Screams that could gnaw on the bones of the living jolt Mimi from an uneasy slumber. Waving her hand, Mimi blocks the sound from the two still sleeping children she is sandwiched between. Blearily looking at the two beds she had conjured, especially for them, Mimi stares at the two children cuddled around her like little puppies. The screams latch on to her spine like a ghostly demon dog, terrified Mimi carefully extricates herself from her sisters. She tucks them into the blankets and peeks out the door. Could it be that the corridor is longer than before? It is so dark. Double-checking the protection spells on her rooms, Mimi ventures down the corridor in search of the screams. After many turns, Mimi is led to a large set of double doors.

"You can all rot in hell! I am just going to kill myself!"

There is a brief scuffle, and Mimi hesitates with her hand on the doorframe. The sound of something made from glass breaks.

She jumps back as the door is violently pushed open, and a woman she dimly recognizes as her own mother, dark as a wraith, stands there with wild eyes, "You have your own opinions."

With those words, Mimi finds herself stepping back awkwardly down the hall. The heavily pregnant woman charges down the opposite hallway. Her bare feet not making a sound. Not knowing whether to chase after her or not, Mimi steps into the shadows. Narrowly avoiding Lord Shen leaving the room, chasing after his wife into the night.

The screams had been so loud. Why hadn't the entire family gathered? Perhaps Ying? Mimi hesitates when she catches the scent of a cloying perfume. Following it carefully, Mimi comes to another set of double doors. These doors were starting to remind Mimi of gaping maws. Not thinking clearly, Mimi knocks frantically on Ying's door. There is no answer. Thinking persistence would be her ally Mimi continues knocking for nearly five minutes until the door opens slowly into a dark mass of shadows. These shadows were strange, Mimi realizes. It is like watching floating inkblots. Mimi lets out a small eeping noise as a shadow grabs her around the waist and pulls her in.

"What do you want?"

Looking around, Mimi realizes very quickly she is within a fox spirit illusion. Hanging from her sister's pet shadow, Mimi stares around her in awe. The night sky revolves around her slowly as if at a loss of choosing what constellations to wear this night. Mimi could easily see the full moon rising over the desert sand. As she watches, the moon bulges and erupts into dozens of brilliant fireworks before shifting into a crescent. Slightly nauseated Mimi shakes her head and fixates on the Escher Ancient Egyptian palace floating along what she assumes to be the Nile River. Torches brightly lit the walls, refracting kaleidoscope patterns along the very strange looking hieroglyphics engraved in the stone with red paint. Or was it paint? The shadow did not release her as she hovers near Ying. Ying sat at a lush boudoir staring into a mirror beneath a dozen marble pillars, combing her long black hair.

"What do you want?" Ying repeats, making eye contact with Mimi through the mirror.

"Didn't you hear the screams?!"

Ying stares at Mimi heavily. Her emerald eyes are nearly black against the ever-changing night sky behind her.

"The Shen Clan is well known for its screams," Ying says after some time, the twelve foxtails around her feet droop lifelessly on the marble floor.

Taking a wet cloth, Ying begins systematically wiping the heavy white makeup from her face.

"But it's our mother! She said she wants to commit suicide!" Mimi could not understand why Ying did not show any signs of recognition.

Ying waves her hand at Mimi's loud interjection, and Mimi suddenly finds herself hovering over half a dozen hungry-looking crocodiles. She couldn't break loose.

"You can't kill me!" Mimi growls, struggling against the shadows.

At this, Ying finally stands, her long black hair streams down her back and onto the floor like a dress train. Without her makeup, Ying resembles more of their mother, but colder, like mercury.

"You think I don't hear her screams?" Ying whispers as the shadows clench around Mimi tighter.

"You think I don't hear her words every time I look in a mirror?" Ying wasn't looking at her anymore and seemed to be contemplating the crocodiles snapping at Mimi's feet.

"What about Dumplin and Chen?! Why can't you do anything for them? What about your siblings?!"

This makes the mercurial kitsune pause for a moment, "I . . . have done what I can, with what I can."

Mimi tries to speak again, but a shadow wraps around her lips, gagging her mouth.

"You say I cannot kill you," Ying strokes the snout of a crocodile, "This is true. But oh, my precious sister," Mimi felt a true shiver of fear rush down her spine as Ying rose like a hooded cobra, "I can drive you as mad as I feel."

With that, Mimi is cast into the shadows and thrown from the room. Gritting her teeth, Mimi hits the wall as Ying's bedroom door slams shut. The force of Ying's strength thrums painfully through her body as Mimi tries to stand.

Limping towards the door, Mimi pounds on it in sudden fury, "You're a coward! You're a fucking coward, Ying!"

