#oc:

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November 1st, 2023

Dia De Los Muertos

Yucatan, Mexico

“Te busco volando en el cielo

El viento te ha llevado…

Paisajes conocidos

En lugares tan extraños

Que no puedo dar contigo”

-Te Busco by Celia Cruz

       ─── ♡ ──

It’s a busy but a beautiful morning in the city of Cancun. 

The weather came as a surprise to Vidalia and the twenty three year old was sweating like a pig in the thick wool sweater Daella made her wear right before departing for the three hour flight. 

She didn’t mind it at first as there was a breeze that kept her cool, but after being tightly squeezed between tourists in a small shuttle bus with no air conditioning, it made Vidalia want to pass out. Even more so with the lorazepam circulating in her system. 

She thought about rummaging for a blouse inside her luggage but an airport worker took her and Belen’s bags before Vidalia got the chance to. All Vida had now was her carry-on. And to pass time while the shuttle drove them to the resort, Vidalia played Animal Crossing on her Nintendo Switch she got for Christmas last year. 

Three weeks ago happened to be the last time Vidalia played Animal Crossing, and right off the bat Tom Nook popped into her screen, ready to break her legs again because she didn’t pay her home loan fast enough. Vidalia, lowkey came to believe Tom Nook was the most powerful little villain in the entire Nintendo verse. Nevertheless, she paid her dues. 

Belen, on the other hand, kept himself busy by reading the first few hundred pages of her book: Fire & Blood. Appalled would be a good word to describe what Belen Torres read. The forty six year old did a triple take at the amount of incest written–and he could not imagine ever marrying within the family. Especially his younger sister, just for the sole purpose of keeping their blood ‘pure’. 

So for the sake of his sanity, Belen chose to look past the inbreeding and continued to read until he closed the book once and for all. Vidalia did not know what event made Belen angry but she had an inkling that it had to do with Rhaenys or Rhaenyra Targaryen by the way he very disgruntledly said: “If I had a daughter, I would not or let others treat her differently just because she is a woman. She would not be denied an inheritance due to her sex, no she would have the same rights as my sons.”

Vidalia couldn’t agree more. Sure it was entertaining to read about the fictional universe of Westeros, but when it came down to it Vidalia would never in a million years want to be part of that world. 

At least in this world, Vida had rights…Well more than what Westeros would allow. 

Five minutes before their shuttle arrived at the resort, her Switch unexpectedly died. Belen let out a chuckle at her miffed expression. “Relax, we’re almost there.” Though, if anything it was him that had to relax. His constant leg bouncing for the past hour had made Vidalia feel on edge. 

Vidalia knew the reason for his fidgeting. Belen was a nervous-wreck about seeing his wife for the first time in months. 

“How has it been since you last saw Alicia?” Vidalia asks, in an attempt to soothe his nerves. Belen’s leg halts as he softly pulls the corners of his lips into a smile. “About five months and twenty seven days.” 

“And is it ever hard, you know, only getting to see the love of your life only a couple times a year?” It was a foolish question to ask, but one Vidalia never thought to ask her tío.

On occasion, Vidalia would overhear the conversations Belen had with Alicia at the restaurant. They’d joke around with each other and ask how their day went and how the kids were; by the end Belen would be a sobbing mess in the walking freezer. When Vidalia asked him what was wrong, he’d blame it on ‘Rodrigo’s stupid onions’.

His tears weren’t because of the onions…he missed his wife. 

“In the beginning it was. I’d gotten so used to living and breathing around Alicia’s presence that I never knew myself outside… her. She is the sun and I am the earth revolving around her. She is the ray of warmth on a cold winter day.” Pure adoration spread across Belen’s features. A part of Vidalia wished someone would think about her like this. 

“After a time the pain of not being together slowly becomes easier. Trust plays a huge role in our marriage—as should any marriage. I believe that if two people truly love one another that faithfulness will always win. Yes, there will be a time when loyalty will be tested but it’s up to the person to choose love instead of betrayal.”

“I will always choose Alicia and our children in every lifetime.” Belen avowed passionately. His violet eyes gleamed brighter once the shuttle bus came to a stop. 

Both of them gathered their belongings whenever it was their turn to hop out of the bus. Instantly the smell of sea infiltrated her nose and in the small distance Vidalia saw the crystal clear water that outshone the dirty waters of Texas. 

Sure, there were rivers and lakes in Austin but nothing compared to Playa Las Perlas. 

It was also the place where her abuela, Selena met her abuelo, Vidalio when he literally washed up from the sea with no memory of anyone or himself. Because of this, Belen named his restaurant La Perla. 

“Vidalia!!” A feminine voice shouted from behind. 

Both Vidalia and Belen turned around to find an older woman waving her arms frantically with a huge smile on her face. Belen chuckled as he waved back before he motioned for Vidalia to go. 

Vidalia’s eyes widened in realization of who the woman truly was. Selena. Her grandmother who she hadn’t seen in well over sixteen years when Daella took Vidalia away the moment their citizenship became finalized. 

