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"I guess you can describe it as special," Mr. Shy allowed. "It's the only play that's specially prepared for ghosts like us, and this year's even more special. Yan Wang is this year's special guest—-"
Mary Priscilla and I turned to look at each other.
Did Mr. Shy just say...Yan Wang?
JUST AS MR. SHY TOLD us, the Chinese Lord of the Underworld was seated alone in the front row, and because he was in my realm this time, it felt a little surreal to see Yan Wang in full vivid color. His military uniform, which I had imagined earlier as something black, was apparently navy blue, and surprisingly enough, this was also the same shade of his long, silky hair, which was currently combed back in a half-ponytail.
The ghostly bodyguard Mary Priscilla and I had approached earlier bowed to Yan Wang before speaking, and a few moments later Yan Wang came to his feet and motioned for us to approach him.
The ghosts around us started whispering as Mary Priscilla and I came forward.
"Uh..." I forgot what I had to say as our gazes collided, and I realized to my shock that Yan Wang's eyes were the same unusual shade of silver as my husband's.
"My soldier says you expressed an urgent need to speak to me."
The words brought me back to my senses, and seeing him glance at Mary Priscilla, I hastily introduced the little girl as my handmaiden before asking if I could speak with him in private.
"This is private enough."
"Um..." Two hundred or so ghosts were seated right behind him, and all of them were gawking at us like I was some fangirl who managed to win a date with her celebrity crush. Maybe our realms had different standards for privacy?
"Everyone here has sworn their allegiance to my name. None of them will dare speak a word about anything they hear."
It was as if Yan Wang had read my mind, and while I did appreciate the words of reassurance...just because someone was loyal to him didn't mean that same person would be loyal to me, you know?
"If it means anything," Yan Wang murmured, "then I give you my word that the one who placed a death curse in your name is not among the ghosts you see here."
I couldn't help fidgeting at how the death god was saying all the right words. Could he really read minds then? I truly did hope so because otherwise—-
Ahem!
Mary Priscilla's deliberately coughing made me wince. Shit. I got distracted again obviously, and I could only wince anew when I saw the impatience in the death god's eyes.
"I do not have much time to waste, woman. Speak now of this urgent need of yours."
"Oh, um, right." I launched into a detailed explanation of my legal predicament, and Yan Wang was frowning by the time I finished telling him about the possible consequences I had to face if I were to lose the case.
"Do you understand what you are asking here?"
"A roundtrip ticket to your realm, hopefully free of charge?" The words were out before I realized what I was saying, and while a part of me was already expecting him to groan just like Mary Priscilla was doing—-
Whoa.
Was I seeing things or did the death god's lips just twitch?
I glanced at Mary Priscilla, and the sour look on her face pretty much confirmed it.
Well, well, well.
The brat often talked shit about my supposedly poor taste in jokes, but she was so obviously wrong if I could make a god like Yan Wang—-
"Do you agree then?"
Shit.
Since I could feel Mary Priscilla's annoyingly judgmental gaze boring through me, I just couldn't make myself admit that I hadn't heard a single word Yan Wang had said. I mean...if I did, then I might as well admit I was easily distracted, and...nope.
A girl's gotta have some pride, you know?
And so I heard myself say, "Yes, I agree."
I heard Mary Priscilla gasp.
Oh shit.
Did I just agree to something I wasn't supposed to then?
I quickly turned to Yan Wang. "Um—-"
But it was too late, with the death god suddenly grabbing my hand and the girl's, and a second later both of us were screaming in pain just as the colors around us slowly started to fade.
Oh...shit.
We're fucked.
Chapter Ten
"So this was what you meant about being in black and white." Mary Priscilla's stunned voice snapped me out of my shock, and I looked down to see the little girl staring at her hands just like I had once done.
I glanced down at my own hand, and it was only then I realized with a start that I had my coin back. Did this mean—-
Mary Priscilla suddenly flew up, and I found myself stumbling a step back when I saw the way she was glaring at me. "What?"
"I can't believe you said yes to this!"
