She gave his arm one final squeeze before the two stepped out into the gaming den, leaving behind the remnants of their father’s greatest mistake.
Lo was already seated between Dominic and the shopkeeper.She wouldn’t even look in Mayté’s direction.
Carlos glanced between the two girls, but said nothing as he and Mayté took the only two seats left.
What was going on with Lo?Even the Banker, who stood at the table shuffling cards, kept glancing at her, a mixture of bewilderment and concern in his blue eyes.He was usually as slick as a serpent.Smug and nonchalant, but right now he looked disturbed.
Misterioso strode into the room.“Everyone’s here.Let’s begin!”he growled.
Mayté didn’t dare look as he rested his hand on the back of her chair; she felt his imposing presence directly behind her.
“This round should be short and straightforward,” he spat.“Souls are on the line.We play until one person is eliminated.”
Mayté broke into a sweat.One person.After that would be the final round.El Beso de la Fortuna would surely appear then.But they still needed to get through this round.She glanced around the table.Carlos, Dominic, Lo, even the shopkeeper: she couldn’t stand the thought of any of them dying.
But one of them would have to.
“Understood?”Misterioso drummed his fingers against the back of her seat.She felt each of those forceful taps in her heart.She finally dared a look up at him, and froze.He had swapped out his white calavera mask for a black one.It was made from harsh angles and looked almost decayed.The large round eyeholes emphasized the murderous way he stared down at her.
“Wait a minute,” the shopkeeper said, stealing away Misterioso’s attention.
No longer under his terrifying scrutiny, Mayté let herself breathe.
“We’re not all here.What about Don Zelaya?”the shopkeeper asked.
Her heart thudded.
“That’s right.Where is he?”Carlos murmured as he looked around the room.
“I’m afraid Don Martín Zelaya is no longer with us,” Mysterioso said plainly.
“He dropped out of the game?”the shopkeeper spat in disbelief.“What a foolish move.”
Dominic looked down, conflict written all over his face.
And Lo?She stared calmly, straight ahead.
Had Lo killed Don Zelaya?He was a nasty, horrible monster.He must have threatened Lo somehow.Had he done something to her?Was that why she was acting so strangely?
“Banker, begin the game,” Mysterioso said.
Everything felt wrong.Yet the game began as usual with the Banker calling out cards and everyone placing beans on their boards.Cards like El Tifón, which unleashed strong winds through the gambling den; El Venado, which summoned a herd of deer that walked around and munched on the vases of marigolds; and La Sandia, which prompted the servers to set out plates of sliced watermelon.Lo took a big bite of hers and wiped away the dribbling juices from her chin.
She still wouldn’t look at Mayté.Instead, she studied her board.“Oh!Lotería!”she shouted and flicked her hand.
The Banker leaned over to check her card.Even he looked like he didn’t believe it.
“Congratulations.”Misterioso waved his cane, and an image of Lo’s board appeared.It showed beans covering the first row and column.“Double lotería.How fortunate for you.”But he hardly sounded pleased.“You may draw two cards.”
Lo plucked two cards from the Banker and held them high for everyone to see.
There was El Cotorro, which showed a green parakeet on a branch; the other one was La Corona.The same card that Xiomara had given Don Zelaya.
“We …” Misterioso’s eyes widened as if he were taken aback.Seeing the man who had presided over so much carnage made Mayté feel ill.Something was seriously wrong.“We’ll start with El Cotorro,” he said, voice strained and flat.“This card can be used on another player, who then must truthfully answer your questions or else lose their wager.”
“Then I’ll use it now,” Lo said.
“On whom?”Misterioso asked, looking oddly relieved.
