by Kylie Chan
‘I remember now, it’s all coming back to me,’ Simone said. ‘At the time I was so upset it was just a blur. I was going to destroy you but then I decided not to waste the time.’
‘You rose on your shen energy and floated across the water. You were a thing of terrifying beauty, making the water beneath you ripple as you drifted above it.’ He smiled slightly and shook his head. ‘You should have been destroyed — the water is full of the power of yin itself; one touch is destruction. Being in the centre of the river is like being in a vortex of yin and therefore should annihilate anything except this specially constructed boat. Yet you were completely unharmed. Later I learnt that you had summoned yin, and I understood. You could probably manipulate this water if you wished to control it.’
Simone smiled back tightly. ‘I don’t think I’ll bother. I’m just here to find my Retainer.’
‘As you wish, ma’am,’ he said, and we continued in silence.
The landing on the other side was a rough-hewn alcove cut out of the dark grey rock with a smooth stone floor. The only break in the wall of rock was a modern black-doored elevator with a single black smoked-glass button next to it. The demon pressed the button and the light went on.
‘This is where I leave you. There is only one destination for this lift,’ the demon said. He saluted us. ‘Ladies. Sir. Good luck on your sortie and I hope that I will be able to ferry you on your return.’
We saluted back. The demon returned to the boat and it pulled away, disappearing into the darkness.
A bell sounded and the lift doors opened.
‘Here we go,’ Simone said, and we went in.
‘How much of this is coming back to you?’ I asked as the lift doors closed and we descended.
Simone looked up but there were no floor lights above the door. ‘Some of it. They kept telling me you were here by choice; and the counsellor I was seeing acted as if you were dead, but I knew you weren’t dead because I could sense you. When Rhonda took me to school on my first day back and the stone told me that this was the way my life would be now, without you, or Daddy, or Leo, I just snapped. I thought, “To hell with this, I’m getting back the person I can get, and that’s Emma”.’
‘The stone did that on purpose?’ I said, incredulous.
The stone didn’t reply and I moved to tap it. It spoke before I touched it. ‘Some of us had the brains to realise what the King was doing when he manipulated Simone into coming down here, destroying Wong and freeing you.’
‘Rubbish,’ Simone said. ‘You just wanted her back as much as I did, and you didn’t give a damn either.’
The stone didn’t reply.
‘Simone isn’t as much fun to torment?’ I said.
‘She’s getting there,’ the stone said. ‘Give her some time.’
Michael quirked a small smile and shifted his sword, the White Tiger, more comfortably where it lay diagonally across his back. I saw his face; it was strained with tension.
‘Are you okay, Michael?’
He nodded, serious. ‘I can feel the nature of this place and how it wishes to reject me, but I can tolerate it.’
‘I don’t feel that it wants to reject me,’ Simone said. ‘I don’t feel anything much.’
‘You’re probably too powerful, Simone,’ the stone said, and Michael grimaced slightly. ‘Emma?’
‘I don’t feel rejected,’ I said quietly.
The doors opened and we stepped out of the lift into a large bright courtyard full of small trees and flowing water. The water ran in narrow channels between paths of light tan pavers and raised garden boxes. Small pavilions with white-tiled pillars and traditional roofs were scattered around the garden. The whole area gleamed, and a fresh breeze full of the scent of jasmine lifted the air. A bird sang nearby, and I looked up. There was no ceiling, but neither was there a sky; it was just bright above us, and nothing else was visible. It was impossible to tell how high the ceiling was, if there was one.
An official wearing a traditional black silk robe and a high, square hat with long extensions either side appeared. Meredith was with him. He bowed slightly to us and saluted. ‘This way, please.’ He turned to our left and led us through a large moon gate. On the other side of the gate was a landing with stairs leading down to the right.
We all stopped on the landing and watched in wonder. The ground below — about a hundred metres away — spread before us to the sandy edge of a large, still, brilliantly blue lake that stretched to the horizon. The beach was bordered by a metre-high tan stone wall, and on its near side was an expanse of manicured lawn dotted with bauhinia trees, their pink and white blooms covering the ground around them. The courtyard we had been in had an open rooftop and the building below us had ornamental arches for windows in its light tan stone walls.
