Vee Meets Her Abuela
Disclaimer: I do not own Owl House and make no profit of any kind from this story.
Life in the human realm had been a major adjustment for Vee. Every day since she had found her way there had been a new learning experience, some more difficult than others. Despite how challenging it had been, Vee was much happier than she had ever been in her old life. And after her secret had been exposed and Camila knew her real identity, things had become even better.
For starters, Vee didn't need to disguise herself all the time anymore. So long as she kept away from the windows facing the street, she could just go around the house in her basilisk form. It had also been a relief to drop the act as well. Not that Vee had really gotten Luz's personality down pat, but it was still a relief for her to not need to keep trying.
Another perk had been finally getting to be more open about her own personal needs. For the most part, hers were the same as any human. Food, water, a roof over her head, and a warm place to sleep. There was also her need to ingest magic, but for the time being that was also covered. All that left was a few hygiene issues, like moisturizers for her dry skin. And Camila was happy to provide them.
Overall, Vee found that Camila was just as good a caretaker with her real self as she had been during her time posing as Luz. Camila was a kind, considerate, and open-minded individual. Vee had worried that things would be awkward after Camila discovered she wasn't human. But there was hardly a difference at all. Only that Camila called Vee by her real name. They still shared meals and did activities together every day, much to Vee's delight.
They were in the middle of a game one morning, on one of Camila's days off from work. It was a friendly round of rummy, a game which had become a fast favorite for Vee. Camila shared in that sentiment, giving the two a regular activity to enjoy when Camila had free time. And Vee proved to be quite the opponent for her too, adding further to the fun.
After finishing their second game that morning, which was also the second win for Vee, Camila began shuffling the cards for another round. Vee got up from her seat at the kitchen table to freshen up Camila's tea, fetching a drinkable yogurt for herself from the refrigerator. It was another of the things she had been happy to finally ask Camila about since she no longer needed to pretend to be Luz. A little something she had learned she liked a lot during her stay at camp.
Rejoining Camila at the table, Vee passed over the fresh cup of tea to the woman and then took the cap off her drink, downing it quickly. Camila had a sip of her tea and then began dealing out the cards. Then she set the rest of the deck out on the middle of the table and flipped over the top card, laying it to the side.
"Alright, time for my comeback." Camila announced, picking up her hand and looking it over. "I've got a good feeling this time."
Camila drew the top card of the deck and then picked out another card to place onto the table. Vee saw that she had discarded the two of spades, so she picked up the card on the table and then replaced it with a card from her hand, the two of hearts. It went back to Camila's turn and she drew from the deck again, discarding another card a moment later.
The game went on for the next few minutes, the two players quietly taking their turns as they worked towards being able to play their cards onto the table. Camila reached out to pick up the card which Vee had just swapped on her previous turn, replacing it with the eight of clubs. Vee grabbed it immediately and set down a run of four cards, leaving her with only three in her hand. She smirked innocently while Camila mentally cursed.
Before Camila could do anything for her turn, their game was interrupted by her phone ringing. She set down her cards and checked to see who was calling her. It was her mother, Alma.
"I need to take this, Vee. You don't mind if I step into the other room for a minute, do you?"
Vee shook her head. "No. I don't mind."
"Gracias, I'll be right back." Camila replied, answering the call, and heading out of the kitchen. "Hola, Mamá. ¿Comó estás?"
She continued to speak as she stepped into the living room, Vee barely able to hear her. Not that it mattered, as she was still learning Spanish. It wasn't hard for her to learn, but she was still far off from fluency. Camila had shown her an app to help her, and Vee made use of it every day. The idea to get a little practice in while she waited for Camila to return crossed her mind, but she figured the wait wouldn't be long.
A little over a minute later, Camila returned. She had an anxious expression on her face, which sparked concern in Vee, who got up from her seat. Camila managed to force a small smile to try and put Vee's mind at ease, but her own nerves kept it from coming across as sincere.
"So…" Camila began. "That was my mother… I've told you about her before. Well, when I thought you were Luz, that is…"
"Is everything okay?" Vee asked, worry evident in her tone.
"Everything is fine. But we may have a little problem… no, that's not the right word. You see, the thing is… we could be in a bit of trouble. She's coming by to visit us… today."
"That's not so bad." Vee replied. "I've talked with her before, when I was 'Luz'. I think she's nice. When is she going to be here?"
"Any second now." Camila answered apprehensively. "She was on the way when she called."
Almost as if on cue, the doorbell rang. Camila went to answer it, Vee catching her voice along with another one both speaking Spanish. A mild panic overcame Vee as she shifted into Luz's form and scrambled her mind to try and recall what little she knew of the Spanish so far. She was barely able to keep her composure as Camila returned to the kitchen with her mother.
