REWRITTEN 7-11-2022
Hello! This is the second time I've rewritten this chapter, and it will be the last time XD i will hopefully have all five chapters re-uploaded tonight.
Thank you for your patience, I hope it lives up to the wait.
~Star
"Camilo! Come look at this!"
Camilo wiped the sweat from his brow and shielded his eyes from the sun, squinting a glare at it. On the precipice of his nineteenth birthday, the Madrigal barely changed in the three years since his family got their magic back. Now six inches taller, his baby face disappeared into a more masculine lean physique which he proudly displayed alongside longer curls and some newfound chin scruff. However, he still favored the yellow ruana his mamá made him paired with white button up shirts. The very same ruana which was resting beside him on a fairly clean rock, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows in the afternoon heat. Instead of his usual sandals, however, he wore brown work boots for the trek into the jungle.
"Camilo!"
"Yeah, I heard you the first time, Alejo!" Camilo yelled back before standing with a stretch. They had finished their lunches before him and had wandered off, too impatient to wait for him to polish off his larger portion. Stuffing the last of his lunch into his mouth, Camilo packed the containers into his pack and slung it over his shoulders before he headed over to the two young men he was with.
The taller one, Alejandro 'Alejo' Moreno, was a few inches taller than Camilo and lanky. His rich dark skin rivaled that of Félix while sporting a short black afro-like cut with curls tighter than Camilo's ringlets. He had a square jaw, with more facial hair along his jawline, a wide nose, and light brown eyes. Dressed in a faded red guayabera with an orange line running down along each side, tan slacks and black working boots, Alejo was the only one of the three dressed for the heat. He was standing nearby and looking at another boy as he shook his head in amused exasperation.
The third member was the shortest of the trio, standing at five-foot-eight. His skin was fair, like Pepa's, and his short wavy blonde hair fell over his eyes just a little bit. He brushed it back in annoyance as he stood, waving Camilo over. Just like the shapeshifter, he favored ruanas. His own brown ruana was wrapped around his waist, leaving him in a short-sleeved gray button down and black slacks. His frame was a bit more filled out than the other two, but still held the lanky quality of teenage youth.
"You missed it, torpe!" The blonde exclaimed, his light blue eyes bright in excitement. His nose was angular with a prominent hook on its ridge, and his jaw weaker, slimming down to a pointed chin free of scruff. There was a hint of a mustache, however, along his upper lip. "There was this little yellow frog that Toñito would have loved! I tried to catch it, but it got away."
"That's good, Juanse." Camilo grinned as he finally reached the two of them. "That little frog is poisonous enough to kill you ten times over." Juanse Gonzalez's eyes got comically wide, and Camilo laughed. "I told you me and Antonio have been Outside before. He asked them to hop away if they see people."
"I don't know if you're lucky, or stupid." Alejo teased as he lightly smacked the back of Juanse's head.
"Both," the blonde said with a sheepish smile, rubbing where Alejo had hit him. "Definitely both."
"Rule of thumb, if it's pretty and colorful, it's likely deadly." Camilo said as he looked around them. They were currently Outside, exploring the bit of land beyond the Encanto on their side of the river. They had done it many times before, as did many youths in the village—especially after it was discovered that those who meant harm couldn't see beyond the river. As long as they stayed on their side of the river, they were safe.
"That would have been good to know earlier." Juanse groused petulantly.
Camilo stuck his tongue out at him and reached for his canteen. He frowned at its emptiness and then sighed. "It's so hot out today."
"Yeah, why's that?" Juanse asked before he took a swig from his own canteen. Camilo gazed at it enviously.
"Mariano proposed last night at dinner, and Mamí's very happy." Camilo grinned, genuinely happy for his hermana. "Nothing but sunshine and rainbows for the next few days."
"That's why it's blazing out here?" Alejo fanned himself.
Camilo nodded. "I'm happy for mi hermana, pero I wish she had told our parents at dinner, today."
Juanse cast a teasing look at Camilo. "Tell me when you're gonna propose to Señorita María—that way I know to stay indoors!"
Blood rushed to Camilo's face in an intense blush, and he glared at his snickering friends. "No te digo nada so you can suffer!" He huffed, then lifted up the empty canteen as he turned towards the river. "I'll be back. Try not to touch any more colorful animals while I'm gone!"
"¡Cállate, pendejo!"
Camilo snickered as he walked away, the sound of running water getting louder the further he walked. When he reached the river, a sense of awe and wonder filled him, as it always did.
