Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas #1)(40)

The avianas empty Nova’s pockets. Dozens of glittering crystals and gold fall at his feet.

Madra’s black eyes are endless. She grabs my shoulders with her clawed hands. “But I cannot abide thieves!”





19


Sana, sana, the body endures.

Cura, cura, the soul of the pure.

—Healing Canto, Book of Cantos

The avianas grab the three of us in their talons and throw us into the one of the highest nests. Dried leaves and branches are woven into a makeshift mattress, and a fire burns in a stone bowl.

“What did you do?” I punch Nova’s chest.

He grabs my wrists to pull me off him. “How was I supposed to know the gems weren’t up for grabs?”

I yank my hands free from his hold. I point my index finger, like the barrel of a gun, at his face. “You just ruined everything! How are we supposed to get out of these caves? They could have helped us.”

He turns away from me and sits on the makeshift mattress. “How? A bunch of starving birds are going to storm the labyrinth with us?”

“You’re the one who told me not to touch shiny things. But you think with your pockets, don’t you?”

“I didn’t think they’d see me take a few gems in a cave full of them!”

“Shut up, Nova. You’re not even sorry.” I kick a stone away from us. It flies off the side of the nest. We listen to it fall, hitting the sides of the caves like a penny in an empty jar. I count ten seconds before it lands.

“Let me talk to Madra,” Rishi says. “I think she’ll listen to me.”

“Who the hell is this?” Nova thumbs at Rishi.

“Relax, protein shake,” Rishi says. She crosses her arms over her chest and looks at Nova like he’s a fly that drowned in her soup.

“Stop,” I hiss. I stand between them like a shield—though I’m not sure who I’m more afraid for, Rishi or Nova. “Nova, this is Rishi. She’s my—she’s my best friend. She jumped into the portal after us and wound up with the avianas. Rishi this is Nova. He’s a witch, like me. He’s my guide.”

“I am a brujo,” Nova corrects me. “And this isn’t going to fly. It’s one thing that I have to look out for you. I’m not about to babysit some sinmaga.”

“What did you call me?” Rishi closes the space between them.

My head throbs at the temples. I turn my back to them while they bicker. How does my mother put up with Lula and me when we get like this?

“How sweet,” Lula says, clear as a bell. “They’re fighting over you.”

“Did you hear that?” I whip around to find her face, but she isn’t there. I know I heard her. It was like she was standing right beside me.

Nova and Rishi ignore me. They’re like a pack of wild dogs barking at each other.

“I’ve known Alex for two years,” Rishi shouts at Nova. “She can trust me.”

“Clearly you didn’t know her very well if you didn’t know about her powers.”

They fall into some indecipherable shouting when an even louder sound stops us all. There’s a scream coming from deep within the caves, where they took the injured avianas.

“Hurry,” Lula says again, her voice fading. “You know what you have to do.”

“Lula?” Her name is an echo in the sparkling caves. I’m officially going crazy.

Behind me, Nova and Rishi are in each other’s faces. Rishi’s face is tilted up to him. She’s a rabid wolf. He’s a lion with an alpha complex. And they’re both idiots.

“Silentio.” I whisper the curse. Silence. My heart races from using that bit of magic. My lips are numb. I didn’t know I could do that.

They move their mouths, but nothing comes out. Rishi touches her throat and tries to scream, but only a whooshing gasp comes out. Nova punches the wall.

“Madra!” I shout. I call out her name until she flies up to our nest.

“What?” she asks impatiently.

“How are your girls?”

She flaps her bronze wings. Despite her stoic face, I can tell she’s worried. If it were my mom, she wouldn’t be able to sleep.

“What did you do to your companions?”

“I’m not sure,” I say honestly. “I just couldn’t think with their fighting. That’s not why I called you. I want to strike a bargain.”

“I don’t have time for bargains,” she says, turning to fly away.

“What if I can heal them?”

? ? ?

Madra takes me to the injured avianas. Three of the bird women are laid out on rock slabs. They shiver from head to talons, clutching flimsy blankets. One has blue lips. Her head is turned to the side, and her eyes are shut. Sweat and tears roll down her face.

“You have the healing gift?” Madra asks. She stands in the center of the room.

“I’m an encantrix,” I tell her.

She raises a single feathered eyebrow. Her dark eyes appraise me, like she’s seeing me in a new light.

“Finally, some truth to you.”

“I did tell you the truth. I’m here to rescue my family from the Devourer. I’m an encantrix. I will heal them, but you have to do something for me.”