“We’re home!”

Silence greeted Reese as she scanned around the apartment expecting to find the three-eyed cat in the living room. Marina shut the front door slowly, afraid to turn around as unexplainable dread hung over her like a dark cloud.

Reese sighed heavily kicking off her black sneakers. “Aww, I was hoping she’ll greet us.”

Marina laughed nervously, recalling the gray cat that darted outside the cat café. She better be in the house…  She took off her lace boots placing them neatly against the wall.

Reese headed to the kitchen, calling for Tiamet.

A gentle breeze entered through the opened window blowing the curtains. Marina walked toward the window, noticing a piece of paper underneath a rock.

‘Out to investigate the enemy. Meet me in Sayura at the Ghost Festival at sunset. –T’

T...? Marina reread the typed writing on the paper with realization hitting her in the head.

Tiamet! She can't be gone! Marina read the text again to make sure she was not imagining it. There was no one else in the apartment besides the cat. It must had been her. How did she even type this?!

Marina frantically searched around the house looking for the three-eyed cat. That troublemaker!

Reese poked her head from the kitchen, tilting her head curiously as she stared at Marina kneeling by the couch. “Whatcha doin'?”

Marina stood up abruptly, laughing nervously as she smoothed out her earthy plaid dress. “Oh nothing. The cat is just sleeping there.”

“Oh, really?” Reese asked waking toward the couch. “Why is she sleeping there?”

“Wait–” Marina blurted, refusing to allow Reese to pass as her hand blocked her way. “Don't disturb her!”

“Woah all right, cat whisperer,” Reese exclaimed, taking a step back. Her amber eyes moved suspiciously from the couch back to frantic teal green eyes.

“Didn’t you say some cats feel shy in new homes?” Marina continued, further justifying her actions. “She’s probably just adjusting by hiding now.”

Please, please just forget about that cat!

“Oh yeah, that’s right,” Reese replied, her lips curving into a grin.

Marina sighed as relief washed over her.

“Umm, Reese…” Marina began sheepishly as she pressed her two fingers together. “Can I ask you a favor?”