El Caño Cristales was once again in bloom, the red and yellow water weeds swaying gently with the trickling flow of the current. The sunlight reflected brilliantly off the surface of the water, creating a living artwork that was simultaneously breathtaking as it was soothing.
Crouching down to dip his canteen into the gentle current, the water was cool against his fingers. His mind drifted to his novia, María Rivera, and his cheeks flushed again as he frowned petulantly. 'Stupid Juanse and his stupid jokes. We've only been courting for a year. Lolo and Mariano were courting for three years before he proposed.' His frown became thoughtful. 'Tío Bruno proposed to Tía Marlena after only a few months, though…' He bit his lip in thought, mulling the decision over in his mind before he shook his head. 'Later. You can decide this later.'
In an effort to rid his mind of impending life-changing decisions, Camilo allowed it to wander over the past few years. It became a sort of ritual for him every time he visited the river—a reminder of how far they had come together as a family. Everything had started here; their Miracle and their healing.
'Wait…isn't it three years today since Tío Bruno came home?' Camilo mused as he capped the now full canteen. He wiped his now colder fingers against the back of his neck and sighed. Dipping his hand back into the water, he splashed his face. 'Much better.' Wiping his face on his ruana, his eyes focused on nothing as he zoned out in thought.
In the three years since they got their magic back, many things had changed for the Madrigals. The main thing was the emphasis on 'family', as well as the 'individual', and learning how both were equally important. One could not take care of the family without taking care of the individual members in it. Then there was the fact that they were now encouraged to say "no"; they didn't have to work so hard for the Encanto anymore and no one could force them if they didn't want to. When Abuela had first brought it up to the family, they had been nervous and apprehensive about it, especially Luisa. However, Alma had assured them that it was okay to finally put themselves first.
How can we take care of the Encanto if we do not take care of ourselves?
That question had driven the point home, and they had made an effort since then. It might have been uncomfortable at first, but in Camilo's experience, that was because they hadn't known any better.
They still had their bad days.
Luisa struggled with relaxing, even after three years of reassurance that it was okay to take time for herself. Isabela tended to compensate for being so aloof and condescending by becoming super protective of the whole familia; her temper now as legendary as his mamá's and satisfying to watch when it wasn't aimed at him. Mirabel still struggled with feeling like a part of the family, even after everything she had done—after how much they'd shown they loved and accepted her. Tío Bruno had severe anxiety around crowds now, and was prone to panic attacks given certain situations. Someone was always with him if he felt like going out—usually his wife, Marlena, or Mirabel—and the walks he took with Abuela seemed to help a bit in readjusting to life outside the walls. Tía Julieta had to constantly be reminded to leave the kitchen and let others take turns cooking, Tío Agustín usually being the one to force her out of the kitchen. Abuela was really trying to move forward with all of them, she had even talked with them one-on-one, and what an experience that had been. However, she did slip back into her old ways as a reflex to difficult situations, and the guilt would be so great, Camilo often worried if one day they'd never be able to bring her back from below the surface. And his mamá—his mamá broke his heart the most. The newfound freedom she felt in experiencing her emotions to the fullest brought her joy most days, but it also brought new anxieties with that joy. His papá was still amazing at calming her down, but so were Camilo, Dolores, and Toñito. Dolores was learning that she could speak her mind and not just listen; that her opinions were appreciated and sought after. It was something she was still accepting after only being asked what other people had said. Antonio, thankfully, never had to truly deal with the pressure that came with their name. Instead, he became their little cheerleader of sorts, encouraging them and comforting them on their bad days.
A little smile curled Camilo's lips at the thought. 'Antonio is too good for this world.'
His papá and Tío Agustín seemed happier as well. Seeing their loved ones being treated properly and no longer living under a controlling hand could do wonders to a person's quality of life. The friction that had been grinding their relationship with Alma was fading more and more every day, and it began to thrive like never before. It was nowhere near being repaired, but they were all trying, and it showed in easy smiles and the absence of tension.
For Camilo, he had issues with himself and his self-worth; something his parents had done their best to help with before Casita's fall. He also had issues with eating enough some days, having only recently admitted to his family that he needed to eat more than others because of his Gift. It had resulted in some hard talks between him and his parents—a combination of their apologies and reprimanding him for starving himself—but the continued support from not just his parents and siblings, but from his whole familia, really helped him push through each hard day.
They made Camilo feel like he was enough.
