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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A layer of moisture slicked my palms as I strode across the threshold of the crossroads. I kept my hands at my sides and my chin held high in case Lucifer was watching. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me sweat.
The light grew dim as I ventured deeper. I focused my heightened senses on my surroundings, in search of the entrance I needed. The scent of lilacs drifted through a misty archway. Instinctively I knew to keep walking. Whatever that realm was, it didn’t house an ancient tablet of divine power.
A curved line of silver glinted in the gloom. Not the right shape for a door. I inched closer to investigate.
A porthole. Clever.
I pulled a lever. The smell of sea salt filled my nostrils as water spilled into the tunnel. Good thing I’d already sprayed myself and my weapons with Phaedra’s atomizer.
Keeping my mouth closed, I hooked my hands around the perimeter of the porthole and hoisted myself upward. I wriggled through the porthole into the deep, dark sea, pausing to close the entrance behind me and keep the water from flooding the tunnel .
I braced myself for the sting of ice-cold water, but Phaedra’s protective bubble kept me warm and dry. After a few long strokes, I let myself breathe. No water traveled up my nose or in my mouth.
Thank you, Phaedra .
Wherever I was in the ocean, there were no sea creatures to be found, not even a school of fish. I was moving at a rapid clip, courtesy of a swift current. Eventually I realized there was no need to swim at all. The current swept me along, and my instincts told me to let it, that the waterway was designed to guide me to my destination. Still, it was difficult to cede control and simply ride it out; it went against my nature.
The sea spat me out onto a rocky beach. Unfortunately, Phaedra’s potion wasn’t designed to protect me against the bumps and bruises the stones would surely inflict. Swallowing a groan of pain, I dragged myself to dry land and took a moment to collect myself and survey the area. Although there was no sun or moon in the ink-stained sky, the island wasn’t underwater. The bottomless pit seemed to be a realm within a realm. Maybe this was the reason Camryn seemed convinced there was no water involved.
I glanced behind me at the waves crashing against the shore. No wonder Lucifer’s other efforts had been in vain. The current only ran in one direction; there’d be no swimming against it. Even if his minions had recovered the tablet, they would’ve been unable to retrace their steps home. I set the concern aside for now. Inch by inch, as Nana Pratt was fond of saying.
The darkness was pervasive. Unlike the first trial, however, my goddess vision seemed intact here. Despite the small victory, I knew it didn’t bode well for the types of monsters I might encounter. Only certain creatures could survive in a world of perpetual night.
Good thing I was one of them .
A raging howl erupted in the distance, followed by a series of quieter ones. The hair on my arms stood on end. Although I didn’t recognize the origin of the sound, I knew that tone was primal and territorial. Whatever the creature was, it knew a stranger had arrived in its strange land and wasn’t happy with the development.
My hand moved to my sword. I listened to another series of howls that shook the tree fronds. I judged their distance as a couple miles away, unless, of course, sound functioned differently in this realm.
I looked around for any indication of the right path, an earthly equivalent to the ocean current. To my right, an enormous, jagged cliff loomed in the distance. Waves crashed against it, their efforts futile. It would take centuries to make a dent.
I consulted the scroll, which I’d been able to bring thanks to Phaedra’s potion. According to the map, to my left was a rainforest. I spotted a mixture of palm and emerald trees amongst the others. Straight ahead was a series of caves. I decided to go left for now, in the opposite direction of the howls. It would be easier to hide in the thick of the trees, although it was more than likely the creatures tracked by scent. With that in mind, I picked up handfuls of mud and rubbed my face and body with it. I tried to think of it as nature’s facial. The smell was remarkably pleasant, a combination of sea salt and licorice with a hint of ginger.
Great. Now I was hungry.
I bolted between the trees. It didn’t take long to encounter my first creature. A bird with one, two, three…nine heads. And I thought Cerberus defied gravity with three heads. Magic was the only explanation for the bird’s ability to stay upright.
All nine heads tracked my movement through the rainforest. Thankfully the beaks remained closed .
I heard a faint buzzing sound in the distance and kept walking, using my sword to cut away vines and carve out a path. If I traveled north then east, I might be able to circumvent the territorial creatures.
The buzzing noise intensified. If an entire stadium full of violinists played at once, this was how they would sound. I searched frantically for a place to hide. There were no bushes or caves, only trees.
The insects swooped down from the treetops.
Locusts.
They swarmed. My sword sliced through the air, but the blade was ineffective against the sheer volume of insects. The more I hit, the more seemed to appear. Their tiny bodies pressed against me, forcing me to the ground. They buried themselves in my hair and in the creases of my clothing. One climbed up my nostril and I snorted it out. If I was suffocated by a mound of insects, I was going to be deeply unhappy. I deserved a better death than that.
A scorching heat passed over me, and I felt the locusts disperse. Another flash of warmth quickly followed. I peeked between my fingers and watched my attackers drop to the ground; their charred bodies disintegrated upon impact with the earth. Those that didn’t flew away before the next heat wave.
