The beam of light reflects off the Moonstone to hit a painting that lies above the door. The image is of a Chinese palace that is surrounded by golden trees. Raven rises up to get a better look at it and mutters, “Drifting Feathers. Does anyone know of a palace that is surrounded by trees that have feather like leaves?”
Yǔmáo grips his husband’s arm and blurts, “Wǔyè tàiyáng (Midnight sun).”
Jīngyì is unable to tell in the darkness if his husband is afraid or pleased to have remembered something. “Is it a place or person?”
“It is an island that only appears in stories… I never thought it was real until now. I am looking at the very palace. If we go by the stories it is a save haven where us Eternals can hide forever, for the land is plentiful. If that is where Mèng is then he has been captured by the Siren who dwells in that palace. A Siren who can take on the form of a lovely lady who feeds off the blood of pure Eternals.”
Chūnfēng clutches the Black Katana and enquires, “We cannot get to him, can we?”
“No. All we can do is hope the incantations I have given my son work and the spell he is under begins to shatter,” responds Yǔmáo dropping to his knees. “I know he will make it.”
✫✫✫
Yūrei Samurai awakens to find himself upon a raised bed covered with a thick quilt. The room, that is being softly lit by the early evening light, is highly decorated and there appears to be a soft, sweet sent in the air. He gets out of bed and takes a look out of the window to discover it over looks a garden that appears to be locked in summer. The Eternal knows he is in some magical place and begins to wonder if he can portal out, when he starts to hear the sound of a woman singing.
The Great Warrior moves across the room and presses himself against the wall and waits for the door to open. Then he grabs the girl pulling her inside. “Who are you?”
The lady is dressed in a flowing lavender Hanfu with all of hair pined up with various pins, some have cascading flowers others are decorated with jewels. “This is no way to teat a woman,” she speaks with the same soft voice he heard within his mind.
The Masked Warrior looks into her eyes and when he sees them reflect silvery green he knows what he is dealing with. “Siren, who are you woking for?”
“You are mistaken, my lord, I am no Siren.”
Yūrei emits a deep chuckle and questions, “Why did you bring me here, woman? I suggest you start answering my questions before I unleash my army to kill you.”
The lady pats him on the chest and tells him, “I brought you here to be safe, my lord. Fate will not find you here.”
“Hmm, how can you be so sure?”
“Well, this palace is protected, the only way in is with that bracelet you are wearing. And since you have the last one, we are all alone here.”
When she starts to reach for the Masked Warrior’s groin he grabs her wrist and pushes her hand away. “I am not that kind of man who makes love to any woman he encounters. I would never make love to the likes of you, Siren. Release me or die. The choice is yours.”
The lady’s kind expression turns angry, she pulls her hand free and rubs her aching wrist. “I have you now! You will become my pet.”
“I think that should be the other way around. You will soon regret capturing me, woman. I am going to count to five, if you do not realise me, you will become my pray. One, two—”
“My lord, please be reasonable,” begs the lady, taking another step back as the Eternal continues to count black mist begins to surround him.
The Great Warrior releases an evil laugh and as he breathes out he speaks, “Five.”
The army of minions appear and Ja sa commons to attack making the woman scream and run away.
“All you have to do, Siren, is release me, and I will spear your life,” offers Yūrei as he follows her in a clam casual manner.
The woman runs into a room and uses a cupboard to barricade the door. But this does not stop the army of strange creatures finding another way in and start to call for their master who comes smashing through the thin wooden wall.
“Now I have you cornered. Da sa la,” he cries pointing his hand at the Siren.
Ja sa gins and gets some of his army to climb up the woman’s legs making her fall over and the rest pile on top of her and they all point their weapons at her pretty face.
“Who are you?” she asks in with a frightened voice.
“I am worst nightmare,” answers the Great Warrior leaning down to her. He grabs her by the chin. “They will rip you apart if you do not release me. Or they will call their master who is something far greater than I.”
When the Siren sees his eyes reflect silvery blue in the light she becomes more afraid. “No, you are him… Yūrei Samurai.” She watches his thin lips form in to a sinister smile that matches the creatures that have her pinned down.
