Smoke and Jewel E-Book

Kate Grove

• Herausgeber: Kate Grove
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

A fugitive ninja. A kind-hearted witch. 16th-century Japan. Traitors don't deserve a happy ending, do they?

Karen has finally found a clue to her cousin Ciara's disappearance. But before she can follow, she's kidnapped and finds herself in a war-torn, 16th-century Japan. The madman that kidnapped her forces Karen to use her magic to enchant weapons in a castle full of half-yokai. To top it off, her magic is restricted. There's no escape… unless she trusts an untrustworthy ninja, Taiki.
Taiki is an excellent spy and assassin. He's also a traitor, as Karen learns.
If he's willing to betray someone as powerful as Katsuo, what would he do to her? Which is worse; trusting a traitor or facing a bleak life as a slave enchanting weapons? To complicate matters further, she's falling for the aloof ninja even as he struggles between saving her life at the peril of his own. If he helps her—and is caught—he risks certain death. Will her heart survive any outcome?

Smoke and Jewel is the second book of the Youkai Treasures series, a fantasy romance set in the sengoku-jidai (16th-century Japan).

Leseprobe

Smoke and Jewel

(Yōkai Treasures book 2)

written by Kate Grove

Smoke and Jewel

Written and published by Kate Grove

Copyright © 2020 Kate Grove

Kate Grove asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work, under the Act LXXVI of 1999 on Copyright.

https://kategrove.net

#yokaitreasures

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or portions thereof, in any electronic or mechanical means, without prior written permission from the author.

Paperback ISBN: 978-615-00-7652-2

E-book ISBN: 978-615-00-7653-9

Hardcover ISBN: 978-615-01-7263-7

Cover design © Lauren Bearzatto of Sly Fox Cover Designs

Editorial work by Red Loop Editing

This book is a work of fiction. People, names, places and events portrayed in it are purely products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, places, or events is entirely coincidental.

Happy reading!

Subscribe to Kate’s newsletter to keep up to date with her upcoming writing projects and receive exclusive cat photos a short story: https://kategrove.net/newsletter-signup

***

Smoke and Jewel

A fugitive ninja. A kind-hearted witch. 16th-century Japan. Traitors don’t deserve a happy ending, do they?

Karen has finally found a clue to her cousin Ciara’s disappearance. But before she can follow, she’s kidnapped and finds herself in a war-torn, 16th-century Japan. The madman that kidnapped her forces Karen to use her magic to enchant weapons in a castle full of half-yokai. To top it off, her magic is restricted. There’s no escape… unless she trusts an untrustworthy ninja, Taiki.

Taiki is an excellent spy and assassin. He’s also a traitor, as Karen learns.

If he’s willing to betray someone as powerful as Katsuo, what would he do to her? Which is worse; trusting a traitor or facing a bleak life as a slave enchanting weapons? To complicate matters further, she’s falling for the aloof ninja even as he struggles between saving her life at the peril of his own. If he helps her—and is caught—he risks certain death. Will her heart survive any outcome?

To Maryse. May you have an enjoyable journey becoming an author.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35: Interlude

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63: Interlude

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Epilogue

Author’s Note

About the Author

Blades and Feathers: Chapter 1

Chapter 1

They’re getting closer. The ninja frowned as he retrieved his dagger from the body of his pursuer. The other two had already been dealt with, and Taiki let out a tired sigh as his sharp gaze swept around. It was nearing dawn, and darkness enveloped his surroundings, making it hard to see.

When he was sure no one else was in the vicinity, he pulled down the mask covering the lower half of his face and breathed in the crispy air. He closed his gray eyes for a moment and dragged a hand through his short, black hair, thinking back to how he ended up in this situation.

Not long after he left his old master, the Kitayama daimyō1, and while he was doing his next job, he encountered a lone shinobi. He didn’t know if it was a spur-of-the-moment or planned action from the other party, but Taiki was almost assassinated.

Three days later, two more ninja2 appeared, and this time, Taiki was sure he was specifically targeted. It seemed his location had been exposed and reached the ears of the elders. It didn’t matter that the warrant for him had been issued fifteen years ago; it was indefeasible.

They still haven’t given up on exterminating me, he concluded as he crouched down to wipe his dagger in the black uniform of his victim. His thoughts turned to the comfortable years spent in Shirotatsu castle. For some reason, his kin had never found him while he worked there. But as soon as he parted with that place and its people, he was already being pursued.

He glanced at the Easter horizon, which was just starting to get brighter. It was time to head back to his master. When Juro had contacted him after all those years, he’d felt conflicted for the first time after his desertion of the hidden village. Truthfully, he owed his life to him.

***

He jumped down from the rooftop as soon as he felt a wave of dizziness. Little Taiki shook his head to get rid of the sensation, but that only made it worse. He careened and plopped down on the dusty road, leaning on his fists. He shivered from cold but could see drops of sweat land on the back of his hands.

Poison, he thought before remembering a prick on his wrist when he had run into that woman near the festival and she had grabbed him briefly. She must be one of them.

Taiki pushed himself to his feet and stumbled as soon as he took a step. He landed on all fours as his breathing became harsh.

“You’re pretty resourceful for a brat,” a man next to him spat.

“Don’t underestimate him,” the woman from before remarked. She sounded nearby, but Taiki had trouble focusing. “All the others previously had died.”

The man huffed.

“Still, doesn’t this make you uneasy?” another man said. Taiki tried to lift his head, but it felt too heavy, and he tumbled forward. He collapsed on his stomach. “I mean, three of us against a skinny little brat?”

Someone nudged his side with the tip of their footwear.

“How despicable indeed,” a new voice agreed.

“Huh?”

“Wha—?”

“Who are—?”

Taiki’s three pursuers exclaimed at once before their voices jumbled together with shouts and screams.

Who is it? The boy silently wondered. He felt a rush of threatening energy prickle his skin as he his consciousness slipped. Are they here to kill me, too?

He didn’t know how much time had passed in the darkness, but suddenly, all his senses came back and he sat up, gasping for air. His brain was in overdrive as he tried to get his bearings.

