Beautiful Bruises ~ Camilo Madrigal x Reader

In or Out

"Mama?"

"Don't call me that," the woman you had missed so much snarled, pushing away from you. You couldn't take your eyes off of her - she looked so different. Once she wore aprons and dresses, and now she was dressed like a warrior, with leather clothes and gloves, her hair cut short and tied back in a severe bun. "I'm not your mother, and you are most certainly not my daughter."

You squinted at her, shaking your head.

"What do you mean? And you'd better be quiet. Delores will hear you."

Your mama laughed, a cold sound, different from her old gentle one. Despite how calm and in-control she was acting, you noticed her eyes dart around nervously.

"No she won't. I'm not a citizen of Encanto, girl. I'm from far away. Delores won't be able to hear a thing, trust me."

"What do you mean you're not my mama? And why are you here?" you asked, trying to keep the sudden anger in your voice to a minimum. She had abandoned you without even saying goodbye! And now she was saying she was from far away - what was that supposed to mean?!

"I'm not your mother because I never gave birth to you. I implanted you into another villager before you were born. I was 21 - I didn't want a child to call my own. I didn't need that responsibility."

You tilted your head at her curiously.

"But... technically I'm still biologically your daughter. Just because you didn't give birth to me doesn't change that. And Jude is, too." 

She snorted, gripping your shoulder and pulling you further into the shadows, behind a pile of boxes, as people ran past shouting. You felt a pang of guilt as you heard Camilo's frantic voice.

"Maybe, but I don't feel any attachment to you, believe me. So don't call me mother. Ever."

"Then why are you here?" you cried, not bothering to keep your voice down even when she glowered at you. "If you're not back to talk with me and Jude, why'd you return?" You resisted to urge to call her an explicit word, knowing it wouldn't get you anywhere.

She smiled.

"Finally. Let's get to the point. I, persay, need your assistance with something."

You laughed out loud.

"That's priceless. Of course I'll help you, mama! After all, you obviously didn't abandon me with my abusive father for 8 years and then return only to disown me. Why wouldn't I help you?" Your voice cracked as you spoke, although you tried to keep it under control.

Your mother only grinned unsettlingly, like she had known exactly how you would react.

"Oh, maybe because that abusive father you're so frightened of is under my control. I could send him back here any time I want."

Your heart stopped. 

"Wha-what?"

"You honestly thought I didn't have a power of my own? Oh, (Y/N)... I had him under my control the whole time." She giggled as you listened, horrified, too frightened to run away. "He has been ever since he started hurting us. He loved his family, he did indeed, but his love was useless. I needed something more, something... darker. After all, that was the only way I could slip away without you being suspicious or hating me. Once I was gone, well... it would be too odd if he suddenly stopped harming you. So..." she shrugged. "You should have seen the look on his face when I finally released him from my power after all those years." The edges of her lips tilted up at the corners, giving her a cat-like appearance as her eyes narrowed into slits. "He was actually quite annoying."

She paused, clearing her throat as you stood frozen in shock. Your whole world had just been turned upside down. Clearly your papa wasn't the sadist parent - that role was left to your mama.

"Anyway, back to the point. I need you to get me that candle - the one the Madrigal family has. Just for one day, and then I'll disappear back into the fog. You'll never hear from me again. Believe me, you want to do this. First of all, I have your papa, who does indeed love you and your brother still. And second of all, I could always just grab a Madrigal to do it for me. Trust me - if that happens, they won't come out of it alive."

Your mind was reeling, but you wanted to punch her. You tried to collect yourself enough to speak in a normal voice.

"Why can't you just control me yourself?"

She made a face like she had eaten a bug.

"Magic doesn't work on you. Your papa ruined any chances of that happening."

"How do you have a gift?" Maybe if you knew enough, you could manage to thwart her plan.

"Remember, I'm not from here. I come from a place where things are... different. Now enough questions. Are you in or out?"

Your heart was racing. You could see her growing increasingly impatient as you stalled, unsure of how to get out of this.

"In."