by Kylie Chan
‘Did it work?’ Ma said.
‘It did,’ John said.
‘Good. We’ve just been discussing reassignments. Five more battalions were nearly destroyed today.’
‘Zara, post the losses,’ John said.
A list of the five battalions and their losses appeared, floating above the table.
The Tiger came in, saluted John and joined us. ‘Simone will be fine.’
‘Thank you.’ John scanned the list of casualties. ‘Field promotions are confirmed. Xiao is relieved. Twenty-Two and Thirty-One are to merge under Wang’s command.’
‘I’m not objecting to losing my command, but why?’ Xiao said. ‘My demons will be sorely upset.’
‘I’m freeing you to concentrate solely on manipulating time in battle if necessary,’ John said.
Xiao nodded. ‘Makes sense. I’ll talk to my soldiers.’
The list items shuffled to show four battalions.
‘The other three to stay as they are.’ John wiped one hand over his face. ‘I’m ordering Zhao to find a way to recruit more demon soldiers. We’re down to twenty-eight battalions and losing soldiers faster than we can replace them. Did we lose any civilians in the palace, Ah Yue?’
‘Zara,’ Yue Gui said, and Zara replaced the floating list with a new one showing the losses in the Northern Heavens: at least twenty names.
‘That many?’ I said with dismay.
‘The Tiger’s warriors were able to electrify their bats, which killed the insects on touch,’ Yue Gui said. ‘We couldn’t do that. If they survived the first blow, they became angry and even more deadly.’
‘Liaise with the Dragon to find a technological way around this,’ John said. ‘A larger version of the electrified fly swatters they use on the Earthly.’
‘My Lord,’ Yue Gui said.
‘Did you find Leo and Ming Gui?’ John said.
Yue Gui shook her head. ‘I am deeply concerned. Neither of them is answering their phones or direct calls.’
John’s face went grim as he concentrated, calling them. Obviously he’d spoken to one of them because he became even grimmer.
‘They were at a movie and turned their damn phones off,’ he said. ‘Completely unacceptable. When they return to the Heavens, they are to attend me in my office.’
‘My Lord,’ Yue Gui said, carefully keeping her expression composed. She shot a glance at me, and from her face we were both thinking the same thing: why the hell were they ignoring direct calls if they were only at a movie?
‘Zara,’ John said, ‘reviewing the data that Number One gave us: what is their plan if their attack on Hell should fail?’
‘They didn’t plan for failure,’ Zara said. ‘They assumed they would succeed.’
‘No alternative strategy if they failed to take Hell?’ John said.
‘No, my Lord,’ Zara said. ‘Our information is already out of date.’
‘What were they planning to do after they’d secured Hell?’ I said.
‘Take an army through the Gates to the Western Heavens and conquer that, then proceed to the South.’
‘Take the South?’ the Phoenix said. ‘Not possible.’
‘How?’ John said.
‘Stones,’ Zara said, her voice weak with dismay. ‘They have artificial stones, and they will use them to take the South.’
‘Completely impossible,’ the Phoenix said. ‘Any artificial stone they create would melt in the heat of my nest. Our sweet lava is the essence of molten stone.’
‘We don’t melt, Highness,’ Zara said. ‘We natural stones enjoy a lava bath. These … things may have similar properties.’
The Phoenix went silent, her long face thoughtful.
‘Anything else?’ John said.
‘It’s started on the Earthly,’ the Tiger said. ‘I have reports coming in from the far west of my domain. Two in Europe, one in the Middle East, beyond our jurisdiction.’ He rubbed both hands over his long sideburns. ‘Same scenario each time: there’ll be a peaceful protest about the economy or political incompetence. It’ll be noisy — shouting, drums — but peaceful. The police will be relaxed, almost on side, it’s a bit of a carnival. Then suddenly a large group of young men will show up out of nowhere, armed with clubs, sticks, some with machetes or even guns. They’ll charge straight into the police and attack them. The protesters shout at them to stop but it’s too late and the police are forced to defend themselves, and in their panic they counterattack hard. Carnage. Lives lost. The protests turn into riots and the protesters are arrested and vilified in the press for being violent anarchists.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s a perfect environment for recruiting an army intent on toppling the cruel government.’
