Coco
‘Why can’t you be on my side?’
Mousiki jumped off Miguel’s shoulder, Shifting into the largest form she could think off. Miguel scrambled up onto the horse’s back and she started running, getting as far away from Mama Imelda as they could.
‘Siki, slow down.’ Miguel said but she kept running, only thinking of getting to de la Cruz as quickly as possible. ‘Siki, stop!’
She skidded to a halt and he almost went flying. He jumped down, looking around. The Land of the Dead was so confusing, everything looked so similar but so different to home.
‘We need to get to de la Cruz, Miguel. He’ll send us home.’
‘I know, I know. I’m just worried about what will happen when we get home.’
Mousiki groaned, form changing until she was smaller, flying in front of Miguels face as a cenzontle. ‘We don’t need to worry about what will happen when we home. We just need to get de la Cruz’s blessing and then play our music. That’s all we need to worry about.’
Miguel nodded, holding his arm out for her. She landed as a lizard, claws pinching his skin.
‘Right then, to the Sunrise Spectacular.’
Miguel started moving, before an extra strong pinch made him turn in the other direction.
‘Do you think he’ll like us? Ernesto de la Cruz?’ Miguel muttered as they walked.
‘Of course. He’s an amazing songwriter and our great-great-grandfather. He’s going to love us.’
Miguel grinned, breaking into a run.
Héctor smiled as Pepita flew up, Miguel safely on her back. The other Riveras pulled Miguel into their arms and Héctor tried to move towards them. He barely made it a step before keeling over, Aile trying to help him up. It didn’t work, considering how much Aile had faded away. It wasn’t like the first time they died, where she’d burst into Dust, instead it was slower, her red and white fur turning transparent as he got weaker.
‘Hector!’ Miguel yelled, running over. Mousiki Shifted into a red panda to match Aile, trying to help her but Héctor’s dæmon just slumped next to his leg. ‘The photo, I lost it!’
‘It’s okay, mijo.’ Héctor said. ‘It’s oka-‘
He couldn’t finish, collapsing to the side. Aile, with a last burst of strength, jumped onto his chest, curling under his ribcage.
‘Héctor! Héctor?’
‘Coco…’ Aile muttered, thinking of their beautiful girl.
‘No, we can still find the photo.’
‘Miguel, it’s almost sunrise.’ Imelda was there, kneeling at their side. Amosar brushed his nose against Héctor’s hand. He was so close to fading he barely noticed. Miguel was panicking now and Hector moved his hand to stroke his grandson’s face. He held up the marigold petal, barely able to focus.
‘You have our blessing.’
‘No conditions.’
‘Go home.’ Héctor smiled
Miguel was crying as they sent him away. Héctor lay back, hand resting on his dæmon’s back. Aile smiled softly, her tail curling around his ulna. It was time to say goodbye.
Amosar stared out of the window, watching down the road and thinking, wishing, any moment Héctor and Aile would come round the corner with a sly smile and a ridiculous excuse but it wouldn’t matter. They would be home.
‘You can’t wait for her forever.’
The lion looked up at Imelda, his brow furrowing. She refused to look past him, out the window. Coco, on her hip, mad a fuss and Imelda put her down to crawl to the window. Amosar moved out of the way, trudging to Imelda’s side, Qizim briefly landing on his back before joining Coco staring down the road.
‘She will though.’ Amosar said, looking up at his lady. Imelda frowned down at him. ‘Only fair for us to wait with her.’
‘She won’t.’ Imelda said, with finality, turning and walking out of the room. Amosar glanced at Coco before trotting after her. Imelda marched into their workshop, sitting down and sketching out new ideas for new shoes to sell.
‘He might come back, you know.’
Imelda didn’t look up. ’It’s been over a year. We can’t wait around for him any longer.’
Amosar laid his chin on her knee. ‘Maybe something stopped him from coming home.’
