Vicente found out about the murky, ice-cold water the hard way; it stung like a slap upside the head when he hit the surface of the pond, and it slithered down his throat when he didn't close his mouth in time. For a few seconds he lingered in the dark, flailing and choking.

From somewhere up above, a hand grabbed the collar of his shirt and hoisted him upward. The boy sputtered, gasped and cried out as he resurfaced. A part of him wanted to be sent back under. His sister was nowhere to be seen or heard, and neither were the four spirits. And Ofelia…

"Dios mio - Joaquin, Ixa! Over here, now!" Cold, clammy hands pushed his hair out of his eyes and help to force out the last of the foul water. "Vin, can you hear me? Are you hurt?"

It was the last voice he wanted to hear at that moment. His senses told him to jerk away; he tried, but the hand gripped him tighter. "It's okay, it's okay," the voice whispered as the hand patted his hair. "It's me. It's Uncle Manolo."

Suddenly there was a shriek - his mother's voice - and three more figures descended upon him. "How did he - "

"I don't know, we just heard a splash. I didn't see Bry - "

Vicente pulled away from them both, struggling to remain upright. "They took Felia!"

His parents and Ofelia's all fell silent. "She was with you?" Maria asked. "When?"

"The jaguars took her back!" Vicente continued. "They've got her and they're taking her to that big temple! We have to hurry!"

Manolo stood up. "Can you show us the way?"

"I-I think so…"

"What are you even doing here?" Joaquin sputtered, the first coherent sentence he had managed to form.

"And where's your sister?" Ixa added.

"Bry can take of herself. We have to go help Felia!" This is all Bry's fault anyway, he thought. That was what he would have liked to believe, at least.

"One of you go look for her," Maria told Joaquin and Ixa. "The rest of us will take care of Vin."

"You won't be able to fight off the pack by yourselves," Joaquin said.

"We won't have to," said Manolo. "We can grab Ofelia and run if we're lucky."

"And if you aren't?"

"We have to go now!" Vicente said, tugging at Manolo's arm. "Please."

"…It's a chance we have to take." Manolo drew one of his swords and started to follow Vicente, who was already hurrying towards the other side of the pond. "He'll be safe with us, brother."

"Make sure he knows he's grounded."

"Of course."

There was something terrible filling the air as the red moon rose higher. The stench of blood and flesh began to seep out from the ground and the stones of the pyramid, as it might have had back when the carnage was still fresh. Long shadows leapt out from the trees, taking shape and prowling towards the center of the city. The great temple towered above its ruined counterparts, reaching for the sky; the moon and stars behind it formed an ominous silhouette.

Manolo, Maria, Ixa and Vicente darted from one pocket of darkness to another, following the jaguars while trying to keep away from their prying eyes. By now there were several dozen migrating towards the temple. Manolo shuddered as he wondered for the first time just how many there were.

"Do you think they took her this way?" he asked Vicente as he peered out through the doorway of the stout dwelling they had taken momentary refuge in.

The boy bit his lip and followed Manolo's motions. "I-I thought so…"

"Look out!" Ixa said under her breath, suddenly pulling them both back.

A whole cluster of jaguars rushed past the door barely a moment later, their shadowed forms melting into one terrible, bright-eyed mass. As they ran, something fell from the grasp of one and landed in the dirt. It was small but shiny, even as they crushed it underfoot in their haste.

Manolo froze. The shape, the glint – he would recognize them anywhere. When the pack had gone, he ventured back out into the light and scooped up what remained of the little pair of glasses.

At first it was hard to tell that they'd even been glasses. The frame was bent down the middle and twisted into a sharp, jagged mess. One lens was gone completely, while the other had cracks radiating out from its center and several chunks missing. Even in such a state, however, it was clear to the gathered travelers who they had belonged to.

Ixa gasped as her hands flew to her mouth. Vicente looked away, wrapping his arms around himself. Maria tightened her grip on her sword as she drew in a breath through her teeth. "Alright, the next jaguar that comes near here gets - "

Manolo, who had said nothing, held up a hand to silence her and then brought his finger to his lips. "Listen," he whispered.

They listened. Padded feet were thudding on the roof of their hiding place and clawing at its walls. Through the flimsy walls came the faint sound of a dozen growls echoing around the room.

Ixa pulled Vicente closer to her. "What do we do now…?"

"Stay back," Manolo told them both. "You too, Maria."

"What are you - "

Before she could finish, Manolo had tucked the glasses into his pocket, raised his sword and stepped out into the open.

The jaguars had him surrounded in an instant. They did not pounce upon him, as the mortals had all feared; instead they formed a loose circle around him, watching with smug glints in their yellow eyes even as they kept their distance from his blade.

"Well?" Manolo snapped. "What are you waiting for?"

The largest and most scarred of the group spoke up. "Our master said we are not to harm the mortals yet. He said he was expecting you."

"I thought so."

The jaguar glanced at the still-raised sword. "Will you and yours come without resistance or not?"

Manolo let his weapon sink back to his side. "…I just want to see my daughter again."

"And so you will!"