The blood drained from Piumi's face, and she backed away. Raya paused by the doorway—very much an overgrown cat with wisps of ectoplasm evaporating from her form. Her eyes shone like silver coins amid the deepening shadows of the room.

"This is Raya, in case you haven't guessed by now," Binara told Piumi, who appeared too shocked to respond.

The leopard perked up at the sound of her name and bounded up to Binara, who almost toppled over from the impact.

"Stop, you big furball." Binara tried to push off the feline, whose velvety coat felt fuzzier in the human realm. "What are you doing here?"

A deep purr emanated from Raya, and the pleasant vibration rolled into her. Binara finally extricated herself and found Piumi gaping at them.

"Raya's okay," Binara said. "You don't have to be afraid of—"

"C-can I touch her?" Piumi asked, eyes shining.

"Oh, um." She shrugged. "Yeah."

Piumi edged closer to Raya, her expression torn between fear and eagerness. When she reached out a hand, Raya sniffed it.

"Aw." Piumi looked like she would melt into a puddle. "I think she loves me."

"Uhuh." Binara crossed her arms.

"Binnie?"

"What?"

"There's something around Raya's neck."

Binara bent down. Sure enough, a string circled the leopard's neck, and attached to the front was a little note.

She stared at it for a moment. Then she reached out and unfolded it.

"What is it?" Piumi asked, her voice a mere whisper in the wind that blew from the balcony.

"It's from Diyan." Binara shivered as a frisson of excitement lanced through her. "He's sent me a location to meet up. Now."

Piumi's mouth formed an "O", and she whispered, "Where's the meetup spot?"

"He's drawn it—an empty plot of land not far from here." Binara jumped into action, packing her things into her backpack.

"Y-you're going back to Holmanloke?" Piumi watched the activity with wide eyes. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yep."

"This is insane..." Piumi whooshed out air and paced the room. "Wait, why can't he...teleport you from your balcony? You said the mark on your shoulder makes it easier for him to get to you."

"I dunno. Maybe he's worried someone might see?" Binara ticked off a mental checklist of things she would need. "And he has to control his aura. At Mai Mara Cemetery, his aura, combined with Mahasona's, fried my equipment."

"How were you okay then?" Piumi frowned. "Demonic aura does affect humans."

"I dunno. Turn around—I'm changing." Binara opened her wardrobe and put together a battle outfit, which consisted of jeans and a black hoodie.

"I can't believe this is happening. I can't believe you're meeting the Black Prince," Piumi muttered under her breath as she kept on pacing. "Hang on, what are you gonna tell your governess?"

"I'm gonna leave a note to say I'm going on a trip. Though technically, I'm grounded."

"Just like that?"

"Mhmm." Binara ran to her table, took a pen and started writing a note.

Piumi shook her head. "You're insane."

"Keep an eye on the Yakadura till I'm back. Use Manju's tunnel to spy on them."

"What good will it do if I can't contact you?"

"Maybe I can use Raya as a messenger. I dunno, I'll figure something out."

Five minutes later, Binara padded to the balcony, with Raya close on her heels. She gave the room one last look, wondering if and when she would be back. Her insides floundered against a riptide of dread and excitement.

Piumi watched on, looking stumped. "You're gonna climb down?"

"Yeah." Binara threw a glance over her shoulder. "You can head home."

"Um, no? I'm gonna see you off. Duh."

Binara rolled her eyes and bit down a smirk. "I'll meet you outside then."

"Do you want me to help you with that clothes line?"

"Wait till I'm down and remove it? I don't want Nayana to find out I escaped this way."

Piumi nodded.

It wasn't long before Binara climbed down from her balcony. It was particularly difficult with the heavy backpack. In the darkening environment, fireflies twinkled like chartreuse stars, and the static of nightly creatures filled her ears. Raya leaped onto a bough and made her way down—so stealthy that her descent was practically noiseless.

Binara dared not switch on her flashlight so close to the house, so she slunk through the garden in semi-darkness.

She rendezvoused with Piumi well away from the walauwa. Together, they made their way to the perimeter of the estate and onto the adjacent plot of land, which was largely populated by coconut trees. Raya followed them faithfully as if to make sure they got to their destination safe.

Diyan wasn't there yet. As they stood amid the weeds, Binara could just make out the road in the distance, asphalt gleaming under a street lamp. Nothing disturbed the silence but for the wind. When Piumi's phone rang, both of them jumped.

"It's my aunt," Piumi whispered and smacked her phone to her ear. "Hey, Auntie! Yeah, I'm on the way home. Sorry I got a bit late...Sure, okay."

Binara could hear the sharp voice from the other end, and when Piumi hung up, she said, "Book a tuk. Leave now. I'll wait with Raya."

Piumi opened her mouth to protest, "But—"

"Look, you can't get grounded."

"Yeah, but I wanted to see...You know." Piumi's face was a mixture of fear and excitement—very much like her reaction to Raya. "Him."

"Go!"

"Fine." Piumi pulled out her phone and started tapping. "Binnie?"

"What?"

She hesitated and finished the booking. "About what happened on that bridge in Natran..."

Binara inwardly shuddered as she remembered Mahasona lunging at her. "What about it?"

"I'm so mad that you pushed me into the river." Piumi shoved the phone back into her bag. "I went back there later, and there was no sign of you. I was so worried and guilty and—I even wanted to tell the Yakadura everything just so we could find you. But I decided to wait—I had a feeling you'd come back. So I got the hairpin made and held onto it."

"I won't die so easily," Binara said.

