Caraval

Scarlett tries to explain to Tella that the note has changed. Tella believes her but thinks it’s a part of the game to motivate her to find Tella faster. Scarlett thinks Tella actually sounds reasonable, but she has seen too much. She tries to fill Tella in on everything that has happened with her father and the count. Tella thinks it’s funny that Scarlett tied Count d’Arcy to the bed and thinks the game has made Scarlett a little mad. Tella understands Scarlett’s fear of their father and says, “someday, Father will pay for all his sins. Every night I pray an angel will come down and cut off his hands so he won’t hurt anyone again” (333). Scarlett doesn’t think an angel would do that, but Tella has a plan so that they don’t get hurt again: she has met a nice man, Daniel DeEngl who will keep them safe. Scarlett thinks it’s ridiculous she’s engaged to a man she’s only just met, and Tella is upset that Scarlett isn’t happy for her. Tella raves about this man and how in love she is with him. Tella has Jovan escort Daniel to Tella’s room so Scarlett can meet him herself. When he arrives, Scarlett immediately recognizes him as Legend.

Legend has changed his outfit, but Scarlett knows it’s still him. Tella is embarrassed by Scarlett’s weird behavior around Daniel. Scarlett tries to separate Legend from Tella, and Legend suggests Scarlett is a threat and needs to be restrained for her own safety. Legend ties her wrists behind her back while Tella disappears behind her dressing curtain. Legend torments Scarlett, pointing out how willing Tella is to do anything for Daniel. Scarlett says she’ll jump off the balcony if that’s all he wants as long as he leaves Tella alone. Legend gives Scarlett his word and instructs her to walk over to the ledge. He says, “If you’re not willing to do this, you’ll never be able to save her” (342).

Scarlett complies, and when Tella reemerges, Legend pretends that Scarlett was going to jump, making her look crazier. Legend binds her to a chair for her safety and taunts her in a whisper. A door in the back of the room opens, through which Governor Dragna and Count d’Arcy emerge. Tella doesn’t understand what’s happening and questions “Daniel,” but he reveals his true identity. Tella backs up to the edge of the balcony and says she won’t stop until Governor Dragna and Count d’Arcy back away from Scarlett. Governor Dragna tries to reason with Tella because she is a vital tool in controlling Scarlett. Scarlett pleads with Tella, too, but Tella says, “I meant it when I said I’d rather die at the edge of the world than live a miserable life on Trisda” (348). Then, Tella steps off the balcony and falls to her death.

Just when she thought she couldn’t feel more hopeless, Scarlett plunges into the depths of despair, now mourning the loss of both her love, Julian, and her sister, Tella. Governor Dragna tries to apologize to Scarlett, but Legend is furious with him, not over Tella but for having the audacity to harm one of his players, Dante, whom Governor Dragna believed was Legend.

Scarlett stands up to her father and tells her she’s not marrying the count. He has no power over her anymore now that Tella is gone, and she knows his secret about the crimes he’s committed, like how he murdered Felipe. For the first time ever, Governor Dragna fears Scarlett, and he leaves. Scarlett realizes she technically won the game because she found Tella, and now Legend owes her a wish. She didn’t anticipate having to choose between wishing Tella and Julian back to life.

She asks Legend for her wish, but he refuses. Scarlett realizes he can’t give her her wish but knows there’s some magic in blood. She asks Jo for directions to reach Tella’s body. When Scarlett reaches Tella, there’s a crowd around her. Scarlett bites her finger and lets her blood fall on her sister’s lips, but it doesn’t work. Scarlett cries until Jovan informs her that the game is about to end and that she may wish to collect Tella’s things. Scarlett doesn’t care, but Jovan insists Scarlett will want these items.