The following days after that night, not only did La Muerte note the change in Xibalba, but Emilio and everyone else did as well. The next morning she awakened and found a beautiful arrangement of red roses on her bedside table, her favorites, and a note attacked to them with a message written. Thanks for listening to me. Surprisingly, she felt complimented by the gift and her face turned all red when she read the card, knowing who had probably given it to her. Afterwards, they spent lots of time in each other's company, eating meals together, chatting casual things during tea time, or go out on horseback together; the both of them couldn't stand being apart for prolonged periods of time. La Muerte would even help her husband with his pending paperwork.

Xibalba had grown warmer and a bit kinder than before, just being with her made his heart flutter and he felt like he was in the clouds. He had long forgotten about his lust, and instead relished in her warm personality and independent spirit, he had never met someone like her. Not only that, but with her help he became a little more… sociable. His apathy, seriousness and cold demeanor was mostly the same with other people (though now he had a bit of a sense of humor every now and then), but with her he was tender and gentlemanly.

Everyone noticed it. Lord Xibalba was not the same. The cruel, merciless and heartless dark god was changing ever since his marriage to La Muerte, and most of the other gods began to fear him less, he still retained his air of regality and poise, but he had grown… How to say it… A bit more open-minded than before. The only one who was still bent on despising Xibalba's guts was Sol, convinced that the dark god was making his beloved daughter's life a living hell.

It was quite the contrary, however. La Muerte liked the change in her husband. She was glad that she could call him a good and dear friend now, though her heart often told her he was much more than that. She'd blush whenever he planted a kiss upon her knuckles, when their bodies accidentally brushed her heart would drum inside her chest, and his rich baritone voice would send shivers down her spine. She couldn't explain what was happening with her, she just knew she wanted to be with him all the time. She had the feeling of what was going on, but she still was reluctant to accept it.

As she checked for mail -though she did not peek into her husband's, she didn't want to peek her nose into his business and get into trouble, again, now that things were going so well between them-, La Muerte came across a dark blue envelope with silver lining. A wave of excitement ran down her spine when she recognized her little sister's seal, and she almost immediately tore the envelope open and slid out the paper. She has been waiting to hear a word from her sister ever since her last… visit, and wanted to know what had been going up in the Land of the Remembered, overall how her father was doing. Unfolding the letter, La Muerte started to read.

Hi, big sis!

How have you been doing? I have heard from the other Gods that Xibalba is not the same, that he has been changing, is that true? If it is, you really have a magical touch on everyone you meet! I would like to visit you, but daddy told me not to go to Xibalba's castle without a scort, he insists that he doesn't want Xibalba to harm me as he harms you. I guess what you said about Xibalba wasn't enough.

Anyway, that's not the only reason I'm writing! My birthday is this weekend, and daddy organized a great party for me. I would like you to come, you can bring Xibalba if you'd like, but I would really like that you were present! See you soon!

Love, Amy.

La Muerte smiled; of course she would go to her little sister's birthday, she wouldn't miss it for anything in the world, but she had to convince Xibalba to come with her. He was not the party-goer type, and judging by what had happened he wouldn't be very excited to be face-to-face with Sol once again. Still, it wouldn't hurt to ask, would it? Still, she decided to ask him at the appropriate moment. So a few hours later, during tea time, she thought it was a good time.

"Xibalba?" she spoke, stirring her tea with her spoon shyly.

"What is it?" he replied, placing his cup back on its plate.

"I received a letter from my sister today, and…"

"Yes?"

"Well, she invited us to her birthday party and, well, I was thinking… If you don't mind… I'd like to go…"

"I get it, my dear. She is your sister, after all, it's normal that you would like to be there for her on her special day. If you would like to go, I don't mind."

"Yeah, but... well…" La Muerte didn't know how to say this. "I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me."

Xibalba nearly choked on his slice of caramel cake before he managed to swallow the piece in his mouth. "I don't think that's a good idea, in case you forgot the last time we saw each other was no on the best of terms. What makes you think he won't kick me out when I try to place a foot in his realm?"

"Don't worry, I won't let him. He wouldn't make a scandal on Amy's birthday."

