As Papá walked into the kitchen, Lo could hear muffled yells and the sound of breaking glass seeping through the walls.Her father must have been letting the cooks and kitchen staff have it, likely blaming them for his coughing fit.Her cheek still tingled.She did not want to be in his line of fire, so she ran to her room.
The flickering candlelight cast a myriad of dancing shadows across Lo’s bedroom wall.Even as she lay in bed, her heart refused to stop drumming, all her senses on high alert.The excitement of Fortune’s Kiss pirouetted across her mind, alongside the horrible things that happened today.
After tomorrow, none of that would matter.No more lying or acting pleasant to make horrible people happy.As exciting as that was, a small voice in her head kept asking:But what would you be without those things?Who are you if you aren’t playing that role?
She shook those thoughts away.That could be figured out later, once she was free, but for now, there was still much tobe done.She strained her ears until distant sounds throughout the house had quieted.Then she rose from the bed, crept to her door, and peeked into the hallway.Not a light or noise.Holding her breath, she journeyed through the hall past Sera’s and Sofía’s rooms, then down the stairs.Everything inside her trembled.She half expected a servant to leap out of the shadows, but no, they were all asleep in their quarters.Soft moonlight seeped in through the windows, illuminating the way as she passed the kitchen and parlor to the other end of the hacienda.
Mamá’s suite.
She reached for the doorknob, but hesitated.It had been years since she or anyone else had crossed the threshold.After Mamá left, it had become a forbidden area.The servants didn’t even go in there to clean.Lo wiped her clammy palms on her nightgown and took a deep breath.There was no time for dawdling.As quietly as she could, she opened the door and stepped inside.
An overwhelming wave of nostalgia hit her.The familiarity, the memories, all of it was as thick as the dust coating the furniture.The suite was exactly how she remembered, though the room didn’t feel as big as it once did.Moonlight wafted in from the balcony, spotlighting the mosaic tiled floor and luxurious rugs, along with the warm orange walls.The stone fireplace stood at the far end of the room, opposite her mother’s bed, which was full of fluffy pillows and crisp white blankets.The only other sign of decay was the dried-out plants Mamá used to dote on.
Lo tried to soak it all in.If she shut her eyes, she swore she could catch a faint whiff of warm sunshine and rosemary.Mamá’s signature scent.
As a child, this place had been her sanctuary.Back then, she thought it was normal for a husband and wife to sleep as far away from each other as possible.
She shuddered.The last time she visited this room had been on a muggy summer’s night much like this one.A nightmare brought her here, one she couldn’t remember, but it had been bad enough to send her scrambling inside.Mamá always let her snuggle up in bed with her whenever Lo got scared.And Mamá’s tender fingers stroking her hair and the softly sung lullabies would vanquish any frightful thoughts or unsettling feelings.
Lo walked to the fireplace and crouched in front of it.Mamá had once told her of the hidden coins that were only to be used in an emergency by her and her sisters.Sure enough, behind the soot-stained cobwebs and rotted wood sat a pouch full of golden coins.Alotof them.Enough to attend an extravagant weeklong ball dressed as a new princess every night.
Beside the pouch, Mamá’s silver comb sat with years of dust collected on its surface.
“Until I return, keep this hidden and safe for me.”
Lo gently pulled it from its hiding spot.When she was little, the comb had nearly swallowed her small hand.Now it fit delicately in her palm.It was just as beautiful as she remembered, if not more.Even though she could never bring herself to wear it, it was her most prized possession.
She pulled the Fortune’s Kiss poster from her nightgown pocket and smoothed it out on her lap.A teardrop hit the paper.Lo squeezed the poster and pressed her lips together to keep a sob at bay as more hot tears dripped down her cheeks.“I’m coming, Mamá.I promise.”
No matter what, she would get her back.If she and Mayté won, she would use her wish to make it so.But Dios forbid, even if they didn’t win, she would trade anything she could for Mamá.Sell her soul if she had to.
And maybe then, once she had Mamá back, Lo wouldn’t be so broken.
As dusk’s orange glow filled her bedroom the next evening, Lo got to work.Her father had been preoccupied the entire day and Lo hoped that he would stay that way.She grabbed her packed satchel and changed into a turquoise dress.The silk hem hovered inches above the floor.Lacy ruffles blossomed at the sleeves and around her neck.Subtle flowers and butterfly patterns winked when the light hit just right.Everything about the dress was elegant without being too constricting or heavy.She had to look her best, but also be prepared.No one could say for certain what awaited her inside Fortune’s Kiss.She pulled her curls away from her face and pinned them back with her mother’s comb.Only now did it feel right to wear it.
The door creaked open.
Lo’s heart stopped.
Sera and Sofía stood in the doorway.Their bronze faces looked extra pale with red splotchy cheeks matching their bloodshot eyes.
“What happened?”Lo asked, unsure if she wanted to know the answer.
Sofía’s lips quivered, and she burst into tears.“Don’t leave us!Please!”She bolted into the room and hugged Lo’s legs.
“Wh-wha—?”The walls wobbled and closed in.
Sera did a much better job at keeping her composure, though her eyes glittered with moisture.“Please don’t go.If it’s because of yesterday I’m so sorry, but you can’t go to Fortune’s Kiss.Papá says that everyone who goes never comes back.”
Lo’s blood ran cold.
He knew.
She couldn’t even fathom what that man would do to her.She had to get out of here.Now.
Lo pushed past her sisters and ran as fast as she could.
“Lo, no!”
