“Well, I’m volunteering to be your mess cleaner,” Zizi said through gritted teeth. He sensed that the Elders were drawing this out, keeping him trapped in their endless web of words. But he had to tread carefully and make the right moves to get what he needed.
“The relic that was used to create the spell is gone, and you cannot open your vault in your current state,” Emperor-Father said dismissively. He’d clearly lost interest in the conversation. “And seeing how weak you are, I doubt you would even be able to use a relic without severe consequences. There is nothing you can do.”
“Pinpointing the location of the talisman would be enough for the Exorcists,” Zizi said evenly. “I will find a way, but I have to beinthe mortal realm. That’s the deal. Let me go back with Rui to fix things. We both get safe passage. And I will return once my task is done.”
Emperor-Father sniffed scornfully. “Do you believe the mortal girl will emerge from the Forest with a sound enough mind that returning her soul to the realm of the living would be possible?”
“Yes.”
“I applaud your faith in her. But I’m afraid we have no interest in a deal. Low stakes do not make for enticing wagers.”
Zizi was tempted to spit in his face. The Elders didn’t seem to care about the mortal realm. Just like how they didn’t care about the Nothing invading the Courts. Nikai had told him how they’d remained uninvolved as souls were lost and the underworld crumbled. The only thing they paid attention to was that blasted mahjong game.
His fury was restrained by a sudden vise grip around his skull. Light was a blade to his sight, the clacking of mahjong tiles a beating drum behind his eyes. Images were flickering in his head again, and for a surreal moment, it felt as if he was sitting at the table next to the immortals.
Let’s play a game, someone whispered.
In his mind’s eye, the tiles moved in front of him from his hand to the table and back, displaying a series of characters carved into the ivory.
You will remember nothing of this.
Zizi sucked in a sharp breath of surprise. His head cleared, and the pain dissolved. He had no doubt that those werehislost memories from the time when he was Four. Memories that had been stolen away. Did that mean he had once sat at the very table he was looking at now?
“Let’s make the stakes enticing, then,” he said. “Instead of a deal, give me a seat at your table.”
The mood in the room changed.
The faint outlines of the Celestials glimmered in excitement, and Emperor-Father regarded him with renewed interest.
“You wish to participate in our game?” Empress-Mother asked, carefully enunciating each word.
“Yes.” The word landed like a verdict.
One Celestial shimmered immediately, and Empress-Mother smiled as if she agreed with something they had communicated. “Indeed, that would be fun. Perhaps he will get twice lucky at our table,” she murmured.
Twice lucky?Was that confirmation that hehadbeen a player before?
Emperor-Father’s eyes darted to the Celestial next to him, as if they had spoken too. “It is true that while a soul is of little value to us, Lin Ru Yi has been touched by both the darkness and the light, which makes her an unusual wager. It would be interesting to see how the life of such a soul unfolds, should she survive.”
Zizi snapped at him. “What do you mean she’s been touched by the darknessandthe light?”
“We have decided to welcome you to our table,” Empress-Mother announced, ignoring his question.
The Celestial next to her offered their seat to Zizi. Worried the gods might change their minds, he sat down immediately.
Cold metal fused around his neck, legs, and back, shocking him with a painful zap.
“What’s this?” he demanded, struggling against his restraints. Only his hands and arms could move freely.
“Our house, our rules,” Empress-Mother said crisply. “And the rules of our table are simple: no bonus tiles and no cheating. Should you win, you are entitled to one question and one request. That is all.” She paused,casting him a shadowed look. “If you lose, Lin Ru Yi’s soul will be banished to the Nothing for eternity.”
“I did not agree to that! Ido notagree to that.” Things had gone horribly wrong. He’d made a heinous mistake. “I won’t gamble with her life.”
Emperor-Father waved an impatient hand. “You have sat down at our table. Whether you like it or not, the only way out is to play.”
Grunting with effort, Zizi tried to gather his power, only to discover he couldn’t. His restraints were doing more than holding him in place.
“You tricked me,” he accused.
