Her mother's soul was barely visible, growing more translucent by the second, like a ghost fading into memory.
Shuyin's spiritual form manifested fully, and she was suddenly aware of herself in two places at once, her body kneeling in the sitting room, and her spirit standing in this void, facing down a monster.
In her spiritual hand, a blade of pure light materialized, blazing with celestial fire.
"Release her," Shuyin commanded, her voice echoing across the endless expanse like thunder.
The serpent's head turned slowly, regarding her with eyes that opened across its body, hundreds of them, thousands perhaps, covering every inch of its form like scales made of malevolent consciousness. They all fixed on Shuyin with ancient, terrible intelligence.
'She is already mine,' it hissed in a voice that sounded like dying stars collapsing into black holes. 'You are too late, little princess. See how thin the threads have become? A few more moments and she will slip away forever.'