"Juanse! What—urk!"
Camilo's head turned sharply in the direction of Alejandro's distant shout, his heart pounding. Slowly, he attached his canteen to his hip and cautiously rose to his full height. His expression was tense and his brow furrowed as he glanced around and listened.
"—ilo…!"
Camilo quickly took out the knife his papá had given him 'just in case' and slowly made his way back towards his friends. His senses were hyper focused as he tried to listen for any sign of Alejo or Juanse. All he heard were the sounds of the jungle.
"Juanse?" Camilo tentatively called, every instinct in him screaming to remain quiet, but an even larger sense of duty pushing him to make sure they were okay. "Alejo?" When he still heard nothing, he ventured further to where he'd left them. With still no trace of them, Camilo's chest began to tighten with panic and he fought to keep his breathing even.
'Lo juro por Dios,' Camilo thought, slowly making his way through a thick bush, 'if these idiots are pla—' A sharp gasp left him when he rounded a tree and came upon an alarming sight.
Both Juanse and Alejo lay unconscious on the damp ground.
Camilo shook his head once, eyes darting around. 'Did someone do this?!' He gripped his knife tighter as he rushed to them. Placing a hand on Alejo, he turned his friend onto his side and found him completely knocked out. He opened his mouth to speak, but paused as something sweet and alluring tickled his nose. His eyes fell closed against his will and he breathed in deeply.
The scent was sweet, very sweet, and his mouth inexplicably watered. Camilo swallowed reflexively, his eyes fluttering open as he shook his head to try to clear the sudden fog settling over it.
'This…something's wrong.'
Even as the thought occurred to him, Camilo searched for the source of the scent as if in a trance. In his stupor, he dropped his knife and it lay forgotten on the jungle floor as he was pulled towards a plant he'd never seen before.
It was a tall plant that grew in clusters of three to four stalks with thin and narrow leaves. The beautiful delicate-looking violet blossoms were bell-shaped like elongated orchids. Camilo stared at the plants, breathing in the scent of them, and his stomach suddenly cramped in hunger.
'I…need to eat. I'm….'
A sharp burst of warmth in his chest had Camilo gasping for air as if he'd just breached the surface. Wide-eyed, he looked around frantically, only to scramble away from the plant he suddenly found himself inches away from.
"Magic."Camilo whispered, finally able to put a name to the feeling pulling him towards the plant. 'This is magic!' He tried to get up, to crawl away, anything—but body felt rooted in place. With each breath he took, the fog came back. It was slower this time as he tried to fight it; like a sludge slithering over every limb and taking control of them. Glancing at Juanse and Alejandro, he noticed bits of plant around their mouths he hadn't noticed before and shook his head.
'I can't eat that!' Camilo desperately thought, even as his body dragged itself back to the plant. It was a horrifying feeling as his limbs moved without his permission. The draw from the plant was no longer disguised by the sweet scent of the flowers, and the darkness tainting it caused goosebumps to break out across his skin.
"Don't." He managed through gritted teeth, but his hands were already pulling the plants toward his mouth. Panting harshly through his nose, he shook his head, the warmth in his chest grounding him. Even as his mouth forced itself open before biting down around a section of the plant, Camilo resisted. He tried to lock his jaw, saliva pooling in his mouth and seeping past his lips as he tried to keep his tongue away from the mouthful of vegetation. He squeezed his eyes shut when his stomach cramped with hunger again.
Camilo was used to feeling hungry, but this was different. It gnawed at his insides, ripping a hole inside him and leaving him hollow and insatiable. It brought tears to his eyes and he swallowed reflexively, a chilling shiver shaking his frame as the warmth in his chest began to fade.
A bitter, disgusting flavor clung to his tongue as he swallowed again. Instead of spitting the plant out of his mouth, Camilo began to chew. It was slow, methodical, and the more he ate, the more the tension left his shoulders. His eyes opened a little, his glazed hazel eyes seeing nothing as he continued to eat.
The pain started after the second mouthful and it stole his voice. It started from his stomach and quickly spread to his limbs, leaving him gasping and paralyzed by agony as he fell onto his side. Seconds later he lost consciousness.
~o.8.o~
Pepa stood by Casita's entrance, her teeth nervously gnawing on her knuckle as she looked for any sign of Camilo. It was nearly dinner time, and he had yet to return home.
