Reflection (Disney Twisted Tales) - Elizabeth Lim Page 0,53

another hidden door. Shadowy light flared in her eyes.

“Here we are,” Ren announced. “The ninety-seventh level, mostly occupied by the Hall of Echoing Forests.”

It didn’t look like a hall. Mulan was beginning to learn that Diyu’s structure was different from anything in the real world. Here, mountains could float on clouds, and rivers could course through the sky. Everything here existed to suit King Yama’s whims.

A soft hum buzzed from the trees, and every few beats, the leaves rustled in an erratic rhythm. The sky was dimmer here, and shadows danced across the forest canopy. The trees were withered and shriveled, with branches that looked like bones and leaves shaped like teeth. But aside from that, the forest wasn’t so different from the bamboo grove where Mulan and ShiShi had first arrived.

“How do we get to the hundredth level from here?”

“Follow the moonlight.” Ren pointed at the beam of silvery light across the trees. “Didn’t King Yama tell you that?”

Mulan gazed up. “He didn’t tell me anything.”

“It won’t be easy finding the gateway to the next level, but if you follow the light it’ll at least bring you to the right vicinity. If you can find the gate latches shaped like King Yama’s face, they should lead you to another stairway. Just be careful of demons.”

Fa Mei frowned. “Aren’t you forgetting to warn them about the Caul—”

“No,” Ren interrupted. He cleared his throat and fumbled with his sleeves, his poise disappearing for an instant. “No,” he repeated. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’m afraid this is as far as we can take you.”

“What didn’t you warn us about?” Mulan said.

Ren laughed, a little too loudly for Mulan’s liking. “Mei was just being paranoid. The Chamber of Boiling Despair used to be on your path—”

“Some call it the Cauldron,” inserted Mei.

“—but Diyu’s chambers and levels move constantly, and you shouldn’t have any trouble with it.”

“Shouldn’t?” Shang echoed.

“I wouldn’t send my own blood into the Cauldron,” Ren assured them hastily. “After all, it is such a joy for me to see one of my descendants alive and well.”

Mulan thought she heard Liwei or Mei snort, but maybe she’d just imagined it. When she glanced at them, they both avoided her gaze.

“Watch the moon and you’ll be fine,” Ren promised. “You’re so close to the top already. You’ll certainly make it.”

The moon was north of them, still half-bright and half devoured by darkness. No change in their timing. That was good.

“I guess we should be on our way.” Eager to resume their journey, Mulan started to bow to each of her ancestors.

“Not so fast,” said Mei. She sat on a tree stump, elegantly adjusting her shimmering silk skirts so they didn’t touch the dirt. “Ping, you said you’d update us on family news.”

Mulan swallowed. Right. “There isn’t much to report,” she said lamely. “The family’s all doing great.”

Mei threw her hands up in the air. “That isn’t an update. I want to hear why you’re here. The other ghosts say there’s no mention of you at all in King Yama’s book. That means you don’t even exist.”

“We don’t have time for stories,” ShiShi interjected gruffly. His attention was on something within the trees. “We’re on a tight schedule.”

“She didn’t ask you, lion,” said Liwei.

Mei reached into her pocket and took out another steamed egg cake, this one topped with a dark red date. “How about a treat for the loyal guardian?”

ShiShi’s fur bristled, and his tail became stiff and straight. “Absolutely not. I won’t be fooled into accepting food from you.”

“Fine, your loss.” Mei took a bite. “Mmm. So delicious. I always thought guardians had a weakness for sweets.”

“Or spirits.” Liwei snickered. “Where do you think all those gourds of rice wine go when you leave them for your ancestors at the altar?”

ShiShi scoffed and returned his attention to the forest. He still looked preoccupied by something in the trees. Mulan looked over, and all she caught was a flash of red fur. It disappeared behind the brambles before she could make out what it was.

ShiShi crouched, tail whirling behind him. “On second thought,” he said, his anger suddenly gone, “I suppose I can give the family reunion a few minutes.”

“ShiShi?”

“You stay with Ping, Li Shang.” ShiShi strode off into the woods. “Don’t wait for me. I’ll find you.”

Mulan raised a hand after him. “Wait, where are you—”

“He probably saw a fox,” said Ren. “They run rampant in this area.”

“What a peculiar beast.” Mei stuffed the rest of the egg cake ShiShi had