Alma and Camila had many similarities with their physical appearances. The differences, other than age, were that Alma was slightly shorter and thinner than Camila, and all her hair was grey. She also didn't wear glasses and preferred little hoop earrings instead of studded ones like her daughter. Her choice of apparel was a white blouse with a baby blue shawl wrap, paired with some scrub pants. Before retirement, Alma had worked as a psychiatric nurse in a nursing home and found scrub pants to be so comfy that she like to wear them casually.
The moment she spotted Vee, Alma went directly over to her and opened her arms for a hug. Vee stepped up to accept, also getting a little smooch on each cheek. She spotted Camila signaling for her to return the gesture, which did not go unnoticed by Alma. The elderly woman let out a warm-hearted chuckle and patted Vee on the head.
"It's alright, Nieta. I understand. You're getting too old to be giving your abuela kisses."
"No, t-that's not it…" Vee stammered. "It's just that I… uh, was surprised to see you."
"Yes, we both are surprised to have you over, Mamá." Camila added. "I thought you were still down in Puerto Plata, visiting your old college friend."
"I came back a little earlier than expected." Alma replied. "A family emergency came up and it didn't feel right for me to stay with something so personal happening. So I packed my things and caught the next flight back. After taking a day to rest, I thought it would be nice to stop by and visit both of you instead."
"Oh, I see. Well it's always nice to have you over. Ve… Luz and I were just playing a game. Would you like to join us? It won't be any trouble for us to start a new game, right Mija?"
"You mean after I win this one, right Mom?" Vee replied playfully. "Or are you admitting defeat now?"
Alma chuckled. "Afraid of losing to your bebé, Hija? Don't worry, Mamá will save you." She said, going to take a seat at the table. "You can lose to me instead."
Camila sat back down and gathered up the cards, noticing the smug little smirk on Vee's face. She ignored it, partially because it reminded her a little too much of the real Luz. It was the same look Luz would have any time she won against her in one of her little video games. Those Camila didn't mind losing, since she wasn't as invested in them as Luz was. But Vee proved to be quite the formidable opponent in cards. And the only other person to win so often against her at any card game had just joined them at the table.
Almost two hours later, both Vee and Camila had yielded to Alma's superior card skills. Camila let out a defeated sigh and gathered up the cards again while Vee stared at Alma in silent awe. They had switched from rummy to hearts after Alma's first couple wins. Alma had dominated them both easily. Then they had tried a couple rounds of crazy eights, once again adding to Alma's winning streak. In a last-ditch effort to try and get Alma to lose just one game, Camila had suggested go fish. The final score was Alma with seven wins and zero for both Camila and Vee.
"How did you get so good at cards?" Vee asked, still marveling at the elderly woman's skill.
"I have had lots and lots of practice." Alma replied. "I play almost every weekend with friends, and back when your Mamá was little, I taught her how to play every game I knew. She has never beaten me, not even once."
"Wow, that is so cool!"
"Oh, gracias, Cariño. It's nice to see someone can appreciate a game without having to win."
"Easy to say when you almost never lose." Camila muttered.
"What was that, Hija?"
"Nothing, Mamá." Camila replied, forcing a smile. "So, should we play another round of go fish or would you like to play a different game?"
"I would love to, if we had the time." Alma told her, checking her watch. "But your sister will be back to pick you up soon."
"Raquel is coming to pick me up?" Camila asked in confusion. "What do you mean? She and I didn't make any plans today."
Alma smirked. "Surprise, Hija! I arranged a spa day for the two of you. She had to go get an oil change done first, but now she is taking you to a very nice place down in Rhode Island for a day of relaxation."
Camila stared silently at her mother for a moment, stunned silent. Then she smiled, an excited look coming to her eyes. The way Camila was reacting got Alma's smile to grow and she found herself on the receiving end of a big hug.
"¡Gracias Mamá! What a wonderful surprise; you really shouldn't have!"
"Nonsense. You deserve a nice treat. You work so hard and you have been through so much. You deserve a day of pampering."
The sound of a car horn from out front caught their attention. Camila almost went to hurry and grab her bag so she could go, but stopped when she remembered Vee. She didn't want to rush off and leave Vee behind, but getting out of her surprise trip to the spa would not be so easy. Perhaps if her mother was tagging along with them, it would be alright, but…
"You don't need to worry about Luz." Alma told her, picking up on her disclination. "I'll be here to keep her company. It's been far too long since we had a day together."
"Mamá, she's a teenager, I'm not worried about leaving her alone. It's just that… I told her I'd help her with something today. She's been going through… a phase and I was going to talk to her about it."
"Is everything alright?"
"Oh, it's just teenager stuff." Camila chuckled with a dismissive wave of her hand. "You remember what I was like at that age. We just need to talk for a bit, that's all. If you don't mind, I'm going to bring her upstairs so we can have a little privacy."
