“Nothing comes to mind at the moment,” he lied smoothly, “but I propose we make a deal. I will create masks for you, and when the day comes, you must vow to uphold my word.”
The sisters whispered among themselves. They were no strangers to making deals. They did not see the Maskmaker as a threat, for how could anyone, let alone this curious painter, hope to swindle a pack of nine-tailed foxes and live to tell the tale?
“Very well,” the fox sisters said together. “You have yourself a deal.”
The Maskmaker held back his smile. “I need more than just your promise. I must have your vow in blood.”
33Sonam
Hunting Log #394:
Demons are stronger, prouder, more lethal—but lack any semblance of creativity.
Keep your hands off of—”
I barely have time to get the words out. One of the demons hits her over the back of the head. Yue crumples like a paper doll, threatening to rip as they drag her away by the hair. Black trickles down her forehead.
There’s no time to go after her. We’re surrounded with no escape in sight. The only way to get to her is by going through.
Sword in hand, I prepare for the onslaught. I’ve been at a loss up until this point, confused by all these trials and tests of character. But this—tearing demons limb from limb—thisI can do.
The possessed statues charge us all at once with no plan, only bloodlust. Their attacks come in a blind rage: intimidating at first, but easily countered if I can keep a clear head. Their jade bodies make it difficult to hack and slice. They’ll blunt and dent my sword at this rate. Sweat drips from my brow. Victory will not come easily.
The tiger demon pounces, its fierce claws and teeth ready to maul. Its movements remind me of Yue’s. Wound tight and overflowing with aggression. That’s where the similarities end, however, for this beast lacks Yue’s cunning. It’s capable of nothing more than biting and swiping, easily avoidable given its lack of precision. When it charges, I rear my leg back and kick with all my might, decapitating the tiger’s carved head from its rigid shoulders. The monster crumbles into a pile of dust and rubble.
That’s one down, but there’s no time to rest. I keep a watchful eye on Sooah out of habit. She won’t be able to call for help if she needs it, so I make sure to keep her in my line of sight. Wen is somewhere behind me. Fine for now, judging by his stream of colorful insults that would make even the most hardened of sailors blush. I’m within an arm’s reach if he needs me. Even in the heat of battle, protecting my family is top of mind.
The jade dragon is next to strike. A fearsome foe thrice as long as I am tall, it whips the jagged interlocking pieces of its tail and hits me square in the chest. I lose my footing, tumbling backward, the air knocked from my lungs. The beast rears back, preparing to swing again.
I’m not delusional enough to believe I can overpower it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years hunting, it’s that there’s no such thing as an honorable fight. The rules of a duel, the structure of war—they serve no purpose when going toe-to-toe with a demon. They don’t fight fair to begin with, slinking around in the shadows and using all manner of tricks to defeat their victims.
The only way to level the playing field is to cheat.
I reach for my belt, retrieving a set of throwing needles from a leather pouch. I’m mindful not to prick myself on the ends. Such a mistake would be costly, for they are thinly covered in Zhenniao poison. A single drop is enough to stop my heart in an instant and kill a demon within minutes. Now that I have them in hand, it’ssimply a question of administration. Sooah and Wen like to charge in headfirst, and that’s all well and good, but I prefer to fight with more finesse.
I scramble back onto my feet and dig my heels into the ground. The jade dragon hurtles toward me, but I make no attempt to dodge. It hits me again, this time ramming its head against my stomach. I use its own momentum to drive one of my needles straight into its eye. The dragon pulls back, bellowing in agony, the poison already working wonders to destroy it from within. Life drains from its eyes. I’m on to the next demon before it even hits the ground; jamming needles into arms, necks, and between ribs. Whatever I can get my hands on.
Save for the rat caught beneath Wen’s foot and the snake—who has disappeared from sight—they’re all dead.
Wen applies pressure, the rat’s eyes bulging from its sockets. It shrieks and it claws, but it does little more than scratch at the thick leather of Wen’s boot. It seems the little demon gave my brother a hard time, however, for he’s covered in all manner of scrapes and bites.
“Slippery bastard,” Wen huffs, sweat dripping from his brow. His cheeks are a blotchy red.
“S-spare me!” the rat squeaks.
Sooah gestures angrily, slamming a clenched fist into the opposite open palm. She cracks her knuckles, the sound of popping joints reverberating off the smooth courtyard walls. Her stance on the matter is clear.
“I’ll tell you where they took that fox of yours,” the rat continues, growing desperate with every ounce of weight Wen applies.
“Why should we believe anything you have to say?” I demand.
“Because we can’t lie.”
Wen snarls. “What a load of—”
“It’s true, I swear! It’s a rule all demons must abide by.” The ratsquirms uncomfortably, under so much pressure that its eyes seem ready to pop out of their sockets. “Demons can’t lie when you ask us questions. Just as humans can’t live without air or fish without water—that’s how the gods deemed us made. Believe me, please.”
I set my jaw. A single poisoned needle remains, pinched between my fingers. I’m ready to use it if I must.