The futon under his fingertips felt bumpy and rough, but it smelled freshly washed. Taiki looked around the small room. Other than a low table and a dresser in the corner, it was void of furniture. The wooden planks outside the room creaked as someone arrived.

The door slid open before he could come up with a plan, and a man with sharp features and indistinguishable age stood there, looking at him. Taiki gulped and tensed his muscles, ready to fight at any second. The man’s calculating gaze gave him shivers.

“No need to be so wary. I did save you, you know,” he said. His smooth voice seeped into Taiki’s ear and spread out. His body relaxed and he immediately calmed down.

Taiki narrowed his eyes as soon as he realized his unnatural reaction to the stranger’s words. The man’s clothes and weapons indicated he was a samurai, but his appearance was rugged and Taiki felt something off as he observed him.

“I’m not going to ask what a young boy like you did to have those assassins on your heels.”

In Taiki’s opinion, that was even more suspicious. “What do you want?”

“Ah, he speaks.” The man chuckled as he sat a few feet away from Taiki’s futon. “I would be lying if I said a little gratitude wouldn’t be nice.”

“What else?” the boy continued to interrogate him. Then he cleared his throat, and the man held out a gourd for him.

“It’s water. Drink it.”

Taiki eyed the gourd. He had no idea of the mysterious man’s intentions. Eventually, he took the flask and screwed the top off. He smelled the liquid inside, and it didn’t look suspicious. Still, as a ninja, Taiki knew there were undetectable poisons.

He had used them himself on several occasions.

He had to survive.

“Why did you help me?” he asked instead of drinking.

“Well...” The man scratched the back of his head, seemingly embarrassed. This made his short, tousled black hair stand on end, and he looked away for a moment before fixing his ebony gaze on the boy. “You reminded me of myself.”

The gourd slipped out of little Taiki’s hands.

“What—?”

Taiki snatched at the gourd, spilling the water a little.

“A child left alone in this harsh world to fend for themselves. You and I are alike,” the samurai explained.

“I can take care of myself,” he replied, and the man fixed him with a skeptical look. Unawares, Taiki sipped on the water. By the time he realized what he was doing, it was too late. He froze at that, waiting for the aftereffect.

But none came, no matter how long he eyed the flask in his hands.

“As I said, it’s clear water. No need to be so on guard,” the man reminded him before sighing. “Although I can understand your wariness.”

“What do you want in exchange for helping me?” the boy asked, his voice small. Defeated.

The samurai smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Still, it was the first friendly gesture Taiki had had ever since his friend died at the shinobi exam and he fled the village.

“Just a friend.” The samurai reached out to pat Taiki’s head, but the boy recoiled. The man froze before he put his hand back down on his knees. “Call me Juro.”

Chapter 2

On the other hand, Katsuo Kitayama treated Taiki as if he was his own brother and gave him shelter and purpose. He couldn’t comprehend such feelings, but he was grateful to Katsuo. Cue his inner turmoil when he was contacted by Juro after a decade. Just when Taiki was beginning to think the ground had swallowed his old benefactor, he showed up and required his assistance.

It was a difficult decision to make, but if it hadn’t been for Juro, he wouldn’t have survived back then. He wouldn’t have met Katsuo either.

In the end, he betrayed the Kitayama family and returned to his former master’s side. Taiki pushed the disturbing thoughts away and set off. His shape blurred as he sprinted back to the small shrine Juro was recuperating in. Just as the first rays of the sun peeked out in the East, he arrived at the building and quietly made his way inside. Immediately, a nauseating smell assaulted his nose, and he pulled the mask up again. He knew where it came from. Its source was the two bodies in the back of the house, the priest and miko3 who had lived there.

“You’ve returned.”

Taiki knelt before his master.

Juro didn’t seem to mind the smell or the shabby appearance of the shrine. He reclined comfortably on a cushion, sipping sake from a small dish. Black hair framed his face, too short to pull back but too long to keep it tidy. There was no sign of him having been injured by a magic spell and a pistol mere days ago unless Taiki counted his tense expression.

“How many were there?” Juro inquired. Naturally, he knew of the ninja’s pursuers.

“Three.”

“Hmm...” Juro seemed to be contemplating something. His red eyes settled on the shinobi. “Once we return to the castle, you don’t need to worry about them. They won’t be able to get close anyway.”

“I am thankful for your consideration.” Taiki bowed his head.

Juro ignored his words as he continued. “It’s almost time to get the other witch.”

Taiki inclined his head, listening.

“How long would it take to bring the mirror to the castle?” Juro asked.

“At least a day.”

“Hmm...” Juro tapped his chin. “Make sure it gets there before sundown. I’ll follow you in a bit. The solar eclipse is tomorrow.”

“As you wish,” Taiki replied and rose, turning around to leave immediately. It was easy to get used to being ordered around with such coldness. It was just like back when he was a child growing up in the hidden ninja village. He was a tool, a weapon for his owner. The years spent in Shirotatsu castle seemed like a dream, and now that comfort was out of his reach. That time was just a small detour in his life as a shinobi. Taiki silently berated himself for becoming too complacent while serving Katsuo.

“Oh, one more thing,” Juro said, making the ninja stop at the threshold. “I’ll need your cat.”

Taiki turned back with a question in his eyes. Juro smirked.

“You can’t allow your wounded master to go back to his castle on foot, can you?”

For a moment, rage engulfed Taiki, and he wanted to strangle Juro for treating his precious companion as a pack mule. However, he forced himself to calm down. The ninja nodded stiffly, and a small black figure melted out of the shadows in the corner. It hopped up, and Taiki caught the cat in his arms as she climbed to his shoulders and wound her two tails around his neck like a scarf.

“Take Juro-sama to the castle,” Taiki ordered his cat. “I’ll wait for you there.”

The animal meowed and bumped her head against Taiki’s cheek before jumping down and landing gracefully. She stalked over to Juro and sat in front of him, tilting her head to the side. Her ears twitched as the samurai chuckled.

“Good girl.”