Alma gave a short nod, an understanding look in her eyes. Vee got up from her seat and Camila led her up to the second floor. They stepped into Luz's bedroom, Camila shutting the door quietly behind them. She let out a soft sigh and went to sit on the bed, rubbing her temples gently.
"Oh, how are we going to handle this?" She asked, more to herself than to Vee. "As badly as I wish I could just say no, I can't."
"Then don't." Vee said simply with a small smile. "You looked really happy just now in the kitchen. You should go, your mom is right, you deserve to have a nice day out. After everything you've done for me, I think it's the least you should get."
Camila smiled and patted the space beside her. Vee joined her and quickly found herself being pulled into a light side-hug. She sank into it, savoring the motherly affection she which she had grown accustomed to since arriving in the human realm. It had become easier for her to indulge in such little moments since her true identity had been revealed. And they had become so much nicer as well.
"Thank you, Mija." Camila said. "It is so good to have you here. I don't think I'd have been able to cope so well without Luz if I hadn't taken you in. Even back when I first mistook you for Luz, it was such a good thing I found you. Being able to give you a home makes me very happy."
Vee let Camila's words sink in, her eyes moistening. She sniffled and clung closer to her surrogate mother, giving her a big squeeze. Camila patted Vee's head and allowed her a moment before ending the hug and standing up.
"Alright, if you're sure you don't mind it if I go, then I'll go." She said.
"I don't mind. It will be nice to get to know more about your family."
"Our family, you mean." Camila warmly corrected. "But are you sure you'll be okay while I'm gone? I may not be back until it's time for dinner."
"Uh-huh, I'll be fine." Vee replied. "Unless… am I going to need to speak Spanish around her? I'm still only learning the basics."
"Just try to refresh your memory with your Bilinguo app on your phone." Camila advised. "And your abuela enjoys her stories. Put channel seven on and there is bound to be a telenovela she'll be absorbed with for a while. Use that time to brush up and make sure you keep the sound off, okay?"
"Okay, got it."
The two left the room and returned downstairs. Vee went with Camila to the door and gave her another quick hug before she had to leave. Outside, the car horn honked again and Camila sighed with mild exasperation. She opened the door, calling to her mother as she stepped outside and giving Vee an encouraging thumbs up before heading off.
Vee watched Camila get into a red Porsche parked out in front of the house. She waved as the car drove off, closing the door and stepping back into the kitchen where Alma was playing a game of solitaire. When she spotted Vee returning, she gathered them up and gave them a quick shuffle.
"Would you like to play another game?" She asked.
"Um… maybe later. I was thinking we could go watch something. Aren't your stories on soon?"
"Is it already that time?"
Alma checked her watch and set the cards back into their box. She set the box onto the table and stood, stretching a little before heading to the living room. Vee let her through and then followed her to the couch. They sat down and she got the remote, turning the television on and turning it to channel seven for Alma. A commercial was airing, allowing Vee a good excuse to bring out her phone.
"Did you get a new phone, Nieta?" Alma inquired. "When did that happen?"
"Oh… um, not long ago. My old one kinda broke." Vee explained. "I would have told you, but I haven't put you back into my contacts yet. I um… can't remember your number…"
With a sigh, Alma held out her hand. "Let me see, Luz. I'll do it for you." She said, receiving Vee's phone. "Your Mamá should have told me about your phone needing to be replaced. I'll be sure to talk to her when she gets back."
She entered herself in the contacts on Vee's phone and then returned it to her. A commercial came one which caught her attention, her eyes fixing on the screen. Vee meanwhile, stared at the addition to her contact list, an unfamiliar feeling growing within her.
"Is something wrong?" Alma asked, snapping Vee out of her daze.
"No. It's just… nice to know I can talk to you again." Vee replied, smiling a little. "It's been a while. I've… missed hearing from you abella…"
Vee caught her mistake just a second too late. Alma quirked an eyebrow at her with a side glance. For a moment, Vee's anxiety spiked, a cold bead of sweat running down her face. She felt her grip on her human form slipping, but willed herself to hold onto it before she could start reverting to her basilisk form. Thinking quickly, she let out a nervous giggle and stuck out her tongue.
"Oops. It's been so long since I've talked with you, I almost forgot how to say 'abuela'."
Alma let out a chuckle. "Que chica tan tonta." She commented. "It's good to see at least that part of you hasn't changed. You seemed different from the last time I saw you. So quiet and composed. Usually, you cannot sit still and love to talk about your fantasy books or your anime cartoons."
"Heh, I guess going to camp helped me grow up a little…"
"Just don't try to act grown up to get others to like you, Nieta. The real you, that is the best you, no matter what anyone says. Never pretend to be anyone else."
