Tainted

by Shyhearted

The Madrigals-a family full of wonder and magic. They were revered. They were worshipped. And Mirabel hated them. Ever since she was thrown out at only age five she wanted nothing more than to rip their blessings right from their hands. To watch them cry as they lost it all. And teaming up with Dolores tired of living in the shadows as the forgotten Madrigal. She'll get just that.

27. Chapter 27

Alma stared at Luisa in shock "What did you just say?"

"Bruno is dead," Luisa repeated, "I found his body…"

"You have to be mistaken, surely all he has to do is eat some of Julieta's cooking-"

Luisa shook her head "No, he's dead…h-h-his throat has been slit…he is laying in the barn."

Alma blinked as it all registered. Her Bruno couldn't be dead, it was Mirabel who was supposed to be dead not Bruno, where was that little devil exactly? "And where are Mirabel and Dolores if Bruno is in the barn?"

"Mamá found them both collapsed at the edge of town, Mirabel was seriously wounded…she was bleeding a lot."

"Is she dead?"

"I don't think so…Mamá carried her into the clinic and healed her, the doctor and nurse have taken over now."

Alma narrowed her eyes. Julieta healed Mirabel? Even when she gave direct orders not to assist her in any way? "She healed her?"

"She was going to die if she didn't!"

"I fail to see how that would be a problem, in fact, we would be much better off with Mirabel gone for good."

"W-w-what?" Luisa stammered.

"I know it sounds harsh but if Mirabel were to…die she won't be a problem anymore, she's trouble and her death would ensure the safety of our family, our miracle and the community as a whole."

Mariano's eyes rose when he heard the heartless comment.

Alma noticed and sighed "Look, Mariano, you don't understand what Mirabel is really like, she isn't the poor little victim she likes to portray herself as to the town."

"Ah…what exactly is so dangerous about a blind fifteen-year-old girl?"

"A fifteen-year-old girl with the devil inside of her," Alma growled.

Isabela placed her hand on Marinao's arm "You saw the cracks, she did that mi amor, she sent all our magic out of control and her eyes were so…eerie…she is the daughter of the Devil himself."

"Mirabel…caused that?"

"Sí, she is bad news Mariano, and so is Dolores I highly advise you stay away from them at all costs."

"Mariano, you will soon be a member of our family, Mirabel is a threat to this family, don't think you won't become a target of hers, you're best to have your wits about you, if we all stick together everything will be fine, we are the Madrigals," Alma said.

"Fine? Bruno is dead isn't he?!" Mariano threw his hand in the air "And you're more concerned about Mirabel? I mean no offence Señora, but shouldn't that be your focus? You're awfully calm for someone who just found out your son is dead."

"I will believe Bruno is dead when I see it myself," Alma forced back the lump in her throat. She refused to accept it, Luisa was wrong, she had to be wrong.

Her Brunito couldn't be gone, he simply could not be. Luisa was overreacting, slit throat? No that could not be possible, Mirabel was the one who was supposed to die, yet according to Luisa the fiend was still alive thanks to Julieta, that was something she would have to talk to Julieta about later.

Luisa's gaze was locked on the floor "I am not mistaken Abuela, Bruno is dead…I know what I saw no way he could still be alive with that gaping hole in his throat."

Alma took a deep breath trying to remain calm "Alright, take me there."

Luisa looked uncomfortable at the thought of having to go back to that barn, but Alma would not take no for an answer so she just shakingly nodded.

Isabela folded her arms "I suppose we'll have to finish this discussion later, though Luisa I love you sis but I swear if you're making drama out of nothing-"

"I'm not one to make drama out of nothing, you know that Isabela," Luisa snapped harsher than she intended "Bruno is dead, I'm sorry this puts a pause on your wedding planning but looks like we're planning a funeral. Can you think about someone who is not yourself for once?!"

Isabela blinked, Luisa had never snapped at her like that "I-"

"Not every single thing in the world is about you!"

"Luisa!" Alma scolded "Do not take that tone with your sister!" she turned to Isabela and Mariano "I am sorry, we'll have to continue this discussion later, Luisa let's go."

