by Julie Kagawa
“Yumeko.” His gaze met mine, and for a moment, it was just Kage Tatsumi kneeling before me and no one else. Leaning forward, he touched his forehead to mine, closing his eyes. “My life is yours now,” he whispered. “After you came so far to save me, I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”
My vision flooded with tears. Grabbing the back of his head, I squeezed my eyes shut and held him a moment, feeling his glow surround us, pulsing faintly against the dark.
Abruptly, he pulled back, breaking free of my hold. “Go on,” he ordered harshly, sounding uncomfortable now. “I’ll join you if I’m able. Stop Genno—that’s all that matters.” I still hesitated, and his voice became a guttural snarl. “Move!”
Lacing my ears back, I reverted to my fox spirit form and fled, feeling Tatsumi and Hakaimono’s gaze on me the whole way. Leaping out of the void, I flew straight up, passed through Tatsumi’s outer shell and came back into the world.
It was eerily empty. The courtyard where we’d staged the ambush was abandoned, though the signs of battle were everywhere. Bodies lay scattered about, bleeding and motionless on the stones, demons, yokai and tengu alike. A winged tengu warrior slumped with his spear thrust through the chest of a minor oni, though it seemed that the demon had landed a fatal blow as it died. Horrified, I gazed around at the carnage. The bodies of a shrine maiden, a noble and a ronin were not among the dead, that I could see. A group of amanjaku lay on the ground, familiar black-feathered arrows jutting from their chests and between their eyes, indicating my companions had taken part in the battle. Where were they now? And where was the Master of Demons?
When I glanced over my shoulder, my heart went cold. Tatsumi lay on his back in the middle of the binding circle, the front of his shirt and the stones around him covered in blood. Kamigoroshi lay beside one limp hand, the blade dead and dull, and his eyes were closed. He looked wholly and completely dead, and I barely stopped myself from plunging back into his soul to see if he was still there.
My body, I noticed, was also gone. It had been lying beside Hakaimono when my spirit left it to possess Tatsumi, but now the binding circle was empty save for the motionless demon.
Well, that’s going to be a problem. Where did my body get to?
A boom from the main hall of the temple made me jerk up, just in time to see a cloud of fire explode through the wall, scattering wood and stones everywhere. Smoke poured out of the main doors, billowing into the sky, and tongues of orange flame flickered through the holes in the wall and roof.
And suddenly, I was there again. At the Silent Winds temple, surrounded by flames and blood, watching a demon army slaughter everyone I cared about.
Flattening my ears, I raced across the courtyard toward the main hall, realizing halfway there that I was actually flying over the stones in spirit form. The thrill of that discovery was overshadowed by the roar of the fire and the sounds of battle through the open doors, shadowy silhouettes darting back and forth within. I glided up the steps of the temple and into the main hall, then halted and gazed around in horror.
More bodies littered the ground, scattered among flames and streaks of blood, tengu warriors, yokai and demons alike. The once elegant, spacious hall had been destroyed—enormous pillars snapped like kindling, the statues of human heroes fallen from their plinths and lying broken on the floor. Fire burned, filling the air with smoke, and hazy figures darted through the clouds, blades and teeth glinting in the hellish light. A tengu swooped between two pillars, landed behind a giant snake and plunged its spear through the yokai’s back. The huge snake hissed as it died, and the tengu spread its wings to take to the air again, but a horde of amanjaku demons swarmed over the pillar and flung themselves on the warrior before he could escape. Biting and stabbing, they bore him to the ground, and blood spread over the polished wooden floor as the warrior died.
No, I thought, seeing demons swarming the Silent Winds temple once more, dragging Satoshi to the ground. Master Isao, rising to face the murderous oni as the temple burned around him. This can’t be happening again. Flying up to perch on a snapped pillar, I searched frantically for my friends among the chaos. Please be all right, everyone. Please. I couldn’t bear it if any of you d—
My heart dropped. Against the far wall, beneath the mural of the great dragon, Reika stood beside Chu, ofuda in hand, her once spotless white haori stained with red. The komainu crouched beside her, snarling and baring enormous teeth at anything that got too close, but unwilling to leave his mistress unguarded. The floor around them was littered with bodies, some missing heads or limbs, a few burned and several riddled with arrows.