A white marble causeway led out across the lake, with traditional cloud-patterned balustrades on either side. It was about three metres wide and disappeared into the misty distance. Similar causeways could be seen about two hundred metres away on either side of it, spreading out from where we were and stretching across the lake.
Next to our causeway stood a two-storey mansion with red pillars and wooden screens, a large veranda around it, and an upward-sloping roof of green tiles. Identical mansions stood next to the other two visible causeways.
‘This is an island, and there are nine of those bridges spreading out across the lake in all directions,’ Michael said. ‘We’re in the middle of a huge wheel and those are the spokes.’
‘The Wheel of Rebirth,’ the official said. ‘Down these stairs are the cells, further along on the right.’
He indicated a row of villas facing the lake, each with a tiny fenced garden that opened onto a white pathway that skirted the edge of the water. The villas were two storeys high and had traditional Chinese roofs with white tiles. The fencing around their gardens also had a small tile roof with decorative fan-shaped, square and circular windows cut in them.
‘Leo’s cell is the second one,’ the demon said.
‘Tell me that you see these as luxurious houses,’ I said to Simone and Michael.
Simone nodded.
‘Yep,’ Michael said. ‘If this is Hell, then to hell with Heaven.’
‘This is the tenth level, Celestial side of Hell,’ Meredith said over her shoulder as she walked down the stairs in front of us. ‘Not all of Hell is this pretty, believe me.’
The sky was still the same; just a universal warm, white glow. It was bright enough that it seemed to be the middle of the day but completely without glare. We reached ground level and walked along the white path towards the villas. People sat on the grass and strolled on the pathway, all of them seeming happy and relaxed. A couple waved to Meredith and she waved back.
‘Don’t ask, because we cannot tell you,’ the official said before I could speak. ‘You are here to collect your Retainer. Please convince him to take the Elixir and fulfil his destiny. It saddens all of us to see him like this.’
As we approached the villas we saw Leo. He was sitting in a wheelchair on the path outside the second house, watching the water.
‘Leo!’ Simone called, and raced to him. He looked up and saw her but his dark face was expressionless. When she reached him, she crouched to throw her arms around his neck and held him.
Michael put his arms around Leo’s neck from behind and rested his cheek on the top of Leo’s head. I crouched next to the chair and held his arm.
Meredith stood back, letting the family have its moment.
‘God, Simone, you’ve grown up so beautiful,’ Leo choked. His restraint dissolved and he smiled up through his tears at Michael. ‘You’re a fine young man.’ His smile turned wry. ‘Hey, Emma, you guys don’t know how long I’ve hoped you’d come and visit me.’
‘They wouldn’t let us,’ I said. ‘I’ve been fighting the Celestial bureaucracy for eight years to let us down here.’
Simone raised her head so she could see into his face. ‘Come home with us, Le
o, we need you.’
Leo gestured slightly with one hand. ‘No, you don’t, beautiful. I can see that you can look after yourself just fine.’
She traced his cheek where the tears fell. ‘I miss you so much, Leo, please come home.’
Michael spoke to the top of Leo’s head. ‘Come home, old man, back where you belong.’
Leo shook his head. ‘I’ve been hoping for so long that I’d see you all again. They kept telling me to take the Elixir and go back.’ He sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. ‘Emma, can I talk to you alone?’
‘Whatever you want to say, you can say in front of all of us, dear Leo,’ Simone said gently. ‘Don’t worry, I understand. You loved Daddy. But we love you.’
Michael placed one hand on Leo’s shoulder. ‘You’re more of a father to me than the Tiger ever was.’
Simone put her head on Leo’s lap and spoke softly. ‘We need you.’
Leo stroked Simone’s hair. ‘Please let me talk to Emma alone.’
Michael straightened. ‘Come on, Simone, let’s go skip stones or something.’
