by Cyci Cade
Fu Chow nodded. The most important information still remained unrevealed; why did they fight? “I see, this history is enlightening, answers many questions. It is important, don´t say anything to Wei; he must remember by himself.” Maybe when it happened the true history surfaced.
“As you wish.” Liu leaned forward; he was ready to leave.
Fu Chow interrupted him. “I´ll ask you one thing that will require great commitment. You must train your brother; he needs your help to recover his ability in battles.”
Fu Chow left the notebook beside him and waited Liu´s reply. He asked too much but putting them face to face was an option for Wei to recover his memories, and nobody better to train a soldier than Liu.
Liu sighed, tilted his head to the left, pondered, and answered, “It isn´t a good time to cross swords with him, he has bothered me crossing some boundaries, but… I´ll handle it.”
“You proved that you are a good man. Wait outside.”
Liu grinned and left. Fu Chow took note. Liu had a heart of gold. No matter what happened he´d always protect his brother, their link didn´t break so easily. Fu Chow hoped that whatever had happened between them wasn´t so strong to weaken that connection.
Liu looked different, mature; who might know what he had endured during these centuries? How much pain he had borne all those years in Jin Quan´s hands? That evil man had tortured him, but Liu kept firm and suffering only made him stronger, built his character, did the job Fu Chow and his parents didn´t.
Fu Chow turned over the sheet and wrote KATE. The girl came in, overwhelmed in front of the temple´s decoration. Fu Chow beckoned to her. She walked toward him and sat down cross-legged.
“This is beautiful.” Her gaze skimmed across the walls.
“This is the dragon´s temple. The curse began here; the boys were protecting the dragon´s heart, they fought, Jin Quan stole the heart, the dragon sent the eyes to another place and punished them with this curse.” He summarized the history because there was much more hidden than Liu told.
“Do you think they can break this curse and live a normal life? I mean, you observed that the dragon´s spirit keeps them alive and they spend all night in their dragon shape. What will ensue when they break the curse? What will happen to them?” She clicked her fingers nervously.
Fu Chow studied Kate a little, a young girl full of responsibilities who lived on the other side of the planet that the curse also affected. “You like them, and you are apprehensive about their future. To be honest, I cannot neither answer your question nor put your mind at ease because I don´t know what will happen at the end. But in my vast experience I can say that you´ll be successful in your journey.” Did Fu Chow start to lie after two hundred sixty years? He had his doubts regarding the success of the mission; he had a hunch, though it meant almost nothing.
“What´s my role in this journey; how can I help them? I´m a common girl.” Kate shrugged.
She thought she was a common girl, but she had an important role in this history. “You are the Great Dragon´s elected. The princes were capable of coming to human shape when you and Liu exchanged blood. I don´t know the reason. I realized that you are very important to the Great Dragon and the brothers. They love you and will do everything to protect you. There will be many dangers, long journeys, great battles, and you must decide if you stay and help them or return home.” He tapped her hand. “If you say that you wish to go back home, I will send you to your house right away. You aren´t obliged to remain here and face this mission.” Fu Chow turned his attention to the notebook and wrote while Kate considered his words.
“I am in. They need me, and I love them too. I won´t disappoint them, besides this is also my mission. I grew up training to rescue Samantha, our destiny is woven.” Her voice sounded confident.
Fu Chow listened to her puzzled. That young lady raised in a small village in the middle of the jungle was smarter than he imagined. “Wise words, young lady. Your wisdom brings balance to this scale.”
She scratched her head. “I don´t follow. I am not sure what are you talking about.”
Fu Chow laughed, considering her doubt. “Those boys are one in each tip, you are in the middle, and you keep them balanced. They are very moody and obstinate sometimes. They need a mediator to put them on the right way.” He tried to mitigate the situation; they were moody and obstinate every day.
“This is a hard task because, as you said, they are very obstinate.” She chuckled about her own words and added, “I think that they don´t hear anything I speak, mainly Wei.”
