Blue Dragon

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

I was in a large, elaborate old-fashioned Chinese-style hall with a vastly high ceiling. The pillars and beams were decorated with intricate paintings and good-luck motifs. There were no windows.

The King stood in front of me. He looked like an enormous Snake Mother, but blood-red instead of black. He quickly changed to human form: a good-looking Chinese man of about twenty-five, with a cheeky, boyish face. He wore a scruffy pair of jeans and a T-shirt, both the deep maroon of dried blood. His short ponytail was the same colour.

‘Welcome to Hell, Lady Emma,’ he said, then held out his hand and waited.

I took out one of my black jade earrings. It was a jade disk, shaped like a Chinese coin: round with a square hole in the middle. The hole was decorated with a large diamond.

I passed the earring to him. He took it in one hand and held the other hand over it. The diamond, still with the post attached, drifted out of the jade disk into his upper hand. He returned the diamond to me and pocketed the black jade coin.

I put the diamond back into my ear.

He held out his hands again. Something small, round and white appeared in one palm, and a glass of water appeared in the other.

He came to me, hands still out. ‘Valium. Two milligrams. I suggest you take it.’

I studied the little pill suspiciously.

‘I give you my word it is what I say it is, Emma. You have been through a lot. More will happen before you can stop and catch your breath. You will need therapy after what you’ve been through, and I will arrange it.’ He smiled slightly. ‘Take the pill, Emma. It’s a very small dose. It will calm you without making you drowsy. You need it.’

‘No, I don’t,’ I said. ‘And I’m still feeling the effects of what One Two Two did to me. Enough drugs.’

The pill and water disappeared. ‘Let me know if you feel too stressed then. I don’t want you breaking down—there’s a lot we need to do.’

I stopped and considered, then decided. ‘If that’s the case then wait. Give me a moment.’

He nodded.

I closed my eyes. I took all of my remaining energy and moved it into my central dan tian. I focused, and moved it up through the meridians. I took it into my upper dan tian, into my Inner Eye, then moved it back again. I gathered it and exhaled deeply. I was perfectly calm and in control. I only had about half my chi left. The rest was black stuff.

‘Well done,’ he said.

I opened my eyes. ‘Does this mean that I’m half demon now?’

‘That’s one way of putting it,’ he said with amusement. ‘What they have done to you is fascinating. I’ve never seen this done before. Try using the demon essence much the same way you would use the human chi. You may find it useful.’ His face softened. ‘I really like you much better this way.’

‘You have me,’ I said, ignoring him. ‘What are you going to do with me?’

‘Absolutely nothing.’ He turned and gestured for me to follow him. ‘Come with me.’

I didn’t have much choice. I followed him to the end of the hall. There was a dais raised at least three metres above the floor, with elaborate zigzagging steps.

‘Is Simone okay?’ I said as he led me up the stairs.

‘Simone is at home on the Peak crying her eyes out,’ the King said. ‘Forgive me, my Lady, but it is not my will right now to let you talk to her. But she is perfectly safe and shall remain so.’

‘Who’s with her?’

‘Michael. Ah Yat. Gold. Monica will arrive soon. All of her family are around her.’

‘No.’ I swallowed. ‘All of her family have left her.’

‘Well, you are here now, my Lady, and we shall see what happens next,’ the King said. ‘I’m expecting a very interesting visit soon, because of an oath I made. You should come and watch; this will prove most diverting.’

A huge Chinese-style throne, at least two metres long, was set upon the dais. It was made of elaborately carved rosewood, the back picked out in gold. But the carving wasn’t the usual dragons; it was Snake Mothers. A couple of demons stood behind it; one with a horse’s head, one with a bull’s head. Both of them bowed slightly to me as I approached.

‘Please sit and enjoy the show, my Lady,’ the King said. ‘Nobody will harm you, I promise.’

I shrugged. What the hell. I kicked off my shoes and pulled my feet up to sit cross-legged on the gold silk cushions next to him on the throne. He glanced admiringly at me, his handsome face lighting up with a kind smile.

‘You are an exceptional woman, to do what you have done.’ He faced the hall. ‘Please watch carefully, my Lady, because I am relying on you.’

