by Kylie Chan
27
The next day, as Simone and I exited the Celestial gateway in Wan Chai, I turned to speak to the Nine Dragon Wall. The dragons moved to the centre of the wall as its two sides slid together.
I saluted around at the dragons. ‘Honoured Shen, thank you for your diligence in guarding the entrance to the Heavens.’
The dragons poked their heads out of the wall and bowed in response.
The central gold one replied, ‘We serve the Celestial and it is our privilege to guard the gateway in this time of uncertainty.’
I dropped my hands. ‘Are you guys okay?’
One of the purple dragons came closer. ‘It’s exhausting, Emma. They try us all the time. Zhi,’ she nodded to one of the blue dragons, ‘is concerned about her children. She hardly sees them.’
‘I’ll talk to the Dragon King about finding you relief.’
‘Don’t worry about it,’ one of the gold dragons said in his warm male voice. ‘We already did. He can’t spare anyone. So many dragons are being held hostage in Hell; we’re the lucky ones.’
The other dragons nodded agreement.
‘How often are they trying you?’ I said.
The dragons shared a look, their heads waving in front of the wall, then turned back to me. ‘We’ve already had about ten small demons thrown at us today.’
‘But it’s only 11 am!’ I said.
‘And we’re due for another attack, so perhaps you should head to where you’re going,’ one of the white dragons said. ‘You shouldn’t be down here anyway — it’s too dangerous.’
‘I have to attend the funeral of a family member,’ I said.
‘Leo’s here, Emma,’ Simone said behind me.
‘I’ll bring you guys some cakes when I come back,’ I said, and the dragons grinned in response. ‘Stay strong, and remember that the Celestial treasures you.’
‘Of course it does, we are treasures,’ the gold dragon said, and they returned to their spots on the wall and merged into it, becoming inanimate. The wall shrank and the marble balustrade emerged from the ground in front as it returned to its normal appearance.
‘I’ve never seen those dragons so cooperative,’ Simone said as she waved to Leo in the driver’s seat of the family car.
‘It’s remarkable how being at war makes people forget their petty differences and pull together,’ I said.
After the priest had given a carefully worded but generic memorial service for Monica, her husband, sisters and brothers went up to the front of the chapel to speak. More than a hundred of Monica’s Hong Kong-based friends had come to the service; people who were unable to attend the complicated funeral in the Philippines.
‘Monica came over to my employers’ apartment on Stubbs Road one Chinese New Year,’ her sister Erica said. ‘She took me to the flower markets and we bought sweet-scented flowers that filled up the apartment and made the whole place so happy …’ She choked on the words. ‘So many family were there over that holiday break. And then I went home to the Philippines, and she kept in touch, and came to visit us on holidays. She helped Rosa and Paul to go to university,’ she locked eyes with her children where they sat, ‘and Rosa will be a doctor. She will be a doctor because of Monica’s help. I think, I think …’ She had trouble getting the rest of the words out and wiped her face with a tissue, then blew her nose. ‘Monica always thought of her family. All the time. It was all she thought about …’
She broke down and returned to her seat, where her son and daughter patted her on the shoulder. They turned to me and gestured for me to get up and speak.
‘Can you say something, ma’am?’ one of Monica’s relatives said from the row in front of me. ‘Marcus would like that. He says you’re very important.’
‘I’m not that important,’ I said, protesting, but Simone and Leo pushed me to my feet and I wasn’t aware of walking up to the pulpit until I saw everybody’s faces shining in front of me. Fortunately I still had my packet of tissues in my hand and I pulled one out to clutch it as I spoke.
‘I remember once, we all went to Australia. Simone was very tiny, probably only about four or five. Monica came with us to help look after Mr Chen, who was recovering from a serious injury.’
They went very still as they listened to me. Simone’s eyes were unfocused as she remembered.
‘I offered to take Mr Chen to dinner at a restaurant there, so that Monica wouldn’t have to cook and could have some time off,’ I said. ‘We were at a tourist resort; I thought she would enjoy the break. She refused. She refused very loudly! She said she would much prefer to look after the family.’