Fu Chow finished his notes, closed the notebook and scrutinized the new member of the team. “How have these days been?”
“Great,” she babbled and stared down.
“Why are you looking sad? Were the princes disrespectful or do you need something special?” Fu Chow leaned forward. He wanted to hug her as he did the princes when they were gloomy; for some reason he didn´t.
“No! They are perfect gentlemen and what I have here is much more than I have had my whole life, but I am worried about my parents. I just disappeared without a note. I thought I´d be back soon.” She toyed with the cushions´ fringe.
“If you wish, write a letter and I find a messenger to deliver it to them.” He touched her hand and soothed her.
“Would you do that for me?” She smiled and gazed at him, her eyes full of tears that never fell.
“Sure. Let me know when the letter is written.” He changed the position of his numb legs.
A servant appeared in the entrance. Fu Chow signaled to him.
“Can I ask a question?” she said in a low voice, almost a whisper.
“Yes.” Fu Chow crossed his arms and glanced at her.
“Did Liu have a date? I mean, he had a girl he liked or he was engaged?” Her cheeks blushed; her eyes broke eye contact.
“Yes and no.” Fu Chow wanted to laugh, but he didn´t. He noticed that the topic was important to her.
“What do you mean?” She leaned forward interested in what he had to divulge.
“When they were kids, a princess was chosen to marry one of them. The heir would be crowned on his twenty-first birthday celebration and marry her.” He covered the unnecessary details.
“They never dated?” Her expression looked confusing.
Fu Chow laughed. “No. They saw each other once when her father came to sign the treaty, and she couldn´t date two boys at the same time.”
Kate smiled abashed. “What happened to the princess?”
“I am not sure.” He put a finger on his mouth and thought.
What would have happened? Who would be the new Emperor? And the princess? Could Kate be her incarnation? It could explain her involvement in this history.
The princes returned. Liu sat beside Kate. Wei kept himself distant and glimpsed at the girl. Kate squirmed in the middle of them. She seemed uncomfortable under Liu´s inquisitive, protective, and menacing eyes. Fu Chow didn´t want to be in her place.
Fu Chow unfolded the map and started to give them instructions. “Here is Kunlun Mountain, your first target.” He pointed to the place. “The Great Dragon hid one eye in the Palace of Jade. You must find the Palace and recover the eye.”
Liu pulled the map a little. He considered for a short time and concluded, “It is near here.”
Fu Chow went on, “The mountain is the dwelling of gods, goddesses and marvelous plants and creatures. The place can be a paradise or a dangerous wilderness inhabited by xian, immortals metamorphosed into superhuman form.”
“That is no problem because we can metamorphose too.” Liu boasted as if he was the most powerful creature of the planet.
“No, you cannot. You can fly until the mountain´s base; there you must remain in your human form,” Fu Chow chided him. It was the biggest problem; they had never fought creatures as strong as them or even stronger.
“It sounds like trouble.” Wei looked worried.
“The first to have visited the Palac
e of Jade was King Mu, of Zhou Dynasty; he discovered the Palace of Huang-Di, the Yellow Emperor, and met Hsi Wang Mu, ‘the spirit mother of the west,’ usually called ‘queen mother of the west.’ The Palace is the aim of numerous unsuccessful expeditions.” Fu Chow folded the map. “I will look for more information. You have to practice because the Palace is guarded by the immortal warriors.”
“How will we defeat them in our human, not so powerful shape?” Wei asked.
“I will try to figure it out.” Fu Chow concealed a great part of the journey not to scare them. They didn´t need this kind of distraction now.
“Where is the eye?” Kate asked.
“Inside the Palace, with the elixir of immortality.” He changed the subject. “You will train in the morning and have technology classes in the afternoon. I bought cars and other stuff that you will need in the future. I´m going to wait for you tomorrow morning at the gym. Enjoy the rest of the day.” He bowed and left without giving the many chance to ask other questions.
