by Erin Johnson
“Maybe that meansss Cat’sss sssafe?” Sam said, beside me.
I wasn’t so sure. From our vantage at the peak of the mountain I could see that the left path of the fork wound around the base of the mountain and led into the forest, back toward the town. The right path went straight into the forest below, deeper into the heart of the island. When Kai reached the fork, he cast one last look back, then dashed down the right path—away from the village. I gasped again, pulled magic to me, and reverted back to my normal eyesight. The transition was jarring and my stomach twisted with nausea. I pressed a hand to my middle and gulped. “Sam. He isn’t heading back like he said he was.”
Sam’s milky blue eyes widened behind his thick glasses. “What isss he doing?”
I looked the way Kai had gone, but he’d already disappeared into the trees that grew up the base of the mountain. I shook my head. “I don’t know, but I don’t have a good feeling about it. I think he’s up to something.”
Sam gasped. “Sssomething bad?”
“Yeah, Sam.” I set my jaw. “Something bad.”
I glanced back at the avalanche. “We should tell the others, but I’m afraid we’ll lose him if we don’t go after him now.” I shook my head.
Sam shrugged. “We could follow asss animalsss and track hisss ssscent.”
I frowned. “Won’t we lose it in all this rain?”
My friend shook his head. “No.”
“Oh. Well. Okay, then.” I shrugged. He was the snake, after all; I’d trust his judgment.
We flew back into snake form and made our way through the rock pile. It was faster going this time, as we were able to scent the path we’d taken through and retrace our steps— well, slithers. When we reached the other side and returned to human form, our friends and the guards rushed around us.
“Did you find him?” Maple grimaced. “Is he okay?”
Wiley held her close and waited breathlessly for an answer.
I took a deep breath. “Kai has him.”
“Oh good.” Ben nodded.
I shook my head at the young guard. “Maybe not. Cat seemed unconscious.”
Maple gasped.
“He was hurt?” Jun asked.
I bit my lip. “Kai headed deeper into the forest instead of taking the path back to town.”
Jun and Misaki looked at each other, eyes wide.
“Where could he be going?”
I glanced at Maple. She looked ill with worry.
Misaki shook her head. “The only thing down that path is the ruins of the old magic rock mining town. No one goes there.”
I drew myself up taller.
“Sam and I are going to follow him.”
Hank’s brows pinched together. “Wait for me to figure this ssssspell out. I’ll go with you.”
A forked tongue slithered out from between his lips and I couldn’t help but crack a smile. “You’re still trying?”
“This whole time.” Iggy shuddered. “I’ve seen some things I can never unsee.”
I addressed the group. “Try to find a way through and follow us.”
Jun nodded and looked toward the slope above the path. “The lightning seems to have stopped. We might be able to go over and around, but it’ll take some time.” A muscle in his jaw jumped. “Especially in the dark.”
My eyes darted past him to the setting sun, barely visible through the clouds. I nodded. “Be safe.”
Maple squeezed my hands. “You, too.” She hugged Sam.
Hank stalked up, threw his big arms around me, and pulled me tight against him. He didn’t let go. Even though I couldn’t breathe, I’d never felt more relieved. “I know everything’s not settled between us, but… we’ll get there.” He leaned back and took my cheeks in his hands. He searched my face. “Don’t do anything reckless.”
I scrunched up my nose. “Like breaking into prison? Or running down the side of a volcano? Or—”
He lifted a thick brow. “Yes. Like those.” He leaned his forehead against mine. “Imogen. I love you.”
My stomach fluttered and happiness coursed through me. He was right. We still had a lot of explaining to do, but it felt so good to hear him say those words.
“I love you, too.”
The rain poured over us, but I didn’t care. Hank and I would be okay.
A light touch on the end of my nose startled my eyes open. Hank’s forked tongue disappeared into his mouth as I wiped my nose and grinned. “That tickled.”
A deep pink blushed over his cheeks and throat. “Sorry. I don’t have this down yet.”
I gave him one last smile, then turned with Sam toward the rock pile. “We’ll see you guys soon. Hurry.”