"Y-you don't need to worry about that, Abuela. I won't…"
She went silent after that, her nerves starting to get to her again. Fortunately, the commercials ended and Alma's attention went to the show, keeping her from picking up on Vee's change in mood. Vee tried to focus on the show for a bit, to distract herself from her own thoughts. It was a telenovela called La Noche Estrallada, some kind of love story from what she could see happening on screen.
Her interest in the show faded quickly, mainly due to her inability to understand the dialogue. Although it also didn't seem like something she'd enjoy regardless. There was a lot of drama happening in the show. And with no way of understanding the context around that drama, Vee was just confused.
After waiting for the current scene to play out on the show, Vee took out her phone. She opened the Bilinguo app and made sure the volume was off before picking up where she had left off with her Spanish lessons. As she worked through the exercises she had most recently started, she peeked up at the screen every so often to just to make it seem like she was still watching the show.
Eventually the next commercial break began and Alma turned her attention from the television. She spotted Vee staring at her phone screen, focused very intently on something. Vee was stuck on one of the lessons and becoming mildly irritated. Then she finally got past it and finished the lesson, smirking with self-satisfaction at her triumph.
"What is so amusing on your phone, Nieta?" Alma asked.
"Nothing." Vee answered, holding her phone close to herself.
"It must be something if it's keeping you from watching La Noche Estrallada. You usually love convoluted romance stories." Alma noted, sounding suspicious. "You aren't using your phone for anything you shouldn't be, are you?"
Vee shook her head, becoming as confused as she was anxious. Knowing better than to try and defy an adult, she reluctantly showed the phone screen to Alma. Fortunately, she had backed out of the Spanish section of the app and it was currently displaying the full list of languages available to learn.
"What's this? Bilinguo?" Alma queried in mild puzzlement. "You were just trying to learn a new language?"
"Um, yeah! I was studying how to speak…" Vee began, stealing a quick peek at the list. "Uh… Atlantean."
Alma let out a chuckle. "Of course you would try to learn a fictional language." She commented good-naturedly. "You are like your father that way."
"I am? What was he like?"
"That is a better question for your Mamá. And why would you be asking that? You should remember him."
"N-no, I do. I was thinking more like… when he first started to date Mom." Vee replied. "I would ask her… but I feel it's kind of not okay to do that. I'd feel bad if I upset her by asking her to talk about him…"
"Why would you think that? The two of you have so many precious memories of him. She'd love to talk with you about them."
"Maybe… but lately it just feels like it's always been the two of us. I feel like what I remember about him is just what I've heard about him. Does… does that make me a bad daughter?"
"Oh, Luz… of course not. It's been years since you had to say goodbye and you've grown so much since then. There are so many newer memories you have with just your Mamá and you've gotten used to life being just you and her. But there are still memories of you with your Papí, you just need to let them come back to you. Talk with your Mamá about it, and you'll see easily enough."
Vee smiled a little. "Thanks. I think I will."
"Good, now how would you like to hear a story about your Mamá back when she was still in school?"
"Yes please!" Vee replied with a delighted look in her eyes.
Alma chuckled. "Back when Camila was still in middle school, she started to love science fiction. But it got her bullied by her peers. She didn't have many friends because of the bullying. For the longest time, the only person she could spend time with was Manny, your Papí.
"Camila started to have real trouble in high school. She always came home upset and she didn't want to talk about what was bothering her. So we had to take her to counseling and we learned she was depressed, so she had to start taking medication. But that didn't help as much as I had hoped.
"The medication made Camila moody. She started to get upset more often and for almost no reason sometimes. By this time, she and Manny had been dating for a few months. Her bad moods caused trouble with her love life too and every time she got mad with Manny, she got gloomier. But Manny didn't let it keep him from caring about Camila. He always wanted to try and do what was in her best interest. And Camila didn't it easy for him to try and help her."
"What do you mean?" Vee inquired, unable to hold in her curiosity.
"Manny tried to visit every day to talk to her during summer break one year. Camila was hiding in her room all the time by that point. She had started a hobby of making taxidermy. Usually, she used a poor animal that was hit by a car. But sometimes she would go out fishing and use what she caught. It got her even more ridicule from her classmates and it got to the point where she just never seemed happy anymore. And that upset Manny very much…
"So, he kept stopping by, asking to talk to Camila. And she would always refuse to see him because she just didn't want to talk to anyone. But one day, Manny refused to leave until she said something to him. So she just screamed at him and slammed the door in his face."
"He didn't break up with her, did he?"
"Luckily for your Mamá, he was very patient with her. He kept visiting and eventually, Camila started to open up to him again. Then they worked together to help Camila with her depression and she was able to stop taking that medication. And when they graduated high school, they went to the same college together and they got engaged not long after that. Your Mamá's life began getting better and better until she truly felt happy."
"How did she do that?"
