Chapter 11:

(Camilo POV)

I was exhausted from last night all the shifting and changing I had already taken my breakfast but decided to turn into Dolores for seconds. Mirabel then came up to me, "Dolores, you know out of all my older cousins you are my favorite" I was just looking at her wide-eyed as I took another arepa. I had no idea what she was talking about and I honestly wished that someone else would just come over so that I could escape. My wish came true, sort of "CAMILO! Stop pretending to be Dolores so you can have seconds." I took that as my cue to turn back into myself and shrugged, "Worth a shot." After Casita tried, and failed, to make me knock my plate over I walked over to the side.

I saw Dolores and went over to her, "I'm Mirabel's favorite cousin" I tried to brag. I was at one point however Dolores can hear everything and was not afraid to call me out, "One, she thought she was talking to me. Two she said of her older cousins which lead me to number three. We both know who her real favorite cousin is..." We took a breath and both said, "Antonio." We looked over at him and he smiled and waved at us. I laughed a little waving back and so did Dolores. I knew there was no point in trying to argue that I was the favorite any further. It wouldn't really do anything and I had other things I had to worry about today I focused on my plate that I managed to have perfectly balanced with food. I smiled to myself satisfied when Dolores tapped an arepa in the middle of the stack as the sudden the entire tower started to shake, "Dang it Dolores" I whisper yelled I knew she heard me and I swear I saw her smirk. I got my plate down o the table and settled into my chair.

Isabella sat down next to me and I watched as Abuela almost sat on the pile of lemurs that Antonio had asked to warm up her seat. He seemed to already completely understand his gift and I was happy that he was enjoying it. I think that he might have gotten the best one so far. Abuela began the family meeting we had pretty much every time we actually had breakfast together. It was the price I paid for my stack of food I thought to myself. She went through the same speech we had all heard before about Antonio figuring our how to best use his gift in town.

However, I was surprised to find out that today was going to be Isabella's proposal. She was still always checking in on me after that day years ago when I couldn't turn back into myself and I knew I could get away with messing around with her so as she turned towards me I turned towards Mariano and puckered up. Needless to say I got a mouthful of flowers. Still I saw an annoyed smirk on Isabella's face and knew that she knew I was joking. I would say since I got my gift Isabella and I became closer. We were both town favorites and she really knew how to help me in ways that other members of the family just couldn't.

Abuela went to the head of the table, "La Familia Madrigal" I repeated, "La Familia Madrigal" and got started on my mountain of food. I quickly devoured it and left to bring my plate inside that was when it hit me. If Isabella was getting engaged today that meant that the town probably already knew. Which meant that I was about to get a million different questions about my thoughts of this and how I think it will affect the miracle and stuff. It also meant that going to see Liv was going to be a lot more difficult than I previously thought.

Still Olivia needed to know.

There was no doubt in my mind about that, as long as it would be safe for both of us. I never brought up the idea that her father didn't actually get her my Tía's food before because I knew how much she trusted him. I knew that Señor Santiago never let Liv do anything independently. I knew that Señor Santiago would lock the door when he left Liv alone inside the house for hours. I knew that Señor Santiago had done pretty much everything in his power to isolate Liv from the rest of town. And I knew that Liv's entire survival in this world was dependent on her Papa.

I sighed to myself. I also knew that this kind of betrayal would be so much worse than when she found out that I was Camilo Madrigal and not Cameron. I knew that if I brought this up it would change everything. I knew that this was something that would change Liv's entire life. That is why before I asked Tía I started by asking around town.

The Santiagos weren't only avoiding the Madrigal family but they avoided pretty much all of Encanto. I talked to the people he worked with and I talked with the shop owners in town and none of them heard from him besides work and his monthly trip to the marketplace. He kept to himself and had no friends in the entire area apparently calling them "Willing prisoners to the Madrigal Miracle." The only person he does talk to is the priest and I know that he is on Liv's side no matter what and when I asked him he had never heard about it before.

I figured that the only way I could see Liv was to go first thing in the morning before going into town. I was going to try to get down the path when someone caught a glimpse of me and I was sucked into the town vortex. I couldn't get away no matter what I tried and soon I had to head home to help set up for this dinner tonight. I wanted to go to Liv. I wanted to tell her the truth. I wanted to be there for her. But, I knew that with all these eyes on me it was going to be impossible. Maybe after dinner I would be able to go see her, but it was a lot more likely that her Pap would be around then. I groaned to myself but, I needed to figure this out and fast.