Taiki exited the shire, leaving the stench behind. Thank goodness he had left some leeway when informing Juro of the timeline. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to make it by nightfall. As he sprinted off, his figure blurred once again. He had to use his maximum speed because the hidden location of the mirror was quite far. Taiki moved nimbly through forests and circled around villages until he arrived at a tall waterfall. There was a cave hidden behind it, where the mirror had been left for safekeeping.

As he walked closer, he meticulously deactivated the traps he had set. Thankfully, there was no indication of an intruder. His footsteps made no sound in the rocky cave, and he made his way in front of the mirror. Scant light filtered through the waterfall behind him as he stopped in front of the oval-shaped item. It was a bit shorter than him and gave off a silvery shine, probably because of the unusual lighting in the cave.

Taiki looked at himself in the mirror for a moment. He felt as if someone was watching him and turned his head to the side when a shadow moved in the corner of his eye.

But everything was still around him. He furrowed his eyebrows. He had always needed less sleep than the average person, but was he pushing his limits in the last few days? He’d been going on non-stop for three days now. He decided to get some sleep once they arrived at his master’s castle. Until then, he just had to bear with it. Juro wasn’t a person to take others into consideration, and Taiki was currently the only one he could depend on; so of course, he had to do his best.

He pulled a blanket out, and just as he was about to cover the mirror, he noticed his image in it seemed to be a bit delayed. Taiki’s eyes narrowed as he stopped mid-move. He eyed his image in the mirror’s silver surface, waiting to see something that would prove his suspicions, but all was back to normal.

Taiki frowned under his mask and threw the blanket over the mirror. Goosebumps broke out on his arms as he heard a low chuckle.

I really need some sleep. He was convinced it was sleep-deprivation, that his mind was playing tricks on him. The ninja lifted the mirror, which was lighter than one would first expect. It would still slow him down on his way to the castle, but he should be able to make it in time. Taiki set out immediately, putting the strange occurrence regarding the mirror away in the corner of his mind. He had a task to finish.

Chapter 3

Let’s break up.

Karen choked on her orange juice as she read the text message.

“Hey, girl, are you okay?” her best friend asked, gently hitting Karen’s back.

“No,” she managed between coughs. When she finally got over the life-threatening situation, she showed her phone to Brianna.

“That shitty idiot!” her friend exclaimed. Thankfully, the background noise of the cafeteria swallowed her shout. She put down her half-eaten sandwich. “Where is he now?”

“Why?” Karen asked, her green eyes flashing in suspicion. Brianna had never let her down, but she was hot-headed, which often landed her in sticky situations.

“So I can go beat him up!”

“...He’s in class.”

“Even better! When does he get off?”

Karen shook her head helplessly and checked her tentative boyfriend’s schedule.

“In about thirty.”

“Crap, I have a seminar in fifteen,” Brianna replied with a sullen expression. She leaned back, dragging a hand through her dark brown locks.

“It’s okay. I’ll do it.” Karen said.

“What?”

“I’ll talk to him,” she confirmed.

“You? Alone?” Brianna blinked at her as if she didn’t understand.

Karen rolled her eyes.

“No need to be that surprised,” she said. “I can do things on my own, thank you very much.”

Brianna looked at her silently for a moment before returning to her tuna sandwich.

“Okay, but call me later.”

“Yeah. Wish me luck. I’ll need it.”

“I know.”

“...You don’t have to agree.”

“Admit it. You like my honesty,” Brianna grinned at her, and she laughed.

***

Fortunately, Karen didn’t have any more classes that day, so she waited patiently in front of the room where Jason’s lesson was held. They were running a bit late, but she didn’t mind, because she had more time to gather her thoughts. Karen tugged on her short blond hair in nervousness and bit her lip, trying to imagine how the talk would go.

As she tried to compose herself and prepare for the inevitably awkward situation, her gaze wandered around the corridor. Mostly people in their late teenage years or early twenties roamed around, but occasionally, she could see an older student, too.

It took some getting used to after high school that people of all ages attended college, but now she didn’t find it strange. It was fun learning with people from all sorts of backgrounds, with everyone working toward their own goals and focusing on classes that interested them.

Among the many unfamiliar faces, she noticed someone she knew. It was impossible to miss the woman in the red coat. Her red dress peeked out and her red high heels clacked as she made her way among the students.

All the men, students and professors alike, turned their heads as she walked gracefully toward Karen, whose eyes narrowed as the figure of the redhead came closer. She was sure that person didn’t attend this school, but then why would she be on campus? As the woman drew closer, Karen stood, crossing her arms and blocking the other’s path.

“Oh, Karen, what a surprise!” Her red eyes widened comically.

“No, not really. I study here,” Karen replied. “Didn’t know you’re a student here.”

“I’m not.” The redhead flicked her long hair over her shoulder as she said this. She even painted her fingernails in red. She looked incredibly proud and confident.

“So?”

“So what?”

“What are you doing here, Rose? Did you want something from me?” Karen asked, doubtful.

“You could say that.”

“What—?”

“Oh, sweetheart, I’ve missed you!” Rose cut her off as she rushed over to the students piling out of the classroom. Karen gagged before turning her head to look for her boyfriend.

She found him in the arms of Rose.

Karen couldn’t stop her anger as it bubbled to the surface, and the air crackled around her.

“Woah!” One of the students pulled their hand back from the metal knob as if it was on fire. Then he jokingly commented: “Looks like I’m electrifying today.”

His friends laughed along while the static energy swirled around this part of the corridor, unseen. To make her claim, Rose greeted Jason with a deep kiss. Karen’s hand shot out and grabbed the redhead’s shoulder, yanking her back.

“Hey!”

“Don’t ‘hey’ me!” Karen shouted. Half of the students around them snapped their heads in her direction. Karen became self-aware, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable. But she couldn’t stay silent when her boyfriend was getting stolen from right under her nose. She turned to Jason. “What is the meaning of this?”

“As I said, let’s break up,” he replied, snaking an arm around Rose, who was massaging her shoulder. She had a pathetic look on her face. “I’m with her now.”

“When did this happen? Because I doubt it was in the last five minutes.”

“It doesn’t matter. Now, apologize to her.”

