“And Esmeralda?”
His father said nothing.
“You were willing to let her be your pawn…again,” Ignacio snarled.
They finally passed through the entrance threshold and found the carnival in chaos. Flames licked the rooftops of most of the tents and wagons. Gondolas had snapped from their wires and crashed into booths. Dawn was on the cusp of breaking. With the skies growing lighter, he could see that most of the glitter and gilded filigree that had once shimmered on each attraction had dulled.
Gabriel bolted forward holding a fuse box.
“Where are the girls?” he bellowed. “The entire place is about to blow!”
Chapter 55
Esmeralda
The wires that held the right side of the bale ring up snapped all at once. The catwalk, which was attached to it, plummeted at one end of the tent. Mirrors tumbled to the ground. With each explosion of glass, the tent groaned and shuddered.
But there were other things happening to the Big Top as well.
The golden railings within the bleachers began to rust. The vibrant colors painted on the clown buggies dulled and the wood splintered. Everything was aging. No. Everything was showing itstrueage. Without the ringmaster’s payment to Tezcán, without the enchantments, what was left of the carnival was falling apart.
Good, Esmeralda thought. This place was built on the lives of the young. It didn’t deserve to continue.
A mirror fell not ten feet away from her. She grabbed Camila by the shoulders and shook her so hard her teeth clicked like tiny tap dancers.
“Wake up!” Esmeralda yelled. “We’ve got to go!”
Slowly, Camila’s eyes peeled apart. The wrinkles that had formed around them were starting to fill in. Her hair was slowly turning black. Esmeralda barked a joyful, shocked laugh.
“What’s happening?” Camila groaned.
“You’re changing back!” Esmeralda yelled. “Oh, and the tent is collapsing!”
Camila smiled. “Gabriel’s rigging worked.”
Another blast rocked the poles. “I’d certainly say so.”
She eased Camila up. Together, they wobbled toward theexit.
Something cracked overhead. The largest of the mirrors plummeted toward them. She shoved Camila forward and leapt out of the way as a beam tumbled after it.
Esmeralda fell to her knees and shielded her face and neck from the fallen shards. When the dust settled, she whipped around to find Camila on the other side of the beam, unharmed.
Camila struggled to her feet. Her body still wasn’t as strong as it was meant to be.
“Go! Now!” Esmeralda yelled over the beam. “I will be right behindyou!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ll catch up!”
She had to hurry. A few more snaps and the bale ring wouldfall completely.
Just as Camila disappeared into the tunnel, an arm snaked around Esmeralda’s neck. A hand clamped over her mouth, sealing in her scream.
She tried to free herself from Ángel’s grasp, but there was no use—he was far too strong.
“Look what you did to my beautiful carnival,” the ringmaster hissed into her ear.