Some of her relatives nodded at my words.
‘Looking after the family wasn’t work, and she didn’t want a holiday from it because she enjoyed it so much. She really did love caring for everybody around her. Giving to you, to all of you, of her time, her energy — it wasn’t something you were taking from her, because she loved doing it so much. The joy that filled her face and her voice every time she talked about how much she was helping you was wonderful to see, and she never regretted not having children of her own, because she had all of you.’
They were nodding more now, and I breathed a small sigh of relief that I wasn’t being as tongue-tied and brainless as I felt I was.
‘Thank you for inviting us here today. Monica was a huge part of our family, just as much as she was a part of yours, and we are all richer for having known her.’
I left it at that, and returned to sit between Leo and Simone. I hadn’t broken down; in fact, I felt remarkably calm. Meredith had done something to me and I silently thanked her.
After the service, Leo drove us up to the Peak to have dinner with Martin and Buffy. He stopped the car at the gates when he saw a tall strongly built black woman in her mid-sixties standing outside the building entrance and arguing with the security guards.
‘Oh shit,’ he said softly.
He backed the car down the drive, but the woman saw us and ran towards the car. ‘Leo! Leo! Where are you going? It’s me!’
Leo banged his forehead on the steering wheel. ‘Oh shit.’
‘Who is it?’ Simone said. ‘She looks like … oh shit.’
‘Yep,’ Leo said. ‘That’s my sister.’
He took the car back up the drive and the guards opened the gates for us. His sister stormed along next to the car, yelling at him to stop and explain himself.
He parked the car in its space, got out and put his arms out to her. ‘Elise.’
That silenced her. She threw herself into his arms and started to sob. ‘We thought you were dead!’
‘I’m not dead,’ he said, holding her close. ‘Things happen. Come on up and meet the family.’
She turned to see Simone and me, her eyes glittering with tears. ‘Is this your family?’ She moved closer to me. ‘Is this your wife?’ She turned to Simone. ‘Daughter?’
‘No, but we’re like family,’ I said. ‘Are you explaining?’
‘I am,’ Leo said. He guided Elise to the lifts, past the grinning security guards who were enjoying the show. ‘Elise, I have a partner upstairs, and a daughter.’
She lit up. ‘We knew you’d come to your senses eventually. This is wonderful. Is she Chinese? I hope there’ll be a wedding soon. If you have a child you should get married and be a proper family.’
He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘The partner’s a he.’
She sagged with disappointment and followed us into the lift.
Leo sat on the couch with Buffy in his lap and Martin leaned on the couch behind them.
‘I saw someone that looked like you on Discovery Channel, so I came to see,’ Elise said from the other couch. ‘It was a show called The Monk With A Thousand Children, about this wonderful Chinese man who cares for the poor orphans. There was a shot of a playground in the background — I was sure it was you. Max didn’t believe me, but I checked the foundation, and it’s funded by the estate of John Chen Wu, so I checked again and that was your
boss all the way back then, so I came anyway.’ She spread her hands. ‘And here you are. Alive. I can’t believe it.’
‘I’m happy here, I have a family,’ Leo said. He pulled Buffy, who obviously didn’t understand what was happening, closer to him. Martin reached over the couch to put his hand on Leo’s shoulder, and Leo covered it with his own. ‘I know you all disapprove, so I kept quiet. It’s good to see you, Elise, but please don’t judge me. I’m happy. Can’t you just let it be?’
She glared at Martin. ‘Who are you anyway? Did you lead Leo into this?’
‘I am John Chen Wu’s son.’ Martin gestured towards Simone. ‘This is my little sister, Simone. We inherited our father’s fortune and we’re running the orphanages together.’
Simone nodded, obviously desperately wanting Elise to understand. ‘Leo and Martin have looked after me since I was a tiny girl. Leo’s like a second father to me, and Martin’s the best brother I could ever ask for.’
‘Thank you,’ Martin said softly.
‘And you?’ Elise asked me.
‘I’m their stepmother. We’re one big happy dysfunctional family, all caring for each other.’