Luisa looked ashamed, but surely someone had to say it Isabela was so…selfish. She didn't even react to hearing the news their baby sister nearly died. Okay, Mirabel was hardly their sister anymore but that wasn't the point, she was their blood, their kin.

"Luisa!"

Luisa sighed and walked out of the room with Alma pausing when she noticed Bruno's door had gone dark.

Alma saw it too and sucked in a breath. No, this didn't mean her son was gone, Dolores's door was dark and she was very much alive.

Alma turned her head to look at Dolores's door, the damn dirty rotten traitor. She didn't understand what Bruno saw in the girl. Sure she was a beautiful young woman, even Alma would admit that at least she was before she got those hideous scars.

Alma had planned to find a husband for Dolores at some point, once she got Isabela sorted out. She wasn't sure who though, her looks did have men asking for her hand but Alma wanted to make sure she made the right choice for La Familia Madrigal, Dolores was showing no interest in finding a man on her own so Alma was going to take it in her own hands.

At least she was until she betrayed them.

Alma followed Luisa towards the barn, eyes narrowing when she saw the blood trail "Lusia-"

"That's all Mirabel's blood," Luisa said.

"Hmm.." Alma frowned as they continued to the barn. Upon reaching the wooden structure Alma felt an eerie stillness.

Luisa stopped waiting for Alma to go ahead of her "Bruno…is in there."

Alma pushed the barn door open with a creak and nine pairs of brown eyes turned toward her. Alma pulled a face at the smell, she hated barns, home to dirty creatures of both the four-legged and two-legged variety and the filth that came with them.

Alma stepped in and her eyes took in the site immediately. Her Bruno, her only son was laying there, motionless.

Dead.

Alma took shaky steps forward hand over her mouth, there was no denying it now. Her son was dead.

She collapsed to her knees and touched Bruno's body "Brunito…" she began to weep. This wasn't supposed to happen, that devil child Mirabel was supposed to die and their problems would be solved, and their family and their miracle would be safe.

But, they killed him. Those two spawns of Satan killed Bruno.

Damn Mirabel to Hell, damn Dolores to Hell.

Alma didn't notice Luisa enter the barn as she caressed Bruno's face, eyes open, eyes dull and lifeless. With a trembling breath, Alma closed Bruno's eyes and bowed her head "Pedro…look after our Bruno, I raised him for fifty years on my own and now he has joined you."

Despite the way Bruno lied to her, he was her baby boy, her son. Mirabel would pay for this, she would pay for this greatly.

"Abuela?" Luisa asked, "What do we do?"

Alma didn't answer just continued to sob over Bruno's body.

Luisa, even though she was blood family felt like an intruder barging in on a private moment. She knew Mirabel had an even bigger target on her back now, Alma would be out for her head.

And with Bruno gone, and his…desires for Dolores gone with him Alma had no reason to keep Dolores alive either. Luisa knew the only reason Alma would have let Dolores live would be to hand her off to Bruno but now she wouldn't be happy until she saw Dolores's dead corpse laying next to that of Mirabel.

And that scared Luisa.

Mirabel and Dolores were officially killers, they had Madrigal blood on their hands.

Luisa knew it was self-defence but that would not matter to Alma who would just portray them as cold-blooded murderers.

Luisa did wonder how Alma would explain what Bruno was doing in the barn being in which he had no business being in. It would have been easier for Mirabel and Dolores to just ambush Bruno, quickly slit his throat and flee from the scene if that was their intention.

But that wasn't what happened.

Bruno was the one to launch the attack with the intention to kill Mirabel and Luisa was no fool she knew he would have raped Dolores and would find nothing wrong with it.

It made Luisa's stomach churn, all of this did. Mirabel shouldn't be out here, and neither should Dolores. They should both be at home in Casita safe and sound.

But no, Alma was so desperate to protect the miracle she sacrifice two of their own. And doing so only made the prophecy come true, Casita was cracking and Mirabel was the cause of it.

"Luisa…"

Luisa looked back over to Alma "Abuela?"

Alma stood up on shaky legs and turned around "We need to take Bruno home."

"But he is-"

"I am well aware he is dead, Luisa," Alma snapped harshly "But we can not just leave him laying here in this damn barn! I'll have to go to the church and speak to Father Flores to arrange a service…and I'll need to purchase the casket…oh my Brunito…"

"Abuela? He came to kill Mirabel, didn't he? Why else would he be here?"

