Book 2 - The Chameleon's Song

Chapter 17: La Familia Madrigal

Cami woke the next morning by the loudest knocking he'd ever heard. It rang in his ears and bounced in his head. He didn't get enough sleep thinking about everything that happened in the paddock just the night before.
Marcos was at the door and walked in the moment Cami opened it.
"Hurry up and get ready, hermano. Señorita Mirabel said she was going to give us a proper tour today. So get dressed."
Marcos threw some of Cami's clothes at him before leaving, so with his splitting headache, Cami dressed and joined Marcos and Señora Alma in front of the hotel.
"Buenos días, Señora," Cami said. "Did you sleep well?"
"Better than you it seems, Señor," Alma said. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah."
Seigo, the auburn-haired man, approached them with a smile.
"Come on, I'll show you where Mirabel will start her tour," he said.
"You know it?" Marcos asked.
"She gave us the tour a few months ago. Vamo!"
"You've been here a few months?" Cami asked.
"Yeah. Some of us aren't ready to leave just yet."
Cami watched Seigo in scepticism while following him to the biggest house in the village. Cami knew that some of the group was dangerous for the village and that one of them was good. He just didn't know which ones.
"Hola, Luisa," Seigo said as he waved to the large Madrigal walking out of the house.
"Hola, Seigo," Luisa said and waved back. "Not joining me this morning?"
"I'll meet you at the paddock. I'm taking these guys to Mirabel."
"Ah. Good luck to them."
Seigo and Luisa laughed.
Surely that meant that this was the good one of the group... Miguel used Luisa to get close to the familia. Cami reminded himself.
The door to the large house opened by itself making Alma scream.
"Yeah, magic house. Don't worry, you'll get used to it," Seigo said. "Mirabel! They're here!"
"Gracias, Seigo!" Mirabel said and ran out of the house. "Casita?" The house tiles on the floor shuddered by their feet. "Ready to show these visitors the world of the Encanto?"
The tiles shuddered again.
"Magic house..." Marcos mumbled.
"You okay, hermano?" Cami asked and put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I'm here for you."
"Hm."
"Casita! Let's go!" Mirabel cheered.
Then Mirabel broke into song with the house making noises as her backing music.
Cami wasn't expecting this. He could remember Camilo telling him about their magical house, but this was something else.

MIRABEL (singing)
This is our home
We've got all the generations

She guided them into the open courtyard of the large house. With many glowing doors on the second floor.

MIRABEL (singing)
So full of music
A rhythm of its own design
This is my family—

Cami waved at Camilo leaving a door with his name on it, but he quickly looked away and rushed outside.

MIRABEL (singing)
A glowing constellation
So many stars and everybody wants to shine.

Mirabel showed them two portraits on a wall at the top of a small row of stairs. A younger man and an older woman. The older woman had an urn underneath her.

MIRABEL (singing)
Oh! A war parted mi Abuela y Abuelo, so
She saved us here so many years ago, (whoa)
And every year our family blessings grow.
There's just a lot you've simply got to know, so—

Mirabel began leading them back out of the magical, music-making house.

MIRABEL (singing)
Welcome to the Family Madrigal.
The home of the Family Madrigal.

"Come on, this way!" Mirabel said and took them into the village. The villagers had begun playing music to match the magic house.

MIRABEL (singing)
Where all the people are fantastical and magical
I'm part of the Family Madrigal.

"I've heard you're all gifted," Marcos said.
"I honestly can't remember what Milo said everyone's gifts were," Cami confessed.
"I'm getting to that part," Mirabel said.
"Alright. Sorry."
Mirabel led them to a large cornfield. In front was a woman with bright orange, very curly hair and wearing a yellow dress.