Looking at Selena now, she looked the same as Vidalia saw her last. She’d aged gracefully over the years and Vidalia wished to look as beautiful as she did in her age. 

“Ay, mi Vida, it’s been so long!” Selena cried as she embraced her in a tight hug. Vidalia hugged her tighter, feeling the tears flow down her cheeks to Selena’s blouse. “Abuela, I missed you so much.”

Selena gently ran her fingers through Vidalia’s dark brown hair, similarly as she did when her daughter had nightmares. “I know, mi Vida. I missed you as well, so much!” Vidalia had been the only grandchild, Selena never got to fully spend time with. And as many times she wrote to her daughter to let Vidalia visit, Daella did not allow it. 

Until now. 

Now, Selena had the chance to truly know her grandchild. Even if it were only for two days, Selena did not care. Vidalia was here now, in her native land and soon with the rest of their family. 

“She didn’t come.” Vidalia informed, taking in the far away look she saw on Selena. Selena blinked, knowing exactly who Vidalia referred to. “I tried to convince her to come. Even Belen did, letting her know she had permission to close the restaurant just for the two days. But she said no.” 

Before the flight was set to depart, Vidalia begged numerous times but Daella had absolutely no love to ever come back to the home she was raised in. Her demeanor became so cold that she felt the iciness radiating out of her. 

“Come, let’s go back to the casita. I left the girls by themselves and who knows what state we’ll find the house in.” Selena said, quickly changing the subject as she carried Vidalia’s suitcase back to her small-blue pickup truck. 

“Wait, Belen isn’t coming with us?” Vidalia questioned, turning around to find her tío. “No, he goes to visit his friend nearby before Alicia comes and picks him up.” Vidalia nods as clicks in her seatbelt. 

─── ♡ ──

The ride to Merida was anything but quiet. 

Over the next two hours, the pair conversed just about anything and everything. There was a familiar warmth that bloomed inside both grandmother and granddaughter as they both got to truly know each other. 

Sure, they spoke on the phone whenever Vidalia had one day to herself without the worries of school, studies, clinicals, and work. Which happened to be rare for the twenty three year old. And when they did speak via telephone, the conversation would be brief most often about work, school, and whatever fashion garment Selena sewed for popular telenovela actors. 

It was different now. A good type of different. 

Along their conversations, Vidalia saw the same mannerisms her mother shared with Selena. Like the way their nose would twitch whenever they thought too hard or involuntary snort when they laughed. 

And a part of Vidalia wondered if her own mother knew how similar in a certain light she was with Selena. Very deep down, Vidalia knew Daella did. 

“How much film is in that camera of yours?” Selena asked as the pick-up truck slowed down its speed. “Plenty, why?” Vidalia replied, taking a candid photo of her abuela driving. She’d been taking polaroids ever since Vidalia got off the airplane with the camera Vidalio gifted for her high school graduation when she told him that she wanted to travel. 

Of course, because of her overprotective mother, that never happened. 

“Because we’re near a historical monument and it’s important for you to see it.” Selena explained, parking the car in an empty lot. Before Vidalia could ask what sort of historical monument could be in the middle of nowhere… she immediately saw it.

A tall ancient limestone pyramid known to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World. 

“Chichén Itzá.” Selena murmured. Vidalia held in a breath, taking the beautiful Mayan ruins in. “Woah, it’s like time stood still here.” Selena nodded along as Vidalia brought her eye to the viewfinder of the camera. She couldn’t wait to show Milena, Belen, and her mother the surreal pictures of such an amazing archaeological site. 

“Disculpen, pero no pueden estar aquí.” A security guard alerted. 

“And why not?” Selena asked back with a tilt to her head. “Because I’ve been instructed to not let tourists–”

“– we are not tourists, señor. We’re from Merida, which is not too far from here.” 

“Tourists or not I can’t let the both of you in. There’s been a robbery and city officials have restricted the ruins to personnel only, I’m sorry.” The security guard apologized as pointed out the exit the way they came. 

“A robbery? What sort of person would steal from an ancient ruin?” 

The security looked back, perhaps worried others might hear him. “A person who probably has nothing better to do, señora. In all my years working here, I never witnessed someone actually steal part of the Chichén Itzá structure.” 

Vidalia opened her mouth in shock. “You mean they actually stole part of the limestone?” 

“Si,” the security guard nodded in confirmation. “Something inside the temple itself. City officials believe what was stolen is a sacred table that once belonged to Kukulcan.” 

Kukulcan was a major god in the Yucatec Mayan religion. From what Vidalia remembered from her studies, his name translated as ‘feathered serpent’ with powers over the elements, particularly water and wind. He was a creator god who favored life and was known to be peaceful amongst people. 

And the Castillo, Chichén Itzá, was built to worship and honor the male deity. 

“Which is why I can not let you both in here,” the guard said. Selena looked between Vidalia and the guard before she softened her demeanor. “We won’t take long, señor. My granddaughter has traveled long and hard to see El Castillo for herself and take a photo or two. After that we’ll be on our way, please.” 

