With no cure.
When his dark eyes meet mine, it’s only a cursory glance. An assessment of the danger I pose, and nothing more. There is no recognition. No heat in his gaze, no soft smile to his mouth.
He’s gone.
Lost forever.
I stop struggling, and Rumi releases me with a grunt. I drop heavily to my knees. A chasm opens within me, devouring every one of my feelings, hungry to swallow me whole. I can’t breathe. It hurts too much.
The priest shoots me an irritated look. “Are you ready to show me the way to Paititi?”
Somehow my lips remain closed. My heart may be broken, but I will not give up the way to the city. I’ve lost the person I love the most, but I will not give up.
“You think the worst has been done to you?” the priest asks. “I’m in control here, Condesa. And I will continue to take from you until you break.” With a swift smile in my direction, the priest motions for Manuel and points a long crooked finger at Chaska. “Another friend of yours?”
He means to turn her also. Another friend. Gone forever.
Manuel steps toward Chaska. She pales and backs away, but the priest lifts a finger and she freezes. “You have a chance to save her,” he says coldly. “Tell me how to get to Paititi.”
Chaska swallows hard. The muscles in her neck strain—she’s trying to break free of the priest’s magic. “Don’t say anything, Catalina.Do not.”
Tears stream down my cheeks as Manuel takes a step closer, and another. Pale hands lifting. The priest releases his hold on Chaska and she stumbles.
“I’ll have him torture her first,” the priest says. “Rip out each limb—”
My fingers clutch the pale ground until they grow numb. “Stop, please stop.”
Kusi struggles against the priest’s magic, his veins pronounced along his neck. “I will murder you for this!”
“No, I don’t think you will. This is your last chance to tell me where the city of gold lies.”
“Don’t say anything,” Chaska says quickly, shaking as she tries to back away from Manuel.
I can’t stand to look at his cold hatred. If he knew what he was about to do, it’d break his heart. Manuel charges, and somehow Chaska ducks from his reach. He lets out a guttural roar, then turns and swings a great arm. It clocks her in the chest and she flies backward.
“Manuel!” I scream. “Don’t do this!”
I leap to my feet and rush between them, holding up my hands in a pleading gesture. “Listen to me. Listen to my voice. It’s me, Catalina.”
The priest laughs. “You could be his mother; it makes no difference.”
I lock eyes with the monster, but the warmth has vanished from his, replaced by a cold emptiness that widens that chasm inside me. He snaps his teeth at me.
“You don’t want to do this,” I beg. “Manuel. Por favor.”
The monster reaches for my throat—I jump back, but he takes ahold of my wrist and sends me flying. I land on my side with a sharp thud. Pain shoots down my body. Somehow I get to my knees and crawl toward Chaska. Try one more time. “Manuel,please!”
He doesn’t look in my direction, doesn’t respond at all to his name. I crumble—he’s well and truly gone. And he’s about to murder someone in cold, cold blood. He stomps over to Chaska, who attempts to scramble away.
“Don’t!” I yell, even though I know it’s useless. I shakily get to my feet and take a few steps before Rumi snatches me again. “Manuel,por favor!”
Kusi’s face is nearly purple, but the priest’s hold never wavers.
Manuel bends over, shoves Chaska’s hand away. His claws pierce her flesh—
She screams—
I push to my feet. “Priest! I will take you to Paititi!”