Slowly I raised my head for a glimpse of the source. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of the serpentine dragon hovering between the trees.
And not just any dragon. A fuzanglong.
The muscles across my chest tightened. It couldn’t be. He was dead. I knew this with certainty because I was the one who’d set his spirit free.
As the dragon lowered himself to the ground, he morphed into human form. “Lorelei Clay. We meet again.”
I rose to my feet. “Bruce?” I choked out .
“You remember me?”
“Of course I do. Bruce Huang.” How could I forget the dead dragon shifter who’d been hired by The Corporation to guard one of their offshore accounts in the basement of his Fairhaven home?
“Did I burn you? I aimed for the locusts.”
I checked my arms for signs of damage. “I’m fine.”
“Your hair…” He pointed. “I think I singed it.”
I examined a few strands. “No, they’re just split ends. I’ve been too busy for a haircut.” I returned my gaze to him. “How are you here?”
“I’m still dead, if that’s what you’re asking.”
This was one of the islands of the immortals. It was possible the dead could linger here before continuing to the afterlife.
“How long have you been here?”
“Hard to say. Time moves differently when you’re dead.” He glanced skyward. “We should move before the locusts regroup. This way.”
I swiped my sword off the ground where I’d left it during the locust attack and sheathed it before following him through the dense thicket.
He glanced back at me. “How’s my house? Still standing, I hope.”
“Yes. It was sold to a nice family who has no idea that the basement featured an entrance to a pocket dimension.”
“The Corporation hasn’t beaten you yet, I see.”
“Define ‘beaten.’”
He sniffed a laugh. “You act of your own free will.”
“I do.”
“Good. They do not deserve you.”
“Speaking of things we don’t deserve, why did the locusts attack me? ”
“A warning to leave. They recognize you don’t belong here.”
“Is the island itself rejecting me or did someone send the locusts to attack me?”
“Does it matter?”
“Know with whom you’re having the pleasure.” I said, channeling my inner Pops. “Yes, it matters.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know the answer.” He pondered me. “If The Corporation hasn’t sent you, then why are you here?”
“To recover an ancient tablet.”
His face twitched. “Why would you seek the tablet?”
“You know it?”
“Of course. The tablet is sacred.”
“And powerful, I know.”
“It was kept at San Ch’ing for centuries.”
A memory clicked into place. San Ch’ing was the residence of three supreme gods in Chinese mythology. “One of the three supreme gods was in charge of sacred books.”
“That’s right.”
“But the tablet was moved. Why?”
“The god decided it would be safer here.”
Lucifer said he’d sent others to retrieve the tablet and that none had returned. I assumed he’d meant to the island, but now I wondered whether they’d been sent to San Ch’ing, and that the god had moved the tablet out of an abundance of caution, knowing there would be further attempts. It was possible it had taken Lucifer’s spies this long to find the new location.
“Do you know where it’s buried?” I asked.
“No.”
“I have a map, but there’s no X marks the spot. Will you help me find it?”
Bruce sighed. “I was hoping you wouldn’t ask me that.”
“Because of your busy schedule.” I pretended to check an imaginary watch. “Do you have a haunting at two o’clock that you simply can’t be late for?”
Chuckling softly, Bruce shook his head. “For someone who has requested my assistance, you could try exercising a bit of charm.”
I blinked innocently. “That was charm. Has it been so long since you’ve experienced it that you’ve forgotten?”
Bruce’s body stiffened as he came to a halt. “Quiet.”
I stopped to listen to the distant roar. “What is it?”
“The nian.”
The name was familiar, but I couldn’t quite dredge it from the murky contents of my mind. “Sounds like a concern.”
He nodded. “We should keep moving. It’s too close for comfort.”
Another roar shook a memory loose as we left the rainforest behind. “It has a lion’s head with a horn that it uses to attack people.”
“Very good, yes. Keep moving.”
I scrambled up the hillside after him as a childhood memory snapped into place. “It’s associated with Chinese New Year.”
Pops had taught me about the nian one cold January day. I still recalled the chill of the living room; there’d been a winter storm that day and the house lost power. The burning wood in the fireplace had struggled to cope with the steep drop in temperature. I’d worn my rainbow-striped mittens in the house. After the lesson, my grandmother had given me a mug of hot cocoa that she’d heated on the wood-burning stove.
“That is the modern association, yes,” Bruce said. “One day a year, the nian would leave its home on the seabed and come ashore to eat villagers and livestock. The people began to flee to the mountains each year to avoid the monster. ”
“Until one of the gods taught them how to scare the creature away with either the color red, loud noises, or fire.”
“Exactly, which is why we celebrate the New Year with firecrackers and red lanterns, to keep the beast from returning. When the island was transported to this realm, it happened to be the day the nian came ashore, so the monster was spirited away along with it.”
I surveyed the area. “No fireworks on the island, huh?”
