Dark Serpent (37 page)

‘Hello,’ I said. ‘You’re beautiful.’

It fell onto its front knees and curled its hind legs behind it to lie down next to me. Warmth and light radiated off it and I immediately felt more alive.

‘You’re not,’ it said, and its voices sounded like three speaking in unison: a man, a woman and a child. It dropped its head slightly and blew warm sweet air on me. ‘You’re very ordinary-looking, and I like that. You’re true to yourself.’

‘Thank you. I try. Why are you here? I’m not nearly important enough to merit a visit from you.’

‘You aren’t, but if the future is to be resolved, you need to be in it.’

‘I’m that important?’

‘You, no. The things around you, yes. Kind of.’ It shook its head. ‘You’re not important, but you’re vital and real and full of life. And there’s a thing that will need to be done. And it needs you.’

‘I’ve done enough,’ I said, snuggling into it. ‘Your scales are lovely.’

It nuzzled me with its horse nose. ‘Most people are awestruck into silence when they meet me.’

‘Hey, I’ve slept with the Xuan Wu and seen its Turtle form. I’ve yet to see anything top that,’ I said. ‘Whoa. Is your presence making me high or something? I feel really … good. Euphoric.’

‘Either my presence, or the blood loss and exposure. Probably a combination.’ It snorted gently with amusement. ‘I wonder if I’m habit-forming.’

‘You should be a controlled substance,’ I said. ‘Is it okay if I sleep until he finds me? You’re lovely and warm, and I feel like I haven’t been warm in forever. You won’t leave me, will you?’

‘Go right ahead.’

‘And of course, if I’m hallucinating, I’ll just die and that’ll be that.’

‘Yep.’

‘You’re a big help,’ I said, and fell asleep curled up next to its satiny scales.

‘I decided not to go with that sword shape because the horse people use them on
Game of Boobs
,’ Simone said over breakfast the next morning.

‘Don’t let that stop you,’ Leo said.

‘What’s
Game of Boobs
?’ John said as he sat with them.

‘Fantasy series on HBO,’ Simone said. ‘They call it that because of the gratuitous nudity. It’s full of unnecessary boobs.’

‘When’s it on?’ John said.

‘Dad!’

‘I want to see the depiction of the khopesh.’

‘Like I believe you,’ she said with derision.

‘Leo’s right, don’t let that stop you. They probably use that shape because it is the right shape for that purpose. It will be the most suitable weapon for you.’

‘And nobody has to see your boobs,’ Leo said.

‘Leo!’

Leo grinned into his bacon.

Simone laughed, and John heard how forced it was. They were trying to cheer him up. It was probably obvious that he was fretting now that he’d run out of things to keep him occupied.

‘I’ll need to give them names,’ Simone said.

‘Yang and Yin?’ Leo said.

‘Cliché,’ Simone said, stretching the word out with derision.

‘Penn and Teller.’

‘Oh, I like that.’

‘Siegfried and Roy?’

‘The Tiger would adore that. How about Cloud and Squall?’

‘I don’t get the reference,’ Leo said. ‘But weather terms are always good.’

‘Stop thinking of male names and honour some famous women,’ John said. ‘Scientists, leaders, warriors.’

Simone and Leo shared a horrified look.

‘I didn’t even realise I was doing that,’ Simone said. ‘How about Ada and Marie?’

‘Who are they?’ Leo said.

‘Only two of the most famous women —’ Simone began, but John’s phone rang and she stopped.

He snatched it up. It was Golden Dragon, the Blue Dragon’s Number One.

‘Talk to me,’ John said.

‘We’re three li from the manor, and there’s something my wood nature felt the minute we got here. It’s … strange. Damn, it’s like the most evil spot I’ve ever been; there’s these trees and they’re … grotesque. Really, really creepy, and it’s the middle of the night, which makes it worse. Whenever I attune to the harmony you gave us, something seems to happen with the trees, then stops.’ His tone changed to chagrin. ‘There’s something here, my Lord, but my dragon nature isn’t wood-based enough to make it resonate. You need something seriously wooden. I suggest you have a tree take a look.’

‘Text the coordinates to my phone.’

‘My Lord.’

After he’d hung up, John looked from Leo to Simone. ‘I need a tree.’

‘Aren’t the trees kind of boycotting you?’ Leo said.

‘Yeah,’ Simone said. ‘They all hate him.’

Yue Gui. I need a tree.
He shared the information with her. Her son was a tree; she had to know one that would help him.

Father. Hold,
she said.

John ate while he waited, excitement building within him. If this was a tree-only gateway, and he could find a tree who was willing
to assist, he could finally break in there. Demons were completely unable to work with tree essence; trees were too natural and pure.

Father. Sang Shen will help you in return for a pardon. He is genuine.

‘What, Daddy?’ Simone said when she saw his face go grim.

‘Sang Shen will help, but I need to free him,’ John said.

