Chapter 6

Revelation

A while later, Mirabel was dragged by Isla outside in the garden.

"I need to tell you something important," the little girl said as they sat on the grass.

"Sure, dear. What is it?"

"It's about Carlos."

Mirabel's brows rose.

"The day he arrived here, about a month ago, after he found his brother Rafael, he asked about you."

Mirabel blinked. "About me?"

"Yes. He asked Señora Castillo if she knew about a girl named Mirabel Madrigal, and if she could tell him how he could find her. Señora asked him why he wanted to know about you, and he said that you two had met once, and he wished to see you again."

She frowned. "Once when?"

"Three years ago. You don't remember?"

Despondently, she shook her head. "No… But he did say that when he was twelve, he visited Señora Guzmán and Mariano, and that means it happened a few years back, so I don't think he lied. But what did Señora Castillo say?"

"She said you've been a volunteer here for years, and since Carlos wanted to be one too, she promised him she'd introduce you to him."

Mirabel tapped her fingers together, contemplating. "On what day did all of this happen?"

"On Tuesday."

She nodded. "Thank you for letting me know, Isla."

"I wanted to tell you sooner, but I never found the right moment."

Mirabel got up, dusting off her skirt. "It doesn't matter. You did tell me."

The girl looked up at her with big eyes. "What will you do now?"

"I'll talk to Carlos. I have a feeling there's something missing. But how do you know about this conversation?"

Isla shrugged sheepishly. "I overheard."

Mirabel crossed her arms. "You overheard?"

"Okay, okay! I eavesdropped! But I was curious, and now, maybe you get to find something out about Carlos." She grinned. "I can see you like him. And I know he likes you too."

Blushing, Mirabel gave her a noogie. "If you don't keep that between us, I'll tickle you for hours on end. And no one will come save you."

The girl laughed. "You're evil, Mira."

"Am I now?" The Madrigal squeezed her to her chest before heading back to the building with a, "Don't do anything stupid!"

Isla snickered. "I sure won't!"

"I'm warning you!"

The wind blew her friend's answer out of earshot, and Mirabel skipped into the house. She found Carlos still in the playroom, and her heart warmed when he lifted Joaquín high in the air, the boy laughing while other kids demanded that they be offered the same privilege. Mirabel leaned on the wall, fondly watching the scene, not keen on interrupting. Moments like these weren't rare, but not too frequent either; when the community that had formed between these walls came together, these moments needed to be valued, made the most out of. Treasured and remembered, for who knew what tomorrow held?

Something brushed against her skirt; Isla swept past her, jumping on the couch and cheering.

Mirabel advanced towards the group of children around Carlos, reaching to surprise one of the girls with a hug; not having noticed her while he was laughing, Carlos turned in her direction and hefted her up, spinning her.

It was at that moment that the world become a blur of color and sound, that she lost herself in his gaze, his content smile, his laughter. It was only them in this room, in this town, this universe, and she was suddenly aware of the bond that had only kept strengthening between them since they'd met, the kind of bond that was between the sun and the moon, how the latter wouldn't shine without the former.

Carlos put her on her feet sooner than she would've liked, and reality knocked on the door of her delightful fantasy. He let her go, taking a step back.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, his cheeks scarlet, and the closeness they'd shared dawned upon her. Why had it ended so soon? She hadn't been ready for it to end that fast.

He ran a hand through his hair. Mirabel's face warmed unimaginably quickly, and her fingers dug in the folds of her skirt. The playroom was quieter than before, some kids watching the two teenagers keenly.

"There's nothing to be sorry for, Carlos," she said at last, her heartbeat going faster with every word.

His lopsided smile told her that at least a part of his fluster had been alleviated.

A cushion hit his head from the side; Rafael was standing on a chair, grinning.

"I challenge you to a duel, hermano!"

His brother placed a hand on his hip. "You'll be fighting a battle you can never win, Rafi."

Soon enough, when everyone was roped in the fight, Mirabel looked at Carlos. When they grinned playfully at each other, the world was perfect again.

"I feel like I should be more joyous because Zoraida is here," Carlos admitted on their way through Encanto, the sun having begun its descent. "She's safe now from whatever nightmare could have claimed her, and she'll be well taken care of, I know that, but… she shouldn't be separated from her mother. She should be… with her family."

He was so devastated by this unpredicted arrival that Mirabel didn't resist squeezing his shoulder in encouragement. When he looked at her, her hand flinched away.

"Sorry," she mumbled, flushing.

"What are you apologizing for?"

"Can we… not talk about it?"

"If that's what you want. But I'm here, Mirabel. If you need someone to listen."

"Wanna go to the library with me?" he then added, looking to make her forget her worries. "I know it's still open."