‘To do what?’

‘All will become apparent,’ he said. ‘Watch.’

The doors flew open. Simon Wong strode in, holding John’s head by the hair.

I collapsed over my knees but didn’t make a sound.

‘Steady, Emma,’ the King said softly. ‘Remember, it is just a shell.’ He made a soft sound of amusement. ‘The shell of the Turtle.’

‘You are such a bastard,’ I said quietly. I swallowed hard. I didn’t want them to see me lose it. I took some deep breaths.

‘Don’t look at it, dear,’ he said. ‘He’s done some rather nasty things to it. My, but he is a piece of work.’

‘I will kill that piece of shit one day,’ I whispered into my knees.

‘You will never get the chance, dear,’ he said. ‘Now stay quiet and watch. Without looking at the Turtle’s head.’ He stopped and his voice filled with humour. ‘Your English is a remarkable language, you know. You have a word for everything. Even for what he has done to this head. A single, precise syllable, with so many layers of meaning.’

I pulled myself upright. I had to retain my dignity. I didn’t look at the head, as much as I wanted one last glimpse of John’s face. I knew that it wouldn’t be him. And I knew exactly what the King was talking about.

Hundreds of demons appeared in the hall and stood silently watching Wong. They were all in True Form and all different types: humanoids, dogs, worms, bugs, slime, everything. There were some that I didn’t even recognise and some that were just creeping horrors.

‘I have the head of the Dark Lord,’ Wong said loudly, holding the head up and turning around so that all could see it.

He dropped it and kicked it to the base of the dais.

I nearly went for him but the King grabbed my arm. ‘Don’t waste your time, dear.’

Wong walked to the bottom of the steps. ‘Your Most Loathsome Majesty.’

‘Hi, Simon,’ the King said.

‘You vowed that whoever brought you the head of the Dark Lord while he was in this weakened state would be promoted to Number One.’

‘That is quite correct, Number One,’ the King said.

Wong grinned viciously with satisfaction. He walked carefully up the stairs and stood in front of the King. ‘I want to see.’

The King gestured with one hand and a male demon appeared on the dais before us. He appeared to be a Chinese man in his mid-fifties with an intelligent face marred by cruel eyes. Number One. He wore a standard Western-style shirt and tie. His shirtsleeves were rolled up. He fell to one knee and saluted the King. ‘You summoned me, Your Most Loathsome Majesty?’

‘Made a run for it, did you, Number One?’ Wong said. ‘Wondered why I didn’t see your ugly face in the crowd.’

‘There is no running from me, One,’ the King said.

‘I wasn’t running, Dad,’ Number One said. ‘I was in my quarters, killing all my wives and children.’

‘Damn,’ Wong said under his breath.

‘Oh, so sorry, I didn’t realise,’ the King said warmly. ‘Want to go back and finish?’

‘Nah, Dad,’ Number One said. ‘All done.’

‘Good. You have been replaced. Choose. Demotion or destruction,’ the King said.

‘Seppuku,’ the demon said without rising.

‘Oh my,’ Wong said. ‘This is turning out to be a very fine day indeed.’

‘Not in front of the Lady, One,’ the King said. ‘I do not wish to distress her.’

‘You don’t know me well at all, King. I want to see this. I know this one. Tell you what,’ I leaned forward to speak to the demon kneeling before me, ‘how about I act as second for you?’

Wong stiffened but the King clapped his hands with delight. ‘Truly remarkable!’

‘I want to see him die slowly,’ Wong said, his voice almost a whine. ‘I want to see him suffer.’

‘It is One’s choice,’ the King said. ‘Just shut up and be a good boy, Simon. You’ll get your turn.’

Wong scowled but didn’t say anything.

The King concentrated and a small knife appeared in his hand. It had no handle, just the metal sticking out of the blade. ‘Take the knife, One, and let’s get this over with.’

Number One pulled himself gracefully to his feet and stepped forward to accept the blade. He bowed slightly as he took it carefully using both hands. Then he bowed to me. ‘I am most honoured. My heart is filled with joy. I am given the opportunity to depart with dignity, seconded by you.’