‘Yue Gui can’t help it,’ Leo said. ‘She’s just being a mom.’

‘Are you about to make a pact with the devil?’ Simone said.

‘No,’ John said. ‘The devil’s about to make a pact with me.’

Will he cease this ridiculous vendetta against Emma?

Yes.

One condition. He has to act as a representative for Emma with the trees, and work to rebuild their goodwill towards both of us.

Yue Gui was silent for a long time as she relayed the message to her son. John wondered if he’d asked too much. He needed a tree and right now Sang Shen was probably the only one who would help.

He agrees. He is on the Earthly, hiding in Hong Kong’s forest park. Do you need to go to him to free him?

No. He’s free now. Confirm.

Confirmed.
Her voice changed to relief.
My thanks, my father.

Sang Shen spoke to him.
My Lord
.

How soon can you be in the UK?
John said.

I’ve never travelled that far.

Do you know where it is?

Sang Shen was silent. He wouldn’t admit that he didn’t know where to go. John cursed the tree’s pride.

Can you meet me in Hong Kong, Sang Shen?

My Lord.

Top of One Black Road. Do you know where that is?

Sang Shen’s voice sounded impatient.
Of course I do.

John put down his spoon and rose. ‘He’s meeting me halfway, then I’ll take him to the UK.’

‘Wait, Daddy,’ Simone said.

She rose and came to him and put her arms out. He pulled her into a hug, and she used the contact to feed him Shen energy, brisk and pulsing with her youth and fervour. She stopped the feed just as quickly, impressing him with her control.

‘Enough?’ she said, studying his face.

‘More than enough.’ He put his hand on her cheek. ‘You impress me more and more every day. I’ll keep you posted.’

She glowed with pride as the room dissolved around him and he headed down to the Earthly.

Sang Shen was already waiting for him on the black-stained roof of the Peak apartment, the low clouds flowing around him. John landed across the roof from him and waited.

Sang Shen jumped as he remembered, then fell to one knee and bowed his head. ‘Dai Yeh Yeh,’ he said, calling John ‘Grandfather’.

‘Sang Shen,’ John said, ‘call me by my full title. You are no longer any child of mine.’

‘Xuan Tian,’ Sang Shen said.

John waited.

‘Shang Di,’ Sang Shen finished, his face dark with humiliation.

John paced around Sang Shen, not yet giving him permission to rise. ‘Four hundred stone Shen are dead. These demons have control over fire and metal elementals. How much do you value your life and that of the other trees?’

Sang Shen’s face went expressionless. He obviously hadn’t known this.

‘Repeat these words,’ John said. ‘
I do not know
.’

‘What words?’

‘Say the words
I do not know
.’

‘I do not know,’ Sang Shen said, obviously confused.

‘What is the way to Britain?’ John said.

Sang Shen didn’t reply, his expression still full of humiliation.

John stopped in front of him. ‘Your life and the lives of every other resident of the Celestial are at stake. The demons are readying for war; they will try to take our Heavens. Will you risk all of that to save your stupid pride and refuse to admit your ignorance when you don’t know something? Save us all the time and effort, and if you don’t know, say so. Your pride is not worth your life.’

‘I do not know the way to Britain,’ Sang Shen said, now understanding.

‘Good!’ John said. ‘Up you get, lad. You trees can’t handle immersion in salt water, can you?’

‘Not for long periods,’ Sang Shen said.

‘Very well, we’ll have to fly. Can you summon a cloud? How do you travel long distances?’

‘You don’t know?’ Sang Shen said.

John pointed at his own face. ‘Listen to me when I say this. No, I don’t know. Trees have always graced the Heavens, but they have been silent beauties that kept to themselves. I admit I took you for granted. Now the Heavens are in danger and we need your skills. So let’s share information.’

‘I can burrow under the earth to travel long distances, but the furthest I’ve been is Delhi.’

‘Right,’ John said. He waved Sang Shen closer and put his finger on his forehead. ‘This is where we’re going. Can you meet me there?’

‘Yes,’ Sang Shen said, eyes unfocused as he processed the information.

‘How long will it take you to get there?’

‘Eight hours, but when I reach that body of water before the large island, I will need a lift. I can’t travel through the ocean without a tunnel or something.’

‘There’s a tunnel, you’ll be able to cross the Channel. This is where the entrance is; meet me there,’ John said.

He was well aware that Sang Shen could break his oath and take off. He had to trust him.

Sang Shen bowed once sharply. ‘I will meet you there.’

He jumped off the roof and changed into a ball of roots as he fell. John leaned over the edge and watched as Sang Shen quickly burrowed into the earth and disappeared.

John flew to the ocean, changed to Turtle form, and swam. He met Sang Shen at the Channel and showed him the way across, briefing him in more detail on the situation on the way.

