Tears streaked down Zhu Rhee’s cheeks as she stared at the lifeless form of one of her oldest friends. Lei’s head rested on her lap, eyes closed, still wearing his typical grin. Rhee rubbed a finger against his forehead, wiping away some dirt. He looked like he was only sleeping, but Rhee knew Lei would never wake up.

  A drop of water fell onto his cheek—one of Rhee’s tears. She had known Lei since he’d joined the Eight Oaths Resolve School six years ago. The two had trained under Master Quan during their first year as junior disciples. At first, Rhee had thought the energetic warrior aspirant was too talkative to be a true martial, but she’d been proven wrong after they were paired as sparring partners that first spring.

  In Lei, Rhee had found another who shared her eagerness to improve—and, more importantly, someone who didn’t hold back despite her status as the Grand Master’s granddaughter. Over the years, a deep friendship had formed, culminating in Rhee selecting Lei to join their Exhibition Tournament team.

  She’d expected their paths to split after the tournament’s conclusion, but then the Heavens had smiled on her, giving Lei the chance to join her and Ishin at the Crimson Abyss Sect. Rhee had been looking forward to continuing her martial path with Lei right by her side. But now that hope had died…like Lei.

  Rhee remained seated on the ground, cradling his head. Ishin was beside her, his own tears falling freely. She knew he and Lei had been very close—Lei was the only reason Ishin had even joined the Eight Oaths Resolve School.

  Rubbing at her eyes, Rhee realized that no one else knew about Lei’s death. Bo, back on the mainland with the Radiant Spear Sect, had no idea. Nor did Lei’s former masters, or…

  His family.

  Rhee looked back down at his grinning face. She knew both of Lei’s parents were still alive, and that he had a two-year-old little sister. No doubt they all believed Lei was destined for greatness after being accepted into a Grand Sect. They had no idea he was dead on some accursed island.

  I have to tell them, Rhee vowed to herself.

  She would make it off the island—if for no other reason than to one day tell Lei’s family what had happened to him. Cold resolve wrapped around her soul like a righteous chain. Her breathing steadied and the tears stopped. Rhee had a mission. Lei was dead, and while she couldn’t do anything more for him, she could for his family.

  No. Not just his family.

  Hard eyes turned in the direction Isho Nel and his group had fled. There was something else she could still do for Lei, but for that, she needed power. For the first time in days, Rhee considered the pill of darkness hidden within her storage ring.

  “We need to leave,” Wei Long said, though not without feeling.

  After a pause, Rhee noticed Ishin rise to his feet. Tear streaks still marked his dirt-stained cheeks, but his eyes burned with a cold rage that matched her own.

  “Rhee?”

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  “He’s right,” she replied, setting Lei’s head gently onto the ground. She stood, but glanced back at his corpse. The poison still marred his arm, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before rot spread throughout the rest of his body.

  “Wen Mei,” Rhee said, her tone dangerously calm.

  The white-haired woman stepped forward. “Yes?”

  “I won’t leave his body to be transformed into one of the vampiric monsters. What do I need to do?”

  Wen Mei hesitated, but Rhee’s hard stare forced out an answer. “Uh…well, there are two options.” She looked nervously from Lei’s body back to Rhee. “We can burn the body or remove the head. Eh, whichever you want.”

  Decapitation or cremation.

  It wasn’t a choice.

  “Wei Long?”

  Fortunately, the archer didn’t need further direction. He quickly loosed an arrow onto Lei’s body that exploded into a burst of flame, covering her friend completely.

  The stench of smoke and rotting flesh filled the air, but Rhee only felt relief. She closed her eyes, a final pang of grief tearing through her at her friend’s passing. “Thank you.”

  Wei Long shouldered his bow. “He was a valiant comrade. I’m sorry for both of your loss.”

  “As was Six,” Wen Mei said, her own voice lined with sadness.

  Rhee opened her eyes and saw the despondent expression on Wen Mei’s face.

  In all her grief about Lei, she had forgotten that Six had died too. Not just died—he had saved Ishin in the process. In truth, Rhee didn’t know what she would have done if both her friends had died at once. It probably would have broken her entirely.

  All of her friends are dead. Her entire alliance gone. All because of Isho Nel and his comrades. How is she able to keep going?

  “He saved my life,” Ishin said, placing a hand on Wen Mei’s shoulder. “For that I will be eternally grateful and will mourn his death.”

  Wen Mei placed a hand over his, her eyes meeting his. “Thank you.”

  Rhee felt something beyond sympathy stir within her, but whatever it was was quickly smothered by the stronger feelings of grief and rage.

  “They are both great losses,” Tan Chen agreed. “But we need to go in case they decide to come back.”

  She was right. Rhee cast one final glance at Lei’s burning corpse, the outer layer of skin already melted away, before following the rest of her comrades westward.

  Three hours later, their surviving group of five rested alongside a creek of dark water. Rhee bent beside the stream and refilled her water skin. Next, she rubbed water across her face to remove the grime and dirt that had accumulated. Her stomach growled, and, strangely enough, she found herself eager to eat some dried vampire monkey jerky.

  When she sat against a thick trunk, she was glad to find Ishin join her. They sat side by side, their legs touching as they leaned against the smooth tree bark. She bit into the rough jerky, savoring the taste of the rotten meat. Somehow, it tasted good.

  Ishin took a pull from his water skin. “How are you managing?”

  Rhee swallowed her bite. “It hurts,” she admitted. “A lot.”

  “I can’t imagine.” He set his water skin aside. “I only knew him for a few months. You knew him for years.”

  “I did. He was…not someone I originally expected to become friends with, yet we did. Very good friends. I…I can’t believe he’s gone. It doesn’t feel real.”

  “It doesn’t.” Ishin took another drink. “He died in battle. As strange as it sounds, I can’t help but think that’s how he’d have wanted to go.” Ishin turned to face her. “I’m sorry if that’s too callous.”

  Rhee shook her head, fresh tears forming in her eyes. “Honestly, I think you’re right.” She dabbed at her eyes, determined not to collapse into another fit of crying. “He loved to fight. Lived for it. He was a true martial that way. I’m sure…” She couldn’t finish that thought.

  She felt Ishin’s hand envelop her own, and she squeezed back. The two sat there together in mournful silence. Words weren’t needed anymore. Not between them.