Dark_Serpent

7




I leaned on the doorway as Edwin changed John’s dressings the next morning.

‘You don’t need me’ I said. ‘I can’t contribute to the court cases, I just sit there.’

‘I need your brains. I’m only half what I could be, and there are some cases that aren’t related to the Jade Emperor’s limitations on you.’

‘If they’re not related to the management of the Mountain or the Northern Heavens, then you shouldn’t be hearing them.’

Edwin patted John on the arm to indicate that he was done, and John hopped off the bed and conjured his black robe.

‘One of them is Freddo’s father. He’s requested a hearing.’

I pushed myself off the doorway, and John went past me and out into the courtyard outside the new infirmary. A young Japanese maple tree had been planted in the middle of the freshly sown lawn and it was already showing the first signs of the autumn colour change.

‘Why are you wasting your time listening to a tame demon?’ I said, following John towards the main square. ‘I doubt he has anything important to say.’

We arrived at the square, where his mounted escort waited, flanked by two black dragons and holding a saddled horse for him.

‘Because his owner says we should listen to him.’

I hurried to catch up with his long-legged stride. ‘Mr Ling loves him; this stallion’s the best horse he’s ever owned.’

‘So we will ensure that the demon receives a full and fair hearing. Then we will destroy it.’

‘Very funny,’ I said, standing back as he mounted his horse.

He gathered the reins and raised his voice. ‘Proceed.’

‘See you there,’ I said.

I walked to the back of the entourage and took my place on foot with the most junior servants bringing up the rear. I admired John as he rode, tall and proud, towards the centre of the court, then disappeared. We followed behind him, until the world changed around my group and we were in the great court of the Palace of the Northern Heavens.

John’s son Martin and Martin’s older sister, Yue Gui, waited at the front of the Hall of Dark Justice with a small entourage. They both wore Tang-style floating silk robes in the black of the House of the North, and Yue’s long hair was bound with black pearls and silver ornaments that glittered as she moved. They prostrated themselves in front of John as he dismounted, chanted the greeting, then rose again.

Martin began the formal welcoming speech. ‘The Palace of the Northern Heavens greets its master —’

John waved him down. ‘Skip the bullshit, I have better things to do. Let’s get this over with.’

He strode past them and ran up the steps two at a time. Martin and Yue shared a glance full of exasperated humour, and ran after him. John’s entourage hurried to follow, but Firebrand, one of the administrators, stopped us.

‘The Dark Lord is heading straight to the audience chamber to review the affidavits. Those of you who are on his personal staff are welcome to attend the residences.’ He bowed to us all. ‘This way.’

I hesitated, unsure of my role in this.

Stop dithering and get in here, woman, John said into my head. I need you!

I stomped up the stairs, grumbling under my breath. ‘I am not letting him goad me into another full-on training session; I’m still stiff from the last one.’

‘What did he say?’ Firebrand said, still guiding the staff towards the residences.

‘Oh, he thinks that if he throws enough obnoxious sexist rubbish at me I’ll call him out, and then I’m to blame for all the injuries.’

‘He should never cause you injury, Emma, he is way too good for that,’ Firebrand said with concern.

I turned halfway up the stairs to speak to him. ‘He’s the one who’s lost a couple of fingers and needed stitches protecting me from my own ineptness.’

When you have finished catching up on all the palace gossip, I would love to hear your opinion on this, John said into my head. But make sure you share all the juiciest bits later.

‘He needs me, and you have stuff to do,’ I said, and we shared a wave and headed in our separate directions.

I went into the Hall of Dark Justice and walked unnoticed past the guards at the double doors to the hearing room. As a servant, I was beneath their attention.

John was sitting at his desk on the dais in Celestial Form, glaring down at the demon stallion, who was standing next to his owner, Mr Ling. Freddo’s father was much bigger than Freddo was; he must have been more than seventeen hands — as big as a carthorse but with the shape of a thoroughbred. His coat was unkempt and his ribs showed; he hadn’t been eating well.