Simone glared at him. ‘I’m not a little kid, Michael.’ She smiled up at Leo. ‘Okay, you talk to Emma, and then we’re taking you home.’
Leo waited until Simone and Michael were out of earshot. ‘Let’s go inside.’
He grasped the wheels of his chair to wheel himself inside, but I moved to the rear of the chair and took the handles. I wheeled him past his two demon guards into his villa.
I sat on the rosewood couch and he sat in his wheelchair facing me, fidgeting in his lap. I waited for him to start, but he didn’t say anything. Eventually I said, ‘I know you’ve been asking to die for eight years, Leo.’
He sighed and tilted his head without looking up. ‘That’s all I want, Emma. An end to it. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.’
‘There’s no way we can convince you to come back with us?’
He just shrugged.
‘Simone and Michael need you.’
He smiled slightly. ‘They’re already grown-up, look at them. What do they need me for?’ He gestured towards his legs. ‘I’m useless.’
‘Immortals can fly; you could probably learn to levitate, or even make use of your legs. Iron Crutch doesn’t have to take the form of a cripple all the time, and probably neither would you, unless you chose to.’
Leo bowed his head. ‘A cripple.’
I raised my hands. ‘Disabled. Disabled. Geez.’
He rubbed his hand over his face again. ‘No, you’re right, Emma, I’m a cripple. And here you are, wanting to sentence me to an eternity of being like this and pining after him?’ He heaved a deep sigh. ‘No, thanks. Go and wait for him, and when he comes back for you, be happy together. Simone and Michael are grown-up now. None of you need me. Please. Let me go.’
I hesitated, then dealt my trump card. ‘I know what you want more than death, because I want it too.’
He looked away.
‘I want to be his Serpent, Leo. I want to join with him when he comes back, be one with him. I want him to absorb me.’ I reached out and touched his hand. ‘And I know you want him to absorb you too. It’s what you asked him to do when you thought you were going to die.’
He still didn’t look at me.
‘What if you had the chance to be drained by him?’
His head shot up so he could see me.
‘Be one with him forever?’ I went on. ‘I know that’s what I want. I’m sure you want it too. Would you wait for him to come back, to have that chance?’
‘That would be wrong, Emma. He loves you.’
‘He loves you too, Leo, and I’m sure he’d be merciful enough to do this for you.’ I smiled and shrugged. ‘My husband and my best friend in one gorgeous package. How could I lose?’
He chuckled. ‘That sounds so wrong.’
‘Shen only seem to follow human rules when it suits them.’ I held his hand tighter. ‘So what do you say? Come home with us and spend the time with us, your family, until he returns. Simone’s only fourteen and has a lot of growing to do. Michael could really use your advice; he isn’t on speaking terms with his father. They really do need you, and I could use your common sense sometimes. And when he returns, both of us can ask him to do this for you. You know he won’t say no to me. So how about it?’
‘That would be a dream come true, Emma, you know that,’ Leo said softly.
‘I know, my friend, I know,’ I said, and squeezed his hand. ‘I want it too.’
‘He would do it for me?’
‘He already did, but Kwan Yin grabbed you. Remember? He started to drain you. He’d do it again if we asked him, I’m sure.’
‘But I have to drink this stupid Elixir of Immortality. Then he won’t be able to drain me.’
‘He will. I know he will — he was concerned about draining Meredith. Take it, Leo, and come back with us for a little while longer.’
Leo gestured towards the sideboard in his dining room. ‘It’s over there. It’s been there the whole time; I could have used it any time I wanted. Wanna get it for me?’
I couldn’t contain the huge smile. ‘Sure.’
I rose and went to the sideboard, where an elegant silver and glass jug held the Elixir of Immortality. The liquid was the colour of red wine but its sour, unpleasant smell was discernible from quite some distance. I grabbed a glass as well and took both to him, placing them on the coffee table next to him.
‘Smells awful,’ I said.
‘Yeah,’ Leo said. He grinned. ‘Must mean it’s very good for you.’
