Chapter Five. Yadriel #3
Lita’s eyes glistened. “Sometimes, Lady Death has a way of guiding us to where we need to be, even if we don’t understand it at the time.” She rested a hand on Angel’s arm. “You know,” Lita said, “you are very welcome here. And if you’re still here for the vigil, please join us.”
Angel’s lips parted in surprise, and for a moment, Yadriel thought he saw something vulnerable there—a crack in Angel’s armor.
“Thank you,” they whispered, their voice almost lost beneath Julian and Maritza’s bickering.
Yadriel smiled. It was nice to have Angel here.
“Tell me more about your circle,” Lita said. “How do they do things there?”
Angel hesitated. Yadriel knew they were gauging how traditional Lita might be, how accepting.
“It’s different,” they said slowly.
Maritza cleared her throat. “How does that work for you, Angel? I mean … having both gifts? Healing and releasing—that’s not something we’ve ever seen here.”
There was a subtle shift in Maritza’s posture, her jaw set a little too tightly.
Yadriel could tell she didn’t mean to challenge Angel, but there was something underneath her question that went beyond curiosity.
Maybe even a tinge of longing. Maritza had always played it cool, always waved off what she couldn’t claim as her own.
But Yadriel knew better. He knew what it cost her to give up being a bruja.
“We don’t designate tasks by gender,” Angel explained. “Bruje like me—nonbinary folks—we can do both. Heal the living, release spirits.” Angel shrugged as if it weren’t a big deal while Yadriel’s whole world was being split open. “It’s liberating, in a way.”
“I can’t even imagine.” Yadriel’s voice caught, more wistful than awed.
Angel gave a small smile. “It’s nice to have that freedom. To just be who I am, without limitations.”
Lita nodded thoughtfully. “We could all learn something from your circle,” she said. “It’s time we celebrated our differences, made room for everyone.”
Yadriel couldn’t help but feel annoyed. It was hard not to notice the irony.
Lita had struggled for years to accept him as trans, yet she didn’t hesitate for a second with her first nonbinary brujx.
He was grateful, truly—seeing Lita accept Angel so easily filled him with hope.
But it still stung that it had taken her so long to offer him the same grace.
Maritza’s brow furrowed. “So you don’t have to choose,” she said, more to herself than anyone else. “That’s kinda … awesome.”
“I think it’s incredible,” Yadriel said. “The way you live, the way your circle accepts everyone.” Angel had the understanding and support Yadriel had always wanted from his community. From his own family.
Angel met his gaze. “Thanks, Yadriel,” they said quietly. “That means a lot.”
Julian nudged Yadriel’s foot. His eyes were soft and filled with admiration. Yadriel felt his heart swell, and he reached over, squeezing Julian’s hand under the table. Julian held on a second longer than necessary.
They worked in comfortable silence, the sounds of paper folding and scissors cutting filling the kitchen.
Yadriel couldn’t help but steal glances at Angel, marveling at how effortlessly they seemed to fit in despite their guardedness.
He was fascinated by them, by their confidence, by the way they existed outside of the traditional roles that seemed to define the East LA brujx.
The dinner passed with laughter and easy conversation. Angel slowly seemed to ease under Lita’s unrelenting warmth. Yadriel hoped they felt a sense of safety with his family, even though his círculo held very different beliefs when it came to gender.
Later, as Lita showed Angel some of the other decorations, Julian leaned closer to Yadriel. “Come outside with me for a sec?”
On the porch, the chill of the night was a stark contrast to the warmth inside. Julian reached for Yadriel’s hands.
“Thanks,” Julian whispered. “For, like, all this—for making a place for me, showing my friends around.” He huffed a laugh. “I hate keeping them in the dark.”
“I know,” Yadriel said. The truth sat heavy and simple. “We’ll find a way to tell them the right way. Safely.”
Julian squeezed his fingers. “Soon?”
“Soon,” Yadriel promised.
Julian nodded, relieved. “What did you think about that maligno, though?” he said. “I’ve seen some scary shit, but that? That was different. It felt like it was waiting for us.”