“I have to ask, how do you know my name?”
“I was warned about you because you are no ordinary Eternal.”
The king tightens his grip upon her chin. “Who warned you?”
The lady is reluctant to tell him she throws out his right hand and portal opens. “There, I give you freedom.”
“How do I know that is not another trap that gives me to your master?”
“I swear that will take you back to the Lost Tower.”
“Sim ma,” orders the Masked Warrior and his minions all get off the lady as he recalls them, so he can drag her to her feet. “You are coming with me.”
“No!” The Siren screams. “I cannot leave this place… he will come for me.”
Yūrei pays no attention to her plea and drags her through the portal to find she was telling the truth. He grabs her by both arms and grins. “Told you, you would become my pet.”
“No, he will not let you keep me… he is coming.”
A soft rumbling begins to come from below to form all around the tower, then a black portal opens and a huge hand emerges to grab the Siren. “She is mine!” The deep boobing voice makes the entire tower shake and the Great Warrior covers his ears.
“Who are you? What do you want with me?” he asks and waits for a response still with his hands over his ears.
“It is not I who is after you… Yīnyǐng límíng (Shadow dawn).”
“Why is this Yīnyǐng límíng after me?”
“I do not have the answers, Ink Summoner. King of palace you came from may know. He asked me to trap Siren there many moons ago.”
“Follow the leaves that shimmer golden red in the light, that is the message I was meant to give to you,” informs the woman before she is pulled inside the portal and it closes.
The Great Warrior folds his arms and mutters, “Golden red leaves? I think I have seen them in the Golden Forest. Or is that merely a coincidence? Another thing there would be no leaves blowing around now in winter.” His thoughts turn to his husband and he opens a portal.
“There you are, Ink Summoner.”
“Mù, I am sorry, I bet the family have been searching for me,” responds the Masked Warrior rubbing the side of his neck.
“Well, you did disappear, the moment you stood on that incantation behind you. It took you somewhere where Death could not reach you.”
“I could not stop myself from following the voice and ended up in a palace with a Siren.” He steps through to be taken up by the Gate Guardian. “Mù, has anyone mentioned to you seeing golden red leaves, that lead them somewhere?”
“Not that I recall. I say put it to your family as someone might have the answer.”
“You are right, old friend. All right, please take me to them.”
“With pleasure, Ink Summoner,” answers Mù and carries him across his domain to drop him off on Tower Island. “You will find them in the third tower.”
Yūrei jumps from the Gate Guardian’s hand and bows to him. “Thanks, old friend.”
“Always happy to help.”
The Great Warrior trots over to the tower and before he can even get through the door Einar is leaping into his arms. They kiss, then the Westerner slaps him on the arm. “How dare you disappear like that and frightening poor Chūnfēng half to death. We have all been very worried about you.”
“I will explain.”
“You better, son,” calls Raven from the landing.
Einar is practically pulling the Masked Warrior up the stairs and on into the room with the painted walls. The family listen to the Ink Summoner and Yǔmáo informs him, “You did well to escape, to many of us have fell victim to that Siren. We have no idea why the King of that palace turned on his own people. Some say he is not an Eternal and going by what you have told us it does appear that way.”
“There is only one way to find out and that is to follow the golden red leaves. Have any of you seen anything like that?” The Great Warrior watches his family all begin to think and he is hoping they all tell him no.
“Yes,” responds Raven, “they were blowing around Moon Tower the day after you left, son. They went in to the forest and vanished.”
“I too have seen some strange sparkly leaves,” informs Jīngyì taking hold of his husband’s hand. “It was the day before I thought I had lost you forever.”
“I might as well say they have also appeared here on Tower Island,” says Einar and points his hand at the window. “They always blow from west to east and Ryūjin has informed me they travel across the sea before disappearing.”
“When did they appear?” Zhìhuì enquires whilst giving his son a hug. “Was it light, dark, dusk?”
All three of them answer at the same time, “Twilight.”
The Dreamer walks over to gaze out of the window to see the very leaves Einar was telling them about moving against the breeze around the towers. “How long have been appearing here?”
