Chapter 21 #2
The room spun. If Lo kept prodding, would she make Mayté reveal the plan about El Beso de la Fortuna? Misterioso circled the table like a hungry shark, glaring eyes trained on her.
“Truth.” El Cotorro flew from Lo’s shoulder and headed for Mayté. “Reversal, reversal,” it squawked and landed on her shoulders. It dug its talons in, but she barely felt it. Her entire body was a mixture of terror and fury.
No one said anything. Not even Misterioso. Not until the Banker cleared his throat.
“A reversal,” Misterioso said quietly. He didn’t smile. “María Teresa, you may ask Lorena a question, which she must truthfully answer.”
“What? Why?” Lo demanded.
“Everything comes at a price,” El Cotorro squawked.
Her lips pursed.
Mayté’s heart skipped. So many questions came to mind. Why was Lo doing this? What had happened? Were they still friends? Had Lo really killed Don Zelaya?
But she had to choose her question carefully.
Lo had been strange and cruel. Mayté needed to know that the Lo she loved was still there. That her heart was still beating.
“Lo, if there was a way to save everyone here, would you?”
Carlos sat up straighter. Dominic looked down. Lo stared blankly.
Yes, Mayté thought, you would save everyone. You would. Because you’re a good person. You’re my best friend. You’re—
“No,” Lo finally answered.
Mayté gripped the table. If she hadn’t, she might have fallen from her seat.
“Truth.” El Cotorro stayed on her shoulder. She had time for another question.
“Have you killed anyone?”
Lo jolted. Her wide eyes begged Mayté to take the question back. But she couldn’t. Even if she wanted to.
Carlos made a small noise, while Dominic kept his head down.
“Yes.”
“Who?” She blurted before El Cotorro flew off.
Lo’s face pinched. She looked down. “Don Zelaya and … my father.” The way she said that last part. It wasn’t an accident, was it?
Mayté couldn’t believe it. Didn’t want to.
But Lo didn’t want to save everyone …
And Lo had lied to her about her father. What else had she lied about?
Her best friend was a murderer.
El Cotorro flew around the room.
“Let’s get the game moving,” Lo muttered, voice cold. She held up the La Corona. She wouldn’t look at Mayté. “What does this one do?”
The Banker’s eyes darted all around and Misterioso gritted his teeth. Was that fear?
“I’m sure you recall, that’s the card that Don Zelaya received,” he replied. “How fitting.”
Lo scoffed. “Tell me what the card does. Now.” The card flashed and vanished into a million tiny lights that gathered atop Lo’s head and transformed into a crown.
Misterioso grunted as if pained. “The card allows you to order anyone to do your bidding and they will have to obey.”
When Xiomara first drew the card, Mayté thought it only would work on the other players. That they would have to obey the order or lose the wager, but she had been dead wrong. The card’s magic forced the commanded to obey. If the orders worked on Misterioso, would it work on everyone in the house?
“Lo!” Mayté gasped. “Command Misterioso to free us all!”
Dominic coughed and Carlos stared between Mayté and Lo. Even the shopkeeper, who had looked groggy and grumpy, perked up.
“Why?” Lo asked, her voice stone-cold.
Her words were like a punch in the gut. Mayté couldn’t breathe.
“Lo!” Carlos snapped.
“What are you doing, you stupid girl?” the shopkeeper screamed. “You’re going to get us all killed.”
“Enough,” Lo snapped. “I’ve grown quite bored of this round. Let’s end it.” She pointed at the shopkeeper. “You’re going to listen to me.”
“What?” He jumped up from his seat, but this time there was more than just snobbish irritation on his face. There was fear. Pure terror. “Wh-what are you saying? Y-you’re not going to kill me, are you? You can’t do that.”
“Don’t!” Mayté blurted. Now Lo turned to her, but Mayté wished she hadn’t. The nasty scowl on Lo’s face made her stomach ache. “Please. Think, Lo. You can free us all, right now.”
“He humiliated you,” Lo growled. “He prevented you from finishing your commission: he doesn’t deserve to be free.”
“Wha—?” The shopkeeper stood. “It was nothing personal. Truly! I have a family to feed. My wife had just had twins. W-we weren’t prepared. W-we—”
“Oh, how ironic,” Lo mocked. “The reason you came here is the reason you’ll die.”
“LORENA.” Mayté pounded the table. “Don’t. You. Dare.” No one else deserved to die. No matter how terrible they were.
Lo’s eyes widened. Mayté rarely called her by her full name. A wounded look crossed her face, and she looked away. “I’ll be merciful this time.” She folded her hands together, resting her chin atop her fingers. “Senor Shopkeeper, I order you to fold.”
“What?” the shopkeeper squawked.
“No,” Mayté gasped. “If he forfeits, he’ll—”
Lo simply lifted a hand, cutting her off. “Misterioso, he will work here instead.”
Misterioso looked bewildered. “Very well,” he said.
Lo looked satisfied. “See? He won’t die or lose his soul. Are you happy, Mayté?”
“I—I—” Mayté stammered. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. No. This was all wrong. Now he would be just like Alejandro, trapped, unhappy, losing his humanity bit by bit, for eternity. She whispered. “Why are you doing this?”
“I’m just playing the game,” Lo replied simply. “I’m keeping our promise and doing my best to make sure we win.” She turned back to the shopkeeper. “Go ahead!”
“I—I forfeit.” The shopkeeper broke down into bitter weeping.
Mayté looked away and swallowed hard.
“Well, then,” Misterioso said, sounding exhausted. “Antonio Rivera has been eliminated. I suppose this concludes this round. Our final round will begin in two hours.”
“Good.” Lo stood and dusted off her black gown. “Misterioso, Banker, follow me.” She waltzed toward the elevator.
The Banker gasped and Misterioso cursed, but the two followed her, steps wobbling and strained as if they couldn’t control their bodies.
Was the card still in effect? The crown hadn’t vanished from Lo’s head.
“Wait!” Mayté chased after her.
Lo whirled around. “Don’t follow me!”
Mayté’s legs abruptly froze, nearly causing her to fall over. She couldn’t move them, no matter how hard she tried.
“All the rest of you, too.”
All Mayté could do was watch helplessly as Lo, Misterioso, and the Banker stepped into the elevator. She couldn’t do anything to stop the doors from closing. The last thing she saw was Lo’s face. Cold, with a dark glint in her brown eyes.