"Sounds like him." Xibalba sighed. "Well, my dear, if you insist, I guess it wouldn't hurt, as long as he keeps his distance."

"Thanks, Xibalba." La Muerte grabbed her husband's hand with a small smile. "It means a lot to me, really."

"Anything for you." The two of them were blushing lightly, though a few seconds later he regained his composure. "I guess we'll need a proper gift for her."


Two Days Later


He was starting to regret the idea.

Xibalba wouldn't take peeks out of the window of the dark carriage into the contrastingly colorful realm outside, instead he shifted away from it and tried to further hide into his dark cloak. He had to admit though, he loved how his wife was looking out the window with bright eyes, waving her hand at some of the people on the street. They could have come by horse, but he thought he had to give a bit more use to his carriage or it would fall into complete disuse. He just hoped Juarez was having no trouble with Medianoche; the horse was not used to pulling on a carriage, and didn't like it either. Still, he was glad there had been no problem until now.

La Muerte nearly cried of joy when they had crossed into the borders of her birth place, the Land of the Remembered; she had been living in a colorless place for so long that as soon as her eyes caught all the colors of this festive land they looked brighter and happier than they were, it made her heart leap in joy; she was waving her hand at the passerby people on the street, and they waved back at her happily when they realized it was her.

Finally, they arrived at the castle.

Emilio guessed Juarez and Roberto were too busy admiring all the colors they had never seen before-he himself had been a bit immersed-so as soon as they stopped in front of the majestically colorful castle he hopped off the back of the carriage and opened the door. Xibalba was the first to climb down, before helping his wife climb down as well; he tried to pull his cloak's hood upper to hide his face from the Remembered souls upon sensing they were glancing at him with fearful expressions. He could guess Sol didn't speak wonders of him to his subjects at all. But as soon as La Muerte had stepped out of the carriage, everyone almost immediately rushed to greet her.

La Muerte smiled warmly at the spirits, mostly children, who approached her and greeted her happily. She had missed them so much, she couldn't help but kneel down and let them run into her arms, giggling in delight. "How have you been doing, mis niños?"

"La Muerte!" a little girl cried into her chest.

"We're glad you're back!"

"We thought you wouldn't come back!"

"Did the monster hurt you?"

La Muerte's smile faltered. Xibalba heard the word and glanced at the child who had called him that, the little boy looked up at the dark god fearfully and hid behind La Muerte, but Xibalba simply grunted and looked away. La Muerte decided to do something before Xibalba flicked the child away with a finger (or at least scare the heck out of him). "Let's go." She said gently, standing up.

"I agree, my dear." Xibalba replied gently, holding out his arm with a small grin. "Shall we?"

La Muerte couldn't help but giggle as she grabbed unto his arm. "Let's go, milord."

The both of them walked towards the castle, the children waving at La Muerte happily. When they were making their way down the hall leading to the ballroom, Xibalba couldn't help but speak. "You seem to like children very much."

"They're very cute." La Muerte smiled. "I love them, they're the purest of humans."

"Until they grow up…" Xibalba muttered under his breath, before yelping in pain when La Muerte elbowed him. "What?! It's the truth!"

"Not all children grow up to be like that." La Muerte frowned, releasing his arm.

"But the ones that do make you consider it, don't they?"

She didn't want to argue with Xibalba right now, so she decided not to say anything else. As they approached the ballroom, Xibalba tried to pull his hood up higher once again, he did not want to make a scandal in his wife's sister's birthday, it would be best to keep a low profile. The doors opened, and his had to narrow his eyelids to keep the light from damaging his eyes. For the occasion, all of the ballroom was decorated in tones of blue and lavender for Aime's birthday. Speaking of which, the young goddess had been in the middle of being congratulated by the inhabitants of the realm when she saw her sister and her husband come through the door. Almost immediately she turned into a blur of petals and flew towards her sister and materializing in front of her; the two sisters embraced tightly .

"I'm glad you could come, sis!" Aimé chirped happily.

"Feliz cumpleaños, hermana!" La Muerte giggled, returning the hug and peppering her younger sister's cheeks with butterfly kisses. "How have you been?"

"Wonderfully, big sis! I'm having so much fun."

