Chapter 67 Rui
Rui
“Wait—” Zizi pulled something out of his pocket. A string with a charm attached. Whispering under his breath, he slipped it
over her head. “I imbued it with a protection spell. It won’t last long, but it’s better than nothing.”
“How about you? Do you have one too?” Rui said, worried. He looked even paler after casting the spell, and she could see a
tremor in his left hand.
“I’m from the underworld, babe,” he said, eyes twinkling, as if that was protection enough.
“Don’t call me babe,” she said, blushing furiously. Why did he think this was a good time to flirt?
Zizi sobered, his focus returning. “I’ll distract the Hybrids, keep them out here so they can’t start whatever mess they’re
here to start. You get Yiran out. Keep to the perimeter. Don’t let them see you.”
She turned to go, but he held her wrist.
“I—” he started.
But Rui pulled away. “We don’t have time. Whatever you want to say, it can wait.”
Looking torn, he nodded and turned from her.
As she crept along the perimeter, she saw him saunter out into the light.
He stood directly in front of the group of Hybrids.
“Good evening, my merry adversaries,” she heard him say. “I come bearing gifts—wit, charm, and your impending doom.”
The night filled with the sound of cracks and angry grunts. The Hybrids were arming themselves, their attention solely on
Zizi.
Leaving him to it, Rui sprinted off.
She had felt a blast of spiritual energy coming from near the big warehouses at the end of the port and headed that way. As she drew closer, the sounds of battle grew louder. Exorcist reinforcements hadn’t arrived. Who could the Hybrids be fighting with?
To her shock, Hybrids were sparring viciously with Hybrids. The melee had spilled out of the warehouse, and violet shards blazed across the air like fireworks against the night sky.
Taking advantage of the infighting, Rui slipped through, avoiding the violet shards flying around. A few stray yinqi bullets
scraped her, but it was nothing serious. The Hybrids were too focused on each other to notice her.
But when she got into the warehouse, she tripped over a young boy. His head was shaved, and tattoos and old scars lined his
bare arms. He was convulsing on the ground.
She stooped to help him without thinking. “Are you okay?”
The boy’s eyes fluttered open. Glazed. Then he snarled and clawed at her.
Rui jumped back, her swords raised.
He’s a Hybrid. You have to kill him.
But he’s a child was her other thought. Why was he caught up in all this?
She wasn’t sure if she would regret it, and she didn’t have time to think it through. She turned away from the boy and ran.
She heard him cry for help, but she knew he would fight her rather than be saved by her.
Navigating by instinct, she made her way through the maze of cargo containers, concentrating on the feel of spiritual energy
in the air. She’d never had a talent for distinguishing the energies of different people, but one stood out to her now. Yiran’s.
It led her to a building connected to the exit. Cautiously, Rui inched forward.
“You can’t beat me in a fight, Celeste,” said a man’s voice. Was that Song Liming?
Celeste replied, “I know, that’s why I’ve prepared a hostage. Give me the talisman, and he goes free.”
Rui’s heart pounded. It sounded like the Hybrids had splintered into opposing factions.
“Give me the talisman, and your son goes free,” Celeste repeated.
Rui didn’t hear a response. Was Song Liming hesitating to save his own son? She heard Yiran crying out in pain, and she ran
in without a second thought.
There was a web of ropes hanging from the ceiling. Yiran was trapped in the middle like an insect, kicking helplessly as yinqi
burned into him. But a faint layer of crimson sparks hovered around him. He was fighting back.
Something whizzed.
Rui spun aside, narrowly avoiding a crimson shard aimed at her face.
Song Liming retracted his arm, sparing her a fleeting, puzzled look before focusing on his Hybrid opponent again.
Green Jacket. She had been there in the tunnels that day. She must’ve been the one who had saved the talisman from destruction, allowing the Hybrids to enact their terrible plans. But
why was she fighting the leader of the Hybrids? Weren’t they on the same side?
Celeste snarled. “I know you, Exorcist!”
Not bothering to reply, Rui tossed a binding talisman, pointing a finger as she shouted an incantation. Crimson ropes shot
out. Celeste dodged, leaping into the air. She grabbed hold of her own web, spinning from cord to cord as Rui shot bolts at
her from her swords. But Celeste was moving too fast, manipulating her web to shield herself.
Yiran swung wildly as Celeste spun, unable to control what was happening to him. In the chaos, an errant bolt from Rui’s sword
struck him.
“Yiran!” she shrieked even though, logically, she knew her magic would not hurt him.
His eyes widened. “Rui—shoot!”
“What?”
“Shoot me!”
Rui’s confusion cleared. Yiran was an Amplifier. Yangqi didn’t just bounce off him. He could absorb her magic if he concentrated. If he stored enough, maybe he could channel
it out and free himself from the Hybrid’s web.
“Lin Ru Yi?” Song Liming spat out, finally recognizing who she was. His murderous intent turned on his own son. “First, a mutiny from
Celeste, now a betrayal from you.”
Rui’s appearance implied that Yiran had been in contact with the Exorcists and he’d been lying to his father. She glanced
between Liming and Celeste, trying to gauge who she had to defend Yiran against.
Celeste was perched on her web above, watching everything with interest. “Aww, guess the family reunion isn’t going your way,
is it, boss?”
Song Liming’s anger was the heat of an inferno. He pointed his saber at Yiran. But he’d seen what had happened when Rui shot
her magic at his son. He would have to get closer to use the metal of his blade.
Rui moved to stop him, but a flash of white and violet darted between them.
“Move and I’ll kill you,” Yuki growled. The tips of his winged weapons were pressing against Song Liming’s neck, hissing softly
against his skin.
But Song Liming did not flinch or cower. His laugh was bitter. “And you too, Yuki?”
Emotion crossed Yuki’s features, but he held firm. He stuck his hand inside Liming’s jacket and pulled something out.
The talisman.
“Good boy, Yuki,” Celeste called out. “Now finish the job, and I’ll finish mine.”
She tugged her web. Yiran grunted painfully as the ropes pulled him to her. They’d sliced through his sleeves, burning his
bare arms. In one swift move, she looped a rope around his neck.
Rui stared hard at Yiran, willing him to notice her. He did. Even as he struggled to breathe and the air filled with the scent of burning flesh, an unspoken understanding passed between them.
“You promised, Cel,” Yuki said, his eyes never leaving Yiran. The talisman shook in his hand. “I help you this time, and Yiran
goes free. We had an agreement.”
Celeste kept her hold on the rope around Yiran’s neck, but she seemed genuinely apologetic. “He’s not one of us, love. He
can’t protect you. Finish your job and come with us. I’ll take care of the girl.” She turned her attention to Rui, lips curling
in a snarl.
Yiran blinked. Now.
Rui surged her magic through both her swords, directing them at him.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement.
Song Liming twisted, letting Yuki’s wings slice his flesh as he drove his saber into Yuki’s stomach. Rotating his blade with
brutal precision, he pulled his weapon back out and kicked the Hybrid away.
Doubled over in pain, Yuki gasped, a hand reaching desperately toward Yiran.
Yiran screamed.
And the world exploded in crimson.