Page 66 of Between Ghosts and Gods

“We could try to find a fortune teller?”

“Let’s not,” said Kasu. Watching the Pale Lady burst out of a demon’s body once could be dismissed as a unique occurrence. Twice suggested a pattern. Kasu wasn’t willing to risk a third time.

“What about the Grand Pavilion?” said Arun.

Kasu shuddered, remembering how the open-air theatre rose above the rooftops around it, how the platform had swayed and the wooden support beams creaked in the slightest breath of wind.

“I suppose we could try.”

There were two men standing at the foot of the theatre – a ghost and a horned demon with a single eye. The sign on the front said that no performances were scheduled that day and, for a moment, Kasu’s hopes lifted – maybe the Pale Lady wasn’t here – but then the men spotted them and scowled.

“Go away! Our mistress is busy with rehearsals!”

Kasu’s stomach plummeted. Would they really have to go up to the top of that death trap?

“Rehearsals?” said Arun.

“The theatres have been closed for too long! It’s not good for business. The Pale Lady wants to put on a grand re-opening ceremony. She is not to be disturbed as she coaches the actors.”

“But we need to speak with—”

A scream interrupted them. Heads snapping upward, everyone stared – first in shock, then panic – as a body fell from the top of the platform.

They scrambled out of the way as the demon splattered across the stones.

“See? This is why it’s important to have guard rails at the top.” Kasu retreated from the ooze of blood seeping across the ground towards her.

“Do you have to make this an ‘I told you so’ moment?” asked Arun.

Another scream punctured the air. This time not accompanied by a falling body. Instead, Kasu caught a flash of white fur. A flick of a long, bushy tail. A large wolf stood at the edge of the platform. The same beast that had killed the first actor in the alleyway.

Ruo followed at their ankles as Arun grabbed Kasu’s wrist and yanked her towards the elevator. The guards hesitated, but at Arun’s insistence they operated the pulley and hauled them upwards.

Once they reached the top of the platform, Kasu all but tumbled out onto the swaying wooden scaffolding. A pair of demon actresses were screaming.

“M–my lady!”

The Pale Lady lay sprawled across the middle of the platform, her long branch-like limbs set at painful angles and her hair spread around her like a curtain. Instead of her usual silver dress, she was wearing a military costume that fanned around her fallen form. Kasu recognized the armour that General Shusa was known to wear. A wolf stood over the broken demon. A large white wolf covered in eyes.

Kasu turned to the actresses. “What happened?”

“We were practising a scene for the re-opening!” One of the demons replied. Her dragonfly wings buzzed in agitation as her eyes darted from Kasu to the wolf. “We’re short-staffed, so my lady took the role of General Shusa, and then—”

“That creature came out of nowhere! That thing’s the one that has been targeting us!” The second demon pointed a trembling finger at the beast. The bright-red eyes that covered the curse’s body darted this way and that, before eventually settling on Arun.

“Who are you?” Arun grabbed a prop sword from the floor and pointed it at the wolf. “Why are you doing this?”

“And give me back my star silk!” Ruo hissed.

Kasu’s gaze drifted to the pale, sparkling threads looped around the wolf’s neck. The ball of star silk it had stolen had completely unravelled and now adorned the curse like a deconstructed scarf.

The Pale Lady drew a rasping breath. With a trembling hand, she reached for the wolf. “S–Sunan…”

The wolf did not react.

Though the Pale Lady’s eyes were hidden beneath a swarm of moths, Kasu felt the weight of the demon’s gaze swing towards her.

“The ring. Twist twice clockwise. Then once opposite.”