Cemetery Boys(101)

For a moment, the blood and blue flames licked over his tío’s body. Catriz locked eyes with Yadriel for a split second, anger and shock written across his face.

“?Tío!” Yadriel shouted, scrambling to grab for his hand.

But before Yadriel could reach him, the jaguar reared up through the surface behind Catriz.

It sank its teeth into Catriz’s shoulder, molten eyes blazing.

A scream ripped through Catriz, the whites of his eyes surrounding his dark pupils. With a lurch, the jaguar dragged him down. Catriz’s howls turned to wet gurgles as he was pulled below the surface.

Dark blood and water spilled across the floor in a wave. Yadriel scrambled back as it seeped toward him. The flames sizzled out. Slowly, the pool of water began to clear.

Panting, Yadriel stared at the empty cenote. His foggy brain trying to catch up with what had just happened. The amulet pulsed in his fist.

“Yads!” Maritza’s panicked shout broke him out of his stupor. She was crouched next to Julian.

“JULES!” Yadriel rushed to the spirit’s side.

Julian flickered in and out. Yadriel could barely see him anymore. His eyes were closed, his dark lashes barely visible against his cheeks. He was a wash of pale gray except for the streaks of crimson over his chest. Yadriel cursed, panic rising.

“What do we do?” Maritza asked, her hand held out uselessly above Julian’s form.

“I don’t know. I don’t know.” Yadriel shook his head roughly, trying to think.

In his pocket, something vibrated. At first, he thought it was his cell phone going off, but, no—

Yadriel plunged his hand into his pocket and pulled out Julian’s necklace. It shone with bright golden light. Dangling in the air, the medal shook and jolted, trembling with energy, sending off sparks of light.

“Shit,” Yadriel hissed.

He’d stopped the summoning ritual for Bahlam, but what about the one draining Julian of his life? Yadriel looked at the amulet.

How was he supposed to release Julian’s spirit if it was trapped inside?

Yadriel scrambled to his feet and ran to the slab where Julian’s body lay. His skin was gray, his lips turning blue.

The wisps continued to float through the air and into the amulet, although they were much thinner and less vibrant.

Yadriel ripped the jaguar-claw dagger out of Julian’s chest and threw it to the ground. Blood trickled weakly from the wound.

He placed the amulet on the slab and wrestled with clumsy fingers to undo the clasp of the St. Jude necklace and get it back around Julian’s neck. His skin felt cold to the touch as Yadriel redid the clasp.

“Yadriel!”

He turned at Maritza’s shout. She stared at the ground. Julian’s spirit had vanished.

But then, on the stone slab, Julian’s eyes flew open. He sucked in a wet, gurgling breath, and Yadriel nearly jumped out of his skin.

“Julian!” Yadriel reached for him, cupping Julian’s face in his hand. He was real, he was awake. Yadriel could feel the hard line of his jaw, the scratch of his buzzed hair against his fingers. He could feel Julian’s heartbeat, rapid and weak, in his neck.

Julian’s eyes rolled, unseeing, trying to find Yadriel. They weren’t just black, but a deep, rich brown, the color of summer soil after it rains. Through heaving breaths, Julian’s lips tried to form words, but he couldn’t manage.

He was alive, but he was dying.

“Stay with me!” Yadriel told him. He turned to Maritza. “What do I do?!” he shouted.

Maritza shook her head, eyes wide. “I don’t know— I—I—”

“Heal him, Maritza!” Yadriel begged. “Please!”

Her hand flew to her bare neck. “My portaje!” she said, feeling around her throat. “Where is it?!”

Her rosary must’ve fallen off during the scuffle.

“Hold on!” Maritza turned away and dropped to her knees, searching for her portaje.

Yadriel squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his forehead against Julian’s. It was cold and clammy, covered in sweat. Yadriel begged. He begged for help. He begged for Lady Death to hear him. He begged her to save Julian. “Please!”

“Yads.” A cold hand pressed to Yadriel’s cheek. He opened his eyes, and Julian was staring up at him, eyes heavy-lidded but intent.

Julian’s face was ashen. His lips had turned gray, save for the line of red running from the corner of his mouth. “Hey, hey, hey.” Julian tried to smile, but his dimples were lost. “Todo bien,” he murmured, chest heaving under Yadriel’s.

“Everything is not okay!” Yadriel snapped.

Julian grinned. His fingers slipped through Yadriel’s hair and traced his face, like he was trying to memorize every line, before he never saw them again. “Sí, lo está.”

He was completely losing his mind. “You’re dying, you idiot!” Yadriel yelled at him because he was angry and because he was terrified.

Julian’s chuckle was wet. “Valió … la pena.”

Yadriel let out a bitter laugh, gripping Julian’s hand that pressed against the side of his face.

With every rasping breath Julian took, the weaker the medal around his neck glowed until it was a barely pulsing golden light. “Todo bien, todo estará bien,” he repeated weakly.