Xibalba felt he needed to be polite for the occasion, and so after the sisters finished their exchange of affection he gently gave the birthday girl a polite bow. "Happy birthday, querida Aimé." He whispered, his lips planting a kiss on his sister-in-law's knuckles politely.

Aimé shivered, but not in aversion. La Muerte was right in something, he was truly a gentleman. "Thanks, milord."

"Well, I believe the two of you have much to discuss. If you need me, I will be over there doing something." With those words, Xibalba slithered over to one corner of the ballroom, his cloak flowing behind him and his grip on his staff tightening at all the… color.

"He doesn't like parties that much, does he?" Aimé inquired once he was out of earshot.

"It depends. He prefers masquerade balls than fiestas." La Muerte replied, sighing.

"Has he taken you to one?"

"No, but he has told me about them, and he even showed me some pictures of one he went to. They were beautiful, I think I'd like to go to one of those someday."

"Maybe…" She tried to enlighten the mood of the conversation. "Come on, big sis! Everyone will be happy to see you!"

La Muerte smiled. "You don't have to tell me twice!"

From the shadows, Xibalba watched fondly as his wife walked over with her sister to where the crowd of Remembered had gathered, and almost immediately La Muerte was swarmed over with greetings and smiles of relief, the goddess received them warmly and with a smile on her face. That was one quality he liked about her, she was always smiling and happy nearly all the time, and she could warm up those around her, him included, he had to admit. Unknowingly, a small smile was drawn on his tarry lips, though he still hid himself from the surroundings in his dark cloak. Not a few people had already glanced at him with wary and fearful glances, trying to get as less close to him as possible, though he couldn't really blame them. He wasn't precisely a sight to behold, anyway.

Feeling a bit lonely, Xibalba silently stamped his staff on the marble floor and brought Ponzoña to life. The snake almost immediately wrapped around his arm, startled by the loud music and the chattering. Xibalba chuckled and stroked his snake's heads.

"Don't worry, old friend, it's just a party. I had to accompany La Muerte to her sister's birthday. I admit, Sol might be a complete imbécil, but he does know how to organize a ball."

Ponzoña hissed in disagreement and went to find refuge in its master's cloak.

"Don't be like that! It's not that bad, it's much better than being down in the study playing chess, isn't it?" Still, he felt his stomach protesting from hunger, and so decided to go towards one of the tables to take a snack. When he approached the side of the table, most of the people taking food from it quickly scattered away from it, but he didn't mind. He allowed Ponzoña to slid down his arm and unto the table, where the snake started sniffing the dishes, and both heads ate the ones they deemed tasty.

Xibalba was a bit pickier; he had more taste for European food, and all the dishes here were Mexican. Still, he did have a bit of a fancy for tacos and empanadas, and the desserts did look appetizing. Besides, he should take a bit back to Emilio and the others, surely they were hungry from the trip.

Taking a plate, he grabbed a few empanadas, some slices of different cakes, and tacos. Surely Sol wouldn't mind if he borrowed a plate, would he? He doubted it; it was only a plate. Taking a look around and making sure no one was watching, he snapped his fingers and the plate disappeared in a burst of green flame. Then he proceeded to take bites from different snacks subtly.

"M-My Lord?"

Xibalba gulped the bite of the cheese empanada and looked down at the servant who had called out for him. "What?"

The spirit was trembling, but nevertheless he managed to hold out a small slip of paper. "P-Princess La Muerte asked me to give you this."

Narrowing his eyes, Xibalba took the slip of paper from the servant's skeletal hands and unfolded it to give it a read.

Xibalba, I know you must be getting bored. If you wish to go, don't worry, I don't mind. I'll catch up to you later. Just be comfortable.

La Muerte.

Xibalba hadn't even finished to read when he noticed something was off with this… note. It was too direct to be from La Muerte, she usually used gentle, sweet words even in her writings; and speaking of which, this didn't seem like her hand. He was very perceptive in details like these, this writing looked almost identical to hers, but he could tell she had not written it. There was something off here. Someone wanted him to leave his wife behind, but who…?

