Hell to Heaven (52 page)

‘We can do it, ma’am,’ Liu said. ‘It’s just disappointing for us that it’s at such short notice. The students really aren’t ready and won’t be able to give their best.’

‘As long as we survive,’ I said. I moved closer to Liu to speak quietly to him. ‘How visible is the lump inside me?’

‘Absolutely bleeding obvious,’ Liu said. ‘What did you eat? A dog or something?’

‘Chicken,’ I said.

‘What did it taste like?’

I was about to answer when I saw the mischief on his face. I tapped him with my snout. ‘It’s making me drowsy; my crown’s gone and the stone has to sit inside the muscles of my back; and I look like something out of a zoo. This evaluation is going to be a disaster.’

‘We’ll manage,’ he said. ‘Go upstairs and curl up somewhere warm while I keep these kids occupied. I’ll call you when it’s time.’

‘Make sure we’re all in position at least half an hour before he’s due to arrive.
Due
to arrive, not when we expect him—so about thirty minutes from now.’

‘Don’t worry, we’ll be
fine
,’ Liu said. He patted the top of my head. ‘Go digest some more and make that damn dog lump smaller.’

‘Dog!’ I said. ‘The dog!’

‘Don’t worry, Lok is here.’

I dropped my head. ‘Phew.’

‘Go inside. It’s all under control.’

I curled up on my bed and tried to clear my thoughts ready for the trial to come. The door burst open and John, in human form, charged in. ‘Simone’s not here! Where’s Simone?’

‘She’s in the Western Heavens,’ I said. ‘She’s safe, don’t worry.’

‘She can’t travel to the Celestial yet, she has to be under the protection of her mother…’ His voice trailed off. ‘Michelle is alive?’ His face filled with joy. ‘Michelle’s alive!’

‘Michelle is dead. Simone is sixteen years old and can travel to the Celestial herself,’ I said.

He fell to sit in one of the chairs and put his head in his hands. ‘What’s happening?’

‘John,’ I said. ‘It’s me, Emma.’

He dropped his hands and studied me, confused. ‘Emma?’

I slithered across the bed so I was closer to him, but didn’t touch him. ‘You’ve lost your memory. You’ve been through some trauma. You’re spending most of your time in True Form, and somehow you’ve found your way back here. Everybody is safe.’

He leaned back. ‘As long as everybody is safe.’ He focused on me. ‘Who are you?’ His face went grim. ‘Peony.’ He rose, raised one hand and summoned Dark Heavens. ‘Peony, you have broken the laws of the Celestial—’

‘I’m not Peony, I’m Emma,’ I said.

‘I don’t know any snakes called Emma. The name is familiar, but I don’t know any snakes called that.’

‘I used to be human. I’m
not
Peony, John, put the sword away. Peony is dead. I’m Emma, and I used to be human.’

‘A human called Emma,’ he said as if from a million miles away. The joy filled him again. ‘Emma!’ He dismissed Dark Heavens, grabbed my serpent neck and held me close. ‘Emma.’ He pulled away slightly and looked into my eyes. ‘What the hell happened to you?’

‘Do you have any idea how many times you’ve asked me that?’ I said. ‘It seems to be taking forever for you to come back.’

‘How long is it now? Simone’s sixteen? Damn, nine years?’

‘Nearly ten. The Lady said ten.’

‘At a minimum, and that would have to be with some help.’ His eyes unfocused. ‘I wonder if I’m getting help. I’m already in human form, this is strange.’ He
concentrated on me again. ‘Who cares. I’m here, I’m with you, and you are gorgeous.’ He kissed the top of my head. ‘Can you take human form?’

I dropped my head and leaned on him. ‘I have a belly full of raw chicken. Bones and all.’

‘And?’

‘I don’t want to make my human form sick.’

‘That won’t happen. The food is in the snake, not the human. When you change, it’ll be gone.’

I concentrated and took human form, and stood up next to him. The demon essence rushed through me and I pushed it down. ‘How does that work?’

‘Something to do with the different Planes. There are people out there who have made a study of it, but I never cared enough to worry about it.’ He wrapped his arms around me and smiled down at me. ‘My Emma. You haven’t changed at all.’

I put my hands around the back of his neck and pulled him down to kiss him. His arms around me tightened and his breathing quickened. He released me and pulled back to look into my eyes. ‘Oh, yes.’

Thirty minutes, ma’am
, Liu said into my head.
Time to prepare.

‘Prepare for what?’ John said.