Lily, one of the administrators, gestured for me to join her at the desk at the base of the dais, and I sat next to her.

‘This may not work, demon,’ John said, his expression severe. ‘What will we do with you then?’

‘Let me try,’ the horse said.

I jumped. He sounded almost exactly like Freddo, just with a slightly deeper voice.

‘Run and I will destroy you,’ John said.

The horse inhaled deeply, then whinnied so loudly that the clerestory windows high on the pagoda-like roof rattled.

Nothing happened.

John waved at the horse’s owner. ‘Take —’

The stallion called again, even louder, and another horse, Freddo’s mother, popped into existence next to him. She was wearing a halter for leading, with an anti-rearing ring bit on it and the lead rope dangling. Everybody started talking at once, and Lily jumped up and ran to grab the mare’s lead rope. The stallion’s face was full of smug triumph; the mare looked around, obviously confused.

‘Quiet!’ John roared, and there was silence.

He rose from his chair behind the desk, flicked his robe as he turned, and stalked down the stairs towards the horses. The mare visibly quailed as he approached her. He put his hand on her head and she broke out into a trembling sweat, dancing on the spot with distress.

John spun and put his other hand on the stallion’s head. The demon horse stood placidly waiting.

John dropped his hands, turned and strode back up the steps with his hands behind his back. He lowered himself to sit, and gazed at the papers on his desk for a long time.

Eventually he spoke. ‘Wait here.’ He disappeared.

The courtroom broke out into loud discussion again. I rose and went to Lily, who was standing between the horses.

‘What’s this all about? I missed the first part.’ I nodded towards the mare. ‘How was she able to do that?’

‘I kept trying to tell everybody, but nobody would believe me, everybody saw her as a natural horse,’ the stallion said. ‘She came to me. I never broke into her stable, she broke into mine. She’s a demon, and I thought she’d come if I called her. I was right.’

‘John should have picked her straight away then,’ I said, turning back to look at his desk.

‘He had to,’ Lily said. ‘That’s the one thing we can rely on: his ability to pick them.’

‘He’d never seen that mare before. It hid its nature so well I don’t think anybody else saw it,’ the stallion said.

‘I am more impressed with you all the time, Lobster,’ Mr Ling said. ‘I should have listened to you when you said you didn’t break out, but I believed Toi when she said you were there.’

The stallion dropped his head. ‘I thank you, my Lord.’

‘Lobster?’ I said.

‘He’s gold and precious, like the finest lobster,’ Mr Ling said.

‘Lobster isn’t gold,’ I said, confused.

‘Red, gold, same thing.’ He nodded towards the dais. ‘The Emperor has returned.’

John was standing behind the desk. He picked up a wooden block and slammed it on the table, silencing everybody. He came down the stairs again and stood in front of Freddo’s father.

‘I went to Miss Toi’s residence and she has left the Celestial Plane,’ John said. ‘Her residence is deserted, her demons destroyed, and all her horses are gone. It looks like nobody’s been there for a while. Can you speak, demon?’ he said to the mare.

The mare just stared at its surroundings, uncomprehending.

‘Low level, almost a natural animal,’ John said. ‘Probably half-demon. It was the only thing Toi took with her when she left. She obviously didn’t have a good enough hold on it and it escaped here. Would you keep this one until I decide what to do with it, Ling?’

‘I would be honoured.’

‘The answer to your question is yes, you may put your stallion to her and get her in foal again while you hold her. And yes, the foal would be yours.’

Ling bowed to John, grinning. ‘I thank you, my Lord, for answering the question before I even asked it.’

John dropped his voice to speak to Lily and me. ‘This explains why Freddo had so many issues. He is three-quarters demon and inherited their oversexed nature.’

‘Why did Miss Toi do something like this?’ Lily said. ‘She gave up everything she had on the Celestial Plane — what did she get in return?’

‘She won every competition when she rode that horse,’ John said. ‘She did it for the prestige of being the most successful equestrian on the Earthly and Heavenly Planes combined.’ He gestured dismissively towards the mare. ‘It’s probably more than half-demon and stronger than a natural horse, but because of its nature it’s undetectable to anyone but me. She cheated every time she competed on it.’