I was heading home, everyone in town knew that I was heading home. I could have snuck away and tried to go. I looked at the beaten path when I heard a voice behind me, "Milo, are you going home." I turned and saw Tía Julieta. I smiled as I turned to face her. "Yeah, I was just on my way." She smiled and grabbed my arm, "Great I'd love the company." I nodded my head and walked with her. I wanted to tell Liv the truth and I did think that she deserved to know but, I couldn't put her in danger by rushing into this. People in town had eyes on my family and I and I'm sure Señor Santiago would still hear about us from other people. She would be the one to get in trouble if someone were to see something and I couldn't do that to her. I would sneak to see her when I could I nodded to myself. I just couldn't wait too long.

I walked with Tía and I my mind drifted back to the day that Señora Santiago died. "Tía what happened with Señora Santiago that day?" She took a long breath, "You have been asking about them a lot lately." I nodded my head, "I just have been thinking about it recently." She nodded her head, "Yeah I think about it too." She took a long breath running her hand through her hair, "You were there with me when I got called over there." I nodded my head. "When I went inside I saw Señora Santiago lying in bed. She was pale and sweating and really wasn't doing well. I had asked her what was going on but she wouldn't say anything. Her husband said that she had gotten hurt the other day and developed a fever. I looked her over and I saw a large bandage on her side and when I lifted it up to take a look she had a large gash on her stomach. I tried to ask her what happened but she just turned her head to the side and was looking away."

"That was when Señor Santiago started to scream at her to do something and for me to do something. I tried giving her my food. I tried getting her to eat. I really tried to help her. But she was just not responding to anything. I asked her if she would be willing to fight for that little girl outside. Her daughter. I can't remember her name," Tía started to take a shaky breath, "I tried to get her to fight and she looked at me and leaned in close so that only I could hear her, 'I am too tired to fight anymore.' I wasn't sure what to do at that point and that was when Señor Santiago ripped an arepa out of my basket and forced it in her mouth screaming something about not leaving him after everything they have been through. She swallowed the amount he managed to get in her mouth but, it didn't work. She died a few moments later. None of the Madrigals ever talked to any Santiago ever again."

She shook her head, "You know I heard a few years ago that his daughter was in an accident and I couldn't even help." I looked up at her, "If she ate her food why didn't the magic work?" She shrugged, "I don't know Milo, but from the sounds of it she didn't want to live anymore. I can help, heal, ease pain but I can't change fate and I think that she had already decided that this was going to be her fate." I was quiet as we walked trying to absorb everything I had been told. She turned to me and gave me a sympathetic smile, "I did what I could. So did you, ok?" I nodded my head and we made our way up to Casita. She turned to face me, "I saw your Tío out back. I am going to go see him. Big night and all." I nodded my head and watched as she walked around Casita to the back. I needed a breath after hearing all that just to absorb it

I made my way inside and saw Dolores leaving Isabella's room. There was clearly something on her mind and maybe it could help take my mind off everything I was thinking about. I called out for her, "Dolores." I caught her attention waving and met with her upstairs. "What were you doing in Isabella's room?" "We were talking," she said and as I gave her a look she added, "Girl stuff." I didn't want to know what that meant and stuttered out, "Yeah, I don't want to know." I slung my arm over her shoulder. Although Liv was on my mind a lot today I didn't forget that today was Antonio's first day with his gift, "So what has Antonio been up to today?" She gave me a small smile, "He ran right to the jungle this morning and right back to Casita with more animal friends that are all upstairs in his room." I couldn't help but laugh and neither could Dolores, "Dang he got the good gift." She smirked, "Said the shape-shifter." Was she saying that I had a good gift? Please, "Yeah, yeah. I get it you're the nosy one." We laughed a bit more. Suddenly Luisa came into the house very clearly upset. She looked up at us as tears started to come down from her eyes and her breath was clearly uneven. I wanted to say something ask if she was ok. Luisa always held it together what got her this upset. She ran upstairs to Abuela. I had no idea what was going on and turned to Dolores, "What was that about?"