“Who? Me?” Karen asked, dumbfounded. She felt the blood drain out of her face. The energies around her settled, but she could feel the magic stirring in her blood, ready to lash out at the pair in front of her any second. “She’s the one that stole you away!”

“I didn’t have to,” Rose quipped, putting a hand on Jason’s chest and gazing up at him with a smitten look.

“What?” Karen had a hard time following the conversation.

“Oh my, you didn’t notice?” Rose gasped in fake concern. “He was already looking for a way to break it off with you. I just happened to help him.”

“Jason?” Karen looked into his eyes, feeling lightheaded. She stumbled back. “Is that true?”

He looked away for a moment with a pained expression before turning back to her. His face was determined, and Karen feared the worst.

“Look, things weren’t working out between us the last couple of weeks.”

“W-what are you talking about?” Karen thought everything was as it should be. She didn’t notice when things started to go wrong. Did he say weeks?

“You’ve always been a little clingy, but I thought it was cute. However, after your cousin disappeared... that was the only thing on your mind, and it felt like you ignored me even when we were together. It felt as if I’m just there to listen to your ramblings,” Jason delivered ruthlessly. He looked uncomfortable but didn’t back down and said what he wanted to say, without regards for Karen’s feelings.

“That’s not true...”

“It’s true,” he insisted. “It’s pretty telling you didn’t notice anything was wrong. You weren’t paying any attention to me.”

Karen gulped, feeling tears gathering in the corner of her eyes. She just wanted someone to comfort her. Was it so bad she thought her boyfriend would be willing to do that?

This is bad. Karen felt tears rolling down her cheeks. She couldn’t stop them. Turning away, she hid her face and grabbed her backpack, running away.

“Karen!” She heard Jason shout but didn’t stop. All she wanted was to escape. If the Earth wanted to swallow her, now would be a good time for that.

Her feet led her to the restrooms, and she barged in. She would hide in one of the stalls until she calmed down.

Chapter 4

“And you know her?” Brianna asked as she sipped her soda through the straw.

“Yeah,” Karen sighed heavily. “I’ve known her since I was a child, and she always, always managed to get under my skin. I don’t know what she has against me. Now this.”

Helplessly, she gestured in the air. They were sitting at a fast food restaurant close to the dormitories where Brianna was staying.

“Do you think she did it on purpose? To specifically get your boyfriend?”

Karen contemplated the question while nibbling on fries. She dipped one into mayonnaise before eating it. Brianna made a face at her friend’s weird habit but didn’t comment on it.

“Rose certainly has it in her to do something like that,” Karen said eventually.

“Maybe she doesn’t like him.”

“Maybe.”

“So what are you gonna do?”

Karen grimaced as she sipped her own drink. She still felt shaken, but at least her tears had stopped. She pulled on her hair in frustration.

“I don’t know.”

Brianna put her drink down and leaned forward, looking into Karen’s eyes with a serious expression.

“Do you want him back?”

Karen opened her mouth to say “of course!” but then closed it without a sound leaving her lips. Did she want him back? Someone who so easily threw her away?

“Dunno...”

“You are an idiot-magnet, you know.”

“I do,” Karen sighed, slumping in her seat. “But what do I do now?”

“Well, you’ll have more time to come to parties with me.”

Karen looked at her strangely. She wasn’t a very outgoing person.

“Or to study for your exams. Seriously, girl, do you even have a hobby?”

“A hobby, huh?” Karen looked away in thought. She liked thinking up new methods to apply her special magic on items, but ever since college started, she barely had any time for that. Then Ciara disappeared and her thoughts were consumed by finding her cousin.

Come to think of it, didn’t Jason say the same? Karen frowned and looked at Brianna.

“What is it?” Her friend was just finishing off her cookie.

“Bria, have I... neglected you the past few weeks?”

Despite what Karen feared, her best friend burst out laughing, almost choking on the cookie.

“What are you talking about?”

“But Jason said—”

“He wasn’t good enough for you,” Brianna cut her off. “And my friendship is not something as trifle as his feelings!”

“Bria...”

“Now, get yourself together and let me help you plot their demise!”

“Uh... that isn’t really necessary...” Karen tried to protest. Bria wrote crime novellas in her free time and sometimes had the wildest and scariest ideas.

“Don’t you dare refuse me.”

Karen sighed, reaching for another fried potato. She had a feeling that it was going to be a long afternoon.

***

She spent the evening talking on the phone with her parents, making plans for next week’s family get-together.

“I wish Ciara could come.”

Karen froze for a moment before asking, “Still no news?”

“No.” Her mother choked and gave the phone to Karen’s father to continue the discussion.

“It’s so suspicious how they found nothing. I can’t help but think it has something to do with magic.”

Karen’s family was a powerful clan of witches, and it went back a few generations. Every now and then, someone married who didn’t have magic into the family, like her father, but it was rare. There were a few rival families, including the one Rose belonged to.

“Maybe. Which reminds me, I’ve run into Rose.”

“Oh, Ruby and Alex’s daughter? I heard she moved there a couple of months ago.”

“Really?” That was new information for Karen. Had she really been so busy that she forgot to keep tabs on her childhood nemesis’s movements? She shook her head. No, I just didn’t care. “Is she studying here?”

“No clue. Ah, your mother is back. See you next week, sweetie. Love you.”

“Love you, Dad. Take care!”

“Dearie?” Karen’s mother, Kelly, asked as she came back. “What’s with Ruby’s daughter?”

“Oh, nothing really. She just showed up and stole my boyfriend.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone. Then Kelly remarked with a conflicted tone, “Well, I’d be lying if I said I’m surprised at her behavior. She always wanted what was yours. But how are you doing?”

“I’ll be okay.”

“Do you want me to—?”

“Thanks Mom, but no need,” Karen smiled. Her mother was ready to cast a binding spell on Rose anytime, but this was something between the two girls. “I can’t let you do that. Anyway, I’m gonna go to bed early. I have some reports due next week before I can head back home. I’ll get an early start tomorrow morning.”

“I understand. Sleep well and call me!”

“Will do! Love you, Mom!”

“Love you, dearie! Oh, and Felix misses you. Come home soon!”

“Mooom, I’ll be there next week! Bye!”