'Where is he?' Pepa fretted, trying to monitor her breathing. The clouds were already dark with her worry. 'Did he take enough snacks with him? I don't want him to starve himself again.' She and Félix had been understandably upset when they had found out Camilo needed to eat more than the rest of them, especially Félix. Had they known sooner, they would have made sure he'd gotten enough food from the very beginning—and Félix would not have kept him from eating more, or reprimanded him for sneaking seconds.
'There's a lot of things we need to make up for.' Guilt momentarily clouded her thoughts.
Pepa loved her family.
Even when it had been falling apart at the seams—when it had been hard to be in the same room as her mamá; when she had needed to pretend to be angry at the mention of her brother's name to mask the pain of her heart being torn in two every time she thought of him; even when she was forced to play her emotions to the whims of those around her; even when it was easier to blame her sobrina than admit her lack of control—something she didn't think she could ever make up for, no matter what Mirabel told her—Pepa Madrigal loved her familia.
What she did not love were the constant near heart attacks her eldest niño gave her. She knew it from the moment he could walk, Camilo would be the loving bane of her existence. He was the worst combination of her and Félix—loud, boisterous, kind, fearless, mischievous—oh, he could be sweet and serious when the situation called for it, but only when it called for it. Outside of that very small criteria, her little camaleón was a menace.
Her precious menace.
He scared her half to death the majority of the time with his little hiding games, pranks, and daring stunts. When he broke his leg at age nine, smiling through the tears so she wouldn't be upset until his tía got him some food, Pepa had wanted to keep him locked up in his room for the rest of his life so he'd always be safe.
The thought had reminded her so much of her madre that it had made Pepa sick, and vow to never be like her mamá. She would watch over him, but she wouldn't suffocate him—wouldn't hold on too tight.
She remained calm when Camilo didn't return to Casita for lunch; he had packed enough food for himself and his amigos. They regularly explored the Outside, something they liked to do for "manly bonding time", as Félix loved to call it. Camilo often took Toñito with him, so she knew he was safe. As long as they stayed on their side of the river, they would be fine. It was a Sunday, their rest day as a family, so to keep herself distracted, Pepa had spent the majority of her time with Dolores and Antonio as they tried to determine where the best spot would be to view the full moon that night. It was one of the few nights the youngest Madrigal got to stay up late as the moon was his latest fixation. Her lips curled at the thought, a smile breaking through her worry. 'Toñito's little fixations are always adorable.'
"Pepa?"
Pepa turned at her name, and there stood someone who had slowly become a second sister to her.
Marlena Madrigal stood a few feet away. A year or so younger than the triplets, her skin was as fair as Pepa's, with wavy platinum blonde hair pulled back into a loose bun, and silver gray eyes filled with concern. Dressed in a modest sage dress, she looked right at home in Casita.
"I'm sure he's fine." Marlena soothed as she came to stand beside Pepa, the both of them now looking out towards the Encanto. "My girls, especially Gloria, were very forgetful at that age. I used to be so furious with them, I was so worried." A fond smile graced her lips, and it brought a sense of calm to Pepa. Marlena then glanced at the redhead, and her smile became softer. "I—I'm sure they just lost track of the time."
Pepa glanced down and smiled. She reached for Marlena's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Gracias, Marlena. I really appreciate it." She sighed before meeting her gaze. "Mi hermanito is lucky to have you."
Marlena blushed, and squeezed Pepa's hand in turn. She suddenly averted her gaze. "No, I— After everything I've done, I'm the one lucky to have him—that all of you are so willing to accept me."
Pepa took Marlena's other hand, her expression firm and earnest. "Lena, escúchame—Juli and I are so happy for you and Bruno. W-when he came back, we kinda became protective of him. Finding out he was courting you the way we did was just a shock. Especially considering your family's…history with him."
When Bruno had been caught by Agustín kissing Marlena Rojas a year ago, it had shocked Pepa and Julieta more than it did anyone else. In their youth, Marlena had been one of the top people in the village who hated their brother, right along with her parents and ex husband. It started when the triplets were twelve after a vision predicted the death of her twin brother and Bruno's friend at the time, Hernando Diminuto. After he died, nothing but hate and spite for the soothsayer—spurned on by her parents—filled Marlena.
