Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera (online e book reading .txt) 📕

noticed and her Criatura of the Scorpion stepped up. I stiffened as the other two Coyote had pointed out also took positions along the circle. Each of them checked the others out, but all their sharp gazes inevitably landed on Coyote and me.

“Our four brujas are in position for the first round. We have Bruja Cece with—get this—the famous Criatura of the Coyote!” Whispers and awed sounds echoed as confused spectators scrambled to get a look at him. He didn’t react. “And going clockwise, we have Bruja Adriana with the Criatura of the Grisón; Bruja Manina with the powerhouse, Criatura of the Scorpion; and Bruja Ximena with the Criatura of the Pygmy Skunk! Is everyone ready to see who deserves a place in Devil’s Alley?”

The spectators screamed and stomped their feet until their passion drowned out the sounds of the drums. There were a large number of apprentices who, from their clothing, must have come from regions across the western cerros and the south. As the birthplace of Naked Man, Tierra del Sol was as important to brujas as it was to my people, so the Bruja Fights were always held here. Some said the power of the sun still lingered in the sand, and that being born here made a soul’s inner fire—inner power—stronger. I wasn’t sure about that. But the bruja community must have been, since they continued meeting, training, and holding Bruja Fights here, even with the police always after them.

“All four will enter, but only one bruja makes it into tomorrow’s second round.” El Silbón turned to look at us. “Now—begin!”

Coyote, Grisón, Scorpion, and Pygmy Skunk stepped into the ring at the same moment. And then lunged at each other.

Coyote moved with the ease of a dancer and punched Grisón unconscious. The criatura went limp, and after a moment, the concrete broke open and let her body sink into the desert. Then the thin stone stitched back together into a smooth block. Grisón’s bruja wailed with rage. I gaped. Holy sunset, that was fast. Across the circle, Pygmy Skunk dove on Scorpion, and the two struggled against each other. But Scorpion was faster. And his tail swiped across the smaller criatura’s neck in near seconds. Pygmy Skunk dropped to the ground. The ground swallowed him next, his bruja’s scream sending him off. My stomach felt queasy.

It was just Coyote and Scorpion now, eyeing each other. Bruja Manina smirked at me from across the circle.

Coyote made the first move. Scorpion tried to dodge the incoming attack, but Coyote’s claws scraped the criatura’s face, leaving marks. Scorpion dodged left and landed a punch in Coyote’s stomach. I winced. Holy sunset, that had to hurt. Was that what he’d done to my abuela?

Coyote slammed relentless fists into Scorpion’s jaw, until the shorter criatura had to stumble back. I winced again. No, I shouldn’t care—this should be payback for my abuela. I’d never known her, but I knew the story so well, I could almost imagine Abuela cowering beneath Scorpion.

The thought made me sick, and every flash of Scorpion’s shining green eyes sent chills down my spine.

Coyote was about to punch again, but he grimaced suddenly. Scorpion’s black tail scraped down Coyote’s arm. A deep red line appeared on his skin.

“Coyote!” I screamed.

The crowd started to laugh at me. “Can you believe how the legends described Coyote?”

“Look at him now, he’s pathetic.”

“He’ll die with his tail between his legs.”

I grabbed the stone hanging around my neck. He could do this, right? “Leave the fighting to me,” Coyote had promised last night. He didn’t need me controlling him to win.

But cold coiled up in my chest as Coyote lunged backward and sideways, barely dodging Scorpion’s venom-tipped tail. He was faster than Scorpion. But the longer this went on, the more his knees seemed to tremble. Flickers of fear appeared in his eyes between each strike.

I gritted my teeth so I wouldn’t scream again. But thoughts of Mamá crying over Abuela shook my bones. My throat tried to close up. What if Scorpion killed Coyote like he’d killed my abuela?

“Cece!” Coyote just barely managed to slice open Scorpion’s shoulder. “Stop!”

Stop what? The audience hollered and cheered as Scorpion pulled his tail back and struck Coyote full in the stomach. Coyote flew across the ring. His limp body skidded to a stop just on the inside of the circle at my end. I gasped. He didn’t move.

No, no, no. My heart squeezed. If he didn’t win, I’d never see Juana again. Coyote would die and it would be my fault, and I would have to live without my sister for the rest of my life.

“Coyote!” I cried.

The crowd whooped and stomped its feet. Jeers and taunts rained over me. But I couldn’t react.

I was busy watching my hopes and dreams pass out on the floor.

12

The Fighting Ring

Coyote lay with his face in the dirt, motionless on the ground.

I came down on my knees, just outside of the ring, beside Coyote. “Coyote!” I hissed. His face was shielded by his hair. “Coyote, are you okay? I’m sorry—what do I do?”

He didn’t react. I bit my lip. Was he unconscious or—dead? Across the ring, Scorpion nursed the bleeding wound on his shoulder. His bruja just laughed. The announcer, El Silbón, leaned forward and watched. Everyone was waiting to see if he was a goner and would sink into the desert.

Suddenly, Coyote’s finger twitched. He barely managed to lift his head and pin me with tired golden eyes. “Stop being so afraid.”

I balled my hands into fists. “You’re dying out there! I think I have a right to be scared half to death.”

He planted his hands firmly in the dust. “Your fear is what’s killing me.”

El Silbón lifted both arms from his perch. “And he’s moving! The Great Namer’s not out yet, damas y caballeros!”

“Ha!” On the other side of the circle, Bruja Manina grinned. “I’ve heard so many legends about the great Coyote, but it looks like you’ve been tamed by a weakling.