I did not want to. Yet numb to everything, I nodded. What else could I do? I could not even blame the vagaries of fate when it was I who had brought this upon us.
As Ping’er and I hurried through the entrance, heading east into the osmanthus forest, I glanced back, one last time. Never had my home seemed more beautiful than in this moment when I was pressing each curve, each stone into my mind. The thousand lanterns illuminated the soil, the silver roof tiles reflected the stars. And on the balcony where I had stared at the world below, there stood a slender figure in white.
My mother’s gaze was not fixed on the Mortal Realm, but on me, her fingers lifted in farewell. Ignoring Ping’er’s urgent tug on my sleeve, I sank to my knees, folding myself over to press my forehead to the soft earth. My lips moved in a silent vow: that I would return, that I would set my mother free. I did not know how, but I would try with everything that was in me. This would not be our end. As I followed Ping’er toward the cloud which would carry us away, pain struck my heart so sharp and clear—it fractured—only kept whole by a slender thread of hope.
2
I inhaled the bracing air, so fresh yet hollow without a trace of spice. As the cloud darted through the sky, I stumbled, grabbing Ping’er’s arm. How eerie the night was without the lanterns’ glow. Only this morning, fear had been a foreign emotion to me, and now I was choked with it. Fortunately, the cloud’s dewy folds did not give way beneath my feet, but was as firm as the ground—if not for the surging wind all around.
It would be a long journey to the Southern Sea—beyond the Celestial Kingdom, past the lush forests of the Phoenix Kingdom. Farther than the Golden Desert even, the vast crescent of barren sand that bordered the feared Demon Realm. How would I ever find my way home? It struck me then, perhaps they did not think I ever would.
A sea of lights glimmered in the distance, drawing me from my bleak thoughts.
“The Celestial Kingdom,” Ping’er whispered.
As a sudden gust sprang up, she glanced over her shoulder, the color draining from her face. I whirled, my gaze probing the night. A large cloud soared toward us, the shadowy forms of six immortals upon it. Their armor gleamed white and gold, although their features were obscured by the dark.
“Soldiers!” Ping’er gasped.
My heart hammered. “Are they searching for us?”
She pulled me behind her. “They wear Celestial armor. They must be here at the empress’s command. Stay down! Hide! I’ll try to outrun them.”
I pressed myself down as flat as I could, burying myself in the cool tendrils of the cloud. Part of me was glad to not see the soldiers, and yet my skin crawled with dread of the unknown. Ping’er’s eyes were closed as a thin stream of light shot from her palm. Until tonight, I had never seen her use magic—perhaps, there had been no need for it before. Our cloud dashed onward, but all too soon slowed again.
Sweat beaded her skin. “I can’t make it go faster; I’m not strong enough. If they catch us . . . they’ll discover who we are.”
“Are they near?” I twisted to peer behind, wishing I had not.
Steel glinted from the soldiers’ hands, drawing ever closer. Soon, they would overtake us. Someone might recognize Ping’er, questions would be asked. I was a clumsy liar, without the practice which welled from need—one stern look from my mother was enough to spill the truth from my tongue. Monstrous visions crowded my mind: of soldiers storming through my home, dragging my mother away in chains. A crackling whip of lightning lashed across her back, splitting her skin as blood spattered the white silk of her robe. I gagged, hot bile rising in my throat.
My nails dug into the flesh of my palm. I could not let them catch us. I could not let my mother and Ping’er be hurt. But weak as I was, there was only one thing I could think of, which might very well be the last thing I ever did.
Gritting my teeth until they ached, I forced the words out. “Ping’er, set me down here.”
She stared at me as though I had lost my mind. “No, this is the Celestial Kingdom! We must reach the Southern Sea. We must—”
My calm shattered. I tugged her arm with a frantic strength, pulling her down. “We can’t outrun them. Once they capture us, they’ll punish us all. I . . . I think we should split up. You must stay on the cloud; I can’t control it. Ping’er, at least this way we have a chance!” What choice did we have? None which might give us both a hope of escaping. Yet, try as I might, I could not stop myself from trembling.