Autumn Moon

by Karen Michelle Nutt

  “Come,” Heng offered his hand, his nails long and pointed reaching for him. “We will drink and regain our strength.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Chin listened to what Autumn and Jairec had to tell him. Jairec stood and paced. Autumn drank green tea, but was too agitated to sit still for long. She paced in the opposite direction of Jairec. Then they would turn on their heels and meet in the middle of the room, touching every so often, looking at each other with fear, acceptance and hope for what was to come.

  “Grandfather, we need to go back there and finish them off.” Autumn stopped moving and looked at him.

  Chin shook his head. “Do you really believe it was that easy to eliminate his army? How many did you say there were?” He answered his own question. “Four zombies, two white hairs and Heng flying around but not attacking, did I get that right?”

  Jairec and Autumn exchanged glances.

  “What are you saying?” Jairec voiced the question.

  Chin sighed. “Heng used this as a test to find out your strengths.”

  “But we killed his minions,” Autumn insisted. “Why wouldn’t he stop us?”

  “They were dispensable, not ones he would want behind him. They were puppets.”

  “But I killed Bruce. He was only a kid.” The hurt she bore was evident in her voice.

  “Bruce was already gone. You said yourself he no longer knew reason. He would have torn your throat open without a thought. He killed Loann without remorse,” Chin reminded her.

  Autumn knew this, but it didn’t make it any easier. “So what do you suggest? The parade is in less than two hours. And what are you going to tell Grandmother? Doesn’t she wonder where you’ve been while she’s slaved in the kitchen preparing moon cakes and other pastries for the booth?”

  “I keep no secrets from your grandmother.”

  Autumn lifted her eyebrows. “She knows about the preternatural world?”

  “Of course. Did you think her only superstitious? Her precautions were legit. They kept the evil out.”

  Autumn folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t know what to think anymore. Grandfather, you’ve left me in the dark, vulnerable when I could have been trained. If I had known more, maybe I could have saved Bruce and Loann from the fate they suffered.”

  Chin stood. “I did my best. I’m sorry now that I didn’t do more. Jin warned me this would happen, but I didn’t listen. I lost your mother because I forced her to learn our ways. This is why she ran away. I didn’t want to lose you, too.”

  The realization of what her grandfather had to endure hit her. She lost her hostile stance. “I’m sorry, Grandfather. That was unfair.”

  “Yes, sometimes life is.”

  Autumn glanced at Jairec who had remained awfully quiet. She whined about her woes, her losses, but what of his? He lost so much more. “Grandfather, do you know if Uncle Jin had a cure for the chiang-shih? Did he know of the elixir of life? I’ve looked through his journal, but maybe I’ve missed something.”

  “We’ve never come across a chiang-shih with such fortitude to fight the inevitable. There is no cure that I’m aware of. I’m sorry.”

  Jairec looked away knowing he had only hours. His time on earth was doomed to end then. “Do you mind if I use your computer, Autumn? I want to tie up some loose ends before …”

  He didn’t have to say it. Autumn understood. “Sure. Do what you need to do.”

  The door chimed and Yi sauntered in, his brows rose high on his forehead when he realized Autumn had company. “Did you hear about Loann?”

  Autumn nodded. She didn’t need this right now. Yi meant well, but she had enough to worry about without having to deal with him. “We heard.”

  “Someone burned her body.” He looked at Jairec sitting behind the counter, working on the computer.

  “You replaced Loann awfully quick.” His eyes narrowed. “I find it suspicious Mr. Fang that you show up now. You’re a stranger who has somehow wormed your way into working with Autumn. How did you manage that?”

  “What are you insinuating?” Jairec rose to the challenge.

  Not a good sign, Autumn thought. Autumn looked at her grandfather for help, but he just shrugged, leaving her on her own. “Listen Yi, who I have here, is none of your concern.”

  “No.” He whirled on her. “You don’t even know him. His name isn’t Mr. Fang.”

  “I know.”

  “And I …” He sputtered. He obviously hadn’t expected her to state the truth. “You know.”