‘That’s what family is,’ Leo said. He dropped his hand from Martin’s and put it around Buffy’s waist. ‘And this is our newest member. She’s one of the orphans that the documentary was about.’
‘You should not be caring for a little girl,’ Elise said. ‘That is so wrong!’
Martin was confused. ‘Why not?’
‘Leave my Daddies alone,’ Buffy said. ‘They look after me.’
‘Look, Leo.’ Elise took a deep breath in and out. ‘I’m not Mom. I know you’re like you are, and I won’t try to change you. But you can’t be in a relationship like this and have a child involved. It’s just not fair on her. How will she grow up normal if she has no mother?’
‘She didn’t have a mother anyway. What’s important is that she’s loved and has a family,’ Leo said, sounding tired. ‘We’re all happy, don’t worry about us. And if you were to return home and tell everybody that I’m dead it would be the greatest favour you ever did for me.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ she said. ‘You can’t just ship me off like that. I’m staying here for a few days to talk to this child. This little girl needs a proper family with a mother and father, not this perv—’ She stopped and spread her hands. ‘It’s not natural! I can offer her a safe family back in Chicago. She’d be much better off there with us.’
Buffy’s eyes widened and she grabbed Leo’s arm.
‘You can’t take Buffy away from the only family she’s known,’ Simone said, distraught. She rose and moved to stand next to Martin. ‘My brother would give his life for either of us in a second. He’s probably the most caring father a little girl could ask for.’
‘We’ll see about that,’ Elise said. ‘I want to talk to the little girl by herself, before you have a chance to coach her.’
‘Go right ahead,’ Leo said. ‘And when she tells you she’s being loved and cared for as if she was our own child, you can go straight home.’
‘I want to stay a few days and make sure.’
‘Very well.’ Leo rose and slid Buffy off his lap. ‘Come into Buffy’s bedroom and ask her anything. But if you traumatise this child and make any suggestions that will prey on her mind in later life, heaven help you, Elise.’
‘I would never dream of it.’
The intercom buzzer went off next to the front door, and Martin went to answer it as Leo and Elise took Buffy to her room.
‘Wei?’ Martin said.
‘Delivery from the supermarket’s here,’ the security guard said on the other end.
Martin unfocused, obviously asking Leo if he’d ordered from the supermarket, then turned to Simone. ‘Did you order anything to be delivered here?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Me neither,’ I said. ‘Damn, they’re bold.’
‘Send him up,’ Martin said into the intercom. He summoned the Silver Serpent and waited at the door.
The doorbell rang and he opened it. A delivery guy stood on the other side of the metal gate, holding a large cardboard box full of groceries and grinning. He saw the Silver Serpent in Martin’s hand and his eyes widened with confusion.
‘Simone,’ Martin said without moving.
Simone summoned one of her short curved blades and stood next to Martin. ‘Damn, I have no idea.’
The language charm kicked in. ‘I’ll just leave this stuff here for you,’ the delivery guy said, obviously alarmed by the weapons as he placed the box on the floor. ‘It’s all paid for … uh … yeah. Bye.’ He spun and ran to the stairs.
Simone opened the gate and poked her head out. ‘We didn’t order anything!’
‘Just keep it,’ he yelled, his voice echoing in the stairwell.
Simone checked the box. ‘The order’s for one of the flats downstairs, they sent it to the wrong address.’ She knelt next to the box. ‘I’ll take it down for them.’
‘Don’t touch it!’ I said as she reached for it. ‘Have a look inside, it could be a bomb.’
Her eyes unfocused and she shook her head. ‘No, nothing but groceries.’
‘Yin it anyway. It could be something we haven’t encountered before.’
‘Ge Ge?’ Simone said.
‘Emma’s right, it could be a trap.’ Martin held his hand out to Simone. ‘Let’s yin it together — we’ll have more control.’
They concentrated and yinned the box without putting a dent in the floor. They came back inside and Martin closed the gate and front door. He went to the couch and sat on it.
‘Give me a moment,’ he said. ‘I need to let the Generals know that they may be targeting us and trying to send us to Court Ten.’