‘Er Lang’s coming to do an evaluation. He wants five recruits for the Jade Emperor’s Elite Guard.’

He moved away. ‘Good. Let’s go see what our Disciples can do.’

‘Always work first; always putting your duty before yourself.’ I pulled him back in and pressed myself against him. ‘How about we just stay here?’

His face became intense. ‘That’s a very good idea.’

He gently pushed me down so I was sitting on the bed and he sat next to me, still with his hands around
the back of my neck. His eyes unfocused for a moment and all our clothes were gone.

I moved my face closer to his. ‘How close are you to full strength again? That was impressive.’

‘Still a long way to go. You’ve yet to see really impressive,’ he said. He leaned back to study me. ‘Magnificent.’

I ran my hands over his chest, revelling in the golden, silken skin. ‘Yes, you are.’

I pushed myself into him and ran my fingers up and down his muscular back and felt him tremble in response.

I ran my mouth over his chest and along his collarbone, enjoying the salty musky taste of him. He leaned down so that I could reach his throat, and I nibbled on his ear, making him gasp. He buried his face in the side of my neck, then pulled back to study me, his eyes warm and dark. He put his hands either side of my face, his eyes roving over my features.

I pulled him in again for a long, lingering kiss and his grip on me tightened. I ran my hands along the muscles of his back again, then loaded them with what little chi I had left and ran them down over the base of his spine.

A low sound of pleasure escaped him. ‘You know exactly what to do.’

‘That’s because I’m a reptile too,’ I whispered into his ear, and he completely lost it.

We lay side by side on the covers, holding each other close. ‘How long do we have before it starts?’ he said into the side of my head.

‘I don’t know and I don’t really care.’

‘How is Simone doing?’

‘She’s studying at Celestial High now; she’s made friends and is enjoying it.’

He shifted slightly next to me. ‘I suppose things have changed now. When it was Michelle, the focus would have been on the Earthly. Now, with you, she can live fully on the Celestial.’

‘I need to clear this demon essence from me.’

‘Did you see the Pure Ones?’

‘They didn’t help.’

‘There’s only one option then.’

‘I know.’ I looked into his eyes. ‘All of the trades he wants are too costly.’

‘I can imagine. Just stay as you are, Emma, do your best to control it, and when I return for good, I’ll fix it for you. I’m powerful enough. I can do it.’

I looked up into his face. ‘You don’t sound too sure, John.’

‘You always could read me.’

I pulled him tighter. ‘You’re not here for good yet? Please stay.’

He sighed gently. ‘I wish I could. I really do. But I’m not there yet. I could disappear any moment. So hold this time tight and treasure it. I don’t know how long it will be before I return.’

‘You should see Simone.’

He stiffened and gasped. ‘I put my own pleasure before my child. What sort of father am I?’

I moved my face closer to his and grinned. ‘A turtle.’

‘That I am, Lady Emma.’ He sat up, and was fully dressed again. ‘I think you should be preparing for this evaluation. I’ll go up to the West and say hello to her. I need to move fast, because somehow I have been drained of ching energy.’ His grin turned wry. ‘No idea how that happened.’

‘John.’ I sat up and put my hand on his cheek. ‘Thank you for this time.’

He took my hand and kissed it. ‘There will be plenty more times. I will return for you.’ He disappeared.

I pulled on a fresh Wudang uniform and went downstairs and out to the front of the house. The students had gathered there in neat, unmoving lines. I went to join the Masters at the front of the group.

‘About time. I thought you two would be forever,’ Liu said.

‘There’s this thing called privacy…’ I said.

‘Interesting theoretical concept,’ he said with amusement. ‘Don’t worry, I wasn’t looking; I could sense his presence, and I’m not completely stupid. Next time tell him hello for me. We still have at least forty-five minutes before Er Lang arrives—’ His expression changed. ‘His entourage is here. Twenty minutes early.’ He stared at me. ‘Damn, Emma, what the
hell
did you do to piss him off? That’s unprecedented.’

I didn’t look away from the drive. ‘We’re ready for him.’

He straightened. ‘Yes, we are.’

Er Lang, in human form, rode over the crest of the hill on a heavily muscled black horse. A polearm was attached to the saddle, and his large black dog walked next to the horse’s shoulder.

Liu whistled softly between his teeth. ‘Alone. No entourage.’ He switched to silent speech.
Completely unprecedented. He heaps insult on top of insult.

The two of us stepped forward to greet him. He stopped his horse, dropped the reins and saluted us. ‘Lady Emma. Master Liu.’