Imelda paused, sighing. She ran her hands through his mane, feeling all the same sadness he did. She dearly wanted Héctor back but wanting wouldn’t pay the rent or feed Coco. She had to move on.
‘Then he never should have left.’
They would make do. They had to.
Ernesto smirked after his retreating guards, dragging Miguel between them. Héctor had already been dealt with and now everything was falling into place. Héctor was the last thing in the way of his eternal fame and once the sun was risen, there would be no one left to tell his story.
‘Don’t start getting cocky.’ Valetaja slithered down the stairs, scales glistening in the green light. Even in the land of the dead, the world didn’t know what form she took, believing Ernesto to have a small, shy dæmon that hid beneath his jacket. A snake would have ruined his image after all. ‘Don’t think we can relax just because they’re gone.’
Ernesto leant down, letting Valetaja crawl up and over his shoulders. It was harder for him to hold her without muscles but they managed. ‘We don’t ever relax in public, querida. But at home, with you, I am as calm as I can be.’
Valetaja opened her mouth, fangs baring. As Ernesto smirked at her, she chuckled, thinking of the first night she had used her venom. They’d never thought that much about using her fangs to hurt anyone, until Héctor had said he’d wanted to leave. That night was also when they decided to Stretch their bond and keep her hidden.
‘Well, let’s get you ready for the Spectacular.’ Valetaja said, crawling off his arm. Tonight they would have to give their fans a truly memorable show. They would make sure no one would ever forget them.
Stillhet nudged the broken guitar with his nose, frowning slightly. Enrique had gone running after Miguel, along with half the family but he and Elena had stayed at home, expecting the boy to realise his mistake and come running home after a few second.
‘Ay, get away from that thing.’
Stillhet looked up at Elena, brandishing a broom like a weapon. The honey badger shifted away from the mess, allowing her to start sweeping it up, moving it into a bin. No matter what how much trouble he would be in, Miguel didn’t need to see the instrument again, broken or otherwise. It would be harsh to the boy, harsher than they needed to be.
‘It’s not going to curse us, cariño. It’s just a guitar.’
Elena glared at her dæmon. ‘The last time guitar in this house,it brought nothing but heartache. Mama-’
‘I know, I know.’ Stillhet said, smiling. ‘I was teasing, Elena.’
Elena paused slightly and smiled back at him. No matter what the rest of the family thought, they were still slightly soft at heart, still loved each other greatly.
‘Mama!’ Elena looked up, seeing Enrique running towards her. ‘We can’t find Miguel, no one’s seen him for hours.’
Elena looked at the sky, seeing the sun well and truly set. It wouldn’t be long until sunrise and, somehow, that filled her with fear. Stillhet shuffled closer as Enrique ran out of the house again.
For the first time, they wondering if they could be wrong.
There was some sort of commotion outside but Qizim didn’t raise his head. He was too tired and his brain too foggy for anything outside of Coco and their chair. There was a bang and the panda vaguely sensed someone next to him, tiny paws pressing against his face. But there was little point worrying, someone would come along and look after the little one soon.
Another bang and the paws moved away. Qizim shifted towards his girl, paw resting next to her foot. Coco’s toes wriggled slightly, showing she knew he was there. They both remained unaware of the argument going on around them, content to just sit in each other’s company and smile vaguely at their familia.
There was someone at their side again, tiny paws back, on his arm this time. Someone was talking but, as always, they didn’t have the clarity to focus on what was being said.
Then the music started.
Qizim’s head lifted, already beginning to smile. Coco was a slower but she remembered the words quicker, joining in with the song. Their song, the song they sung with their papa. It was little Miguel singing it to them, singing it with them and they couldn’t help but smile.
There was a sniffling to their side and Coco looked up.
‘Elena?’ She said, seeing her daughter clearly for the first time in ages. ‘What’s wrong, mija?’
‘Nothing, mama. Nothing at all.’
Qizim beamed as Coco spoke of their Papa. He believed Elena was right.