“Alright, you both have ten minutes and ten minutes only.” The security guard sighed as he stepped to the side. Selena smiled, thanking the man before they stepped over the rope barricade. 

Getting closer to the ninety-eight foot temple made Vidalia feel impossibly small. Climbing the pyramid was strictly forbidden yet if she were to climb to the tallest step, the view would no doubt be surreal.  

Vidalia wondered if the temple looked the same as when it was first constructed many years ago. If Belen were here, he would flat out say no. Temples such as this one were covered in vibrant colors like red. 

“Hold still and say queso!” Selena bantered, taking a polaroid of Vidalia next to the temple with her hand pointed to the top. Vidalia laughed once she saw the result and pleaded for another photo of just the two of them with Chichén Itzá in the background. 

They continued to walk around the perimeter, admiring the details of the temple until Selena directed Vidalia towards the more secluded part of the castle. “I remember when I first came here as a child. My brother, Cipriano, begged our father to let us visit this place.” Selena said, softly gazing afar.

“Arcadio had to work double of what he did just to afford for the car to get fixed to take us here. At the time, this place was packed with tourists and vendors selling artesanias much different than now. I remember feeling the same way as you, small and amazed.” 

“After that, I took your abuelo here a month before we got married and curiosity got the better of him.” Selena giggled. Vidalia tilted her head in intrigue, “what did he do?” She asked. 

Selena walked with slow steps, close in proximity to the steps of the temple. “H-he touched it.” Her voice wavered. Something about Selena shifted and the closest thing Vidalia could detect was fear mixed with sadness. 

Vidalia couldn’t explain why she did it, but her hands reached out towards the stone and the stone pulled her in like a magnet. Vidalia let out a gasp, attempting to back away but the stone began to emit a noise. 

It was faint at first then suddenly became louder and Vidalia could perfectly hear it. A whisper chant in a language she did not understand followed by the voice of a man and an unsettling roar that radiated a warmth in her palms that it almost felt like fire. 

If she wasn’t so captivated by what was in front of her, Vidalia would’ve heard Selena call out her name in panic. 

Yet, Vidalia closed her eyes and saw shadows of people—people who looked like her and others who looked like Vidalio and Belen. They moved in a hurry, producing a color so red resembling blood. 

An arm snaked around her waist, pulling her away from the stone. Selena’s dark brown eyes were wide, appearing shocked?

“What is that?” Vidalia questioned, her eyes still lingering on the limestone. “What is what, mi Vida?” Selena beseeched, taking her granddaughter’s hands with her own. The older woman jumped slightly at the scorching temperature of Vidalia’s hands.

“You can’t hear it?” 

Selena shook her head, remembering that her late husband asked her the same thing many years ago. Selena would’ve killed to know what exactly came from the stones of the temple. 

“When Vidalio first touched the stones he told me he heard things too–different sets of voices calling out his name, except it wasn’t his name…” Selena trailed, befuddled. Vidalia could tell Selena was trying to pull herself together from the pain of Vidalio. 

It had taken a year for Selena to fully process that Vidalio wasn’t coming back. A heartache so deep and consuming that she shut herself from anyone close to her. 

Vidalia did not know her abuelo died until one day Belen, all of the sudden, began to throw glass plates and cups against the walls of La Perla and ordered everyone to: “get the fuck out of my restaurant!” He cried for hours until he confessed his father had died and he wasn’t there to say goodbye. 

Belen also got into a verbal fight with her mother that day for the lack of emotion Daella displayed. Vidalia wanted to accompany Belen to Mexico to be with their family during a grievous time but her mother forbade it even if Selena needed help. Still her mother said no and Vidalia made sure to get daily updates from her cousins who were closer to their abuela than she. 

“Then we took the children here on our way to Cancun. Aimon said he didn’t hear anything but the people around us and Belen…he heard something and it scared him.” Selena added, remembering the terrifying look on her son’s face. 

Belen did not speak for the remainder of their trip and it troubled both Selena and Vidalio that night. On the way back home, Selena did the impossible and read her son’s journal. Three pages were fully detailed of–not what he heard–but what he saw. 

And it was then when Selena understood his silence. 

“Daella and Javier were too young to understand. But deep down I knew your mother heard something as well.” 

To ask her mother what she heard from decades ago, would be futile. Daella had secrets that she would take to the grave before letting a soul know; including her own flesh and blood.

Her journals were hidden with lock and key. And they would never see the light of day…

Until three decades later. 

─── ♡ ──

A/N:

I'm alive again lol >.<

Sorry for the long update, I struggled with anhedonia. Which apparently affects people with ADHD and it took several days to actually FEEL something. What did it for me was going to see Florence + The Machine which was great !!

Anyways, I decided to split the chapter into two again lol. So the next one should be coming in a week and a half. Hopefully when the 3rd season of HOTD airs haha.

Warning: if you guys do decide to go to Chichen Itza, please do not touch the stones!! this is purely fictional!!

Someone on here asked me when Aemond comes into the story, but since I split the chapter he'll be in the 6th chapter if all goes well haha.