lips as she tried to warn Luisa over the noise. Time seemed to slow down as Luisa rached her strong arms up to hold the tower in place and give everyone a chance to escape. And for a moment, she held. For a moment, the house stood on her shoulders. And then time resumed.
Chips of rock cut Mirabel's face and arms as the tower disintegrated in front of her and dust choked her lungs. She raced into the cloud, hacking and crying as she scrambled to reach the base of the tower. Her family watched on, too stunned to move, before her mother screamed and ran forward to join her.
Together they clawed at the rubble. Their bloodied hands numbing as they tore at the unyielding stone. Until at last, they stared at a silent face.
"No!" Her mother collapsed, pulling bits of food from her pocket and trying to stuff it into unfeeling lips. "Please eat. Eat damn you. Eat!"
Mirabel stumbled away. Her sister's unseeing eyes burned into her mind's eye. Out of the corner of her vision, her grandmother was gesturing wildly at her. But she didn't look. Her father raced by her. She didn't turn. Pepa called for rain to wash away the dust. The stars didn't blink. And all she heard as she walked was her mother, begging her child to eat. And around her, the flowers wilted, and decayed.