“Unfortunately not. The beast has learned to survive by feeding more than once a year. It’s now larger and more terrifying than it’s ever been.”
“This island is inhabited by immortals, isn’t it? Why doesn’t one of them kill the nian and be done with it?”
“The creature is sacred. We don’t want to kill it; we just don’t want it to kill us.”
“Good news, Bruce. You’re already dead.”
He leveled me with a look. “But you’re not.”
“You breathe fire. You’ve got the right weapon for the job.”
“I try not to draw attention to myself on this island. Fire has a way of doing that.”
“You blasted the locusts,” I reminded him.
“For you, yes. Besides, we were in the rainforest. Much less visibility there.”
Another roar shook the ground. Across the gap on the neighboring hilltop stood the nian in all its monstrous glory. A leonine head with a midnight mane and exaggerated features. A curved horn gleamed in the gloaming. Claws like daggers. A dragon tail that could knock Bruce into next week. It wouldn’t surprise me if the nian had a pair of wings tucked against its sides.
“It can’t fly, can it?”
“No, but it can run very fast.”
The nian descended the hill, charging us. Gripping my arm, Bruce pulled me in the opposite direction. The next roar was deafening. I tripped on a rock and slid down the hill, out of Bruce’s grasp. I clambered to my feet and unsheathed my sword. It was a futile gesture; the nian’s horn was far more dangerous than the weapon in my hand.
A boom of thunder jolted me. The reverberations were so intense that I barely managed to keep hold of the sword.
Despite the nian’s angry roar, the creature stopped running. Thunder rumbled again. The shock waves forced the nian to retreat. The creature raced back up the hill from whence it came. Too bad there wasn’t a thunder jacket in its size. I turned to give Bruce a thumbs up and saw that his head was bowed in reverence.
Then I noticed the reason why.
A frightening figure towered over Bruce. A blue face with a bird’s beak where a nose and mouth would be. Ragged bat wings. A loincloth that left little to the imagination.
“You’re Leigong,” I said. Chinese god of thunder. I’d spent one youthful summer drawing pictures of him swinging from vines like Tarzan, until Pops told me the god was a moron who was punished for accidentally killing innocent people one too many times. After that, I’d lost interest.
The moron examined me closely. “I know why you’ve come, stranger.”
I cut a quick glance at Bruce. “Was there a memo about my visit?” If Lucifer didn’t want the tablet so badly, I’d think he warned them in advance to make the trial more difficult.
“You seek that which does not belong to you,” Leigong continued.
“I mean, really the tablet belongs to everyone, wouldn’t you say? I only intend to borrow it for a friend.”
The god didn’t crack a smile.
Bruce raised his head from its respectful position. “ Melinoe is like you, a goddess. She saved me from a terrible fate.”
Leigong fixed his beady eyes on Bruce. “Explain.”
In a shaky voice, he told the god of thunder about The Corporation.
“I have not heard of this group of gods.”
“You’ve been living on a lost island in another realm,” I interjected. “You should feel blessed. They don’t treat their gods of thunder very well.”
Leigong straightened to his full height. “There are others?”
Gods of thunder seemed to be a dime a dozen across cultures, but I had no desire to insult him. After all, his thunder was the reason the nian was no longer a threat to us.
“None as powerful as you,” Bruce said quickly.
“Does this group seek the tablet?” Leigong asked with rising suspicion.
“No,” I said. An honest answer, although not a complete one. The god would be no happier to learn about Lucifer.
“Why do you wish to possess it?”
The moment of truth. “I’m trading it to save the life of someone I love.”
Leigong was quiet. Finally, he said, “I do not know the precise location of the tablet, except that it is buried in Feng-Tu, but I can direct you to someone else who can be of further assistance.”
“Feng-Tu?” Bruce echoed, sounding disheartened.
I loosed a breath. “I’ll take any scrap of information you’re willing to share.”
“I do this as a courtesy.”
“Because I’m a deity like you?”
He squawked with derision. “You are nothing like me.”
“Ouch,” Bruce said under his breath.
“Because you have shown yourself to be someone who acts in the service of others without agenda.” The god inclined his head toward Bruce. “An honorable trait.”
“Thank you.”
“You must visit the god of mercy.”
Mercy sounded promising. Better than merciless. “How can I find him?”
“First you must cross the Bridge of Pain.”
The optimistic seeped from my pores. “That sounds delightful.”
“I know the way,” Bruce said, his voice flat.
“Very well then. I wish you a safe and fruitful journey.” Leigong’s wings began to beat, pulling him skyward.
Bruce motioned for me to follow him. We trudged up another hill.
“Would it be faster if I rode on your scales?” I asked.
He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m not shifting. I told you I would rather not draw attention to myself. It only creates more risk for you.”
I hurried forward to walk alongside him. “Tell me what to expect.” I knew a little about the Chinese underworld, but Pops had focused mainly on Western cultures.