Alma's face twisted into a scowl "He was only doing what I told him to."

"So you did send him to kill Mirabel?!"

"I was doing what was best for the miracle! For the family! This wasn't supposed to happen! It was supposed to be Mirabel that died! That demon!"

Luisa blinked at Alma's confession, she knew in her heart already but to hear her own abuela admit to wanting to have Mirabel killed was still shocking "How could you?! Mirabel is a child!"

"A child from Hell! Look what she has done! She is breaking our home! She turned Dolores against us! She is hurting our miracle! She killed Bruno!"

"It was self-defence! I saw the injuries Mirabel had..it's fortunate she is still alive."

"I would call that rather unfortunate myself."

"Abuela!"

"Oh come on, Luisa, you can't seriously consider that demon spawn family, she's barely even human!"

"You…you loved her once, you called her your maripostia, you would hug and kiss her, you would read her bedtime stories and sing her lullabies and now here you are arranging for to be murdered! She's your granddaughter!"

"That…thing is not my granddaughter, she managed to fool me for five years but not anymore. The miracle sensed her true nature and that was why she denied a gift, Bruno's vision proved that further."

Luisa shook her head.

"With what you're saying, I'm starting to wonder if you're siding with her…are you going to betray us to Luisa?!"

Luisa's eyes rose "No! I'm loyal to the family you know I am! I just think…"

"You think WHAT?!"

"That what we have done to Mirabel is CRUEL! We throw her out at five with nowhere to go, anything could have happened to her! Anyone could have taken her and done anything to her! She has no food! Barely protected from the elements! Prophecy or no prophecy she's a human being! It's cruel! IT'S WRONG!"

"Luisa don't you-"

Tears were streaming down Luisa's face "If anyone else in this town did what you have done to Mirabel to their child you would personally see to it that they end up behind bars! Can't you see?! Bruno is dead because of you! You sent him to his death-"

Alma reached out and slapped Luisa harshly across the face "Do not pin the blame on me, everything I do is in the best interest of this family. Do not question me again, do not raise your voice at me again, and do not feel sympathy for that demon again! Am I making myself clear Luisa Madrigal?!"

Luisa shrunk back, despite her gift of strength she was rather weak-willed she could never stand over her Abuela. Even if could take Alma down with one swing of her fist the older woman held power over her.

"I said, am I making myself clear?!"

"Y-y-yes…Auela…I'm sorry."

Alma huffed lifting Luisa's chin with her finger "And you are not going to tell anyone about this, okay? If anyone asks I didn't send Bruno to kill Mirabel, do you understand?"

Luisa nodded slowly.

"Good, now do as I told you," Alma turned around to face Bruno again "Oh my Brunito, don't you worry I'll see that Mirabel and Dolores pay for this with their own lives."

Luisa closed her eyes and shook her head, she would have to somehow convince Mirabel and Dolores to leave the valley. Their lives were on the line.

"Luisa."

Luisa opened her eyes and with a sigh approached Bruno's body easily picking it up, she hated the cold limp feeling but obediently followed Alma keeping her head lowered so she didn't have to meet her gaze.

Alma led the way with a mournful expression back on her face, fifty years ago she lost the love of her life, and now she had lost her only son.

Though it seemed Mirabel had lost a dangerous amount of blood if the blood trail they followed to the barn was any indication. Luisa said Julieta healed her, but Julieta could only heal the injuries themselves, not the damage any blood loss would cause.

Alma prayed to the lord above that Mirabel was beyond saving, if her Brunito were to die, it could at least be he died bringing that demon down.

It wouldn't bring Bruno back but it would give Alma the sense of justice being served.

Then it would just be Dolores she had to deal with, no matter how far Dolores ran Alma would track her down and make her pay for her crimes.

They entered Casita and Alma ordered Luisa to take Bruno into his room, for now, she needed a moment for all of this to sink in before she made arrangements for the body.

A gasp made her pause and turn her head.

Isabela upon hearing them return came out of the kitchen in time to see Luisa go past with Bruno's body "It's…it's…true…"

Alma nodded "Mirabel and Dolores killed him."

