When the last of the ashes have been collected, Mimi checks on the girls. Chen and Dumplin are curled up together in a pile like little puppies fast asleep. Tucking the blankets more firmly around them, Mimi slips into the bathroom. The inky black blood resembles a strange mask on her face as she looks in the mirror. Yuanjun's glazed eyes stare back at her. Looking away from her reflection, Mimi quickly washes off the blood. Already knowing that she will never get Yuanjun's smell out of her nose. Knowing she would never be able to sleep, Mimi double checks her protection barriers before slipping out the window and into the shadows.
The town several miles away from Cloud Recesses is quiet. Mimi fashions a shadowy cloak and pulls it over her head. Mimi had set her sights on a resplendent hotel on the outskirts in her meanderings of the town earlier. The hotel appeared new and had the beginnings of a hedge maze behind it. Thinking this would delight her siblings, Mimi hurries up the stone steps. Pushing the door open, Mimi steps towards the surprised proprietor.
"Good evening, my lord," Mimi bows politely.
"More like early morning," the proprietor returns her bow curiously, "What can I do for you?"
"I am looking for accommodations for my sisters and I. I would like to rent out your entire hotel for at least two months," Mimi watches the man gape at her.
"You . . . are in luck," he says, scrambling to find a guest sheet before she disappears, "Our last couple guests left yesterday."
"How fortuitous," Mimi grins a little smugly, knowing precisely who set the shadowy rats upon the guests.
He sets the guests registry on the desk for her to sign. Mimi does this with a quick flourish; the proprietor does a double-take at her claws but does not say anything.
"Thank you, may I see the rooms, please?" Mimi asks.
The proprietor gives her a quick tour; Mimi finally settles upon a series of interconnected rooms on the second floor, "Can you have these prepared for early this afternoon?"
"Of course," the proprietor leads her once more down to the desk, "Now how will you pay for this?"
Mimi pulls a huge satchel from her cloak and sets it upon the counter. Staring at her in disbelief, the proprietor opens the satchel to reveal hundreds upon hundreds of gold coins.
"This will be enough, I trust?" Mimi grins a little naughtily.
The man opens and closes his mouth several times before bowing before her, "This . . . is more . . . than. . .yes . . . thank you."
Nodding in acquiescence, Mimi smiles, "You can expect my sisters and I this afternoon then."
The man continues to bow to her gratefully. Mimi smiles and lifts the hood over her head, "Please give my best to your wife and children."
This done, Mimi slips silently out the door. The couple who own the beautiful hotel had come upon hard times. Listening to door jambs, Mimi had gleaned that the man's wife is sick. They had poured so much money into the hotel that there was none left over for ailments. They would have more than enough now. Mimi walks into an alley and once again moves into the shadows. She finds herself once again in the forest beside Shen Manor. The trees almost whisper to her as she unearths the red casket, tucking it into her pocket. Hurry, the trees seem to whisper, the fog is lifting, and the world is awakening, hurry. Turning to her last task, Mimi scents the air; she walks until she comes to a stream. A stream flowing uphill. Mimi pulls an empty satchel from her cloak and sets it into the flow. As the water flows up into the bag, the sack became heavier and heavier. When the satchel is full, Mimi caresses the bag with her claws until water spills out from the sides of the bag. As the water returns to its bed, Mimi hears the clinking of coins slide against each other. Patiently wringing every drop of water from the satchel until the canvas is dry, Mimi peeks into the bag. Hundreds upon hundreds of golden coins greet her. Mimi bends her head in thanks to the stream and tucks the bag into her cloak.
Mimi slips unseen into the bedroom. The children still asleep; Mimi settles herself beside them, curling her tails around both girls like a blanket. She smiles a little as Dumplin grabs a fistful of her fur while she sleeps. Mimi closes her eyes but immediately sees the maggots crawling under Yuanjun's helpless skin and Sara's ventilator tubes.
"Kill. Me." Yuanjun had begged; Mimi stares blankly at the ceiling.
How long had he been made to wander these corridors? How long had he had to watch Chen and Dumplin run from him in fear every time he tried to approach them? Mimi grips the necklaces in her hand. Unable to rest, Mimi sits up; dawn is just beginning to beam into the window. They would be leaving today; Mimi thinks with satisfaction.