“From K’u-ch’u K’iao?”
“Is that the Bridge of Pain?”
He nodded.
“Yes. I want to know everything. What happens on the bridge and afterward.”
“And before the bridge.”
I arched an eyebrow. “What’s before the bridge?”
“Lady Wang.” His voice took on an ominous quality.
“I’m guessing she doesn’t ply us with tequila and tell bawdy jokes.”
He snorted. “Not tequila. The broth of oblivion. You drink before you cross the bridge. By the time you reach the other side, you will have forgotten your past life and can be prepared for the next one.”
“How’d she manage to snag that glorious job?” I couldn’t imagine standing beside a bridge all day, handing out cups of soup to people who didn’t want to be there.
“Lady Wang is the goddess of plague and pestilence.”
I gave him a disbelieving glance. “You’re supposed to accept a drink from the plague goddess? Why? Why would you do that to your people?”
He shrugged. “Tradition?”
“Gods, I hate that as a reason for anything.” A thought occurred to me. “If that’s the process, then how do you remember me?”
“Because you’re memorable?”
“No, I mean how? Didn’t you drink the broth of oblivion? In fact, how are you here? Shouldn’t you be well on your way to reincarnation by now?”
Bruce flinched. “I… I don’t know. I guess I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
I eyed him suspiciously. “Haven’t gotten around to which part?”
“The broth, the bridge, any of it.”
“Why? It isn’t like you can go back and reclaim your old life. Why not let go?”
“Because of what comes after the bridge. Sie-king T’ai. The magic mirror.”
“Magic mirror? What’s so bad about that?”
Bruce’s expression darkened. “The mirror is used to judge you before you’re assigned to one of the ten hells.”
Realization swept over me. “You’re afraid to be judged.”
His brown eyes met mine. “Can you blame me? You know who I worked for. I fear the mirror’s judgment. I fear my place in Ti-yu.”
“That’s the real reason you’re roaming around this island? You’ve been evading the entrance to the underworld?” I crossed my arms. “Doesn’t your culture have creatures who specialize in capturing souls like yours?”
“They know I am close by. They’ve exercised patience.”
“Because you’re so awesome?”
“Because I’m a fuzanglong. It will be an honor to receive me.”
I could understand that. Dragons were pretty awesome. “Maybe they won’t make us do all that if we explain why we’re there. I’m not dead and I wouldn’t be sent to your underworld even if I was. We’ll just tell them Leigong sent us to see the god of mercy.” There was only one way to find out, and if the tablet was in Feng-Tu, then I had no choice but to take the chance.
“I don’t know what will happen if you refuse to drink from the cup. You may not be permitted to cross the bridge.”
I winked. “You know what they say—ask for forgiveness, not permission.”
“Lady Wang is…”
“I know. Plague. Pestilence. All the good stuff. What happens after the mirror?”
Bruce ran a hand over his face. “I can only tell you what I learned as a child. I have no idea how much of it is accurate.”
I looped my arm through his. “Then I guess we’ll learn together.”
This part of the island seemed far less threatening. No locusts. No monsters. Just a vast landscape that grew increasingly dramatic. The sloping hills became steep ravines. The docile creek became a raging river, which inevitably led to the Bridge of Pain.
Lady Wang stood sentry at the foot of the bridge. She looked nothing like the deities in my neck of the underworld. She sported a mouthful of teeth that belonged in a tiger. Her tail was surely a leopard’s. Her charcoal wings… I ha d no idea whose wings they were, but I was, admittedly, mildly envious of those.
“Lady Wang,” I said, striding forward. “I am Melinoe, daughter of Hades and Persephone. This is my travel companion, Bruce Huang.”
Her amber eyes tracked my movements. “You may halt right there, daughter of darkness.”
I stopped and bowed.
She narrowed her eyes at Bruce. “You have finally come to join us, I see.”
“He only wants a temporary visa,” I said. “He isn’t ready to be a permanent resident. We seek a tablet that we have good reason to believe is in Feng-Tu. We’re told that the god of mercy can help us.”
“So much for seeking forgiveness, not permission,” Bruce muttered.
Lady Wang gave my companion an appraising look. “You will cross the bridge with your companion, Bruce Huang?”
“I will honor my vow to help her recover the tablet. She saved my soul. I owe her that and more.”
Her mouth curved in a malevolent smile. “Very well then. Be at peace.”
“No,” I objected. “No peace. Just passing through on an errand.”
She inclined her head. “As you say.”
“See?” I whispered as we crossed the bridge. “No soup for you.”
Two cloaked figures awaited us on the other side of the bridge.
“Who are the greeters?” I murmured.
“Demons.”
Well, I had plenty of experience with those. I plastered on a friendly smile and sauntered toward them. “Gentlemen, it’s an honor and privilege to meet you both. I appreciate your willingness to help us out in a pinch.”
The demons exchanged baffled glances.