This makes everyone take a look and the Westerner tells them, “Oh, they are back. Then again we have to repeat two centuries.”
“Or could it be because I have triaged something when I dragged the Siren from the palace, her keeper did warn me it was not him who was after me.” Yūrei watches the leaves dance around in the air. Suddenly he is opening the window and calls, “Nin ta min sa.” The leaves come to a stop and the Masked Warrior holds out his left hand. “Le, le.”
Raven grips his son’s shoulder. “Mèngjiàn, what are you doing?”
The leaves fly over to the Great Warrior and hover around his hand. “I thought as much it is a Forest Pixie.” The tiny creature seated upon his palm rises and points its tiny hand towards the window. “Jin ka mu min ta? Why do you want me to follow?” The Pixie smiles and just keeps point its hands at the window. “I guess I have no choice.”
This makes everyone grab hold of him and shake their heads.
“They are right to stop you,” comes a voice they all know.
“Chaos, does this belong to the thing that lurks in the shadows?” Yūrei questions holding the Forest Pixie out.
The higher god shakes his head and points his hand at the painting above the door. “The lost king, is that creature’s master. Ke ma de yin sa.” The pixie hisses at him and flies away. “I take that as a no, it would not tell us where its master is.”
Einar walks over to him and asks, “You are behind all of this, aren’t you?”
Chaos stats to chuckle and shakes his head. “I so wish I was, Soul Drinker. I came to inform you, Ink Summoner, Fate has revealed his master, the thing that lurks in the shadows, is Yīnyǐng límíng who is a higher god than I. He is the god of shadows and mischief. Why he is after Mèngjiàn is a bit strange… Fate claims it is because you took advantage of his son who is in your realm disguised as a woman, she bares a mark upon her neck as a warning of who she belongs to. Have you touched her again?”
“No, I swear I did not have my way with her. I saw she bared an Eternal mark. I swear all we did was kiss. I would say that was only after she made the move and touched me below.”
“Wait, she offered herself to you?”
“Yes, for I never take advantage of either sex.”
“My husband speaks the truth, Chaos, and I am getting tired of you gods not believing him.”
“Einar, you are wrong, I and Death do believe and trust him. It is the girl who lies and tells her father that you were like a wild beast.”
Raven moves his son behind him and questions, “Where is this girl?”
“You will find her at Bunny Magic, Father, under the name Tsuki. You will see she matches the girl mother saw in his vision.”
Zhìhuì quickly stops his friend from opening a portal. “No, the weather will have you on your knees. I will go.”
Yǔmáo steps forward and offers, “I will come with you.”
“Ooh, you are sweet, when a Dreamer does not need a bodyguard,” answers Zhìhuì and disappears through a portal.
The ice cold wind makes the Soul Drinkers cough and Raven manages to call, “Mèng, take your father, and stop your mother.”
Chūnfēng hands the Black Katana to its master. “Be careful.”
Yūrei nods and gives his husband a reassuring pat on the shoulder before he follows his real father through the portal.
✫✫✫
Inside Bunny Magic Madam Matsui is trying her best to calm the Dreamer who is demanding to speak to the girl named Tsuki. The owner is pleased to see Yūrei enter and begs, “Please calm him, he is frighting the customers.”
“Mother, please control yourself.”
Zhìhuì takes a deep breath and points a hand at the owner. “Find the girl before I make you suffer nightmares for a week.”
Madam Matsui explains, “The girls have gone to—ah, here she comes.”
Yǔmáo and the Great Warrior rush over to protect the woman from an angry Dreamer.
“Mother, stop, you could make matters worse.”
“No, it is nothing we do which makes her father come after us. It is her lies she tells him. She has already lied to you, son, that mark upon her neck was put there by her father and the coins are what he gave her. She fed you a load of lies, didn’t you.”
The lady shakes her head. “No, I spoke the truth.”
Zhìhuì folds his arms and explains, “Child, I am a Dreamer and my eyes allow me to see your aura and I can tell by the colour you are lying. So, I suggest you start speaking the truth. Is Yīnyǐng límíng your master?”
Tsuki shakes her head. “I am no ones servant.”