“What worries me is how it pulled you,” Yadriel said. “Like you were on a string.” Or a leash.
Julian rubbed his chest. “You didn’t feel that, too?”
Yadriel shook his head. “We can sense a maligno’s presence when they’re close, but not that far, and I’ve never been dragged to one like you were. Something weird’s going on.”
Julian bumped his shoulder lightly against Yadriel’s. “Guess I’m not the only one with spooky instincts.”
Yadriel fell a little deeper for Julian. “You belong here.” He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Julian’s lips—a promise, a reassurance.
Julian pulled Yadriel to him, his hand slipping around his waist. Yadriel could feel Julian’s warmth all the way to his core.
Julian kissed him like he needed to make sure it was real.
Like if he let go too soon, the belonging might disappear.
Julian pulled back, eyes bright, his voice teasing.
“You know, if you keep being this sweet, I’m never gonna leave. ”
“Good,” Yadriel replied, his heart light. “That’s kinda the point.”
They shared another kiss before stepping inside. Angel, Lita, and even Maritza were laughing over something in the living room. Yadriel’s heart felt full. Hopeful.
When it was time for Angel and Julian to leave, Lita walked them to the door.
She rested her hand on Angel’s shoulder.
“You’re always welcome here, mija. And if you change your mind, we’d love for you to join us for La Vigilia and the Danza de la Luz Eterna.
We’ll be preparing dishes for our ancestors, and I’d be honored if you’d help. ”
Angel smiled. “Thanks. Maybe next time.”
“I’m gonna head out, too,” Maritza said, planting a kiss on Lita’s cheek before giving Yadriel a quick hug. She punched Julian’s arm affectionately. “Try not to get haunted tonight.”
Then she turned to Angel, holding up two fingers in a casual peace sign. “Come back sometime. You’ve got decent vibes.”
Julian leaned in to press a gentle kiss to Yadriel’s forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asked as they pulled apart.
He tried to sound casual, but he never quite managed it when it came to Julian. “Of course,” Yadriel replied. Julian gave Yadriel one last smile before following Angel and Maritza out.
Yadriel watched them disappear down the walkway, his heart feeling strangely light and heavy all at once.
He thought about what Angel had said, how tradition matters but so does change. The same things his dad talked about during his aquelarre. He pictured Julian’s friends standing there, welcomed instead of excluded. If there was a right way to open the door, his dad would know it. He had to ask.
The front door clicked open, letting in a draft of cold night air. Enrique stepped inside, Carhartt jacket folded over one arm, his face drawn and tired. He paused at the sight of the half-finished decorations still scattered across the kitchen.
“You’re late,” Lita said, more weary than scolding.
“Too much work,” Enrique replied, setting down his jacket. His eyes flicked to Yadriel. “Everything go well?”
Yadriel’s pulse picked up. The words were out before he could stop them. “I want to tell Julian’s family. And his friends. About us. About brujx.”
Enrique stilled, clearly not expecting this out of the blue. He sighed. “Not yet.”
Yadriel’s frustration boiled. “Why not? He’s lying to them every day. It’s tearing him up. He deserves—”
“Because once we tell, we cannot take it back,” Enrique said firmly. “And until he is your formal family—until there is a vow between you—this conversation is different.”
As if the only way Julian’s people could count as family was if Yadriel’s dad could stamp them with a marriage seal. As if everyone’s life bent toward that narrow path. He clenched his jaw, swallowing the frustration before he said something he’d regret.
“We’ll discuss it again,” Enrique said, already retreating upstairs. “When the time is right.”
Lita’s hand found Yadriel’s shoulder. “Tu juicio es bueno,” she murmured. “Even when others can’t see it yet.”
His family was never going to change. He and his friends would just have to figure it out on their own.
The quiet of the house pressed in, heavy where laughter had been minutes ago. Yadriel stayed rooted in the kitchen, jaw tight. The wards hummed against the windows, steady and patient. He wished he could be, too. But he couldn’t wait that long. Something had to change.