“Nice to see you again, Rui,” said Ten. His flaxen hair had lost its shine, and his robes were dull, the edges colorless the way Seven’s skin was earlier. “I see my little sister led you here. Well done. Is she not lovely?”
Rui shrank back instinctively. “I thought I was meeting Nikai.”
“I’m afraid he’s unavailable right now.” Ten pulled a sad face. “And is this how you greet an old friend?”
“You’re not my friend.”
“And you would be wise to remember that, rude little mortal. How long has it been since we met? I do not pay attention to how time passes in the mortal realm, especially when I have beensobusy.”
It was best to be upfront. “I haven’t found your brother yet,” Rui said, trying to calm her racing heart. “But Nikai found the vessel, didn’t he? If he tells me, it’ll help me with my search for Four’s soul.”
“Nikai this, Nikai that...” Ten shook his head, feigning disappointment. “Did you forget your deal is withme?”
“No,” Rui stammered.
“Good.” Ten bared his teeth. “Because I have come to collect.”
“But I just told you I haven’t found—”
“Hush. He’s here.”
“Who?”
“Someone waiting to make a dramatic entrance, as one does in these situations.” Ten clapped. “Come on! Do not keep us waiting.”
Rui spotted shadows shifting at the far end of the tunnel. A few silhouettes were coming forward.
Human-shaped.
Gooseflesh sprouted on her arms when she sensed them for what they were. This was a trap. Ten must be punishing her for not fulfilling her end of the deal. Death seemed extreme, but he was a petty god from the underworld. Anger overcame her fear. Of all the ways he could have killed her, she couldn’t believe he chosethis.
“You can kill me yourself,” she said. “No need to getthemto do your dirty work.”
“You misunderstand me, Rui,” Ten scolded, a hand to his chest as if she’d wounded him deeply. “Our contract binds us, remember? I am not here to kill you; I am here to deliver a gift.”
The Hybrids walked out of the shadows, climbing up from the tracks onto the platform. There were five of them, a ragtag-looking bunch. Rui was struck by how young they looked.
A sixth figure came forward into the light and pulled himself up next to them.
Numbness pooled in Rui’s legs. Time buckled and warped. Pressure in her ears built up, and it felt like her head would explode.
Her mother’s murderer was standing right in front of her.
Not a test, not a simulation. Just as real as she was.
“You’re all grown up now, but I know you,” said the Hybrid Revenant.“The little girl who got away. The little girl who gave methis.”
He raised his shirt to reveal an ugly scar running across his chest.
Rui remembered him.
She remembered the cruel curve of his smile, his hypnotic voice, the way he held her attention like a snake charmer, excepthewas the serpent.
But she didn’t remember giving him that wound.
Every cell in her body was screaming to kill him now. Her hands itched for her swords. But without her magic, the steel on her weapons would only make the Hybrid bleed. It would not destroy him.
Quickly, she calculated the distance between them, turning slightly so the length of her coat hid her hand. Her fingers found the soft pouch dangling from her belt, and she filled her palm with its contents.
