The Imperial Alchemist

by A. H. Wang

  “What about Charlie? How do I explain him?”

  Sarah shrugs. “He was just another expert that Lambert hired. No one knows him or his real name. They couldn’t even find a photo of him for the news release.”

  Georgia nods silently, considering Sarah’s advice as she leans back against the raised bed, suddenly overcome with exhaustion. She lets out a yawn.

  Sarah pats Georgia’s hand. “Look, you’re tired, I’ll let you sleep. We can talk more tomorrow. I gotta make some phone calls anyway; your grandmother’s gonna be so happy you’re finally awake.”

  “Amah? Is she okay?”

  “Yeah,” Sarah replies. “She’s been coming in every day to check on you. I sent her home earlier, I could tell she was getting tired.”

  Georgia nods. “Tell her I’ll give her a call in the morning.”

  “Sure,” Sarah smiles, rising to stand. She looks at Georgia’s untouched food. “You want me to grab you something more decent?”

  “No,” Georgia shakes her head, smiling.

  “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Thanks. See you tomorrow.” Her voice is a whisper, and she’s barely able to keep her eyes open.

  Watching Sarah leave, Georgia pushes the tray of food away, reaching for the electronic controls to lower her bed. As she curls up on her side and hugs her knees to her chest, she feels an instant calm envelop her like a thin blanket. She closes her eyes.

  As always in quiet moments like this, the thought of Jacqui surfaces in her mind. Ghosts of her daughter swirl all around her, appearing and disappearing into the dark recesses of her head. The days before Jacqui’s death are replayed like a movie, and Georgia feels the presence of her baby girl in a powerfully physical way. She can almost hear her gurgling laughter, almost feel Jacqui’s fine silky hair between her fingertips, almost detect her scent.

  A deep sense of longing throbs within her chest.

  As Georgia edges towards sleep, her mind roams over the possibilities of what could have been if she’d managed to salvage a sample of the elixir. It fills her with remorse to think she could have prevented all of this from happening to other parents—the pain she went through during Jacqui’s illness and death, and the anguish she felt as she watched her marriage disintegrate. She could have spared others like Nola Lambert from her agonising fate.

  But is humanity ready for it?

  Then, just as her mind gives in to slumber, she remembers that contemplating any of it is futile.

  Charlie’s gone. The elixir is lost forever.

  Epilogue

  Two weeks later, Melbourne

  Georgia takes a fortifying breath.

  “You can do this,” she mutters to herself, raising her hand to knock on the door.

  It’s a rare, sunny winter’s afternoon in Melbourne, and she’s on Ethan’s front porch in Collingwood, waiting for her best friend to open his door. The sun hangs low on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the quiet neighbourhood. Minutes pass, and Georgia fidgets, readjusting the shopping bags in her hand and wondering if it would’ve been better to call first before showing up unannounced.

  Well. It’s too late to think about that.

  “Please be home,” she whispers.

  Georgia knows Ethan is probably mad at her for abandoning their plans to see each other again in Taipei after their tryst. She knows he must have seen her on the news too, judging from the recent messages he’s sent. And yet, she has thwarted his every attempt to contact her. Until now.

  Yeah, he’s got to be furious.

  It’s better to talk to him face to face, she decides, and knocks louder this time.

  “Coming!” A gruff voice issues from the other side of the door. At the familiar sound, a smile spreads across Georgia’s face.

  The door flies open, and she draws in a sharp breath as she looks up at Ethan’s face. He is tugging at a crumpled shirt he’s hurriedly put on, his darkened hair dripping with water. Seeing her before him, a startled look of incredulity flashes across his eyes as his hands fall still. Then, utter, undisguised relief replaces the shock on his face, and for a split second, it looks like he’s about reach for her.

  But he doesn’t. Instead, he balls his fists, crossing his arms over his broad chest as if to prevent himself from touching her.

  “George,” he says, his voice full of strain. Then he frowns as he looks her over. “Are you okay?”

  She nods, giving him a small, hesitant smile. “Hi.”

  They stare at each other silently.

  “I can explain,” says Georgia.

  Ethan shakes his head, a seething look of dismay now settling in his features. His voice low, he says, “A phone call, a text, an email—hell, anything to let me know that you were okay would’ve been nice.”

  “I’m sorry….”

  Ethan rakes a hand through his damp hair, blowing out a huff of frustration. Shaking his head again, he says, “We hadn’t seen each other in six years, George. Then we had this one amazing—mind-blowing—night together, and you just walked out of my life again without even a note? And then, after a whole month of not knowing what happened, I see you on the news, found unconscious in the jungles of Taiwan! Do you know how worried I’ve been? Why didn’t you pick up any of my calls or return my messages?”

  When Georgia comes up with nothing, Ethan lets out a sigh, his arms falling to his sides as if in defeat. She feels a lump lodge in her throat at the hurt in his soft blue eyes.

  “After everything we’ve been through… after all that we’ve been to each other… you still don’t trust me enough to come to me when you’re in trouble.” Ethan shakes his head. “I don’t get it, George. What do you want from me?”