Then again, he didn't have to think much on who could have written this. But he couldn't just accuse that person, he was close to La Muerte, she would be mad at him if he just came out of nowhere saying that person had sent him a fake note from her. Perhaps he should play along for now… Taking a look around to make sure Sol was not around, Xibalba sent the servant off with a wave of his hand, grabbed Ponzoña from the table to turn him back into a staff, and headed out of the ballroom. He had to write a note of his own, not to mention a good place to hide without anyone seeing him.

Meanwhile, La Muerte congratulated her little sister once again before going up to take a look at her room. It had been so long ever since she had been there, she wanted to see if it remained the same. And who knew? Perhaps she'd find her father in the way. After a few minutes of walking down the colorful halls of the castle-she had grown so accustomed to the colorless walls of her husband's castle that out of sudden these colors felt blinding and overwhelming-, she finally came to the doors that led into her room. La Muerte took a deep breath and turned the knob of the doors, pushing them open and stepping inside.

Her room definitely still looked like the last time she was here. The walls were a colorful scarlet red with mixed tones of pink, wine and marigold yellow and golden drawings. Her bed's velvet duvet was perfectly in place, as well as her white pillows stuffed with swan feathers and some of her old stuffed dolls and animals. Her boudoir, desk and bedside tables were impeccably dusted, with not a single speck of dust, everything was perfect. La Muerte approached her bed and sat down at the edge, glancing at the picture frame in her bedside table. It was a picture of herself with her mother when she was one year old. Esperanza was cradling her daughter in her arms, tickling her belly; La Muerte's smile mirrored her mother's.

She couldn't help it, her hands found their way to her mother's locket as her eyes swelled up with tears. It had been months ever since she last saw the picture, and yet she had never forgotten her. She missed her so much… Maybe it wouldn't hurt… She hadn't been here for so much time… Perhaps Xibalba wouldn't mind that she took a quick nap to remember what sleeping in her own bed was like. La Muerte lay down on bed and was quick to rest her head on the pillows, holding the picture frame close to her chest.

It wasn't long before she drifted off.


She didn't know how much time passed, but she calculated about two hours or three. She was still holding her mother's picture. Oh, shoot, she better go back to Xibalba and check how he was doing. He must be bored out of his wits. She slid the picture of herself and her mother from the frame and folded it carefully to tuck it in the pocket of her dress; since she was here she might as well take something that reminded her of her mother. As she stood up and headed towards the door, it creaked open and a maid walked inside, giving the corresponding bow.

"Princess."

"Buenas tardes." La Muerte smiled politely at the servant. "Is my husband still waiting for me?"

There was something, she didn't catch it but she thought a quick, almost unseen wave of guilt and hesitance crossed over the maid's features. "Lord Xibalba… He left."

"Did he say at what time is he coming for me?" She couldn't blame him if he had gotten bored and left.

"He is not coming back."

La Muerte's smile disappeared. What did she mean by that? "What do you mean?"

"He said he wanted to separate as soon as possible."

Those words would have severely broken her heart, but something was off. Xibalba was not the type to just leave like that, he wasn't a coward that left the dirty work to someone else. He would have told her face-to-face, she had the feeling someone was behind this. And she knew of one person who was likely to make such a thing.

"Where is my father?"

"He's in the throne room, but- Princess!"

La Muerte didn't give the maid time to say as she turned into a blurry of marigold petals and zipped straight towards the ballroom, where her father was sitting in his throne, speaking with one of the newly arrived souls.

"Father!" La Muerte called out, stomping her way to where he was.

The spirit immediately stepped away as Sol stood up from his throne and walked closer to his daughter. "La Muerte, it's so nice to see you-"

"What did you tell Xibalba?"

The smile on the king's face disappeared and his expression turned serious. "He left. He said he wanted the separation as soon as possible."

"No, no, don't lie to me! If he wanted to separate he would have told me face to face! I want to know what you told him!"

"I told him nothing, he simply said he had no more use to you."

"I know you, Father! Surely you made him leave somehow."

"La Muerte, why must you insist on defending him?!"

"Why must you insist on the same thing?! He has not touched me!"

"When will you understand I'm just trying to protect you?!"

La Muerte stepped back from her father's grip. "So you're admitting it!"

"I just did what I had to do!" Sol snapped.

The door that led into the ballroom creaked open and Aimé peeked in, hearing the yells of her father and sister all the way over from the ballroom. They were so immersed in their arguing they did not notice her presence.

