Rui lowered her arm. Nikai seemed harmless enough, and he wasn’t creepy like Ten. There was a touch of formality in his speech, a kind of old-fashioned way of speaking that was rather charming.
“What’s an usher?”
“A Reaper, but I prefer to think of myself as a shepherd of souls. I make sure they are collected free from the Blight, and I ease their path into the afterlife. Andyou, Rui, are a future Exorcist. Think of me as your colleague in spirit.”
Rui started to laugh, but he looked so sincere she disguised it as a cough. “Is it true the Mirror of Retribution filters souls according to how they lived their mortal lives?” she asked, morbidly curious. She’d been reading up on underworld mythology in a bid to know more about the Kings of Hell, hoping it would help her with her search, and she had found the Mirror particularly curious.
“Humans are very interested in the afterlife. So many theories, so many stories,” Nikai said. “The Mirror does exist. Do not worry, the system is fair enough. Those who live righteously are normally sent by the algorithm to work in clerical jobs.”
“You have analgorithmfor that?” It never occurred to Rui that the underworld would have technology.
“We do. Actually, our current enrollment system is an efficient piece of coding set up by a tech prodigy who was sent to the Third Court. He was there for his corporate crimes but got off easy because of his code.” Nikai looked disgusted.
“Sounds like corruption extends to the afterlife,” Rui said wryly. “And no offense but a clerical job sounds like hell.”
“Paperwork is, as they say, the worst,” Nikai agreed.
Rui found herself taking a liking to him, and she didn’t like very many people. Though he wasn’t exactly aperson, was he? Nikai’s milk-chocolate eyes were round and finely lashed, so different from Ten’s vicious gaze. But whenever he blinked, his irises turned pitch black for a moment, reminding her of how non-human he was.
“You seem very calm,” Nikai observed. “I thought you might freak out upon hearing all this.”
Rui shrugged. Escaping death more than once had presented her a certain perspective. “So... why are you here? Did Ten send you?”
Instead of answering, Nikai produced something shiny from his pocket and gave it to her.
A piece of glass.
It was small, like one of Ada’s pocket mirrors. The edges of the glass were smooth and dull, no sharp points that could cut. Rui flipped it around. The other side was a plain black substance, like a kind of rock. She turned it back and stared at her own reflection. The mirror looked ordinary, if a little bright.
“It’s a piece from the Fourth Court’s mirror,” Nikai said. “It can be used for communication.”
Rui was well-versed in secrets. She understood from his tone that he had placed one in her hand.
“Ten didn’t send you here, did he?” she said. “You came to find me yourself. You don’t trust him.”
Nikai paled. “It is not a matter of trust. Ten is a King, and all Kings are dangerous.”
But I’ve already made a deal with him.And she’d been instructed not to tell anyone about it.
“I’m aware you have made a deal with him,” Nikai said, as if he knew what she was thinking. “That’s why I’m here to help you if I can.”
“Why? The deal doesn’t involve you.”
“Because you’re...” Nikai seemed to rethink his words. “Because Four is my King and my friend. It is important to me that he is found. Since you’re the human helping us, I must do what I can to aid you.”
Rui didn’t doubt his sincere desire to find his King, but she was also certain he was hiding something. Maybe it didn’t matter; if he could help her, the end goal was the same.
“I haven’t had much luck,” she said. “I’ll accept any help you can give.” Quickly, she filled him in on what she’d done so far.
“I see you have focused only on looking for Four himself,” Nikai said thoughtfully. “My King is clever and—”
“Wait—you said I’veonlybeen focused on Four himself? What do you mean?” Rui interjected.
“Did Ten tell you it is likely Four separated his power from his soul? That is how he can remain in the human realm for so long.”
“No,” Rui said grimly, “Ten did not.”
Nikai’s lips were razor thin. “The Tenth King’s mind is a labyrinth few understand. He must have his reasons.”