  “Let me start over. Yi this is Jairec Connelly and Jairec meet Yi Chung. There, you’ve both been properly introduced.”

  She turned away, but Yi’s hand shot out, grabbing her wrist.

  Jairec growled as he shot to his feet.

  Yi’s brows drew together.

  “Sit down Jairec,” Autumn told him. She didn’t miss the bit of fang peeking out between his lips. “It’s fine.” Her eyes widened in warning for Jairec to back down.

  “It’s fine?” Yi’s voice rose. “The man just growled at me. And … wait a minute. You said his name is Connelly?” Yi harrumphed and shook his head. “I should have known, should have seen the resemblance sooner. Now I know why he looked so familiar.”

  “What are you twittering about?” Jairec asked with annoyance lacing his words.

  “Do you have a brother named Tristan Connelly?”

  “What do you know of my brother?” Jairec’s eyes narrowed to two slits of red.

  “What the …” Yi backed up a step.

  Autumn’s gaze darted to Jairec with another warning. He snorted in protest, but backed down anyway. She addressed Yi, drawing his attention to her. “How do you know Tristan Connelly?”

  “I hired him to unload the merchandise from the trucks.”

  “Yi owns the antique shop down the street,” Autumn filled Jairec in.

  “Not only was he a lousy employee, he never showed up on time. He took three-hour lunches whenever the mood struck him, and the dirty sonofabitch, broke into my shop, stealing an urn. I had someone work on the etchings, translating what they meant. The piece would have been priceless.”

  Chin spoke up now. “Did you say an urn with ancient writing etched onto the side?”

  “Yes,” Yi answered. “What’s going on here?”

  “That’s how Heng was released,” Chin muttered to himself. “It makes senses now.” He turned toward Jairec. Your brother must have read the translation out loud. Once done the binding spell would no longer hold him.”

  “Binding spell?” Yi looked to Jairec then to Chin. “A binding spell for what?”

  Autumn placed her hand on his shoulder. “Yi, do you know what a chiang-shih is?”

  ****

  Yi actually took what they told him better than they thought he would. He offered to help destroy Heng. Chin was giving him a crash course of what he needed to look for. Yi was no stranger to the martial arts and it would come in handy tonight.

  “He does this to impress you, Autumn.” Jairec had walked up behind her. He didn’t startle her. She’d become in tune with his steps.

  “Impress me? Why?”

  He kissed the top of her head and she leaned back, resting against him. “He’s in love with you, surely you know this.”

  She turned to look at him. “But I don’t love him.”

  He smiled sadly. “I know, but he would—”

  “Don’t you dare say it. I love you. End of subject, so don’t give me some noble speech of doom and how I should go with him.”

  His lips twitched. “I’m not so noble. I thought maybe you should cut the bloke some slack.”

  “Oh.”

  He kissed her frown away. “I love you, too. One day you’ll move on, be it Yi or someone else. Just remember to open your heart for the possibility. Hey?”

  She didn’t answer, but wrapped her arms around him.

  “Autumn?” She looked back to her grandfather.

  Yi stood there, too. His gaz
e hardened when he looked at Jairec, but he didn’t comment on the intimate embrace.

  “You’ll need to wear gear for tonight.”

  “Gear?”

  “It may save your life or at the very least give you an advantage. Come with me. I’ll show you.”

  Yi and Jairec were left alone in the room. Yi glared at him, but lucky for him he kept his mouth shut.

  Jairec shoved his hands in his pockets. Time ticked on making the tension in the room unbearable.

  “Autumn was supposed to be mine,” Yi finally said.

  Jairec clenched his teeth. “She’s not one of your priceless artifacts.”

  “But you’ll agree, she is precious.”

  He’d give him that.

  “I don’t want her hurt. I don’t mean just in the fight tonight. I mean if we make this out alive, I don’t want you to hurt her.”

  “I won’t. You have my word.”

  Yi considered Jairec’s answer then nodded. “We’re good then.”