Among the carnage, Okame and Daisuke fought side by side with a handful of tengu, perhaps the last survivors of the brutal massacre. Okame’s bow lay discarded in the corner, the quiver empty, a spear held in the ronin’s hands.
Behind them all, half-hidden and seemingly forgotten in the chaos, a familiar body slumped against the wall in a shadowy corner. Her chin rested on her chest, and her fox ears and tail were visible in the smoke and flickering lights.
Relief and terror shot through me. Leaping off the pillar, I dove into my body, plunging back into myself. There was a moment of dizziness as I sank into my consciousness, and then, a sensation of completeness engulfed me from the inside, the mortal shell welcoming its missing soul.
With a gasp, I opened my eyes. The roar of flames greeted me, as did the smell of blood and the acrid stench of smoke. I struggled upright and nearly fell as a sudden light-headedness made my head spin. Putting my hand on the wall, I clenched my jaw and took a staggering step forward.
Reika turned then, and her eyes widened as she saw me. “Yumeko-san,” she cried, hurrying forward. “You’re all right. Thank the kami. We were afraid you were gone.”
“Reika, what…” I gritted my teeth as the floor swayed under my feet. Flames danced around us, the heat pulsing against my face and bare skin. The shrine maiden reached out and put a hand under my arm, steadying me. “What happened?”
“Genno’s army attacked not long after you possessed Hakaimono,” the miko answered. “The oni must have led them straight to the temple. We held them off as best we could, but there were too many of them. We were forced to retreat here.” She glanced to where Okame and Daisuke battled side by side, their faces grim and determined. “We couldn’t leave your body lying defenseless next to Hakaimono, but…did you find Kage-san’s soul? Were you able to drive Hakaimono back into the sword?”
I winced. “Not…exactly.”
Reika shut her eyes, and she leaned into Chu as the komainu pressed close. “Then, I fear we are all lost.”
I started to answer, but a hush suddenly fell over the hall, the sounds of battle fading as the demons and yokai retreated a few steps. Breathing hard, Daisuke, Okame and the last of the tengu stood together, weapons raised, as something floated through the smoke to hover over us. A man, a yurei, in billowing white robes, his long black hair flowing behind him.
A chill went through me, and I felt my tail bristle like a terrified cat. Unlike the few other yurei I had encountered, this man radiated evil; I could feel the taint emanating from him in waves, choking and sickly. His eyes, flat and pitiless, gazed down at us, and one corner of his mouth curved in a small, cruel smile. A trio of figures followed him, and each one caused a new shiver to run up my spine. The twin yokai girls with scorpion-tail braids and matching smirks looked dangerous, but it was the third figure that made the hairs on my neck rise. A tall, lean warrior in black, his crimson hair tied behind him, would have been frightening even without the telltale horns and fangs that marked him as a demon. The hilt of a sword poked over his shoulder, and his cold red eyes observed us without a hint of mercy.
The color drained from Reika’s face, and for a moment, she looked like she might faint. Her eyes were wide and horror-filled as she stared up at the ghost, a shudder going through her as she staggered back a step.
“Genno.” The whisper seemed dragged out of the darkest
part of her soul. The shrine maiden hit the wall and sank to the floor, her expression blank. Chu whined and shoved his blocky head into her side, but she didn’t appear to notice. Heart pounding, I looked back to the ghostly Master of Demons, floating over us like a wraith.
“Well.” Genno tilted his head as he observed us, still smiling. “This seems to be the last of you. I don’t suppose any of you will tell me where the final piece of the scroll is?” He raised both hands in an almost generous motion. “Your daitengu has already gifted us with one part. I will make your deaths quick and honorable if you save me the time.”
My insides churned. I could feel the weight of the scroll beneath my robes, heavy and agonizing. The demons and yokai surrounding us drew closer, bloodlust shining from their eyes, blades and teeth bared. Okame, Daisuke and the last few tengu didn’t move, though I saw the warriors stiffen. A heartbeat of silence, and then Tsume, the young tengu with the feather-like mane of hair, stepped forward.