He strode back up the dais, sat at his desk and scribbled some notes. ‘I hope Toi finds the prestige worth the price, because she is to be marked as Fallen from the Celestial and her entrance to the Heavenly Plane is hereby revoked. The horse is confiscated and is to be held by Mr Ling at the convenience of the court.’ He glared around at those present. ‘Clear this courtroom; the demon mare and Miss Donahoe are to stay. Emma, hold the horse. Lily, summon Number One and Number Two, set up a conference table and bring tea.’

After everyone had gone, John changed to human form, came down from the dais and sat at the table. Lily poured the tea. He glanced at her, she bowed and went out. John sat and waited, his expression grim as he stared at the table, occasionally sipping his tea. I held the mare, who lifted and dropped one foot occasionally but otherwise was well-behaved.

Martin and Yue Gui entered, saluted John by quickly shaking their hands in front of their faces, and sat. Martin poured tea for them.

John ran one hand over his face. ‘Of the other three Winds, only the Phoenix is able to come. The Tiger and Dragon have sent their Number Ones. I can see why Toi was willing to risk having this thing in her residence.’ He glanced at Martin. ‘Is that a horse or a demon?’

Martin looked at the mare, then back at his father and said with confidence, ‘Natural horse.’

I made a soft sound of distress despite myself and Martin and Yue both glanced at me.

John eyed his teacup. ‘Go up and touch it, and tell me that again.’

Martin rose and went to the horse, which watched him placidly. He stroked its nose and it rubbed its head on his hand.

‘Is it a demon hybrid?’ Martin said. He peered into its eyes. ‘Now that I can see inside, it looks different somehow, but I’ve never seen anything like it before. I definitely don’t see it as demon, though.’

I ran my free hand through my hair. It was still short and thin, but at least it wasn’t falling out any more.

‘I see it as completely natural,’ Yue Gui said. She rose and put her hand on the horse’s neck, then shook her head. ‘Still completely natural.’

There was a tap on the door and the Phoenix, in her red robes, entered. Michael came in as well, in the white uniform of a Horseman, accompanied by another strongly built white-haired Horseman — the Tiger’s Number Two. They saluted John and stopped at the end of the table. John rose to greet them. He and the Phoenix formally nodded to each other, and he accepted the salutes of the Horsemen. Everybody ignored me.

John gestured towards the horse. ‘Ah Que, do you see that as demon in any way?’

Zhu Que studied the horse, then went to it and put her hand on its neck. Martin and Yue Gui moved back to give her room.

‘I’ve never seen anything like this before,’ she said with interest. ‘I don’t see it as demon, though, I see it as a natural horse, just with something slightly different about it.’ She turned to John. ‘Sometimes I am very glad we have your abilities, Ah Wu. I’m sure you are able to see its demon nature from very far away.’

John waved the Horsemen forward. ‘Come and see what you think.’

Zhu Que patted me on the shoulder as she went past to the table. She picked up a teacup and filled it from the pot, then watched Michael with interest over the rim of her cup as he and the other Horseman inspected the mare.

‘This is a demon hybrid?’ Michael said. ‘I can’t pick it. Rohan?’

The other Horseman shook his head. ‘Can’t see it.’ He ran his hand down the horse’s neck. ‘I know this one — this is Toi’s mare. She boasted that she won so many ribbons on this horse that she had to build a special room to hold them. Cheating dragon bitch.’

‘It’s a part of our nature,’ the Dragon’s Number One son said with good humour as he approached us. He fell to one knee and saluted John and the Phoenix. He wore wide grey pants with a pale blue kimono over the top: the dress of a traditional samurai. His electric blue hair was held in a topknot and fell down to his waist, strands of gold shimmering through it. He stopped to clasp Michael’s hand and thumped him on the back; then did the same with Rohan, the other Horseman. He nodded to Martin and Yue Gui, then studied the mare, gazing into its eyes. ‘And you say this is half-demon?’