  Yi wasn’t such a bad bloke after all. Damn, Jairec so didn’t want to like him. He watched him head toward the back room.

  Jairec returned to the computer, determined to tie up loose ends before all hell broke loose.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The Dragon parade would begin soon, the town unaware of the horror that awaited them. Jairec would have rather spent a quiet evening with Autumn in his arms, kissing her, making love to her, but a battle against good and evil took precedence. Autumn Moon is your destiny. What did The Seer mean? Maybe he was meant to save Autumn from what Heng had planned. He vowed to protect her. He would do whatever it took to make sure she came out of this alive and unscathed. He glanced at the computer screen in front of him. He was finished here. He logged out.

  “It’s time,” Chin announced.

  Autumn walked over to Jairec. “Let me warn—”

  He pulled her into his arms before she could finish, but backed away immediately his hands burning. “What the hell are you wearing?”

  “Sorry, I tried to tell you. I’m wearing a copper mesh vest.” She lifted her shirt to reveal the lethal metal. “I’m not super human but it will protect me some.”

  He nodded. “It’ll protect you from me, also.”

  “I didn’t wear it to ward you off.”

  He held up his hand halting her words. “I know, but we don’t know what will happen tonight. I’m not sure if I can keep the demon locked inside of me forever. His fingers slid through his hair, where he knew the strands of gray had grown long and thick. “Promise me, Autumn. If we fail, you’ll end my life.”

  She shook her head.

  “You have to. Please don’t let me turn into a monster feeding on the innocent.”

  “You won’t do that.”

  “You give me too much credit.” He sighed. “Just promise me.”

  Tears sprang to her eyes, but she gave him a quick nod. “I promise.”

  Chin cleared his throat, drawing their attention. “I hate to break up the tender moment, but we have a job to do.”

  Autumn took a deep breath, bringing her emotions under check. She glanced at Yi who stood by her grandfather. He wouldn’t meet her gaze. “What exactly is our plan?” Autumn asked.

  “We draw them out. Keep the minions from killing our neighbors and the tourists. When Heng is among them, I’ll conjure up a thunderstorm.”

  “What?” Autumn and Jairec chimed in at the same time.

  “A thunderstorm. Jin and I banished Heng’s spirit to a container with a binding spell. We buried it, foolishly thinking no one would unearth it. We believed Heng would never be released, a mistake on our part. Thunder is a magical power conjured from dragon’s magic. Unfortunately, when we encountered Heng the first time, we didn’t realize the significance of it or we would have used it. It will kill him and all the others that follow under his rule. This will end tonight.”

  “And what of Jairec?” Autumn held her grandfather’s gaze.

  He sighed. “There is a chance that he may perish along with the rest of them.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “No, there must be another way.”

  “Autumn, it’s all right,” Jairec spoke up.

  She looked at him with disbelief. “It’s not all right. The Seer sent you to me to help you. Destroying you can’t be what she had in mind.”

  “Autumn.”

  “No, I don’t want to hear it.” She whirled around and fled upstairs.

  Jairec looked at Chin. “I’ll talk to her.”

  “The thunder may not affect you,” Chin told him as he walked past.

  Jairec turned to face him. “Why wouldn’t it?”

  “You haven’t killed an innocent. Your humanity is still intact.”

  Jairec nodded. “Still, she needs to be prepared. Either way, I’m ready to meet my fate.”

  “Good to know, chiang-shih.”

  Yi walked over to the stairs, holding onto the rail as he stared after Jairec. “What does he have that I don’t have?”

  Chin sighed. “Dear boy, he has Autumn’s heart.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The band blared, drums beating in time with the thump of Autumn’s heart. Jairec went with her to head up the front and Yi went with her grandfather to bring up the rear. She gazed at the people who were her neighbors and friends. They were in danger but she knew she couldn’t yell from a rooftop, begging them to go back to their homes and lock the doors. Even with their superstitious beliefs of placing mirrors on the outside of their windows to ward off evil, they would still think her a lunatic and ignore her warnings.