“Lady Wang hasn’t told you?” I groaned my dismay. “Typical underworld bureaucracy, am I right?” I managed to coax awkward smiles from them. “We’re here to see the god of mercy. Lady Wang said one of you can leave your post to escort us.”
The demons immediately began to argue over which one would get to do the honors. I’d fight for a side trip, too, if I had to stand at the foot of a bridge all day greeting clueless souls.
The demon in the green cloak was the winner. He guided us along a pathway of black stones, chatting amiably as he pointed out landmarks like a tour guide. I blocked out the chatter in an effort to stay focused on the next stage. If I couldn’t convince the god of mercy to help me, I would need a backup plan, which wouldn’t be easy now that we’d crossed K’u-ch’u K’iao.
“And here we are,” the demon said with a sweeping gesture at a nearby building with red walls and yellow tiles on a sloped roof. “You’ll find him inside.”
“Thank you. Take your time heading back,” I told the demon. “Tell them we kept pestering you with questions and wouldn’t let you leave.”
He flashed a mischievous grin. “I like your style.”
I cast a sidelong glance at Bruce. “Ready?”
“Maybe you should go in alone. I’m not a deity. He might be offended.”
“Bruce, there’s nothing to worry about. You’re already over the bridge and didn’t have to drink.”
Silently, he followed me inside the building.
The god of mercy was alone. He sat hunched over a table, making notes on a long scroll .
“They have these handy things called computers in the modern world,” I said.
He glanced up, frowning. “Who are you?”
I stuck a hand across the table. “Melinoe, Greek goddess of death and nightmares. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Ignoring my hand, his eyes slid to my companion. “I see you have delivered one of our souls ripe for reincarnation, goddess of death.”
I put a protective hand in front of Bruce. “Not quite yet. I have another agenda.”
His eyebrows pinched together as his gaze returned to me. “Another agenda?”
“I need to borrow a book. Well, your version of a book. It’s really a tablet. I think it predates the printing press.”
“You have come to Ti-yu for a book ? This is the ten hells, not a library.”
“I have it on good authority that it’s buried somewhere in Feng-Tu.”
At this, he offered a category-1 chuckle. “Somewhere? You don’t even know where?” His laughter intensified to a category-2 guffaw.
“I was told you could give us more information on its burial spot.”
The god turned his attention to Bruce. “And what is your role in this?”
“He offered to help me find the tablet,” I answered for Bruce.
“A wandering soul who has avoided his fate?” And now the god reached a category-4 belly laugh. Glad I could make his day brighter with my inane mission.
“I have faith in us,” I said. “We’ve made it this far.”
The laughter died on his lips. “I sense both human and deity in you. Must be your human side speaking with such false bravado.”
“Nothing false about it. I was tasked with finding this tablet and that’s what I intend to do.” I prayed the god of mercy was exactly as his name purported.
The god scrutinized me. “How is it that you are one of us and yet not? How can you be both goddess of nightmares and human at the same time?”
“Good question. I guess you wouldn’t have met any others, being locked away on the island.”
His eyes widened. “There are more like you?”
“Well, not exactly. The others are the result of The Corporation’s avatar program. I’m a natural-born goddess born to avatar parents.”
The lines in his furrowed brow deepened. “What is an avatar program?”
I explained how The Corporation placed deities in human forms. The god’s cheeks burned red from outrage.
He thumped his chest. “I decide who is worthy of reincarnation. Their work is an affront to us all.”
“I couldn’t agree more, but there are many deities out there whose powers had been weakened over time. They decided The Corporation was the answer to their prayers.”
“There are others who were forced to join against their will,” Bruce added. “They were imprisoned or controlled in some way.”
The god seemed to truly see Bruce for the first time. “They did this to you, yet you are not a god.”
“They control lesser beings as well, when it suits their purposes,” Bruce acknowledged.
“You are a fuzanglong,” the god said, indignant. “There is nothing lesser about a dragon.”
“The Corporation had bound my spirit to a pearl and left it among the treasure in a vault so that I would be bound to protect it. Lorelei… Melinoe was the one who set me free.”
The god gave me a look of begrudging respect. “I see. To find the tablet, you must go forth and seek Ch’u-Chiang. It is the only way.”
Beside me, Bruce shuddered.
“He’s the god with the mirror?” I asked, to which Bruce nodded.
“If you are deemed worthy, the mirror will show the location.”
“Are you sure there’s no bypass, o merciful one? Maybe a detailed map instead?”
“The fact that I am allowing you to pass through now is an act of mercy, and I only do this because of what you did for him.”
Like a wise gambler, I knew when to fold ‘em. I lowered my head. “Understood. Thank you.”
A set of doors opened behind him. “Exit only,” he said. “Follow the path and you’ll reach your destination.”
As we passed through the double doors, I wished I felt more triumphant than I did. Knowing the obstacle ahead made it difficult to feel anything other than pure, unadulterated fear. I had Bruce to thank for that.