  Panicked for words, she utters the first thing that comes to her mind. “You… you thought that night was mind-blowing, too?”

  Ethan blinks, and a surprised sound escapes his lips, the staccato snort thick with frustration. Crossing his arms again, he narrows his eyes.

  “I—” Georgia stutters, “I know. And I’m sorry. I’m soooooo sorry. There’s a really good reason behind it all, I swear,” she pleads. “It’s a pretty long story, though. Can I please just come in for a bit, and we’ll talk?”

  But Ethan doesn’t move. He stares at her mutely and maintains his stance, his broad frame filling the entire doorway. It appears he has no intention of letting her in without a decent amount of begging.

  “Please? I’ll cook you dinner,” she adds, lifting the shopping bags to show him her peace offering.

  He seems to consider this briefly. Then he lifts his chin, still not budging. “What if I already have plans? What if I’ve got someone coming over? You can’t just show up, expecting me to always drop everything for you.”

  Her heart plummets. She should have called first. Of course he has plans. It’s Saturday and Ethan’s a hotblooded, attractive guy. Why did she assume that he’d be free?

  Then Georgia remembers something Sarah said, and she grits her teeth. She didn’t just fly seven thousand kilometres from Taiwan, after everything she has survived, to be sent home again. It’s been hellish over the past two weeks, dealing with all the authorities in Taiwan, and then trying to fully recover her strength from everything she’s been through.

  No. Ethan’s just going to have to cancel.

  “Do you?” she presses. “Do you have plans?”

  He stares at her, his nostrils flaring as he inhales audibly. After a long, agonising moment, she sees the familiar mischief flash in his eyes.

  “No,” he finally says.

  Her spirits soar, and she has to purse her lips to stop from grinning. Standing on the tips of her toes, she rises to his height, jabbing a playful finger at his chest.

  “Then. Let. Me. In.” Georgia gives him her best doe eyes, sing-songing, “I’ll be making your favourite. Chicken sandwich with lettuce and extra mayo.”

  She dangles the bag of food in front of Ethan’s face, the scent of roast chicken filling the air. Geo
rgia watches his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallows, his stomach letting out a fierce growl.

  With a grunt, he relents and moves aside to make room for her through the door. “Fine. But only ‘cause I’m starving right now. Don’t think you’re forgiven,” he warns. “We’re eating and then we’re talking this shit out.”

  She almost skips inside with triumph, heading straight down the hall into the sun-filled, open-plan living room. At the adjoining kitchen, Georgia places the groceries on the bench, moving around the familiar space to gather everything needed to prepare their meal.

  Ethan ambles in, grabbing the TV remote to mute the news channel. He rests against the back of the couch opposite the kitchen counter, crossing his long legs before him as he watches her closely. Then he opens his mouth to ask something, only to be interrupted by Georgia’s raised hand.

  “Let me make these sandwiches first,” she says, knowing what he’s about to say. “I’ll get into everything once we sit down to eat.”

  He purses his lips with a terse nod and says instead, “Careful with the knife, I only sharpened it yesterday.”

  “Okay.”

  As Georgia starts to slice the lettuce into thin shreds, she worries the edge of her lower lip, madly sorting through everything she needs to say.

  On the way over here from the airport, she again debated inwardly over what to tell Ethan. In the end, Georgia decided that if they’re ever to have a chance at being together, then the full story must be revealed. She needs to start with Lambert’s offer over four months ago, and end with what happened in the cave. Ethan deserves the truth; it’s the least she can give him.

  “See, there you are again, on the news,” Ethan says, breaking her out of her thoughts. “You have no idea how worried I was after I saw this.”

  Georgia looks up towards the TV in the lounge room as Ethan turns on the volume. Although she’s seen the report a few times already, the images still make her cringe. On the screen, she sees herself strapped unconscious to a stretcher whilst being lifted into an ambulance. Dark, wet hair plastered around her ghostly pale face, she’s dwarfed by the paramedics working around her. The video footage is replaced by a photograph of Lambert at a charity function, dressed in a tuxedo as he smiles dashingly into the camera.

  “…one injured and three missing, the recent landslides as a result of earthquakes in Taiwan are causing further delays as authorities continue the search. Among the missing is the renowned billionaire, Mark Lambert. Mr. Lambert and his assistant, Hank Law, were hiking in the area when the catastrophic collapse…”

  Her eyes glued to the screen, she continues to chop the vegetable before her, until the sharp edge of the blade sinks deep into her flesh. Hissing with pain, Georgia recoils her hand, grabbing a nearby tea towel to wrap around her forefinger.

  “You okay?” Ethan is on his feet, striding towards her as she blinks back the tears.

  “I cut my finger,” she says.

  “Here, let me see.”

  She shakes her head. “I think I might need stitches. I think I cut it pretty deep.”

  “Let’s just wash it out first,” he coaxes, gentle taking her hand to unravel the soaked, bloody towel. “Jesus.”