Isabela blinked for a moment before her expression turned into one of rage "I knew it! I knew they were trouble! Those…those…fiends!"

"I ensure you they will pay for this if Mirabel survives it won't matter, what she has done is punishable by death and Dolores will swiftly follow her demise with her own."

Isabela folded her arms "Any of us could be next!"

"They won't get to anyone else mi flor, I'll make sure of it even if it means taking the axe to their necks myself."

"You'll…behead them?"

Alma threw her hands in the air "I'll behead them! Hang them! Drown them! Poison them! Anything as long as they're dead!"

Isabela took a step back, Alma didn't look like a woman grieving her son, she looked enraged as she continued wishing for Mirabel and Dolores to experience miserable deaths.

This version of Alma scared Isabela.

Alma noticed her fear and took a deep breath "I apologise mi flor, it's just those two…demons…everything I have worked so hard to prevent is happening before my eyes and now I have lost my Bruno, there is a real evil walking amongst us in our Encanto and it answers to Mirabel."

Isabela bowed her head.

Alma raised her chin tears in her eyes "My beautiful Isabela, if anything happens to me you'll be the new head of La Familia Madrigal. It'll be your duty to guard the candle and the town and that means you'll have to make…choices some may find…repulsing, never before has an execution been held in our beautiful valley but it's one of those choices that must be made. Mirabel and Dolores will be the first and hopefully last executions that will be held."

"When will you…do it?"

Alma hummed "Well with luck on our side Mirabel will die on her own."

"So Luisa was right about her being seriously injured?"

"I saw the blood, it was leading away from the barn, Luisa said it is Mirabel's blood…there was a lot of it."

"So Mirabel could still…pass?"

"If only we could be so lucky, it'll save me some trouble."

"Dolores?"

"Luisa didn't say anything about Dolores being injured so I'm assuming she is fine… unfortunately."

Isabela didn't know how to react.

"Don't worry mi flor, you just focus on your wedding, alright?" Alma kissed Isabela's forehead.

"Right…the wedding…" Isabela forced a smile a few hours ago she was bursting with excitement at the thought of marrying the man of her dreams but now her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Bruno was dead, Mirabel and Dolores are the cause of it and Alma wants them dead.

This was…just so much.

Alma sighed "Now…if you don't mind I'm going to sit vigil with Bruno when Julieta and Pepa get home, tell them to come in please."

"Yes, Abuela."

"That's my princesa hermosa," Alma gave her another kiss and made her way up the stairs and made her way towards Bruno's room, now she was alone and out of sight of anyone else she let the tears fall again.

First Pedro, now Bruno. Both were slain by monsters.

She pushed Bruno's door open frowning and made her way towards where Bruno's bed was.

Luisa had covered the body with a blanket, the sight causing a lump to form in Alma's throat as she made her way closer.

"Bruntio…" she whispered "Oh my Brunito…my children were never meant to go before me…but you have gone and left me behind."

Kneeling down next to the bed Alma felt around and pulled out Bruno's hand "Bruno…"

The passing of time merged into one big blur until Alma heard the sound of the door opening and footsteps walking across the sandy floor.

"Mamá?" the voice accompanied by the rumbling of a cloud revealed it to be Pepa "Is what Isabela said true? Is Bruno dead?"

"Yes…" Alma choked on her words "Mirabel and Dolores killed him…those demons…"

Thunder rumbled throughout the room, Pepa wasn't sure how to feel. On one hand, Bruno was her brother, they grew up together, for her whole life he was there, she has never known a world without her brother. And now he was dead, gone, never coming back.

On the other hand, this was the man that lied to them, he scammed the townspeople for ten years and humiliated the family.

He tried to rape Dolores.

Just the thought of the brother she grew up alongside forcing himself on the woman she once held in her arms as a newborn baby made Pepa want to hurl.

Every time she saw Dolores she was thinner and thinner, though Pepa wasn't sure if she was just seeing things but Mirabeel seemed to be gaining weight not much but it was enough to notice.

Obviously, with Dolores helping her, Mirabel had access to more food to explain her weight gain but it was still far less than what Dolores had access to in Casita explaining her weight loss.

