“A small price to pay,” the god said.
The younger brother jerked his arm free. “This is our only chance. We must do this, or we’ll remain the nobodies we’ve always been. Don’t you want more? Don’t you want to be a somebody?”
The elder brother felt his cheeks burn. He had thought they were somebodies regardless of their lowly station in life. But he had to admit he was greedy to be the man he saw in the reflection. He longed to have power, to be respected and feared.
“We do this together,” he said.
At the same time, the brothers shoved their arms into the scalding waters. The eldest could have sworn he felt fingers wrap around his wrist, trying to pull him in.
The ground rumbled viciously. They fell back, panting, each clutching a black stone with an iridescent sheen.
“Go,” Tezcán commanded. “Summon me when you have found your trade.”
The horns blared from the carnival. The brothersneeded to return before the ringmaster who owned the carnival reprimanded them.
Tezcán eventually gave the Valerio brothers what they asked for: One shone with charisma and one gained dominance. However, the brothers only grew hungrier for fame and power. The god grew hungrier too. They continued down this path, sacrificing and receiving, sacrificing and receiving, for many years…
Until one brother fell in love and realized he no longer wanted the life they led. But by then, it was too late, and sacrifices would forever have to be made.
Chapter 37
Esmeralda
The moment the parade was complete Esmeralda started her search for Ignacio. She hadn’t seen him since they parted last night, and they needed to come up with some sort of plan because Ángel expected her to perform in the evening. And that was the last thing she was going to do.
Dread wormed through her as she checked his bunk, the Big Top, the meal tent—anywhere she thought he might be. There wasn’t a single sign of him. Or Camila. Or Gabriel.
“There you are!” The tailor scurried toward her at a harried pace. The sunset cast the sky ablaze behind him. “You must hurry!”
“Hurry where?” she asked.
“Have you not heard?” Jorge gave an exasperated sigh. “Ángel is starting the show early tonight because a very important guest has arrived. The second the moon comes out the Big Top drums will sound.” He took her by the arm and started to tug her forward. “Get a move on it, doll. I’ve been told to make sure you dazzle.”
She dug her heels into the dirt. “I can’t…I…I haven’t found Ignacio. He’s my partner.”
“He’s already there, silly. I’ll bring you to him.”
She thought about how Ignacio had suspicions of the tailor virtuoso. That he’d spotted Jorge with General Keara.
“When did you see Ignacio? Why didn’thecome find me?”
“Can he make you dazzle like me? I’d bet my toes the answer is a big fat no. Now, come along.” He tugged her forward, his grip on her wrist exceptionally strong.
But he did not lead her into Clown Alley. Instead, he ushered her to the right, moving her toward the entrance to Carnival Fantástico.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“A quick stop to my tent. I forgot the mask I made special for tonight.”
The wings she wore had to have been fifty pounds. The straps dug into her skin painfully, nearly matching the discomfort she felt inside her gut.
“Wait,” she said. She tried to slow Jorge’s quick steps, but he ignored her. “I said wait.”
“No time for waiting,” Jorge sang.
She tried to wiggle free from his grip, but he held strong. Alarm bells began to ring inside her mind. She’d made so many mistakes in her life, but what she realized at that moment was that the biggest mistake she’d ever made was not trusting hergut.
A balloon vendor walked by, wrestling with the strings of her flower-shaped inflatables. Esmeralda dug her fingers into hercurls and pulled out the hairpin Ángel had returned to her. She shoved the sharp end of the pin upward. Balloons popped overhead like firecrackers. Glistening bubbles exploded out of them and filled the air. They doubled and tripled until they enveloped Esmeralda and Jorge altogether. Jorge gasped and accidentally sucked a bubble into his mouth. As he leaned forward in a fit of coughs, Esmeralda stomped on his shoe and slipped out of his grasp.
