Nov. 1999
Before Rafa was born, his mother, Catalina, resided in Veracruz, Mexico.
She had lived with her elderly grandparents in a bright orange and red house in the enchanting town of Catemaco. It was a place more commonly known within the country as "la tierra de los brujos".
The realms of Catholicism and magic intertwined there, creating a captivating and enigmatic religion known as Brujeria.
Homes were adorned with intricate pentagrams, entwined with the devotion of revered Catholic saints.
It was a realm of mysticism and wonder, where ancient secrets whispered in the wind.
Fueled by an insatiable curiosity, the locals sought guidance from skilled brujos to unravel the mysteries that eluded conventional wisdom.
Catalina was no different.
At the young age of 23, she stood 5 feet 3 inches and was a sight to behold.
Her thick, ebony hair cascaded down to her lower back. Her bangs were elegantly curved and she adorned herself with oversized hoop earrings.
Catalina had a stunningly sharp bone structure. Her facial features were elegantly defined, beautifully sculpted, and radiant. Her hazel eyes, slightly elongated, were framed by lush lashes.
Her voluptuous figure would have caused any sensible man to turn his head, and she was well aware of her allure.
However, beneath her radiant smile, she carried the weight of profound sorrow. Catalina's deepest longing was to experience the intoxicating embrace of true love.
Her eagerness for a lover grew insatiable. With every step she took, she magnetically drew the attention of men. However, they were worn-out, desperate souls who lacked the charm of a fairytale prince.
Fueled by her determination to find a love like the ones depicted in movies, she ventured into the enchanting world of Brujeria, acquiring enchanted artifacts from her local magic shop.
Alone in her room, she began delving into the mystical arts, seeking to conjure a spell that would manifest the flawless man of her fantasies.
She attempted night after night to summon even a hint of magic, but her efforts proved futile.
However, one fateful evening, she decided to try a new incantation from an ancient book she had discovered.
As the cursed words spilled from her trembling lips, a bone-chilling presence slithered through the room, suffocating the air with a sinister aura.
In an instant, a grotesque figure emerged, its 3 heads contorted into a horrifying fusion of man, goat, and bull. Its towering blood-red horns pierced the veil of darkness, captivating Catalina's gaze with sheer terror. It was a Demon, a nightmarish being from the deepest pits of damnation.
The room quivered with an unsettling tremor as Catalina's desperate pleas for help reverberated throughout the house. Yet, it seemed as though her cries fell upon deaf ears.
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Caught in the grip of a terrifying nightmare that she never could have foreseen, fear gripped Catalina's heart. Nevertheless, she still summoned the courage to implore, "Will you grant me a lover?"
In response, the demon's lips curled into a sinister smile. "A lover, you say? Ah, but of course. Shall we strike a deal?"
"I'm willing to do anything!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with desperation.
The Demon's malevolent grin widened, stretching to the point where it seemed as though his face might fracture at the edges of his mouth. "I have an insatiable craving," he declared, his mouth oozing with ravenous hunger. "A soul is what I desire."
"I'll do it," she answered eagerly, her heart brimming with anticipation for her long-awaited wishes to come true.
"After all,” she mused to herself, “After all, my grandmother is already very old.”
The Demon's eyes gleamed with delight as he heard her wicked thoughts. "Your darkness is truly captivating," he admitted. "But your firstborn child shall satiate my desires."
"My firstborn?" she exclaimed, her face lighting up with pure relief.
Catalina's heart, burdened by the weight of her desires, held no attachment to the idea of having children. Little did she know the consequences that awaited her in this unholy bargain.
With a nod of agreement, the Demon vanished into thin air.
Days turned into weeks, and Catalina anxiously awaited the arrival of her soulmate. But as time wore on without a trace of him, doubt crept into her heart.
In the depths of a moonlit night, while her grandparents slept soundly, she found herself uttering the incantation once more in the living room, hoping to confront the Demon.
