Page 52 of Between Ghosts and Gods

The morning began with the usual sounds of chaos. And now I can look forward to an extra three hundred years of this. Kasu stood behind her counter, her back straight and shoulders squared like a soldier preparing for battle.

Outside, the meat marches continued past Camellia House. Ghosts and demons of all shapes and sizes held up angry signs and yelled about the injustices of a two-tier food system as they made their way through the city. Inside, the gamblers were more restless than usual. Kasu dealt with their haggling and begging with fraying patience.

“Just ten more tiles! I’m going to win it big and buy my way into this month’s meat auction!”

“I was a three-time champion at Lord Onyx’s fighting pits! You should give me more than that, you little tart!”

“Another one of the Pale Lady’s actors turned up dead yesterday. I always wanted to land a leading role, but now I’m not sure. I think maybe it’s time for a career change.”

“My necklace is worth twice as many tiles, you stingy sea cow!”

Never had Kasu needed to call for Banse and Manzu’s help as much as she did this day.

An extra three hundred years. Kasu’s smile trembled underneath its own weight.

The day ended much the way it had begun – with the roars and wails of gamblers echoing through the floorboards, and more ragged patrons begging for tiles in exchange for petty trinkets. As Kasu was ready to close up, Lady Camellia chose that moment to sweep down the stairs and into the foyer, followed by two smaller dog-headed demons carrying the train of her dress.

Red spider lilies filled Lady Camellia’s empty eye socket.

“Kasu,” she said, her voice like an iron brand.

Kasu jumped. “Y–yes?”

“Work hard.” There was a knowing glimmer in Lady Camellia’s eyes and a malicious edge to her smile.

“O–of course, my lady.” Kasu bowed so low her head hit the counter.

Lady Camellia’s smile curled like a cat’s tail. “Oh, and I’ll be heading to the theatre later tonight to have a word with the Pale Lady. Shall I give her your regards?”

Kasu didn’t dare lift her gaze.

The demon exited Camellia House. A moment later, the screams from the protestors echoed through the walls. Outside, someone – perhaps a member of staff Kasu had not noticed when Lady Camellia swept passed – banged a gong.

“All right, folks! If you don’t want to be eaten, CLEAR OFF!”

The road outside Camellia House was littered with abandoned signs and splatters of blood – the aftermath of whatever carnage Lady Camellia had inflicted upon the protestors before leaving. After packing away the day’s trades as usual, Kasu sidled past the scene of destruction and stole around the back to grab dinner before heading into the shadow forest.

“I saw Ruo.” Arun met her in their usual spot, by the boulder where Kasu had first promised to help him. “They came to tell me that they’ll be staying away from Camellia House for the time being, but said to call if you needed them.”

Kasu stopped in her tracks. She didn’t know why the thought of Arun and Ruo speaking to one another without her felt like such a gut punch.

“For you to call or for me to call?” she managed to ask without sounding tense.

“They didn’t say.”

Arun was taking this more seriously than Kasu expected. She had thought he would just shrug it off, that he wouldn’t care, but he’d obviously noticed how badly Ruo’s disappearance had rattled her, and it had made him hesitant and gentle. Like he was holding a small, frightened bird in the palms of his hands.

Kasu was too preoccupied to be offended. Ruo had said to call, but would they really come if Kasu did? The first time they met, the cat had said they would only come if Kasu was doing something interesting. Would Ruo come again, even if Kasu had nothing to give them? She was so lost in thought she did not hear Arun’s question until he asked it again.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.” She shrugged. Why wouldn’t she be? She’d only had three hundred years added to her contract, and the Pale Lady had chosen the under-realm over being a god in the heavens, and Lady Camellia was going to confront the Pale Lady about trying to steal her elixir.

Arun sighed, and Kasu could not help but feel she had missed a beat somewhere in their conversation.

“I’m fine,” she repeated. “I just … had a bad night.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”