Their ridiculous magic can’t stop me, Ah-Puch said. Even his thoughts sounded raspy. I am a god.
A dying god, I thought to myself. How had he gotten so weak so quickly?
As if Ren had read my mind, she said, He used a lot of energy finding you through the jade and then opening a gateway.
I put a protective hand on the pendant around my neck and looked at Ah-Puch. But, before, you said you couldn’t—
Ren did the heavy lifting, he said.
Threads of shame and anger tightened inside of me. If I hadn’t fallen for the hawk-feather trap, he would still have enough strength to keep his end of the deal. Thank you, I said, two words I never expected to say to the god of death. Now hurry. I have to get to the execution!
Ah-Puch took a wheezing breath. This pathetic body is too drained to unlock the cages. He stared at me, and I knew what he wanted. The jade.
No way, I said. Not until the godborns are free and my dad…You know the deal.
Deals change.
I can do it, Ren said.
I just told you, no Maya magic.
I don’t need Maya magic. I’ve got Mexica magic.
Oh.
Yessss! I was pretty sure this was what Ah-Puch had meant by Do the unexpected. Ha! Looked like Jordan and Bird hadn’t thought of everything.
Ren clenched her fists and closed her eyes. Nothing happened. I was about to nudge her, when a small moon shadow peeled itself off a dented car hood. The sombra drifted across the yard, turning in slow circles. A puff of wind blew across the space. The crane swayed, and metal grinded against metal.
Screeech.
>
Zotz stretched his neck. We all froze. A fat piece of drool dribbled from his mouth. My heart pounded like a jackhammer as the monster settled back into his slumber.
Ren’s shadow, a round blob, floated in front of my cage, slowly taking the shape of…a bumblebee?
“Ren?” I whispered.
She opened her eyes. KEY, not BEE!
The shadow bee zipped into my cage, where it landed on my head. I gripped her arm.
Come on, Ren. We have to hurry. Focus.
I am focused!
Use some of my powers, like we did on the roof in Cabo.
But you said no Maya magic.
My power isn’t going to open the lock—it’s going to increase your power. Get it?
Okay, she said, closing her eyes again. I felt the power channeling between us like a rush of fire speeding through my blood. Goose bumps appeared on Ren’s arms, and the bee flew back to her, circled her head, and took the shape of a large skeleton key, too large to open the…
The sombra drifted into the keyhole. The bars shook. I held my breath.
Ka-click.