Chapter Text
Gifts:
Julieta: None
Pepa: Plant creation (Golden Child, even after the grandkids are born)
Bruno: Animal speech
Isabela: Super strength
Luisa: Shapeshifting
Mirabel: Thread manipulation (can create clothes in a snap)
Dolores: Weather control
Camilo: Future sight
Antonio: Enhanced hearing
Papa's Gifts
Alma Madrigal stood in front of three glowing doors, holding her Candle. Her three children looked at the doors with awe. Casita had made it clear that this was a birthday gift from Pedro. Alma wasn’t sure what to do, but...Casita seemed to be making a big deal out of the Candle.
Perhaps it had something to do with the doors? Casita flipped tiles and rattled drawers, trying to communicate her thoughts. Thin taper candles bounced across the floor and hit Bruno, Julieta, and Pepa across their ankles. A doorknob to a random storage room rattled.
Alma’s eyes widened. Oh! Of course. They had to touch the Candle, then the doorknobs.
“Mijos, you have to touch the Candle first, then the doors will do...something. We don’t know what. We know they’re from Papi, and it won’t be harmful. Does anyone want to volunteer to go first?” Alma said, trying for a soothing voice even though she was a bit spooked.
“I-I can, Mama. I’m the oldest. I can show mis hermanitos that it’s safe!” Julieta offered, running up to Alma.
“No way! I’m going first. I’m not a scaredy cat!” Pepa spluttered, shoving Julieta aside.
Bruno made no move to offer to go first. He wasn’t bothered being called scared. He was scared!
Alma sighed. She had a headache. A bad headache.
“Juli, mija, you can go first. You are the oldest, as you said! Pepita, mija, please step back and join your brother,” Alma said.
Alma held out the Candle to her eldest hija. Julieta gaped at it in awe, her huge brown eyes gleaming copper in the sparkling gold light of the Candle. She reached out, wrapping both tiny hands around it. Warmth filled her. She grinned. She liked the feeling.
Alma almost gasped when the Candle flickered out and dimmed for about five seconds before relighting itself. That had never happened. What did the Candle flickering mean?
“Try your door, now, carina,” Alma urged softly.
Julieta nodded, stepping up to the door with a ‘J’ on it. She very slowly reached for the knob, honestly a little scared despite her bravado. She clenched her eyes shut and clasped her hand on the knob. Light flared behind her eyes.
“Abre los ojos, mija,” Alma said, a strange tone in her voice.
Julieta cracked on eye open. When that didn’t hurt her eyes, she opened them fully. The...blindingly bright door was dampening and sinking back into the house. Like it never was. Huh? What was Papi’s Gift then?
She looked at her mama in confusion.
“I...am not sure what happened, mija. Perhaps this means something?” Alma chewed her lip, confused.
Why would Casita make these magic doors, only to have them disappear when her child touched it? Well, maybe Pedro’s Gift to Juli was something else? Or somewhere in the house? Alma shook herself as a small chill ran down her spine. It was fine. Everything was fine. Wasn’t it?
The dimming of the Candle as Julieta touched it played again in her mind. Did Julieta do something wrong?
Taking a deep breath, Alma beckoned Pepa over. Perhaps something totally different would happen for each child. That would certainly make sense. Her hijos were different people, so different Gifts would make sense.
“Here you go, Pepita. I’m not sure if the same thing will happen. I don’t know what’s going on yet!” Alma laughed a little, trying to assuage Pepa’s clear fear.
She claimed she wasn’t scared, but Alma could see it in her hija’s eyes. Pepa was scared.
The little red head gently touched the Candle with her fingertips barely brushing the wax. It was enough, though. Pepa smiled as she felt warmth engulf her, evaporating the slight chill in the night air.
“Mama? Should I try the doorknob too? Or do you think I should do something else? Juli’s door went back in,” Pepa asked, wanting to make sure she did it right.
