꧁•꧂

"This is your room?"

Stasia asked as she entered the small room Mirable brought her to. In comparison to Bruno's room it was a sad match. This room seemed like a much more natural room that you would find in a normal house.

"Yes!"

Mirable replied.

"This is the room where all the other children go before they are given their gifts."

She said.

"So what's your gift?"

Stasia asked and instantly Mirabel's grin faded.

"Well..."

mirabel began.

"I didn't get one."

She said, her voice awfully small and her demeanor fell.

"Oh."

Stasia noted.

"That's awful."

"No it's not."

Mirabel assured her.

"I don't need one."

She said.

"Now about you,"

she changed the subject so swiftly it was almost impressive.

"I had no idea you had been through so much."

Mirabel said as she sat on her bed and looked up at Stasia.

"I used to be like you."

Stasia said and Mirabel raised her brows.

"Like me?"

"Yeah."

Stasia said.

"When I was younger, around your age actually, I had a big family in a big house. I had four siblings, two sisters and one little brother. And we were all happy before they came."

"Who came?"

"The bad men."

Stasia replied without even missing a beat. A few floor tiles by Mirabel's feet shuffled and she smiled.

"Well casita says you can be assured that those bad men can't get you here."

"Casita?"

Stasia asked.

"Sí, the casita, the house."

Mirabel said.

"The house?"

Stasia questioned.

"Your house talks?"

She asked with a scoff.

"I don't believe that."

The sudden sound of a drawer slamming shut startled her and caused her to jump. Mirabel giggled as Stasia turned around to see the shudders of Mirabel's window opening and closing by themselves and the drawer of her nightstand sliding open and close without force.

"The casita says you better start believing."

Mirabel replied with another giggle.

"Amazing."

Stasia muttered.

"A house that speaks."

"Yep, just another part of the miracle."

She said.

"Now we need to go or else we're going to be late."

"Late?"

Stasia asked.

"Late for what?"

"My cousin Dolores' wedding."

Mirabel replied.

"She's getting married today."

꧁•꧂

"I think I'll just stay here, actually."

"What?"

Mirabel said as she looked at the Russian.

"I mean, I wasn't invited and I don't know any of your family."

"That's not true."

Mirabel said as she stood.

"You know me and my tío Bruno who you seemed to get along really well with actually."

She noted.

"And you met my mom today, Julieta."

She added.

"But when I arrived here most of the villagers seemed to...fear me. Most of them wouldn't even speak to me."

Stasia informed her.

"You wore a cloak when you got here, no?"

Stasia nodded.

"Well you probably reminded them of my tío Bruno who also used to go around town in a mysterious cloak."

Mirable replied but Stasia didn't seem to be cheered up by this either.

"We are familia Madrigal and we will not shun you away from a fiesta that celebrates love. Of course you are invited. You can be mine and Bruno's guest."

Mirabel said with a grin.

"Are you sure?"

Stasia asked.

"Of course I'm sure."

Mirabel said.

"I mean it beats sitting up here alone by yourself." She added.

"I would know... I tend to do that a lot. I mean, not having a gift and all I didn't really fit in with the rest of the family."

Mirabel said with a sigh.

"So come with us."

She urged and finally Stasia gave in.

"Alright."

She said with a nod.

"I'll go."