Lan Zhan was happy tonight. Wei Ying had looked at their bed like it was a bowl of rib and lotus soup. Within seconds, he had undressed and planted himself in the middle, making grabby hands at his husband. And it wasn't even nine in the evening yet.

Wei Ying must have been exhausted after all the traveling because he fell asleep as soon as Lan Zhan pulled him close.

Wei Ying was in a dark place. The darkness was different than the dark of the velvet sky before the stars came out, darker than charcoal, deeper than a crow's wings. It felt tangible, as if he reached out, he could touch it.

He saw the eyes first. Red circles with black pupils. The mouth opened, a red tongue that slipped out and licked black lips.

"Welcome, Immortal one."

He recognised the voice. "Hui Gai? Is it you?"

He spread his arms out. "How do you like where I live?"

"What? Are we... inside the handle of the knife?" Wei Ying stretched out his arms too. Whatever was surrounding them seemed to move to accommodate his form.

"Yes. I am pleased to inform you that I have been learning how to expand my boundaries."

"This is... truly amazing!" Wei Ying looked around in wonder.

"I'm glad you like it. For many years, this has been my world." He smiled, showing a perfect row of small sharp teeth, pointed and dangerous looking.

"So when we met you the other day, was that your first time outside?" Wei Ying felt as though he should be scared, both of where he was and of Hui Gai, but he was surprised that mostly what he felt was a burgeoning curiosity.

"Not my first time. Second." He looked a little saddened.

"When was the first time? And what do you think of that world?"

"I will tell you because I trust you."

Wei Ying laughed awkwardly. "You don't know me."

"But I can feel you, Immortal one. My powers connect to whomever holds my physical residence. Therefore, I can sense that you are an honest soul."

"That's kind of you to say." Could he be more embarrassed?

"The first time I was summoned, my master called on me. He ordered me to kill my first dragon." A look of pain crossed his features.

"What happened?"

"I refused. And my master gave me this." He pointed to his broken horn. "After that, he hasn't summoned me again. Until you."

"I am sorry. Sorry that you have been forced to...to do things against your will. I want to help you."

"I am glad. Immortal one, you have given me hope. I do not know what my brother is like now, only that he too, has no choice in his future. I do not think he will even recognize me or know who I am. I have no way to communicate with him."

"But this is new. This skill to be able to talk to me, how did you do it?"

"I expanded my intention and thought of you." He smiled again.

Wei Ying was slightly alarmed by it. "What do you mean?"

"Have you ever wondered what spells are?"

"Of course. We say incantations when we use talismans."

"Yes, but I'm talking about the actual mechanics of performing a spell."

"Please explain."

"We know that certain words hold magic, correct?" He strutted back and forth.

Wei Ying couldn't stop looking at him, his tail swishing, parting the dark like a blade.

"Yes."

"What if every word could become a spell, just by the intention behind it? Of course, an excellent mastery of this art is required, but that is how I have done this." He gestured at Wei Ying. "I believe I can enhance this new skill, perhaps enough to aid you."

"I was wondering what would happen if we broke the knife?" Wei Ying suggested. He had been thinking about this whenever he had the chance.

"I'm not sure what will happen to me. Whether my existence is so tied to this form, that its destruction would mean mine too." He stopped and stared directly at him. "But Immortal one, do not be afraid. I am not scared of dying. If that is the last resort, then do it."

"Oh, Hui Gai. I am afraid. I don't want you to die." Wei Ying admitted. The longer he possessed the knife, the more he felt a kinship with the Demon.

"You know," Wei Ying laughed sadly. "I always thought Demons were bad creatures, solely performers of mischief and mayhem. Bad to the core."

"Really?" He looked interested.

"But you're not like that at all. I...I like you."

His face softened immediately. "I am honored, my friend. Perhaps the Universe has heard my pleas and made it so I can meet you."

"Wei Ying bowed. "Thank you."

"For what?" He looked puzzled.

"For trying something new. For letting us talk like this." Wei Ying smiled kindly at him. "I will do my best to free you and your brother."

"I cannot switch my allegiance but I can stretch my capabilities. I will help you as much as I can."

"Do you think this," he motioned around him, "can be done without me being asleep?"

"It is worth thinking about." Hui Gai stroked his remaining horn. "I will certainly try."

"Do you think I could summon you?"

"I think first, you may have to break my connection to my master. He has put a powerful curse on both of us and it should be broken before anything else."

"You have given me lots to think about."

Hui Gai bowed. "I will send you back now, Immortal one. You need to rest."