White Tiger

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Iheard them coming and sat upright on the sofa, groggy. Leo was sprawled across the living room’s other sofa. I checked my watch: 5 a.m. They’d been in there together for more than twelve hours straight.

Ms Kwan led him into the kitchen, her face like thunder. The plaster was gone and he could walk by himself.

Leo woke, and we opened the kitchen door to check on them. Mr Chen sat staring at the table, expressionless. She pulled a saucepan out of the cupboard and found some ho fan in the refrigerator. She poured some vegetable stock into the saucepan and put it on the stove. She didn’t look at us. ‘Out.’

Leo and I shared a look and closed the door.

Leo rubbed his eyes. ‘Thank God.’

I grabbed him and held him tight. He buried his face in my hair. We held each other for a while, then separated and returned to our rooms without saying a word.

About an hour later, Leo and I came out for breakfast. The kitchen was deserted so we sat at the table together and waited. Monica appeared, bustled through the kitchen and made breakfast for us as if nothing had happened.

Ms Kwan came in and sat at the table with us. Monica made a pot of tea for her and she nodded her thanks. The three of us sat together for a long time without looking at each other.

Eventually she stirred. ‘Leo and Emma—here is something I should have given you a long time ago.’ She held her hand out, palm up, and a soft glow appeared. It coalesced into a pearl so large it filled her palm. She placed the pearl on the table with a soft metallic click.

‘If he should ever be this bad again,’ she said, ‘hold this and call me. I will come.’

‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘You don’t know how much we appreciate it.’

Leo nodded, speechless.

‘I will need to stay at least a week, day and night,’ she said. ‘Do you have room for me?’

‘You can have my room, I’ll take one of the student rooms,’ I said.

‘I don’t want to put you out,’ she said, concerned.

‘I would be honoured.’ I hesitated, but I had to know. ‘How bad is the Mountain?’

‘We all knew this was coming. It was inevitable. The Demon King led an enormous army of demons to attack the Mountain. The other three Winds and the Elite Guard of the Jade Emperor fought side by side with the Dark Disciples. All of the Dragons in the Heavens rallied to his aid. The Tiger’s Western Horsemen cut through the demons. But they were overpowered. Every demon in Hell joined the attack.’

‘All of them?’ Leo whispered.

‘Every single one. Even though he was nearly incapacitated in his own weakness, the Dark Lord donned his black armour and led his disciples under their black banners. He must have destroyed hundreds of demons by himself. Eventually they overcame him and threw him from his own wall.’ Leo looked away.

‘He fought his way back up and defeated them. It was a mighty battle, and I was unaware. I was in retreat. I did not know.’ She smiled sadly. ‘I am sorry. They cut through the Mountain Palace of Yuzhengong. They desecrated the temples and killed the clergy. Much of the Palace has been burned to the ground.’

‘No,’ I whispered.

‘When the battle was over, he came directly here. But he knows that his Mountain, his Palace, is ruined. He has been building the Mountain for centuries, adding to its elegant halls and pavilions. Even its Earthly shadow was magnificent. And now it is all gone. It is breaking his heart.’

I took her hand and she smiled sadly at me. ‘I will spend the rest of the day with him. Do not disturb us. He was very close, and we should not be interrupted.’

‘We understand,’ I said.

She released my hand, rose and went out.

I woke and cast around, confused, then remembered. I was in a student room. I rose and went into the hallway. It was very late.

I went to the small picture window at the end of the hall. The carpet was soft under my feet.

The window overlooked the eastern part of Hong Kong Island. The ridge that was the top of the island stretched in front of me, leading down to Causeway Bay and North Point. The lights were still on; Hong Kong buzzed with activity, even though it was so late. The streets of Central were a flurry of traffic.

A lone car drove past, going down the tree-covered hillside of the Peak. The Peak Tower had closed up for the night. The shopping centre next to it was dark.

The hills and highrises of Kowloon shimmered over the harbour in the distance. The clouds were low overhead, and glowed in the reflected light of the city.

I touched the glass. The surface was cold; the temperature would be less than ten degrees outside. It was warm inside.

I turned and looked along the hallway. Closed doors in the darkness. Shadows. Quiet. I was right next to his door.

I went to his door.

I touched the handle.

Wong had asked me: why don’t you go to him? And I asked myself: why not?

I knew he felt it too. Something was holding him back. If I went in and slid into bed beside him, what would he do?

I wanted so much to climb in with him, pull the covers over both of us and run my hands over his golden skin. To feel the muscles of his arms, his back. To run my mouth over his silken shoulders and bury my face in his neck. To feel his hair slide between my fingers, fresh with the smell of the sea.

To have him turn to me and hold me, his strong arms around me. To feel him next to me, to press myself against his warmth…

I grasped the door handle.

No. It wouldn’t be right. He’d made his choice and I had to respect it.

I just wanted to find a cup to have a drink of water, that was all. I took my hand away and headed towards the kitchen.