“Are you sure the mirror is such a big deal?” I asked. “Maybe it’s like the kind at the cosmetics counter that exaggerates your flaws and makes your pores look big enough to drive a truck through them.” Now I sounded like Camryn. At least my friend was here with me in spirit.
“Sie-king T’ai reflects our worst selves.”
“So it is like the one at the cosmetics counter.”
“Not in a physical sense. The mirror shows all of your bad deeds to Ch’u-Chiang and then he passes judgment on you, tells you to which of the hells you must go. ”
“I want to go to whichever hell the tablet is buried in. Can I tell him that and skip the mirror?”
Bruce slowed to a stop. “You can ask him yourself. He’s right there.”
I followed his gaze to a wooden platform where a god in a silk crimson and gold robe sat on a bench reading. Living his best life, this one. Beyond him, the glass of a full-length mirror glinted.
“There’s no privacy screen?” I waved a hand airily. “Anybody who walks by can see the reflection and know your personal business.”
Bruce urged me forward. “You heard the god. This is the only way. Trust me, I am no happier about it than you are.”
We approached the platform together. Despite a series of throat-clearing exercises that bordered on comical, the god continued to read.
I rapped on the nearest wooden post. “Excuse me, Ch’u-Chiang?”
The god glanced up from the book. “Who wants to know?”
“I’m Melinoe from the Greek underworld. This is my travel companion, Bruce.”
He returned his focus to the pages of the book. “I don’t have anyone on the schedule today until three o’clock.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt what I’m sure is a very good story, but we’re on our way through your underworld to find a tablet, and apparently the rules dictate we need to look in the mirror to see if we’re worthy enough to continue our quest.”
Ch’u-Chiang closed the book and set it beside him on the bench. “Say again? I wasn’t listening.”
“We need to follow the rules, take a quick look in the mirror, and then you let us pass,” I explained.
“But you’re not dead,” he said to me .
“No, I’m not staying. I’m only passing through, running an errand for a friend.”
The god didn’t ask any further questions. He simply waved us onto the platform. “Hurry, hurry. I just reached the part where Lucy Steele tells Elinor Dashwood that she and Edward are secretly engaged.”
I barked a laugh. “You’re reading Sense and Sensibility ?”
“Have you read it? No, wait. Don’t tell me. No spoilers.” He positioned Bruce in front of the mirror. “It has a happy ending, though, doesn’t it? I can’t bear anything else.”
“No spoilers,” I said. “I expected you to be reading something like Crime and Punishment .”
The god winced. “No, definitely not. If a story doesn’t have a happy ending, I don’t want to invest. The real world is harsh enough.”
Bruce and the god studied his reflection.
“Not as bad as I feared,” Bruce said.
Ch’u-Chiang shrugged. “I’ve seen worse. At least you haven’t desecrated any graves.”
I winced. “What constitutes desecrating a grave?”
“I’m focused on Bruce,” the god snapped. “You’ll get your turn.”
The two men spoke in low murmurs.
I picked up the book and opened to the marked page. I’d read Sense and Sensibility multiple times as a teenager but not since then. I remembered hating Lucy Steele and her manipulative, deceptive tactics to convince Elinor that Edward was off the table. I wondered whether I’d have more compassion for Lucy now that I was older and allegedly wiser.
Probably not.
“You’re up, Melinoe.” He snapped his fingers. “Let’s go. I have to finish the next chapter before my next judgment.”
Reluctantly I left the book on the bench and joined the god at the mirror .
“This should prove interesting,” he said. “I’ve never passed judgment on someone outside our pantheon before.”
“It doesn’t really count,” I told him. “I have my own underworld to manage.” Possibly, but hopefully not.
He gripped my chin and forced me to face the mirror. “You must look at your reflection or the mirror won’t work.”
I sucked in a breath and met my gaze. A ball of dread uncoiled in my stomach and spread to my extremities. My face seemed paler than normal, albeit well moisturized thanks to a sheen of perspiration. My hands began to tremble.
“Relax, girl. What do you have to fear?” Ch’u-Chiang asked.
“I’m a goddess of nightmares, ghosts, and darkness,” I reminded him.
He studied the mirror. “Yes, I can see that.”
“I’ve killed.”
“And you’ve saved. And healed.” He exhaled. “Your fears are unnecessary, goddess of the night. If it were solely up to me, I would reincarnate you right now.”
Relief flooded me, washing away the remnants of dread. “Been there, got the human T-shirt.”
“I cannot say the same for your demon prince of hell, however.”
I scrutinized my reflection. “You can see Kane?”
“A limited view, granted, but enough to know where he would end up in Ti-yu.”
“Good thing he isn’t here to be judged.” I peered at my reflection. “Is that a tree?”
The god leaned closer. “Ah, yes. Ailanthus. The tree of paradise.”
“Why am I seeing a tree?”