‘Hmph,’ Wong said. ‘Seconded by a chick. Can’t see any honour in that.’

‘You see no honour in anything, Simon,’ the King said. ‘You wouldn’t know honour if it kicked you in the balls.’ He concentrated again. A katana appeared in his hand.

The Japanese sword had a jet-black handle wrapped in black ray skin and a black lacquer scabbard. Gold silk cords bound it at the end and in the middle. It was completely devoid of any decoration; even the guard of the hilt, the tsuba, was plain.

Wong and Number One both took a sudden, deep breath. Every demon in the hall froze and watched silently.

The King rose, holding the blade in front of him. ‘Stand up, Emma, let’s do this right.’

I rose and we faced each other on the dais. ‘Holy shit,’ I said quietly, ‘that’s the Murasame, the Destroyer, isn’t it?’

‘You are quite correct, my Lady,’ the King said. ‘I won this from the Turtle himself about two hundred years ago.’

‘You are giving the Murasame to the Lady of your most mortal enemy?’ Number One said with disbelief.

‘Just proving a point, One,’ the King said. ‘I can give her another blade if you like.’

Number One was silent for a while, then, ‘I am really most profoundly honoured, my Lord.’

‘Good.’ The King held the blade out to me and I took it. ‘Emma.’ I looked up. The King gazed right into my eyes. ‘The Murasame is the only blade that will destroy me.’

I looked down at the sword, then up at the King. I nodded without speaking and turned to Number One. ‘Where do you want to do this?’

‘What the hell are you doing, you stupid cunt?’ Wong shouted. ‘Take the bastard out! This is your chance!’

‘You really are quite a piece of work, Simon,’ the King said mildly. ‘I must say I am most tremendously glad that your Mother is dead.’

I looked Wong in the eye. ‘Unlike you, I keep my word. I will make you suffer horribly for what you have done, Simon, that I promise.’

‘There aren’t enough gold coins in the whole world for you, my Lady,’ the King said softly behind me.

Number One stood holding the short blade.

‘Where do you want to do this?’ I said.

‘Here. Now.’ Number One faced the gathered demons and knelt in a seiza position. He placed the blade on a lacquer tray that appeared in front of him. ‘Wait until the second cut. I will nod.’ His voice softened as he wrenched off his tie and tore open his shirt to reveal his bare abdomen. ‘I am profoundly honoured. My Lord, my Lady, I thank you both.’

‘It’s been fun, One,’ the King said. He turned to sit on the throne. ‘Come and sit with me, Simon, let’s watch the show. I wonder if Emma knows how to do it right?’

‘I know how to do it right,’ I whispered.

‘I’m sure you do,’ Number One replied, just as softly. ‘Thanks, Emma. I don’t deserve this from you.’

‘Just do it.’

He leaned forward and picked up the blade. He closed his eyes and his face became a mask of concentration.

I stood behind and to one side, unsheathed the dark blade, and held it ready. The jet-black blade of the Murasame was so cold that condensation appeared on it. It was a blade of pure yin. I wasn’t surprised that John had once owned it. I wondered how he had lost it to the King.

Number One plunged the small blade into his abdomen and sliced himself across from left to right, his face not shifting at all as he pulled it viciously upwards at the end of the cut. He jerked the blade free, his face not moving. He plunged the blade into the middle of the lower part of his abdomen and sliced it upwards. His entrails started to slide out of the almost bloodless wound.

He pulled the blade free and opened his eyes to see the crowd. He smiled and nodded slightly without looking away from the massed demons.

I swiftly swung the Murasame to take off his head, carefully leaving a flap of skin on his throat so that the head would not be completely severed. Beheading was for criminals. Men of honour did not have their heads taken completely off.

The head fell forward and, to my surprise, blood gushed from his neck. He really was a very senior demon.

The body collapsed forward and there was a concerted sigh from the gathered demons. The body didn’t dissolve.

‘Give me something to clean the blade,’ I said, then saw it. ‘No need.’

‘The Destroyer absorbs the blood of its victims,’ the King said. ‘It really is a very bloodthirsty blade indeed.’

I put the sword away, turned and held it out to the King.

