Page 106 of Fortune's Kiss
“A threat,” Loretta mused.“What an interesting choice of words.”
Lo sank to her knees inside the mirror, head down, her long curls obscuring her face like a curtain.
“And we continue,” Loretta ordered, not the least bit bothered by her daughter’s fate.“Only two players left.”
Mayté blinked back tears as she stared at the mirror.The glass of Lo’s prison was half-transparent, half-reflective.Through that reflection, she saw the Banker frowning, a conflicted look on his face, but he didn’t falter for much longer.“El Ángelito.”The card depicted an angel clad in white robes and surrounded by golden lights.
The brightness stung Mayté’s eyes.She gasped at her reflection.The light formed a golden halo behind her head.Just like the paintings of Los Santos and the angels in the cathedrals.
“El Ángelito has chosen you, María Teresa,” Misterioso announced.His mask didn’t obscure the agitated twitch in his eyes.“You must choose to restore the life of one player the game has taken.”
“R-restore?”Mayté choked.“What does that mean?”
Loretta looked bored.“The house keeps the souls of those who have perished playing the game … and those who will soon perish.”She glanced toward her daughter.“You can undo that.”
The house keeps … Mayté covered her mouth.Then that meant Alejandro, Dominic, and all the other innocents who died here didn’t have the relief of joining Dios in the afterlife.They were trapped in this el infierno for the rest of eternity.
It wasn’t fair.
It wasn’t right.
“Wait.I could save … Alejandro!”She gasped.“Alejandro!I want to save him!”She slapped her shaking palms against the table.
“Oh.”Loretta smiled.
Misterioso chuckled.
A sob lodged itself in Mayté’s throat.“W-what …?”
“I’m afraid I should have been clearer,” Misterioso drawled.“Lorena killed Alejandro.Not the house.Not the game.He is ineligible for salvation.”
“That’s not fair!”Mayté replied.
“Ah, but as Gamemakers we can do anything we want.Fair or not.”Loretta leaned back in her seat.“Such delicious entertainment!”
A tear rolled down Mayté’s cheek.This had always been a sadistic game to them.She knew it, but it still shocked her how utterly evil these people were.She put her head on the table and wept.
A warm hand found her shoulder.“Mayté,” Carlos whispered.
Yes.She had to act.There were others she could choose.Dominic, or Carmen, or …
“Mayté.”Carlos turned his head toward the mirror, his gesture full of meaning.
Lo placed a palm against the glass.Her head bowed.
No.Lo was not one of those innocent people …
“Mayté,” Loretta said.“Who will you choose?”
TWENTY-SIXLo
From the moment Lo fell into El Espejo’s trap, the thick darkness inside her lifted, leaving behind a sobering clarity.She knew Mayté.Maybe even better than she knew herself.And she saw it all over her face.Mayté didn’t want to choose her …
And you know why,the tiniest of voices rasped in her ear.
The reflection in her glass prison shifted into images of Mayté.Mayté screaming.Mayté sobbing.Her face red with scarlet humiliation as she answered Lo’s question during El Cotorro.Mayté hunched over Alejandro’s dead body.Mayté devastated when she wasn’t allowed to choose Alejandro to save.
Lo’s stomach ached.She reached out toward the mirror again, hands shaky and desperate.“Mayté …”
