Dance of Demons (Poison and Opium)
by Alyssa Lauseng
03-26-2025
Dark Fantasy/LGBTQ+
Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing
Content Warnings: Depictions of slavery, Depictions of child abuse, Blood, Death, Animal death, Self-harm, Drinking, Smoking, Drug use
Slave. Soldier. Spy.
Daisuke’s heart has always wandered far from home, hoping for a life beyond what he’d have as a Northern Nomad raised in slavery. One evening, when he learns the Giahatio’s imperial military has arrived in search of recruits, he seizes his chance to flee Okara’s plantations and start anew. However, becoming a footsoldier isn’t the easy escape he expected, and he soon finds himself struggling for a place within the infantry and Giahatian society.
Obito knows he should be grateful for the opportunity to serve as one of the Empire’s elite intelligence operatives, the onmitsu—it’s one of few he’ll ever have in life, and the highest possible honor for a nobleman’s youngest son. But with demons of anger and shame haunting him as he tries to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of a scandal, any pride to take in rank or family name is entirely hollow.
When an act of mercy is born from a senseless murder, the already unlikely friendship between Daisuke and Obito takes an unexpected turn. Not only are they now partnered together as onmitsu, but dark politics are on the rise, leading them toward an ancient, furious magic.
by Alyssa Lauseng
03-26-2025
Dark Fantasy/LGBTQ+
Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing
Content Warnings: Depictions of slavery, Depictions of child abuse, Blood, Death, Animal death, Self-harm, Drinking, Smoking, Drug use
Slave. Soldier. Spy.
Daisuke’s heart has always wandered far from home, hoping for a life beyond what he’d have as a Northern Nomad raised in slavery. One evening, when he learns the Giahatio’s imperial military has arrived in search of recruits, he seizes his chance to flee Okara’s plantations and start anew. However, becoming a footsoldier isn’t the easy escape he expected, and he soon finds himself struggling for a place within the infantry and Giahatian society.
Obito knows he should be grateful for the opportunity to serve as one of the Empire’s elite intelligence operatives, the onmitsu—it’s one of few he’ll ever have in life, and the highest possible honor for a nobleman’s youngest son. But with demons of anger and shame haunting him as he tries to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of a scandal, any pride to take in rank or family name is entirely hollow.
When an act of mercy is born from a senseless murder, the already unlikely friendship between Daisuke and Obito takes an unexpected turn. Not only are they now partnered together as onmitsu, but dark politics are on the rise, leading them toward an ancient, furious magic.
Excerpt
Obito found himself peering into the windows of nearby shops that were already closed for the night. He’d take his two younger sisters around during festival seasons to do the same thing when he still lived at home. The night would often start with them trying to trail their older brothers—Mika joined them, too, as his family always visited then—and wind up with them eyeing gleaming trinkets through the glass as he did now. A row of seven tiny, blown glass green dragons resting on a deep red cushion amid a nest of pearls caught his attention; Yumi and Hina would’ve loved them, though he’d ultimately have to neutralize their inevitable argument about what to name the things. He sighed, slowly and heavily. He missed his sisters and supposed the same went for his brothers, but physical distance aside, that part of his life never felt further away. Everything had changed so…violently and abruptly last year, he barely remembered what he’d been like beforehand. Obito doubted he’d ever know that version of himself again.
Suddenly, everything about the air around him became uneasy, like he could sense something horrendously negative stepping closer and closer. He drew back from the window and checked the street for logical signs of his otherwise unexplainable misgivings, though his mind kept turning to further irrationality. Snow drifted down from the rooftop above him, swirling before his eyes like a thick miasma before a breeze dispelled it. Snakes of fear coiled tighter around his insides with each fresh scan of his surroundings until he spotted a seemingly lost man, bobbing his head as if searching for something. By the time his mind caught up with his emotions, the mounting tension eased from his system at the sight of someone acting so ordinarily in a crowded market. Zhao’s preparations for the Winter Festival were already in full swing, and its marketplace was sizeable compared to the rest of the city due to overall lower prices than most shops in the Capital, so the streets tended to stay consistently busy throughout the day.
Wait… Obito squinted at the man to get a clearer picture.
His blood went cold. Terror chained him to the spot where he stood when he realized he recognized the man as Mika’s father—his uncle. The same person who was responsible for—
He shook himself, desperate to stay in the present, and forced himself into motion again. He sought the shelter of an alley and retreated into the alcove until shadows swallowed him. He wouldn’t have enough time to get past Giichi undetected and knew he shouldn’t stray too far from where he agreed to meet Itsuki; for now, stowing away in a cramped space would have to suffice.
Obito found himself peering into the windows of nearby shops that were already closed for the night. He’d take his two younger sisters around during festival seasons to do the same thing when he still lived at home. The night would often start with them trying to trail their older brothers—Mika joined them, too, as his family always visited then—and wind up with them eyeing gleaming trinkets through the glass as he did now. A row of seven tiny, blown glass green dragons resting on a deep red cushion amid a nest of pearls caught his attention; Yumi and Hina would’ve loved them, though he’d ultimately have to neutralize their inevitable argument about what to name the things. He sighed, slowly and heavily. He missed his sisters and supposed the same went for his brothers, but physical distance aside, that part of his life never felt further away. Everything had changed so…violently and abruptly last year, he barely remembered what he’d been like beforehand. Obito doubted he’d ever know that version of himself again.
Suddenly, everything about the air around him became uneasy, like he could sense something horrendously negative stepping closer and closer. He drew back from the window and checked the street for logical signs of his otherwise unexplainable misgivings, though his mind kept turning to further irrationality. Snow drifted down from the rooftop above him, swirling before his eyes like a thick miasma before a breeze dispelled it. Snakes of fear coiled tighter around his insides with each fresh scan of his surroundings until he spotted a seemingly lost man, bobbing his head as if searching for something. By the time his mind caught up with his emotions, the mounting tension eased from his system at the sight of someone acting so ordinarily in a crowded market. Zhao’s preparations for the Winter Festival were already in full swing, and its marketplace was sizeable compared to the rest of the city due to overall lower prices than most shops in the Capital, so the streets tended to stay consistently busy throughout the day.
Wait… Obito squinted at the man to get a clearer picture.
His blood went cold. Terror chained him to the spot where he stood when he realized he recognized the man as Mika’s father—his uncle. The same person who was responsible for—
He shook himself, desperate to stay in the present, and forced himself into motion again. He sought the shelter of an alley and retreated into the alcove until shadows swallowed him. He wouldn’t have enough time to get past Giichi undetected and knew he shouldn’t stray too far from where he agreed to meet Itsuki; for now, stowing away in a cramped space would have to suffice.
About the Author:
Goodreads-Instagram-BlueSky
Alyssa Lauseng is a married mom of two warrior princesses who lives in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula. So much inspiration is drawn from a life-long love of martial arts, the pointy objects she's obsessed with, and the U.P.'s abundant nature
Goodreads-Instagram-BlueSky
Alyssa Lauseng is a married mom of two warrior princesses who lives in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula. So much inspiration is drawn from a life-long love of martial arts, the pointy objects she's obsessed with, and the U.P.'s abundant nature
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