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“A vial. If we can save you, then you can save the rest. Right?”

“I think. Too late.” Saying those words wounded me. My heart. Cut from my chest. Bleeding. Like Itztli’s on the tree. Only it no longer beat. “Can’t. Resurrect him.”

In my mind, a stone pyramid rose in the jungle. Lush green leaves pulled back like velvety curtains, revealing a carved jade throne with two large serpents, facing each other, mouths open, fangs bared. Coatlicue, Mother of the Gods, sat on Her throne, Her hands out on either side of Her as before, though the two jaguars had been replaced with my Blood.

Itztli. Tlacel.

Both of them.

Itztli smiled, a light, carefree grin I’d never seen him make. “It’s alright, my queen.”

Tlacel’s hair swished around his shoulders, rippling with turquoise feathers. “We’ll wait for you here.”

“No,” I whispered. On my knees. Cold stone beneath me. I stared up at Coatlicue’s regal blue face, Her eyes glittering like a million stars. “Please.”

“The cost has been paid, Daughter of Isis. Despite the agreement we made, I am satisfied. A life for a life, doubled. It is enough, especially given the enormity of their cost to you.”

“No.” Louder. Forcing myself to my feet. Growing. Swelling. My power swirled inside me like a rising hurricane. “What was sealed in blood cannot be undone. I swore we would all die together. I won’t live one moment without them.”

“You win, child.” Despite the endearment, Her voice sharpened with admonishment. “Take this victory⁠—”

“NO!” I roared, hands fisted. “I will take them back! Or we all die together. I keep what I love. Forever!”

I opened my eyes, twisting my mouth aside. “Give it. To the prisoner.”

“What?” Frank shook his head. “I don’t⁠—”

“The iron maiden. Inside the chimney. Give it to him.”

Gina stroked my cheek. “But you’ll die, Shara.”

“So be it.” I closed my eyes. “General, it’s time.”

27

WARWICK LASALLE

THE KNIGHT OF PESTILENCE

Song: Remnants of the Tortured by Abominable Putridity

Iscreamed.

I screamed until words had no meaning.

But they did not heed my warning.

They died, and it would only be the beginning. This plague had been brewing in my blood for centuries, and once exposed to the air, the devastation would be worse than the Black Death. So many. Lost. So many senseless deaths.

One drop of my blood carried enough curse to wipe out millions.

I would never stop bleeding. I would never die. Even if all life was wiped from the face of the earth.

Agony pierced every bit of my skin. Even the air was too much to bear after so long.

Another living soul approached. Fool. I had no wits left to attempt to warn him again.

He spoke to me with words I knew yet sounded so strange and foreign it took long moments for me to comprehend. “She said to give this to you.”