Warrior(The Dragon King Chronicles)(35)

Kira ran a frustrated hand through her short hair. How could she keep the prince safe, knowing they were walking into a trap? How could this be right? As she watched the shaman prepare for their next step, she'd never felt more helpless in her life.





27





"In order for me to keep you both safe during your journey, I must replenish my powers," Shaman Won said. "Here at White-head Mountain, the magical current flows strong and deep. If I allow my spirit to flow in it, I should become revitalized."

"How long will it take?" Kira asked.

"No more than a few hours," he replied. "You will be safe with the dokkaebis."

He climbed up the mountain and disappeared from their sight. While he was gone, Kwan and Jaewon tried to keep Kira and Taejo from going.

"I don't like this at all, little sister," Kwan said. "You will have no weapons, no way to protect yourself or the prince!"

"I agree with your brother," Jaewon said. "This is insane! Don't go."

It was up to Brother Woojin to try and reason with them, for Kira could not refute their arguments. She listened to the dispute but remained quiet, too worried to have the energy to challenge them. If they were to obtain the second Dragon King treasure, they had no choice. Walking away would mean letting the Demon Lord win. And that was not something she could allow.

The shaman returned at sunset.

"It's amazing. Even though I don't have any more earth's milk, my power is strong here. Stronger than it has ever been," Shaman Won said. "Your bodies will be safe. Now you must lie down directly before the fire, feet first. When you feel a pulling sensation in your midriff, don't fight it. Let it pull your spirit from your body."

Kwan turned to the shaman. "You can't send them in there defenseless!"

"They won't be defenseless," the shaman replied. "They will be able to seek help as long as they choose wisely."

"What does that mean?" Kwan's frustration was making him short-tempered. "I'm tired of cryptic messages that say nothing! Just tell me this: can my sister navigate the shadow world, find the jeweled dagger, and return safely?"

"I don't know, but she must try."

Before the argument could start anew, Kira took Gom's club and slammed it on the ground. "Enough already!"

The others observed her with wary concern. Kira gave Gom his weapon, and the little dokkaebi patted her arm while making small whimpering sounds.

"We have to go," Kira said. "If we want to defeat the Demon Lord, we have no choice."

The hissing sound of the Demon Lord's voice whispered through her mind, causing her to shudder. You are coming into the darkness. So close, so close. Soon you will be mine. It didn't matter if his voice was real or part of a madness that was taking over her mind. The fear that always afflicted her at the thought of the Demon Lord nearly overpowered her. How could she do this? How could she go where he was bound to set a trap for her?

Suddenly, it was hard to breathe, her breath coming in short and rapid spurts. Her heart was pounding as if she'd climbed a mountain. Panic filled her as she walked blindly ahead. The muffled sounds of the others calling her came as if from a far distance.

Someone gripped her by the shoulders. Her eyes refocused on Jaewon's concerned face.

"If I could go instead of you or the prince, I would," he said. "But there is no doubt in my mind that you are the only person who can fulfill this prophecy. You will succeed. I have absolute faith in you."

For a moment, his image blurred, and it was no longer Jaewon but her father who stood before her, his deep voice providing her with the assurance that she needed.

I believe that one person can change the world. Whether he is the Musado or a girl with a tiger spirit. . . . There is no one else in the world like you. . . . You were meant for greatness.

Her father's words from long ago filled her, pushing the insidious voice of the Demon Lord out of her mind. It gave her strength again. Her eyes cleared and Jaewon stood before her.

"Thank you," she said.

Kira and Taejo lay down on the cleared ground where the shaman had placed blankets to protect their bodies from the frozen ground.

"Remember, you must return to your bodies before the sun rises, otherwise you will be trapped in the shadow world," Shaman Won said.

He then focused all of his attention on the fire and began to chant, ringing his bells in an odd but rhythmic pattern. He began to dance, swaying in great, sweeping movements as he capered about like a monkey. The chanting and the rhythm of the bells sent Kira into a trance as she watched the smokeless fire begin to leap high into the sky. Tiny figures were dancing within the flames, beckoning to her.