Karen ended the call with a smile, thinking of Felix. He was a beautiful black cat she had rescued a few years ago. Unfortunately, she couldn’t bring him here. For some reason, Ciara had never gotten along with him.

She sighed and put her phone down, looking around the empty apartment. As soon as she was alone, Karen’s thoughts returned to the scene from early afternoon and she was moping. Why do I never learn? Don’t fall for idiots. And if you do, don’t let them break your heart. She went to prepare dinner. I’m an idiot, aren’t I?

She was just finishing her sandwich when she heard a noise from the door. Karen raised an eyebrow and walked over, curious. A slip of paper waited for her in front of the letter opening. She retrieved it and looked at its contents.

Her mind blanked out for a second as she recognized Ciara’s handwriting.

Chapter 5

After her initial shock wore off, Karen lunged for the door to open it, but it was locked.

“Crap!”

She grumbled as she unlocked the door and checked outside. However, the corridor was empty. She hurried over to the staircase, looking down, then up, but found no one.

Strange. Who would leave this? Karen flipped the paper over and examined it from different angles. It was torn out of a pocket calendar of some sort. Ciara’s note with an address and time was written on the day she had disappeared.

Karen’s eyes widened as she realized there might be a lead. The investigation had never found out where the client who had last seen Ciara lived. Karen ran back to the apartment and quickly grabbed her phone to check the address on the map. There was a text message already waiting for her.

Come and find me.

It was from a blocked number. A chill ran down Karen’s spine as she realized how suspicious the timing of the note and the text message was. The paper slightly crumpled in her hand as she made a fist. First, she needed to tell the police—

Static cracked around her phone, making Karen drop it. She looked on, helpless as smoke rose from the device and it died. Her eyes widened as she realized the fire detector might go off any second. She grabbed the nearest pen she could find and quickly made a few gestures in the air. Actually, it was more like drawing in the air.

The smoke puffed out as if it was never there. Karen let out a heavy breath and bent down to retrieve her phone. It was completely fried. She tutted, angry that she had to buy a new one. She pried it open and realized the battery had melted and had damaged the SIM.

“Shit!”

She lost all her contacts.

***

Karen woke up early the next day and prepared to go out. Last night, she had checked the address and made a route. Thankfully, her laptop was still functional. I’d die if it was totaled like my phone, she thought. She tapped her pockets for her public transport pass and the specially enchanted pen that had served her for years before grabbing her keys. Karen felt strange leaving the apartment without her phone, but if her parents could survive without cells for decades, then she figured she could go a day or two without it.

It was a chilly Saturday morning. Everything looked bleak, covered in a gray fog. Karen huddled into her short coat. As she waited for the bus at the stop, she realized she should have put on her winter coat. It was even worse when she got on the bus because the heater was broken.

Great, she thought as she sniffled. If she survived this creepy adventure, she was sure to catch a cold. She ruminated on last night’s events. It was strange how her phone had died just as she was thinking about getting help and informing the police. The note, the text message, and the damaged phone were all connected somehow. She was so invested in it that she was able to ignore the terrible break-up. It might have been on purpose to get her mind off Jason.

Karen wanted to find out who was behind the note and how they managed to have such perfect timing. It didn’t make any sense. Unless...

She sat up straight and leaned forward. She was looking ahead, but her eyes didn’t see the seats in front of her as she recalled last night’s events. She felt like watching a movie clip. Thankfully, she was the only passenger on the bus, so no one saw her weird behavior and vacant gaze.

Unless the magic was timed. But then what was the trigger? She debated on this until they had reached her stop and she got off. Karen didn’t find an answer but realized it wasn’t relevant to her case. And if magic was indeed involved in this case, it was better to scout things out before reporting it.

She got the crumpled note out and looked for the street address. Her eyebrows rose as she glanced around. This area was full of mansions and lovely parks, in the wealthier part of town. No wonder Ciara had tolerated the rudeness of her new student.

Karen had a hunch that that person had a hand in her cousin’s disappearance. They were probably the last one to see her. With that in mind, Karen made her way cautiously to the mansion, which had been Ciara’s goal on that fateful day. Her feet quickly carried her to an orange-bricked mansion standing forebodingly in the middle of the street. It looked old, and ivy covered its side, giving it a charming but abandoned feeling.

Wrought-iron fencing ran around the estate majestically. Karen pouted; it would be hard to snoop with that in place. She walked along the length of the fence and found a tree reaching out to the street, giving adequate cover for her if she were to scale the fence.

Karen glanced between the fence and the tree repeatedly, considering her options. She was debating breaking in somewhere. This wasn’t jaywalking or stealing Ciara’s pudding from the fridge. If she was caught, she might be sent to jail. Unexpectedly, her cousin’s face flashed in her mind as if urging her to action.

The shadows cast by the tree moved closer to the fence, but Karen was too lost in her thoughts to notice. She stepped closer. I just need to get away before I get caught, she concluded. She wanted to help Ciara.

As soon as she made the decision, Karen immediately followed up with actions. She looked around, but no one was in the vicinity. The time for debating was over, and Karen quickly scaled the iron-wrought fence in the cover of the tree’s canopy.

A quiet noise escaped her as she landed on the other side and knelt frozen for a moment. I hope they don’t have guard dogs, Karen thought and could feel sweat forming on her forehead. Crap, I really didn’t think this through, did I?

She rose to a hunched position and hurried to the side of the building. The windows were large and weren’t high up, and they would’ve been perfect to spy on the interior without entering if not for the heavy curtains.

I hate curtains, she decided on the spot and quietly crept around the mansion. She found a backdoor leading to the garden. Karen glanced around but didn’t see any alarm devices set up in the vicinity. Her eyes sparkled as she stepped closer and slowly pushed the handle down. The door was locked, but it didn’t deter her from her goal. It was time to use her special pen made for quicker and better spellcasting. Karen was very proud of this item she had enchanted.

She quickly drew a simple formula in the air above the lock and heard a click. Karen smirked, letting herself in. She waited on the threshold for a moment, listening for any sounds. As she suspected, no alarm went off and there was no movement from inside the mansion either. She let out a breath, and her shoulders relaxed as she soundlessly closed the door.

