Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
Mayté
You were right about my mother. Are you happy?
Lo’s harsh words had carved a hole in Mayté’s heart, leaving behind sadness and guilt.
She hated that she was right. Normally, being right was something she prided herself in.
She may not have been the most beautiful girl, but she liked to think her instincts made up for it.
This time, she wished her gut had failed her.
She shouldn’t have been so dismissive when Lo brought up the paella.
Or maybe she should have been honest with her best friend sooner.
She wasn’t sure which one was better. All she knew was that Lo was in more pain than she could even begin to imagine.
Next to Mayté sat Carlos. They were the only ones in the common area between the players’ suites. Misterioso had boasted that tonight’s feast would be extra grand, with a whole roasted pig and dishes from around the world. The thought soured her stomach.
Mayté and Carlos had looked everywhere for Lo, but hadn’t found her.
“From now on, you, me, and Lo are working together,” she whispered because if she spoke any louder, her voice might shatter into a million pieces. “We’ll get to the final round. We’ll be unstoppable.”
Carlos managed a smile, then winced. His bandaged arm was still painful.
All the fiery anger she had felt, the fear that plagued her all this time, subsided into soft warmth. For the first time in a very long time, she and Carlos felt like true siblings. Do or die until the very end.
If they could all make it through the final round, they would be safe. Lo had told her that. So why did her stomach lurch? As if there were some other catch. Maybe the Banker had lied. Everything came at a price, and surely there was more to it.
She didn’t want anyone else to suffer or die.
But she didn’t want to give up on her own life and dreams either.
And for that to become reality, people would have to lose and pay the ultimate price. The cost of her beautiful dream was bloody horror.
She chewed her lower lip and twirled the wispy strands of hair at her temple.
“Mayté.” It wasn’t until Carlos touched her arm that she realized how hard she was pulling at her hair.
He gripped his arm, letting out several curses under his breath. It was getting worse.
“Should we go tell—?” she began.
“They won’t do anything,” he replied. “It happened during the round, so it’s fair game.” When he lifted his hand, blood seeped through the bandage. “I’ll be okay. Let’s keep looking for Lo.”
“But—you’ll be at a disadvantage next round! We have to do something,” Mayté said, panicked. There were only six people left, and Misterioso was certainly going to make sure more of them got eliminated quickly.
“I think I might be able to help.”
Mayté looked up just in time to catch a glass bottle that Dominic had tossed in her direction. It was half full of what looked like liquid opals. In the light, the silvery liquid gleamed different shades of pinks and purples. “What is this?”
“Dedo de Dios.” Dominic was standing in the connecting doorway of his room. He had washed up and changed into a fresh suit. His eyes looked extra puffy, and his cheeks were flushed bright red.
“What?” Mayté and Carlos gasped. Dedo de Dios was incredibly expensive and as rare as the flowers needed for it, which bloomed only during full moons. The potion was known to heal wounds and even some diseases.
“Where did you get this?” Mayté asked.
“Brought it with me. Just in case.” Dominic grinned, but his eyes didn’t have their usual shine. “I don’t have much use for it. Keep whatever you don’t use, okay?”
Smuggling in a potion in case something terrible happened. Clever.
“Hey.” Carlos turned around in his seat to face him, expression somber and the slightest bit regretful. “Thank you.” Any ill will between them had been buried away.
“You’re welcome.” Dominic backed into his room and closed the door. Even someone as cheerful as him couldn’t stay that way in this hellish place.
Mayté opened the potion as Carlos undid his bandages. The liquid’s scent filled the air. When she closed her eyes, it reminded her of an early spring morning when the cool air smelled fresh and carried the subtle scent of newly bloomed flowers.
As she sprinkled the potion onto Carlos’s wound, his skin repaired itself.
Carlos sucked in a breath. The tension in his jaw and shoulders loosened.
Gracias a Dios. Mayté let her fingers relax. Would the house make Dominic pay for smuggling in a potion? Would that be something that needed payment? She would have to ask Alejandro.
Wait! Alejandro.
She pulled the napkin out of her pocket. With everything that had happened, she had nearly forgotten. Her heart raced as she studied it. There was a smudged note scrawled in charcoal: LIbrARY AT MIDNIGHT—A
There were still several hours before then. “Come on.” Mayté stuffed the napkin back in her pocket and stood. “Let’s keep looking for Lo.”