‘But was that a human or a demon?’ I asked Simone.
‘To be honest, Emma,’ she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder, ‘I have no idea.’
‘Holy shit — Elise,’ I said, and we ran to Buffy’s bedroom.
Martin threw the door open and the three of us charged in. Leo raced into the room from the bathroom at the same time. Elise was sitting with Buffy on the bed, sharing a picture book.
She looked up at us, confused. ‘What?’
Leo gestured towards us. ‘Ming, come and have a look and make sure. I see her as human.’ He gently led Buffy to the doorway.
Martin crouched in front of Elise and put his hands on either side of her face. Her face went slack.
‘Human all the way through, I sense no demon here at all.’ Elise’s eyes went wide and she squeaked with pain. ‘This is most definitely human. Do you want me to adjust her attitude while I’m in here? It would make our lives considerably easier.’
‘No,’ Leo said. ‘Leave her be. Don’t mess with her head. She’s my goddamn sister.’
‘Don’t fix her head now. Do it later, and only once so you minimise the damage,’ I said. ‘When you take her to the airport, fill her mind with the fact that she didn’t find Leo and send her home. Leave him dead.’ I turned to Leo. ‘Sorry, Leo, just a suggestion.’
‘Actually, that works,’ Leo said softly. He looked down at Buffy and patted her back. ‘You okay, sweetheart?’
‘Yeah, we’re doing our superhero thing,’ Buffy said. ‘I know.’
‘I’ll release her and go invisible, she won’t even know I did this,’ Martin said. ‘Buffy, come and sit with Aunty Elise and everybody else — out.’
‘Okay, Ba Ba,’ Buffy said, and climbed on the bed next to Elise. She pulled the book around so that it was in the same position, and shooed Leo away. ‘It’s okay, Daddy, I’ll make sure she doesn’t know anything happened.’
Leo kissed the top of her head and went out through the connecting doors. Simone and I went back to the living room and sat on the couches.
‘Are we going overboard with the paranoia?’ Simone said, leaning one elbow on the arm of the couch.
‘I’d rather be paranoid and alive,’
I said.
She nodded once sharply. ‘Yeah.’ She bounced to sit straighter on the couch. ‘I should have kept one of the packets of ramen in the grocery box. I’m hungry.’
‘I’m hungry too!’ Buffy shouted as Elise brought her into the living room, holding her hand.
‘Do you have a ticket home already? Do we need to buy you one?’ I asked Elise.
‘You’ll just buy me an airfare to the US?’
‘My dad was really rich,’ Simone said. She shrugged. ‘We can if you want us to.’
‘I have a ticket to return in three days,’ Elise said. ‘I don’t need your money.’
‘You are welcome to stay here with us, you’re family,’ Martin said. ‘We have a spare room for you.’
‘I think I will,’ Elise said. ‘I want to make sure she’s okay.’
Leo concentrated on Martin. Martin shook his head. Leo gestured, irate, and Martin turned his back on him to speak to Elise again.
‘We still haven’t found a domestic helper and there isn’t a scrap of food in the house, so how about we go down to SoHo and find something to eat?’ He nodded to me. ‘After dinner we’ll drop you in Wan Chai.’
‘SoHo?’ Elise said, confused.
‘South of Hollywood Road,’ Simone said. ‘It’s a district of Mid-Levels. There’s some nice foreign restaurants there.’
‘Foreign?’ Elise said.
‘Pizza!’ Buffy shouted, waving both little hands with glee.
Simone smiled slightly. ‘Anything that’s not Chinese is foreign.’
‘I think this whole place is foreign,’ Elise said under her breath.
28
‘This deep-dish pizza is all wrong,’ Elise said, staring at the large rectangular baking dish holding the five-centimetre-thick crust covered with lashings of ground beef, tomato and cheese. ‘It’s supposed to have the sauce on the top.’
‘It’s Hong Kong style,’ Simone said, pulling one of the square chunks out of the dish. ‘It’s closer to the way they serve it in some parts of Italy where it was invented.’