Reese stared at her curiously. “A favor? Sure, what is it?”

~~~

Distant festivity music beat in the air as Marina and Reese stood in the front of the glowing town entrance of Sayura. Golden lanterns dangled from the gate and tree branches, illuminating in the night to guide lost spirits home. Sayura was the only town left that still held the Ghost Festival after sunset to honor the Goddess Lilith, ancestors, and spirits. The nuns from the local temple arranged the festival to appease the Goddess and the spirits of the Otherworld.

Marina stared in awe at the glowing lanterns appearing like floating fireflies in the darkness.

“Why the Ghost Festival?” Reese asked, turning to gaze at the shorter woman.

Marina swallowed hard, prepared to answer the question that she rehearsed during the ride. “I used to go every year to pay respect to my grandparents,” she lied, feeling guilt taste like bitter medicine on her tongue. She only ever went to a Ghost Festival a few times as a child. “I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”

A small smile peaked on Reese’s lips. She looked away wistfully at the starry sky. “I’ve been here once but many years ago. Just don't forget we have work tomorrow, so we can only stay for a few hours.”

Marina nodded understandingly, continuing to stare at Reese.

Why does she look upset…? Did I do something wrong? Maybe she knows I’m lying!?

A sharp whisper drew Marina’s attention toward the bushes.

“Psst, Marina.”

Tiamet!

“Umm… Reese, can you go on ahead without me. I’ll meet you up in a few minutes.”

Reese tilted her head with confusion. “Where are you going?”

“Uh…” Marina shifted uncomfortably, desperately staring back at the parking lot for another excuse. “I think I dropped something in the parking lot.”

Amber eyes stared blankly at her. “Don’t you want help…?”

Marina furiously shook her head, gently nudging Reese toward the festival. “It’s fine! I’ll catch up.”

“All right…” Reese replied, looking back at Marina who was waving at her with a suspicious smile. She’s acting weird.

Reese reluctantly headed off, leaving Marina behind at the entrance.

Marina sighed with relief. Teal green eyes moved back to the bush. “Tiamet?” Marina whispered, glancing sideways to make sure she was alone.

Three gleaming olive eyes reflected in the darkness. Tiamet poked her head out of the bush.

“Why didn’t you tell me about your plan first?” Marina scolded angrily. “If Reese found out you disappeared—“

“I’m sorry, I forgot,” Tiamet purred nonchalantly not a bit concerned about Marina’s warning. “I meant to tell you this morning, but I was distracted by the delicious food the human was feeding me.”

Marina rubbed her temples, sighing heavily once again. “I forgot you’re still a cat.”

“Anyway,” Tiamet began, “we’re investigating here because I smelled strong spiritual activity.”

“Spiritual activity?” Marina prodded, wanting an explanation.

“The Ghost Festival marks the night when the veil between Earth and the Otherworld is thin,” Tiamet replied. “The Gate of the Otherworld opens every summer new moon allowing spirits to roam freely on Earth even the malicious spirits. The gate closes when the moon becomes full. We might find clues about the enemy if they are from the Otherworld.”

Color vanished from Marina’s cheeks.

In myths, the Otherworld refers to the invisible physical plane on Earth and the Underworld. The worlds a naked human eye cannot see. The invisible plane on Earth is where ghosts live and sometimes we can see them when there is some ‘glitch’.

“So… our enemy can be a sp—spirit?” Marina stuttered.

Tiamet’s green eyes darkened. “A demon to be exact. Spirits like ghosts don’t have much power because of their form. They won’t have access to the celestial plane where the gods are.”

A demon. Marina gulped. That doesn’t make me feel any better.

“Those are my suspicions anyway,” the three-eyed cat continued. “If there’s any being that wants to bring chaos on Earth, they must be from the Underworld.”

Marina shifted uncomfortably. “What if I’m not ready?”

“You’ll be ready, Water Priestess,” Tiamet assured firmly. “It’s your duty to serve the Goddess and protect human beings from supernatural harm. When you transform, you’ll regain all your memories of the Water Priestess.”

Marina clutched her transformation locket hidden beneath her dress. Will a new person take over my body when I transform? Marina recalled the warm blue light coursing through her entire body. It was peaceful and did make her feel stronger almost as if she can face any challenge in the world. Is that what she will feel again?

“You must be aware of your surroundings at all time,” Tiamet began in a solemn tone, her three olive eyes staring intensely at Marina. “You scout the plaza and temple. I’ll be at the theater and surrounding area. And remember to transform if you’re in danger, but don’t reveal your identity.”

Marina nodded understandingly as Tiamet disappeared into the bushes.

The aqua-haired woman treaded down the path toward the festival. Bright lanterns hung on the rows of trees that greeted her on each side of the narrow pavement.

The town plaza was occupied by food and souvenir vendors selling items ranging from greasy street food to good luck charms and anti-spirit protection amulets. The traditional music originated from a small group of musicians playing the drums, bamboo flutes, and biwa lutes.

Marina gazed at the lively festival with wonder, impressed that the festival was still popular among the locals. Tsukang stopped holding the Ghost Festival many years ago due to low funds and participation. Most towns and cities preferred to invest their money into more cheery holidays like the Lover’s Festival and Winter Solstice.

“There you are!”

Marina spun around, facing an excited Reese holding sweet potato skewers in each hand.

Reese grinned, holding out a skewer to Marina. “Here, take one.”

“Oh, thank you,” Marina remarked taking a skewer. “I haven’t had these for years.” The aroma of the sweet potatoes was already stimulating her appetite.

“Really?” Reese asked, rubbing her chin. “You need to go to festivals more often.”

A smile poked in the corner of Marina’s lips. “I should.” She took a bite of the hot crispy sweet potato, feeling herself drift away in a wonderful heaven. The sweet potatoes were as delicious as home-baked sweet potatoes in winter.

“Ooh, ghostcakes!” Distracted, Reese stopped by a vendor selling ghost-shaped rice cakes stamped with floral patterns in shades of pink and red. Pink and red ghostcakes were rice cakes filled with shallots, peanuts, and garlic, traditional street foods eaten during the Ghost Festival to ward off evil and bad luck during the Ghost Festival month. Ancestor altars and spirits were offered white rice cakes which symbolized death.

Marina covered her mouth with a giggle.

It’s cute how Reese is easily distracted by food. It must be a chef thing.

A crimson red hooded vendor caught Marina’s attention, isolated from the rest of the sellers. The vendor turned around, startling Marina as she stared at vendor’s face.

Small black eyes peered back from a porcelain white mask with rosy cheeks and bright red lips. Faux black eyeliner curved upwards, tracing the eyehole of the mask.

The masked vendor beckoned Marina to come with a hand.

Guess I have no choice… It would be rude of me if I ignore her. Marina approached her table cautiously.

Teal green eyes widened with surprise, staring at a colorful array of cute crochet animals from the zodiac such as rabbits, tigers, and monkeys. A sole mini, gray, crochet cat phone charm with a green bell collar held Marina’s attention.

Hey, this kind of looks likes Tiamet, minus the three eyes.

“Are these all handmade?” Marina asked, picking up the soft jingling cat charm.

The masked vendor nodded silently. She held out a three black-gloved fingers.

“Huh?” Marina stared at her peculiar black glove and back at the cat charm with confusion. Oh, she means it’s three dollars.

