Demon Child

  ‘Or he will explain immediately,’ the Jade Emperor said, still amused.

  ‘Emma grasps concepts so quickly that there is no need for long explanations,’ John said.

  ‘True.’ The Jade Emperor rapped his fingertips on the table. ‘Contingency plans. I need to know that they exist and what they are. Lady Emma keeps telling everybody that defeat is not an option, when we all know that it is.’

  I rose and pushed my chair back. ‘It’s all on my desk. I’ll go and —’

  Yi Hao came in and handed me my copy of the document.

  ‘Never mind,’ I said. I flipped it open. ‘How much information do you need from me?’

  ‘Do we have backups for every major Celestial?’

  ‘All except you,’ I said.

  ‘The Number Ones are covered?’

  ‘The Number Twos are up to date, except for the North where they’re both ready to take over from each other,’ I said.

  ‘The Number Threes?’

  ‘Each Wind is sharing as much information as possible, Majesty,’ John said. ‘We would need to lose a significant number of top-level people before our efficiency is compromised.’

  ‘Good,’ the Jade Emperor said. ‘Have you stationed extra guards on the Courts?’

  ‘Each Court has a full cohort of demons from the Tenth,’ I said.

  ‘Sufficient. I am giving you two Elites to assign to Pao in addition to the cohort already present. Pao is to be guarded day and night.’

  ‘Majesty.’

  ‘Now tell me the contingency plan if Hell should fall.’

  ‘We’ve erected barricades around Court Ten that should be impervious to all physical and elemental attacks,’ John said. ‘If they overrun the ends of the causeways, we will pull back to Court Ten and do our best to hold that. Even if the rest of Hell falls, as long as we hold Court Ten our people will be free to return to us, and we can use it as a base to retake our side.’

  ‘Court One?’

  John hesitated. ‘There’s a suicide squad in Court One, and they will fight until the end to hold it, but we will sacrifice Court One if needs be so we can retain Court Ten.’

  ‘Majesty,’ I said, my voice low, and everybody turned their attention to me.

  ‘Miss Donahoe?’

  ‘I’ve asked the Dark Lord this question and he does not know the answer. What if we place bombs in the Courts to destroy them if they should fall? How would the fate of our people be affected if the Courts don’t exist?’

  ‘Interesting concept,’ the Jade Emperor said. ‘Let me see.’ He was silent for a moment. ‘They would just land in the middle of the rubble.’

  ‘The walls of the Court would not be around us?’ John said.

  ‘No.’ The Emperor leaned back. ‘I see your plan. There is a chance of escape and return if Court Ten has fallen but its walls are not around you.’ He was silent for another long moment. ‘A novel idea, but it would serve no practical purpose and make no difference in the end, apart from having to rebuild when all is over. Do not proceed in that direction.’

  ‘Majesty,’ John and I said together.

  ‘Now. The treaty business tomorrow,’ the Jade Emperor said.

  ‘Majesty, may I once again —’ John began.

  ‘No,’ the Jade Emperor said, interrupting him. ‘We will not display any sign of weakness. They will only see our strength and confidence. We will not compromise our adherence to the protocols.’

  ‘They didn’t adhere to the protocols!’ John protested. ‘They attacked us in Hell when we collected the treaty.’

  ‘And if they attack us in Heaven, I am counting on you to defend us,’ the Jade Emperor said. ‘I do not doubt your ability. Do you?’

  John grunted with frustration. ‘They have been doing things to themselves. The Western King —’

  ‘Just be ready. They may try something. But we will not diminish the purity of Celestial Harmony by not adhering to the protocols! This is not negotiable. They will not terrorise us into any sign of weakness.’

  ‘There’s a vast difference between weakness and simple prudence —’

  ‘The matter is settled. The negotiations will take place tomorrow in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.’

  ‘At least evacuate the Celestial Palace,’ John said, distraught.

  ‘It has been. It will only be us and those required to maintain our presence.’

  John rested his forehead in his hand, grim with defeat.

  ‘Er Lang, Venus, dismissed,’ the Jade Emperor said, and John’s head shot up.

  John and I shared a glance as the two men rose, went to the door, bowed to the Jade Emperor and went out.

