Page 73 of Drawn into Oblivion

However, they had been extraordinarily lucky with the gate spell. They had a plan, and they had people insane enough and experienced enough to go along with it. Everything was working.

So far.

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Rosuke was thankful for the silencing spell, for his heart was pounding as he and Mai traversed the forest. She was no longer in the human world, under the protection of the empress’s magic shell, behind city walls, and ensconced within the palace complex. She was as exposed as she would ever be, and being at her side only amplified his fear.

Any moment—any second—could see their entire plan fall apart, and though the Divine One couldn’t hear him here, he prayed with all his might that if the worst came to pass he’d be able to give his life for hers. He wanted so much to believe in the empress’s strategy, in her confidence and in the ability of his comrades, but all he could imagine was how destroyed he’d be should anything happen to Mai. Utterly so, even if only for the moment between losing her and losing himself to an all-consuming rage.

When their group met up after nearly a mile, he couldn’t feel any relief for having made it this far. His apprehension had only doubled. Huddled low in a tight group within the warped roots of a large tree, he studied Mai’s face and read fear in the crease in her forehead. However, her jaw was set, and her steady gaze carefully darted about, searching for enemies. Her bravery left him in awe.

The empress held out her fist, asking for attention while everyone caught their breath. Looking to Kiyoshi, she held out her pinkie and curled her fingers into her flat, open palm.

Nodding, Kiyoshi held up two fingers. Rosuke held his breath. There were two enemies ahead. Reading the captain’s signals, he learned a dog soldier was patrolling in their direction, and a tree digger silently waited three hundred feet ahead. The empress signaled for Jun and Rosuke to dispatch the dog soldier. Vallen would dispatch the tree digger, and Shumei, Mai, and Kiyoshi would wait there.

Rosuke looked to Jun, who hadn’t stopped frowning since they’d arrived, but the man was alert and ready. Jun nodded in acknowledgment. The empress showed the back of her hand, asking for questions, but everyone shook their heads. Mai grasped his elbow, and her expression said more than anything she might have said with her lips. Her eyes were full of confidence. She believed in him.

Shumei pointed in the direction they were going, signaling for them to move out. Rosuke and Vallen shared a familiar glance, one they’d exchanged countless times over the years. Vallen clapped his shoulder, the gesture making no sound. All three of them drew their swords. Curved blade in hand, he jerked his head in the direction of their target and struck out at a jog next to Jun.

Mai couldn’t help staring at Rosuke’s back until he’d melted into the shadow of the forest. She chewed her lip and counted the seconds, wishing she’d placed her own tracking spell on him. Shumei touched Mai’s shoulder to get her attention and pressed her hand over her heart. Mai nodded. Of course the empress understood how she felt. Shumei had sent her husband to deal with the tree digger on his own, after all. It wasn’t a particularly difficult enemy, but it was elusive. He would have to defeat it in one or two sword strikes dealt from stealth. Otherwise it would escape.

Kiyoshi, hand on his sword hilt, scoured the trees around them, so she felt safe asking Shumei a question with more signals. She held her hand parallel to the ground, the sign they had designated for the Damned One. Then she pointed to her temple, the empress, and the ground. Do you think the Damned One knows you’re here?

Shumei shook her head and signaled a reply. No. We would be dead. She drew her finger across her neck, a gesture that came close to the one that lifted the silencing spell. Worried, Mai listened for any sounds coming from Shumei, but the empress seemed to have read her mind and shook her head again. Though relieved, Mai was certain she’d have a heart attack before they even reached the demon city.

After ten minutes had passed, she began to worry. Images of what might have happened versus what should have happened flashed through her mind, churning the anxiety in her gut and making her magic squirm with discomfort.

Then a figure emerged from the trees, running at a leisurely pace. Mai saw the empress relax from the corner of her eye a second before Mai recognized Vallen. He gave them the sign for success as he drew near, then slowed to a walk, glancing around. He had apparently noticed the other team hadn’t yet returned.