"Such a silly thing to ask, Nieta. She married someone she loved and then became a mother. Nothing has made her happier than having you in her life."
Vee had mixed feelings after hearing that. It made her feel a little happy, but she knew that Alma was referring to Luz. So she also felt guilty and a little sad too. A part of her wondered just how her real-self fit into Camila's life compared to when she was pretending to be Luz. There was still so much Camila didn't know about her yet and she in turn had much to learn about Camila. Something she planned to accomplish right away.
Feeling a little sheepish about it, Vee asked if she could hear more of what Camila was like as a kid. Alma was more than happy to oblige. The television was turned off and Alma began recounting events from Camila's youth. Vee sat attentively, hanging onto her every word.
The remainder of the morning was spent with Alma telling her stories to Vee. Before they knew it, the time was just past noon and they agreed to prepare lunch together. They returned to the kitchen and Alma checked the fridge and cupboards for meal options. She found canned tuna and opted to prepare them some tuna melts, with lactose free cheese.
While she began preparing their meal, Alma started to sing. The lyrics were in Spanish, and while they sounded nice, Vee was clueless as to their meaning. She listened regardless, finding herself humming along with the tune, albeit slightly behind Alma while she sang. Alma picked up on her accompaniment and started to sing a little louder, gesturing for Vee to join her, but Vee only stopped humming in response.
"Don't be shy, Nieta. Sing with me."
"Um, I think I'll pass, thanks. My voice has been kinda funny lately. You know… changing and stuff…"
"Abuela doesn't mind. You know I would never laugh at you, even if you're voice sounds funny."
Her gentle coaxing was met with silent refusal. Vee shook her head anxiously, feeling slightly guilty for disappointing Alma. But she just couldn't risk it between her still learning to speak Spanish, and also because she didn't know the song lyrics at all. However, she discovered that Alma didn't seem to mind as she simply returned to singing by herself and continued preparing their lunch.
They sat at the table and Vee found some potato chips and iced tea for them to enjoy with the tuna melts. The meal was quick, but satisfying, and they moved onto washing their dishes. Vee handled the washing and Alma dried them before putting them away. Once they were finished, they decided to return to the living room and resume enjoying some telanovelas.
While Alma went to turn the television back on, Vee offered to get something for them to enjoy as dessert. She went into the fridge momentarily and then went to join Alma on the couch. As soon as she sat down, she held one hand to Alma, offering her one of the treats she had brought.
"Is that yogurt?" Alma asked. "Nieta, you know I'm lactose intolerant. Just like your Mamá. And you too."
Vee felt her mind go blank for a second as she realized her mistake. She had to struggle to not let it show when she began mentally kick herself and think up a way to handle her slip-up. Panic began to rise within her as she scrambled her brains to figure something out, her eyes darting down to the bottles.
"Oh, um…. Oops." She lamely said. "I must've gotten the wrong ones. These aren't the lactose free kind."
She got up and made a quick trip back into the kitchen to put the yogurts away. Then she took a moment to think things over before rejoining Alma. If she could just keep writing it off as a mistake, she figured maybe Alma wouldn't bring it up again. And if she did… Vee would have to try to change the subject somehow.
When she got back to her seat on the couch, she was grateful to find that the show had Alma's attention. Vee opted to watch this one instead of trying to work on her Spanish lessons on her phone again. She tried to follow the show, picking up what she could through the way the characters acted and how they sounded when they were talking. There was still a lot she couldn't figure out, but it did manage to keep her somewhat entertained.
On the screen a man and woman seemed to be having some sort of passionate discussion. Whatever it was about, the man seemed to be wooing the woman. At first, she seemed resistant, but then the man suddenly kissed her. Vee felt her face heating up at the sight and quickly looked down at her lap. There was a little more of the passionate dialogue and then some music began playing.
Looking up again, Vee saw the end credits for the show were on screen. The episode had ended. Alma let out a soft sigh, clasping her hands in front of herself, the corners of her eyes slightly moist.
"How romantic…"
"Um… yeah, those two make a great couple."
"¿Qué quieres decir? Cariño, that awful man has been harassing her at work. She has rejected him many times and then he forces himself on her. That's when she said that sort of selfishness is why he will never win her over. Her heart belongs to her fiancé, who is a soldier deployed oversea. And she said even if he does not come back alive, she will always be his and his alone, heart and soul."
"Oh… y-yeah, that's what I meant…"
"Is that so? Strange, I almost thought you didn't understand what was going on in the story."
"No, I totally knew what was going on… it's just…"
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were having trouble with Spanish…"
"Well… maybe a little… I kinda haven't been speaking it a lot at school." Vee falsely admitted. "Other kids don't seem to like it…"
Alma scoffed. "Ridículo. There is nothing wrong with knowing more than one language." She said, raising an eyebrow questioningly. "You've been bilingual as long as you've been able to speak. I find it hard to believe you're having trouble speaking Spanish when you've been fluent from the start."