  I nodded towards the fairies.

  ‘The Celestial Palace knows all that I know,’ the Emperor said. ‘Your secret is safe with it.’

  ‘Majesty,’ I said.

  ‘I am pleased that the two of you have not concocted some ridiculously daring plan to rush in and extract your child,’ he said. ‘There is still hope that you both will attain some degree of wisdom before this is over.’

  ‘It’s the hardest thing we’ve ever done,’ I said.

  ‘I’m well aware of that. I have twenty-three children myself, Lady Emma, and eight of them are Elite guards. If Hell falls they will be at the mercy of the demon horde, and it is a certainty that they will not be adopted and loved by the King himself.’

  ‘I understand and sympathise, Majesty,’ I said. ‘But this isn’t about our child, is it? It’s about me and his Serpent.’

  ‘How many know?’ the Emperor said.

  ‘It’s becoming obvious to everyone around us,’ John said. He gestured slightly towards me. ‘They hear me in her.’

  The Jade Emperor leaned his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand.

  We waited silently for him, then I realised why he hesitated.

  ‘Oh hell, no,’ I said. ‘Not you too.’

  He smiled slightly, still with his chin in his hand.

  ‘This is absolutely none of your business,’ John growled.

  The Jade Emperor spread his hands, giving us the full benefit of his kindly old gentleman persona. ‘I didn’t say anything. I didn’t order you to do anything.’

  ‘All right,’ I said, brisk and businesslike. ‘If we were to do it — and I’m not saying I’m agreeing to you prostituting me here — how much would it affect the Celestial’s chances of victory?’

  ‘Not even a question, because if you don’t want it, it won’t happen,’ John said, his voice still a low growl.

  ‘I have not prostituted you, madam, because I have not told you to do anything,’ the Emperor said with dignity. ‘It would not affect the outcome of any aspect of the upcoming conflict with Hell in any way at all.’

  ‘There’s your answer then,’ John said.

  ‘But it would increase your chances of surviving this conflict from close to zero to about fifty-fifty,’ the Emperor said to me.

  ‘What?’ John said, then gathered himself. ‘I will Raise her!’

  ‘Even so.’

  ‘But if she’s Raised,’ John’s expression darkened, ‘how could she not survive? Give us more.’

  ‘I don’t need to.’ The Emperor gestured towards me. ‘She knows.’

  ‘We’ll merge before we can liberate your Serpent, and I’ll be lost into you,’ I said with resignation.

  ‘There’s still a fifty-fifty chance she’ll be lost into me anyway?’ John said, his voice hoarse with horror.

  ‘No, because right now the likelihood of her being lost is a hundred per cent.’

  ‘I would rather die than force my wife to submit to this,’ John said.

  ‘She is not your wife,’ the Emperor said. ‘And no force is necessary. All you need to do is reassure her that she will not be harmed and that the experience will not be unpleasant. She is well on the way to saying yes anyway, Ah Wu, she just needs a little encouragement.’

  John glanced at me and I smiled slightly. The Jade Emperor was right. I
’d been unable to concentrate for most of the afternoon because I’d been debating whether I should ask John about it that evening, and the possibilities were driving me to distraction. All I needed when we were going into battle the next day.

  The Emperor rose and we stood as well. ‘My sincerest apologies for interfering in your private affairs in this way, but to be honest, Emma, I’ve grown quite fond of how you are completely unfazed by his grandiose displays of power and never hesitate to yank him off his altar when he becomes too arrogant.’

  ‘I am never arrogant!’ John protested.

  ‘I’m more arrogant than he is,’ I said. ‘He’s one of the most humble people on the Plane.’

  The Jade Emperor went to the doorway, turned and slipped his hands into his sleeves. ‘We need to hurry and have this Hell business out of the way so that you two can settle down together and we can all enjoy watching your antics. I am very much looking forward to that.’ He bowed to us. ‘I will leave you to it. Both of you are doing a fine job and the Celestial thanks you for your diligence.’

  ‘Celestial Majesty,’ we said in unison, and he and the fairies went out.

  ‘Of all the interfering, intolerable, ridiculous old men —’ John began.

  ‘I try,’ the Jade Emperor said outside the door. ‘Venus, Er Lang, let’s go.’