  She winces as he peels the fabric off. Ethan pulls them towards the sink, guiding her hand under the cold, running water. She turns away, the sight of blood making her woozy.

  After a silent moment, Ethan lets go of her hand abruptly with a soft laugh. “Oh, very funny, George. Trying to get some sympathy points, eh?”

  “What do you mean?” Georgia frowns, turning back towards the sink as the last traces of blood wash away. She blinks at the sight of her unmarred finger.

  What the—

  Georgia is certain she cut it. The memory of the knife carving into her skin is as clear as the water running over her hand right now.

  A myriad of questions hits her all at once. There were no injuries on her body when she woke up in the hospital, not even a bruise, despite everything that happened in Taroko. How was that possible? And whilst she was unconscious, she burned a delirious, high fever for a whole week, just as Charlie had after he took the elixir. Could this be her body reacting to the virus Charlie described?

  Then, fragmented, kaleidoscopic impressions resurfaces in her mind: the deafening roar of the walls crumbling around her, the pain of her fingernails splintering as she desperately grasped for purchase, the way she coughed and spluttered on the water as she was washed down the dark tunnel before being knocked unconscious.

  She gasps, lifting her hand to study it closely. The elixir is not lost, after all.

  Her mind as sharp and lucid as the light glinting off the water beads on her skin, a single thought arises from within.

  Is humanity ready?

  ❈❈❈❈❈

  Enjoyed The Imperial Alchemist?

  Thank you, dear Reader, for joining me on this journey. I am so grateful for your overwhelming support. If you enjoyed the book, there is nothing kinder you can do than to leave a short review on the links below. Reviews make a huge impact on the success of a book, and your help in spreading the word is greatly appreciated.

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  The sequel to Georgia’s story, The Golden Khan, is coming soon!

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  Thank you!

  Georgia Lee Series, Book Two

  THE GOLDEN KHAN

  The deadly race for the secrets of absolute power begins…

  1227 CE, MONGOLIA. The founder of the largest contiguous land empire in history is entombed with a terrifying weapon, a secret that can obliterate any enemy and bring even the greatest nation to ruin.

  NOW, dark forces are gathering to possess what is in his grave to create a new world order…

  Just as archaeologist Georgia Lee begins to grapple with the earth-shattering consequences of her last expedition in Taiwan, her life is once again thrown into chaos when she is called to examine an artefact containing vital clues to the undiscovered tomb of the most formidable conqueror ever known: Genghis Khan.

  What follows is a desperate race across the vast, infinite landscape of Mongolia to solve one of the greatest archaeological mysteries, and to thwart those who threaten to destroy the world as we know it.

  But to find the tomb, Georgia must first untangle the truth from the lies of what has been told of the Mongols and expose the real Golden Khan – the legend behind the mighty Mongol Empire. She must also fight to protect her own secrets from those who would kill to possess them.

  The Golden Khan is the sequel to A.H. Wang’s best-selling debut novel, The Imperial Alchemist, the second book in the Georgia Lee Adventure series. A seamless blend of fact and fiction that will have you guessing at every turn of the pages, this is an intelligent, daring, fast-paced thriller that will keep you up all night.

  Get an exclusive sneak peek of the first few chapters of The Golden Khan by signing up below:

  www.AHWangAuthor.com/contact-me

  About the Author

  A. H. Wang is a contemporary visual artist and author with a fascination for history and a passion for adventure. Born in Taiwan and raised in Australia, her travels have taken her across five continents and dozens of countries. Throughout her journey, she has developed a sincere appreciation for local cultures and the lore of ancient civilisations.

  As well as making art and writing, you will find her deeply involved with her meditation practice. In a previous life, she was also a scientist, an engineer, a holistic counsellor, and a Reiki Master. She now lives in Taipei, Taiwan, with her husband.

  www.ahwangauthor.com

  Acknowledgments

  My deepest gratitude to family and friends, for your encouragement and support through the daunting task of completing this
book. Thank you especially to mum and dad—as always you stand by me through all of my endeavours.

  Thank you to my beta readers, for your invaluable feedback: Pamela Blackburn, Alicia Sometimes, Tara Wang, Shannon Murphy, and Katrina Wilson. A special thanks to Meagan Lipscombe for enduring my (rather awful) first draft, and Vanessa Lawless for accepting the cruel and unusual punishment of not only reading the first, but also the second version of this book. Thank you, also, to Joanne Turner for her guidance on the inner workings of the Australian Federal Police.

  To my friends at the Taipei Writers Group: I am infinitely thankful for your guidance, critical input, and friendship throughout this entire process. I have learnt so much from all of you. Thank you especially to Mark Will, Jenny Green, and of course my editor, Pat Woods.

  Last but most importantly, to my husband, Mark Blackburn: for being the cheerleader, the cook, the beta-reader of every single draft, the sounding board, the website guru, the marketing manager and publishing assistant, and all-round, mind-blowingly amazing guy. Without you, this book would simply not exist.