DISCLAIMER: If you recognize it, I don't own it.

They expected the townsfolk to come rushing at them as soon as they appeared, weapons and crosses raised. Instead they hung back as they watched Manolo and Maria walk down the front steps and towards the iron gate keeping the crowd at bay. All of San Angel had gathered before Casa de Mondragon by now, waiting: some in fear, some in anticipation. At the front of them all stood Valeria, flanked by her assistants. With one hand she was balancing on her cane, and with the other she held a small object under her arm. She stared ahead of her, glaring at the two Sanchezes as they came closer.

Maria saw Manolo glaring back and touched his arm. "Not yet."

They opened the gate and stepped out from its boundaries, closing it behind them, then approached Valeria.

For a moment, the old woman seemed saddened by the sight of them together. "I could still offer you salvation, Maria."

Maria's eyes narrowed as she stepped closer to her husband. "You can keep it."

A wave of shocked murmurs flew through the crowd, only to fall away as Valeria raised her hand. "So," she said, "this is the path you have chosen. Does it please you?"

"What have you got there?" Maria asked, nodding towards the object that the older woman was holding.

Valeria brought it into the open. It was a small mahogany box, the lid and sides inlaid with small jewels. "It held the relic of an old Spanish saint," she said, "and it has been blessed by what it once carried. No wicked soul can escape it." She glanced at Manolo. "Nor any demon."

"At least let us say what we want first," Manolo said.

"Why should I?"

"Because if you don't," Maria said, "you'll never get this close to us again."

Valeria raised an eyebrow. "You think you can hide from me."

"I know we can," the younger woman continued. "You think you've got this under control? There's a fight waiting to happen right behind you. I guarantee you half those people are ready to return whatever you do to us tenfold."

A shout of assent rose up from the townsfolk, and an equally loud shout of anger rose up in a futile attempt to drown it out.

"Silence!" one of Valeria's men shouted, but his voice was lost in the confusion. It took several shots from a soldier's gun to finally quiet them all down.

The wine bottle shifted inside Maria's coat, and Manolo put a hand around her to keep it steady. "There's only one thing we want," he said, keeping his eyes on Valeria.

"…And what is that?"

"Our daughter's safety," Maria answered. "Promise you'll leave her alone from now on. Joaquin can raise her, and she'll never be of harm to anyone."

"What do you offer in return?"

"Both of us. We won't resist, and no one will come after you for our sakes. You can do whatever you want to us, for as long as you want."

Valeria's assistants began readying their weapons, but they paused when she shook her head. "No…"

"Well?" Maria asked. "Do we have a deal or not?"

The old woman's eyes darted between the two of them. "It will still be in the girl's nature to - "

"Ofelia doesn't have anything to do with this," Manolo said. "That's why we want you to leave her out of it."

"I am well aware of what she is - "

"Are you? Do you think she asked for this? She's never thought of hurting anyone. She likes to read and play with her friends and keep the graves in the churchyard clean. She's just a child."

"Then why do you insist that she be kept alive?"

He clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to keep himself under control. "You say you want to protect what you love," he continued. "So do I."

The look in Valeria's eyes was disbelieving, almost scornful. "Then you should have left her before she ever saw your face."

Manolo shrank away from her, anger and pain raging in his face as he grasped Maria's hand. Hesitant whispers could be heard from both sides of the crowd now.

Valeria could hear it, and it seemed to be putting her more on edge. "Very well," she said quickly. "The girl's life in exchange for yours." She began to turn around, as though to walk away.

Maria stepped forward as she reached into her coat. Pulling out the wine bottle, she ripped the cork out of its mouth and held it out in front of her, pointed at Valeria.

Nothing happened. Not even a flinch.

Manolo's expression changed from confusion to terror as Valeria looked at them askance. "What's wrong?"

"I-It's not working…"

"You really thought I would let someone else use it?"

The bottle slipped from Maria's hands - she barely registered the sound of it shattering on the cobblestones as she ran towards Manolo. At the same moment, Valeria held out the box and lifted the lid.

A bronze light seemed to cover everything around them, forcing it to fade away as it swirled around them. Thunder-like rumbling filled their ears, and invisible hands lifted them off their feet

Maria flailed and kicked, trying in vain to find her lost footing. A small place in the back of her mind wondered if Ofelia was watching this. If anyone was. If anyone cared.

Manolo's hands wrapped around her waist, then pulled her to his chest and held her tightly. Maria gripped him back, trying to memorize what his touch felt like. "I'm sorry," she whispered, barely audible.

"I forgive you."

The thunder grew louder as the light closed in on them. Bright, searing, blinding.

Then it moved away, and they felt earth beneath their feet once again.

"No! What are you doing?" Valeria shouted. The light was circling around her and her assistants now, forming a tight cocoon. She sank to the ground, covering her ears to block out the thunder. Realization and fear flooded her face as she stared at Manolo and Maria. "No…"

In a flash of light, the cocoon imploded and vanished.

When the dust had cleared and the people could see again, Valeria and her companions were gone. Only the jeweled box remained, faintly glowing as it lay on the ground.

The townsfolk stayed frozen in place, not daring to move. Maria knelt down and picked up the box, carefully turning it around in her hand. Manolo knelt beside her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright…?"

She looked at him, then slowly nodded as she put the box down and wrapped her arms around him. Silent tears welled up in her eyes, then began to stream down her face.

And somehow, that was all it took for the crowd to breathe again.