It was subconscious at first, but after a few seconds the burning was so intense I had to drop her.
‘Shit. Shit. Shit!’ I whispered. ‘What the hell am I going to do?’
She was limp. I spoke gently into her ear, trying to wake her. Nothing.
She is heavily sedated. I don’t think anything you can do will bring her round.
I suddenly felt very calm. ‘You realise what this means.’
The stone was silent.
I felt absolutely serene. ‘If I can’t touch her, then I can’t touch him. I’ll never be able to touch either of them.’
The stone didn’t speak.
‘I’ve lost my only reason for living,’ I said.
No, Emma. Simone needs you.
‘What Simone needs right now is to be safe. I must get her out of here. You know what they’ll do to her. I can’t let them have her.’
The stone was silent.
‘What are my chances of getting her out of here when I can’t even touch her?’
The stone didn’t say a word.
I pulled the ring off my finger and very carefully put it into the pocket of Simone’s dress. The contact of the fabric was enough to start my skin burning. ‘Will you explain for me?’
The stone didn’t answer, and then I understood. I put my finger carefully into her pocket so that I could touch it and hear what it had to say.
I’d prefer to stay with you, Lady Emma.
‘Well, how about that. After all this time of driving me nuts, now you want to stay with me.’ I pulled the King’s phone out of my pocket, keeping my other hand on the ring. ‘As far as I can see, I’m out of options. If you can see any other way of ensuring Simone’s safety, I’d love to hear it.’
The stone was silent for a long time, then it said,
My Lady.
‘Thanks for everything.’
It’s been fun, Emma. I hope to see you again when the Dark Lord returns.
‘I sincerely doubt that I will want to be around when he comes back, stone,’ I said. ‘When he sees what they’ve done to me it’ll kill him. I think I’d prefer to be dead. I may just stay in Hell.’
The stone was silent.
‘Look after her,’ I whispered. ‘Try not to annoy her
too
much.’
I quickly zipped up Simone’s pocket, then jerked my hands away from the pain of the contact. I pressed the button on the phone and lifted it to my ear.
‘Goodbye, Simone,’ I said. ‘I love you.’
The phone clicked. ‘Yes, dear?’
‘You have me. I’m yours.’
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.