Dark Serpent

  ‘I’m so sorry about the baby,’ she said into my shoulder.

  ‘I am too,’ I said, patting her on the back. She was trembling. ‘Don’t worry, Simone, everything will be okay.’

  ‘It won’t be okay,’ she said, pulling back and wiping her eyes, ‘because my little brother or sister is dead.’

  ‘It was too early to be anything but an idea,’ I said. ‘I didn’t want to think of it as a baby until I was further along. When you’re in the early stages there’s always a chance that this will happen.’

  ‘It still hurts, Emma.’

  ‘I know.’

  Leo hugged me as well, crushing me into his enormous chest. ‘It’s good to have you home and safe, girl.’

  He took the luggage trolley from John and led us out. John linked my arm in his, probably aware of how weak I was feeling after a sleepless flight.

  ‘We’ll drive to the gateway in Central and go up from there,’ Leo said. ‘Less stress on you.’

  ‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘I cannot wait to be home. Is everyone okay?’

  They all shared a look. My stomach fell out.

  ‘Who was hurt? What happened? Nobody died, did they?’

  None of them replied.

  ‘What happened?’

  John pulled me closer as we walked. ‘They turned off Leonard’s life support.’

  I leaned into him as we walked out to the car.

  I passed out as they transported me to the Celestial Plane; not surprising considering the condition I was in. When I came round, John was holding my hand and speaking over me, his voice soft and vehement. I couldn’t move or open my eyes; the trip had really knocked me out.

  ‘I want her out of all decision-making and not involved in anything,’ he said. ‘All training is to cease. Nobody is to tell her what’s happening. I want her shut out of whatever’s going on —’

  Meredith interrupted him. ‘She won’t let you do this.’

  ‘Look at her,’ John said, raising my hand slightly. ‘She’s covered in scars. She’s been through more than any mortal soldier on the Earthly ever has, and her mental state has to be fragile to the point of collapse. She’s done too much, and it’s time for her to stop before all of this breaks her.’

  ‘And when she’s Raised?’ Meredith said.

  ‘Screw that,’ I said, and used John’s hand to pull myself to a seated position. I opened my eyes, resulting in a moment of dizziness that I pushed down with force. ‘You don’t make these decisions for me.’

  I looked around; I was in the bed in the Imperial Residence back on the Mountain. I was home.

  John raised my right hand so I could see the withered muscles of my forearm. ‘You’ve done enough. If you go into any more battles, your mental state may start to crack.’

  ‘He’s right, Emma,’ Meredith said.

  ‘What if I enjoy it?’ I said. ‘What if there’s nothing I like more than destroying demons? What if I live for the thrill of wielding my sword in battle?’

  ‘Then you’re an adrenaline addict and you need to stop anyway,’ John said.

  ‘Like Meredith said, what about when I’m Raised? You’ve been fighting wars for four thousand years. What about your mental state?’

  ‘Bad idea bringing him into it; I wouldn’t call him sane,’ Meredith said.

  ‘I’m a warrior by nature,’ John said. ‘It is what I am.’

  ‘And it’s what I was bred for,’ I said. ‘My heritage was manipulated to make me a greater warrior. It’s what I am as well.’

  ‘Touché,’ Meredith said with humour.

  ‘And look at Meredith,’ I said. ‘She’s been fighting demons for four hundred years since she was Raised, and she’s the sanest person I know.’

  ‘I resent that,’ she said.

  John sighed, exasperated. ‘I’ve seen too many soldiers break under the pressure of much less than what you’ve been through. Don’t you think it’s time to stop?’

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘I think it’s time I drank that damn Elixir, because then I can really start.’

  ‘Told you,’ Meredith said, and rose. ‘Agree to regular physical and mental checkups, Emma, and do what the counsellor tells you if they say to slow down. And slow down for a few months anyway. You can’t take the Elixir until you’re in top condition, and it will take you a while to regain that.’

  ‘Aye aye, Captain,’ I said, saluting her Western-style.

  ‘You are impossible,’ John said, eyeing me.

  ‘That makes us a matched pair then,’ I said, and stopped as the summons hit me. ‘You have to be freaking kidding me. No way. No way!’