‘At least half, could be more,’ John said.

The dragon came to the table and poured himself some tea, then turned to study the horse again as he sipped from the cup. ‘Dad’ll lay eggs.’

‘How far away can you detect it, Ah Wu?’ the Phoenix said.

John glowered at his teacup. ‘I don’t see it as demon unless I touch it. Even then, as you say, it is something completely different. It doesn’t seem to be demon at all.’

He turned to study me, his dark eyes boring into me, and I shivered.

Everybody was silent for a long moment, staring from John to the horse. Michael studied me appraisingly. From their expressions, Martin and Yue Gui were conversing silently.

‘How old is this animal?’ the Dragon’s Number One said.

Rohan thought about it for a moment. ‘Just checked the competition records back at the West. She started competing on it four years ago; at that time she said it was five years old.’

‘This thing has been around for nearly ten years?’ the Phoenix said, placing her teacup carefully back on the table. ‘I will therefore ask the question that everybody else is thinking. How many more of these things are there?’

‘Is it intelligent?’ the dragon said, still holding his teacup.

‘No, it’s more like a natural animal than a demon,’ John said. ‘Same as the human copies — they were unaware of what they were until they were activated. I think this one has no sentience at all.’

‘But the King could control Freddo,’ I said.

‘Can she contribute?’ the dragon said.

‘Yes, this is unrelated to the management of the Mountain or the Heavens,’ Yue Gui said. ‘She may contribute.’

‘If they’re enough untamed demon, he can control them, and occasionally flash his perception into them and see through their eyes,’ John said.

‘So the King made Freddo? That’s a complex scheme just to make a horse,’ the dragon said.

‘But it was a horse that was acting as a pair of eyes for the King, and was able to carry Simone to him,’ John said. ‘Toi set you up to adopt him.’

‘This whole time Toi’s been an agent for the Demon King,’ Martin said with venom. ‘I should send a squad out to find her and bring her to Celestial justice.’

‘Go right ahead,’ John said. ‘But don’t take too much time. After Mid-Autumn Festival I am going to Holy Island to see what’s happening there, and I need you here to manage the Heavens.’

‘Jie Jie can do it,’ Martin said, nodding to Yue Gui.

‘I need you both here, but we will discuss this later,’ John said.

‘Count me in,’ Michael said. ‘I want to come to Europe and see what’s going on.’

‘You won’t get a chance, man,’ Rohan said. ‘Dad’ll have you running in circles administering the West.’

Michael shrugged. ‘Damn. You’re right.’

I stroked the horse’s nose and scratched behind her ears, but she ignored me, more concerned about all the people around us.

‘We need to find out who bred her and what her bloodlines are,’ I said, then raised my voice. ‘Hold on, we missed that!’

‘What, Emma?’ John said.

‘She’s a thoroughbred, and they aren’t bred in this part of the world. They’re all imported. Bet you anything you like she’s a Western demon, and she came from the UK — Ireland or Wales.’

‘That would explain it,’ the Phoenix said with wonder. ‘We’re experts at identifying our own. Throw a Western hybrid at us and we’re unable to pick it.’

John turned to the Horsemen. ‘Can you trace her bloodlines?’

‘Easily,’ Rohan said. He concentrated for a moment. ‘But not right now; I’ll have to get back to you on that. My contact at the import registry’s off at lunch.’

‘We have another petitioner outside the doors,’ Yue Gui said. ‘You may not wish to see him, Father.’

‘Who?’

Yue Gui’s expression darkened. ‘My son, Sang Shen. I told him not to come. He has come anyway, and brought his little sister, the one that shares his father with a different mother.’

‘This is a family matter,’ John said. ‘You are all dismissed.’

‘Do you mind if we have a look around Toi’s residence before we go?’ Michael said.

‘Go right ahead,’ John said.

Michael saluted him and the Horsemen disappeared.

‘That’s a good idea,’ the Phoenix said. ‘I will join them. Golden Dragon?’

‘Yeah,’ the dragon said. ‘By your leave, my Lord.’