After I woke the next morning I quietly checked on Simone. She was still asleep, so I left her. She needed the rest.

I passed the training room on the way back to the kitchen. The door was ajar; I moved to close it.

They sat cross-legged on the mats, facing each other, their hands out and their palms together. Their eyes were closed and a glowing nimbus of silvery energy surrounded them.

I quietly closed the door and went into the kitchen to find some breakfast. Leo was already there. I poured myself some coffee from his pot.

When I sat he showed me an article on page five of the newspaper.

‘What, the journalists didn’t see the demons? Are they invisible or something?’

‘The demons attacked the Mountain on a higher plane,’ Leo said. ‘The one at Wudangshan reflected the damage. At least that’s my understanding of it. You ever been there? Wudangshan?’

I shook my head.

‘It’s a really amazing place. The whole Palace clings to the side of the mountain. There’s a little temple right on top of the mountain, made of gilded copper with a gold roof, with a statue of him,’ he nodded towards the door, ‘inside. Love to see that. The one on the Celestial Plane, I mean.’

‘Maybe one day he’ll be able to take you.’

‘He won’t be taking anyone,’ Leo said with bitter finality. ‘He’ll hang around until Simone’s ready, and then he’ll go.’

I sighed. ‘Most of the Mountain on the higher plane is gone anyway.’

‘It’ll be killing him,’ Leo said. ‘It was bad enough when he couldn’t go there. Now that it’s been destroyed I hate to think how he’s being affected. The Mountain is a part of him.’

‘And that part of him has been destroyed with it.’

Leo dropped his head.

Ms Kwan came in, and Monica made her a pot of tea. Ms Kwan seemed tired.

‘Are you okay?’ I said after Monica had moved away. ‘You’ve been holding human form for a long time.’

‘I spend most of my time human,’ she said. ‘I wander the world. I care for you all.’

I nodded understanding. It was one thing to give your life for another, but she gave her whole Immortal existence to serve humanity.

‘Ms Kwan,’ Leo said, ‘there’s something we haven’t told him. About the attack.’

‘What, Leo?’

Leo fiddled with his coffee mug. ‘I didn’t tell him about one of the demons that attacked us. It was a Demon Prince.’ He tilted his head, still studying his cup. ‘It was the one that killed Michelle.’

‘Do not tell him,’ she said sharply. ‘I will be the one to tell him. He is not ready yet. I think I know the one you mean. It does not have the skill to defeat you, Leo, but it is learning.’

‘It broke in and stabbed me in the back in October.’

‘I am not surprised,’ Ms Kwan said. ‘It is quite a piece of work.’

‘You have no idea,’ I said. ‘It said some things you wouldn’t believe.’

‘I would believe it,’ she said. ‘I wish the King had not sworn that foolish oath. To be Number One is a very grand prize for them. They know Ah Wu would swap his head for anything he loves. We must not let it have its hands on Emma or Simone, Leo. You must protect them.’

‘So far they’ve only sent small ones to try me out, and I’ve managed to avoid facing them,’ I said. ‘I don’t need Leo’s protection, I can handle it.’

Ms Kwan hesitated, looking at me, then turned and glared at Leo. ‘She doesn’t know?’

Leo smiled wryly.

I looked from one to the other. ‘What don’t I know?’

Ms Kwan sighed. She picked up the teapot and two cups. ‘Come with me, Emma, we need to talk.’

‘Sorry,’ Leo said as we went out.

‘You will very shortly receive the sharp edge of my tongue,’ Ms Kwan said without looking back.

Leo’s voice followed us down the hallway. ‘You don’t have one, Ms Kwan, and you know it.’

Ms Kwan led me to my room. There was very little evidence of her residence there. She gestured for me to sit on the couch and sat next to me. She poured the tea.

‘Now.’ She turned to face me. ‘It is obvious that these stupid men have not told you.’

‘Told me what?’ Then I understood. ‘Why he won’t have me. Why won’t he, Ms Kwan? We could have years together! I don’t need anything permanent. I don’t need promises or grand sentiments. If I could just have him for the short time we have left…’ My voice broke and I tried to control it. ‘I don’t need more than that.’

She passed me the box of tissues from my desk.

I pulled one out and wiped my eyes. ‘I know he feels the same way! Even the demon said I should go in and wake him up!’

‘Emma. Dear Emma.’

I dropped my head with misery. ‘That’s what he called me in the hospital.’

‘I cannot believe these two useless men have not told you, but I should not be surprised. They really will receive the sharp end of my tongue.’

I shook my head. ‘Leo’s right. You know you don’t have one.’

‘In this case I do. Emma, listen carefully. This is most important. Your life is at stake here. You must understand.’

I glanced up at her.

She smiled sadly. ‘His feelings for you are as strong as yours are for him. Stronger, if that is possible.’ She sipped her tea. ‘It is strange. After such a very long time without finding someone worthy, he has encountered two, one after the other. It is far too unlikely to be a coincidence. But we must deal with what Fate hands us.’