  ‘This is completely ridiculous,’ John said.

  ‘What?’ Meredith said.

  ‘The Jade Emperor just summoned us into his presence first thing tomorrow morning,’ John said. ‘I do not believe this.’

  ‘It’ll just be to report on what’s happening in the West,’ Meredith said.

  ‘Why does he want me then?’ I said. ‘I’m not allowed to have anything to do with Celestial affairs.’

  ‘He wants both of you?’ Meredith said, now concerned.

  ‘Go check the Celestial records. See if there’s a reason posted for our interview,’ John said.

  Meredith nodded to him and went out.

  ‘When’s Leonard’s funeral?’ I asked John.

  ‘Memorial service. Day after tomorrow.’

  ‘The summons won’t interfere then. I want to be there. Whatever it takes. Even if it’s on the Earthly.’

  ‘You will be. It’s being held here on the Mountain.’

  I relaxed back onto the pillows. ‘Good.’ I raised my head. ‘My family are coming up to the Mountain?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I can’t wait to see them. Do you think we could talk them into staying?’

  ‘We will talk about it when they’re here.’

  ‘Oh, that’s excellent news. It’s just terribly sad that Leonard had to die before they would come up here.’

  I raised my left hand; there was a button-type band-aid on it and my stone was still gone.

  ‘Where’s my stone?’

  ‘A great many stones have died. The Grandmother —’

  ‘I saw her. She was pissed.’

  ‘She’s gone home to mourn the loss of so many of her children, and taken all but a few of the stones with her.’

  ‘My stone went as well?’

  ‘No, it took an orphaned baby stone to the Grandmother and will probably return soon.’

  ‘Did Gold go with the Grandmother?’

  ‘No, but Zara did.’

  ‘Zara will come back. She’ll get bored,’ I said.

  ‘I hope she will.’

  I looked at my hand again. ‘Someone took blood?’

  ‘Edwin checked you over while you were out, but didn’t do a thorough examination. He’s taken a sample to check exactly how anaemic you are and whether there’s any infection. He’s satisfied that the blood loss will settle as if it was a normal …’ he took a deep breath, ‘… miscarriage. Apart from exhaustion and exposure, you’re otherwise unhurt.’

  ‘I suppose he couldn’t check if what the Demon King said was correct?’

  ‘He can now you’re awake, but he said it would be best to go to the Tiger’s facility in the West after things have settled down. If you still hurt inside, he’s given you some painkilling options; being in pain will only slow down your recovery.’

  ‘It doesn’t hurt any more, I just feel tired. Worn out.’

  ‘That’s understandable.’ He squeezed my hand. ‘Rest.’

  ‘Yeah, I need to be strong to face His Celestial Ugliness tomorrow.’

  ‘That’s me,’ he said.

  ‘I meant the Jade Emperor, but you qualify.’

  He rubbed his free hand over his face, his voice thick. ‘You have no idea how glad I am to have you home, my love.’

  I pulled him into me and we silently embraced for a very long time, both of us relishing the feeling
of being together with nothing to part us.

  37

  The Jade Emperor saw us the next morning in his small meeting room. Three carved rosewood sofas sat in a U-shape, with tea tables at the corners. A four-metre-long screen sat behind his chair, inlaid with gold and semi-precious stones showing a stylised depiction of longevity cranes flying through China’s distinctive mist-covered mountains.

  The Jade Emperor nodded to the fairy who brought us tea, then turned to us as he poured. ‘Your period of penitence is complete. You may return to duties.’ He placed a pair of teacups for me and John on the corner table, pulling his long sleeve out of the way. ‘I will not hold a public ceremony or make an announcement. You may choose to tell others whenever you please. Your precedence as the Dark Lord’s promised is restored, Lady Emma, but you are no longer a Heavenly General. Ah Wu and Er Lang have those positions covered.’

  ‘Good, I don’t want it,’ I said. ‘Can I choose not to tell anyone until I’m stronger?’

  ‘I’d advise that course.’

  ‘I assume this means there is no longer any danger of her teaching the demon army in the West,’ John said, glowering.

  ‘That is the case,’ the Jade Emperor said, his face bright and serene.

  ‘You knew she’d be taken.’

