Price of Power

"Look at me, Isabella Romano." Santa Muerte's voice filled the bathroom.

I gripped the counter. "I'm looking."

"Each power strengthens her. Each shadow feeds Valentina's soul."

"You didn't tell me this would happen."

"The others failed. Watch."

Pain shot through my chest where her finger touched. "Stop—"

"See their fates. Feel their pain."

"I can't—"

"You're different. Stronger. But time runs short."

"What do you want from me?"

"Choose wisely. Control the power, or let it control you."

The mirror cleared.

* * *

"Mama, who hurt you?" Luis pointed at my chest.

"No one, baby."

"The lady in black did it," Maria said.

"There." Both twins pointed to the empty chair.

The coffee cup shattered in my grip.

"Children!" Eduardo snapped. "Enough of this nonsense."

"I'll clean it—"

"My study. After breakfast." Eduardo's eyes narrowed. "We need to talk."

"About what?"

"Your husband's... activities."

* * *

"Sit." Eduardo spread photos across his desk. "Explain this."

"Nicolas meeting federal agents?"

"Working against the family." He leaned forward. "But we can fix this."

"What's your price?"

"Marry Adrian. Nicolas lives."

"You're insane."

"Listen." He played a recording.

Nicolas's voice filled the room: "*Something's different about her. The way she moves, speaks... That's not my wife.*"

"He suspects nothing."

"No?" Eduardo smiled. "He's investigating you. How long before he learns the truth?"

"I won't marry Adrian."

"Then he dies. Choose."

The shadows trembled.

"What are you doing?" Eduardo backed away.

"I—" Valentina's memories flooded in. Her betrayal. Her accident.

A tap at the window.

"Let me in, Valentina." Adrian perched outside.

"Why are you here?"

"Peace offering." He held out a journal. "Dr. Martinez's personal records."

His hand caught my wrist. "You're not her."

"Let go—"

"You're not Valentina."

"Mama!" The twins' voices rang out. "Run!"

* * *

"Santa Muerte showed us," Luis gasped in the garden.

"So many endings," Maria added.

"You die in most of them."

"Then we'll change the ending."

"How?"

"Together."

* * *

"Stop fighting me." Valentina's voice echoed through the warehouse.

"Get out!"

"My body. My power."

"I won't let you—"

"We're running out of time."

Our reflections merged.

"Not yet." The letter burned in my hands. "We're not finished."

"No," Valentina whispered in my mind. "We're just beginning."

"Where are my daughters?" Nicolas's voice cut through the warehouse darkness.

"Safe." I turned from the mirrors. "With Rosa."

"We need to talk about this morning."

"Not now."

"Yes, now." He stepped closer. "The twins speaking in unison. The shadows moving. You."

"You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

"Nicolas—"

"My wife never moved like you do. Never fought like you do." His eyes hardened. "Who are you?"

"Don't ask questions you don't want answered."

"Too late." He pulled out a phone. "Look what I found in Dr. Martinez's office."

The video showed Valentina, days before her accident. "They killed Isabella Romano. Adrian and Elena. I have proof—"

"Turn it off."

"Why? Because you know what happened next?"

"Please."

"She died trying to expose them. Just like Isabella supposedly killed herself." His laugh was bitter. "Quite a coincidence."

"Nothing about this is coincidental."

"Then explain."

The shadows stirred. "I can't."

"Can't? Or won't?"

"Both."

"Wrong answer." He moved to leave.

"Wait—" Pain shot through my skull. Valentina surged forward.

"Nicolas," her voice used my mouth. "Help me."

"Val?"

My knees buckled. He caught me.

"What's happening to you?"

"She's too strong," I gasped, fighting for control.

"Who?"

"Your wife."

* * *

"The ritual must be completed." The twins spoke together at dinner.

"Not now," I whispered.

"Time's running out," Maria insisted.

"The shadows are hungry," Luis added.

Eduardo's fork clattered. "Enough!"

"You fear what's coming," they turned to him.

"Children—"

"Death walks beside her now."

"I said enough!" Eduardo stood.

Nicolas watched everything, his expression unreadable.

"The truth hurts, doesn't it, Father?" I met Eduardo's eyes. "Like betrayal."

"You know nothing."

"I know everything." I stood. "About Isabella. About Valentina. About you."

"Careful, daughter."

"I'm not your daughter."

The twins grabbed my hands. "She's coming."

The lights flickered.

"Who's coming?" Nicolas demanded.

"Santa Muerte," the twins whispered.

"Impossible—" Eduardo started.

The mirrors exploded.

* * *

"Time to choose." Adrian cornered me in the hallway.

"Get out of my way."

"Marry me or Nicolas dies."

"You already killed me once."

His eyes widened. "Isabella?"

"Surprised?"

"You're dead."

"So is Valentina." I smiled. "Yet here we are."

"You think you've won?"

"I think you're scared."

"Of what?"

"The truth." I stepped closer. "About what you did to both of us."

"No one will believe you."

"They already do."

* * *

"The ritual can save you," Santa Muerte appeared in every shard of broken mirror.

"Or destroy me."

"Choice is power."

"And power has a price."

"Are you willing to pay it?"

I looked at my reflection – both faces, both souls. "Yes."

"Then let go."

"Of what?"

"Everything."

"I know what you are," Nicolas said in our bedroom.

"What am I?"

"A miracle." He touched my face. "Or a curse."

"Maybe both."

"The twins see her – Santa Muerte."

"They see everything."

"Like their mother did."

"Valentina knew?"

"She saw too much." His voice broke. "It got her killed."

"And Isabella?"

"Same story." He pulled me close. "Different body."

"What happens now?"

"We finish it."

"How?"

"Together."

The shadows danced around us, but for once, Valentina was silent.

Sometimes the greatest power isn't in revenge.

It's in letting go.