With that, Sam and I changed and slithered our way back through the rocks. On the other side, we paused.
“I think I should change into something faster so we can catch up with him.” Kai had already disappeared into the tree line far below. I lifted a finger. “And I refuse to use the speed spell.”
Sam nodded his agreement. “Bearsss are fassst.”
I lifted my brows. That was a pretty good idea.
Minutes later, I barreled down the mountain as a giant bear with shaggy auburn fur. Sam could have ridden me in human form, but it would’ve slowed us down, so I carried him gingerly between my jaws in snake form.
I galloped toward the tree line, my bear nose wiggling this way and that, smelling the pungent trail of an unshowered Kai, his pack full of sweet-smelling kusuri, and of course, Cat’s ferret-like scent.
I grinned inwardly as I pictured us. Just a bear/human hybrid carrying a snake/human in its mouth, running down a mountain during a hurricane. Nothing to see here, folks.
I pushed on, my clawed paws splashing in the muddy puddles, eager to find Kai and discover what he was up to.
23
Down the Rabbit Hole
Sam and I followed Kai until a clearing came into view ahead. I paused in bear form at the edge of the tree line, Sam still hanging as a snake from my mouth. Kai continued on in front of us, Cat’s hand still dangling from his pack. A broken wooden ramp sloped down into a large hole in the rocky side of a mountain. A rusty mining cart perched on the ramp above the opening.
Kai jogged through the sideways rain and paused at the entrance, which was lit by torches burning on either side. Two tall, burly men dressed in head-to-toe gold stood guard beside the hole in the rock, their wands held at the ready. I squinted. Kai exchanged a few words with the one the left. The guard nodded and stepped aside and Kai disappeared into the hole. We had to follow him, but how would we get past the guards?
I frowned as Sam, still in snake form, wriggled a little in my mouth. Kinda gross. I lowered my shaggy bear head and set him down as gently as I could. The little green snake that was Sam whirled in a twist of magic back to man form. I closed my eyes, pulled from the torrential rain, and opened them again. I wiggled my human fingers in front of my face and arched my back. It felt good to be me again.
“Ssshould we sssneak in?” Sam lifted his brows.
I nodded. “Misaki mentioned this path led to an old mining town—this must be one of the mines.” I shuddered as I imagined entering the cold, spider-infested hole. I felt pretty certain there would be spiders.
“Okay.” Sam pushed his glasses up his nose. “I’ll be a sssnake again. What will you be?”
I shrugged. “I’ll follow suit. Snakes it is, you trendsetter.”
Sam flushed pink.
I squeezed his shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here with me. This would be a lot scarier on my own.”
He dipped his chin and his glasses slid down his nose, but I caught a big smile on his face. “Me, too.”
We magically transformed into snakes and slithered the long way around, sticking to the trees as long as possible. Night had come quickly in the forest, the deep shadows of dusk melting together and eating up all the light.
I’d been grateful for my keen bear sense of smell—I’d have felt blind otherwise.
Now, the darkness provided us extra cover as Sam slithered out of the trees ahead of me. As the guards looked out into the night, we skirted along the edge of the mountain and slid into the old mining shaft behind them. I let go of the breath I’d been holding once we made it past the entrance.
The tunnel went on, deep into the mountain for a ways. I could feel a rhythmic shaking of the ground coming from below us. What could be happening here?
We kept close to the cold, rough walls, which were studded with flaming torches every twenty feet or so. The old mining cart track had been covered with a velvety golden carpet that led straight back and then down, deep into the bowels of the mountain. What was this place?
I stuck out my forked tongue and tasted the air. Smoke from the torches filled the low-ceilinged tunnel, but under that came another scent, a frightening one—the metallic taste of blood. The orange firelight bounced off the walls and ceiling and sparkled off the black and purple crystals embedded here and there in the walls. I started as a drop of water fell from the ceiling and landed in a puddle beside me. Tiny heart racing, I wiggled faster and caught up with Sam. The deeper in we went, the colder it grew.