Pepa would almost admire Dolores's loyalty to Mirabel.

If Mirabel wasn't the devil personified that is.

And now they two had teamed up to murder her brother.

Was she expecting for something like this to happen? Yes. Did it still catch her off guard anyway? Also yes.

Pepa couldn't feel any grief over her brother's death, maybe it would come later but for now, she felt no sadness, but she felt no joy either.

What was she supposed to feel when a family member died? She didn't remember anything about her father's death but she was told by many people who knew and remembered Pedro told her of how her mother mourned all whilst trying to lead their newly formed Encanto and raise three babies as a single mother.

She had seen townspeople pass on, she had seen their loved ones mourn but Pepa herself never had much of a reaction to death.

She had long since accepted death as a part of life, one day it was going to come and take those around her away one by one but life would always go on, new generations would be born and the world would keep on turning.

Even now when it was her own brother Pepa couldn't bring herself to react as she watched her mother wail, for every new soul born another dies it's just the cycle of life as it has been since the dawn of time and will continue on long after they are all gone.

Bruno was gone, but life will go on.

The world doesn't stop because of death, existence was temporary, in the grand scheme of things all living things were here for a fleeting moment in time.

Some will be remembered while some would fade away until it was if they never existed.

What happened when one leaves this earth no one truly knows for certain. Some believe the righteous will ascend to Heaven where they will live in a beautiful paradise and be united with those passed on before them and watch over those they leave behind.

The sinful would face enteral damnation in Hell where they would be punished for their wrongdoings on Earth.

Some believed that all souls would go to the same place, some believed in reincarnation and some believed that there is simply nothing, when you're gone you're gone.

Pepa wasn't sure if Bruno was in some sort of afterlife or if there was simply no more Bruno Madrigal.

She wasn't sure if she wanted to know, just the thought of there being…nothing waiting for her on the side scared her.

Pepa didn't fear death itself, she knew one day her time was going to be up and she couldn't outrun it. But for there to just be…nothing…she was afraid.

Mirabel had her believing in a Hell for only Hell could produce such evil in Pepa's eyes and if there was a Hell then there was surely a Heaven.

Alma had told them all many times that Pedro was watching over them from Heaven and how proud he would be of them and how their family has grown.

Alma also told them how disgusted he would be with Mirabel and Dolores and casting them out was what he would have wanted to protect his sacrifice.

Pepa had doubts he would be proud of what Bruno had done.

Their mother had sure they were brought up in the catholic church and was very devoted to her faith.

Pepa went along to appease her mother but she always found sitting on those uncomfortable pews and listening to the pastor drone on incredibly dull.

But from what she had gathered Bruno was not a righteous man.

Just how many women did he sleep with? Pepa lost count, that was something she didn't understand.

Alma would lecture Pepa and Julieta about no sex before marriage saying she would not accept any grandchild conceived out of wedlock.

Yet Bruno got no such lecture, he was openly sleeping around and Alma didn't say a word.

Would have Alma accepted a child fathered by Bruno out of wedlock? Would Bruno even accept a child from a random woman?

What if Bruno successfully got to Dolores and she conceived his child? Would Alma accept that? Would Dolores accept it? Would she even go through the pregnancy or would she find a way to…get rid of it?

Would Pepa herself accept it? Pepa tried to tell herself she would support Dolores throughout the pregnancy and helped her with the baby, but wasn't sure if that would be the truth.

She left the raising of Antonio her own son to Dolores and it was the most likely scenario that Dolores would raise her own baby pretty much on her own, Bruno would have had no interest when asked to help with Antonio the answer was the same.

"It's the woman's job to look after the home and raise the children, what else are they good for?"

Alma never commented when he said that just handing the duties off to Dolores and brushing it aside.

And what would that child even be to her? Her niece or nephew because they would be the child of her brother or would they be her granddaughter or grandson since they would be the child of her daughter?

Could a child be both to the same person?

Pepa was pulled from her thoughts but Julieta's arrival.

"So…Bruno is dead?"

Hearing her second daughter's voice Alma slowly stood up and turned around "Julieta, that demon that you somehow birthed caused this! Mirabel killed Bruno!"

