“Is perfectly fine. Trust me, I’d know otherwise.”
She followed him. Her gaze darted toward the backstage entrance, but there was no sign of Keara. They wove through the march of showstoppers entering the Big Top. He stopped before the curtains that separated the backstage area from the arena and carefully pulled one back. He motioned for her to come nearer.
When she did, he leaned in. “Look at the centerbox.”
Her eyes scanned over the expectant audience. Their gazes were glued to the gilded floats on full display.
She spotted who the ringmaster was pointing to.
“No” was all she could manage to say.
Chapter 38
Ignacio
The music playing on repeat within the carnival wasn’t some made-up ballad. It was about the men who had found Tezcán. The Valerio brothers from the song were the same brothers from his mother’s book. The obsidian they had found was the same stone the god was watching Ignacio from. The enchantments were coming from him. But what did his mother have to do with this?
Tezcán offered a sharp-toothed grin. “You are so like her, you know? Your mother was a beauty, both in spirit and in appearance. She was strong and mighty in heart and physicality. But, unfortunately, she was also foolish.”
Ignacio shot to his feet. “Don’t you dare speak of her likethat!”
Tezcán’s smile grew wider. “I apologize if I offended you, but it is true. Your mother loved your father fiercely. She thought her love would save him. She even got the rulers of Dos Palos to close their borders to keep us apart. She thought that wouldfree your father from my grip. Instead, she found her demise.” His face grew larger as if he were moving closer to the mirror. “Do you want to know a secret? Your mother didn’t die at the hands of Dos Palos spies. She was brought to me. I devoured every morsel of her delicious soul.”
“Shut up!” Ignacio roared.
“I’m afraid I do not listen to the commands of man. I do, however, happily grant wishes. I can show you what happened to her, for a simple exchange.”
Weak fingers wrapped around Ignacio’s wrist. He met Camila’s teary gaze.
“Don’t trust this bastard,” she said.
White-hot fury lanced through him.
“Why did you do this to Camila?”
“She was a payment owed. Youth, I am due. I work in bargains, as you well know. I am fed the young, the fearless, the hopeful. In exchange, I bestow my enchantments.”
“On the ringmaster?”
“I’ll never tell,” Tezcán said in a singsong way. “Unless you pay the right price. I’ll make it easy for you. Give me Camila. And then bring him to me.” The god’s glowing eyes flicked behind Ignacio.
Ignacio’s head turned toward the passageway behind him. Gabriel stood within the labyrinth. He stared blankly at one of the mirrors. He blinked hard. “Javier?”
Gabriel shook his head in confusion and stumbled closer to the mirror.
“Javi, how could you? You said you loved me.”
He reached for the smokey glass.
“Get away from there!” Ignacio shouted. “Gabriel, don’t look in the mirror!”
Tezcán’s laugh rumbled through the entire Fun House.
Gabriel’s eyes went wide, and he stumbled back. “What thehell?!”
The god popped into view in a small mirror to Ignacio’s right. “What will it be?” he asked. “The girl and that clever boy in exchange for knowledge about your mother. I know you hardly remember the sound of her voice. Certainly, you’d like to see her again. To remember her—”
Camila smashed a shard of obsidian into the reflection. “I’ve heard enough.”