Fu Chow got lost in his thoughts while he walked to his room. He´d like to go with them. They could need his help, but the dragon had forbidden him. He should remain in the palace and plead for their lives, mainly Kate´s life. Her future and role in these missions was unknown. What could ensue when you face immortal warriors handling mortal weapons?
Chapter 26
Phillip
Phillip prepared two backpacks with food, water, warm clothing, bow, arrows, and a hatchet. He shouldered them put the hatchet in his belt and held the bow and arrows. He was ready to find Kate and bring her back to her home, to him. He had a plan, he studied it carefully during the last few days considering all hypotheses and he had a solution to all of them.
While his parents were out, he put a note on the table. He really hoped his parents understood his reasons. He opened the door, checked if they were around, and crept toward the forest, avoiding people.
This story had produced a lot of arguments in his house. He didn´t give up Kate´s search and his parents forbid it that he continued looking for her, even if her parents had given up. He lost Samantha. He was a little child at that time and didn´t comprehend that life had its ups and downs, and he couldn´t do anything regarding it. Today, on the other hand, he continued not to understand life’s process, but he could do something.
Phillip reached the forest. He walked less than ten feet and came across Mike carrying logs to the fireplace. He wanted to hide, but it was too late, his friend had seen him. Mike belonged to the group ‘no more searches for Kate,’ not because he was mean or he thought it was a waste of time, but he had a point ‘we swept the village and surroundings, she isn´t here.’ If Phillip hadn´t decided to go on until the very end, he would have joined the group too. Those people´s arguments were strong, though; something inside Phillip kept him moving forward, he couldn´t stop.
“Where are you going?” Mike stopped in front of him and narrowed his eyes because Phillip could only be doing one thing carrying two backpacks and weapons.
“Why do you ask if you know the answer?” Phillip took a defensive stance crossing his arms in front his chest.
“Are you crazy? Look at the sky; it is going to snow tonight. You are going to freeze outside, and you don´t have any idea where she is or if she is alive.” Mike approached him, as if in an attempt to impede Phillip.
“I found a trail to the mountain, in the middle of the way there is a cave that serves like a shelter. I´ll sleep there at night, and I think tomorrow evening I can reach the dragon´s place. I am sure she is there.” Phillip moved from one foot to another uncomfortably. He wanted to go ahead, but Mike blocked his way.
“This is madness; if she is there, how do you plan to rescue her? How will you bring her back with this bad weather? You´ll end up dead.” Mike scowled at him; however, Phillip didn´t fear a face like thunder.
“I see your point. I understand that you cannot help in my quest; this is my burden. I won´t leave Kate alone when she needs me the most. I must go, and you are delaying me. Sorry Mike.” Phillip stepped forward.
Mike dropped the wood and grabbed Phillip by the coat. “I cannot allow you to destroy your life without trying to stop you.”
In an unthinkable gesture, Phillip punched Mike´s jaw. They pushed against each other. Phillip tried to get free from Mike´s hands, but when he released one of the hands, the other grabbed him again. They stayed in that bare hands fight until both panted and fell on the ground with no losers or winners.
Phillip breathed, collected his belongings and stared at Mike. “You´ll have to kill me if you want to stop me.”
Mike yelled, “I don´t need to. You can do that by yourself.” He gathered the logs and darted to the village.
Phillip considered Mike´s words for a fleeting moment. Mike was his best friend and they ended up punching each other. When Phillip returned with Kate everybody would understand his attitude and thank him for his courage. He couldn´t stay any longer and live thinking about what happened to Kate and how the future would be if he had risked his own life to save her. Always ‘if,’ but he had made a decision now, no more ‘ifs.’
He used the hatchet to open a trail through the dense forest. After the trouble with Mike, he could have chosen the wrong way because he wasn´t able to find the marks he had previously carved on the tree trunks. Perhaps he was on the other side of the forest because nothing seemed familiar to him or everything seemed too familiar. He couldn´t figure out how he had found the trail to the mountain the last time or recollect the landmarks.