  The Jade Emperor didn’t reply, his expression unchanging.

  ‘Did you know I’d lose the baby?’ I said.

  His expression faltered slightly but he still didn’t reply.

  ‘Sometimes I wonder why I serve you,’ John growled.

  ‘Did our baby really have to die?’ I said. ‘There had to be another way.’

  ‘The future is not fixed, Emma,’ the Emperor said. ‘There are many possibilities laid out before us. We can guide the realm in the right direction, but sometimes sacrifices must be made to serve the greater good. There was no other way.’

  ‘I find that difficult to believe,’ John said.

  ‘The qilin said something similar,’ I said. ‘That things need to happen.’

  The Jade Emperor put one hand out towards me. ‘She understands. You are wiser than your Lord sometimes, Emma. I look forward to the two of you working together to defend the realm. Begin teaching her strategy, Ah Wu, because her intelligence will be a great asset.’

  ‘That’s what I told you,’ John said, exasperated.

  ‘And you were right. We will need our greatest minds and spirits to defend our realm, because there is a very good chance that it will fall.’

  ‘It could still fall?’ John said, his anger dissolving into concern.

  ‘How much of the future can you see?’ I said.

  The Jade Emperor didn’t reply; it was obvious I was wasting my time asking.

  ‘Are we done here?’ I said.

  John turned and stared at me.

  ‘Absolutely refreshing,’ the Jade Emperor said.

  John smiled and shook his head.

  ‘Dark Lord. Dark Lady,’ the Jade Emperor said.

  He rose and we did as well. He bowed slightly to us and we returned the courtesy. I was obviously able to act as close to an equal now that I’d been re-promoted. Nevertheless, I was glad the Jade Emperor hadn’t told anyone my rank was restored and I could retain my lowly status in public for a while longer.

  ‘Go back to your Mountain and plan the defence of the Heavens in the coming war,’ he said. ‘Both of you will be pivotal in the times to come.’

  ‘How long do we have?’ John said.

  The Jade Emperor’s serene expression slipped. ‘The first casualties have already occurred.’

  The Tiger was waiting for us at the outdoor table setting in the courtyard of the Imperial Residence. He fell to one knee and saluted John as we arrived, and we all sat.

  ‘Welcome back, Emma,’ he said. ‘It’s good you’re home. He’ll stop traipsing halfway around the world every second day, and your knowledge of what they’re up to is sorely needed.’

  ‘You need to give me half a day to spend with Emma, and we have a funeral tomorrow,’ John said. ‘After that I can start work.’

  ‘It can wait,’ the Tiger said. ‘You might like to know that Thirty-Eight broke my compulsion and went to Hell anyway. She lasted thirty-five minutes.’

  ‘That’s Thirty-Eight the Mother?’ I said.

  The Tiger nodded.

  ‘I remember her; she and Louise were good friends. Why’d she go to Hell? She knew they’d tear her to pieces.’

  The Tiger leaned one elbow on the table and put his chin on his hand; he was silent for a long moment.

  ‘What?’ John said.

  The Tiger concentrated on him and John’s face went grim.

  ‘Out loud, I do not believe this!’ I said.

  John nodded, and the Tiger looked down and turned his teacup on the glossy ceramic of the table. ‘While you were away we were attacked.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘Demons infiltrated the Western Palace. Small flying poisonous ones. Deadly.’

  ‘Did you lose anyone?’ I said.

  ‘Thirty-six wives, thirty-five Horsemen. Sixteen of my children also died.’

  ‘Oh dear Lord, no.’ My eyes filled, and I took a deep breath. ‘Not Louise?’

  ‘Louise passed away three days ago.’

  I moaned quietly. ‘What about the kids?’

  ‘Both the children are fine; their auntie has taken them in.’

  ‘Louise’s sister?’ I said.

  ‘It’s a tradition in the Western Palace,’ John said. ‘One of the wives who can’t have children acts as a second mother for another wife’s children — something like your concept of a godmother in the West.’ He was silent for a moment. ‘Kimberley and Lucas have known their auntie all their lives and will be well looked after by her and their father.’

  ‘I suppose that’s something of a relief,’ I said, wiping my eyes. ‘When’s the funeral?’ I sipped some tea through my choked-up throat. ‘Another funeral. Have you told her family?’