‘Is there nothing we can do to stop this?’ the Phoenix said. ‘We have to help the humans.’
‘I have people investigating. We’ll move as soon as things are settled in our region,’ the Tiger said.
‘We should send some of our armies in to protect the humans in these situations,’ the Phoenix said. ‘My Red Warriors —’
‘We can’t, much as I would love to,’ John said. ‘We’re already stretched too thin. We need to concentrate on protecting the East. The West has already fallen; we have to stop it from happening here.’
‘Won’t be long before it does,’ the Tiger said, looking pointedly at the Phoenix. ‘Some parts of the southeast are ready for political turmoil and ripe for exploitation.’
‘Your domain in the West is just as bad. If the human governments did their jobs properly this would not be an issue,’ the Phoenix said, tapping the table with her index finger. ‘Anywhere there is corruption and deceit from the government, the populace will be ready to listen to those who would change things, uncaring as to what sort of change it is.’
‘Anything more to report?’ John said.
Everybody either remained silent or shook their head.
He placed his hands palms down on the table. ‘Ma, with me. Let’s head down to Hell and shore up the defences. Everybody else, dismissed.’
‘Me?’ I said as they rose and gathered their notes.
‘You’re not needed. Go and rest,’ Ma said.
‘He’s right, Emma,’ John said. ‘Go.’
I nodded and went out. Smally was waiting for me in the courtyard. She passed me the silk jacket again, and held the umbrella over me. I shrugged the jacket on and headed towards the infirmary. Edwin was at his desk.
‘How is she?’ I said.
‘A couple of hours’ rest and she’ll be fine,’ Edwin said. ‘She’s absolutely remarkable. I never saw her father when he was whole, but I think she must have close on his healing power. She can recover in a day from something that would take a normal human a week.’
‘Can I sit with her?’
‘Of course.’ He opened the door of her room. ‘She’s asleep, but you can stay as long as you like.’
I turned back to tell Smally to wait for me, but she had already settled herself in one of the chairs and obviously switched off: she sat stiff, unmoving and completely blank, with my jacket in her lap.
I went into Simone’s room and had a moment of panic: she wasn’t in the bed. Then I heard the water running. She was in the shower. I sat beside the bed and waited for her to come out. She stepped out of the bathroom naked.
‘I’m here,’ I said.
‘Whoops,’ she said, and scooted back in again.
‘I’ve seen it all before, I know what it looks like,’ I said, smiling as I leaned one arm on the chair.
She opened the door slightly and poked her head out. ‘If you tell me that you used to give me baths when I was little, I will blow you up with the biggest ball of shen …’
‘Just get dressed,’ I said, waving one hand at her.
She grinned and pulled her head in. A few minutes later she came out wearing a hoodie over her underwear. She towelled her hair, which fell to her waist in a thick dark gold tangle, and dropped the towel on the bed. She took some jeans from the end of
the bed and pulled them on.
‘That feels better,’ she said.
‘How are the burns?’
She held her arms out in front of her. ‘Nothing to see. All healed.’
I rose to check. ‘Edwin’s right. That’s remarkable.’
‘Uncle Bai helped. I’d still be healing if it wasn’t for him.’ She concentrated and her eyes unfocused. ‘I should go down to Hell and help Dad.’
‘He doesn’t need you. Go back to Todai.’
‘Uh …’ She turned away and dropped her head.
‘What?’
She started making the bed, angrily tugging at the sheets. ‘All Celestial students have been pulled off the Earthly, by Edict. We’ve all been drawn back to Heaven. That includes me.’ She dropped the blanket and turned to me. ‘I haven’t even started and I can’t go!’
‘It’s only temporary.’
She hopped up to sit on the bed. ‘How long do you think this whole thing will take? Please don’t say years. I don’t want to wait until I’m much older than the other students. I want to go now.’