‘Don’t do it yet — I’ll get the kids,’ I said.
‘Does Michael still object to being called a kid?’ Leo said.
‘Oh, very loudly,’ I said, and went to the door of the villa. Call them for me, I said to the stone.
Done, the stone replied.
Simone and Michael hurried back to the house, Meredith and the official following.
‘He’s really going to do it?’ Simone said, flushed and excited.
‘Yes,’ I said.
‘This will be your first time to see this then,’ Meredith said. ‘Come and watch.’
Simone raced to Leo and hugged him around his shoulders. ‘Drink it, Leo. I want to see what happens.’
I took the jug and poured him a glass of the crimson, foul-smelling liquid. ‘Drink it quickly if it tastes as bad as it smells.’
‘Yeah,’ Leo said, and raised the glass in a toast to all of us, then drank.
‘Wait …’ Meredith said, but it was too late.
Leo dropped the glass, his mouth opened in a silent scream, his eyes wide. He shredded quickly, like a demon, his edges disappearing into black feathery streamers. It happened too fast for me to react; he exploded and was gone.
CHAPTER 10
‘You killed him!’ Michael shouted, rounding on Meredith and the official. ‘You murdered him!’ He sagged against the couch and rubbed his hand over his face. ‘What happened?’
‘This is not possible,’ the official said weakly. ‘This cannot have happened. He was an ordinary human.’ He drifted to the side of the room and fell to sit on a chair against the wall. ‘I am contacting the Master.’
Meredith went to Michael and looked into his eyes. ‘That wasn’t Leo, Michael, believe me. Only demons react like that to the Elixir. Only demons say it smells and tastes bad; to everyone else it tastes very good. That was some sort of demon copy or replacement or something, and the Elixir destroyed it.’
‘So where’s Leo?’ Michael said, glaring at her.
Meredith turned to the official. He snapped back from whoever he had been communicating with, obviously stricken. ‘The Master is on his way. We have no idea how this happened. Mr Alexander must have been replaced some time recently. That copy was undetectable though, which is very disturbing.’
‘So where is Leo?’ Michael stormed to his feet.
A middle-aged man in traditional maroon robes appeared. ‘We don’t know,’
he said.
The official bowed and saluted him. ‘Yanluo Wang.’
‘Come with me to my office and we’ll work out what to do,’ Yanluo Wang, King of the Underworld, said. ‘The demons may know something — we will contact the demonic side of Hell. It appears that Leo has been taken.’
He took us back to the main building, where we’d arrived on the roof, and we went inside the ground-floor entrance. The interior was like a modern office. He led us past sleek designer cubicles containing staff in traditional robes working on computers, and to his office at the other end. It overlooked the lake and contained a meeting table, an executive desk and a computer. A whiteboard to one side was covered with indecipherable symbols and scribbled Chinese characters.
He saw me looking at it and grinned. ‘Recent strategic planning session.’
‘This really is Hell,’ I said wryly.
‘Oh, absolutely,’ Yanluo Wang said. ‘Some residents are punished by being forced to sit in on the sessions. If they are to be punished more severely, they are made to take the minutes of the meetings.’ He sat at the large conference table and gestured for us to sit. ‘Let me call in the contacts and see what I can discover. Please, give me a moment.’ His eyes unfocused.
There was a tap on the door and a man opened it slightly. ‘Wong Mo wants to help,’ he said.
‘I don’t want the Demon King having any part of this,’ Simone said. ‘He caused all this trouble in the first place by putting a price on my father’s head.’
‘If any demonic influence is involved, then he will be able to help, Princess,’ Yanluo Wang said. ‘He has equal jurisdiction down here in Hell.’
‘It’s a good idea,’ Meredith said. ‘The demons may have some ideas. They can’t get up to anything here on the Celestial side. Let them come, Simone.’
‘Emma?’ Simone said.
‘The King has to vow not to try anything,’ I said. ‘Don’t ask me what I mean, just tell him that and make him agree.’