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Bandur chuckled in a way my father never did, the laughter tumbling out of his throat in a slow, wicked roll.
That isn’t Emperor Hanriyu, I wanted to shout. That’s the Demon King! But I held my tongue. Rash decisions had brought me thus far, and no one would believe me if I said the demon had possessed my father. They believed I was the one possessed.
“I warned you not to come to the Holy Mountains,” uttered Bandur through my father’s mouth. “The demons want your blood, and you come here, practically offering it to them. What madness has overtaken you, daughter? And to bewitch your own brother into joining your treachery?” He glanced at Benkai, still in chains. “You must be taught a lesson.”
The Demon King’s stare bored into me, but only I could see the red in his eyes, taunting me. Don’t look so stricken, Shiori. I told you I wasn’t your only enemy. Hawar did most of the work.
Get out of him, I said, seething. Get out.
I have to say, I quite like being an emperor. The power, the respect…the effect on you. He forced my father’s lips into a sneer. You should have seen his face when Hawar told him where you’d gone. He raced a carriage here himself—he was worried I might come out and bite.
Rage boiled in my chest, rising up white-hot. It hurt to hold it in, and I ground my teeth. Let Bandur taunt me, I would not give in. He wanted me to make a spectacle in front of the sentinels. I wouldn’t fall for that trick again.
Instead, I reached out to Father directly. Father! I screamed into Bandur’s mind. Father, I know you’re there. Fight him. Don’t let him win.
The emperor’s chin lifted. He straightened and squared his shoulders, his eyes rolling lazily in my direction. It was no use. Bandur was too strong.
But I wasn’t about to give up. “Father!” I shouted, lunging toward him. “Stop!”
As I moved, the ground trembled. Little rocks and pebbles spilled down the breach, which glowed brighter than before. The sentinels wrenched me away from the emperor, their blades now pointed at my throat.
Now, now, Your Highness, taunted Bandur. You must control that temper. You’re exciting the demons.
“See how the mountains react to her presence?” Hawar cried. “It is as I warned, Your Majesty. She is calling the demons forth!”
Bandur pretended to be shaken by my attack. He staggered back and crossed his long embroidered sleeves. “You are right, Minister Hawar. It is time I taught my daughter a lesson.” Bandur mimicked Father’s smile, giving it a wicked slant. “It’s time to come home, Shiori.”
Everyone else thought the emperor was going to take me home, but I knew what Bandur really meant. The demons were waiting inside, their restless magic making the earth tremble.
Shiori! they cried. Shiori, you’ve come. Free us.
They sounded different than they had in the past, almost as if they were begging. But I was unmoved; these creatures were just as manipulative as their king.
And by the Eternal Courts, Bandur was not taking me back into the mountain.
I braced myself. Already the red-laced shimmer in Father’s eyes was fading, like two embers into ash, and puffs of smoke seeped out of his nostrils. Bandur flew out of my father’s body in a torrent of shadow and smoke—but I was ready. As I ducked, the ropes on my wrists came alive, lashing toward the chief minister to snatch the satchel back into my arms.
I ripped the bag open and released the pearl. It floated in front of me, the jagged fractures along its dark surface coming aglow.
Bandur laughed. Well played, Your Highness. But if you use that pearl on me, you won’t have the strength left to change your brothers.
I’m stronger than I look, I said.
Perhaps. But is the pearl?
An outraged cry came from Chief Minister Hawar. Bandur was invisible to him, so all he saw was me holding the pearl aloft over the emperor’s unconscious body.
“Shiori’anma has attacked the emperor!” Hawar shouted hysterically. “Kill her. Kill her!”
“Enough!” Benkai shouted, springing up. Andahai and Reiji charged to his side. “Arrest the chief minister.”
Half the sentinels obeyed their commander, but the other half followed Hawar. Their swords flew out, only to clash against Benkai’s chains, and those loyal to him.
I’d never seen my second brother in combat, and suddenly I understood why soldiers fought to join his command. The chains that bound him became a blur of silver, felling every man in his path. Not even the most seasoned sentinel stood a chance.
While everyone is distracted, you’ll come with me, Bandur said, looping his claws around my wrist.
I thrust the pearl at him, ready to call upon its power. Then his body spasmed, smoke sputtering from his limbs and tail. Bandur growled, but he kept shuddering.