“Then explain that mark,” demands Yǔmáo pocking the lady’s neck.
“That is the mark I received after I allowed a man to have fun with me and who paid me handsomely. I have told Yūrei all of this and he believed me, didn’t you, Yūrei?”
The Masked Warrior turns to face her. “I was just being polite and listening to your story. The reason I left was because I had a gut feeling I should not play with you and now I know why. You are the daughter of the thing that lurks in the shadows, Yīnyǐng límíng who is after me because of you. What exactly do you clam to your father what I did to you?”
The lady’s hair begins to turn dark red and her skin grows scaly. Her brown eyes grow darker and her chin sports a long black beard. “Fine, I am Yīnyǐng límíng’s son Léibào and I was sent to lead Yūrei to my father before he reaches the Lost King, who will entrap you.”
“What? It is Lost King who entraps me and not your father?”
“Yes. I was meant to let you have as much fun with me as you wanted so you craved me… well my sent, that way you will no longer be pulled in by the Siren or those pretty leaves. Which you must never follow; they led you to his Whisper who will take you in to an entrapment from which you can never escape? I am sure like the rest of us you do not want to repeat another century do you?”
The king shakes his head. “Mother, is he telling the truth?”
Zhìhuì’s eyes narrow and he answers, “Everything apart from the sex was the truth. I will just take it as a sign your horny.”
“Mother!”
“What? It is only natural when such handsome masked man is in front of him. And you know how sexy you are.”
The Masked Warrior sighs, “Mother.”
Yǔmáo giggles and adjusts his mask. “What should we do with him?”
“We cannot hold him for he is the son of Yīnyǐng límíng, he will be able to slip out of—” the Dreamer’s voice trails off and he stares at Léibào making him twitch with worry. “That is what you are doing, taking my son into the shadows to hide from the Lost King. And the helmet I see is when your father knocks it from the Lost King’s head. The question is, how long can you both keep hiding my son be the Lost King catches up with him?”
“Just long enough to escape him, but not his Shadow, that colossal creature will find him no matter what… unless…”
“Unless what?” Yūrei asks watching the child of shadows take a small turn.
“We need get you to him… the Night Dragon who witnessed a Whisper battle, only he can help you stand against the Lost King.”
The Great Warrior feels inside the belt of his Hakama and vanishes.
Yǔmáo sighs and expresses, “I am so sorry I gave him that ability.”
Zhìhuì emits a soft laugh and pats him on the hand. “You will get use to it. At least this time we know where he has gone. I for one am not following him to that cold place.” Then he turns to Léibào and points a hand at him. “You listen to me, you child of Shadow, try to win my boy over and you will never awaken. Understood?”
“Yes, I promise I will not do it again.”
The Dreamer gives him a long stare before he opens a portal back to Tower Island.
✫✫✫
Yūrei Samurai is back on the island where he first met Huīchén, however, this time there is no sign of him within the ruin castle. He starts to call for him and before he knows the Night Dragon is rising out of the sea and emits a raw, his eyes reflecting white in the moonlight.
“Ink Summoner, why do you awaken me?” He asks resting his chin upon a nearby rock.
The Masked Warrior tells him of his predicament and watches the golden eye look at him. “Lost King? I have no idea why they think I can hide you from this person,” he says sometime later with a sigh. “Yet, I feel Léibào is right I can somehow help you. The problem is I am too full to think and I need to…”
The Night Dragon begins to snore and the king quietly walks back to the ruin. What to do, remain or go? The next thing he hears is a splash and the Dragon’s nostrils appear in the doorway. “Yes, I can hide you on an island that only a Sea God can enter. I should warn you it is quite far away. It will take us two days to reach it… no that is no good, this Lost King could get you whilst we travel.”
“It was a good idea,” says Yūrei stroking the nose making the nostrils and whiskers twitch. “I am sure you will come up with something.”
“You have too much faith in me… wait, this Lost King has a Whisper then I need to give you to someone who has that ability. Léiyǔ the one who defend this castle, is the man we need. Hop on my neck and I’ll take you to him.”
ns 15.158.61.54da2
