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.
