Night over the Demon Realm was filled with the scent of incense or some such thing. Guards roamed through the palace, their eyes keen and their weapons at the ready. The tension of the king's recent admonishment still lingered.
In the darkness, a black figure crawled across the palace walls. Su Shu's breaths were short and fast. She slid like a whisper, her gaze never leaving the throne room. It was now or never — the king was by himself.
But the guards were vigilant.
"Who goes there?" barked one of them, as eyes followed her shadow.
Before she could back away, they leaped. Su Shu clenched her teeth, her hand sliding discreetly to her waist dagger. The first guard thrust a spear at her. She had ducked, rolled and slashed his leg. He fell to the ground with a howl.
Another guard slashed at her with a sword. She writhed onto her side, over felt the blade skim her arm. Her sleeve dripped with blood. She brought her dagger up in an arc across the guard's face. He fell back, stunned.
But there were too many.
Su Shu strained for breath as another dozen guards flooded into the corridor, their yelling ricocheting around them. Her eyes were blurred and blood now flowed freely down her arm. She had to escape.
Zooming, she stumbled down a black corridor, holding her side. A guard's footfalls sounded nearby. She looked around, eyes flicking. There — a door slightly ajar.
Without a thought, she went through it. It was dim inside the room, with a chill in the air. Su Shu leaned her back against the wall, with shallow breath. The guard's shadow darkened the door, lingering a beat before he moved on.
She sighed with relief and started to turn and leave — and then froze.
Across the room, golden eyes stared back at her. Lei Yǔlín stood there, dark metal mask's edge caught by the slivery moonlight. His face seemed unreadable, but his eyes were cold, unblinking.
Time stopped for a moment. The blood on Su Shu's arm dripped, and it made sound on the floor in the silence.