Excerpt: A Fortuitous Happenstance

'That is an o-fuda!' she exclaimed to herself as she was rendered incapable of movement. All she could do was stand there, immobile, as the man calmly combed her hair out and then parted it. Once parted, he took a knife and slashed her scalp from hairline to crown, right down to the skull. Another muttered phrase, another o-fuda that also clung to her like a frightened child—this time to her bleeding scalp, left her heart in deep despair.

“Follow your blood, Shiragaatama Izumi,” the mahou intoned, “follow your blood to your-”

A strong kick removed the door from its sliders as a very angry man entered. Before Izumi could blink, or try to, the man who had stolen her had an arrow in his throat. However, it was too late for her. As her husband rushed to her, everything faded away. The last thing she heard was his heartbroken wail before all was lost to a cold darkness as the spell took hold.