Free Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

to ward off bad spirits because they can’t stand to see their own reflections. Lady’s deep voice shouts orders about where the ceremony will take place. Crazy Uncle Julio brought a lonely pink balloon, and it’s already started to sag in the corner.
    Lula comes over and holds my hand. She stands straight and defiant as eyes linger on the scars on her cheek. Her hair is braided around her head like a crown, and instead of traditional flowers, she opted for a veiled fascinator covered in gems. She pulls on the veil to make sure it falls over her scars, and for the first time, I see a chink in my sister’s armor.
    â€œI’m sorry,” I tell her.
    â€œNot now.” She holds my hand tighter, and we do a lap around the living room.
    Lula elbows me hard and nods at the group of newcomers. She whistles just loud enough for me to hear.
    â€œThat’s a drink of water and a half.”
    â€œGross, we’re probably related,” I remind her.
    Rose shakes her head on her way to the punch bowl. “No, we’re not.”
    But when Nova turns around, dressed in a blue button-down that frames his broad chest and shoulders, the magic in my belly tugs, and a warm pain passes over me. His earrings wink in the light. I don’t know if I want to keep staring at his smile or find a quiet corner where I can throw up. Who am I kidding? There are no quiet corners in this house. Not tonight. He looks down the hall, where I’m standing, but his gaze goes right past me.
    Emma, a cousin thrice removed, stands next to Lula, hooking their arms together. Emma has small teeth and a pointy nose that gives her a look like she’s always smelling something sour. “Oh my Deos, he’s so fine.”
    â€œTotally fly,” Mayi joins in, pursing her lips like she’s getting ready to blow him a kiss.
    â€œI heard he did three years in juvie,” Emma says.
    â€œI heard his parents were into some really bad juju,” Mayi says. Her dark skin is like polished stone. Her long, dark hair comes down to her tiny waist. “That’s why he lives with his grandma.”
    â€œYou guys are holding out on me,” Lula tells them.
    Mayi turns to Lula. She hesitates, then says, “Want me to glamour your scars?”
    Lula looks startled for a moment. She unhooks herself from Emma’s arm, reaches for her veil, and adjusts it.
    â€œNo,” Lula says. “But you might want to go to the bathroom. Your real nose is starting to show.”
    Nova looks over to where we’re all staring at him. The girls all turn around quickly, except me. He smiles and licks his lips. A no-good kind of lick that says, I’m going to get you .
    â€œOh hey, Alex,” Emma says, as if only just noticing me. “Happy early birthday.”
    â€œAre you ready to accept our Circle invitation?” Mayi asks.
    â€œI think I’d rather clip Crazy Uncle Julio’s toenails,” I say as the front door opens again. “More people. I’d better go say hi.”
    Lula runs after me and pulls me into the corner near the stairs. She stares at the center of my forehead. “Are you going to be like this the whole time?”
    â€œ What? ” I drop my voice to a whisper.
    â€œCan you at least try to have fun?”
    â€œWe’ve never gotten along. Magic isn’t going to change that.”
    Lula shakes her head. “You’re just mad you can’t go to that stupid party with Rishi.”
    â€œAnd you’re mad at me because of the maloscuro.”
    â€œI didn’t say that.”
    â€œYou didn’t have to. You won’t even look me in the eye. You wanted us all to have our powers. Now look. We do. Maybe you want to spend the rest of your life hiding from monsters and watching the people you love die, but I don’t.”
    She meets my eyes to prove a point, but only for a second. Her stormy-gray eyes flick to the side. “You’re