"What's going on in there?"

Aimé jumped at the baritone voice behind her, and twirled around to find Xibalba right behind her, trying to take a peek inside the room. His hood was down and his wings were tucked down close to his body.

"Well?" Xibalba inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Papá and my b-big sis are arguing…" Aimé stuttered.

"Why didn't you say so before!"

Before Aimé could do anything to stop him, Xibalba burst into the throne room with tight fists and grit teeth. La Muerte and Sol turned to look at him in surprise, but there was a clear sign of dismay and frustration on Sol's face.

"Xibalba!" La Muerte couldn't help but be happy to see her husband.

"You!" Sol snapped.

Xibalba brought his hands behind his back as he glared at his father-in-law coldly. "I can guess by this… exchange that the note my wife supposedly sent me was not from her, was it?"

"What note?" La Muerte turned to her father in disbelief. "Seriously?!"

"La Muerte, all I'm doing is for your own good!" Sol growled.

"And for that did you have to ruin my sister's birthday?! How could you ask her to do such a thing?!"

Xibalba blinked in confusion, before glancing at Aimé, who by then had come to join them in the throne room. "You mean you were the one who wrote the note?" Then again, he wouldn't be surprised if she wrote in a similar hand to her sister.

"Daddy said that you would have stayed if it worked…" Aimé's eyes were swelling up with tears of regret as she brought her hands to her lips. "I'm sorry, hermana… I just wanted you back…"

La Muerte didn't blame her little sister at all, all her anger was directed at her father. "I can't believe you used your own daughter for this!"

"La Muerte, I promised your mother I'd always protect you!" Sol was losing his grip on his coolness, his voice was trembling with frustration, anger but overall pain upon remembering his beloved wife.

"I'm not a little girl anymore! I can take care of myself!"

"You don't know what you're saying! IF you could you wouldn't let this-!"

"Watch your words, Sol!" Now it was Xibalba's turn to snap. "I may be in your castle, but I won't let you use depictive words on me!"

La Muerte didn't know what came over her, all the anger and frustration contained in her for years burst out of her chest. The frustration at her father's overprotectiveness and pressure to do as others wanted of her ever since she was just a child; it burst out in one single sentence.

"I AM A GROWN WOMAN, A MARRIED ONE, I AM NOT YOURS ANYMORE SO STOP BOSSING ME AROUND!"

What happened next was a blur. Aimé gasped in horror, Xibalba's eyes opened wide like plates in shock and nearly all the crowd gasped when Sol's palm came into contact with his older daughter's cheek. La Muerte didn't have time to react as she fell to the ground, her white sugary cheek reddened by the mark. The unthinkable had happened. She looked up at her father in disbelief, shock and hurt. Sol realized what he had done when he saw his beloved child on the floor.

"La Muerte!" Xibalba was the first to react, kneeling down next to his wife and placing his hands on her shoulder. "Are you okay?!" She didn't move, she was just looking up at her father with dread and pain, a few tears were already trickling down her cheeks.

"Big sis!" Aimé joined Xibalba and tried to shake her older sister into a reaction, but to no avail.

Sol choked back a gasp of horror upon realizing what had just happened. "L-La Muerte, I didn't mean…!" But as he reached down to touch his daughter, she finally reacted and slapped his hands away.

"NO ME TOQUES!"

Before Xibalba knew it, La Muerte had already gone back on her feet and was dragging him away by the hand. "La Muerte-?"

"We're leaving." She hissed, though there was more sorrowful rage than actual anger in her voice. He could tell she was fighting to hold back her tears.

"La Muerte, wait!" Sol went after her, but she turned into a blur of Marigold petals, prompting her husband to turn into a ball of tar and go after her. He turned into a trail of cocoa powder and tried to make his way to the main doors before his daughter, but by the time he made his way outside La Muerte and her husband had already gotten into the carriage, and the lizards that served Xibalba were had motioned the horses-the dark god's black stallion and La Muerte's white mare-to gallop away.

"La Muerte!" Sol called out for his daughter as he watched the carriage getting farther and farther. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry, mi hija…"

The carriage disappeared in the distance.