The other girl facepalmed. "Yesterday, you can imagine how it was when you showed up on Gossapp. And now, everything you've told me—it just feels so unreal!"

"Yeah, sleep on it. Takes some time to get used to it."

"Anyways, I'm still so so mad at you." Piumi aimed a glare at her.

"You can take a swing at me if you want." Binara glared back. "But I'd do it all over again."

When Piumi made to move, Binara stiffened. The next second, Piumi pulled her into a bear hug, long arms easily enveloping her small form.

"Ew, get off." Binara wriggled. "What's wrong with you?"

Piumi chuckled as she let go, eyes glistening with tears. "You saved me though, you crazy idiot. So thank you for that."

She shifted her weight and adjusted her hoodie.

Piumi chuckled again. "You better get back in one piece. Don't do anything super reckless, okay?"

"Go already," Binara said, rolling her eyes, though a bubble of warmth swelled inside, which she didn't want to acknowledge. "Where's your ride?"

"Nearby. I better get to the road." Piumi reached out a tentative hand to give Raya a farewell pat, and then she was off.

Binara called out, "By the way..."

"Yeah?" The other girl asked, turning around.

She shifted her weight again, one hand fingering the flower hairpin, while a jumble of thoughts gnawed at her brain. "Nothing."

Piumi shook her head and loped off.

Soon after, a tuk sputtered along the road, and Binara could just make out the small vehicle between the trees. When the noise faded, there was nothing but wind and insects to occupy the quiet. Her gaze fell on Raya, camouflaged in the darkness, except for her eyes.

"Where's your dad?" Binara asked with a scowl.

The leopard approached her, reaching the level of her chest. She stroked the big muzzle, which emitted a rumbling purr. She bit down a smile.

"I see you like Raya now," a familiar voice said, low and deep, just as her sixth sense went off, detecting a surge of ectoplasm.

"Oh, you're here." Binara hastily let go of the leopard and willed her heated cheeks to cool down.

"I am." The Black Prince came closer, the cloak streaming behind him, and patted Raya in greeting. "Looks like you're about to go somewhere, my lady."

"Yeah, I'm thinking sense finally dawned on you." She tapped at an imaginary wristwatch. "The clock is ticking. Mount Meru calls."

Diyan shook his head as if he couldn't believe what he was getting himself into. "I don't like this at all."

"You don't have to like it."

"Just to be clear, the task is to get the items from Meru. As a human, and the descendant of Mayadunne, you'd most likely be able to convince the Asuras to cooperate. After that, a non-demon should be able to wield Chandrahasa, so I'm thinking Garuda can—"

"What?" Binara narrowed her eyes at him. So you're thinking of using me to grab the cool stuff, while I'm using you to get to Mount Meru. You sly demon beastie. "I'm the one getting the sword, so I'll be the one to use it."

"Surely you're not thinking of fighting Mahasona with it? For one thing, that sword is not your average kastane—"

"I can pick up a few skills on the way to Meru," she retorted. "Though I'm thinking we'd have to do a lot of walking to get there as fast as possible. How long would it take? A week?"

"By foot?" A smile twitched at his lips. "Perhaps months."

Binara glared at him, and for an instant, it struck her how strange it was that she was having this conversation with a demon in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by wilderness. "Oh, right. You've got your private jet all ready to take off."

"Jet? Not sure what that is, but I do have something that would make travel easier."

She rolled her eyes. "Can we get going?"

Diyan took two long steps, closing the gap between them. "Ready?"

Binara breathed in his scent—cool and metallic. It wasn't fair that she had to crane her neck just to look at him. Why am I so short? She bit her lip and nodded.

His hands wrapped around her while ectoplasm misted from his skin. His touch sent tingles shooting down her spine and scrambled her brain—when she wanted to focus on the thrill of teleportation. Even worse, she didn't like the way her heartbeat sped up and blood gushed to her face.

A nanosecond later, her stomach dropped. The world switched—abrupt and disorienting. Binara gasped and clutched Diyan's cloak. Even though she had braced herself for the experience, it still took her breath away.

Suddenly, a soft breeze lapped against her while ectoplasm bombarded her senses. They were in the palace, and all around was the courtyard that led to the kitchen—a vision of stone, wood and ethereal plants. Raya materialized at their side and brushed against Diyan's legs.

"Are you alright, my lady?" Diyan asked, his low voice vibrating right into her.

"Yeah, fine." Binara pushed off of him, distinctly aware of the drain on her body, though it wasn't as bad as before. "Why are we in the courtyard?"

"Well, it's difficult to be precise when it comes to teleportation," Diyan said, motioning for her to follow him, and added in a quiet murmur, "Besides, my focus was slightly off."

"And why's that?"

He didn't answer as he led her into the palace.

Fine, be enigmatic. Binara fell into step beside him. "Why can't we teleport somewhere closer to Mount Meru?"

"I can only teleport to places I'm familiar with," he said. "It takes a lot of energy and concentration to pinpoint a place, and even then, it's mostly possible where the barrier between realms is thin. Mount Meru is at the center of Daval, and even natural portals do not appear anywhere near that."

"But it's possible for teleportation to work?"

"Technically." Diyan appeared lost in thought. "The Asuras of Mount Meru probably have means of visiting the human realm, even though they haven't done so for eons."

"Hm." Binara folded her arms as she walked up a staircase. "Where are we going?"

"Aren't you ready for our quest?"

"I am. But shouldn't we get down from this rock for that? Why are we going up?"

He just smiled, clearly enjoying her confusion. She rolled her eyes.

Eventually, Diyan led her to a set of double doors and flung them open. Binara's jaw dropped.