After descending quite a ways, the tunnel leveled out and Sam and I slithered around a corner. A giant expanse opened before us. The ceiling of the cave loomed high above; the light from the wall torches and bowls of fire scattered about didn’t even reach its height. A cacophony of voices, pounding drums, and guttural animal howls assaulted me, setting my bones rattling. A huge crowd of strange people milled about, some dressed in fine silk and glittering jewelry, while others scuttled about in rags with shifty eyes. Men passed coins back and forth, waiters walked about carrying trays of sparkling drinks, and scantily clad women danced with magical flames. Sam and I exchanged looks. Whatever I’d expected, it wasn’t this.
“Hisss.” Sam jerked his green head to the right and I followed his gaze. Kai, escorted by a guard dressed in gold, dipped through a doorway cut from the rough stone. I nodded at my snake friend and we slithered on, sticking to the wall of the cave. We skirted the party floor and slipped into the doorway Kai had entered. A heavy gold velvet curtain hung over the entrance and slid over my scales as I moved under it.
Beyond the curtain, the entryway continued as a short tunnel, and then a bigger stone room opened beyond. Several men, including Kai, stood around an imposing wooden desk. And behind the desk sat Ryuu Tanaka, the rich councilman. My breath caught and I turned to Sam. Without a word, we melted into the shadows of the tunnel and listened.
Ryuu Tanaka steepled his fingers together, his elbows resting on the polished desk. “Did you get it?”
Kai nodded and swung his pack off his back.
“Gently.” Ryuu Tanaka half rose from his seat. He settled down when Kai lifted Cat out and set the limp little creature on the desk.
24
Ryuu Tanaka
Oh, this was definitely not good. I watched carefully and spotted Cat’s furry little chest rise, then fall. I let out a breath of relief. He was alive.
Ryuu Tanaka’s eyes widened and he lifted an unsteady hand. Slowly, he settled his fingers on Cat’s black fur and stroked his side. “You did as I instructed?”
Kai nodded, his back to Sam and me. “Yeah. It worked like you said. The kusuri was like catnip to it. It just went all lazy like this and I grabbed it when the others weren’t looking. The storm was perfect cover. I just called down some lightning and caused an avalanche that separated me from them.” He gulped. “Then I did like you said and gave it a tranquilizer to keep it knocked out. Just in case.”
My breath caught. Sea snakes! Kai had kidnapped Cat for Ryuu Tanaka and caused that lightning storm. But why? I shook my head. There weren’t any good possibilities.
The older man practically purred at Cat’s lifeless body. “You will be my crowning glory.”
Okay, weirdo.
Ryuu Tanaka looked up, a wild gleam to his black eyes. “Well done.”
Kai looked down and grunted.
Ryuu’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
“Thing is.” Kai rubbed the back of his thick neck. “I think Misaki’s starting to suspect me.”
Ryuu Tanaka grew still. “I thought we agreed you were to deal with her. The lightning didn’t work?”
“No. I missed.” Kai’s words came out in a rush. “I tried before, though, too. I got this kid, Reo, to plant attrahunt in Misaki’s pack. I figured it’d lure a monster to her and bam, she’s dead, no one suspects a thing. The forest’s crawling with monsters.”
I froze. Kai was the one who told Reo to plant the herb?
Ryuu Tanaka leaned back. “Why did you involve this Reo person?”
“I figured, hey, in case someone sees something, they see Reo, not me, right? Plus I thought the kid would do anything for me, to fit in. I thought he might be a good recruit for you, too.”
Ryuu narrowed his eyes. “Do not ever presume to know my business.”
Kai froze. “Yes, sir.”
“Proceed.”
Kai cleared his throat. “It turned out the pack wasn’t Misaki’s. She was snooping in the foreign prince’s, and when the monster attacked—” He shook his head. “It accidentally killed one of the guards. One of my friends. And—and it was Reo’s brother. So then Reo felt guilty and I did everything I could to change his mind, but he wanted to fess up for it, which would’ve thrown suspicion on me, and—”
Ryuu cut him off. “What did you do?”
My heart thrummed in my chest. Kai had tried to kill Misaki, not Hank. And he’d been trying to shut Reo up—that’s why he’d been spending so much time with him, not because he was consoling the poor kid.