Vee was struck silent, once again unable to think of how to respond. She gave into her instincts and got up to leave the room, feeling her hold on her human form weakening. Fortunately, with her back turned to Alma as she fled the room, Vee was able to keep the first and most minute changes from being seen. However, it also focused Alma's attention on her as she made her hasty departure.
"Where are you going?"
"B-bathroom!" Vee blurted out in mild panic. "I have to use the bathroom! Excuse me!"
She rushed out, feeling her human form slightly shifting further back to basilisk as she went. It wasn't until she shut herself inside that she finally managed to stop the changes. Her nerves were frazzled and she was at a loss for what to do. There was no way she could find to explain her way out of that big slip up.
Breathe. She just needed to breathe and calm herself. Then she'd try to think once her mind wasn't clouded by panic. Vee stepped over to the mirror to try doing a little breathing exercise Camila had taught her. Take slow, deep breaths while making eye contact with your reflection. It wasn't something she had put into practice before, but she trusted Camila and that was enough to know it would help.
Turning to face the mirror, Vee approached and met her reflection's eyes. She saw some of her basilisk traits had come out, her eyes and hair had begun changing back. After her first deep breath, she got them back to looking like Luz's, or rather, her version of that.
Starting to feel better, Vee turned her focus to finding a way out of her current predicament. It crossed her mind to try calling Camila, but she wasn't sure how likely the woman would be able to answer her phone. She was too afraid to even try, not sure what to do if she only got the voicemail. Not that she was any better off without trying.
It was worth a shot. And all Vee could think to do. She brought out her phone and called Camila, starting to pace back and forth as it began to ring. Her free hand moved up to her face while she moved, unconsciously biting her nails with each step.
Her gut feeling unfortunately proved to be correct as Camila's voicemail came on after a few rings. Vee didn't bother leaving a message and just ended the call, knowing that the wait for a call back would most likely be too long. She put her phone away and began trying to think up another way to handle things.
Vee soon came up with a solution that, at least in her mind, work out nicely. She'd simply fake being sick and spend the remainder of the time until Camila came home laying in her bed. It didn't sit well with her to deceive Alma that way, but… she was already pretending to be her granddaughter so Vee just justified it as a minor transgression in face of the larger, more necessary one.
Returning to the mirror, Vee got ready to slightly alter her appearance to pass off as being unwell. Nothing major, she'd just want to make herself seem paler and sickly. She wasn't sure if it would be convincing enough, but if she put on a good act with it, she hoped it would do the job.
The image in the mirror didn't change, leaving Vee mildly confused. She knew she was changing her skin, but she couldn't see even the slightest difference in her reflection yet. No, there was something different… but not her skin. It was her hair. Somehow, it had gone from the neatly parted style she had chosen to the pixie cut that Luz usually favored. Vee almost changed it, but then she noticed her clothing had changed too…
"Are you feeling okay?" Her reflection asked, tilting her head.
"OhmyTitan!" Vee cried, recoiling from the mirror. "Luz?!"
"Sorry! I wasn't trying to scare you, honest!" Luz replied. "I was just checking in to say 'hi'. So, uhh… hi…"
"Hi…" Vee weakly responded, still recovering from the start she had gotten. "Um, so, still no luck with making a portal?"
"Nope. Second verse same as the first. But it was a little easier to get this one started, so that's progress, I guess. Anyways, how are things going here?"
"Terrible! Luz, I have no idea what to do! Your abuela came over suddenly and now it's just the two of us while your mom is on a spa day and I keep making mistakes! I think she suspects I'm not really you!"
"Ooh, yeah… Abuela Alma is scary good at catching people in lies. She's super perceptive. I wanted to try throwing her a surprise party for her birthday last year and she figured it out like… the next day." Luz explained, crossing her arms. "Not that I'm giving up. I'll get her next time."
"Luz! Help! What should I do? I thought I could fake being sick…."
"I'm going to stop you right there, because you won't be able to fool her with that. She'll see right through it, no problem."
"Then what can I do if lying won't work?!"
"Well… it wouldn't be a lie if you just told her that you haven't been yourself lately, am I right?" Luz asked with a smirk.
"This isn't time for jokes! Please, Luz!" Vee stressed, her eyes changing back.
"Okay, okay, easy now. Let's go over what's happened. What kind of mistakes are you talking about?"
"I keep messing up with Spanish and… I kinda forgot you can't have stuff like yogurt."
"Uh-oh… you didn't eat that in front of her… she'd absolutely know something isn't right if you did…" Luz replied, starting to look a little worried. "She's lactose intolerant too, it runs in her side of the family. And we can't do lactase supplements either… I'm allergic to those!"