“That’s what Casita seems to be implying, mi amor,” Alma brushed Pepa’s messy braid away from her face and gave her a little nudge toward the middle door.
Pepa reached for the door, keeping her eyes open. She wanted to watch it all. Even if all it did was sink into the wall. It was still neat! Her tiny hand clasped the gold knob. Light flared brilliantly, as it had with Julieta.
Instead of fading into the wall, Pepa’s eyes widened as the door grew brighter. Lines started carving themselves into the door. She watched as her name was carved into the top. Pepa. The gold lines raced over the door, carving images into the wood in glowing light.
The gleaming lines eventually halted. An image of a woman was inlaid in the wood. She had a braid and a smile on her face. Her eyes were closed. It’s me! Pepa thought, taking in the woman’s image. She narrowed her eyes. What were those things?
Pepa leaned back to get a better look at the entire door. Her nose started itching. She tried holding her breath, but it wasn’t enough. Pepa sneezed loudly.
A spray of bright orange flower petals erupted from the air in front of her. Pepa gasped loudly and waved a hand, trying to wave them away. More flower petals, blue ones this time, streamed from her hand.
“Wha? Mami, where are the flowers coming from!?” Pepa asked, panicking.
Alma was staring at her in astonishment. Pepa had made flowers! Her daughter had literally just created flowers out of thin air. Alma looked at Pepa’s door. An adult Pepa, surrounded by delicate blooms and curving vines.
“That...I think...It’s your Gift from Papa. Amazing, Pepita. Amazing. It’s just as unique and special as you, mija!” Alma squeezed Pepa into a hug.
“Mami! I wanna see inside my room!” Pepa whined, trying to pull away.
Julieta watched, a frown on her face. Why didn’t she get magic, too? Would Bruno get it? Or would he get something totally different?
“Let Bruno touch his door, first, okay? Don’t worry, mi pequena flor, you’ll get to explore your room,” Alma said, patting Pepa’s head.
Pepa giggled. Mama had called her little flower! She was a flower, now! She could make blooms and petals!
“It probably won’t work. I bet it goes back in, like Juli’s did,” Bruno said, sounding resigned.
Even at five, Bruno was an anxiety ridden mess. Alma loved him, but she couldn’t help wishing for his Gift to be something to help his confidence.
“Here you go, Brunito, mi bebe,” Alma told her youngest, “Don’t be afraid. You know Papa would never do anything to hurt you.”
Bruno still looked wary, but she’d mentioned his father. He always tried harder at something when Pedro was mentioned. Bruno placed a hand on the Candle, clenching his eyes shut as if expecting a shock or something.
Nothing happened, of course. Bruno looked suspiciously at the Candle, but took a deep breath and turned toward his glowing door.
“You can do it, Brunito!” Pepa cheered, waving her hand and hoping for marigolds, Bruno’s favorite flower.
Orange roses pelted her younger brother in the face instead. Bruno sneezed three times, sniffling.
“That was mean, Pepa!” Bruno glared at his sister, pouting.
Julieta was silent, still. What would happen? Would Bruno get magic like Pepa? Would Julieta literally be the only one left out? She watched Bruno reach for the door in trepidation.
The five year old boy reached for the knob, bracing himself for pain or a shock again. Pepa and Juli hadn’t been hurt, but he was Bruno. He had really bad luck. His hand connected with the knob. No shock. Huh. He wrapped his hand around it, shielding his eyes when it lit up.
Like Pepa’s door, he watched his name carve itself into the top and lines race across glowing wood, forming an image of him as an adult. Bruno observed himself on the door. Long hair. A ruana. Adult Door Bruno was smiling softly, eyes half-open in a serene appearance.
He didn’t really see anything on the door that was unique, like Pepa’s flowers. It was just him and his best friends. His ratoncitos. Door Bruno held a rat in each hand, several smaller rats at his feet. A bird and a snake were carved into the top corners. Huh?
“I don’t get it, Mama. What did Papa give me?” Bruno asked.