  She patted her purse, which she had slung over her right hip and felt comforted by the feel of the gun loaded with the copper tipped bullets. She glanced at the performers who manned the life-size dragon puppets. The fog had rolled in earlier than usual, hiding the feet of the performers, giving the dragons a surreal appearance as they danced to the beat of the drums, the dragon’s faces grinning in frozen delight. They drifted close to the crowd, touching, luring …

  Autumn stopped cold and took hold of Jairec’s arm. “I know how he’ll do it.”

  “How?”

  “The dragons. They’ll take them one by one, under the dragons. The people won’t realize their loved ones are missing, until it is too late.”

  Someone screamed to the right of where they stood. The crowd didn’t look alarmed since across from them, teenagers screeched in delight and clapped their hands. Jairec tapped her shoulder and pointed. “Over there.” They nudged their way through the crowd. The dragon swept close, swallowing the onlookers as if the beast feasted on its prey. Autumn tried to step back but the crowd pushed forward. She grabbed onto Jairec’s hand but she was ripped from his hold.

  ****

  “Autumn!” Terror struck Jairec like it had never done before. It spread through him as he watched her disappear beneath the brightly colored cloth. He went crazy then, lashing out, slicing at the material. He had to get to her. He had to save her.

  His chest heaved from the exertion and he looked at the damage he wrecked. He realized then he caused a panic. People around him shrieked and moved back.

  “It’s part of the parade,” some fool yelled and the people stopped.

  Jairec throttled the urge to turn on the man and kill him for his stupidity. The crowd hushed and pointed as if awestruck. Jairec looked over his shoulder. The crowd foolishly watched. This wasn’t a performance and yet they stood there waiting to applaud.

  Tristan threw off the head of the dragon, revealing more than one chiang-shih with their hair gray and long. The fog still blanketed the ground and he knew it covered the victims the fiends had drained. He wondered how long before the dead rose, hungry and looking to feed?

  His gaze locked onto his brother who had Autumn’s arms pinned behind her. So much for the copper mesh vest she wore. It looked like she needed cuffed arm gear as well.

  Let her go, Tristan,” Jairec demanded.

  Tristan
’s mouth curved. “Don’t believe I will. Heng wants her. He decided he fancied her at our last meeting.”

  Now why would she want a guy who has a face like a lap dog? Just give me the girl and I won’t kill you.”

  Tristan’s chuckle strummed from his chest with malice. “Why do you care about this human? What’s so special about her?”

  Jairec gave a careless shrug. He had to remain calm, not act desperate, but it proved difficult when he witnessed the terror in Autumn’s gaze. If he could hear her heart pounding in her chest, his brother could hear it, too. “I owe her. She gave me shelter when I needed it.”

  “Is that so. You won’t need shelter if you join Heng. We’ll rule California and beyond. He has big plans where a chiang-shih will head each city. We’ll be gods.”

  Jairec wondered why the nuts always wanted to take over the world. “Sure. Why not? But a god must have a goddess at his side.” He looked at Autumn. “I claim her.”

  “Uh uh. Heng wants her for himself. He’s the boss.”

  “I want her at my side.”

  Tristan stared at him as he considered his offer. “Hmm, interesting.” He leaned forward and Jairec resisted the urge to lunge. Tristan sniffed Autumn’s hair, inhaling deeply. Autumn closed her eyes. “Ah, I see why you’re so interested in her. She reeks of you, Jairec. You’ve been shagging her, haven’t you?”

  “Piss off. That’s none of your concern now is it?”

  “Tsk, tsk. Is that anyway to speak to your older brother?”

  “Do you mean the wanker who allowed me to be turned into a chiang-shih? That brother?”

  The crowd behind him gasped. He didn’t think his language caused the shock. He turned as the shadow swooped overhead, coming dangerously close. Jairec ducked. Then Heng hovered, descending like a savior when he was truly the prince of evil. He wore red and gold vestments for the shindig. His sallow skin took on a darker hue of green. He shook a long pointed fingernail at him as he lowered himself to the ground.