"Eldest sister?"
Looking down, Mimi realizes that Chen is slowly blinking awake, "It's still early, Chen, sleep some more. We will be leaving in a few hours."
"We are really going?" Chen asks, and Mimi feels her heart shake in sadness; the child had not wholly believed her.
"We are really leaving," Mimi smiles, "While you were asleep, I made arrangements in a town many miles from here. Sleep now. I am going to take care of a few things, but I will be back soon. Just stay in the room. You will be safe here. If you get up and I have not returned, there are some fruits and chicken left in the white boxes."
Chen lays back down, and Mimi waits until her breaths even out. Sure, that her sister is asleep, Mimi silently pads to the door and creeps out. The corridor is empty. Looking for the target of her anger, Mimi creeps down the still dark halls.
"Mother," she whispers into the silence.
A moment passes before a shimmering silver moth appears in the middle of the corridor. It elegantly flutters around her body before floating past her. Leading her down the endless hall. Apprehensive, Mimi follows the moth; it led her around and around. Through twists and turns, Mimi follows the silver moth until finally, it disappears into a door. Taking a deep breath, Mimi enters a bed chamber.
"So, you have finally come to see your mother," a low elegant voice says from a nest of brightly colored pillows.
The chamber is brightly lit with an open window view of the forests surrounding the manor. Locating the voice, Mimi inhales sharply at the sight of her mother, so different than the wraith she had collided with that night. Books litter the ground about the pillows in large stacks. So peaceful, she looks in her delicately coiffed hair. Her hand protectively caressing her stomach. Mimi is not fooled.
"Mother. I wished to pay my respects to you before I go," Mimi politely intones, bowing at the waist.
"Come closer."
Mimi shuffles closer to the elder kitsune, and she feels a prickle of magic tickle her scalp. On instinct, Mimi raises her claws in defense.
"Your hair is so short. It looks better long."
Ignoring the thick hair draping down to her waist, Mimi studies the woman before her, "I must leave now. There is much to prepare."
Half turning, her mother's voice calls her back, "Come, look upon your mother, stay a moment, allow me to show you something."
Gritting her teeth, Mimi turns back to her mother, "As you wish, my lady mother."
"Help me up? My condition prevents much movement these days," her mother raises her ring encrusted fingers for Mimi to take.
Very much doubting this, Mimi dutifully takes her mother's hands and gently brings her to her feet before letting go.
"Such cold eyes, child. You have made your father incredibly happy. Rejoice," her mother does an artful twirl and laughs childishly, her five fox tails brush against Mimi's leg.
Allowing her mother to lead her through a doorway, Mimi is immediately astonished by the never-ending shelves of books. A device near the side of the room also catches her attention.
"This is the pride of our library," her mother brags, seeing her expression, "You merely place one hand on the crystal, and it copies a moment from your mind!"
She drags Mimi over and forces Mimi to put her hand on the red crystal within the machine.
"Think of something happy!" her mother proclaims to the room.
Staring at her mother in disgust, Mimi tries to find a happy memory, but her thoughts mercilessly twirl back to Yuanjun.
The machine whirs, and a tickling noise fills the room before a piece of paper pops out of the machine. Her mother takes the paper with a smile and looks down.
Fuck. Her mother's face contorts with rage and agony as she stares at the image in disbelief.
"What is this?!"
The image is of Yuanjun right before she had killed him. His face is surprisingly peaceful. Knowing the end is near.
"Your son? Yuanjun?" Mimi spits out, barely able to put a lid on her rage.
Her mother shakes her head before knocking the machine off the podium. It bounces to the ground unharmed.
"Lies," her mother hisses as Mimi puts herself between her mother and the machine.
"Why don't you ask Ying then," Mimi hisses, "it is her twin who has been suffering!"
"This cannot be!" her mother shrieks, turning her back on Mimi.
Seizing the opportunity, Mimi shrinks the machine and tucks it in her pocket.
"Your son became a monster, but he still tried and failed to protect Chen and Dandan!" Mimi growls.
"Why would my children need protection!" her mother shouts, "they have me!"
Mimi shakes her head, "You stupid bitch! I saw Yongrui try to put Dandan in a pot! He was going to cook her! Do you understand how very wrong things have become?!"
