Page 87 of Between Ghosts and Gods

“So you’re the ghost that has been creating havoc in the under-realm.” Her voice was the sound of bells chiming softly in the wind.

“Y–yes? I mean, yes, I am, Your Holiness.” Kasu jumped to attention.

General Shusa attempted an introduction. “This is Kasu. She’s the one I told you about,” he said.

The Empress seemed uninterested. Her eyes were a solid block of white, without irises or pupils – it was difficult to tell where she was looking.

“P–please, allow me to serve you!” Kasu reached for the nearest tray of wine. The maid holding it abruptly twisted so that Kasu grabbed a red cup.

“I don’t need a ghost to wait on me.” The curl of disdain in the goddess’s voice made Kasu shrink back. Orro was at the empress’s side in an instant, placing a blood-red cup in front of her. The Celestial Empress glanced down at the liquid in her glass before returning her gaze to Kasu’s face. “You and General Shusa might think you’ve done well by slaying those demons, but the demon rulers served a purpose. A power vacuum only creates chaos.”

And, according to Heavenly Principle number one hundred and forty-four, evil was born from chaos. Kasu knew that well.

“That – that’s certainly true, Your Holiness. But the demon lords were also cruel. And greedy. They only cared about themselves and their own interests.”

“They’re demons. And living in the under-realm is not meant to be pleasant. Or well-governed. It is punishment for falling out of the cycle of souls.”

Kasu lowered her head. There wasn’t much she could say when someone brought that up.

But… a small voice inside her argued. But what about my mother, who abandoned her children and was not punished? Kasu’s mother had been allowed to reincarante just like any other mortal. Was what Kasu had done so much worse? What about what Arun had said to General Shusa at breakfast? Kasu had witnessed the deaths of other ghosts in Lady Camellia’s memory bottles – poor people, starving, down-on-their-luck, who had died in misery. Why were they not given the chance to be reborn? Was it really their fault, as the general claimed? Kasu didn’t want to disagree with the heavens, but it didn’t seem fair.

General Shusa cleared his throat. “Kasu, will you join me on stage?”

As much as Kasu hated to admit it, she was relieved to step away from the goddess.

“The Celestial Empress is different from how I imagined,” she muttered as she followed General Shusa to the main stage.

“She’s old. Old gods stick to old ways and old prejudices.”

That didn’t sound right. The heavens could not be prejudiced. Gods didn’t become gods unless they were noble and good.

“But you think the same. Those in the under-realm are there because they deserve it. You said so at breakfast.”

General Shusa coughed. “Where are your friends?”

Kasu scanned the crowd.

“Never mind.” General Shusa shook his head. “We shouldn’t keep our audience waiting.”

The crowd clapped as she stepped onto the stage. Everyone in the courtyard was staring at her. The Celestial Empress. The other guardian gods. Orro and the maids who had escorted her through the estate when she had first arrived in the heavens.

Kasu scanned the sea of faces for Arun, but she couldn’t find him. Hurt warred with disappointment. She had hoped that they could spend their last day in the heavens together. After everything that had happened to his mother, she knew Arun had complicated feelings about gods, and about General Shusa in particular, but was it so wrong to think he could put those emotions aside and just enjoy his time with her? They would never get an opportunity like this again.

General Shusa raised his hand and the crowd fell silent.

“Thank you, thank you. I know I speak for all of us when I say I hope our honoured guests have enjoyed their reward.” His voice carried through the air. He gestured to Kasu, giving her a smile and a nod before turning back to the crowd. “I’m sure we are all still shocked by the memory of Sunan’s betrayal. Yet, despite everything she did, I am still saddened to learn of her untimely end and of her mistreatment at the hands of the vicious demons of the under-realm. Let this be a lesson to all! No wicked deed goes unpunished!”

He paused to let the soldiers cheer and the scribes clap. Kasu surveyed the crowd. It wasn’t just Arun, but Ruo who was missing now as well.

“Thanks to the efforts of this brave young ghost here, we discovered the creation of a terrible elixir that could drive even the gods insane.”

It wasn’t just me. Arun and Ruo helped too. Kasu held her tongue.

“I am glad we got the opportunity to celebrate such courage. Gladder still to see that the Celestial Empress has graciously joined us to honour our young hero. To you, our dearest ruler, and to our brave little ghost, let us drink in celebration!” General Shusa leaned down to accept a cup from a nearby servant. The dark wine sloshed against the rim of the blue crystal glass. Kasu noticed no one had handed her a cup.

“Thank you, by the way.” General Shusa leaned down to whisper. There was something in his gaze that hadn’t been there before, something dark and heavy.

Red glass and blue sparkled among the crowd. The gods and heavenly attendants lifted their cups in a toast.