Julieta scoffed "I found Mirabel in a critical condition on the edge of town, she was stabbed…would you happen to know anything about that?"

"Why would that have anything to do with me?!"

"Well you can't blame me for having my suspicions, can you? Tell me, where was Bruno found?"

"That barn-"

"And why would Bruno be in the barn? I'm not a naive child anymore Mamá what happened is obvious. Bruno went into Mirabel and Dolores's safe place and attacked Mirabel with the intention to kill her…he wounded her…but he was unable to deliver a fatal blow…they killed in self-defence, had Bruno let them be today he would still be alive," Julieta's eyes flickered over to the covered body "Mirabel is recovering at the clinic I healed her but-"

"WHY DID YOU HEAL HER?!"

Julieta was startled into jumping back "Had I not she would have died, when I found her she was barely hanging on and even now…" she took a deep breath "Even now her survival is not guaranteed-"

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO ASSIST HER!"

"Did you expect me to just stand back and watch the girl I carried inside of me and gave birth bleed out on the ground?! I can not do that."

"She killed Bruno!"

"That bastard had it coming!" Julieta snapped "I'm glad he is dead!"

"Hey dare you-"

"Considering how much he has lied about, makes me wonder if he is hiding anything about Mirabel."

Alma's face went pale for a moment, of course, there was a second side to the vision but she would never tell, she couldn't. It was too late anyway.

Julieta's eyes narrowed "Wait…do you know something?"

"It is too late, Mirabel has chosen the path of destruction, she is no Madrigal and never will be."

"What is that supposed to mean? Is there something about the vision you're hiding from me?!"

"It's not your concern.

"Not my concern?! Mirabel is…was MY DAUGHTER! It's very much my concern, that vision took her from me!"

Alma huffed "It's not going to change the past or the future now, but Mirabel and Dolores will suffer for their crime."

"There is nothing you can do that can make them suffer more than they already have," Julieta had finally snapped.

Pepa looked over her in surprise but didn't speak.

Julieta shook her head "Mirabel has become a monster, yes, but she is not a self-created one. I still remember how she used to be, so sweet and loving and kind. So excited to get her gift and take her place in the family…now she hates us, and now she has the power to destroy us! I love this family so much it hurts! But how much must be sacrificed?! Papá! Mirabel! Dolores!"

"Your parde would want us to protect our miracle at all costs!"

"At all costs? Really? Do you think he would be proud of this? Of his son growing into a pervert that preyed upon his own niece? Bruno was a monster."

"Don't you-"

Julieta began walking towards the door "You know it's true, there is more than one type of monster and I know you also heard the word around town, he was going to wind up getting lynched by the people he defrauded had Mirabel and Dolores not beaten them to it."

Alma stood there dumbfounded.

"I'll attend the funeral, if anything to see him be put into the ground, but don't expect me to mourn, I mourned the death of my brother ten years ago and I have been living with a stranger ever since," Julieta left the room slamming the door behind her.

Pepa stared at the door with wide eyes, she couldn't believe she actually witnessed that. Julieta was always the soft-spoken one among them. She didn't see that coming.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see be greeted by Alma's teary eyes.

"Pepi…my sweet Pepi," Alma cupped her cheeks "You know what we must do, don't you? Don't worry for your sake I will make sure Dolores goes quickly, it will be hard I know but you must think of Camilo and Antonio, you can lose one child or lose three and I shall think that the choice is easy."

Pepa closed her eyes as Alma kissed her cheek, now Bruno was gone and Julieta would have fallen even further from favour after that outburst, Alma was looking at her with the same look once directed towards Julieta, then Bruno and it was the look that Alma always had when looking at Isabela.

Pepa was the golden child now.

-T⃫-

Dolores sat at Mirabel's beside, it had been three days and Mirabel still hadn't awoken.

Coma. That was what the doctor had told her. Dolores hadn't left her primita's side. She remained watching over her, talking to her and begging for her to wake up.

Mirabel's breathing had returned to normal and her heartbeat was steady, which gave Dolores reassurance.

Josephine had washed and repaired Mirabel's ruana and it lay folded up alongside Mirabel's other clothing on a small table in the room.

Dolores ran Mirabel's bandana through her fingers, she had been listening in on the Madrigals but couldn't bring herself to celebrate Bruno's death.