She smiled. "I'd like that."

As they changed the course, she remembered Isla's words from the afternoon.

"Carlos, can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

Suddenly, she felt as if she'd known him for years, as if his face was there, buried somewhere deep in her brain, fogged by forgetfulness, but still vaguely contoured by the force in her wishing to shine light upon it.

"Did you look for me when you arrived in Encanto?"

She had to see if he'd be candid.

His eyes rounded in surprise. "Yes, I did search for you. Do you remember… About three years ago, during my last visit to Mariano and Señora Guzmán, they, my family, and I were in the plaza, and I noticed you. The two of us spent some time together…" He paused, studying her almost warily. "You don't remember, do you?"

Mirabel inwardly slapped herself. Why couldn't she recall anything? She rubbed her temples, straining to find whatever bit of that day, of that encounter from so many months ago, but nothing showed up at her desperate call.

He tried to appear indifferent, but his mask was fissured by pain.

"I'm sorry," she uttered, "I don't mean to hurt you. I'll try to remember."

"It's okay. It's fine if you don't." He gave her a wink, and her heart jumped. "But if you don't remember, then how come you're asking me?"

"A little bird told me. You asked Señora Castillo for help to find me."

That perplexed him even more.

"Somebody overheard, didn't they?"

"Don't beat around the bush, Carlos. Be straight-forward with me, please. Why did you want to see me?"

"Because I thought it'd be nice to see you again."

"Is that the only reason? Because my intuition tells me it's more than that."

"What more could be there? Name it."

"Oh, I don't know, you tell me that."

He sighed. He admired her perseverance, but it could get frustrating.

"I already told you, cosa linda. I wanted to get to know you. There's nothing more to add."

She was investigating every inch of his face in search of any sign of lie, of uncertainty, but he didn't shift before her stare. Her curiosity and determination didn't daunt him; he was rather eyeing her with amusement.

Things were in his favour because they reached the library.

The immense, imposing library.

When the Miracle had been bestowed upon the Madrigals, this library had held no more than a few hundred books. Now, fifty years later, as Mirabel took in the familiar sight of the wooden doors, she could attest it was home to at least ten thousand.

Carlos opened the door for her, calming silence enveloping them. "Do you have anything you wanna read?"

"I do, yes. Dolores wants a book too, so I'll get it for her, and Luisa… She doesn't have a lot of free time anymore, but I know she still loves reading. I might get something for her as well."

Following their entrance from the hallway into the actual library, they greeted the two librarians, and headed where they needed, since Mirabel knew all the sections by heart.

The air smelled of aged parchment and paper as well as of wood and flower fragrance. Rows of books stretched to the vaulted ceiling, the countless books whispering to be read, every one of them with its unique voice. The windows bathed the grandiose room in a warm light that begged you to just sit and engross yourself in stories. Ladders on casters were prepared to assist any curious soul who was willing to bravely scout the higher shelves to meet the creations they'd come here for. Long large carpets patterned the floor while lamps littered the desks and tables. Then there were the reading nooks that provided cosiness in corners mostly shielded from the eye for those who preferred solitude, framed by curtains and made more welcoming thanks to cushions. A clock on the far wall didn't let people forget reality completely.

While she began searching, Carlos beheld the stacked shelves in the section they'd made a beeline for. His fingers tingled when brushing the spines of multiple books on a higher shelf.

It took him ten minutes to find it. He pulled out a heavy dusty volume, three fingers thick. Judging by the yellowed pages, ragged covers, and partially wiped handwriting, he could only guess how old it was, but it still held together impressively well. The embossed title tickled his fingertips; it was written with loopy letters.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS

As simple as it was, the title was like an ancient call to him.

"I take it you're into folk stories?" Mirabel turned up behind him, studying the book with intrigued eyes.

He smiled. "A lot."

With shimmering eyes, he placed the book on the table, opening it to its contents. The ink was blacker than the night. All kinds of tales, fables, and many more flashed before their eyes when he flipped through the pages, scanning every word with sheer fascination. Yet there was also something… frantic and wild about the way he skimmed through the lines, explored the images and frowned deeply whenever certain parts of text were barely still visible or totally erased from age.

There was a total of three hundred stories.

"Why do you wanna read this, Carlos?" Mirabel asked over his shoulder, tugging him back to actuality. "Do you have a project at school or something?"

"No. Just pure passion." His stare dropped to the three books in her arms, carefully closing the one in his hands. "Found what you wanted?"

"Of course. I don't think there'll ever be a time when I come here and not find my desired book or books." She threw a glance at the great clock. "We should get going though."