She found herself in the kitchen and headed toward the other end of the room. Her footsteps resonated loudly in her ears, and she bent down to cast a silencing spell on her feet before continuing to the dim corridor. Soon, she ended up in the foyer, and she had yet to encounter anyone. This was the only place where the curtains were open, letting the sunshine in.

She glanced up at the high ceiling, spying an expensive-looking chandelier. Gulping, she wondered why they didn’t have an alarm in a place like this? What if it was a silent alarm? Sweat broke out on her skin at the thought, and Karen hurriedly looked around. She had to be quick, but the place was so big, where should she head to next? She wasn’t even sure what she was looking for; something, anything that would be related to Ciara.

A shuffling noise drifted down from the upper floor, making Karen prick her ears. When she heard another sound, she hurried up the winding staircase, taking two steps at a time. It was eerily dark on the second floor and she stopped momentarily. Karen looked around, seeing the curtains closed, letting through only a sliver of light in the middle.

Glimmering specks of dust floated in the sunrays, mesmerizing Karen for a moment. She felt as if she had stepped into a Jane Austen novel.

A clear sound made its way to her ears. Then came another. It was just like the sounds a piano made. She tiptoed closer to the ajar door whence it came from and peeked in.

Shadows gathered around her, but she was too engrossed in the mystery in front of her to pay any attention to her immediate surroundings. She couldn’t see the person, only a grand piano. An off-key note resounded in the air, and Karen winced. The figure moved and finally came into view.

She gasped, recognizing the person, and as if somebody had pushed her, she stumbled through the door opening and into the room.

“Finally. I’ve been waiting for you,” the woman said, circling the piano. Karen was speechless for a moment.

“Rose?”

Chapter 6

Karen clearly saw the redhead in front of her, dressed in all red. Rose’s pale complexion made a stark contrast with her clothes and accessories, and she casually flipped her hair over her shoulder as Karen stared at her, dumbfounded.

Why is she here? Did she come with Jason? Karen’s gaze quickly swept over the room, but only the two of them were there. The room itself was sparsely decorated; it had the piano, a dresser, an antique mirror, and some upturned chairs scattered around. Wait, why is she at the address Ciara went to before her disappearance? As soon as Karen thought of this, her guard was up.

An invisible, protective bubble formed around her, and she fingered the pen in her right hand, ready to use it. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Rose’s smirk.

“What are you doing here?”

“Hmph, I could ask you the same thing,” Rose rebuked her.

“This was the last place Ciara went to before she disappeared. I ask again: what are you doing here?”

The smirk on Rose’s face widened, and she threw her head back, laughing with mirth. It reminded Karen of a cartoon villain. She could do nothing but wait until Rose calmed down enough to be able to hold a conversation.

“You think you’re always one step ahead of me,” Rose finally said. “You’re arrogant and act entitled just because you have a little more talent in magic than others.”

“I fail to see how this is related to my cousin.”

“Oh, actually, it’s all because of you.”

“What?” Involuntarily, Karen took a step back. It wasn’t as if she believed Rose’s words, but she didn’t expect them. Plus, she couldn’t fathom what was she thinking, saying that. “What do you mean?”

“She went there in your place. There might’ve been a slight miscommunication involved.” Rose winked. “No worries though. Your time has arrived.”

“Would it kill you if you weren’t speaking in riddles for one fricking second?” Karen sighed and put her hands together as if in a prayer.

Rose grinned and did a quick hand gesture. By the time Karen realized what the redhead was doing, it was already too late. Her hands were bound by shadows, leaving her unable to use her special pen. Still, she didn’t let go of it.

“What? How did you—?”

“Your arrogance will be your downfall,” Rose said as she stalked closer. She stopped just outside of Karen’s invisible wall. “You’d never think someone could outwit you. That’s why you didn’t notice the shadows had attached to you before you put up that shield. Now...”

Rose lifted a finger, and out of Karen’s own shadow, dozens of tentacles rose, attacking the barrier from the inside. Even though Karen focused on maintaining it, the wall soon cracked under the pressure and disintegrated. She fell to her knees, panting heavily.

“What did you do to Ciara?” she asked, glaring at the redhead.

One thing was clear: Rose had a hand in Ciara’s disappearance. Karen didn’t think their rivalry from childhood would get to this point someday. She secretly began murmuring while Rose replied.

“I did nothing to her,” she said with an innocent look on her face. “But how cruel. You’re not even asking me about Jason.”

Karen’s concentration broke at the mention of that name, causing the already gathered magic to escape and ricochet around the room.

“What the hell!” Rose shrieked as she took cover under the piano. She, too, lost focus, allowing Karen to get out of her shadow bindings. As a stray magic streak, which looked like lightning, aimed at her, she rolled away and ended up right next to Rose, huddling under the musical instrument.

“What did you do?” Rose questioned her, grabbing her arm in a painful grip.

“It would’ve been fine if you didn’t break my concentration!” Karen shouted back. The pandemonium outside still hadn’t settled.

Rose’s eyes widened as one streak struck the piano in half. They both scrambled away, running in zigzag.

“Don’t tell me you wanted to use a high-level oral spell!”

“What if I did?”

“Are you”—Rose ducked—“out of your mind? Why would you do that?”

“Well, why would you kidnap Ciara?”

“I didn’t!”

Karen opened her mouth to argue, but a searing pain resonated in her body, its center in the middle of her back. She let out a small scream and collapsed to her knees. It took all her effort to stay conscious, but her vision blurred, and she could see blackness in the corner of her eyes.

“Karen!” Rose yelled, grabbing her shoulders. “Get up! It doesn’t seem to be dissipating anytime soon!”

Karen felt that if she opened her mouth, she’d scream, so she opted to grit her teeth. The pain was becoming unbearable. Maybe it would be good to let go and fall into the soft darkness that awaited her. She wasn’t sure what would happen after that, but surely it would be better than this suffering? Her eyelids drooped.

“Hey!” Rose shook her, and for a moment, Karen’s mind cleared from the pain. She lifted one leg.