"Chen and Dumplin are dressed in rags and starving!" Mimi lets her have it, "Have you seen the state of this place?! No child should be brought up here! You are so irresponsible! I have not even seen you in nearly 120 years! Did you think your husband would care for the children?! Well, look at how well he did! Your son begged me to kill him! I held his rotten corpse in my arms as I took his last breath," Mimi chokes back a sob, "Your son begged me repeatedly to kill him! I must live with that for the rest of my days because you did not do it yourself! That you let it happen in the first place!"
Mimi points her golden talons at her mother, the glow of her green foxfire bursting viciously from her hands, "I am taking Chen and Dumplin with me. I will be sister and mother! And I swear on my magic if you try to take them from me, I will curse you. You will have no peace. You will have no rest, no joy or sun will fall upon your head! I will follow you to the deepest pits of hell if need be! My existence be damned. Be sure I will show you the true meaning of suffering—every moment of pain they have experienced at your dull-witted hands. You will experience tenfold!" using her height, Mimi looms over her mother, baring her teeth, all eleven of her tails veiled around her in ethereal fury.
Cringing at her daughter's unexpected threats, Lady Shen grips the photo in her hands.
"I didn't know," her mother cries, tears streaking her face.
"Your children scream in your own halls, and you say you don't know," Mimi spits at her, disgusted.
The Lady Shen gets to her feet and scrambles along the bookshelves until she pulls a thick tome from the shelf and hurls it at Mimi. The book thunders to a standstill at her feet.
"Take it and leave!" Lady Shen screams at her, "Take them and leave!"
Not knowing what it contains, Mimi picks up the book and tucks it under her arm before leaving the room. Power surges through her body in her rage. Finding a window, Mimi watches it shatter without her even touching it; she points her claw, and a golden carriage pulled by four shadow horses emerges into existence. Winded, Mimi staggers against the wall. Fighting her exhaustion, Mimi leaps into a shadow and emerges into her bedroom where Chen and Dumplin were happily eating on the floor.
"Come along, cubs. We are leaving," Mimi smiles, and only Chen seems to notice her tension.
"Are we in trouble? Do we need to run?" Chen's tails are quivering uncontrollably; this leaks to Dumplin, who begins trembling.
"We are fine," Mimi lies, "I am merely done summoning our transportation."
"We are going?" Dumplin says excitedly.
Mimi nods her head, waves her hands, and the food boxes disappear. The packages also disappear.
Gently picking up Dumplin, Mimi holds her hand out to Chen, who hesitates only for a second before taking it. Mimi pulls the children into the shadows, and they appear in the courtyard. Dumplin goggles at the shadow horses in fascination.
"Later, cub," Mimi opens the carriage and places her inside, Chen sensing the urgency in Mimi's tone jumps in after her.
"What are you doing?"
Turning sharply, Mimi stares down her nose at Shun. The eldest son. Not beating around the bush, Mimi growls, and her tails flare up around her threateningly.
"I am leaving," Mimi prowls before the carriage, keeping her eye on the kitsune.
Shun looks at her and looks at the children peeking at him, terrified from the carriage. They glare at each other before something gives in the man's eyes.
He throws her a package, "These are the children's belongings. Take them and fly fast. I will hold them off."
Mimi catches the package and sees a couple of little children's toys and assorted items.
"Why are you doing this?" Mimi growls suspiciously.
"You freed Yuanjun," he says, his eyes dark, "I also wish to see my siblings safe."
"Come with us," Mimi suddenly says, clutching the package to her chest.
Fear takes over his features as a loud booming noise echoes within the house, "I will keep you informed. Now go!"
"I will come for you," Mimi promises as the noises within the house grow louder.
She does not see him nod as she leaps into the carriage, and the horses surge across the ground like spirits of the night.
Handing the children, the package Mimi pokes her head out the window to see Shun going up against the manor. The manor picks itself up off the ground and careens downwards. Mimi touches the roof of the carriage, and the horses surge ahead, going faster and faster. The manor soon disappears, but Mimi does not ease the horses' haste until she reckons they were a hundred miles away.
"Are we safe?" Chen asks, her voice terrified.
Mimi looks back at the kids and smiles, "I think we are safe."
Dumplin, hiding in Mimi's skirts, pokes her head out like a little gopher. Not being able to help herself, Mimi strokes the child's bright red hair.