  ‘She died to her family years ago,’ the Tiger said, still studying his tea. ‘She even went so far as to fake her death.’

  ‘Seeing what my family have been through, I can actually understand why she’d do that,’ I said.

  ‘The funeral is tomorrow afternoon.’ He looked up at me. ‘Spare yourself the exertion and don’t come. She would not have wanted you to put your health at risk. You can come visit her grave when you’re stronger.’

  ‘I’m well enough.’

  ‘With all due respect, Emma,’ the Tiger said, ‘I can smell the blood you’re still losing, and you’re barely able to hold yourself upright. Ah Wu says you have a funeral tomorrow morning already, and your family will be here.’ He raised his teacup without drinking from it. ‘Louise would not want you to make such huge sacrifices for her.’

  ‘I will anyway,’ I said. ‘She was my friend. I’ll see you tomorrow, Tiger.’

  He rose and put his cup on the table. ‘I knew you would, but I had to make the effort. It’s what she would have wanted.’ He rubbed his hand over his face. ‘You may find this difficult to believe, but I miss her horribly. She was my wife and I loved her.’

  John and I rose as well.

  ‘She was happy, Tiger,’ I said. ‘Isn’t that all that really matters?’

  He nodded, his face grim, then saluted John and left without another word.

  ‘He’s not usually like that when wives die,’ I said softly after he’d gone.

  ‘Actually, Emma,’ John said. ‘He is. You’ve just never seen it.’

  I flopped back down on one of the ceramic chairs.

  ‘Are you okay?’ he said, sitting across from me and studying me with concern. ‘We need to have you checked out in his clinic as soon as you’re stronger.’

  I rubbed my hand over my forehead. ‘I’m okay. Just tired, and sad, and worn out.’ I sighed deeply. ‘And empty.’

  ‘Go rest.’

  ‘I won’t sleep; I’ll just lie awake staring at th
e ceiling and feeling miserable. I need something to do.’ I stood back up with renewed energy. ‘I’ll write a full report on everything I saw and did while I was in the West. The quicker I get the information down, the more I’ll remember for the defence effort.’ I made for the stairs, and stopped. ‘I wonder if I can take my office back? It would be good to work near you.’

  ‘It’s ready for you; just move your things back in,’ John said, rising to stand with me. ‘But don’t carry anything. You are confined to light duties as much as possible. We need you stronger so you can take the Elixir.’

  I moved into him and he wrapped his arms around me.

  ‘Did the JE give you permission to make an Elixir for Simone when mine is done?’

  ‘Yes. I’ve also talked her into pursuing the Way.’

  ‘That’s very good news.’ I pulled away and took one of his hands. ‘Come on, let’s check out the status of my office. I bet I’ll be in there a week before anyone realises I’m back in the good books.’

  ‘The good books?’

  ‘As opposed to the bad books.’

  ‘Where are these books?’

  ‘I’ll explain on the way.’

  I wore the plain black pants and jacket of the Mountain uniform the next morning for Leonard’s funeral. I joined John and a few of the closest Retainers outside Dragon Tiger to wait for my family to arrive.

  My parents got there first, with Jade, and I was shocked by how much older they looked. It had been less than two years and they appeared to have aged ten. I hugged both of them, teary-eyed with joy tempered by sadness for the reason they were here.

  ‘Mandy stayed home,’ my mother said. ‘She and Allan are happy where they are. Mark’s settled and they don’t want to disturb him, and she’s minding Jen’s baby for them.’

  John put his hand out. ‘Brendan, Barbara, so good to see you.’

  ‘Look at you, John, you actually seem younger each time we meet,’ my father said as he shook John’s hand.

  ‘I don’t feel it,’ John said, and somehow that broke the ice.

  Michael and Clarissa arrived in a flash near the entrance to Purple Mist, Clarissa in a long-term therapeutic wheelchair with a low back. Simone went to them first, quickly followed by Martin and Leo in his own chair. Leo went up to Clarissa and held one hand up, palm out. She stared at it for a moment blankly, then grinned and high-fived him. They spun their chairs side-on to each other and had a small sideways hug.