I have no defense against this beast.
We are both impossibly still.Run, someone whispers in the night, the voice soft but powerful. Go. As if by their own accord, my feet slowly angle away from the jungle cat. In response, he crouches lower, readying to strike.
I bolt, taking only my telescope.
The jaguar roars from somewhere behind me. My legs pump harder, and I run as fast as I can. The trees spread out enough for me to see where I’m going—there’s a cliff ahead. For the first time, Luna shines down on me. Moonlight reveals a path parallel to the edge. I pivot, my hands shooting out to catch my fall. My fingers find purchase and I propel myself forward, feet pushing against the ground to give me a head start.
The jaguar leaps.
I drop to the ground as the big cat sails above me. I get to my feet and dart away, stumbling back through the jungle bush. The moonlight disappears. Darkness blankets my vision. Sharp leaves scratch my cheeks, but I push on, the jaguar snarling at my heels. Above our heads, monkeys screech, startled by the jungle cat. My eyes adjust to the darkness as I’m about to touch a prickly vine. I use my covered shoulder to push the bulk aside.
A log blocks my path. I climb over, but as soon as my feet touch the other side, the beast slashes my shoulder blades. A bloodcurdling scream escapes me. Hot liquid slides down my back. I take a few steps forward, my vision blurring from the pain. The ground under my feet gives way, sending me down, down, down into a pit. I land hard, my temple hitting something jagged and rough.
The world blinks to black.
CAPÍTULO
Cuatro
When I wake, it’s to the frantic sounds of growling and scratching. I open my eyes slowly, disoriented. The gloom prevents me from seeing anything clearly. I’m lying on hard dirt, the scent of rocks and worms assaulting my nose. I’m in a narrow pit, slumped over on my back, my legs above me.
Dimly, I notice a creature at the top of the hole, digging to widen the opening. With a gasp I bring in my legs, pressing my knees against my chest. Clumps of dirt land on my face from the jaguar’s incessant movements.
The hole is barely big enough to fit me, and the jaguar’s size prevents him from jumping in. But not for long. I have minutes, maybe, before he tunnels inside.
There’s nothing left in me to block my fear, the rising panic, the tears streaming down my face. I’m going to die in this pit, mauled by a jungle cat. I’m going to die a failure. Betrayed by my people. A blight to my family name.
The jaguar widens the hole big enough to slip in its massive paw. His claws spread, scrambling for my leg, inches away. My hands are shaking, imagining his teeth ripping at my skin, sipping the gushing blood as it pours out of me. If Ximena could see me now, would she care? Would my death even matter to her now that she has her new friends, and she supports another queen? Tears carve tracks down my cheeks.
I tip my head back and scream as loud and as long as I can.
The jaguar startles but resumes his digging. My gaze snags on the rock I hit on the way down. Using both hands, I launch it upward toward the jungle cat. The rock smacks his face, sending him back from the opening. Then the rock plummets and hits my leg and I wince. The beast returns in seconds and continues digging, furious now that I’m defending myself.
I throw everything within reach. Rocks, twigs, handfuls of dirt. Much of it rains back down onto me, but I don’t care. I keep throwing whatever I find, but my assault barely slows down the big cat. My arm tires and I stop, breathing heavily. There’s nothing left to throw.
All I can do is curl up and wait to die.
Without warning the jaguar slumps forward. Blood splatters my legs. Someone shoves the creature away from the opening and a face appears in its place. Narrowing my gaze, I try to discern if it’s one of my guards—or Rumi.
The face belongs to a man half hidden by a wide-brimmed hat. Patches of scattered moonlight illuminate the bottom half of the stranger’s countenance: scruffy beard and a strong jaw. Someone young—the skin on his arms is smooth.
“Rumi?” My voice is shaky. Did the healer have a beard? I can’t remember. I clutch at the dirt walls, trying to stand. “Is it you?”
“I’m going to get you out,” he says, but then moves away.
“No!” My limbs are tangled in the small space. “Por favor. No me dejes.”
“Listen to me,” he says calmly as his face reappears. “I’m not going to leave you down there.”
His voice is low and rough, as if he’s not used to talking. It also doesn’t sound the least bit like Rumi’s. The stranger disappears again, and I stifle a sob. What if another jaguar attacks him—what if he can’t come back?
“Espera! Come back!”
A heavy vine drops, landing in a coil on my stomach.
“I told you I wasn’t going to leave you. Hold on to the vine,” he calls. Amusement threads his tone like the night sky stitched with stars. It soothes me because it radiates confidence. He’s really going to pull me out of this hole.
“Sí,” I say, and yank on the vine to let him know I’m ready. It snaps, taut, against the dirt wall. I concentrate on his heavy breathing as the man slowly drags me out of this infernal pit.