Kira felt a tugging at her gut that became more urgent. It yanked her up and out of her body, leaving her staring down at her physical form. The sensation of floating was bizarre and liberating. Her spirit was light and airy yet with substance-not firm, but something between water and mist.

A moment later, she saw a ghostly form rise from Taejo's body. He floated up to her, his eyes wide with shock.

Are you all right? Kira asked. She paused in surprise. That's so odd. Did you hear me speak or was it only in your head?

Taejo's lips moved, but she heard his voice directly in her head. You are speaking to me in my mind. It's so odd.

Kira wondered if he could hear her thoughts or only what she wanted him to hear. When he didn't respond to her thoughts and she could not hear anything else from Taejo, she realized he could hear only what she meant for him to hear.

Look at me! I'm see-through! Am I a ghost? he asked.                       
       
           



       

We're not dead, Kira said. These are just our spirits.

Looking down at the others, she saw the fear and worry on the faces of Kwan and Jaewon as they hovered over Kira's and Taejo's bodies. Brother Woojin and Shaman Won were both praying. They had no idea that Kira and Taejo were now shades floating above them. She hoped the heavens would listen to their prayers.

Once again she felt the strong tugging in the pit of her stomach, pulling her toward the fire.

Come, we must get going, she said. She and Taejo were sucked into the fire, where the dancing figures leaped in wild abandon, but they didn't feel the heat. If anything, she felt a clammy coldness.

At the bottom of the fire, a burning chasm appeared.

Stay close, she warned Taejo as they were sucked into the deep cavern.

They left the flames behind and flew through a long, spiraling tunnel. The walls around them were dark and shiny, as if coated with an oily substance. Soon they were in absolute darkness, but Kira could still see Taejo's form next to her.

Don't be scared, she said. I'm right next to you.

She saw him nod and grab for her hand. His shadowy hand had no real substance, but she felt his touch.

Their free fall slowed as the tunnel began to turn sideways. Their feet touched down on ground, but they were still being pulled. At the end of the tunnel, they reached a sheer drop. Far below, Kira discovered a shimmering pathway at the bottom of the cavern floor. It seemed to be moving toward a faraway opening. Taejo looked frightened and uncertain.

"What are we supposed to do now?" he asked, and then looked surprised. "I heard my voice this time."

Now that they were in the land of shadows, they could talk aloud again.

"How curious," Kira said. "But no matter, we have to get down there. Follow me."

She stepped off and began to float toward the cavern floor. As she got closer, she realized it wasn't the pathway that was moving but the thousands of shades that were traveling on it. They were young and old, women and men, some were dressed in clothing that Kira had never seen before, and with facial features and hairstyles she didn't recognize. There were dark-skinned people and fair-haired people, reminding her of the inhabitants of lands the Heavenly Maidens had told her about. These were shades of people from all around the world.

A small figure of a young girl floated by, plaintively calling for her mother, while farther ahead Kira could hear the weeping of a woman. These were all tormented shades, taken from life before their time and ensnared in this world. Their faces bore testimony to the awful nature of their deaths. There were no happy souls here. In this world, the dead were cursed.

The path led to a gigantic entranceway. On either side stood a monstrous haetae.

Kira let out a long breath at the sight of them. These were the real thing, not just a cute figurine. They were humongous creatures with gigantic heads disproportionate to their bodies. They had large bulging eyes and flat snouts over fearsome muzzles filled with huge curved fangs that jutted from their mouths. When they roared, they belched a stream of fire that reached ten horse lengths in range. They were magnificent. The one on the left was aquamarine, with a darker shade of blue on its long, flowing mane. The other one was a fiery red all over, from burning mane to the tips of its tail.

"They're so beautiful," she said.

Taejo made a sound of disbelief. "No way! They are the scariest looking things I've ever seen!"

The haetae oversaw the procession of shades passing through the entranceway, their eyes sweeping over all of them. Kira had no doubt that if they had come in their physical bodies the haetae would have burned them to ashes. They were indeed dangerous and formidable beasts.