Not while Mirabel was like this.

She hoped Mirabel would be up by the time Bruno was to be buried, she wanted to see that happen, at a distance of course and she knew Mirabel would find satisfaction from it too.

Dolores was amused by Julieta's little…outburst, if only she had that courage ten years ago Mirabel wouldn't be in this situation.

Revenge would be theirs though, they killed Bruno and it was not over. They would kill Alma, and if everything went to plan Julieta would be assisting them with that.

Of course, they had Alma's threats to execute them to deal with but Dolores wasn't afraid. Dolores would love to see her try considering what happened last time she arranged for one of them to be killed.

They would kill Isabela, she was in the way of their targe-the candle so she had to go.

And they had a plan in place that would ensure Isabela would never make that walk down the aisle on her wedding day.

Mirabel was undecided about what she planned to do with Agustín, one day she wants to kill him and the next she wanted to run him out of the valley.

Whatever way Mirabel decided to go Dolores knew Mirabel was going to have fun.

Pepa and Félix were the same, Mirabel wasn't sure what to do with them and left the final choice up to Dolores. Dolores wasn't sure, to be killed by their own daughter…oh what a way to go that would be.

Luisa and Camilo, the duo planned to chase out, Mirabel deciding they had nothing to do with the vote for her exile and therefore forcing them into fleeing would be satisfying enough.

And finally Antonio, her sweet sweet Antonio. Dolores missed him, she longed to see him again. She knew he missed her too, at night she could hear him softly singing the lullaby she would sing to him as he was tucked away into his bed.

Dolores hoped he knew in his heart Dolores listened each night, she would get him back no matter what. She would get her Antonio back.

Dolores couldn't have loved that child more if she birthed him, in her eyes, Pepa was nothing but a surrogate and she was Antonio's true mother.

They would be a family, her, Mirabel and Antonio. They were all each other needed, as long as they stuck together they would be fine.

If they got that candle no one would ever mess with them, they would never know hunger ever again.

That was the dream, the one that kept Mirabel and Dolores going.

Dolores sighed and looked back over to Mirabel surprised to find herself looking into Mirabel's misty blue eyes "...Mira?"

"...Dol…res? Is…that…you?"

"Of course it's me you idiot," Dolores chuckled "Have a nice nap?"

Mirabel blinked "I…..can't…see…a…thing."

"Well, you're in the clinic."

Mirabel looked confused.

"Bruno is dead."

"Ah…so it wasn't just a beautiful dream…"

"No…" Dolores took Mirabel's hand "But he stabbed you…you were bleeding so much…I thought…I thought I was going to lose you," Dolores's voice cracked "I thought…"

"You're…crying…I don't need to see to know."

"You were in c-c-coma for…three days…I haven't left your side…"

Mirabel's head tilted to the left "So…you do care about me…"

"Of course I about you, you idiot!" Dolores choked back on a sob "I…I…love you…you're stubborn and irritating and some days I just want to throw you out of hayloft but I love you primita! You're…the only one who understands…me."

Mirabel wasn't how to respond, Mirabel had long forgotten what it felt like to feel love, but with each day she had grown more appreciative of Dolores, despite their bickering. Mirabel knew she needed Dolores and Dolores needed her, it was just the two of them against the world. "I love you too..." Mirabel's voice trembled slightly, when was the last time she said those words?

"Mira-"

"As cousins, don't go getting the wrong idea."

"I wasn't going to get any other idea, you're not my type anyway."

"Very funny."

Dolores chuckled "You'll be glad to know that Alma is very distraught right now."

Mirabel smiled "If it meant Bruno died I'm fine with a few stab wounds… sacrifices you know?" she gave a weak chuckle.

"That's one good thing Julieta has done for you….I tried to get you here but…I didn't make it…I woke up here, Julieta and Luisa brought us both in, you were healed just in time."

"Well, I'll be sure to write Julieta a thank card."

"Really?"

"No."

Dolores chuckled "I missed you, never knew how much I missed hearing your smartass until it was deadly silent for three days."

"Well, your suffering is over."

"Oh, happy days…"

"Indeed…well we have some celebrating to do."