John nodded to them and they disappeared.

‘Martin, go with them to Toi’s residence,’ John said. ‘Emma, Ling’s coming back to take possession of the mare.’

Martin disappeared.

The doors opened and Mr Ling, the owner of Freddo’s father, came in. He nodded to me, took the mare’s lead rein and led her out. Sang Shen was waiting outside, and he stood back and stared at the horse in wonder as it passed him, then the doors closed.

John dropped his voice. ‘I always knew this little a*shole would cause the family trouble, Ah Yue.’

‘He is an adult, Father. His actions are his own responsibility.’ Yue Gui gracefully turned and sat at the table. She waved one hand over the teacups and the used ones disappeared, replaced by clean ones. She poured herself some tea. ‘I told him to come in, but I’m not having anything to do with this. This is his own doing.’

The doors opened and Sang Shen strode in, accompanied by his sister, Sang Ye. Both of them had the nut-brown faces of tree spirits; he was tall and solid with a square face, and she was smaller and slimmer with long green and brown hair. Both wore Tang robes of green embroidered with leaves and flowers. They stopped in front of John and fell to one knee, saluting.

‘Dai Yeh Yeh,’ Sang Shen said, calling John ‘Grandfather’.

‘Xuan Tian Shang Di,’ Sang Ye said.

John leaned on the table behind him and crossed his arms, glowering at them. ‘Rise.’

They stood and stared at the floor in a show of humility.

‘Well?’ John said.

Sang Shen stepped forward, still looking at the floor. ‘In three weeks, my sister Sang Ye will be married to a plum tree that lives here in the Northern Heavens. I beg your leave to attend.’

‘You tried to kill the woman I love, stupid boy,’ John said without emotion. ‘Even worse, you did it in the field of honour. You have disgraced yourself and our house.’

‘I wish to atone,’ Sang Shen said, his expression sincere. ‘I wish to confess my transgressions and beg your forgiveness.’

‘It is not my forgiveness that you should be begging for,’ John said, uncrossing his arms to gesture towards me. ‘I’m not the small human mortal that you nearly killed.’

Sang Shen fell to his knees in front of me. ‘Lad … La … Miss … I wish I could give you your full title, Miss Donahoe. I sincerely regret my actions. Since knowing you, I have come to realise that you truly have the best interests of the Celestial at heart. I thought you were arrogant and heartless, but recent events have proved that you are of noble intent.’

‘Hold on,’ I said, raising both hands. ‘Are you saying that you hated me up until I made an incredibly stupid mistake that’s imprisoned half of the Dark Lord? That doing something as dumb as this has proved that I’m not a bad person?’

He looked confused for a moment, then his expression cleared. ‘I suppose I am. I want to serve you to atone.’ He turned to John. ‘Allow me to take the role of servant to Miss Donahoe. After I have attended my sister’s wedding, I will do anything you wish to pay for my crime.’

John waved Sang Shen closer. The tree spirit rose to stand in front of him; he was close on John’s height with a heavier build.

John put his finger on Sang Shen’s forehead. ‘Tell me again why you are here.’

‘I wish to atone for my crimes and be released for my sister’s wedding.’

‘What is your true opinion of Miss Donahoe?’

Sang Shen hesitated for a long time, then dropped his eyes and took a step back so that John was no longer touching his forehead. ‘Please release me to attend my sister’s wedding.’

‘I saw what you were thinking,’ John said. ‘You still think she’s an arrogant upstart who has ideas above her station.’

Sang Shen didn’t reply, he just stared at the floor.

‘But it’s true, I am,’ I said.

‘You have a point,’ John said. He turned back to Sang Shen. ‘Your sister’s wedding means that much to you?’

Sang Shen nodded without looking up.

‘I am giving the victim of your crime the choice,’ John said, then spoke into my head. I know you well enough that you would want him freed, but have a look what I saw in his mind first.

He transmitted an image to me. Sang Shen had his spear lodged in my back and he was pushing it slowly through me with pleasure.

‘What say you, Miss Donahoe?’ John said.