Vee whimpered. "What's going to happen if she finds out I'm not you?! Camila won't get in big trouble, will she?"
"With Abuela? Definitely. But she shouldn't get in trouble for taking you in… uhh… unless someone finds out that she never reported me missing. That might get the authorities involved."
"She could go to jail for that?!" Vee exclaimed, sounding distressed. "No! She's been so good to me; I would never forgive myself if I got her sent to jail!"
"That won't happen…" Luz told Vee, trying to sound assuring. "Abuela Alma won't tell anyone. If we just explain things to her…"
"Explain what? That I'm a demon and you're trapped in my home realm? And that I've been impersonating you, lying to your mom for weeks?!"
"When you put it that way, yeah, it sounds bad… but if we can find a way to break the news gently…"
"HOW?!"
The moment Vee's little outburst escaped her mouth, a knock sounded at the bathroom door. Both Vee and Luz looked to the door in unison, Vee's pupils shrinking to pinpoints as she realized she had left it unlocked. Another knock sounded, followed by the sound of Alma's voice.
"Luz? Cariño, are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine!" Vee called back
"All good, Abuela!" Luz said at the same time.
"What was that? Is someone in there with you?"
Vee and Luz looked at each other, both stunned silent. Luz silently gestured for Vee to do something, but all Vee could do was jump into the tub as the door handle began turning. She pulled the curtain closed, her form reverting more as she crossed her arms over her head.
The door opened and Alma stepped into the bathroom. Luz kept silent, watching as her abuela searched the room, her gaze falling on the shower curtain. She went over and slowly reached for the edge of the curtain, hearing noise from the other side.
"Cariño, you're worrying me. Please tell me what is wrong…"
Alma moved the shower curtain aside and Vee whimpered, shrinking away from her. She dared to peek, Alma catching a glimpse of her real eyes. The surprise on the woman's face made Vee hide her face again, but other basilisk traits began to show themselves. Vee could feel the small changes and with them, a sinking feeling in her gut as she knew there was no way she could possibly still pass for a human.
"What in the world?" Alma asked softly.
She slowly knelt by the tub, leaning on it with one hand. Vee was starting to hyperventilate, her nerves causing her form to regress to normal even more. Alma watched as the girl who had looked like her grandchild slowly became something she had never even considered could be real. The realization that came with the sight filled her with dread and rendered her speechless. Her silence at the sight only unsettled Vee more, who began trembling in the tub.
"Don't look at me…" Vee whimpered, her voice barely strong enough to break the silence.
"Where is my granddaughter?" Alma firmly asked in response. "And who are you?"
"It's okay, Abuela Alma, she's a friend!" Luz blurted out.
The sudden sound of her granddaughter's voice startled Alma. She looked around the room, confused as to Luz's exact whereabouts. Her gaze went by the mirror and then back, her eyes fixing on the image of Luz in the glass, but with nothing in front of it to create the reflection. Luz smiled sheepishly and, unsure of what else to do, waved at her.
"Hi… So, I'm sure you have a lot of questions. But I can explain. It just might take a while…"
"Then you had better start talking." Alma sternly replied, crossing her arms. "Starting with telling me where in the world you are right now!"
"About that… I'm not exactly in the world… You know how I was supposed to go to camp this summer?"
Alma sat in the kitchen, shuffling the deck of cards idly. Vee was sitting beside her at the table, back in Luz's form and watching MewTube on her phone. She had subscribed to some channels that showed the rescue and rehabilitation of injured wildlife and was enjoying some of her favorites with the volume turned up to Alma could listen in while she shuffled the cards.
Eventually the sound of the front door opening and closing again caught their attention. Alma put away the cards, setting them down on the table and called to let Camila know they were in the kitchen. Vee paused her current video and closed the app, putting her phone on the table as well. They sat facing the entryway to the kitchen, waiting for when Camila would join them.
A minute later, Camila stepped into the kitchen, looking completely refreshed. Vee almost hadn't recognized her with the youthful glow she now seemed to possess. And Vee immediately felt guilty that the good day Camila just had enjoyed would end with some stressful news. She and Alma had agreed not to text or call Camila regarding the matter as they felt talking face to face would be the best way to handle the matter.
"Did you have a nice time, Hija?"
"It was wonderful, Mamá. So relaxing. I didn't realize how badly I needed to unwind!" Camila replied. "And how was your day?"
"It was… enlightening. Luz and I had a talk. She's been going through a lot lately, but she is in good spirits. She says hello and sends her love."
"Oh… how nice…" Camila said, looking to Vee. "Um, Mamá loves you too, Cariño."
"And she told me all about Vee too."
Camila froze, the color draining from her face. Her eyes shifted over to Vee again, the timid look on her face confirming that Camila had heard her mother right. Alma's eyes were moistening and she got up from the table, stepping over to her.
