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

I smiled awkwardly. Most of my smiles were awkward, but this one felt worse than usual. Probably because I was still trying to get the brujo’s question out of my head. “About, uh, not listening to you. It just seemed like you needed . . . less rage?”

He wiped sweat out of his eyelashes. “Well, it worked, I guess. So we’ll stick to that from now on.” He pointed at me. “But don’t get used to ignoring me, got it?”

I nodded. Screams and roars from the next match filtered out the door, and I hunched over. I’d never get used to those sounds. I didn’t want to.

Little Lion noticed my discomfort. “You don’t like the Bruja Fights.”

There was very little question in it, but he looked like he expected an answer. I shook my head against the urge. No one here could know the person I was inside. “What I want is to get into Devil’s Alley.” I shot him a look. His cold expression didn’t change, so I assumed he got the message not to press further. “How long do you think until our next match?”

He turned his head to listen for something. “Fifteen minutes,” he said. A gurgling cry rang out. “Ten, if they all end that fast.” He scowled at the doorway.

“Oh.” I tried not to look queasy. “So, uh, I was wondering—what do you owe Coyote?” I asked.

His gaze cut to me. “What?”

“Well, it had to be a pretty big debt for you to agree to be my criatura.” I bit my lip. “What—what did your last bruja do to you?”

His eyes flashed crimson. “What do you think a bruja is? A carefree magical girl that parades around with her criatura friends?”

I hugged myself. “No. Brujas are people who have given up their humanity to become a kind of criatura.”

“They’re worse. They’re the kind of monsters who get their power from enslaving real criaturas.” His soul flared with heat. “We’re not friends, bruja. Just because you don’t torture me doesn’t mean we’re going to swap life stories. I’ll find out what you’re plotting, you snake-daughter. Just you wait.”

I stiffened. He thought my not torturing him was part of some scheme?

“I’m not planning to hurt you,” I said, because I couldn’t say I wasn’t plotting something in general.

He lifted his chin. “Yeah, right. And an anaconda just wants a hug.”

I stuck out my bottom lip. “Just remember, Coyote gave me his soul, so I can’t be that terrible, can I?”

“Coyote is a human-loving glob of dulce de leche,” Little Lion drawled. “He’s been fooled before.”

So even other criaturas didn’t understand his penchant for humans. Did anyone? Just then, a scream rose from inside. I winced and covered my ears.

“You’re particularly ill-equipped for this goal of yours,” Little Lion snarled.

“Yeah? Well, that’s what you do for familia,” I spat. “You sacrifice yourself even when it’s hard. It’s called love.” I hunched over. “But I guess you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you? You’ve never loved anything in your whole life.”

Heat filled my cheeks. I hadn’t meant to say all of that.

Little Lion didn’t respond, and I wasn’t sure if it was because I’d struck a nerve or because he still didn’t care.

“Criaturas can love,” Little Lion spoke up quietly.

I glanced over at him, an apology already waiting in my mouth.

“We’re not taught to, I’ll say that.” He stared off to the south, into the night sky. “We live in Devil’s Alley under the rule of El Cucuy and his Dark Saints. There’s no time for love when you’re trying to survive.” He whipped around. “But remember this, bruja. The criaturas who flood into your human desert during the criatura months are those escaping Devil’s Alley, while brujas like you fight in tournaments to get into a place we’re desperate to leave behind. So, it seems to me, we’re both criaturas.”

I placed a hand over the two souls hanging from my neck. “I’m sorry. I—I didn’t know criaturas didn’t like Devil’s Alley. Isn’t it your home?”

“More like a prison,” he corrected. “When Coyote Named Devil’s Alley thousands of years ago, it was supposed to be a safe haven from brujas. But once El Cucuy took charge, he set up the Bruja Fights and let the winners into our city. They’re loyal to him because he bribes them with what they want most—power. And then he gets all the servants he desires.”

I tried not to let the shock show on my face. “Wait—Coyote created Devil’s Alley?”

“Coyote Named all criaturas. Of course he made our home.” He looked at me as if I were stupid. “What, has Naked Man forgotten the legends?”

“No—well. I don’t know. Maybe some of them.” I looked out into the desert. “Or—maybe we rewrote them.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me.” He folded his arms.

I stared at his profile. From the way Lion talked about him, it sounded like El Cucuy was just as feared among criaturas as he was among humans. So by enlisting Coyote and Little Lion in my plan, was I asking them to return to their prison?

“. . . and up next we have Bruja Cece and her criatura, Little Lion, in the ring again!” A vicious cheer rose inside, and Little Lion and I went back into the building. El Silbón raised his pale, bony hands in our direction. “And here she is in her last battle of the second round, to face off with Brujo Gonzalo and his Criatura of the Bat. Whoever wins this one goes on to the semifinals tomorrow night!”

The semifinals. We were so close. I steeled myself as Little Lion and I stepped up to the ring.

16

The Reluctant Allies

Brujo Gonzales stood on the opposite side of the ring. He cocked his chin up, his wide nostrils flaring. “You’re dead, chiquita—”

A giant slam echoed through the walls.

Everyone froze. I checked over my shoulder. The crowd had turned to face the closed entrance. Sweat gathered on the back of my neck and on my forehead.

Another bang reverberated through the steel doors. Everyone winced in