Lo couldn’t have been any prouder.Mayté was playing on the tension between Loretta and Mysterioso.Using that to buy more time.And it was working.
Misterioso’s eyes darkned.He marched to Loretta’s throne.“If we’re ending the game without a winner, this is a choice we must both agree on.”
The two began to argue.
Lo squeezed her eyes shut and prayed as hard as she could.There were legends of humans fervently praying until theirsweat became blood.She imagined the desperate agony.Please.Give us that card.Now!
When she opened her eyes, the inside of the mirror had changed.Now it reflected the gaming den.The room was exactly the same, but the only people inside it were herself and Mayté.
“Mayté, look.”Lo pointed behind them where the card now floated.
Mayté jumped to her feet.She rushed toward the card.Lo followed after her.
“What’s your plan?”Lo asked.
Mayté didn’t slow down.“I found a book that had records of all the winners and their wishes.There was one wish that kept repeating.Become a Gamemaker and gain limitless power.Your mother said Gamemakers can do anything.I’ll wish to become one.”Her eyes narrowed.“I’m going to use that power to free us, and destroy the house once and for all.”
Lo’s mind raced.The wall glowed, showing Loretta, Misterioso, Miguel,and Maytéwrithing in agony as the house around them crumbled.Just like the house showed her Miguel and Misterioso’s origins, it showed her the end results of her best friend’s plan.“Mayté, no!”She grabbed her best friend’s arm.“The Gamemakers are bound to the house.If you destroy it, you’ll die!”
“I …” Mayté’s eyebrows furrowed.“It’s the only way.I’ll release you and Carlos first then I can die.”She snatched her arm free and ran for the card.
“No!Don’t!”Lo raced after Mayté.The entire salon rumbled as a mountain of marigold petals and calaveras—some painted, and others rotting—rose from under the card.Mayté climbed up, but quickly sank into the petals.
Lo stepped onto a calavera and used others to climb ahead of Mayté.The house was on her side.Likely helping her out of self-preservation, but Lo could care less about the house or what it wanted.
No matter what, she refused to let the most important person in her life sacrifice herself.
TWENTY-NINEMayté
Mayté sank deeper into the marigold petals.She could barely keep her head above them.She spat out a mouthful and looked up toward the golden card above.Its glittering lights illuminated the nearby petals and calaveras.
No matter how much she struggled, the coveted card wasn’t any closer.In fact, it felt as if she were sinking farther and farther away.An overwhelming musky scent washed over her.Decay and burning.
Nearby petals rustled as Lo’s inky black form moved past her.Somehow, Lo was able to climb up the pile with ease.Not only would she ruin her chance to destroy this place, but—
If someone with a pure heart claims the card, something miraculous will happen.But if anyone else claims the card, it will further corrupt their heart.
Alejandro’s words echoed through her mind.Lo had murdered two people.Despite her reasons, the fact remained.If she got ahold of the card, there would be no hope for her.She would never again go back to being the Lo that Mayté loved.
“Stop!”Mayté snatched Lo’s ankle.“You can’t go through with this!I won’t let you!”
Lo struggled against her, shaking her leg.Mayté clung tighter, grabbing her other ankle with her other hand as well.
“If you grab the card, you’ll be like this forever.This isn’t you, Lo!”
The struggling slowed.“But you’ll die!”Lo said.
“I’d rather die than let this continue!Lo, myfathercame to Fortune’s Kiss.That’s why I’m here in the first place.I can’t keep letting this place destroy lives and dreams.Please!”
Lo stopped struggling.“Maybe this is the price for getting the card in here.There’s no way for all of us to get out alive,” she croaked.
“I know … but I’m okay with that.It’s okay, Lo, I promise.”
“No!”Lo snapped.
“Only someone with the power of a Gamemaker can get us out of this.”Mayté’s voice cracked as reality further sank in.“And I would rather die than stay here forever continuing this cursed cycle.”
Lo made a strange face.“What if I told you didn’t have to do that?”She held out her hand to Mayté.