  At 7 pm I went from my office back to the Imperial Residence to have dinner with the family. The dining room was deserted. I sat at the twelve-seater round table and Er Hao came in.

  ‘They say they’re on their way, ma’am. Do you want to wait for them or eat?’ she said.

  ‘I’ll wait. Can I have some tea, please?’

  She nodded and went out, then returned with a pot and three cups. I filled one and leaned back in my dining chair to wait for them.

  Half an hour later, Simone stormed in. ‘Sorry I’m late. I was with Leo and Ge Ge — they can’t come but —’

  She stopped, and I jerked upright. I’d fallen asleep against the back of the chair.

  ‘Sorry, Emma,’ she said more gently. ‘I was just with Leo and Ge Ge at the Peak. We were teaching Buffy some martial arts.’ Her eyes went bright with pleasure. ‘She is so cute! I love her to bits. She’s like a little sister. You should come down …’ Her face fell as she realised I couldn’t plane-shift and she changed the subject. ‘Daddy’s not here with you? You’re all alone?’

  ‘He’ll be along when he’s finished what he’s doing,’ I said.

  She concentrated and nodded. ‘He says to start without him, he’ll be here as soon as he can.’

  ‘Have you eaten?’

  ‘No, I wanted to share this last —’ She stopped herself again, then rallied. ‘I wanted to be … with you. And Daddy. I asked Leo to come, but he’s with Martin and Buffy, and that makes sense. Everybody should be with their family.’

  ‘Did you talk to Nanna and Pop?’ I said.

  ‘Your family are stupid!’ she snapped, then relented and sat next to me. ‘Sorry. They wouldn’t come. Something about the boys not wanting to come up here, so they all decided to stay together. They’re stupid.’

  ‘I only hope Greg’s enough to guard them,’ I said. ‘Did you tell them to all stay in the same place with Greg while we give the treaty back tomorrow?’

  ‘Yes, they —’

  John interrupted her, stumbling into the dining room and falling into a seat on the other side of her. ‘I’m here,’ he said.

  ‘Daddy, you look a million years old,’ Simone said.

  ‘I feel it,’ John said, resting his face in his hand. ‘What’s that about Emma’s family?’

  ‘They’re all together at Aunt Jennie and Greg’s house, and Greg’s guarding them,’ Simone said. ‘Greg will let me know if anything happens, and I’ll go straight there.’

  ‘Thanks, Simone. You tried, and that’s what’s important,’ I said.

  ‘Your family aren’t coming up?’ John said.

  Simone harrumphed and crossed her arms. I didn’t reply.

  ‘Greg will be the first to fall if the worst happens, and if he’s supposed to contact you —’ John began.

  ‘You are not helping,’ Simone said.

  ‘Sorry. I’ll have some guards sent down for them.’

  He concentrated and Er Hao brought in the plates, covered in aluminium foil to keep them warm. I poured tea for John and Simone as Er Hao lifted the foil off the dishes and put her hand over them to heat them.

  ‘This feels like the third or fourth time that we’ve had dinner together on the eve of a battle, and every time the family shrinks a little more,’ Simone said.

  ‘That is the way of the world,’ John said. ‘People grow up and move away, people build families of their own, people —’ He stopped.

  She finished it for him. ‘Die.’

  ‘That is the way of the world.’

  ‘Is it very hard, Daddy?’

  He took my bowl and scooped steamed rice into it with the flat dimpled rice server. ‘Sometimes.’

  ‘I’ll attain Immortality too. That way we’ll always have each other,’ she said.

  He didn’t reply.

  ‘You said you couldn’t see my future, but you can see Emma’s?’

  He nodded as he passed my bowl of rice to me, and reached for Simone’s.

  ‘She will be okay, won’t she?’

  He stopped with the bowl in his hand. ‘There are many possible futures, depending upon our actions. As we act, the futures crystallise into the present.’

  He filled the bowl with rice and handed it to her.

  ‘What about Emma then?’

  Neither of us replied.

  ‘That bad?’

  ‘We’ll talk about it later,’ I said.

  ‘I don’t want to talk about it later, I want to discuss it now,’ Simone said.