‘I tell you what, Emma,’ the King said with a small smile, ‘how about you keep it? A gift from me.’ He gestured with one hand. ‘The blade is yours. Use it well.’

‘Use it on him!’ Wong hissed.

‘One day I will use it on you,’ I said. I moved to stand near them.

The King eyed the body with amusement. ‘Well, what do you know—he did have guts.’ He waved one hand. ‘Clean up.’

The horse-headed demon nodded and disappeared, taking the disembowelled body with it.

‘What are you going to do with me now?’ I said.

‘I’m giving you to Simon.’

‘The hell you are!’ I shouted. ‘I vowed to stay with you! You can’t do this to me!’

‘Do you want her, Simon?’ the King said mildly.

‘Hell, yeah,’ Wong said.

‘What if I made you vow not to harm her?’

‘I promise I won’t harm her,’ Wong said, eyeing me hungrily.

‘His word’s no good, you know that, King,’ I said desperately. ‘You can’t do this to me!’

‘I want a blood oath, Simon.’

Wong stiffened and his eyes widened.

‘Shit,’ I said quietly.

‘Will you swear not to harm her? In your own blood?’ He smiled at me. ‘If he breaks the oath he’ll be destroyed. Rather good, eh?’

‘I vowed to stay with you.’

‘Emma, dear, there is method to my madness. Just stay quiet and watch, please,’ the King said kindly.

I couldn’t believe this. ‘Shit!’

‘What good is she if I can’t hurt her?’ Wong said petulantly. ‘I can’t even use her in the lab if I can’t hurt her.’

‘No suffering, physical or mental. You may have her, but she must remain unharmed and well cared for. I won’t expect her to be happy, being where she is, but I will expect her to come out at the end unscathed. Physically sound and mentally intact.’

Wong glanced sideways at me, thinking.

‘No, you can’t even do that to her,’ the King said. ‘She is to stay exactly as she is.’

‘Why the hell are you doing this?’ I whispered. ‘What’s in it for you?’

‘Wait and see,’ the King said. ‘Well, Simon?’

‘Better than nothing, I suppose,’ Wong said. ‘Okay. I’ll take her. No idea what I’ll do with her though.’

Raw fury filled me. I was not going with this bastard. ‘You can’t do this to me!’ The Snake came out. The sword hit the dais with a clatter.

Wong leaped back but the King didn’t move. I pulled myself up and hesitated, working out which one I should strike first.

‘Wonderful!’ the King said with genuine delight. ‘I was hoping I’d see this!’ He clapped his hands. ‘Perfect!’

I struck at him. He was faster than me. He grabbed me around the throat, threw my head to the floor and held it down with his foot. I struggled; my black coils writhed around us. He had me in a death grip. The pressure was killing me.

I changed back and he raised his foot from the back of my neck.

‘Hop up, Emma. I don’t think I’ve hurt you. Thanks for that. I was really hoping I’d see the Serpent. Stunning.’

I picked myself up and brushed myself off. Fortunately I’d missed the puddle of blood in front of the throne.

The King looked me in the eyes with a smile. ‘You’d make the most tremendous Mother, you know that? The offspring you’d produce would be really exceptional.’

‘I’d almost prefer that to going with this bastard,’ I growled. I retrieved the Murasame from the floor and looked at it, then changed my mind. I turned and sat on the throne. I rested the blade across my knees.

‘Don’t worry, Emma, you’ll be fine. He won’t hurt you,’ the King said. ‘Just remember: I have ensured that you will not be harmed. I know what I am doing. Remember. My vow still holds: as long as you stay with him, Simone Chen will be perfectly safe.’

He turned to Wong. ‘I won’t use Emma’s blade to draw the blood; just the touch of it would probably destroy you outright.’ He concentrated and a stiletto appeared in his hand. ‘Come here, love, and let’s do this.’

Wong sidled forward and held out his wrist.

‘Stick him deep,’ I said softly.

‘With pleasure,’ the King said, and plunged the blade into Wong’s wrist, then slashed it viciously across.

Wong howled and blood gushed from his wrist. He went silent and stared at it with wonder. ‘Blood.’