“Can you get up? I’ll help.”

Rose put Karen’s arm around her shoulders and lifted her. Karen used the momentum to her advantage, and for a second, they stood on their own feet. Then Karen stumbled forward.

“There’s no other way if we want to survive this. Stupid idiot,” Rose muttered as she marched on, half-dragging Karen toward the mirror. Its frame seemed to glow with an eerie light.

“What—?” Karen choked on her words as she was jolted by Rose’s movements, and the pain became worse. She whimpered pathetically.

“Trust me.”

Are you freaking kidding me? Karen thought angrily. She couldn’t afford to speak in her condition. It took all her effort just to stay awake and wobble forward.

“You wanted to meet Ciara. Now you can,” Rose told her as she jumped into the mirror, hauling Karen with her.

Karen felt herself floating for a moment, and she sighed, relieved. Finally, she could rest in the soft darkness.

***

Taiki was startled as two figures flew out of the mirror, crashing into the stone floor of the dungeon. One was red, and the other had different variety of colors. It took a moment for him to realize that he was looking at two human beings; two women, to be specific.

“Ah, damn. Freaking lunatic,” the red one spat as she got to her feet with awkward movements. She was checking herself for injuries.

“Eh, Rose, what a surprise!” Juro spoke up on the right of Taiki. “I didn’t expect you.”

“Well, neither did I.”

In the pause that ensued, Taiki glanced down at the other figure lying on her stomach. She didn’t move or make any sound. He observed carefully until he could see the slight rise and fall of her back, which was scorched.

“What happened?” Juro pressed.

“Damn it.” Rose found a slight injury on her arm before turning to Juro. “I met her when you instructed, and we got into a fight. Then the idiot lost control of her magic and it almost fried us.”

“I see...” Juro looked at the unmoving woman, contemplating.

Rose grumbled in the background about how expensive everything was in the mansion and how in the world would the room be fixed.

“I really liked that piano,” she sighed, cradling her injured arm.

“Is she dead?” Juro’s voice was conversational, but Taiki could feel the hair on his arms stand. He was sure Rose could feel the unvoiced threat in the air, too.

“No,” the red witch replied as she glanced at the other woman. “But she needs help.”

Juro gestured to Taiki.

“Keep her alive,” he commanded then walked over to Rose and they left the room together.

Splendid. Taiki couldn’t wait toplay nurse. He suppressed a sigh and bent down to check the woman for injuries. The biggest wound was on her back, but other than that, small cuts and burn marks appeared at seemingly random places.

He carefully gathered her in his arms and headed to the room he had prepared for her beforehand. He scoffed as he remembered. As soon as they arrived here, Juro demoted him to a maid, then now, a nurse. What will be next? A nursemaid? Taiki idly wondered, feeling a bit irritated.

Sure, he followed his master’s wishes, but was this really the best way to use his skills as a shinobi?

Still, he shouldn’t complain.

Taiki glanced down at the woman in his arms. She had blond hair, which sparkled when the lights from the torches illuminated her. He had never seen such a dazzling color before. He wondered if her eyes were just as unusual as Ciara’s. Were they purple, too?

Twinkles caught his gaze, and as he leaned closer, he noticed the small, metallic rings which rested on the outer part of her ears. He was puzzled at the strange items which couldn’t be called earrings. Lastly, he quickly scanned her body – she was tightly wrapped in an unusual attire. I’ll have to get her a change of clothes later, he noted as he stepped over the threshold to her room.

He lowered her to a futon and made sure she rested on her side. The wound on her back was his priority as he slowly peeled off her upper clothing. He raised his eyebrows in surprise. Just how many more layers does she—Aha!

Finally, he had easy access to most of her back. She had a strange item on, some sort of straps which bound her chest, but as it wasn’t in the way, he left it on. He wasn’t sure how to remove them short of cutting them up.

Taiki grabbed a box from the cupboard, a small basin of cold water, and some clean cloths before settling down behind the young woman. He brushed her short hair aside. His hand hovered over her back and his eyebrows furrowed at the completely unnecessary move. Why did I do that? It was as if my hand moved on its own, he thought, retracting his arm.

“Meow!”

His ears pricked as he heard his companion’s voice. Taiki looked to the side and saw his two-tailed cat gracefully making her way toward him.

“You’re curious, aren’t you?” he asked as he dipped a strip of cloth into the cold water.

He was meticulous and careful in cleaning the woman’s wound. She twitched a few times but didn’t wake. The injury looked as if something had stabbed her, but the edge was burnt. He applied a special salve before covering the wound with a clean cloth. Then he lifted her upper torso and neatly wrapped it so the cover on her back would stay in place. When he was done with the biggest job, he quickly cleaned and applied salve to the woman’s small injuries. Those should heal in a day or two.

Taiki put away the items he had used, bringing the box back to the cupboard. He retrieved a blanket and a bundle of clean clothing. He covered her and dropped the clothes next to the woman’s head before he headed outside. He left the cat inside the room as he firmly closed the door. Mimi would keep guard while he went about his other business.

Chapter 7

Karen groaned as she was suddenly yanked out of the soft and happy feeling by a sharp pain jabbing into her back. She hissed as she rose to her elbow, gritting her teeth at the sensation.

She heard an answering hiss and froze at the sound. Karen blinked open her eyes and cautiously looked around. There was a small black cloud in the other end of the room. She narrowed her eyes, but the image only cleared a little. Crap, where are my eyeglasses? She grumbled as she turned in a circle. The black cloud was probably a small animal, but her priority was to find her glasses.

She spied a cupboard in the corner. Karen stood up to investigate—maybe her precious glasses would be there—and as soon as she did, the blanket covering her upper body slid down. She felt a cool breeze and got goosebumps.

Wait. She froze mid-movement again. Looking down, she saw that she only had her bra covering the upper part of her body. Additionally, a bandage was wrapped around her torso. What in seven hells happened? I remember Rose dragging me away, then... nothing.

Karen looked around for her clothes but only found a bunch of unfamiliar pieces near the bedding. She examined them closely because she still had no idea where her glasses where.

