The restless energy in the palace kept Hotaru awake. Through the thin walls he heard the muttered conversations between his relatives, who were terrified there was a murderer in their midst. Whispers had exploded in the palace moments after the scream. Second and thirdhand accounts were being tossed about, without substance or proof. But Hotaru had a sinking feeling they were right. It has to be that woman, the one pretending to be Lady Nishimori. We've never had this happen before; it cannot be mere coincidence. Waiting for more information gave him cause to fidget. He folded and unfolded his arms for the tenth time in the past few minutes. Then he saw the shadow outside his door. He stood, too eager to pretend he hadn't been anticipating bad news.

"Come in," Hotaru said.

Rokuro bowed from the waist as he entered. Hotaru clutched his hands at his sides with difficulty. The lieutenant knelt low at Hotaru's feet and he waved his hand to dispatch with ceremony.

"Tell me, Rokuro, are the rumors true?" Hotaru asked.

"Yes, my lord, Lady Nishimori's maid was killed—they say by a wild animal."

Hotaru heard the doubt, the accusation. The rumors about Lady Nishimori were rampant, and now with blood on the ground, the clan would be even more terrified than before.

He swallowed hard and folded his arms over his chest to hide their shaking. He felt like he was living in a nightmare. How could Hikaru do this to them? By bringing that woman, no, that monster, into the clan, Hikaru had endangered them all. He never would have let this happen. He had seen what she was from the start—inhuman, dangerous. If he was in charge, he would have expelled her from the palace. Why his father had allowed her to stay, he could not understand. It was probably a fatherly indulgence to his heir, but this favoritism could ruin them all. Nothing had been the same since Hikaru brought that woman into the castle. His brother was obviously under her spell. How else could he be so blind to her otherness? This must be her revenge. Sayuri's taint still clouds the palace and left its mark on Father. Hikaru cannot rule; no child of hers would be fit to lead the clan.

"Have they found the creature that did this?" Hotaru asked as a formality. He knew the beast was resting comfortably in her chambers, waiting for her next victim.

"No, my lord." He clamped his lips shut; there was more to it he would not say. Hotaru saw the truth written in his expression. He liked Rokuro, he was a good lieutenant, and the men respected him. Hotaru also knew he was loyal to him alone, a valuable trait in a man.

"But you have doubts?"

Rokuro nodded slowly, eyes focused on the ground. Hotaru could see how it pained him to speak against his superiors.

"Do not hold anything back," Hotaru said, coaxing him into expanding on his previous statement.

"My men have reported seeing a wolf going in and out of Lady Nishimori's chambers late at night. We've investigated time and again, but each time we find nothing, not even a footprint. We believe she may have something to do with the girl's death."

This confirmed his own suspicions, but he did not want to appear overeager to accuse her. "What would she have against her maid?"

The warrior looked around the room as if he expected the walls to have ears. And he supposed in some ways the walls did. Spies abounded; Hotaru was not the first second son to aspire to greater things. He focused instead on the warrior in front of him.

"You can speak freely here."

"Well, it is no secret Lady Nishimori is strange. We believe Yuri may have learned her true nature and lost her life for it. At least that's what the rumor is about the palace."

Interesting. I will need to tread carefully. If she is a witch or Yokai, she may realize I am onto her and retaliate. I must proceed with caution. "Thank you for bringing me this news."

Rokuro let himself out with a promise to bring Hotaru news of any new developments. Hotaru waited a few moments before leaving on his own errand. He had to tell his father. Lord Kaedemori could only pretend to be blind to Hikaru's faults for so long. Now their people were dying and it was time Lord Kaedemori admitted that his oldest son was bewitched and unfit to rule.

He went to his father's bedchamber, omitting the formal meeting room. A servant was exiting as Hotaru arrived. When the servant saw him, he dipped a hasty bow, hardly disguising his confusion and curiosity.

"I need to speak with my father," Hotaru said.

"His lordship is resting." The servant glanced nervously to the chamber door behind him. Lord Kaedemori was awake, there was no way he would have slept through the ruckus. Knowing his father, he probably had spoken with his captains about reinforcing their protections, and sent out a hunting party to capture the beast that killed Yuri.

"It cannot wait. I must speak with him straight away."

The servant, trained not to argue, bowed again and followed his order, disappearing behind the sliding door. After a few moments he returned and showed Hotaru in. His father sat at the far end of the room, dressed in a white robe, and his hair cascaded across his face, softening some of the strong angles of his normally frowning expression. It was rare to see his father in such an informal setting. Though his father appeared composed, he sensed a disgruntled undercurrent radiating off him.

He bowed to his father, then rose up and said, "Father, I apologize for the late hour, but there are urgent matters that could not wait until daylight."

"If this is about the girl, I've already received a full report from Captain Sadao."

"No, Father, it is not about that unfortunate soul."

His father scrutinized him with a dark gaze, then said, "What is it, then?"

"That woman, the one who claims to be Nishimori, I believe she may be the one who killed Yuri."

His father clenched his hands on his thighs but otherwise made no other indication Hotaru's words affected him. "You saw this yourself?" he asked.

"No, but the men have seen a wolf sneaking into her chamber at night. She is a strange woman, unlike any noble lady I have met. She does not bow, and she often goes without sandals and shuns assistance from her maids. I approached her—"

"You must stay away from her." His father's interruption startled him. His father, who lived and breathed ceremony, would never be so rude.

He smoothed over his shock with a nod in his father's direction, then continued, "I think my brother is under the spell of that woman. We have to do something before everything we've worked for comes to ruin."

His father steepled his fingers and did not look at Hotaru, but a vein jumped along his jaw as if he was biting down on his words. What did his father want to say that he hesitated to speak? True, his father had never sought Hotaru's counsel, but his father had never seemed more vulnerable or more afraid than he did in that moment. We are certainly in danger if even my father fears Lady Nishimori.

"Father?"

"I will see to this. Now go back to your room and speak of this matter to no one. Do you understand?"

He stared at his father for a moment. This had not gone as he'd planned. All hopes of being the savior of the clan and exposing the Yokai were blotted out like spilled ink on parchment. He choked down his disappointment and nodded. He rose and left the chamber without another word, clenching his hands into fists.