“That’s...strange. Why would you and Pepa get a magic door, but not Juli?” Alma looked at Julieta in confusion, “What did you do wrong, mija?”
Julieta’s eyes widened.
“N-nothing, Mama! I did exactly like mis hermanitos. I swear. You saw it. I touched the Candle, then the door. I wanted a gift from Papa! I wouldn’t break it!” Her lips trembled. She didn’t want to be a disappointment.
“I don’t understand,” Alma said, shaking her head, “Casita? Did...did mija Juli really not receive a Gift?”
Perhaps the house would know. Casita knew a lot. Even if Alma couldn’t talk to her for real, she could understand her gestures.
Casita clicked a few times and rattled a drawer in what Alma had learned meant ‘Yes’. The hijos didn’t speak ‘Casita’ yet. Alma chewed her lip worriedly. Julieta really had been singled out and denied a Gift from Pedro. What could it mean? Was something wrong with Julieta?
Alma’s heart beat loudly in her chest. Would Julieta hurt Pedro’s Miracle somehow? New magic from the Candle, and already it was fading. Already it was taking itself away from her familia. The Candle had been glowing strong and steady. It only flickered when Julieta had touched it.
That had to mean something. Something bad. In her fear and anxiety, Alma wasn’t thinking straight.
“Well...Pepa and Bruno...have new bedrooms. Julieta...it seems you are not going to receive a Gift. Please return to the nursery. Pepa, Bruno, and I will explore these magic rooms. You have no magic, you should stay safe in the nursery,” Alma waved her hand, hoping Julieta would just go.
“What? Mama? I want to look at their rooms, too. Why do I have to stay in the nursery? Can’t I have my own room? Or sleep with Pepa or Bruno?” Julieta begged, tears in her eyes, her voice.
“I’m sorry, mija. Casita confirmed you will not receive magic. It’s...probably safer for the magic if you stay out of the magic rooms. They seem made for their owners, not others,” Alma frowned at Julieta, who usually followed her orders without question.
The little girl nodded silently, tears brimming in her eyes. This would be the first of many times she was pushed aside in favor of her Gifted siblings. Julieta walked silently back to the nursery. What had started as a fun day with exciting presents and cake had turned into the worst day ever.
Papa hated her. He had to. He didn’t give her a magic Gift like Pepa and Bruno. He didn’t even bother giving her a room. And now Mama hated her. Mama thought she did something to the Miracle when she touched the Candle. She didn’t. She really didn’t!
Once back in the nursery, Julieta let her sobs out. It was so empty now. It had always been the three of them. Now it was just her. She threw herself onto the blue bed, her bed, and buried her face in the blankets, sniffling.
She felt a blanket being softly pulled over her small body. Was Mama actually checking on her? She sat up. She frowned. Mama wasn’t here. Who covered her up then?
Estas bien, mi luz.
Julieta almost jumped and screamed. Who said that!?
Don’t be scared. It’s just me, Casita! The curtains in the window waved at her, a shutter fluttering.
“I’m going crazy. My door fading made me hallucinate,” She said aloud, knowing Casita couldn’t really talk to them. Casita gestured and beckoned, but never talked.
You’re not going crazy. You’re special. You’re a miracle. No te preocupes, mi luz.
“Why do you keep calling me that? I’m not a light!” Julieta glared around, not sure what to fix her stare on.
You are my light. La luz de los Madrigals. Casita replied.
“I’m nothing, Casita. I can’t make flowers. I can’t...do whatever Bruno can do. Mama didn’t even let me stay long enough to see Bruno’s magic!” Julieta cried.
He can speak with animals, mi vida. Bruno loves rats. It was appropriate.
“Oh...that’s good. He’ll have fun with that. I’m happy for mi hermanito. Gracias, Casita,” Julieta sighed.
Mama would think she’s crazy if she told her Casita was talking. Or she would think Juli was just making it up because her siblings had magic. It would be her little secret. No one needed to know she could talk to Casita like she could a person.