Abuela was in the graveyard, drinking tea at a table next to the statue of Pedro. She was having a private seance with her late husband. These daily conversations were the usual topics. How their children grew up, meeting Agustin and Felix, and Pedro seeing his daughters marry. Alma was distracted, however, and Pedro took notice.
"What's wrong, mi amor ?"
Alma looked at the front gate, then back at the crystal ball. "Bruno says the town will continue to grow."
"It's been a month since someone came through the gates. I'm sure no one will come back in."
"They always do,"
"And the family will always defend each other." Pedro sighed, the light in the crystal ball slightly darkening. It lit up again when he spoke. "Our familia will someday stop hiding. "
Alma sadly nodded. She did want to not hide from the world forever. But the outside world is what killed her husband. They were the ones who took away their old lives.
Before she could respond, lightning struck across the sky. Dark clouds madly formed above the home. Alma saw Bruno appearing at the backdoor.
"It's happening!" He yelled across the graveyard, echoing into the woods. Alma grinned, then looked back at her husband.
"I need to go!" She told him, the wind blowing debris around and her hair in her face,
"Te amo,"
"Te amo tambien, para siempre "
*A few minutes earlier*
Isabela was with her feeding her carnivorous plant Arfi. She saw Luisa in a distance, slightly proud of the responsibility she took on at a young age. The eldest grandchild never showed her emotions, matching very well with the gloominess around them.
Luisa walked around the gates of their home. With the number of infiltrators they've had over the years, Luisa assigned herself to guard the home. Whenever Bruno misses a vision, she stays up at night at the gates.
Camilo dueled against Tío Bruno with his sword-arm in the courtyard. Camilo often morphed into interesting creatures, a giant rat to scare away predators, a fly to spy on Isabela, and a crow to spy on the town. The town nearby always fascinated him, but he never visited it. In human form, at least.
Mirabel was in her room. She was working on her taxidermy art on a dead rat Bruno found in the walls. The 10-year-old didn't have an unusual power like most of the household, but it never bothered her. She spent most of her time with Camilo, playing tricks on the rest of the family.
Dolores was playing haunting music on the piano. She developed a strong sense of hearing, even listening to what the townspeople said about them. She warned the family whenever someone got too close to their home.
Julieta and Augustin danced to their niece's haunting music in the courtyard. They've been together ever since Augustin and Felix met their wives at a small picnic. To make a long story short, two guys fell in love. They found Casa Madrigal when they were 17 and met the sisters. As they grew older, it was clear their love was like Abuela and Pedro.
Felix and Pepa were in their room, the father reading a book about undead spells and the mother knitting a new outfit for the newborn.
"Felix," Pepa said softly, lowering her knitting. The man placed his book down and looked at her.
"Si, mi amor,"
"Incredible news! I'm going to have a baby." She smiled and looked down at her stomach. "Right now,"
Pepa was transported to Julieta's room, where her husband stayed close beside her. The children waited outside on the nearby bench, Augustin and Bruno waiting with them.
In the small room, Pepa's thundering cloud poured rain over them. Felix sat beside her, continuously kissing her hand in full passion.
" Aye, mi amor " Felix whispered to her. "How are you feeling? Is it torture?"
Pepa didn't mind the pain, not even showing it. Alma helped Julieta gather the birthing equipment. Fuego spun around the room, his light creating shadows all over the room.
"Would you like deadly nightshade, Pepa?" Julieta asked.
"No thank you," her sister answered. "But do ask the children,"
Julieta opened the door, the storm wind nearly breaking it from the frame. She soon returned, seeing Felix kissing his wife's hand with much passion.
"Pepa, the baby!?" Alma scolded in annoyance through the storm.
"Not now, Felix," the woman calmly told her husband.
"This happens every time,"
Bruno paced back and forth in the hallway, his eyes glowing their green color. Mirabel and Camilo played darts, aiming at a target with a picture of Isabella. Agustin watched them, coaching his daughter on the sidelines. It was Camilo's turn when Mirabel stool in front of him.
"You're standing in the way," He said in annoyance.
"It's the only safe place," Agustin responded with a chuckle. Camilo scoffed and shoved her aside. Clouds slowly formed above them.
The door opened a crack, but the storm with cyclone-like wind blasted it wide open. Julieta appeared in the doorway, holding up a jar of berries.
"Would anyone like deadly nightshade?" Everyone shook their heads. She went back into the room, Casita closing the door behind her
"I wish you would tell what that little beast will be," Isabela said to Bruno.
He stopped pacing. His eyes flickered, then stopped glowing. "I didn't tell anyone what you were gonna be,"
She sighed and joined Dolores, who was staring out the window. They could see bits of the town, Pepa's clouds spreading past the gates.
"They are talking about us," Dolores said.
"Let them talk," Isabela scoffed. "We don't like to be bothered,"
Mirabel joined them, the rain slowly began to pour. She didn't want to admit it, but she became very curious about what happened beyond the gate.
Abuela tells how the people killed Pedro. How their old town always saw their family as unusual. Sure, they like things that are gloomy and dangerous, but why can't that be seen as normal?
"What do you think, Mira?" She turned around to her cousin.
"Huh?"
"Do you think it'll be a boy or a girl?" Camilo repeated. He continued playing darts, now using throwing knives. The rain began to pour, and the rumbling of thunder can be heard behind the door.
"I'm not sure,"
"I think a boy," He replied.
"It's a girl," Dolores argued. A knife flew past her, stabbing into the wooden frame of the window.
"There are enough girls in this house! It's a boy!"
"It's a girl!"
The door slammed open, Lightning flashed through the halls and the thunder rang throughout the home. The rain now drenched the entire family, water fell upon the nearby town.
"Felix!" Bruno exclaimed. Everyone stood up. The storm slowly began to die down. The rain continued to pour down on the town, Lightning striking a few of the trees.
"Papa, what is it?" Dolores asked.
Felix marched to the rest of the family, a smile creeping on his face. "It's a Madrigal!"