reconciliation now, of growing close again? Skybright wasn’t the girl Zhen Ni had grown up with, the one she said she loved as a sister, the one she thought she knew.
What would happen if she told Zhen Ni the truth, if Skybright revealed her serpent form?
It wouldn’t just be the monks, she was certain, who would turn on her.
They went through the usual rituals of preparing for bed. It wasn’t a bath day, and Zhen Ni didn’t ask for it specially. So Skybright undressed her, then washed her mistress’s hands and feet in rose water before wiping her torso and back with a damp cloth. What had been routine for years was awkward this evening, in their strained silence, as Skybright sponged her mistress’s skin, knowing Lan had seen and touched Zhen Ni in a very different way. She then fetched another bowl of scented water so her mistress could wash her face.
After, they sat in front of the vanity and she unwound Zhen Ni’s hair, brushing it over and over until it gleamed in the lantern light. “I won’t tell anyone,” Skybright murmured.
Their eyes met in the bronzed mirror. “I know,” Zhen Ni said. She took the brush from Skybright’s hand and set it on the vanity. “You have a right to be angry. We tell each other everything. It’s just … you haven’t been yourself lately.”
Skybright’s heart constricted with longing to tell her mistress the truth, knowing that she never could. Her secret was as effective as any high wall, separating them, driving them apart. Finally, she said, “You can’t wed a girl, mistress.”
Zhen Ni pulled a face, then pressed her lips together. “You’re right. I can’t. But I need not wed at all.”
Skybright shook her head, feeling worn. Weary.
Zhen Ni turned and caught her wrist. “We can go into town tomorrow to buy ornaments for our hair? Or take a picnic to the creek?”
“We’re in the midst of the Ghost Festival. The abbot has warned us of evil omens and dangers this year. I think it’s safer to stay within the manor—enjoy your time with Lan.” Skybright drew the silk sheet back and arranged the cushions on the bed just as Zhen Ni liked them. “I won’t interrupt you again, mistress.”
Zhen Ni glanced down, but not before Skybright caught the deep flush that spread across both her cheeks. She bade her a peaceful evening and left Zhen Ni standing by the platform bed alone, reminding Skybright of a bride without a groom.
“Skybright.” The whisper was so hushed she thought she imagined it.
She had snuffed the lantern a while ago, but, although she was exhausted, found that she had too much on her mind to fall asleep. Someone whispered her name again, and it was nothing like the murmuring chaos of the ghosts. It sounded like Kai Sen. She quickly pulled her cloth shoes on and slipped into the darkened courtyard. The sweet fragrance of honeysuckle filled the air, and she breathed deep, admiring the scent.
“Skybright?” His hushed inquiry came from the back alley.
She walked down the narrow corridor and peeked around the corner. Kai Sen stood, like a dark phantom, in front of her makeshift ancestor altar. She had replenished it before retiring for the evening, and the sandalwood incense still lingered in the air.
“What’re you doing here?” she whispered.
He was beside her in a few quick strides, sweeping her into his arms in a tight embrace. Her cheek pressed against his chest and she drew in the familiar, comforting scent of him. They stood like that for a few moments before she disentangled herself.
“I didn’t know where you slept. I came hoping that perhaps you’d hear me calling you.” He cupped her cheek in one hand and she felt her entire body warm to his touch. “I thought it unlikely but I had to try … ”
“My bedchamber is just on the other side of this wall.” She tilted her head so she could see his face, but his features were obscured in shadows. “What’s wrong?”
“The
What would happen if she told Zhen Ni the truth, if Skybright revealed her serpent form?
It wouldn’t just be the monks, she was certain, who would turn on her.
They went through the usual rituals of preparing for bed. It wasn’t a bath day, and Zhen Ni didn’t ask for it specially. So Skybright undressed her, then washed her mistress’s hands and feet in rose water before wiping her torso and back with a damp cloth. What had been routine for years was awkward this evening, in their strained silence, as Skybright sponged her mistress’s skin, knowing Lan had seen and touched Zhen Ni in a very different way. She then fetched another bowl of scented water so her mistress could wash her face.
After, they sat in front of the vanity and she unwound Zhen Ni’s hair, brushing it over and over until it gleamed in the lantern light. “I won’t tell anyone,” Skybright murmured.
Their eyes met in the bronzed mirror. “I know,” Zhen Ni said. She took the brush from Skybright’s hand and set it on the vanity. “You have a right to be angry. We tell each other everything. It’s just … you haven’t been yourself lately.”
Skybright’s heart constricted with longing to tell her mistress the truth, knowing that she never could. Her secret was as effective as any high wall, separating them, driving them apart. Finally, she said, “You can’t wed a girl, mistress.”
Zhen Ni pulled a face, then pressed her lips together. “You’re right. I can’t. But I need not wed at all.”
Skybright shook her head, feeling worn. Weary.
Zhen Ni turned and caught her wrist. “We can go into town tomorrow to buy ornaments for our hair? Or take a picnic to the creek?”
“We’re in the midst of the Ghost Festival. The abbot has warned us of evil omens and dangers this year. I think it’s safer to stay within the manor—enjoy your time with Lan.” Skybright drew the silk sheet back and arranged the cushions on the bed just as Zhen Ni liked them. “I won’t interrupt you again, mistress.”
Zhen Ni glanced down, but not before Skybright caught the deep flush that spread across both her cheeks. She bade her a peaceful evening and left Zhen Ni standing by the platform bed alone, reminding Skybright of a bride without a groom.
“Skybright.” The whisper was so hushed she thought she imagined it.
She had snuffed the lantern a while ago, but, although she was exhausted, found that she had too much on her mind to fall asleep. Someone whispered her name again, and it was nothing like the murmuring chaos of the ghosts. It sounded like Kai Sen. She quickly pulled her cloth shoes on and slipped into the darkened courtyard. The sweet fragrance of honeysuckle filled the air, and she breathed deep, admiring the scent.
“Skybright?” His hushed inquiry came from the back alley.
She walked down the narrow corridor and peeked around the corner. Kai Sen stood, like a dark phantom, in front of her makeshift ancestor altar. She had replenished it before retiring for the evening, and the sandalwood incense still lingered in the air.
“What’re you doing here?” she whispered.
He was beside her in a few quick strides, sweeping her into his arms in a tight embrace. Her cheek pressed against his chest and she drew in the familiar, comforting scent of him. They stood like that for a few moments before she disentangled herself.
“I didn’t know where you slept. I came hoping that perhaps you’d hear me calling you.” He cupped her cheek in one hand and she felt her entire body warm to his touch. “I thought it unlikely but I had to try … ”
“My bedchamber is just on the other side of this wall.” She tilted her head so she could see his face, but his features were obscured in shadows. “What’s wrong?”
“The
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