“It’s fine.” Kai lifted his hands. “I’m pretty sure everybody bought it. I stabbed Reo with his own sword, made it look like a suicide. Everybody had seen how messed up he was from his brother, I’m sure they bought it.” Kai hunched his shoulders as he waited for the other man’s verdict.
I inched back. Kai had killed in cold blood—twice. I glanced at Sam, who stared back at me with huge eyes.
The councilman glared at Kai. “You’ve made a mess of it all.” He narrowed his dark eyes further. “If you’re so certain everyone ‘bought it,’ then why do you believe Misaki suspects you?”
“Er.” Kai hung his head and scratched the back of his neck. “She, uh, she figured out something was up when she saw the sword you gave me. I told her I’d been working security shifts for you, like you told me to if anyone ever asked questions.” He looked up and his voice came out choked. “I’m going to be kicked out of the guard.”
Ryuu Tanaka shrugged. “Who cares? You’re making five times your salary being a monsterman with me.”
I frowned. Monsterman? That was a profession?
“Besides, here you have fame, glory. In the guard you’re just another nameless grain of rice in the bowl.”
“What will I tell them? When I don’t make it back to town right away?” Kai lifted his thick palms.
Ryuu sniffed. “You’ll say your path was blocked by another avalanche or fallen trees or something, and you had to stay out in the forest for a couple days till the storm let up.”
Kai jerked his chin at Cat, who lay limp on the desktop. “What about it?”
Ryuu’s mouth stretched wide into a cruel grin as he stared down at Maple and Wiley’s beloved pet. “Say you saw it run off into the forest.” He lifted a brow. “It’s a wild animal, after all. It escaped.”
I glared at the man. Maple and Wiley would never buy it. I frowned. Then again, it wouldn’t matter, because everyone else probably would. I gritted my tiny snake teeth. We had to get Cat out of here.
Kai cleared his throat. When he spoke, his voice cracked. “The-there’s one more thing.”
Ryuu’s face darkened. “What?”
Danger hung in that word.
Kai cleared his throat again. “We— I— Misaki needs to be killed.”
Ryuu Tanaka lifted a brow. “I already
planned on it. But why?”
Kai shifted on his feet. Ryuu’s guards, dressed in gold, stayed perfectly still. “She’s uh, she’s relentless about finding Captain Kenta.”
Ryuu Tanaka nodded. “Yes. That’s why I ordered you to take care of her, which you failed at, miserably. But she wanted this little expedition. Perhaps, when she finds nothing, she’ll give up and stop being a problem to us.”
Kai rubbed his buzzed head. “She did find something, though.”
The older man leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh. “I’m growing impatient. Spit it out.”
“That night Kenta caught me, I—I took his necklace.” Kai’s voice grew darker, full of malice. “He loved that stupid thing, paraded it around like, ‘ooh, my family’s so wealthy and powerful.’ How powerful are you now?”
Ryuu Tanaka leaned forward and passed a hand across his mouth. “You idiot. You not only kept it, but Misaki found it?”
Kai tipped his head to the side and grew contrite again. “Well, Jun found it, but—” He paused. “I made something up real quick, but when she thinks about it, she’ll have more questions for me. She won’t drop it, I know her.”
Ryuu scoffed. “Unbelievable.” He shook his head and his lip curled back. “We’ll deal with Misaki later. We can probably just blame her death on the foreigners.”
I sucked in a little breath. Hey!
Ryuu pointed a long finger at Kai. “You’re lucky you’re my top monsterman.”
Was that like a furry fetish thing?
Kai straightened. “Thank you, sir.”
If it was, it was apparently a compliment.
Ryuu shook his head. “Don’t thank me yet.” He leaned forward and the flickering orange light from the torches lit up his eyes with fiery intensity. “Be as brutal as you need, but you’d better make me win tonight.” His hand closed into a fist atop his desk. “I keep you on because you’re my best trainer. But let me down and I’ll find I don’t need you around anymore.”
He stared at Kai, who held very still. Only the sounds of the burning torches and the dull roar from the crowd outside filled the cool, damp air.