~~~

Marina and Reese walked down the flight of cemented staircase leading to the town temple. They had finally escaped the busy plaza. Reese’s nose wrinkled at the strong musky cedar incense wafting toward their direction. In the distance, glowing lanterns floated in the river accompanied by large smoky incense holders in the shape of vases.

“Good thing we left the plaza,” Reese mused, “or else my money will be eaten away.”

Marina chuckled, agreeing wholeheartedly with Reese. She was getting sick of souvenir vendors harassing her to buy their wares although she did enjoy that one table from that strange quiet masked vendor. She had a lot of cute crochet animals that did not fit in with the Ghost Festival theme.

The center of the temple housed the gigantic bronze statue of Lilith, the Goddess of Death and Darkness surrounded by shorter winged statues of the Furies, her three vengeful daughters. They were demigods and demon princesses of the Underworld. Lilith was the seductive beautiful Goddess, bearing her breasts openly as her wings spread freely wide across. The lantern lights danced on the reflective bronze statue, illuminating Lilith into a brilliant golden hue.

Myths weaved about Lilith’s insatiable revenge to a mighty protector of all living things. She was the Queen of the Underworld keeping order in the Underworld as her three daughters worked beside her. Hence, it was why the locals still celebrated the Ghost Festival to appease the dark Goddess to avoid her wrath.

People bent down near the state of Lilith, praying and leaving incense, fruit, and white ghostcakes to honor the Goddess for guiding deceased loved ones back to her care. A toothy old nun smiled at Marina and Reese, holding a bouquet of smoky incense in her hand. She handed each of them an incense stick.

Marina and Reese bowed to the nun and held the incense sticks in their hands. They looked up at the statue of Lilith towering over them.

Marina closed her eyes, inhaling the deep scent of cedar.

Hail Lilith, Lady of Darkness, Queen of the Underworld. I never know the right words to say to you because I never met my grandparents. But thank you for taking care of the Otherworld…

Marina recalled her body drifting away in the deep lake. Her life almost slipped away that night.

And thank you for giving me a second chance to live.

Marina opened her eyes and stuck the incense into the sandy vase-shaped incense holder.

A golden gleam from the middle of the Furies statue caught Marina’s attention. The winged demon princess spread out her wings as a snake curled vertically around her naked toned body.

Snake.

‘Be wary of the viper’s mark.’ Teal green eyes stared hard at the statue, recalling the voice she heard at the fortune-telling tent at the cat café.

Marina’s hand instinctively moved to touch the solid snake.

A dark shadow passed quickly in the corner of her eyes. Marina’s head snapped to the side, facing empty temple walls.

“Did you just see—“ Marina glanced over to Reese who was already by the river talking to the nun. People were sailing their lanterns in the river.

Marina turned back to the Furies statue as an uneasy feeling churned in her stomach.