The Fire Keeper (The Storm Runner 2)

Ah-Puch waltzed inside like he owned the place, and some employee named Javier followed him around like he did. I hung back, watching Ah-Puch flirt with the lady behind the check-in counter. She smiled. No, that’s not right. She practically fell over herself trying to find the biggest and most luxurious suite for him. I didn’t get it. I mean, he was wearing a dingy white T-shirt that looked like it had shrunk ten sizes, his too-short pants were grubby at best, and he smelled like garlic and old cheese. Maybe the god of death could smooth-talk his way into anything…and his new face probably didn’t hurt. Whatever.

And when it came time for payment? Ah-Puch just leaned closer and whispered, “Put it on my tab.”

I thought I’d misheard, because surely Puke Face didn’t have accounts all over the place. Turns out I was right. He used Kukuulkaan’s credit. Apparently, my dad’s old friend (also known as K’ukumatz, or Mat to his friends) has an arrangement with a five-star hotel in every city in the world. No joke. I guess Mat likes to travel.

The stars blinked awake as the sky darkened and our “concierge” led us to our casita. Personally, I’d call the freestanding two-story house a mini mansion. Not only did we have our own private yard and beach, but the place had high ceilings lined with dark wood beams, French doors, stone floors, two fireplaces, a hot tub, and a killer view of the ocean. Never mind the chips and guacamole that were waiting for us when we got there. Oh, and did I mention the room came with an on-call butler? I was bummed Hondo and Brooks weren’t there to see this over-the-top place. Actually, I was bummed they weren’t with me for any of this. I bet Brooks would have ripped those bats to shreds. I just hoped that for once she listened to me and went home.

As soon as we were alone, I launched a million questions at Ah-Puch about the monsters and how they’d found us. Ah-Puch just raised a single finger and said, “Not until I am clean and in a decent suit.”

I wondered why he couldn’t just conjure up a slick suit, like he did when I released him from his prison. Or had that been Muwan’s doing?

Within the hour, his new clothes were delivered, everyone had washed up, and room service had brought dinner: quesadillas and papaya and pineapple wedges for me and Ren, five raw steaks for Rosie, and a one-hundred-year-old bottle of tequila for Ah-Puch. I guess the bat blood had been enough to curb his appetite—for the time being.

He quickly told us that the bats were likely the minions of some bat god named Camazotz, who used to live in the House of Bats in Xib’alb’a and whose whole job was to bite off travelers’ heads. He’d been exiled for reasons Ah-Puch couldn’t remember, and no one had heard from the guy since.

“Camazotz as in the planet in A Wrinkle in Time?” asked Ren.

“What’s a wrinkle in time?” Ah-Puch looked confused.

“A book,” Ren said. “And also a Disney movie.”

Ah-Puch raised his eyebrows. “Does this Disney know Camazotz?”

“No, I mean…” she faltered. “Did you say bat god?”

“Yes.” Ah-Puch adjusted his cuffs and picked a piece of lint off his dark blazer.

“But…” Ren picked at her tortilla. “How did they find me?”

“Your magic is pretty thick,” Ah-Puch said with a heavy voice. “It attracted them, but it was also why they couldn’t hurt you. Even their sharp little teeth can’t penetrate that kind of power.”

I looked from Ah-Puch to Ren. “Is it like some kind of super Maya magic that protects you, Ren?” Was this what she had been trying to tell me back in San Miguel?

Ah-Puch rubbed his knuckles along with jaw. “Not Maya, but that’s not the important question. The better question is, why did Camazotz send his cronies to snatch her? Not that I care, mind you. Just trying to help your tiny human brain stay on track.”

“I guess my tiny human brain is still on the not-Maya track,” I said. “What did you mean?”

“Zane,” Ren said, “you look…kinda pale and tired. You should go to sleep.”

Before I could answer, her arm jerked forward, knocking her glass to the floor, where it shattered. And then she was frozen, locked in one of her trances. Her body slumped, and Ah-Puch caught her before she fell onto the broken glass.

He picked her up and carried her to the sofa, where he laid her down gently, like she was made of china. Stretching his back, his eyes met mine. “No sense having her crack her head open. We’re going to need her.” But I knew he didn’t catch her only because he was thinking about himself. He liked Ren and didn’t want to admit it.

Ah-Puch watched as I quickly cleaned up the shards of glass with a thick towel.

“What do you know about her?” I shook the towel over the trash.

“Not my secret to tell,” he said. “And before you threaten me with the Empty, telling you other people’s business was not part of our deal.”

I could feel my blood starting to boil. “She was about to tell me in San Miguel and then you showed up, and I kinda think it’s important to know….”

“Why?”

“Because it could be the kind of secret that lands our heads on spikes!”

“Yes, well, lots of scenarios could lead to our heads being put on spikes. For example, the fact that you have not managed to summon and control your fire power.” He hardened his gaze and hesitated before adding, “And since I plan to return to my former state of glory, I’m obviously going to have to teach you a thing or two. To keep our heads off the spikes.”

I took a small step closer. “You want to train me?”