"Why didn't we use shadow travel?" Chen asks, staring out the window in awe.
"I wanted to make an impression. It looks strange to people when they do not see you coming and going to places. It makes them nervous," Mimi follows her gaze, "Besides, I thought perhaps you and Dumplin would like to see more of the country."
Chen smiles at this and continues watching the world go by, more sedately this time.
"You ran into mother, didn't you," Chen snarks suddenly from across the carriage.
"Why do you say that?" Mimi tries to incrementally relax as Dumplin makes a grab for one of her tails.
The tail meets her halfway, and Dumplin clings to it like a safety blanket.
"Your hair," Chen touches her own hair.
"Oh yeah," Mimi twines the hair around her arm; it easily reaches her waist.
Not wanting to deal with it, Mimi slices her claws across the hair, so it only reaches her shoulders. Chen laughs at her dumbfounded expression when the hair does not cut. Thinking it is some sort of mistake, Mimi once again cuts at her hair, but to no avail.
"Mother's spells are complicated to break," Chen laughs, seemingly entertained at the thought of her sister having finally been outwitted.
Running her hand through her hair in resentment, Mimi experimentally pulls at her scalp. Long strands of her hair could be seen tangled in her claws.
She waves the strands at Chen in triumphant, but Chen is not impressed, "So you would like to be bald?"
Mimi plucks the hairs off her claws and holds the hair out the windows. She materializes a pair of scissors and attempts to cut the hair after some awkward fumbling attempts to keep the scissors in her claws. Once again, it does not work. Pouting, Mimi stares out the window at the mountains.
"I'm glad Yuanjun did not follow us," Chen says, thoughtfully.
Mimi sighs, "Ladies, I need to talk to you about something. Something that I don't think you are going to like."
She looks down at Dumplin, who clutches at her tails with big innocent eyes.
"What is it?" Chen asks, her voice immediately suspicious.
"While you were asleep, I heard someone screaming and went out of the room to look around. I ran into Yuanjun," Mimi felt Dumplin stiffen in her lap, and Chen's eyes grew large.
"This is going to be hard to understand. Especially after everything you have been through," Mimi runs a hand nervously through her hair.
"He wanted me to kill him, and I did," Mimi forces herself to look at Chen and Dumplin.
"Why did he want to die?" Dumplin murmurs, not understanding.
Chen is shaking her head, "But this is good, isn't it? He can't try and hurt us anymore!"
Shaking her head, Mimi looks down at Dumplin, "Sometimes when someone hurts inside. When they cannot get through another day due to certain factors. They may want to die. Usually, these people can be helped with support and love, but Yuanjun had already died. He . . . didn't have a life worth living. His body was falling apart, and he just didn't want to continue anymore. He asked me for help, and I helped him. Your brother was very sad, but he isn't sad anymore. Does that make sense?"
Dumplin thinks about this before slowly nodding.
Mimi looks at Chen, "Before he died, Yuanjun told me not to tell you that he has been trying to protect you for a long time. He didn't want you to be sad or feel guilty. But I think you should know that someone in that house was trying to help you. That he loved you. He just couldn't physically help, and he didn't want to scare you."
Chen's lip trembles, "How do I know this is true?"
Mimi pulls the necklaces from her pockets, "He wanted me to give you these."
She hands Chen the necklace with the hand-carved C pendant, "It's to protect you. You can feel the power radiating from the pendants if you run your fingers over the edges."
"This one is for you," Mimi hands Dumplin the necklace with the D pendant, "Your brother Yuanjun made it for you."
Dumplin stares at the necklace in awe, running her fingers over the pendant. She held the charm tightly in her chubby hands.
"He was always really nice before he came back," Chen says brokenly, "but he was so scary when he came back. I hid from him."
"He understood why you did," Mimi reaches over to pat her hand, "He told me he loves you both very much. He made me swear to protect you both."
Finally, Chen ties the necklace around her neck. She presses her hand against the pendant.
"Can you make mine a bracelet?" Dumplin asks, holding the necklace out to Mimi to take.
Mimi smiles and wraps the leather cord around Dumplin's wrist multiple times before tying it off. Dumplin holds her wrist out to admire it.
"And look, if either one of you wants to talk about this," Mimi offers, "I will listen."