Vallen rapidly exchanged a series of signals with Shumei. Mai was barely able to follow, but she understood simply from context that he wanted to go find Jun and Rosuke. When Shumei denied his request, he puffed up with anger, but the empress snatched the front of his uniform and dragged him into the tangle of roots. She stared at him a moment, eyebrows knitted, before he looked away in defeat. Then Kiyoshi stood, eyes trained on something in the distance.

Two figures emerged from the shadows, and Mai shot to her feet with a smile of relief, for neither seemed injured. Rosuke held out the sign for success. Once their group had reformed, Mai watched with a wry grin as Vallen lightly punched Rosuke’s shoulder, pouting and nodding curtly.

Then a sound cut through the silent forest, one that sent a chill screaming up Mai’s spine. Sorrowful ululations so poignant they made her chest tight. The breathy weeping echoed as if supernaturally projected, and even when Mai covered her ears, she could still hear it as clear as a bell. It was coming from somewhere deeper in the forest.

But though the sound of the Weeping Willow was unnerving, she saw no immediate danger. That is, until she looked at the others. The men were clearly more affected by the grief-stricken cries than she or Shumei were. All four stared in the direction of the sound, bodies tight like those of an animal ready to protect its young. Kiyoshi’s hands shook.

Mai gave a silent gasp as Shumei grabbed her arm and put both of them between the four officers and the direction of the sound. The empress closely studied Jun, then Vallen. Her eyes flared in alarm. Mai looked to Rosuke, who stood before her, eyes focused on the source of the sound. Why wasn’t he looking at her?

Why wasn’t he breathing?

She whirled to the empress in panic. Grimacing, Shumei slapped Vallen hard enough to turn his head. Amazingly, it worked. The high general pulled in a deep breath, blinking rapidly, and brought his hand to his cheek. Mai reluctantly did the same, pulling the men out of whatever trance they were in.

Each reacted to his awakening differently. Vallen dropped to his knees and hugged Shumei’s lower half, his face pressed tight to her stomach. Jun sat on the ground and put his head in his hands as if close to vomiting. Kiyoshi’s face twisted with pain and he began punching his thigh again. Rosuke turned away before Mai could catch his expression and braced his hand upon a tall, twisted tree root. But his labored breaths were easy to see, if not hear. Mai stepped close and slid her arms around him. Whatever had just briefly taken hold of him and the other officers, it had scared Rosuke. Badly.

Perhaps it still had a hold on them. Still clawed at their minds…

Flushing with anger, she pulled away from Rosuke and turned toward the distant sobbing. Her magic swelled. But Shumei stepped in front of her and signaled, I’ll go. Stay here.

Mai shook her head. She lifted her hands to signal, but she had no way to make her case without words. They hadn’t worked out gestures for things like You’re the empress. I should be the one who takes the risk. Realizing the high general would side with her, she turned to Vallen, who now sat on the ground next to Jun, but his eyes were squeezed shut and he’d covered his ears to try to shut out the weeping. He looked to be in torment.

Resigned, Mai nodded at Shumei and tried to ignore the sour churning in her gut as the empress ran off into the trees.

Then, in the corner of her eye, she spied Kiyoshi. The silence spell had made his sudden appearance at her side a surprise, but he wasn’t looking at her, or intending to harm her. He was just slowly walking forward. And he looked terrified.

She wanted to believe he was worried for the empress, but she knew why he moved as though resisting a strong wind that buffeted him from behind. Why his eyes were wide with fear. The Weeping Willow was drawing him in.

His body tightened as he prepared to run. Heart leaping, she grabbed his arm with both hands, but he tore out of her grasp. He didn’t even look at her. His gaze was fixed upon the source of his doom. I’m sorry, Captain, she thought, wincing as she delivered a firm kick to the back of his knee. He stumbled, which let her throw him to the ground.