"I thought you would hurt him," Pepa admitted softly, "pero, you've proven time and again that you truly love my brother, and that's all that really matters." After he came out of hiding, her hatred had seemed to fade and Marlena had even apologized to Bruno. Pepa and Julieta had been skeptical, especially since Marlena had asked for a vision right after their talk. However, after the vision helped her divorce her unfaithful husband—and a near-death experience for the both of them thanks to a cart of boulders and an involuntary vision—Marlena had shown with her actions that her words had been genuine as she nurtured the new friendship between her and Bruno. That friendship eventually developed into a romance that caught everyone by surprise, especially the two involved. She grinned. "He adores you."
Marlena chuckled and waved her off in embarrassment. "Yes, he tells me every day. It's…it's different." Her cheeks reddened further and her eyes wandered to the thin gold band around her left ring finger. They had only been married for a few months, but it was the happiest she'd ever been outside the birth of her twins. She shook her head. "Oo, you distracted me!"
Pepa laughed. "I think we distracted each other." She then pulled the blonde into a tight hug. "Gracias. I'm sure you're right. Milo probably forgot the time." She ended the hug and held her at arms' length. "Will Gloria and Gabriela be joining us for dinner tonight? Mariano will be here, too." The clouds lightened a little at the mention of the sweet young man. "I can't believe we're going to have another Madrigal Wedding soon!"
Marlena grinned. "Me too—"
"I can't hear Camilo."
Dolores' sudden announcement silenced any further conversation as the entire family turned to the young woman. Sleep still lingered in her voice after her nap, but her eyes were wide and slightly panicked. She had a white-knuckled grip on the railing.
"I can hear his heartbeat," Dolores clarified, "but it's fast, and he's not talking. N-none of them are." Her eyes glazed as she focused far away from Casita.
"Where is he?" Félix as he and Bruno marched out of the kitchen; it had been their turn to cook that day.
"I—" Dolores cut off, head tilting to the side. "He's awake! Something happened. A—a weird plant? No sé—were they sleeping? He's waking up his amigos."
"Let's go." Isabela said as she stood up from her spot with Mirabel and Luisa. They had been playing a game of dominos that had been instantly forgotten. "If plants are involved, it won't affect me."
"No one else." Alma agreed, and held up a hand when Pepa and Julieta protested. "We don't know what's going on. Dolores and Isabela can get them home safely without risking anyone else." She let some of the worry reach her eyes. "I am just as worried about Camilo and his friends as you are, mijas, but we cannot help them if we are affected by whatever is affecting them." She looked at the rest of her family, noting their upset faces. However, one argued against her sound judgement. Alma turned to Isabela and Dolores. "Bring them back to Casita, but be careful, por favor." The last words came out in a whisper, her mask breaking further.
Isabela and Dolores nodded resolutely before running out of Casita.
Félix hugged Pepa as they watched another of their children rush into possible danger and prayed they would be alright.
~o.8.o~
It was the sudden burst of intense warmth in his chest that ultimately brought Camilo into consciousness. He jerked awake, his hand moving painfully slow to rub at his chest, just to the right of his heart. His Gift fluttered and his lips curled into a lazy smile before he frowned in confusion.
'What…happened?'
Squinting his eyes open, Camilo groaned at the pounding headache that assaulted him when the dimming sunlight reached his eyes. Squeezing them shut, he tried to roll onto his stomach and barely managed to without struggling immensely. There was no pain except for his raging headache, but his limbs were weak and uncoordinated. He was panting and covered in sweat by the time he managed to get himself into a sitting position. As he caught his breath, hazy eyes looked around and landed on the still-unconscious forms of Juanse and Alejo.
Slowly, the cloudy memories returned to Camilo and his breathing sped up. He quickly wiped at his mouth and felt sticky residue. Pulling his hand back, a blueish-purple and green substance clung to it, along with the piece of a partially eaten leaf. The smell hit him then; sweet, exotic, intoxicating. It no longer pulled at him or filled him with an insatiable hunger, but the dark magic was palpable and it made him sick.
'I-I ate tha—'
Camilo gagged, angling his torso to the side as he spat. He swallowed thickly, but the bitter taste lingered. Tears sprung to his eyes as he gagged again, this time by his own doing as he tried to force himself to throw up to no avail. All it did was worsen his headache and make him spit. He choked on a sob, his hands shaking against the damp earth beneath him. His heart pounded in his ears and the world seemed to tilt a little too much. He spent a few moments trying to calm his breathing, his mind working through the fog. Glancing at his friends again, Camilo made a decision.