They had searched for what felt like hours, but Lo was nowhere to be found. Mayté’s insides twisted with more and more worry with every passing moment.
It was nearly midnight. She had to meet Alejandro.
The elevator doors opened, and Mayté rushed down the hall toward the library. Soft light from the wall lanterns washed over her. Her heart wouldn’t stop pounding.
When she pushed open the creaky door, everything in the room had once again changed.
If it could even be considered a room. The sky was a deep purple, and the full moon shone high above.
There were no walls, just an endless expanse of cobblestone, and buildings tall enough to touch the stars.
Bright lights from lampposts and windows cut through the dark and illuminated the deep blue river ahead.
This wasn’t Milagro.
She had never seen a place like this before. Was this even in San Solera?
Despite the unfamiliarity, it was beautiful. So beautiful. Slowly, almost shakily, she approached the metal fence overlooking the river. Nearby rose bushes exhaled their dreamy scent. A cool breeze pulled at her braids as she stared out at the lake and city.
Her fingers twitched, wanting to paint a replica of this exact scene. Golden lights popping in the dark night, the silver moon reflecting in the waters, soft roses and harsh architecture.
To find herself in a place like this and create art. This was what she wanted. More than anything. She blinked back tears.
Would she ever get there? Or would she die inside Fortune’s Kiss?
She wiped her eyes and looked away. As beautiful as this place was, there was something uncanny lurking between the lights and buildings.
There wasn’t a soul in sight. This shouldn’t have been a surprise.
It was all just a mirage, yet it bothered her that there wasn’t a single figure in any of the windows.
No carriages on the streets, either. It was just Mayté.
Or was it? She spotted something approaching her.
In the dark, it looked like a shadow come to life. Her heart jumped into her throat.
The stranger stepped under the light of a lamppost. Alejandro.
Mayté huffed. “You scared me!”
He took a step closer.
“The room changed, but you still came. Is this even still considered the library?”
Alejandro came closer, but kept quiet. He stared at her, hazel eyes tired and intense.
He had washed the paint off his face, but clearly had been much too hasty as traces of black surrounded his eyes.
The first few buttons on his wrinkled dress shirt were unbuttoned.
He stopped in front of her, still wordless.
As if he had consumed the potion El Silencio.
“Alejan—”
He suddenly hugged her, taking her breath away. Gentle, yet strong, he held her close. The subtle odor of paint and incense mixed with fresh lemongrass filled her nostrils.
“I was so worried. I’m glad—so glad you’re okay.” He buried his face in her neck.
The sky lightened into a dreamy purple. The stars glittered brighter, reflecting off the dew on the roses.
Feeling his skin against hers sent shock waves of warmth all the way down to her toes.
Her face must have been brighter than the moon.
She was certain it would have reflected a vivid pink against the river’s glimmering water.
“I’m so sorry. The sudden death was all my fault.” He held her tighter. “I never should have told you about the house’s magic.”
“No. It’s okay. You tried to warn me about keeping my intentions pure, but I didn’t listen. I just wanted”—her voice cracked—“my best friend, my brother, and myself to survive.”
“That sounds pure to me.” He held her tighter. “This damn place has a warped sense of morality.”
Pressed up against his chest like this, her pulse pounded even harder. Or maybe it was Alejandro’s heart she felt. She wasn’t sure.
But she liked it.
She had never been hugged by a boy before.
Save her brothers—and her father, long ago—but that was different.
No one outside of her family and Lo had cared for her so strongly.
How many nights had she lain in bed, fantasizing about situations just like this?
Yearning for this type of warmth, but also not fully understanding what it would feel like.
Slowly, and almost shakily, she lifted her hands to return his embrace.
“I’ve been so selfish,” he whispered.
Your heart shall be torn in two.
La Sirena’s prophecy hit her like a bolt of lightning. She wanted to ignore it. Pretend it was all just a lie.
But she couldn’t.
“What do you mean?” Her hold on him loosened. A thick purple fog rolled through. It obscured the moon and the tops of the buildings. Hazy. Uncertain. Treacherous.
“I …” Alejandro looked down. “I’ve been using you.”