“No,” I whispered, as another memory floated before my vision, overlaying the scene in front of me. Denga, proud and defiant, facing Yaburama, proclaiming that they would never bow to evil, right before the oni crushed him and the amanjaku swarmed into the hall. The beginning of the end. And I couldn’t do anything to save them.
“Master of Demons.” Unaware of my horror, Tsume brandished his sword, as Genno gazed down at him in amusement. “Unholy abomination!” he spat. “Your name is a curse, a blight on the land. We will never bow to you. We will never give up the scroll. I will die before I allow you to possess the power of the Dragon!”
He spread his wings and lunged through the air at the Master of Demons, sword raised high.
Genno just smiled.
Before Tsume could reach his target, two spiked chains shot up from the pair of female yokai on the ground. Lightning fast, they wrapped around the tengu like snakes, circling his body and tangling his wings. The warrior faltered in the air, straining furiously against the chains, his wings unable to hold him up. He started to plummet, but before he hit the ground, the yokai twins yanked their weapons back, and Tsume’s body exploded in a cloud of feathers and blood. He hit the ground in pieces, his head rolling back to gape at us, as the mob of demons and yokai howled with excitement.
My hands flew to my mouth to keep from screaming, and to keep my stomach from surging up my throat. It was happening again, just like before.
“If that is your wish,” Genno said, and the yokai sisters stepped forward, grinning. “Then we will certainly grant you a painful, honorable death.”
The deadly chains shot forward again, this time toward Daisuke and Okame. As I gave a cry of terror, one wrapped around the ronin and pinned his arms to his sides as it cut into his skin. Okame let out a startled curse, his spear falling from his grip, as the scorpion girl yanked the chain taut, bringing him to his knees. The other, stabbing toward Daisuke, was struck aside by the noble’s sword. Instantly, the yokai girl yanked the chain back and sent it at him again, and once more, Daisuke’s sword flashed, knocking it aside. But this time the weapon coiled around and came at him from behind, wrapping him in its barbed links. Daisuke managed to grab the chain with his free hand before it could coil around his neck, but his sword arm, bound to his side, was rendered helpless. Grinning, the yokai’s shoulders tightened as they prepared to yank back and eviscerate their victims.
“Stop!”
Foxfire exploded, surging up in a blue-white blaze, engulfing my whole body. Most of the army flinched, cringing back from the brightness, and the scorpion twins froze, their eyes wide as they fixed on me. I ignored them, my gaze seeking the Master of Demons as I raised the last piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers over my head with one arm, a burning torch held in the other.
Genno’s eyes widened and he held up a hand, stopping his yokai army from lunging forward. They obeyed, though I could feel the bloodlust radiating from the crowd and knew that only Genno’s will kept them from surging forward to devour me. My hands shook; I could feel the ancient roll of parchment in my fingers, brittle and dry, but forced my voice not to tremble. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” I asked, holding the flames of the torch only a few inches from the bottom of the scroll. “Call off your demons, or I’ll burn this piece of the prayer right here.” Glancing at Okame and Daisuke, my eyes narrowed and I glared back at the Master of Demons. “Let them go and…and we can negotiate.”
“Yumeko!” Reika surged to her feet, as the remaining tengu whirled around, their eyes wide with shock. “Do not speak to him! Do not negotiate with the Master of Demons! We will not give up the scroll, under any circumstances.”
“Yumeko-san,” Daisuke added, his voice soft but strained, “Listen to Reika-san. Do not bargain with Genno on our accounts. Let us die with honor, protecting the scroll.”
The Master of Demons laughed. His deep, cruel voice rang off the rafter beams, rising over the howl and snap of the flames. “You cannot destroy the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, kitsune,” he told me, but his army did not come any closer. “It is a sacred text from the kami themselves. Why do you think the scroll has been separated and not destroyed by your peace-loving fanatics? Because sacred, holy and ancient artifacts always have a way of returning to the hands of men. Burn it, bury it, toss it into the sea—the prayer will simply appear in the world again.”