He clapped my shoulder. “Because you’ve been judged worthy of what you seek. ”
My heart hammered in my chest as I took a step backward. “Are we done here?”
“Yes.” His gaze flicked to Bruce. “You may proceed all the way to the tenth hell.”
I shot a panicked look at my companion. “That sounds bad. Is that the worst one?”
“No, let’s go.” Bruce steered me down the steps of the platform.
Ch’u-Chiang returned to the bench and sat. “Kane Sullivan will drag you to the depths of hell if you aren’t careful, Melinoe. Only you can decide whether he’s worth the trip.”
Fury ignited inside me. “Elinor marries Edward, and Marianne marries Colonel Brandon,” I yelled over my shoulder.
Bruce gripped my arm and dragged me away. “Why would you do that?” he hissed, once we were out of the god’s reach.
“He was rude.”
“He was honest.”
“Kane is a changed demon.”
“Sometimes all the change in the world cannot atone for the actions we’ve already taken.”
I gave him a pointed look. “Do I need to spoil a book for you, too?”
We walked down a dirt road past a series of dilapidated buildings with bowed rooftops and broken windows. I would’ve thought they were abandoned, except the noises within suggested otherwise. Not the prettiest section of the city.
“Any idea how far ten hells is?” I asked. “My feet hurt.”
“I think we’ll find the tree before we reach it.”
“That isn’t what Ch’u-Chiang said.”
Bruce stopped walking and turned to face me. “I know the tablet you seek. If this information fell into the wrong hands, it would be very dangerous. The destiny of the world is at stake.”
“The destiny of my world is at stake if I don’t find it and deliver it to Lucifer.” And I would either find a way to use the tablet to defeat Lucifer or relieve him of the tablet as soon as I officially handed it over. There was nothing in the bargain that said I had to let him keep the tablet once I’d delivered it to him. The demon was fond of loopholes; you’d think he would’ve considered that one.
“Is one demon worth the risk? Especially one with Kane’s track record?”
“Don’t you start now. Is this because of what Ch’u-Chiang said? You and I were forced to be judged, but Kane didn’t consent, nor is he here to defend himself.”
Bruce glanced warily at the path ahead. “You believe in him that much?”
“Yes. Wholly and completely.”
My companion wore a pained expression.
“What?” I prompted.
“I would’ve liked to have known love like that when I was alive.”
“Why do you think I’m fighting so hard to keep it?” Kane was worth the trip ten times over, no matter how difficult or dangerous.
Bruce seemed to make up his mind about something. “Then let’s finish this.”
The dilapidated buildings grew fewer and farther between until we reached a fork in the path.
Bruce gestured to the right. “It’s this way.”
“Are you sure? I see buildings on the horizon to the left.”
“Which is how I know we need to go right. Do you see any trees in that direction?”
No. No, I did not. “Right it is. ”
The landscape along this part of the path was more desolate than anyplace we’d encountered so far. Dry, cracked earth. No sign of any creatures, living or dead.
Save a single tree.
One tree where nothing else seemed to live, let alone thrive. This had to be it.
Bruce inhaled sharply. “Ailanthus. The tree of paradise. It’s beautiful.”
I started toward the tree. “Hardly paradise considering where we are.” Coughing, I waved a hand in front of my nose. “What is that stench?”
Bruce’s mouth hitched up at the ends. “The tree’s flowers emit a particular aroma.”
“You’re lucky you’re already dead because the smell might kill you.” I covered my nose and mouth. “Shouldn’t it smell sweet and fragrant? This is noxious.”
Bruce gazed at the tree in awe. “Ailanthus is special because it can grow under the most adverse conditions.”
“Like a palm tree.”
“There is disagreement as to whether a palm tree qualifies as a tree.”
I groaned. “I’m not in the mood for a botany brawl. Let’s just agree the comparison was fair.”
As we approached the tree, a splash of color caught my eye. My gaze shifted to the treetop where an enormous golden bird sat. Its feathers were as bright as the sun. The creature seemed to share characteristics with other birds. Its head resembled that of a golden pheasant and its body was shaped like a mandarin duck’s. The most significant feature, however, was its peacock-like tail.
“Is that a phoenix?”
“The Huang.”
I brightened. “Hey, like your name.”
Bruce smiled. “It’s a good omen. ”
“Because he might immolate at the right moment and take me with him?”
His smile stretched across his face. “Because the Huang is known to only sit where a treasure is buried.”
“The ‘X’ in phoenix marks the spot.” I took cautious steps toward the bird, not wanting to frighten him. “Gods, you’re a real beauty, you know that?”
The Huang seemed to understand the compliment because he began to preen. I inspected the area under the tree.
“If you’re hoping to find a shovel, I doubt you will be so fortunate.”
I looked at him. “Why? I found you, didn’t I?”
Bruce contemplated the phoenix. “I hope he doesn’t sense my dragon.”
“Will it be a problem if he flies away?”
“I don’t wish to bring you bad luck now that you’ve made it this far.”
