“I believe I owe you all an apology,” Zizi said, bowing as low as he could with his stiff back and terrible knees. After the variably reluctant murmurs of forgiveness came, he straightened, trying not to wince, keeping an angelic expression on his face. “Rest assured that I will make amends for causing all of you such distress. Perhaps a tea party is in store.”
Six’s eyes glinted. “Or a tour of that vault of yours. It has been a while since we have set eyes on those treasures.”
But Three made a skeptical noise. “Canyour body be restored to its original state?”
Doubt swarmed in Zizi’s mind. He didn’t know.
“And if part of you remains mortal,” Nine said, “does it mean the Nothing will continue to attack us?”
Zizi was spared the pressure of answering when all the Kings suddenly turned their heads in the same direction, as if they had heard a silent scream.
His muscles went tight with a different kind of dread. “Please excuse me,” he said, flicking his collar up. “I believe Mother and Father are calling.”
25
Rui
Rui was having the worst headache of her life, but it couldn’t compare to the pain in her heart. She bolted up from her seat, words stumbling over each other. “I saw him. He’s locked up. He’sdying. I have to go back; I have to save him.”
Madam Meng was sitting exactly where she had been earlier. She didn’t seem surprised by Rui’s declaration.
“Youknew,” Rui accused. “All this time you knew he was in that dungeon.”
“And I knew you would show up at my doorstep eventually,” Madam Meng revealed. “What I did not know was how strong a connection the two of you had. I did not know if the ritual would work.”
Rui slammed the table, feeling like she’d been played. “I don’t know what you’re planning, and I don’t care. Tell me how to free him, then send me back to the underworld.”
Calmly, Madam Meng folded her hands. “There are three sanctioned ways into the underworld: soul collection, the Gates, or a portal. Everyone has a birth and death story, butyourdeath story has not been written, which means your soul does not belong to the underworld yet. You cannot be collected by a Reaper, and the Gates will expel you. A portal is too dangerous; it is what Ten used when he pulled the boy into Hell.”
“Are you saying I can’t go back beyond having another vision? What’s the use in that?”
Rui’s hope fizzled, but Madam Meng smiled.
“Thereisanother way. An unsanctioned one. But it might not be one you wish to take.”
“I’ll do anything—”
“Do not speak too soon, child.” Madam Meng’s gaze drilled into Rui,assessing her. “But since you have shown a deep connection to the boy, I might be able to guide your soul into the underworld with another tea ritual. Butreturningto your world is a different matter. It will require payment from you, because you will have to cross Naihe Bridge. Nothing in the underworld is free, and there is a price for passage.”
The Bridge of Oblivion. It appeared frequently in the underworld myths Rui had read. Sometimes it was said to be the wayintothe afterlife. In other tales, the bridge was the path taken before each soul was reborn. Either way, the journey across Naihe Bridge was a treacherous one.
“And what happens if I fail to cross it, if I don’t make it out of the underworld?”
“Then the realm of the dead will take what would eventually be theirs, and your life will be forfeit.”
Rui knew she should be scared. But even if the cost was death, didn’t she owe it to Zizi to try? She was the one who had put him there; she had to be the one to get him out. “What’s the price for crossing the bridge back here?”
“The bridge collects memories as its toll,” Madam Meng said. “But you will not have a choice this time as to what you are prepared to give up. I cannot say how much the underworld will take as payment to return your soul. It could be a single memory; it could be more. But itwillbe what you treasure most. Are you willing to make another sacrifice?”
Rui fell silent. She had so few memories of her mother, of her parents together, of her family... They were sacred treasures to her. She’d already given up one and would mourn the loss forever. She didn’t know if she was willing to sacrifice more.
“Even if your soul reaches the underworld without incident, there is no guarantee that you can save him,” Madam Meng cautioned. “You might lose your life, or you might return empty-handed and still lose your most precious memories. It is a gamble. If the risk feels too high, you do not need to enter the game.”
But the stakeswerehigh. It was because of Rui that Zizi went to theunderworld. He was suffering now. She couldn’t sit and do nothing. It was also because of her that the Hybrids had a dangerous talisman in their hands. Without Zizi’s knowledge and help, the Exorcists might not be able to destroy it even if they found it.
Rui wasn’t a hero. But she had made a vow a long time ago to stop the Revenants, and to keep the city and her home safe. She couldn’t go back on that.
She grabbed her sword bag and slung it over her shoulder. “Give me a day. There’s something I need to do first.”