Dolores smiled "Bruno's funeral is on Saturday, shall we attend?"

"You think I'm going to miss seeing that bastard put into the ground? No way, even if you have to hold me in your arms, I am going…have to pay my disrespects after all."

Dolores nodded "You just…rest..okay? We'll spend the night here than bail tomorrow."

"Please tell me my glasses are here."

"...no."

"Oh, how delightful."

"Relax, I'll get them at some point…I just didn't want to leave you."

"I'm touched."

"But you should know you're wearing nothing but a clinic gown."

"Oh…how awkward."

"Your clothing is here though, you don't have to go through town wearing it."

"But maybe I will inspire the latest fashion trend…let us just hope it's not windy outside."

Dolores rolled her eyes.

Mirabel closed her eyes again "Hey Dolores? Mind fetching me some water? I'm feeling a little parched," she griss as groaned and place a hand to her head.

Dolores's face slipped for a brief moment before she nodded "Sure," she stood up and left the room both Rafel and Josephine were focused on their own tasks and didn't notice her as she entered the kitchenette and grabbed a cup filling it with water.

She knew Mirabel was trying to look strong but she knew what happened had taken a lot out of her primta. Dolores recognised the look of weakness in Mirabel's eyes but she would never tell her that.

And convincing Mirabel to take it easy for a while would be like pulling teeth.

Mirabel would do what Mirabel wants to do.

But Dolores would try to at least get her to rest.

Her mind drifted back to the…emotional moment between her and Mirabel.

She never expected to hear those words come from Mirabel's mouth, but she had and they were directed at her.

Mirabel had her own way of showing she cared, she was not the touchy-feely type. Trying to sneak a hug on her would be like sneaking up to hug a jaguar.

Unlike the donkeys who Mirabel would lavish affection on, the donkeys lived better than they did really.

The donkeys were still being looked after, everyone knew about Bruno's death by now and Alma wasted no time in making sure everyone knew Mirabel and Dolores were the killers.

It amused Dolores to hear some people finding the whole thing amusing, Bruno had made some enemies when the truth came out.

They were saying Bruno got what he deserved, that they wished they could shake Mirabel's and Dolores's hands. Never in front of the family of course, though they were the minority.

The majority was just shocked and offered their condolences to the grieving Alma, a death in the powerful Madrigal family was big news, even overshadowing the news of Isabela's engagement.

They peeved Isabela of course.

Dolores returned to the room and upon hearing her Mirabel sat up, "Here let me help you."

"I can do it myself."

"Just let me do this, okay? It's been a rough few days, you were seriously injured Mirabel, you're lucky to be alive."

"That's the story of my life," Mirabel groaned but allowed Dolores to press the cup to her lips allowing the refreshingly cool water in, "But I don't want to spend too much time laying around, we have plans after all."

"Of course, of course, we'll be out of here tomorrow," Dolores grinned "Alma is hoping you died, so I'm sure seeing you alive and well as she is putting her precious Brunito into the ground would feel like a living nightmare for her."

Mirabel chuckled "Good…good…Dolores do try and find us something nice and bright to wear, yeah? I know it's weather witch's colour but maybe a nice sunny yellow."

"Whatever for?"

"For the funeral, of course, we don't want to wear black and be mistaken for a mourner now would we?"

Dolores chuckled "Oh, of course, I'm sure I can manage to say a few things here and there and get us a dress each."

"Good."

"Hey, Mira?"

"I'm glad you're okay."

"Aww, don't get sappy on me now."

"I'm not being sappy, I need you now just as much as you need me."

"Sounds like being sappy to me."

Dolores rolled her eyes "Just remember, there is no 'I' in team."

Mirabel smirked "But there is a 'me' if you rearrange the letters."

"You're so…" Dolores groaned.

Mirabel chuckled as she laid back down and closed her eyes "Now…I'm feeling a little tired."

"Just get some rest alright? I'll get you some food later."

"Mmhmm," Mirabel mumbled.

Dolores shook her head again.

First, they get out of here, then they go and spit on Bruno's grave, in the literal sense.

Then after that…Luisa was cracking it seemed, everything was starting to get to her.

Their next target was obvious.

They'll leave Alma for now.

It was Luisa's turn.