I sat next to her and took her hand. ‘I don’t know. A lot depends on the outcome of our next skirmish with Hell. If we win, they’ll probably call it quits.’
‘And if they win?’
‘That isn’t an option.’
‘Oh well.’ She shrugged. ‘I suppose I should be up here anyway. I have to help fight them.’
‘Only if you’re sure you want to. Today was tough.’
‘I’m my father’s daughter,’ she said with an edge of cold menace. ‘Go rest. I’m heading to the training room in the Residence to work with my elementals and my new blades.’ She patted my hand. ‘When you’re feeling better, come and spar with me. I want to see what my swords say to your sword.’
‘Deal.’
At the Imperial Residence, Simone went into the training room and I collapsed on our bed. I woke an hour later and stared at the ceiling for a while, then pulled myself up.
I checked on Simone in the training room, but she wasn’t there. She’d obviously given up waiting for me. I headed to my office to go over the requisitions and outfitting of the Disciples.
Leo walked in fifteen minutes later. ‘John’s not back yet, and they said to come see you.’
I leaned over the desk to shout at him. ‘Where the hell were you?’ Yi Hao squeaked at her desk so I controlled my voice. ‘The Northern Heavens were attacked, we nearly lost Hell, and both of you were offline.’
‘Can’t a couple of guys have a minute of privacy?’ he said with false bravado as he sat at the other side of the desk.
‘It was more than two hours,’ I said. ‘You didn’t even check your phone messages. What. The. Hell, Leo?’
‘We were busy.’
‘That’s obvious,’ I said, leaning back and glaring at him. ‘But for two hours? Where were you?’
‘We were in the Peak apartment, checking it over and making sure the seals were still secure.’
‘You were busy in John’s and my bed?’ I said with horror.
‘No, of course not,’ he said, indignant. He grew sheepish. ‘My old bed.’
‘Even so,’ I said, waving one hand over the desk. ‘Two hours? Really?’
‘We really did check the seals and the fittings. We left our phones in the bedroom and didn’t hear them.’
‘Why? We hardly use the Peak apartment any more. Was this nostalgia or something?’
‘We want to move in there.’
That stunned me to silence.
He saw my reaction and explained. ‘I’m spending most of my time with Chang and the orphanages — I might as well move full-time to the Earthly. Martin can keep an eye on the Earthly situation there as well. As soon as John returns, we’ll ask his permission.’
‘He won’t give it,’ I said. ‘Martin’s needed in the Northern Heavens. He’s John’s goddamn Number One, Leo. We need him here when we’re attacked.’
‘Yue Gui’s just as good and she’s his Number One too.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous! She’s a genius, but a peacetime administrator. Martin’s a fighter and strategist close to John in ability. We’re at war, and when it comes to defending the Northern Heavens Martin is second only to John himself. This is a stupid made-up reason if ever I heard one. Why do you really want to live on the Earthly? What’s happened?’
‘Really, to help out down there with the orphanages. It’ll just save us a lot of time moving around.’
‘John won’t give permission, so you may as well not ask him.’
‘We’ll move down there temporarily then.’
‘You’ll do it anyway?’
‘We’re needed on the Earthly. We’ll free up Persimmon Tree Pavilion, and your family can use it when they’re visiting.’
‘Leo,’ I bent to speak intensely to him over the surface of the desk, ‘tell me what’s really going on. You can trust me. Is one of you in trouble? Has something happened? Maybe we can help you fix it.’
‘Nothing to fix. We’d just like to live down there. That’s all.’
‘We can’t let you do this.’
He leaned back in his chair. ‘Do you have any idea how much you sound like him? Doesn’t it bother you?’
I slapped the desk. ‘No.’
He rose. ‘As soon as he’s back, I’ll ask him. I hope you’ll help me out here, Emma. A good word from you could make all the difference.’
I glowered at him. ‘You won’t be getting it. Both of you are needed here.’
‘A lot like him,’ he said, an edge of concern in his voice.