As Catalina recited the encantation, a chilling knock suddenly reverberated through the front door, sending shivers down her spine.
She froze, her mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts. This late at night? she wondered. Her neighborhood wasn't the safest, and the urge to hide was strong, especially since she was barely dressed. She had on a thin, silk gown that barely reached her thighs, and yet still, an inexplicable force drew her towards the door. Her burning desire to meet her perfect lover overpowered her fear, compelling her to swing it open.
And there he stood... a tall man with broad shoulders and a jaw that looked like it had been carved from stone. His short, jet-black hair was slicked back, not a strand out of place, and a light stubble covered his face, adding a touch of ruggedness.
He wore a fitted black button-up shirt, the top few buttons undone to reveal a hint of chest hair, and the fabric clung to his toned physique. His sleeves were rolled up, and a stylish Rolex gleamed on his wrist, adding a layer of sophistication. The fitted jeans he wore showcased his well-defined figure, and Catalina couldn't help but be drawn to every detail.
Although intrigued, Catalina still had a hint of fear as her voice trembled, asking him, "Who are you?"
The man smiled, his pearly white teeth gleaming in the dim light. His voice was like velvet, smooth and seductive, causing goosebumps to rise all over her skin. “I’ve been called many names. But none of them have ever felt right to me.”
Catalina’s initial fear was quickly overshadowed by her curiosity. "Is this really him? The love that I was promised?" She wondered, her thoughts racing.
The man took a step closer, his muscular frame exuding an otherworldly allure. "You, my dear Catalina, are a very captivating creature. And yes, what you're thinking is true."
As he spoke, Catalina felt a warmth spreading through her body, a desire she couldn't ignore. There was something irresistible about this man, and she found herself drawn to his every breath.
Without waiting for a response, The man closed the distance between them, his strong hands gently grasping her waist. Catalina's breath caught in her throat as she felt his hot breath on her neck. His touch was electric, sending jolts of pleasure through her body.
"Oh, yes..." she whispered, surrendering to the sensation.
The man's lips trailed kisses along her neck, his teeth gently nipping at her sensitive skin. He slowly turned her around, his hands exploring her body with expert precision.
Catalina's gown was soon discarded, falling to the floor, leaving her naked and exposed to his gaze.
That night, love took hold of her heart for the very first moment. And she surrendered herself completely to the stranger, sharing an intimate and passionate encounter in the living room of her grandparent's home.
The following day, the man vanished into thin air, leaving Catalina longing for his return.
Desperate for any sign of the demon, she repeatedly called upon its presence, hoping for at least a knock at the door. But only silence greeted her.
As weeks turned into months, the absence of the demon persisted. However, a wave of nausea washed over Catalina, and soon enough, a baby bump began to form. This unexpected development left her in a state of turmoil, as she had never desired children, especially after the pact she had made with the demon.
Despite her efforts to rid herself of the child, it remained unharmed, defying all her attempts.
After Rafa's birth, he experienced the occasional encounter with spirits, but overall, he had a typical childhood in Mexico. At the age of 7, they enlisted the help of a man known as "El Coyote" to guide them across the Mexico/USA border.
They eventually settled in New Orleans, Louisiana, where they stayed with a relative for three years, before they found their own cozy spot to call home.
Catalina decided to leave behind her involvement in witchcraft and found a full-time job at Casa Victoria, a Mexican restaurant and jazz Bar.
Life seemed relatively ordinary, except for the constant unease of anticipating the demon's arrival for Rafa.
As Rafa grew older, his encounters with the supernatural became more frequent. In his dreams, he could sense an ominous presence watching over him, which he confided in his mother. It was during one of these moments that she revealed the truth about his soul belonging to a demon.
At first, Rafa found it hard to believe, but over time, he learned to accept it. He even started feeling a strange sense of anticipation for the demon's arrival.
Deep down, Rafa had always yearned to meet his father.