Claudia knew something was wrong the moment she entered the room. The Rojas were all sitting there smiling at her, which had never happened. Usually it was just do this or do that with a frown or a smirk. They had never exactly been sweet to her. In fact, the nicest thing they had ever done was adopt her. She began to anxiously tap her foot as she waited for whatever was about to happen. She just hoped she wasn't in trouble again. That always ended in pain.
"Claudia, just the person we wanted to see, please sit." Andres Rojas gestured to a chair. She quickly sat down and looked around. It seemed it was just Andres, his wife Valentina, and her. Their five year old Sofia wasn't present. Her gut dropped, if Sofia wasn't there something serious was going on. The thought of being beaten again made her slump and want to cry.
"As you know we have taken care of you and given you everything you have needed through the years-"
That made Claudia want to laugh, but she didn't dare. They had treated her like a slave rather than a family member. She slept in a renovated closet, wore cast offs, and barely got enough food or sleep. She wouldn't call that taking care of. In fact she knew their dogs got more than she did.
"-well now there is something you can do for us. Something you WILL do for us. We have arranged for you to marry."
"Wait what!? Why-" She was shushed by Valentina, but her anxiety began to spike. She couldn't get married. She began to panic as the thought infiltrated her mind. They couldn't do this. They couldn't be serious.
"Shut up and listen to your betters perrita." Valentina smiled at her cruelly.
Out came the nickname. It never failed to scare her. It always meant that things were going to get worse. Comparing her to a dog made her feel worthless. Like an it rather than a person. Maybe she was. She hadn't been treated like a person in years. Meanwhile Andres Rojas smiled at his wife before continuing.
"It is an excellent move for our family and will help our Sofia immensely in the ways of finding a husband of her own someday. After all, who doesn't want to be married to someone with connections to the Madrigals?"
The Madrigals? But that meant-
"Alma Madrigal had been searching for a wife for her son. We talked it over at dinner last Saturday and decided you were a perfect match perrita. I'm surprised how easily she took to it. She must have been desperate. Anyways, you're not close enough to the family to bring us shame by marrying an outcast. However, you are close enough to get us easy access to the Madrigals and their gifts, and one day who knows? Maybe we'll get help from your little ones."
Claudia was stunned. "You can't- I...I refuse sir, you just can't-"
Valentina got an evil look on her face that sent shivers down Claudia's spine. "Actually we can. According to the contract, marrying you off is within guidelines. You wouldn't want to break those. What would the town think? It's not like anyone would help you perrita."
Claudia hated that she was right. They had every right to marry her off because of that horrid contract, but the thought of being married for any reason then love...it made her want to cry.
"Now go get ready," Andres ordered, "We have dinner with the Madrigals in an hour. If you mess it up I will beat you within half an inch of your life. Understood, perrita?"
Claudia stood with her gaze at the floor.
"Understood sir."
"Now get out of here."
Claudia nodded her head and then walked out of the room. When she got to the hallway she began to run, and didn't stop until she got to a small room off the kitchen. As soon as the door was closed, she immediately broke down.
Tears began to run down her cheeks as she swallowed sobs. She had been so sure she would be free. She had only two more years till twenty five, and then she would've got to start living her life. She could've lived for herself and fell in love. Instead she knew she was now stuck for life. She would be an obedient wife to a man who people only spoke about it whispers. It was all so the Rojas could look better. Her life was over before it had begun. She couldn't divorce a Madrigal, it would turn the town against her.
She continued to sob for a good twenty minutes before she finally calmed down. It was then that she noticed the new clothing on her bed. It was a green shirt and a blue skirt with Xs embroidered on it. Normally she would be happy to get something so nice, but not today. Today was the beginning of the end. A few more tears ran down her face as she tied up her hair. She was sitting on her bed when there was a pounding on her door.
"Get out here, it's time perrita!"
It took them fifteen minutes to walk to the Madrigal's casa. It felt like a funeral procession where she was the one who died. Perhaps she had died, that would explain the hell she was living.
As they came up upon the house it seemed to shimmer and shine. A shingle moved and seemed to wave at them as they entered the courtyard. The magical candle she had heard so much about sat at the very top of the courtyard. Alma and her daughters came down the stairs to greet them.
"Ah, the Rojas, we are so happy to have you in our home again. And you, you must be Claudia. Such a shame you couldn't attend the last dinner last week, because you were sick."
"Strange how we've never seen her out with the Rojas before." Pepa said under her breath.
"Pepa please!" Alma chuckled as she turned back to them. "Young adults can be so temperamental." A cloud appeared over Pepa at that statement.
Claudia walked forward and bowed her head to Alma.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Senora Madrigal. Thank you for allowing us into your home."
"Oh please call me suegra dear. After all, we are soon to be family. Now come let us eat."
She led the Rojas and Claudia into a large dining room. The Rojas sat near the front of the table while Alma led Claudia to the other side near an empty seat. The girl suspected that her future husband would be sitting there. Her foot began to tap again. They sat for a few minutes before Alma got up.
"Excuse me for a second."
She left the room and a second later yelling could be heard.
"Bruno, I swear if you are not down here in ten seconds, I will come up there."
"Mama, you know the future waits for no one. Please-"
As the talking drew closer Claudia took a deep breath. She felt like she had to prepare herself to meet the terrifying fortune teller. Then he entered the room, and she was so confused.He looked nothing like people described him. In fact he looked kinda awkward. This was the man who had killed Senora Hernandez's fish? The seven foot tall future seer? Well she guessed he could be seven foot, but with his slouching she couldn't tell. As he took a seat next to her, she took one more quick peek. After all, who wouldn't be curious about their future husband?He had messy black hair, a pale green poncho, and eyes to match. As he turned his head to her, Claudia quickly looked away. She thought she heard a soft hola, before Andres began talking.There was plenty of chatter before long.
Bruno kept taking tiny glances in his fiance's direction. He had never seen her so of course he was curious. She seemed more normal then he expected. He never suspected someone normal would marry him. He honestly never expected anyone to marry him. She had black hair, one green eye and one blue, and was incredibly skinny. He honestly thought that couldn't be healthy. As she turned back to him he quickly looked away. Then Senor Rojas began talking.
So I'm thinking we plan the wedding sometime in the next week. I mean the sooner the better, right?" Andres said.
"Exactly my thoughts," Alma agreed, "After all I believe next Wednesday will be the day, at least based on my Bruno's predictions."
The table turned to him and he rubbed his neck nervously. He absolutely hated being the center of attention.
"Well I was...well I was kind of looking for info on my future bride. Instead I learned about our wedding day." He let out an awkward chuckle.
"Such a nice gift to have." Senora Valentina said.
He could tell she was lying. No one in town thought his gift was any good. At least she was pretending for his sake though. Sometimes he wished he had been given something else when he turned five. His gift sometimes felt like a curse rather than a blessing.
Claudia felt as though the dinner dragged on. The Rojas kept laying on the meirda toward Alma. They were definitely buttering her up. Claudia had caught her future husband taking small glances at her. She figured he already hated her too.
As they got ready to leave, Claudia messed up for the first time that night. She tripped and accidentally pulled on the tablecloth as she fell. Several plates hit the floor with a crash. It made her jump.
"Be careful perrita. We wouldn't want you to hurt yourself." Valentina and Andres looked down on her.
It was then that she knew she was in trouble again.