‘Yes, my pet, you are Number One now,’ the King said. He gestured towards a table that appeared at the end of the throne. ‘There’s the brush, there’s the scroll, sign your name like a good little boy.’

Wong went to the scroll and read it. He picked up the brush, loaded it with blood from his dripping wrist, and signed. One horizontal stroke: he was Number One.

‘Read it out loud,’ the King said.

‘I swear the Dark Lady, Emma Donahoe, will come to no harm, physical or mental, as long as she stays with me,’ Wong said dully. He glowered at the King. ‘Enough?’

‘I think that will do,’ the King said. ‘Do go and clean up, there’s a good boy. You are quite disgusting to look at. Then you can come back and collect your prize.’

Wong saluted the King and disappeared.

The King looked down at the floor. ‘Quite a lot of cleaning up to do.’ He smiled at me. ‘You’ve caused quite a mess. Look.’ He gestured. ‘The blood of my old Number One and my new Number One mingle.’ He looked me in the eye. ‘They will share similar fates.’ He sat on the throne next to me.

‘They’d better,’ I growled. ‘But I don’t want any honour for Wong when he goes. I want him to die like a dog.’

‘So do I, my sweet, so do I,’ the King said softly. He turned to the massed demons in the hall. ‘Piss off. Show’s over.’

The demons disappeared.

He turned back to me. ‘Tea?’

‘Sow mei,’ I said.

‘Very good,’ he said, and lightly clapped his hands.

‘Simone will be one hundred per cent safe?’ I said.

‘On my honour, and you know I have some,’ the King said, ‘she will be safe.’

‘Send the head back to Jade and Gold,’ I said. ‘We need the body whole so that Simone can claim the inheritance.’

‘Already done, my Lady.’

‘Where’s Leo?’ I said.

‘Court Ten,’ the King said.

‘He went straight there?’

‘Yes.’

‘No,’ I whispered.

‘He is arguing most ferociously not to be Raised.’

‘No.’

The tea materialised on a small table between us on the throne and he poured. ‘You realise, Emma, the more he argues, the less effective his arguments will be.’

‘I know,’ I whispered. ‘If he strode in demanding to be Raised he’d have no chance at all.’

‘He is much too honest for his own good,’ the King said, raising his teacup.

‘He always was.’

‘You can go and say hello if you like,’ the King said kindly.

‘I’d prefer he didn’t know that I’m here,’ I said.

‘Perfectly understandable. Ah, here comes my new Number One son, to take his prize.’ The King put down the tea and handed me another mobile phone. ‘If he gives you any shit, just give me a call. I’ll come and land on him. You are to be kept in ease and comfort. If you aren’t held in perfect luxury, let me know.’

I took the phone without a word.

He looked intensely at me. ‘Emma. Remember. I have kept you safe. I have kept Simone safe. I have protected both of you. Remember that I have done this thing for you. I’m counting on you.’ He leaned back and smiled. ‘Come around and have lunch with me some time.’

‘If I do, will you give me updates on Simone, Leo and John?’

‘Of course,’ he said with a gentle smile. ‘I will give you anything that your heart desires, short of your freedom.’

Wong reappeared before us. ‘Come on then, bitch,’ he said and howled with pain.

‘You will treat the Lady with respect,’ the King said casually. ‘You will provide her with comfortable apartments. You will treat her well. I will know exactly what you are doing, little Simon.’ He shifted slightly on the gold silk cushions. ‘Do not let her witness any of your more unsavoury activities. I will be watching you.’

Wong glowered at the King then gestured towards me. ‘My Lady.’

‘Remember, Number One,’ the King said. ‘If you harm her at all, you will be destroyed. And if you go anywhere near the daughter of the Dark Lord, you will answer to me.’ He turned to me and his blood-coloured eyes blazed. ‘Remember.’

We materialised in the living room of a luxurious Hong Kong penthouse. The view over the Island through the windows was spectacular. The apartment was decorated in modern tan and beige, with expensive dark wood panelling on the walls and plush woollen carpet. The furniture was European-style: slim, low-line and expensive.

‘You can have this one,’ Wong said. ‘Anything you need, let me know.’

