Page 5 of Drawn into Oblivion

“Excellent,” Shumei said, clasping her hands. Mai looked at her quizzically. “I’m happy to be able to help you in some way.”

“Meaning?”

“In the old court, Spring and Summer had not only house elders but season elders. Autumn and Winter only have two houses each, so disagreements are few, but Spring and Summer have five and four houses respectively. Thus, one of Spring and Summer’s house elders must be allowed to have the final say when there’s no consensus among her peers, and I’ve decided to make you the season elder of Spring.”

Shumei was beaming, and Mai couldn’t have been more shocked.

“A-are you sure?” Mai asked. “Elder Arashi would be better suited. She’s the most outgoing, and she has more years than me. She’s much mo—”

“I’ll have no other,” Shumei said with the kind of gleeful smile that reminded Mai just how young the empress was. “I’ve already spoken with the other elders of Spring, and they all offered your name first. They said you consider all angles and strive to present fair solutions.”

“Well, I have you to thank for that. The day we first met was…eye-opening. I dare not jump to conclusions ever again. Anyway, thank you, Empress. I’ll make you proud.”

Mai had gotten along best in her previous life by being cold and distant, but diplomacy and leadership were needed in the Dark Court. Such skills weren’t easy to develop overnight, or even in a few weeks. She worried she wasn’t adapting well, despite the praise she’d just heard.

Though she had managed to develop a good rapport with the other house elders of Spring and with her aide, Kyoko, they and the empress were the only people she regularly spoke to. So far, the meetings she’d held with her house members had been one-sided and stilted. And any time she needed consultation with someone of rank in the empress’s forces, she relied on Kyoko to convey House Sakura’s needs.

The empress took Mai’s hand between hers, jostling her from her silent worries. “You don’t have to be so formal with me when we’re alone, you know. Even in the presence of Vallen and my brother, there’s no need. I would have you call me Shumei, if you’re comfortable with that.”

She couldn’t help a small smile. “I’d like that, Shumei.”

“Returning to your role as season elder, you should know it comes with certain responsibilities above and beyond seasonal matters. First and foremost, you’ll be visited by the Divine One. Soon.”

“Visited? What does that mean?” Mai asked in a small voice. “Am I to speak with him, then? What does one say? Or should I refrain from speaking at all?”

Shumei squeezed her hand. “The Divine One is everything warm, happy, and safe. You have nothing to fear. When he visits, you will probably be asleep, and he will grant you two gifts. One shall empower you to help with the restoration of the city. The other shall empower you to face your fear.”

Mai froze, all happiness from the last few minutes draining away as if a cold wind had sapped the warmth from her. She felt the mask slide over her face and straightened her back. Shumei furrowed her brow in concern and gripped Mai’s fingers tighter as though hoping to soothe her. Mai pulled her hand away.

“Don’t close up, please,” Shumei pleaded.

“I don’t see how this is at all relevant to my duties as house elder.”

The empress flinched. “Whatever it is, it’s eating you. It’s been eating you for over a decade. When’s the last time you spoke more than two sentences to one of the men of the court, about anything?”

“Why must I dig up something so painful?” she asked, chest tight.

“I’m not asking to know, Mai. You don’t need to share your pain with me if you’re not ready, or ever. I’m simply telling you that the Divine One wants to heal this wound.”

“Truthfully, I’ve wanted to tell someone, but there was no one I could talk to,” she whispered. “No one and yet, everyone knew. The whole city. No one cared, at least not about me.” Tears clouds her vision. She could no longer look at the empress and shifted her gaze to the floor.

Shumei was quiet for a moment. Then she relaxed into the pillows behind her and looked out the window. “When I was a small child, I ran away from home because my parents told me crows weren’t allowed at the village festival.” She sounded detached, as though reading from a book. “Because I was so young, I hadn’t yet learned how dangerous being out at night was. I got lost in the forest, and a spider demon found me.”

Mai curled her fingers into the skirt of her dress. She knew Shumei had survived her encounter, otherwise she wouldn’t be sitting here, but a lone human child up against even the weakest of demons, let alone one as vicious as a spider demon?

“Luckily, someone heard my screams and saved me. If it weren’t for him, the demon would have torn into me. Eaten me. But though I avoided such a disturbing fate, I was deathly afraid of spiders for years and years after.” The empress paused to close her eyes and take a calming breath.

“The night Majo attacked,” she continued, “a spider demon among the dog soldiers bore me to the ground. My fear was so great I couldn’t defend myself. I was paralyzed beneath it. Vallen had to save me. Again.”

“It was him both times?” Mai asked, stunned.

“Quite a coincidence, hmm?” Shumei said with a smile, one that turned sad. “But my fear had consequences. Vallen’s back was turned, giving Majo the opening she needed. Yes, the Divine One generously granted him a second chance, but I took that hard lesson to heart. And now that the Damned One’s champion is dead, we face an even greater enemy, not to mention the rebuilding of not only Houfu but an entire empire. I’ll need all the help I can get, Mai. Including yours. I want everyone to see the confident, talented, brave leader I know you are.”

Mai wiped a tear from her cheek as she stared at her lap. “It is a difficult story to tell,” she said hoarsely.

“Then take your time,” Shumei gently bade.

Mai nodded and cleared her throat. “After my father died, my mother told me why they’d left their home in the Black Sands to come to Stillwood.” Kaisui had been the only home they’d known, and the journey had taken weeks. Toubou wasn’t the largest city in Stillwood, but her parents had found work and a small, comfortable home.