He kept on moving, but he had a dreadful foreboding that it was Mike´s curse. He would die frozen, lost in the forest and no one would find him until spring when the ice melted. At least, his body would be intact for the funeral. He shook his head to clear those thoughts away and focus on the path.
An eerie silence fell on the forest, even birds were quiet and the natural light diminished drastically. The cold wind blew his hood. He pulled it, covered his head again, and walked against the gust of air that became stronger. His pace was slow for someone who needed to find a shelter urgently. The animals already hidden in their shelters, only the idiot, brave man was outside waiting for the blizzard.
Mist blurred his vision; his whole body shivered. He tightened his arms around himself and blinked to clear his eyes, his legs failed in their purpose to keep him moving. The air became so cold that he couldn´t feel his body´s extremities, his lungs burned when he inhaled. He´d start freezing from the inside out.
Phillip caught site of a hole in the rocks and trudged over to what seemed to be a cave. He held the bow, put an arrow in the bowstring and ambled closer toward it hoping the place was empty. He prepared himself to remove any resident. As he neared the cave, a strong putrefied odor hurt his nostrils. He covered his nose with a hand and entered. A rotten corpse cloaked with flies rested at the back of the cave, his stomach lurched; he had to hold it so not to vomit over the carcass.
He went outside, dropped the bacopacks on the ground and looked for another shelter. Unfortunately, that was the only cave. He took a mouthful of air, held his breath, ran inside, grabbed the carcass and threw it far away from the cave, and then he gathered logs, built a fire in the cave´s entrance and drove the rest of the flies out with a torch.
Snowflakes changed the landscape at night. Phillip wrapped a blanket around his body and ate his first meal since he started the journey. The fire crackled, the flames produced distorted shapes while Phillip analyzed his chances; nothing was more treacherous than an enemy that he couldn´t fight against. Bad weather belonged to his hypotheses´ list, he brought extra food and he had warm clothes; however, he felt more comfortable imagining that in the morning he might restart his trip as planned. It didn´t happen. Phillip remained stuck in that cave for two days, waiting for the blizzard to calm down.
When the sun reappeared, he broke camp and marched to find where he had left the marks that guided him to the mountain´s trail. As he dr
agged his feet, he seemed to carry a ton on his shoulders. He rubbed the gloves on some tree trunks to free them of the snow, looking for the marks. If he couldn´t find them, he would go back home because his supplies were ending and the lake would be frozen.
He wandered amongst the trees for hours taking short breaks to catch his breath. He felt his efforts falling through; feeling drained, he grasped the last bottle of water. He took small sips and filled it with snow. Mike´s words passed through his mind constantly; Phillip ignored them, to agree with his friend now wouldn´t solve his problems.
The infallible plan revealed its failure. He was defeated by the weather. He´d arrive home embarrassed, humiliated, and beaten. Everybody would point their fingers and say, ‘I warned you.’
He snorted and punched the trunk trying to recover his lost dignity. The snow that covered the tree fell, revealing a ‘V’ mark in the middle of the trunk; the mark he had made days ago.
A light flashed in his mind, hope. He turned around figuring out the right direction and shifted his legs as fast as he was able to. A hill led to the top of the mountain. A cold sensation flashed through his spine as he neared the summit. A building appeared close, but it was hours away from of him.
He panted and stopped to rest and recover his strength. Phillip ate a sandwich and sipped the water. He should hunt and also find water as soon as possible. If Kate was weak, she´d need good food, water and a safe place to recuperate herself. That cave was the only option, but it wasn´t appropriate. First, he had to find and release her, and then think about their return to the village. He pushed himself to his feet, moved his tired body and continued the journey. At sunset, Phillip finally arrived at the summit.
“What the hell is this?” He scratched his head, marveled in front of the colossal building.