The rain caught up with us at the cemetery, but seemed as tired as I was, squalling briefly before limping back toward the bay. Rainwater muttered in the drains as Yurilee crawled along the bricked path that wound between the grave markers. I followed at a respectful distance, allowing privacy to her mourning. We had the grey garden to ourselves.
Yurilee paused often, bending down to speak softly over a grave. When she switched to English I knew she had reached Julian’s stone. Not that Julian’s body was beneath it. His remains had been flown back to the States, and turned over to whatever family he had. I wondered whether his family still visited his grave, if they kept him company on rainy days.

—

Winter comes to the Lamia Islands. Some residents avoid the weather, some endure it, some accept it. So it goes with life. Mark and Yurilee return in another original tale set in Okayado’s “Monster Musume” universe.

Sequel to “My Poisonous Friend.”