When John arrived at the location Golden Dragon had given him, he found all three Number Ones standing at the edge of the copse looking uncomfortable, and Michael’s white Horseman uniform was splashed with blood. Sang Shen erupted out of the ground nearby as a ball of jutting roots, changed to wood shaped
vaguely like a human, then reverted to full human and joined them.

‘What happened to you?’ John asked Michael.

Michael glanced down at himself. ‘Nothing. This is part of the ruse. We splashed me with blood and I pretend to lie injured under one of the gateways, hoping a demon will come out and grab me.’ He grimaced. ‘Hasn’t worked yet.’

‘Where are these trees?’ Sang Shen said.

‘In there,’ Golden Dragon said, indicating the thicket. ‘Michael thinks it might be a druid grove, but druid groves weren’t supposed to be this …’ He searched for the right word.

‘Wrong,’ the Phoenix’s Number One, Flute, said. She nodded to Sang Shen. ‘I hope you can help us.’

‘Let’s have a look,’ Sang Shen said, and gestured for Golden Dragon to lead the way.

Michael fell into step next to John. ‘How long has Emma been by herself?’

‘Nearly three days now.’

‘That’s not good. I hope we find her. I heard you two are going to be parents?’

‘The stone said she’s pregnant, so it’s very urgent we find a way up there,’ John said, distracted by the nature of the trees they were passing. ‘What the hell?’

Sang Shen spun around, rushed back up the trail, and stopped to vomit. He retched for a long time, gasping.

The Number Ones all shared a look and hesitated at the edge of the clearing. The trees were stained with what appeared to be dried blood for a good three metres up their trunks from the ground. Their branches were bare and they were obviously dead. The small clearing had originally held a stone circle, but all that was left of it was dents in the ground, also stained with what appeared to be blood. The area was completely lifeless.

John went to one of the dents, picked up a clod of the earth and smelled it.

‘Is this what we think it is?’ Michael said.

‘Both. Blood and demon essence,’ John said. ‘Humans and demons were sacrificed here.’ He opened his vision. ‘Nobody’s died here for a very long time, but the stain remains. The area is
even more contaminated by the fact that the serpent people really enjoyed what they were doing. The power they gained from the deaths here was a massive high.’

He closed his vision. ‘Sang Shen.’

‘They bound humans to these trees and tortured and killed them,’ Sang Shen said. ‘They thought they were worshipping the trees and giving them power; instead, they drove them mad and killed them.’ He came to the edge of the clearing, leaned on one of the tree trunks, then jerked away as if it had bitten him. ‘So. Much. Death. No tree could take this many years of torture and survive with its mind intact.’

‘Is there a gateway?’ John said.

‘Let me see.’ Sang Shen glanced down at the ground, then up at John. ‘I need to take tree form. I will feel everything that has happened here.’ His face screwed up with distaste. ‘Everything.’

‘Can you endure that?’ John said.

‘If we’re to find a way to stop these demons, I need to,’ Sang Shen said. He moved closer to the rest of the group. ‘It may prove too much. Destroy me if I make any move to attack you.’

‘It won’t come to that, man,’ Michael said.

Sang Shen coughed and moved away to retch again, bending forward. John went to him and held his shoulder while Sang Shen worked it through. Eventually, Sang Shen straightened and moved to the centre of what had once been the circle of stones.

‘If my leaves start to change, kill me,’ he said.

‘You can’t be killed,’ John said.

‘I can here,’ Sang Shen said. He nodded to Michael. ‘If my trunk or leaves change into something … different, you can’t let me contaminate the rest of the forest. You must destroy me. Yang me to ash and make sure nothing’s left.’

‘Stop him, my Lord,’ Golden Dragon said. ‘This is suicide.’

John didn’t reply.

Sang Shen glared at John. ‘I hope I survive this, because if I do you will owe me more than you owe any other Celestial.’

John didn’t have a chance to answer. Sang Shen changed into a mulberry tree, his canopy completely covering the sky above the clearing. His branches thrashed above them although there was no wind.

‘Touch the sky, do not let this affect you,’ John said. ‘You can do it, Ah Sang.’

A gateway opened next to Sang Shen’s trunk and John leaped through. All sound ceased; he was deaf. Then he arrived on the Celestial Plane and sound returned.

‘Do it!’ someone shouted, then a scream. ‘Do it!’

There was a brilliant flash of yang, making the air sizzle around him, and the portal closed.

The grove on this side was green and full of life, not contaminated at all. The trees were a warm welcoming presence around him, clearly unaware that one of their own had died to get him there. He sent out his awareness, touching the land around, feeling it resonate with a beauty that was possible only on the Celestial Plane.

The demons were five kilometres away to the east. He would have to be stealthy to avoid patrols.

There was a dirt road just outside the grove, showing the recent tracks of a car. He opened his awareness: Emma had been in it. He followed the tracks for two kilometres, and saw that the car had stopped, turned around and headed back again. He sent his awareness out and felt another of the tortured tree groups a hundred metres away to his right, together with something glowing that definitely wasn’t Emma.