‘Half of Hell is already after me. The last thing I need is to watch my back in case he’s coming as well. Keep him locked up,’ I said.

I walked away towards the doors, to the sound of furious protests behind me. I felt rather than heard the running footsteps, summoned my sword and spun to block Sang Shen’s spear in front of my face. If I hadn’t blocked he would have impaled my head.

He moved closer, our weapons still locked, and snarled into my face, ‘You have destroyed my life. You are the reason my father is dead. Now I won’t see my beloved sister marry.’

He tried to push the weapon into me, but I kept the block up. My muscles were close to the end of their strength, though, and if he didn’t release me soon I would have to yield. As my arms began to tremble, I frantically wondered what had happened to John. Sang Shen’s face filled with triumph. He shifted his grip slightly, readying for the kill. I could slip to the side and try to deflect him the way he was already going, but he was faster than me and the move would probably be fatal.

My muscles were at the end of their strength; I readied myself to try the move.

The spear was snatched from behind, the butt whistling past my ear as it was taken from his grasp. The butt hit him sharply on the back of the head and he fell.

‘You okay, Emma?’ John said, standing over him.

‘Yeah.’

‘Masterfully done, love. How did you hold him back? He’s much stronger than you.’

‘The sword helped.’

‘Good.’ He hit Sang Shen on the side of the face with the butt of the spear. ‘You killed your own mother! I cannot believe you would do that.’

‘Yue Gui!’ I shouted, running towards her. ‘No!’

He’d run his spear through her throat and she lay on her back, dead. Her body disappeared and I bent over my knees, gasping with relief, trying to catch my breath. She’d gone to Court Ten.

John was standing over the prone Sang Shen, punctuating his speech with blows from the butt of the spear. ‘You are banished from the Celestial. You are to take the form of a tree on the Earthly and stay there until you are pardoned by the Celestial.’

He struck Sang Shen on the side of the face again and Sang Shen raised his hands to protect his head. ‘Go meditate upon your faults.’ He reached down and put his hand on Sang Shen’s throat. ‘I disown you. You are no longer any child of mine. Now get the hell out of here.’

Sang Shen vanished as John aimed a kick at the side of his abdomen.

John dropped the spear, strode to me and pulled me into a fierce embrace, burying his face into my hair.

‘I wasn’t expecting that at all,’ he said. ‘He moved so fast I nearly didn’t make it.’

‘You worry me sometimes,’ I said into his chest.

‘Thanks a lot, bitch,’ Sang Ye shouted as she stormed past us towards the door.

I pulled out of John’s arms and glared at her. ‘You’re blaming me for something I didn’t do!’

She stopped. ‘If you hadn’t blinded the Dark Lord with your loose Western ways, our father would still be alive and my brother would be able to attend my wedding.’ She waved me down with one hand as she turned away. ‘You destroyed our lives.’

‘You did that yourselves,’ John said.

‘You defend her!’ Sang Ye rounded on him and her voice rose to a screech. ‘How can you defend her after what she did to you? You should lock her up!’

John turned away. ‘Leave my dominion and do not return.’

She raised her clenched fists. ‘With pleasure.’ She spun on her heel and stalked out.

‘I cannot believe he would kill his own mother for a chance at you,’ John said. ‘I’ll wager the marriage was an excuse and she won’t go ahead with it.’

‘They do have a point,’ I said. ‘Their father is dead because of me.’

‘If anyone is to blame, it’s Michelle. She started all of this.’

‘From what Gold tells me, it was you who pursued Michelle, and she resisted you for a long time,’ I said, amused despite myself.

‘She wanted nothing to do with me when she found out who I was,’ he said, putting his arm around my shoulders and walking with me towards the door.

‘And you won her over anyway?’

He dropped his voice. ‘I was desperate, and she was ignoring me. Eventually,’ his voice became even lower, almost a whisper, ‘I was forced to seek assistance from the worst sex fiend on any Plane.’

‘Who, the Tiger?’

‘No,’ he said, amused. ‘Gold himself.’