‘Anywhere in here with room for me to train? Practise?’

‘I will arrange it,’ he said. ‘Need to keep you fit and in good shape, otherwise my dad will rip my scales off.’

‘I want a computer with broadband and a webcam.’

‘You may have the broadband, but I’ll be holding meetings here and I don’t want you telling anybody what’s going on. So you won’t be able to email out, and I can’t let you have the webcam. Sorry,’ he said without meaning it at all.

‘I want a full set of the classics: Creation of the Gods, Journey to the West, Journey to the North, Red Chamber, Heroes of the Marsh, all of them. Both languages.’

‘I’ll see what I can do.’

‘How do I call you if I need you?’

‘Tell one of the thralls.’

‘Okay, then. Piss off.’

He bowed slightly with a vicious grin. ‘Nothing I’d rather do more.’ He disappeared.

I looked through the apartment and opened every single door. None of them led out of it. I was imprisoned.

The apartment appeared to be on top of one of the exclusive blocks above Harbour Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, overlooking Hong Kong Harbour. Ocean Terminal’s open-air rooftop car park was visible through the living room windows. Simone often went to the huge toy shop in Ocean Terminal, and enjoyed parking on the roof of the terminal: the view was spectacular. I might even be able to see her there occasionally, if I was very lucky and kept a sharp eye out for the car.

The energy calming still worked. I didn’t lose it at the thought of Simone. The effect was fading though.

I could see the clock tower of the old Kowloon train station, next to the Star Ferry. Half past twelve, midnight. Just over twelve hours since the attack on the Peak apartment. It felt like a week had passed.

The suite had four bedrooms. I chose the master bedroom. It had a king-size bed and the bathroom was enormous, with a spa. I would have him convert a couple of the other bedrooms to a training room for me.

There were two smiling demon maids in the kitchen. I didn’t say a word to them.

The dining room had a Western-style rectangular rosewood table, large enough to seat ten. Meetings.

The fourth bedroom would make a perfect study. I would have him remove the bed and put in a desk for me. There were things I needed to do.

I returned to the bedroom I had chosen, sat on the bed, dropped the sword beside me, and put my head in my hands.

I pulled myself back up and went to the window. I opened the thick tan-coloured curtains and looked out.

Some of the buildings on the Peak still had their lights on.

John’s building was close to the top. Our building. Our apartment was on the top floor. The curtains were open in Simone’s bedroom and the light was on, but the other three bedrooms—mine, Leo’s and John’s—were dark.

I thought I saw a small silhouette against the window, then the curtains were drawn closed and the light was gone.

I went to the bedroom door and locked it. Then I fell onto the bed on my stomach, curled up and let go.

I was incapacitated for about thirty-six hours. When I recovered, I had a shower. The wardrobe was full of clothes that fitted me perfectly. I went out of my room and discovered that the apartment had already been changed for me.

The training room was even better than the one on the Peak, but he hadn’t provided me with any weapons. I leaned the Murasame against the wall across from the mirrors. I would have him provide a stand for it. I wondered if it had a matching wakizashi. The complete daisho set of both destructive blades would be rather cool.

I stopped. I was being totally cold-blooded again. Understandable, now, perhaps. Now that I was what I was.

I eyed the blade. I had vowed not to try to escape. And I wouldn’t: to keep Simone safe. But when the Dark Lord returned, I would have my escape. The Murasame would provide it.

And then I realised with an ice-cold shock: I had promised Simone. I couldn’t escape. He would come back, and he would see me like this. No.

I tried something. I went into the centre of the room and performed a yang-style Tai Chi set. When I had the chi flowing, I moved it into the central dan tian and attempted to use it to burn out the demon stuff.

When I came around I felt like I’d been hit in the head by a small building. Okay, that didn’t work.

But I could still manipulate the remaining chi, and that was good enough for now. I would work something out.

I ordered the maids to make me some food and ate it silently and alone in the dining room.

Then I went into the study. All of the classics I had asked for graced the bookshelf.

I sat at the computer and opened the word processor. I had memories to record so that I would never forget. One day Simone would be able to read the whole story. Well, maybe not the whole story. Some parts would be just for me.