  ‘Actually I didn’t mean you,’ I said, and John’s expression went grim.

  ‘Would Emma merging with the Serpent count as her being Raised?’ Simone said.

  ‘No,’ we said in unison.

  ‘Don’t lie to me, I can see it a mile off,’ she said. She picked up some steamed gai lan from the dish in front of her and dropped it into her bowl. ‘But if you merge, how can you two marry? You promised.’

  I glanced up at John, full of hope, but his expression hadn’t changed.

  ‘Your promise will be gone with her?’ she said.

  John turned away from her and selected some mushrooms from one of the dishes.

  ‘Just stay up here where it’s safe, Emma, okay?’ she said.

  ‘Don’t worry, I will.’

  ‘Eat, Emma,’ John said.

  I looked at the smooth mound of rice John had put into my bowl, then at the vegetarian dishes spread before me. I’d dreamt of feasts like this when I’d been wandering cold and lost in the West, and now I couldn’t face the food. I ladled some of the rich vegetarian broth with straw mushrooms and winter melon into my soup bowl instead, and choked it down.

  ‘Kwan Yin hasn’t even come to give us moral support,’ Simone said.

  ‘No Bodhisattva will ever assist any people at war,’ John said.

  ‘I know, that’s exactly what Emma said.’ Simone hesitated. ‘That’s exactly what Emma said. I love you two more than anything, and Emma, you’re like a mother to me, but maybe you should separate for a little while? Emma, go and live in the West or the East or something when we win, and come back when Daddy’s whole again? I don’t want to lose you.’

  ‘You heard me say I would talk to him later.’

  ‘Oh.’ She nodded. ‘Okay.’

  ‘So what’s the plan for tomorrow?’ I said.

  ‘We’ll return the treaty at the Celestial Palace at noon.’

  ‘At the Celestial Palace?’ Simone said, horrified.

  ‘I tried to talk him out of it, but the Jade Emperor’s being stubborn,’ John said. ‘He refuses to display any weakness in front of the Demon King. As soon as we reject the treaty, the Jade Emperor says they’ll
attack. The obvious first target is the Celestial side of Hell. They nearly took it last time, and if they can hold it every Immortal who dies will be in their hands.’

  ‘How’s the Serpent?’ I said.

  ‘I don’t know, I’m not even looking,’ John said, and lifted the bowl to his face to scoop some rice into his mouth.

  ‘Good,’ Simone said.

  ‘What about that grill they put under the Serpent?’ I said.

  John shrugged. ‘I’ve asked Ming to stand by during the meeting with ice packs to throw on me if they try to cook me, but it might be better …’ He didn’t finish.

  ‘Does that mean Leo will be on the Earthly with Buffy?’ Simone said.

  ‘Yes. One of them stays with her at all times. She’s a target, as much as you were. There haven’t been any tries for her yet, but it’s just a matter of time.’

  ‘Geez,’ Simone said. ‘I can see what you guys went through. How awful.’

  ‘I’d like to give you some last-minute polishing on your swords tomorrow morning,’ John said. ‘After I’ve gone around and done a final check on all the defences. We’ll talk to our elementals as well.’

  ‘Okay,’ Simone said. ‘I like to think that this time tomorrow, we’ll be here eating with everybody, and things will be back the way they should be. If we can get this all sorted, then I’ll only have missed a couple of weeks at the university and I’ll still be able to start.’

  ‘I hope you’re right,’ I said.

  ‘And then we can make plans to get your Serpent and my little brother out.’

  ‘We will,’ I said.

  John put his chopsticks down. ‘I’ve been summoned. Er Lang and Guan Yu want a last-minute review of the Gate defences.’ He patted Simone on the back. ‘Don’t wait up for me, either of you. But Emma, I’ll try to be back before you sleep so we can talk.’

  ‘I will wait up for you anyway,’ I said.

  Simone hugged him from her chair and he clutched her with his eyes closed.

  ‘I love you, Daddy,’ she whispered.

  ‘You are my life, little one,’ he said. He rubbed her on the back and she released him. He rose, came to me and kissed the top of my head. ‘Really. Don’t wait up. I may be a while.’

  ‘We still need to talk later, so wake me when you get home,’ I said.