The woman Mayté had grown up around had seemed so kind and loving.But she had been here in this place for so long.She was cold, flat, bored.The house must have corrupted her.
Just like it had somehow corrupted Lo.
“For our final round, our remaining contestants will play until someone fills their entire board.But beware, the cards have become even more dangerous.”Misterioso spoke playfully, as if they were children and he was warning them about El Cucuy.“Let us see how you four fare, shall we?Once again, your wagers are your souls.Good luck.”
This was it.The final round.Deep down, Mayté had always known she would make it this far, and yet,and yet,this wasn’t how she had imagined it at all.She couldn’t even bring herself to look at Lo.Instead, she walked over to Dominic and helped him to his seat.She gave Carlos’s arm a light squeeze.She made a silent vow.She would do anything she could to keep anyone else from dying.
And it was clear that she would have to do that without Lo’s help.
Mayté took a shaky breath and wiped the tears from her eyes.The only available seat was one next to Lo.She took it, and focused on the Banker as he stepped to the center of the table and shuffled the cards.His downcast eyes were the same color as the ocean during a storm.
Lo ignored Mayté and stared directly at him.“You knew about Loretta this entire time.You were working for her.Playedme for a fool.”Her tone wasn’t accusing.No, her voice was devoid of any emotion.
The Banker frowned as if he wanted to say something, but changed his mind.Instead, he began drawing cards.It felt like a surreal blur.All Mayté could truly focus on was filling her board.There was La Campana, which caused a loud bell to ring.The sound echoed against her already throbbing skull.Then there was El Coraje.The strange card depicted a flaming heart with two disembodied hands underneath.A blast of heat erupted from the card washing over everyone at the table.Mayté’s heart slammed against her ribcage as dizzying adrenaline made her want to fly out of her seat.Surely this card represented anger.Thoughts of Alejandro, Lo, and all the injustices of the house consumed her, but she couldn’t become reckless.
Dominic frowned and Carlos squeezed a handful of beans—everyone at the table had something to be angry about—yet Lo sat calmly.
“This is getting a bit boring, hmm?”A twisted grin formed on Loretta’s gorgeous face.“Misterioso, I hope the other rounds you hosted haven’t been so dull.”
This earned a glare from Misterioso.There was something between the two of them.A power struggle of sorts.Misterioso was the face of Fortune’s Kiss.The one who guided everyone to their damnation, while Loretta ruled from the shadows.They were both equally wicked, but in different ways, and it seemed Misterioso didn’t want Loretta’s darkness to dull his spotlight.
Loretta’s smile grew as she clearly relished his anger.“Let’s liven it up, shall we?I suggest you hold on to your hats.”
“El Abysmo,” the Banker called and held up a card.
Mayté didn’t have the chance to fully study the purple card before a strong wind rushed around the room.
In the center, a void opened, pulling objects toward it and sucking them inside.
A black hole.
Mayté gripped the table and held on tight.
TWENTY-FOURLo
El Abysmo grew by the second, greedily consuming everything it could.Vases, statues, chairs, and anything else unfortunate enough to find itself in its path.Mayté shrieked.Dominic toppled from his chair.Carlos clung to the table for dear life—was it anchored to the floor?
Nearby, the Banker simply shuffled his deck, casually catching a stray card before El Abysmo could steal it away.
There was somethingalmostbeautiful about the chaos.Bits of gold and jewels mixed with the flying debris.The winds violently tugged Lo’s curls and skirts.El Abysmo would grow, she knew, until it had its sacrifice.One of them would die.She laughed.Perhaps it would be her!
Loretta stayed in her throne with that pathetic shopkeeper at her side, fanning her.
El Abysmo’s inhale intensified.Lo fumbled around for something to cling to as her curls whipped her face.She lost her footing.She closed her eyes.
Death could be a relief.
Something yanked her arm, stopping her tumble toward El Abysmo.She watched in shock as several chairs disappeared into the gaping black.
Carlos had been the one to grab her.With a grunt, he pulled her against him.His other arm was wrapped tight around the sturdy-looking leg of a table.
Lo’s eyes widened as she and Carlos looked at each other, the wind howling around them.“Why?”It was all she could get out.Why would he save her, after everything she’d done?
Carlos yelled over the noise, yet the rest of the world seemed to soften until all she could focus on was him.“If I won, I would have helped my family, restored Las Cinco … and convinced your father to allow me to marry you.You would never have had to depend on him again.”
Their noses nearly touched.She could make out each of his eyelashes and the tiniest few freckles on his brown face.
He could have used his wish on anything.He could have asked for enough power and wealth to attractanywoman.One who wasn’t broken, like she was.