Bruce was right; there was no sign of any tools. I’d have to tackle this problem the old-fashioned way. I kneeled on the ground and started to dig in the dirt with my hands. Nana Pratt would be proud of me.
I tossed a glance at Bruce. “I don’t suppose you can help.”
“I would not even if I could. The tablet should stay hidden.”
“Then why help me find it at all?”
“Because I owed you a debt.” He bowed. “And now that debt has been paid. I will take no further action to assist you.”
I gave him a wry smile. “Yet you’re still here.”
“The island offers very little in the way of entertainment.”
My fingers jammed into a hard substance. “Found it!” I dug the tablet from its earthly bed. I cleared the dirt from the surface and ran my fingers over the markings. “Hey, I can read it. ”
“It’s designed to be read in any language.”
I scanned the information. The tablet was a set of instructions on how to tame a list of mythological beasts. Even the nian was on here. The monster was frightened of fire, the color red, and loud noises, just as I’d been taught.
My gaze swung to Bruce. “Is there another tablet?”
“No. Why? Were you expecting something else?”
“The legend says that the one who possesses it will be all powerful.”
“One who possesses the ability to tame any beast is a force to be reckoned with. I would not wish to be the one who opposes him.”
Laughter bubbled up inside me. Lucifer clearly believed this tablet contained different kind of information. The demon had no interest in learning to soothe savage beasts. Regardless of his intention, a deal was a deal. This was the tablet he told me to recover and recover it I did.
I dusted off the remaining particles of dirt. “This may have been dangerous knowledge centuries ago, but now we have the internet.”
Bruce frowned. “Someone’s coming.”
Clutching the tablet, I turned to see a man dressed in a military uniform, complete with the kind of fancy hat that would get you killed or ridiculed in modern society.
He clipped his heels together. “Hu Ching-Te,” he said.
“I’m Melinoe, and this is my friend, Bruce.”
“Lady Wang sent me. I understand you seek passage off the island,” the god said.
“She really wants to preserve the status quo, doesn’t she?” I smiled at the god. “You can do that?”
“He’s the god of doors,” Bruce explained.
“Oh, I met a few of your counterparts at The Corporation.” I waved a hand. “Never mind. Long story. Yes, two tickets, please. ”
Bruce cleared his throat. “No. Only one ticket.”
My head jerked toward him. “You still need to walk through the door even if you don’t want to come home with me. Otherwise, it’s a long way back to the other end of the island.”
“I’m not walking through that door, Lorelei. My journey has reached its end.”
An uneasy feeling crept over me. “You crossed the bridge with me.”
“And you’re only just noticing? And here I thought I was slow.”
“I don’t understand. I thought we were free to leave. Are you stuck here now?”
He gave me a reassuring smile. “There’s no need to look sad. It’s time. You were right earlier. I should be well on my way to reincarnation by now. I should thank you for giving me the courage to proceed.”
My throat thickened with emotion. “You knew you’d have to stay.”
“Of course I did. First rule of the underworld. No takebacks, unless you’re Orpheus.”
“Or a goddess of ghosts,” I whispered. I couldn’t believe Bruce had followed me here, knowing the outcome. “But you didn’t drink the broth of oblivion.”
“I will now. It would be too confusing for me otherwise.”
“Trust me, I know what it’s like to have two sets of memories. Nobody wants that.” I heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry, Bruce. I feel like I’ve been unfair to you since the moment we met.”
“I was already dead when we met. You played no role in that.” He offered his hand. “Let us part as friends.”
I gave his hand an affectionate squeeze and released it. “This is where I leave you?”
“I will continue on to the tenth hell. The wheel of transmigration is there. Chuan-lun-wang will decide where to place me in the next life.”
“I thought the god of mercy did that.”
“They all seem to think they’re in charge.” He shrugged. “Not much different from The Corporation in that regard.”
“The door is ready,” Hu Ching-Te said.
I gave the shimmering silver door a cursory glance before turning back to Bruce. “Can I come with you, maybe put in a good word for you with the reincarnation god?”
“No need, but I will tell him where to find Lucifer in case he’d like to reclaim the tablet once you’ve delivered it.” He winked. “The demon can’t prove you were double-dealing if you’ve never even met Chuan-lun-wang.”
“I like the way you think, Bruce.”
His face softened. “I’m glad the universe chose to reunite us for this journey.”
“I couldn’t have done this without you. I’d be food for locusts.” And not the least bit nutritious based on my recent diet.
“And I couldn’t have done this without you,” Bruce replied. “The mirror was right, you know.”
“I really do look five pounds heavier?”
He smiled. “You had nothing to fear from Sie-king T’ai. You’ve saved countless lives. And healed those in need of it.”
Not just them, I realized. Myself, too.
“Thank you, Bruce Huang. Maybe we’ll see each other again in the next life.” I hugged the tablet to my chest and walked through the open doorway, one trial closer to freedom.