We saluted back. ‘Lord Er Lang.’

He didn’t dismount; he spoke to us from the back of the horse, another huge breach of protocol. ‘There is a hearing in two weeks, Lady Emma. It must be ascertained whether or not you are competent to hold the role of First Heavenly General.’

‘The Jade Emperor told me just last week that I am doing a good job,’ I said.

He gracefully dismounted from the horse. ‘The Jade Emperor cannot be aware of all that takes place within his dominion, particularly now that his right hand, the Dark Arts of War, is missing.’

One of the house demons came forward to take the reins of Er Lang’s horse, and Er Lang raised one hand. ‘Wind Spirit must not be tended by demons. He must be tended by humans or Shen.’

I spoke to the Disciples without turning around. ‘Any humans or Shen here good with ponies?’

Karen stepped forward from the student ranks. ‘I’ll do it, ma’am, I like horses. I had one back in England.’

‘Go right ahead, Karen.’

Er Lang eyed her with disdain. ‘I am not sure your students are capable of caring for such a nobly bred animal. On second thought, I will release him to return to the Celestial.’ He waved one hand and the horse disappeared.

Karen glanced at me. I nodded to her and she returned to the ranks of students, her expression rigid with restraint.

‘Please come with me, my Lord, and let me show you our hospitality,’ I said.

Er Lang nodded and took a step forward, then stopped. ‘What of my companion?’

Lok came forward and bowed his shaggy head over his forelegs to Er Lang’s dog. ‘My Lord. Please allow
me to show you the hospitality of New Wudang. The Lady Emma has provided accommodation that is eminently suitable for such as we.’

Er Lang’s dog studied Lok with disdain. ‘You are not a dog by true nature, I can see this.’

‘That is correct, my Lord. This form has been forced upon me against my will.’

Er Lang’s dog tilted his head slightly. ‘Against your will? So if you had a choice, you would choose not to be a dog?’ His voice gained an edge of malice. ‘Being a dog is something that you abhor?’

Er Lang watched the exchange with satisfaction.

Lok looked Er Lang’s dog in the eye. ‘I pursue the Tao. The Tao is the true nature of all. Being a dog, although it is enjoyable and satisfying, is not my true nature, so I hope that one day I will be able to leave this form and return to my true form, to be closer to the Tao.’

Er Lang’s dog nodded. ‘Pursuit of the Tao is always noble and should never be discouraged.’ The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, the dog equivalent of a smile. ‘Show me the way.’

After Liu and I had shown Er Lang his room, we went into the downstairs office. Er Lang sat across the desk from me and Liu stood behind me.

‘We will begin the evaluations this afternoon,’ Er Lang said. ‘The Celestial One has five vacancies in the Elite Guard.’

‘May I once again recommend junior Masters rather than senior students?’ Liu said. ‘Most of these Disciples have been studying the arts for less than ten years. I doubt that any would qualify.’

Er Lang glared at Liu, as if about to say something, then changed his mind. ‘I will rest until the evaluation.
The accommodation is basic, but I do not intend to be here long.’ He rose and saluted me. ‘We will begin at two. Ensure that your students are ready. I will see the physically trained ones today, then those who have aptitude with energy tomorrow morning, then those who are talented with both tomorrow afternoon. Final selection will follow the day after.’ He nodded to us. ‘I will see you at two. Have something sent to my room.’ He walked out.

I sagged over the desk.

‘Sexist pig,’ Liu said. ‘You should hear Meredith carry on about him. She wants to call him out.’

‘Could she take him?’

Liu smiled slightly. ‘It would be a close thing, but he would probably win and that would make him even more insufferable.’

‘Is that possible?’

‘You didn’t see him after the Monkey King beat him. According to the guys, that was totally insufferable.’

I shook my head. ‘Let’s get these students fed and organised for this afternoon.’

‘Humph,’ he said. ‘As if any of them will eat. Want to join me for lunch?’

‘I’m not really hungry. The chicken is gone, but I still feel like I ate it.’

‘Oh yeah,’ he said, opening the door to go out. ‘And it tasted like chicken.’

I didn’t have anything on the desk in front of me to throw at him.

When Ah Yat took Er Lang his lunch, I followed her into his room. He was sitting in one of the chairs next to the window, going through the printouts of the students’ records. He gestured for Ah Yat to place the
tray on the table in front of him, moving the papers out of the way, and ignored me. I waited until she had gone out and closed the door. Er Lang continued to ignore me, slurping the soup that came with his Hainan chicken.