Simone appeared in the doorway. ‘Emma, there’s something —’ She saw Leo. ‘Oh, hi, Leo. Sorry.’ She turned to go out again.
‘No, it’s fine, I’m leaving anyway,’ Leo said. He gestured towards me. ‘Come in and ask Emma whatever it was.’
‘You are in so much trouble, Leo. Daddy’s going to cut your head off,’ she said, coming in.
He grinned. ‘Wouldn’t be the first time.’ He waved to me. ‘A good word, Emma, that’s all I ask.’ He went out.
‘A good word for what?’ Simone said.
‘He wants to go down to the Earthly and live on the Peak with Martin,’ I said.
‘What on earth for?’
‘He’s given me a list of stupid reasons that make no sense. If you could find out what’s really going on, I’d appreciate it.’
‘I’ll talk to them,’ she said. She leaned her hip on the desk, crossed her arms and tilted her head. ‘Um.’
‘What?’
‘Uh …’ She furrowed her brow. ‘Today, in Hell … um.’ She straightened and flipped her hair over her shoulder. ‘Actually, never mind. I’ll go talk to Leo and find out what’s happening. It’s nothing.’
She shrugged and went out without another word.
‘It’s not nothing!’ I shouted after her. ‘Come back and tell me what the problem is.’
‘It’s really nothing,’ she said from outside my office. ‘Just a stupid small silly thing. You have more important stuff to worry about.’
My outer office door closed.
‘Secrets, secrets everywhere,’ the stone said.
‘Was Leo lying about wanting to live on the Earthly?’ I said.
‘No,’ the stone said. ‘But you were right: he was lying about his reasons for doing it.’
‘Why won’t he trust me? He’s always trusted me.’
‘This must be extremely big.’
‘I hope Simone can find out for us.’
‘You should ask him to find out what’s going on with her as well,’ the stone said.
‘Good idea. Is the Dark Lord back?’
‘No, he’s still in Hell organising the defensive legions. I think he’ll be a while.’
‘Thanks,’ I said, and returned to the spreadsheets.
John came into my office a couple of hours later. He sat on the other side of my desk looking old and haggard, but at least his feet were whole.
He rubbed one hand over his face. ‘We’re outnumbered and outgunned. They’ll try for Hell again and we’re thinning our defences elsewhere protecting it. If they attempt the Celestial at the same time they try for Hell, we will be sorely tested.’
‘We can do this,’ I said fiercely. ‘We have to.’
‘We will.’ He leaned back and composed himself, turning back from mid-sixties to his usual late-forties self with visible effort. ‘Did Leo and Ming come in here after I spoke to them?’
‘No. I’d already shouted at Leo before he spoke to you. Do either of them have some trouble on the Celestial Plane that they’re trying to avoid?’
‘I have Zara checking.’
‘Ming can’t live on the Earthly, John. He’s your Number One and we need him in the Northern Heavens.’
‘That’s exactly what I said. He insisted. He said that Yue can handle it since I made her Number One as well.’
‘That’s a stupid reason, but from what Leo said we don’t have much choice.’
‘I know. If I deny them permission, they’ll move down there anyway and say it’s only temporary. I might as well allow them. It’ll free up Persimmon Tree Pavilion and we can give it to your family when they come visit.’
‘What about BJ? She lives in Persimmon Tree too.’
‘We will need to speak to her as well.’
‘I’d still like to know their real reason for moving down there. Do you want me to talk to Leo? Maybe I can get more out of him if I speak to him as a friend instead of as Lord.’
‘Stop it.’
‘Stop what?’ I realised what he meant. ‘We’re just in tune. That’s all. It’s nothing.’
‘You just said exactly what I was thinking. Even to being his Lord.’
I waved it away. ‘Form of words. Don’t worry about it.’
He concentrated, checking that his Serpent was still imprisoned, and his edges grew fuzzy. I could see the chair through him; he was going transparent.
I shot to my feet. ‘Stay with us, John. Stay here!’ I ran around the desk and crouched to put my arms around him to hold him with me. ‘Don’t leave me. Don’t leave us. We need you!’