‘I’m worthy? Wait, he feels the same way too?’

‘Of course. But he cannot act on his feelings. It would kill you.’

This stopped me dead. It would kill me?

‘If you had gone to him as the demon suggested, you would be dead.’ She poured more tea for us. ‘Emma, if you were to go to him, he would not be able to control himself. He would take you in a second. He would not think twice. He would completely lose control. It is his nature, because of what he is.’

‘A Shen?’

‘No, a Turtle.’

I gasped.

‘You know it is an insult?’ I nodded.

‘You are learning quickly.’ She sipped her tea, then placed her teacup on the table, took my hand and looked into my eyes. ‘Emma, the sharing of love is a sharing of energy. You are young, he is old. You are strong, he is drained. If he were to take you, he would take your energy. He would suck the life out of you and kill you. He would not be able to stop the drain. He would not be able to think at all. Sometimes even the sharing of your feelings through a touch can start the drain. He must be very careful.’

I stared at her.

‘Do you understand, Emma? If you two were to act on your feelings for each other, it would kill you.’ She sighed. ‘He is a fool. He should have dismissed you the moment he knew how he felt for you. But he has kept you here, because he cares so deeply for you, and because Simone loves you. But you must know, Emma. The more he loves you, the less he will be able to touch you. If he loved you completely he would be unable to touch you at all.’

‘He loves me,’ I cried softly. ‘He loves me. I love him. And it can’t happen.’

‘It can never be. Do you understand what the demon was trying to achieve when he suggested you go to him?’

‘He was trying to get me killed.’ I thumped the table. ‘Damn it! They should have told me! He should at least have asked Leo to tell me! Why didn’t they tell me? You know I nearly went to him? It was a close thing, Ms Kwan, I had my hand on his door.’

She watched me with compassion.

‘If I’d gone in there, I would have been dead by now.’

I picked up my tea and put it down again. ‘Those two are such idiots sometimes! I am going to strangle them!’

‘No,’ Ms Kwan said. ‘I will strangle them first.’ We shared a smile.

‘I should have known,’ she said. ‘I had to tell Michelle as well. They were too embarrassed to tell her.’

‘Wait,’ I said. ‘He had a child with Michelle. He could touch her. Why could he touch her and not me?’

‘He returned to the Mountain regularly while he was married to Michelle,’ she said. ‘He was able to rebuild his energy on the Mountain. Even so, he still had to be very careful.’

‘They are so useless!’

She smiled slightly. ‘Then Simone was born, and he carried both of them to the Mountain. A child may travel to the Celestial Plane under the protection of its mother. Movement to the plane is very stressful for mortals, but the mother protects the child, lends her energy, ensures the child’s safety. Now that Michelle is gone, he cannot return to his Mountain. He cannot leave Simone here without his protection.’

‘If that demon had never killed Michelle, none of this would have happened. Simone would still have her mother, and her father would be able to stay with her forever.’

‘That is true.’

‘I am going to get that demon one day.’

‘You are quite remarkable sometimes, Emma.’

‘He touches me when we’re training together, Ms Kwan.’ I sighed. ‘I should tell him to stop, shouldn’t I?’

‘He knows how far he can take it. While he is teaching you he must concentrate on his beloved Arts and will not hurt you. He has very good control. You can trust him. He knew you would respect his wishes and would not push it.’ She poured more tea. ‘He has spoken of nothing but you since you arrived, Emma. Your courage, your talent, your total devotion to Simone…’

I could feel my face reddening.

‘He is a man in love. And men in love do foolish things.’

‘He loves me.’ My heart leapt at the words. ‘He does love me.’ My throat thickened. I lowered my head and shook it. ‘He does.’

‘I think we would all understand if you were to decide to leave now, Emma. There is no future in this. I think it would be best if you were to leave and find another.’

‘No. Simone needs me. And I want to be with him for the short time we have left.’

‘It can never be, Emma. You can never share your feelings. You must be especially careful when you are alone together. Do not show your affection for him too much, dear, you could push him over the edge.’

‘I think I must be the happiest woman in the whole world.’

Her eyes turned inward. ‘Simone has woken. You must care for her, and I must care for him.’

‘Let’s go,’ I said, and rose. I couldn’t stop my smile.

‘I think,’ she said, smiling sadly, ‘you are as great a fool as he is.’

‘Oh, I sincerely hope so.’

She bundled me into her arms and held me for a while. Then we went out together.

I returned to the kitchen with the teapot and cups. Leo sat at the table, still watching his coffee. I placed the pot and cups into the sink for Monica.

I stopped as I passed him on the way out of the kitchen and smartly slapped the back of his bald head. ‘Keep anything important a secret from me ever again and I will tear your arms off.’

He didn’t move or look up. ‘You are extremely scary sometimes, you know that?’

‘You have no idea,’ I growled, and went out.