"Dolores…Lolo," Camilo began as he dragged himself over to Alejandro, still too weak to stand, "I'm okay. Something—something happened, pero, I'm okay…I think. For now? I don't…," he took a deep, broken breath to calm himself, before he tried to shake Alejandro awake. "Alejo, get up." He slapped the teen's cheek before brown eyes fluttered open.
"Ow…wha?" Alejandro rubbed at his eyes, then groaned at his throbbing head. "¡Mierda! What happened?"
Camilo's jaw worked for a moment before he could speak. "I think we ate something we shouldn't have…." He turned to look at the half-eaten plants and glared at them. "I'm going to pack some so Isa can take a look at them, then burn the rest. I don't…," he shook his head only to groan at the sudden pain. He pressed the heel of his palms against his temple and took deep breaths. "Can you wake up Juanse? Dolores has probably told the rest of my family and someone is likely on their way. I don't want these things around when they get here."
"Okay." Alejandro muttered before beginning the task of waking up their amigo.
Camilo refocused on the plants, and started uprooting a few of the uneaten ones and putting them into his bag. He continued to whisper to Dolores. "I'm bringing some plants back to Casita. They're dangerous…I ate it. I—I couldn't stop." He choked back a sob, hands tightening around a stalk. "I didn't want— It made me eat it. I— It's magic, but not like ours—it's evil." Bag full, he hugged it to his chest and whispered, "I'm scared, Lolo."
In the fifteen minutes it took them to be found, Camilo had managed to toss the rest of the plants into a small pile and set them aflame with the small lighter he had bought for camping. Whatever magic was tied to this plant was sinister. 'Have to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else…' The plants were reduced to ash by the time Dolores and Isabela appeared out of the bush, frantic and out of breath.
"Lolo?" Slurred Camilo from his spot on the ground, curled on his side. His eyes were lidded and he lacked the strength to sit, his arms wrapped around his pack. Juanse had fallen unconscious again and Alejo was just as dazed.
Dolores gasped when she finally saw them, only to cough at the heavy scent in the air. It smelt of smoke and incense, and she shook her head to clear her suddenly muddled thoughts. "What…?" She steadied herself against a nearby tree with one hand, the other settling over her abdomen.
"Dolores?" Isabela patted her prima on the back, confused at her sudden odd behavior. The air was filled with the scent of smoke, but that was all—it wasn't enough to affect their breathing. "Whoa!" She exclaimed when Dolores started drooling profusely.
"L-lo siento." Dolores managed to gurgle, spitting at the earth. She gripped her stomach and nearly doubled over as a sudden hunger pulled at her. "Ugh."
"No, I—" Camilo forced himself into a sitting position with a burst of strength, alarmed. "I destroyed the plants!"
"I think it's the smoke." Dolores gasped, tears pricking her eyes. "It's not as strong as you told me, but I'm suddenly so hungry it almost hurts."
Isabela instantly grew many large wide-leafed plants and used them to fan the area. When the scent of smoke was gone, she turned back to Dolores. "Is it better?" She sighed in relief when her prima nodded. "Stay here and I'll check on them." Isabela didn't wait for Dolores' agreement before she headed over to the three teens.
"You're not….?" Camilo trailed off, blinking slowly as he tilted to the side a little.
Isabela managed to get to him in time to steady him. "I'm fine, don't worry about me. Can you stand?" She bit her lip when he slowly shook his head. "Okay, I can lift you three with my vines no problem. We can carry your stuff—"
"My bag…has the plants." Camilo mumbled, the exhaustion and weakness rapidly returning with a vengeance.
"Right, gracias, Camilo." Isabela then secured the bag in vines and large leaves until it was unrecognizable.
"I tried not eat it." Camilo mumbled, tears wetting his lashes and falling down his cheeks. "I really tried, lo prometo, I did."
"Shh, it's okay, Milo." Isabela soothed, wrapping her arms more fully around his shoulders to hug him to her side. "I know you did." She tilted his head back, brushing his curls away and examined his face. Wiping at the residue around his mouth, she pursed her lips in concern.
The sinister temptations of the unknown plant pulled at Isabela, but its hold on her was slippery at best and she easily ignored it. 'Dolores said Milo described it as evil….' She thought, watching the smear on her fingertips flake away into ash as she destroyed it. 'I agree.'
Dolores slowly approached them, her mind still a little foggy but rapidly clearing with every breath of clean air. Kneeling before her hermanito, it started to rain as she cupped his cheek and gave him her best smile. "Let's get the three of you back to Casita."
I hope you liked it!
Until next time,
~Star
