Spin the Dawn(86)

I shielded my eyes, and Sendo took the dagger from me.

“What was that?” he said, looking impressed. “You said something.”

I shrugged. “Some nonsense word. I guess it unlocks the scabbard.”

Sendo admired the blade by the candlelight, studying its two different sides. The metal side gleamed, while the stone edge glowed, so brightly the glare made my brother shield his eyes. “I’ve never seen a double-edged blade like this. Did someone give this to you?”

The question took me aback. “I…I don’t know.”

“Don’t let Keton see it,” he said, sheathing the dagger and putting it on the table beside him. “He won’t give it back.”

Suddenly, the sky darkened. Only minutes ago, the sun had bathed Baba’s shop, but now night fell upon us. Thick clouds drifted above, obscuring the moon, but I could see it was full and bright, as if it held a net of stars and they were about to explode into the sky.

“You aren’t going to leave us, are you?” Sendo said.

“Leave?” I repeated. “Where am I going?”

“Your memory is terrible today, Maia. The emperor invited you to become his tailor. You’re supposed to decide tonight. That’s why Mama is cooking for you. She doesn’t want you to go. Neither do I.”

“The emperor?” I repeated, blinking. “And the stars…”

What was I forgetting?

“Maia?” Sendo’s lips twisted into a scowl I’d never seen him wear before. His voice grew thick, slightly impatient. “Maia, are you listening to me?”

Sendo was never impatient. “What’s wrong?”

“You need to decide. Are you staying or are you going?”

“I don’t want to leave the family—”

“Then don’t,” Sendo said sharply. “Stay here.”

I stared at the ground, then lifted my head. Someone had told me to get rid of that bad habit. Who was it—Keton? Why would Keton say that to me? He never talked to me unless it was for a prank. But I remembered his voice. He’d sounded so sad…so grown-up.

“You look unhappy,” Sendo said, opening his arms to me. “Come here, sister.”

I started to reach out. “Wait.” I frowned. “I’m not supposed to touch you.”

Sendo laughed. It wasn’t his usual, carefree laugh. I heard an edge of irritation in it. “What?”

I tried hard to remember. I think there’s something I’m supposed to—

A gust of wind stroked my hair. I looked outside and saw a black bird with white-tipped wings. A hawk.

Something sharp stirred in me. “Edan.”

“What did you say?”

“Edan,” I whispered again. What did that mean? Why couldn’t I remember?

Sendo took slow steps toward me. He’d taken the dagger and pointed it at me. “Little sister, you’re acting strangely.”

Shadows danced along the walls. The sun had disappeared, but now so had the moon and the stars.

“Sendo…,” I said. “It’s dark.” My voice sounded small. “I’m going now.”

My brother moved to block the door. “You’re not going anywhere.”

His lute vanished, along with the window and the bed and the little bamboo stool by his dresser. As if they’d never been there.

Then his eyes sank into his skull, flaring red. In the dark, they glowed like rubies. Red as blood.

I held back a scream. “You’re not Sendo!”

“No,” he rasped. My brother’s skin withered before me, and his hair grew long and wild. Gray fur coated his skin, and his eyelids folded back, pupils constricting into tiny beads, like a wolf’s. His robe became white as bone, and a black amulet—with a crack in the middle—hung from his neck.

Around me, the walls of the bedroom flickered out of focus, then vanished, nothing more than hallucinations. I was outside, on the ramparts of the Thief’s Tower. I’d been outside the entire time.

“You’re a ghost,” I whispered. Grief welled up in me. Grief for my family, for Sendo, for the dream of everyone being happy together ripped suddenly away.

The shock scorched my insides, but my breath was cold.

“Those other creatures were ghosts,” said Sendo, dropping Edan’s dagger. He didn’t need it, not with his claws. They were curved, with razor-sharp tips that could flay my skin to ribbons. “I am something else entirely.”





CHAPTER THIRTY


I reeled away from the demon who’d taken Sendo’s form, staggering back until I hit the parapet. The stone grated against my elbows, and I looked down. Below was Lake Paduan, its waters thrashing violently. A terrible fall, but I might survive it if I didn’t hit the rocks.

The demon laughed. “Little Maia, lost and alone. Did you think your family was all together again?” He sneered. “Foolish girl. You fell for it so easily. The others usually fight harder.”

I bit my lip, choking back a sob. I’d wanted so badly for my family to be whole, and he’d used that against me. “How do you know so much about me?”

“I know everything, Maia,” rasped the demon. “You want to be the best tailor in the land. You want to be loved by your enchanter. You want to save what’s left of your family—to see your father happy, and your brother walk again.” His red eyes glittered at me. “Well, you can’t have it all. But you know that already, don’t you? You learned that when your oldest brothers died. All those nights wishing and praying you’d see them again.” He raised a claw. “Allow me to grant that wish.”