My heart plummeted, but I kept my voice firm. “That might be true,” I said, “but not here. And not now. If I destroy it, you’ll have to start your search all over again, and time is running out. You might not find this piece of the scroll before the night to summon the Dragon is past.” Genno didn’t say anything, and I knew I had struck a chord. I took a deep breath and played my last card. “This is my offer. I’ll give you the prayer, if you swear on your honor to take your army and leave. No more death. No more bloodshed. You leave us alone, and no one else is killed. What are a few human and tengu lives if you have the final piece of the scroll in your hands?”
For a moment, Genno didn’t answer, and both sides held their breath, the demons poised to lunge forward and rip us to pieces, the tengu and humans braced to die. Daisuke and Okame were frozen, their faces tense and their bodies rigid against the lethal chains, knowing that one word from the Master of Demons would mean a very bloody death.
Finally, Genno smiled. “Very well,” he said calmly. “You have a deal, fox. Give me the scroll, and I will take my army and depart. My lieutenants will not kill you, at least, not today. You have my word.”
I glanced at the yokai twins, still holding on to their captives, and frowned. “Let Okame and Daisuke go first,” I said. “Then I’ll give you the scroll. Not before.”
The two yokai scowled at me, but Genno simply nodded and raised a hand. Immediately, the twins relaxed the tension on the barbed chains, letting them fall to the ground. With another gesture from the Master of Demons, the third lieutenant, the crimson-haired oni, stepped forward and held out a claw to me, the meaning very clear.
I took a deep breath and stepped forward, trying to ignore the furious glares from the last of the tengu, the feathers on their wings trembling, as if they were fighting the urge to fly forward and stab me through the heart. Anything to keep me from giving up the scroll. I understood their dismay; they were ready to die to protect it, to keep it from falling into the hands of evil. Just like Master Isao, and everyone at the Silent Winds temple. But I couldn’t watch that again, especially now. Daisuke, Reika, Okame…we had come so far. I wouldn’t let them die. This time, I could do something to stop it.
“No tricks, kitsune.” Genno’s voice echoed quietly overhead, a subtle warning. “No illusions, no fox magic. I will know if what you give me is real. Play me for a fool, and your deaths will not be quick.”
The demon loomed before me, his cold red gaze making my skin crawl. Heart pounding, I put the scroll in his outstretched hand and watched his claws curl over the wood. Stepping back, a sick sense of betrayal gnawed my insides; I could suddenly sense a h
undred disappointed gazes boring into my soul. But I wouldn’t regret my decision.
I’m sorry, Master Isao, everyone. I know I failed my duty. But what does it matter if I stop the coming of the Dragon, if everyone I care about is gone?
With the scroll in hand, the half-demon turned to Genno, sank to both knees and held the case up to the Master of Demons. Genno descended slowly, hovering a few feet from the ground as he ran ghostly fingers along the length of the wood. His eyes gleamed, and a triumphant smile spread over his face as he nodded.
“At last. The power of the Dragon’s Wish is mine.” With a soft chuckle, he floated back, the glee in his eyes truly frightening. “Nothing will stop me, now. Aka, make ready the ship. We depart for Tsuki lands immediately.”
Without a word, the half-demon rose, tucked the scroll into his obi and trailed his master out of the hall. The two yokai girls immediately turned and followed, twin scorpion braids swinging in tandem behind them. The army, however, remained.
At the door of the temple, Genno turned back, his gaze meeting mine across the rubble-strewn floor. His three lieutenants walked on, vanishing through the frame, but the Master of Demons gestured casually, like he was tossing a plum pit into the weeds.
“Finish them,” he ordered, and was gone.
My heart turned to ice, as the army of demons and yokai gave a deafening roar of bloodlust and surged forward.
Time seemed to slow. I watched the approach of the demon army in a daze, as the circle of steel, fangs and claws closed around us. In my peripheral vision, I was aware of Daisuke, Okame and the last of the tengu raising their weapons for a final stand. I heard Chu’s defiant howl, and saw Reika reach into her sleeves for an ofuda, shouting something to either me or the demons. Then a shadow fell over me, and I gazed up into the distorted face of a blue oni, eyes glittering as it brought a spiked club down at my head.