“Mind your own business, Darcy.”
“My name isn’t Darcy. Those are offerings. Don’t you have any respect for the dead?”
The boy laughed derisively. “They’redead. Why would they care about stale rice and old oranges? Don’t tell me you believe in wandering spirits and ghosts and all that nonsense?”
Rui opened her mouth, decided he wasn’t worth her time, and closed it.
He jerked his chin up at an angle, the corner of his lips curling into an almost sneer. “Go on, run along.”
His expression reminded Rui of another pompous jerk. “You’re Ash’s brother,” she realized.
The boy recoiled. Whether it was out of surprise or something else, Rui wasn’t sure.Song Yiran.That was his name.
Now that she knew who he was, it was clear that Yiran’s resemblance to Ash was more impressionistic than technical. One of his ears stuck out. Just a fraction. It ruined the symmetry of his face. Still, like Ash, Yiran was remarkably good-looking. But unlike Ash, who hadgolden boywritten all over him, there was something about Yiran that felt... missing. Like a painting left unfinished because the artist had gotten distracted by a grander idea, or a bonsai tree pruned by an inexpert hand. Whatever it was, it made him a lesser copy of his older brother.
But both the Song grandsons possessed the air of having been born into money. Yiran’s blue jeans were carefully constructed to look worn at the knees, and a weathered black leather jacket hung over his light gray hoodie. Nothing too fancy. But she knew if she turned everything inside out, the tags would be designer.
Yiran wrinkled his nose like he smelled something foul. “How do you know my brother? Are you one of them?”
It took Rui a moment to realize he meantExorcist. “Not yet. I’m a cadet at Xingshan.”
“Same thing, Darcy.”
Rui had heard stories about the younger grandson of the Head of the Exorcist Guild. Most of them were unpleasant. If this current attitude was anything to go by, she wouldn’t be surprised if all the rumors were true.
“First of all, my name isRui. Second, I’d rather be one of them out here protecting people than an arrogant brat disrespecting the dead.” Was it wise to insult a Song? Probably not. But Rui wasn’t in the mood to care. The visit to her father’s had left her out of sorts, and the failed simulation test chipped away at her temper.
Yiran rolled his eyes. “Whatever,Darcy.”
Hackles rising, Rui readied another insult.
A deafening siren blared.
Yiran covered his ears.
“It’s a Night Hunt. The Exorcists are hunting Revenants,” Rui shouted above the noise.
“I know what a Night Hunt is,” Yiran said with unconcealed scorn. He walked off without another word.
Jerk.Rui jogged in the other direction. She couldn’t wait to complain to Ada about Ash’s bratty kid brother. Hopefully, she’d never have to set eyes on him again.
The siren continued for another minute before silencing. It was weird that a Night Hunt would be held so close to the cadets’ patrol route. Sincethe cadets were still in training, the two routes never crossed. But the sirens covered a large area. Maybe the Hunt wasn’t taking place anywhere near the route itself.
Rui checked her weapons and talismans, making sure they were secured and within easy reach. Zizi’s special talisman was tucked inside the inner pocket of her coat. A secret, much like everything else they shared. She hadn’t thought about how to successfully test it, but it was something for future Rui to figure out. She had told Zizi she would do it, and she needed the money for her father’s debts.
The meeting place was empty, the row of eateries were closed, and the area was deserted. Rui stared at a sign outside Gojo’s Café listing the many flavors of bubble tea, wondering if her father had eaten the simple dinner she’d cooked for him before leaving the apartment.
Pacing down the street, she buttoned her coat, wishing she’d thought to bring a scarf. The night was unusually chilly for autumn, and the sounds of the Night Market seemed far away. The disquiet she had been feeling all day grew.
Four years. Four.Si.It sounded likedeath.
Gods.She shook her head. She was being superstitious.
Ten minutes went by, and no cadet showed up. There was no sign of the Exorcist mentor assigned to the team tonight either.
Rui pulled out her phone and tapped the screen. “Pick up, Ada,” she groaned after the tenth ring.
Finally, a voice groggy with sleep mumbled, “Hello?”