"I am so very upset about this, and so very afraid. And I can only imagine that you have felt the same for so long… Camila, mi preciosa hija, ven aquí."
She held out her arms for Camila, who stood still for a moment. But then she quickly entered her mother's embrace and the two started to sob silently together. Camila hugged her mother tightly, sniffling as tears streamed down her face continuously.
"Mama lo siento. Nunca quise que esto pasara."
Alma hushed her, rubbing her back. "Lo entiendo, bebé. No es tu culpa."
They spent a little longer holding each other, waiting for their tears to stop. Alma guided Camila to the table and had her sit down. Camila dug into her bag for her handkerchief and dried her eyes, blowing her nose afterwards. She then felt someone hugging her again, finding Vee had suddenly clinged to her, squeezing her with all her strength. The sight got a chuckle out of Alma, and a sad smile.
"You have done such a wonderful thing, giving a safe home to this sweet child." She said, tenderly cupping Camila's face with both hands. "And you have been so brave, dealing with this terribly unreal situation. But you don't need to bear this burden alone anymore. I can accept you had to keep it secret, but only if you promise that you will let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Okay, Cariño?"
"Okay, Mamá." Camila replied.
Her mother hugged her again, this time putting an arm around Vee as well. Then Alma stepped back and took out her phone. She took a little time to send a text message and then put it away again.
"As much as I want to talk about this more. I don't want to inconvenience your sister. She is my ride home after all. But I plan to come back tomorrow so we can continue this little talk of ours. I'd like to get to know Vee better too. If there is one good thing to come out of this craziness, it's that I have another nieta who I can spoil."
Camila smiled. "Good, this poor girl needs all the love she can get. You can spend time playing cards with her too."
"She can play cards with me any time I can come over for a visit. And I can teach her Spanish too. She'll need to know to speak it fluently since she is a member of our family now." Alma stated, then smirking at Camila. "And I can tell her more stories about you too. She seemed to really enjoy the ones I told her earlier."
"… which stories would that be?" Camila asked nervously.
"The ones where you went through your dark and moody phase." Alma replied. "Don't worry, I plan to save the more embarrassing ones for another day. For now, I should be going. I'll call you first thing in the morning. Te amo, bebé."
"Te amo, Mamá."
"Bye, Abuela, it was nice meeting you!" Vee added, waving.
Alma waved back and took her leave. After hearing the door, Camila let out a heavy sigh and slumped down in her seat. She rubbed her eyes with both hands and removed her glasses. For a few moments, she sat and just kept her eyes closed while letting herself try and settle down after the sudden turn of events.
"It's a good thing I had that day at the spa." She remarked. "I don't know if I could have handled it so easily if I had been here when she learned the truth."
"Sorry." Vee said. "I didn't mean to cause trouble for you…"
"You don't have to apologize, Vee. Knowing my mother, she would have caught on soon enough." Camila replied. "Honestly, it is a relief to not have to hide it from her. Now, how about we do something fun to take our minds off all of that and then we can decide what to do for dinner?"
Vee picked up the cards from the table and held them in front of herself. She had a look on her face, pleading yet mischievous. Camila gently placed her hand on the deck of cards and pushed it down.
"Pass. I have lost enough at cards for one day." She said with a good-natured chuckle. "Here's an idea, let's try playing one of Luz's video games. There is one that I like called Animal Junction."
"Oh, I know that one! Masha told me about it. They don't play, but we've watched people on MewTube play it."
"I'll never understand why kids like watching other people play games on MewTube." Camila stated flatly, shaking her head. "You will have much more fun playing together with me."
"Okay, and maybe tomorrow we can play more cards when Abuela comes over again?" Vee asked hopefully.
"I suppose we can, if you really want to…" Camila answered. "But remember, you need to still act more like Luz and she isn't very interested in traditional playing cards…"
"But I'm not really Luz." Vee said, innocently. "And Abuela told me that the real me is the best me. And the real me likes card games."
Camila smiled softly and patted Vee's head. "That's just like her to say that… I'm so glad that she got to meet the real you after all. It looks like she'd going to be a very good influence on you. I hope you get to keep spending lots of time with her."
Vee hugged Camila. "And you too! You've been a great influence on me, Mamá. I want to keep spending time with both of you. Because you're my family now."
"That's right, Cariño." Camila replied, returning the hug. "And we always will be."
The End.
Translations for those who need them...
"Que chica tan tonta." - "What a silly girl."
"¿Qué quieres decir?" - "What do you mean?"
"Camila, mi preciosa hija, ven aquí." - "Camila, my precious daughter, come here."
"Mama lo siento. Nunca quise que esto pasara." - "Mom, I'm sorry. I never wanted this to happen."
"Lo entiendo, Cariño. No es tu culpa." - "I know, Sweetie. It's not your fault."