The crimson lake shone in the moonlight, flowing from the four bodies splayed around it. They stood above them, Their eyes colder and more lifeless than the corpses on the ground.

These were Their friends, and They tried to make it painless. A quick and forceful stab through the heart. The first of them hadn’t resisted for they had no idea of their fate. The others tried, but the drugs in their s...

Kaede’s instincts were stronger than this, she knew that. Her detective husband ensured she learned how to stay alert and wary of shifty people.

But Korekiyo was a friend, so she applied none of that training. She was a pianist and he an anthropologist, so his promise of teaching her ancient ritualistic songs was an enticing prospect. Since childhood, Kaede had been called “piano freak”. Her love...