Being the Japan fan she was, she immediately recognized the yukata, which resembled a robe. Grumbling a little bit, she put it on; it only reached down to her knees. Underneath, her jeans-clad legs peeked out.

“Definitely an interesting pairing,” she chuckled at herself. “I’m looking so fab.”

Now that she wasn’t feeling cold, she walked over to the cupboard but found nothing on top of it, so she opened it. It had a box filled with small jars and another change of clothes in it.

That was it.

“Crap.” She felt herself pale at the thought of losing her glasses. She was in an unfamiliar place and couldn’t even see properly!

Something soft brushed against her legs, and she glanced down. Now that the black ball of cloud was closer, she realized it was a cat. Karen immediately crouched down and offered her hand to it.

“Hello, kitty,” she greeted. The cat allowed her to pet it and purred under her fingertips. “What shiny fur you have! You must be loved very much by your human.”

Karen chuckled, and her gaze swept along the length of the small black body. Her hand stopped stroking the cat’s fur for a moment as she noticed something strange.

Two tails?

Surprised, she looked at the cat. It stared straight at her with an unnerving and challenging gaze.

Did it notice my surprise? Why are you looking at me like that, huh, cat? Karen continued petting the kitty. It still looked at her strangely.

“You remind me of Felix when his dinner is late,” Karen smiled as she busied herself with making friends with the cat. “What is your name?”

At that moment, the cat looked to the entrance sharply, and a heartbeat later, the door slid open. A tall man dressed in dark attire stood there. Karen looked at him, stunned, while the cat sprinted to him and rubbed against his leg. The man had spiky black hair, and that was all she could see without her glasses.

I can’t even see his features clearly. It’s all a blur, she whined inside and rubbed her eyes. She tried to look again, narrowing her eyes. Nope, no idea what his face looks like. Maybe I should go to the clinic for a laser treatment. This is such an inconvenience.

He barked at her in a foreign language, and Karen’s eyes widened. The language sounded familiar, but she couldn’t catch any words. She stood and took a deep breath before mustering all her feeble Japanese knowledge and asking, “Are you Japanese?”

He nodded. “Hai4.”

At least she could understand that one. He asked her something, but she could only catch “Japanese language” from that sentence. She made a painful face and shook her head.

“I’m sorry, I can’t understand you,” she told him in English.

He was silent, and Karen was frustrated because she couldn’t see his facial expressions. Even that part of communication was cut off because of her short-sightedness. She sighed and walked as close as she dared, which was just out of his reach. Karen felt self-conscious as she stood there.

He followed her movement with his eyes, never moving from his spot. Now that Karen was closer, she could see his clothes more clearly; they reminded her of a ninja’s attire from a manga she had read years ago. He had cold, gray eyes but gentle features.

She had no idea where she was or how she ended up in this place, but one thing was clear: she was stuck in an unfamiliar room with a dangerous-looking man.

***

Taiki was slightly irritated at the girl’s glare and proximity. Shouldn’t she be more wary of a stranger? If he took one step forward, he could easily snatch her arm. She looked frail but nimble in his eyes. Her hair shined gold, and he was once again mesmerized by its color. But her eyes were different than he had guessed; they were so green they reminded Taiki of the mountain grasslands.

When he put a hand in his breast-pocket, her eyes followed his movement with rapt attention. At least she has some common sense. The thought flashed through Taiki’s mind as he pulled out the spectacles he had found. The girl’s eyes widened as soon as she saw the item. He held it out to her.

“Here.”

She hesitated before cautiously reaching out. She snatched the glasses in the end. For a moment, their fingers brushed, and Taiki felt as if he was shocked; a tingling sensation started from the point where they had touched, and it ran along his spine. The girl winced, probably feeling the same.

Finally, she put on her eyeglasses and took a good look at him. A small smile flashed on her face, but it disappeared so soon that Taiki wasn’t sure it had been there at all.

“Thank you,” she said in Japanese.

Taiki inclined his head in acknowledgment. He noticed her gaze wandered to the top of his head before she looked back into his eyes and said something in English. Taiki could only catch the word “head” but had no idea what she wanted to tell him.

She huffed in annoyance and crossed her arms, pondering something. Then, she pointed to her nose.

“Karen,” she introduced herself. Then she pointed to him and asked something using one word. He could guess her intentions.

“Taiki.”

“Nice to meet you, Taiki.”

The ninja’s eyebrows rose. How is it she sometimes says full sentences in Japanese, then next time, she has no idea what’s happening around her?

“Taiki,” she repeated, drawing closer. Instantly, the ninja tensed and his gaze followed her outstretched hand, aimed at his head. She was cautious and said something in English, but once again, he could only understand the word “head”. What did she want with his head?

When her hand was too close, Taiki snatched the girl’s wrist. His grip was firm but not too tight. He felt like if he squeezed a little bit, he could break it. A wry smile appeared on her lips as she flicked her wrist still in his hand.

Taiki heard a rustle from above, and she said an unfamiliar word in English. He glanced up to see a dry leaf in Karen’s hand.

“In your head,” she said with broken Japanese. Taiki disguised his surprise and let go of her. Still, Karen’s hand hovered between them, gently holding the orange leaf.

She asked something in English again, and Taiki resigned himself to never understanding her. He made a gesture with his hand for her to turn around. Karen questioned him again, but he repeated the motion. She didn’t follow his request and instead backed away, shaking her head.

Chapter 8

Taiki matched her steps, maintaining a constant distance between them. When she stopped, he stopped. When she continued, he followed. He could see on Karen’s face how uneasy she became as more time passed.

“Stop,” she tried again in Japanese. She even put her hand up, as if it was a barrier between them. Unfortunately for her, this only meant she was that much easier to capture for Taiki.

He gently grabbed her wrist and tugged her toward himself, spinning her around. He did it so swiftly that Karen didn’t have time to process what was happening; she only realized her position when she stopped moving and both her wrists were captured in one hand in front of her.

Taiki pushed the yukata from her shoulders.

“No!” she screamed, and the ninja flinched. Such a high note this close must not be good for the ear. He ignored her protests, and no matter how she struggled, his firm grip was relentless. She couldn’t escape him.