Ichitiro’s impotent pontifications of war against the humans was instantly forgotten once Midnite sensed the weak pulse of power, her own energy being released.

But that was impossible. Access to the crystals was currently forbidden. None dared venture forth from the palace until such time as it was allowed. True, some of the youkai could be rebellious at times, but they knew the limits of their impudence and that certain lines were not to be crossed without terrible retribution.

Besides, all who resided there were immortal, and if there was one thing immortals understood, it was patience. What was a decade, a century, or more of waiting to beings for whom the passage of time was meaningless?

Still, there was no denying what she felt. Someone had accessed a crystal, specifically one of the many she had imbued with her own life force. All within the daimao great court had done so, sharing a portion of their power so that servants and other lesser beings could venture forth as needed.

Though the transfer was harmless to her and her siblings, they still remained connected to the energy sealed away in the crystal matrix until such time as it was released to dissipate into the ether. Such an event could be sensed by the progenitor of each crystal.

Under normal circumstances, it was barely noticeable amid the normal traffic to and from the palace, but now, with passage forbidden, it stood out.

Who would have dared? Certainly not one of her servants. Though it was tradition that minions of the daimao used the crystals empowered by their own masters, it wasn’t law. Had another youkai used hers so as to mask their passage from their respective lord?

If so, their transgression would be in vain. Midnite wasn’t above keeping secrets, but she wasn’t about to let something like this pass without mention. If the youkai in question had hoped she would let them get away with it, they were wrong.

She glanced up when Ichitiro slammed his massive fist onto the table again, no doubt trying to emphasize some tiresome point that the others would disagree with. Sadly, she made the mistake of making eye contact with him.

“And what do you think of my plan, fair Midnite?”

Yes, tiresome indeed. “I think that you will continue to believe what you will, despite the wise counsel of your peers, brother.”

It was a routine answer, meant to mask that she’d been ignoring him. However, he narrowed his red eyes at her. “One day, you may find yourself wishing you had sided with me.”

“Perhaps, but that day is not today, nor do I believe it shall be tomorrow.”

Chuckles could be heard around the table, which Reiden quickly silenced with a crackle of red energy. He was not one to allow petty digs or squabbling at the council table ... unless, that is, he was the one to initiate it.

Nevertheless, it had served its purpose, turning Ichitiro’s attention away from her so that she might once again concentrate upon this new development.

She reached out to the power that had once been a part of her before it could fully fade away. Her control wasn’t so precise as to tell who had made the passage, but she could trace where her energy had taken them.

One of the blessed isles of Earth. Of all the places to venture forth to, why there? Surely whoever had done so knew it wasn’t allowed.

Many youkai had been left abandoned on Earth when passage was forbidden, including mates, children, and cousins of the many servants within these vast halls. It was regrettable, but it was thought that all of those here now understood the sacrifice, the larger stakes at play. But perhaps not. Some of the lesser demons could be petty when it came to their emotions, letting them dictate their actions despite the wishes of their masters.

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Had that been the case? Had a youkai’s spirit become so broken and desperate that they decided to risk the wrath of the daimao?

Midnite considered this. Once upon a time, the concept of sacrifice for a loved one was alien to her. She understood her duty and what needed to be done during times of war, but there had always been cold, calculated methodology to it. Never had her heart ached at the thought of one of her siblings in danger.

But then she had made that fateful journey to those same blessed isles. Kisaki, her daughter, had been born of the forbidden union that resulted from that night. Since then, Midnite had done everything in her power to conceal her birth, her very existence from her siblings out of fear of what they would do.

She knew of the taboo imposed, one of the few that was honored from lesser youkai all the way up to even the daimao. Indeed, she had been one of those who had endorsed it so many centuries ago.

Hanyou, half-breeds, were tolerated if not particularly accepted among her kind. Of them, those of the highest station were offspring created between different castes of divine beings. If anything, the child of a mazoku and youkai union would not have faced much if any scrutiny.

Children born of one human parent were different, though. They were the lowest of the low, certainly never afforded quarter within the celestial palace. Oftentimes they found it hard to find a place in either world – too weak to survive among their demon brothers, but often too malformed to be accepted by humans.

There were exceptions, of course – hanyou who had persevered to become great warriors, heroes of legend, but they were the rarest of the rare.

Considered to be beneath the notice of the daimao, half-mortal hanyou were allowed to live, but only so long as they were the product of a human born of the blessed isles.

That had been her people’s conceit. The islands, the place the daimao had first touched down upon arriving at this world, were considered blessed above all. The humans living there were thought to have been influenced by their divine presence, retaining a little of it within their souls. Though humanity as a whole was not held in high regard, those from the blessed isles were favored among them – considered of superior stock compared to the savages that roamed elsewhere.

As such, only unions with them were tolerated. Mating with humans from other lands was considered beneath contempt, a heresy. Though these other cultures had names for such bastard offspring – Nephilim, demigods, and the like – the daimao knew them only as abominations to be destroyed.

However, as much as Midnite once believed such things herself, she could not come to view her daughter that way. No matter his birthright, she had sensed a brave and noble soul in the human who had fathered Kisaki. On occasion, she found herself wondering what had become of him, but his ultimate fate remained a mystery to even her. Despite yearning to know what path his life had led, she’d opted for caution where her daughter was concerned. Regardless, the man she’d known, Stephen Fuller, had been worthy.

Midnite could see that worthiness in her daughter. Whereas many hanyou were born little more than deformed oddities, Kisaki was perfect in her eyes, beautiful as the sea after a storm.

Unfortunately, Midnite also knew that she couldn’t hide Kisaki’s heritage from her siblings. Her hair, her complexion, her facial features – all of it would make her brethren suspicious of her stock.

Then there was Ichitiro to deal with. Regardless of who Kisaki’s father was, her very existence was liable to drive him into a murderous rage.

Though Midnite was secure in her power, even she had doubts as to whether she’d be able to stop him if he truly set his mind to it. If need be, she might have to do the unthinkable and turn on him with the Taiyosori to protect her daughter – even if doing so would render her an outcast, her life forfeit.

She quickly pushed those unpleasant thoughts to the side. Such concerns were unfounded. Kisaki was safe in her wing of the palace, sealed inside and with the very best guardian one could imagine, Shitoro.

Her daughter’s safety aside, Midnite still needed to track down whoever the transgressor was. Such a crime could not be overlooked.

While Ichitiro and Reiden continued to argue some point or other, she reached out with her mind to Tanaki, her chief servant.

Tanaki was a dour badger youkai. All business, but exceptionally good at her job. Even so, Midnite frequently found herself missing Shitoro’s fussing. However, he was busy elsewhere. She’d entrusted Kisaki to him, knowing he was worthy of such a task. She could count on him to safeguard her biggest secret. If doing so meant she had to deal with Tanaki’s stern, humorless tone for all of eternity, so be it.

Yes, my mistress? Tanaki replied almost instantly.

There has been a breach of the crystal chamber. Someone has used one of my own to send themselves to Earth.

But that is forbidden, mistress.

As I am well aware. I need you to look into it. Speak to the other servants of the palace, find out who is missing so that I might inform their lord.

It shall be done, mistress. I will not rest until it is so.

Midnite cut off the conversation. If there was one thing she was certain of with Tanaki, it was that she could be counted on. Dour she might be, but she was dogged when it came to her duties.

She’d tirelessly pursue her task until the culprit was brought to light.