With regret and yearning, he glimpsed the majestic room. A single room that contained so many worlds, so much knowledge…

On their way out, Mirabel mumbled while passing others who were also preparing to leave, "Is there a specific legend you wanna read about or are you borrowing this book just for fun?"

"I am in Encanto now, aren't I? A magical place. I wouldn't be surprised if I found something about it too."

"Carlos, Encanto is only fifty years old. This book… well…"

"I was kidding, come on!"

Yet in his eyes, there was hope. Fearless hope, as though he knew he'd found something incredibly useful.

Useful for what?

Sharpening her intuition, she voiced, "Do you believe in legends and myths, Carlos?"

"Not anymore. I used to as a kid, but I grew up. I just enjoy reading them."

"Really? 'Cause from the enthusiasm I see in you, you look like you still do believe."

He smirked at her. "I told you, I'm doing this for fun."

"Then let me know if you find some gemstone in a lake on a night with a full moon or something."

He chuckled delightfully. "You have my word."

Mirabel had somebody to interrogate. Today posed too many questions for her to stay passive. She marched to Dolores' bedroom, knocking gently.

"Come in!"

She peeked in. "Lola? Can I speak with you?"

Her older cousin was sitting at the dressing table in her nightgown, undoing her hair. "Sure."

After closing the door, Mirabel handed her the book.

"Oh! Thank you, Mira! I was planning to go to the library, but I didn't get the chance."

"You're welcome. And please, allow me." She motioned to the comb before the young woman's oval mirror. Dolores smiled gratefully, and Mirabel started her work. "You have such soft hair," she said dreamily.

"I'm not the only one. But tell me why you're truly here, you're keeping me on the edge of my seat."

Mirabel met her eyes in the mirror. "Lola, did someone cross into Encanto two nights ago? Did you happen to hear them?"

Dolores' brows raised. "No, Mirabel. You know I can't hear anything but what goes on in Casita when I'm in my room."

"Oh… right! Wait…"

She didn't know what she was talking about. That meant…

"You didn't spy on me today?"

"I know you went to the orphanage and to the library, but I didn't pay attention to what you did. Is everything okay? Why are you asking me this?"

No, it's not okay.

Mirabel ceased combing, choosing to stare at her cousin's curls, even when Dolores was silently begging to see her eyes in the reflection. After serious contemplation, Mirabel informed her about Zoraida, but omitted the part of the note that referred to the safety of Encanto for fear of worrying her cousin. They both knew that Dolores sometimes spilled the beans unintentionally.

And concerning the whole family, the whole town, wouldn't do.

Encanto is safe. It has been secure for five decades, why wouldn't it continue to be so? Abuela is certain that the magic is stronger than ever. We work harder every day to keep the Candle burning.

When Abuela came to mind, Mirabel realized one thing.

Alma should know about the excluded detail. It was her duty to be aware of possible threats in order to protect Encanto and its residents.

The ground ran from under her feet.

What was the threat? Was there really one? Or were there more?

Some parts of Colombia suffer violence, Carlos had said.

Great Heaven! Carlos had been here for only a little over a month! His family… had they been victims of this?

Something ripped from her chest. Had Carlos been a victim too? Had he been hurt when he left to search for his younger brother? Was he still hurt?

The last one wasn't a possibility. She'd witnessed him eat her mother's food.

But still… What had he gone through? Rafael? Their family?

At least the Serrano siblings' family was in a better place now, where they were safe and joyful.

How hadn't she realised this until now?

"Mirabel, what's wrong?"

Dolores was at her level, a hand on Mirabel's shoulder and the other on her cheek.

"Sorry, Lola. I'm alright. I just thought of something. Let me finish with your hair, please, then I'll leave you alone. I know you need quiet before you sleep."

Dolores was reluctant to let it go, but a heartening nod from her prima convinced her to sit back down. Mirabel grabbed the comb once more, her fingers curling painfully around the wooden handle.

They could never be too careful. It was best to ascertain Encanto was impregnable. Prevention never did any wrong.

Her heart clenched at the thought of so many people living in terror outside Encanto. They were helpless, and horrified, and…

She drew a deep long breath, exhaling slowly, and reassuring Dolores nothing was wrong with a smile. Accompanying her disconcerted state, thunder rumbled above, the wind howling.

"Poor baby." Dolores' shoulders sagged. "No one deserves to go through that. Life is so unfair…"

Rain was banging on the windows, the sky roaring. They noticed it darken, the glowering clouds twisting and swirling together until lightning struck, illuminating everything for a split moment.

A split second during which the mountains seemed to crack in two.

Another bolt of lightning reflected in the mirror, tearing Mirabel's image in half. It was followed by a more powerful rumble, repetitive this time.

An icy chill invaded her veins, but she kept on neatening her cousin's strands.

"It is. It is."