There is no answer. Nor did Mimi expect one. Unnerved by all she had seen, Mimi retraces her steps. It is easy to lose her steps in the dark. One corridor led to another and then another. Frustrated, Mimi summons a ball of foxfire and nearly bumps into Yuanjun. Mimi covers her mouth to stifle her scream. Her brother's head tilted to the side at a sickening angle. His skin nearly appears to bubble with signs of maggots.

"Why. Are. You. Here?"

Mimi opens and closes her mouth, but no words appear. She couldn't look away from the glazed emerald eyes.

"I . . . I heard the screams," Mimi whimpers, backing away from her brother.

"Mom. Is. Ill," black ooze dribbles from his lips, "I. Can. Do. Nothing. You. Can. Do. Nothing. Mom. Sad. Inside."

The strange automaton struggles to lift its arm before a snapping sound fills the air and his arm once again hangs limply at his side. Were those tears? Mimi hesitantly moves closer. Flies were crawling from his eyes. Vomit struggles up Mimi's throat, but she pushes it down.

"Why won't Ying help?" Mimi has no idea why she has said this. The question having burst from her mouth at the sight of the flies.

"Mad. Mad. At. Self. Mad. Inside. Yin- . . ." an unearthly moan leaves his throat as he tries to say her name.

Bending at the waist, Yuanjun vomits on to the floor. The ooze gyrates with worms and black ooze. He whispers a word over and over. Backed up against the wall, Mimi can only stare in horror as his voice gets louder.

"Kill. Kill. Kill."

Before she can run, Yuanjun somehow grips her right wrist. Not willing to risk him cutting the ribbon, Mimi stands perfectly still. Summoning whatever will power he has left, Yuanjun pulls himself up. Mimi finally screams as his arms wrap around her. The smell of his corpse rips through her nostrils.

"Me. Kill."

Mimi struggles not to breathe in the corpse's breath.

"Kill. Me."

The two siblings stand in silence. The puzzle pieces clicking into place.

"I'm sorry," Mimi sobs, realizing exactly what her brother wants.

Fighting the urge to run or vomit, Mimi wraps her arms around Yuanjun, returning the hug. A long sigh echoes from inside Yuanjun.

"Please. Kill," he struggles to get the words out, his voice almost a sob.

"Okay," Mimi whispers.

"Woods," Yuanjun says quietly.

Nodding her head, Mimi pulls her brother into the shadows. She has taken him deep into the woods. With lumbering steps, Yuanjun moves his entire body to the side to look at the moon. Stopping in a grove, he falls face-first to the ground.

"Yuanjun?" Mimi stumbles after him and rolls him over.

He grabs on to her wrist, "Tect. Cubs."

Not understanding, Mimi shakes her head.

Yuanjun struggles against his collapsed esophagus, "Cubs. Tect. Pr."

Mimi puts her hand over his, trying to offer comfort. He finally shouts, "Protect."

"You want me to protect Chen and Dandan," Mimi cries, not caring anymore if flies landed on her.

His head does an awkward nod as his strength is nearly spent.

"I will do everything in my power," Mimi promises, holding his hand tightly in her own.

"Don't. Tell. Cubs," he whispers as more flies trickle down from his eyes.

"No. They should know that despite everything that their big brother wanted to keep them safe," Mimi growls.

A gurgling sound could be heard from Yuanjun's throat, "I. Scare. Cubs. Tried. Help. Scared."

Mimi pats his hand, "Yeah, but they won't anymore. I will make them understand."

"Neck," Yuanjun bends his neck to reveal two leather bands.

Mimi carefully pulls the leather bands out to reveal two necklaces. One held a pendant with a C and the other a D. The letters were engraved with strong protection spells. Mimi felt the power resonate through her fingertips.

"Love. Cubs. Could. Not. Give. To. Cubs," with glazed eyes, Yuanjun watches Mimi cut the necklaces from him.

"I will give it to them," Mimi sobs.

Yuanjun lifts a heavy hand to wipe her tears away.

"Don't. Cry. You. Still. Live."

Mimi dutifully wipes away her tears, "Are you ready?"

"Tilt. Face. To. Moon."

Tenderly, Mimi lifts Yuanjun's head to face the moon. The moonlight shone on his face.

"Thank. You. You."

His eyeballs struggle to fixate on her. He raises a warped hand to caress her cheek, "Love. Cub."

"Kill. Now."

"I wish we had more time," Mimi whispers before bringing her claws down upon his neck, neatly severing the head from his body.

Blood spatters her face, but she doesn't care. Not knowing what else to do, Mimi burns his body, ensuring his soul could sleep at long last. Gathering all his ashes into a little satchel, Mimi folds it into her sleeve. He would still be a fixture in his sister's lives if she had anything to do with it.