the ghostly Master of Demons, floating over us like a wraith.
“Well.” Genno tilted his head as he observed us, still smiling. “This seems to be the last of you. I don’t suppose any of you will tell me where the final piece of the scroll is?” He raised both hands in an almost generous motion. “Your daitengu has already gifted us with one part. I will make your deaths quick and honorable if you save me the time.”
My insides churned. I could feel the weight of the scroll beneath my robes, heavy and agonizing. The demons and yokai surrounding us drew closer, bloodlust shining from their eyes, blades and teeth bared. Okame, Daisuke and the last few tengu didn’t move, though I saw the warriors stiffen. A heartbeat of silence, and then Tsume, the young tengu with the feather-like mane of hair, stepped forward.
“No,” I whispered, as another memory floated before my vision, overlaying the scene in front of me. Denga, proud and defiant, facing Yaburama, proclaiming that they would never bow to evil, right before the oni crushed him and the amanjaku swarmed into the hall. The beginning of the end. And I couldn’t do anything to save them.
“Master of Demons.” Unaware of my horror, Tsume brandished his sword, as Genno gazed down at him in amusement. “Unholy abomination!” he spat. “Your name is a curse, a blight on the land. We will never bow to you. We will never give up the scroll. I will die before I allow you to possess the power of the Dragon!”
He spread his wings and lunged through the air at the Master of Demons, sword raised high.
Genno just smiled.
Before Tsume could reach his target, two spiked chains shot up from the pair of female yokai on the ground. Lightning fast, they wrapped around the tengu like snakes, circling his body and tangling his wings. The warrior faltered in the air, straining furiously against the chains, his wings unable to hold him up. He started to plummet, but before he hit the ground, the yokai twins yanked their weapons back, and Tsume’s body exploded in a cloud of feathers and blood. He hit the ground in pieces, his head rolling back to gape at us, as the mob of demons and yokai howled with excitement.
My hands flew to my mouth to keep from screaming, and to keep my stomach from surging up my throat. It was happening again, just like before.
“If that is your wish,” Genno said, and the yokai sisters stepped forward, grinning. “Then we will certainly grant you a painful, honorable death.”
The deadly chains shot forward again, this time toward Daisuke and Okame. As I gave a cry of terror, one wrapped around the ronin and pinned his arms to his sides as it cut into his skin. Okame let out a startled curse, his spear falling from his grip, as the scorpion girl yanked the chain taut, bringing him to his knees. The other, stabbing toward Daisuke, was struck aside by the noble’s sword. Instantly, the yokai girl yanked the chain back and sent it at him again, and once more, Daisuke’s sword flashed, knocking it aside. But this time the weapon coiled around and came at him from behind, wrapping him in its barbed links. Daisuke managed to grab the chain with his free hand before it could coil around his neck, but his sword arm, bound to his side, was rendered helpless. Grinning, the yokai’s shoulders tightened as they prepared to yank back and eviscerate their victims.
“Stop!”
Foxfire exploded, surging up in a blue-white blaze, engulfing my whole body. Most of the army flinched, cringing back from the brightness, and the scorpion twins froze, their eyes wide as they fixed on me. I ignored them, my gaze seeking the Master of Demons as I raised the last piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers over my head with one arm, a burning torch held in the other.
Genno’s eyes widened and he held up a hand, stopping his yokai army from lunging forward. They obeyed, though I could feel the bloodlust radiating from the crowd and knew that only Genno’s will kept them from surging forward to devour me. My hands shook; I could feel the ancient roll of parchment in my fingers, brittle and dry, but forced my voice not to tremble. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” I asked, holding the flames of the torch only a few inches from the bottom of the scroll. “Call