Page 45 of Caught in the Devil’s Hand

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Two days before her next appointment with Vallen, Shumei was scrubbing the small bit of cheap wooden flooring at the back of her home. Oka was outside hitting their sleeping mats with his wooden sword to chase the dust away. She had done well to keep up with the medicine field and had earned a day at home, though half of it had been spent cleaning. She and Oka were almost finished, though, and she would be able to have her bath and spend the rest of the afternoon playing with her brother.

With her thoughts turning to Vallen as usual, she wrung out the cloth in a fresh bowl of water, already half-finished with the floor. She had always hungered for the pleasure he brought her, but lately, she was growing increasingly restless to be in his arms again.

She found herself wishing impossible things—that he was just another villager whom she could meet publicly—and a few things she was afraid to admit even to herself, such as whether she wanted to take him up on his offer to run away with him. Yesterday morning, she had even contemplated calling out for him even though it wasn’t their usual day to meet. She had become addicted to him. Not a good sign.

“Shumei,” Oka called, frantic. Pulling out of her distracted thoughts, she turned to the reed door just as someone pushed it aside to walk in.

“Akiji, you’re not allowed in my home without permission,” she said, sighing like a mother with a troublesome child. He smirked, eyeing her as if she were his to ogle.

“What a thing to say to your future husband,” he chided, staring overly long at her breasts.

“I. Am. Not. Marrying. You. How much longer must I say no? Doesn’t it hurt you?” She didn’t know what she was doing wrong. Nothing she said seemed to deter him.

“That you worry about my feelings shows you care, my love,” he cooed. She tensed. Something in the way he held himself frightened her. His expression and his voice were mild, but he stood restlessly, limbs subtly twitching as if he were barely keeping himself under control. Her magic swelled in reaction to her fear.

Oka rushed inside, sat next to her, and wrapped his arms around her waist. “She doesn’t want you here.”

“Do not fret, young master,” Akiji said with condescension. “I merely bring news this day. A warning.” She felt a tickle at the back of her neck. “It seems last night, the miller’s daughter went missing.” The tickle turned into a drop of cold fear running down her spine, and she knew her face showed it.

“The rumor is a sex demon stole her away to feed off her until she perishes, the poor girl,” he said, crossing his arms as he stared intently at Shumei.

She had to physically stop herself from surging to her feet in shock, but allowed herself a gasp of surprise. Having no reaction to such dire news would be damning.

Had Vallen abducted the young woman? He couldn’t have. Wouldn’t have. Was he being framed? That had to be it. So who had found out about their affair? And if that wasn’t the source of the rumor, was another sex demon in the area? She thought of Rosuke, but then her mind pivoted yet again.

The miller’s daughter. She and Majo had been together, and the witch liked to experiment. Majo had the Devil’s Hand. She was the only one to whom Shumei had spoken about sex demons.

Majo had done something terrible.

“What will the elders do?” she asked with real dread in her voice. She clutched Oka close, trying to act the tremulous and naïve maiden, but she wasn’t sure if she had fooled Akiji or not. His face gave away nothing.

“They and Leader Kimen are organizing a search party.” He perused her hut as he spoke. “We hope to find the girl before the sun sets.”

“We?”

“Yes, I am going with the search party. I’m young and fast,” he said, slapping his athletic legs for emphasis. “All others will stay in the fields today.”

“Then why have you come to me? Daylight is wasting.” She was glad there was a reason for him to be gone the rest of the day, but she worried for the miller’s daughter. The young woman was innocent. She couldn’t have known whom she was dealing with when she’d decided to take Majo as a lover.

“I’m here because I love you, Shumei,” he said, eyebrows crinkled with hurt, as if he were astonished to have to explain himself. “I wished to warn you of this demon’s presence. If it ever touched you…” He gulped, eyes closing. He breathed in deep but was shaking. “I would go completely mad,” he whispered. She wondered whether he hadn’t already passed that barrier.

“I shall stay alert. Please go,” she said. Oka trembled.

Just as quickly as it had come, the anger drained from Akiji like water from a pierced skin. He relaxed, hands hanging limply at his sides. When he opened his eyes again, he was calm and composed.

“Yes, I should go,” he said, backing up. “That demon must have a daytime resting place. If we find it, we’ll destroy it. I’ll protect you.” She remained silent, hoping he would leave on his own. She didn’t know if what she chose to say would hurry or delay him. “Stay safe, my love,” he professed, one hand raised toward her. Then he was gone. The door swayed from its two flimsy hinges, but it wasn’t the only thing still reeling.

She needed to warn Vallen. Perhaps he already knew the village was aware of him—or at least, someone like him—and he could certainly take care of himself, but if warning him helped at all, she would do it.

“What’s wrong?” Oka whispered, tilting his head up to look at her. “You’re pale. What are you not telling me?”

Even if she had managed to fool Akiji into thinking the presence of a sex demon was news to her, she wasn’t so sure about Oka. She hadn’t told him what kind of demon Vallen was, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t suspect the truth.

“Please finish cleaning. I’ll be back in an hour.” She sounded calm but couldn’t smooth the worry from her face as she disengaged from the tight circle of her brother’s arms.

“Where are you going?” he asked, still clinging to her sleeve. “Isn’t it dangerous right now?”