Demon Child (15 page)

I stood over him with my hands on my hips. ‘Take the clothes off.’

‘Too hard. Close the shutters for me, love?’

I rolled him onto his back and slipped his tie off, then unbuttoned his black shirt. ‘Don’t pass out yet. Let me get your clothes off.’

He grunted. ‘Too hard.’

I lifted him to take the shirt off, tossed it aside, and began to work at his belt.

He raised his head slightly. ‘That’s more like it.’

‘You’ll be too uncomfortable sleeping in these pants.’ I unzipped him. ‘Lift your butt up. Good.’ I pulled his pants off, taking the socks with them and leaving him in his black silk boxers. ‘There. Isn’t that better?’

He spread his hands, still lying on his back. ‘I can think of a few things that would be better.’

‘I thought you were exhausted,’ I said, eyeing him.

His eyes fell closed and his head flopped sideways — he’d passed out. I saw his feet: the skin had disappeared again.

‘Oh, for heaven’s sake. Stone. Stone?’ I tapped it.

‘Yes? Oh, look at the Turtle, isn’t he cute?’

‘See his feet?’

‘Dammit. At least they’re not completely gone but he’s losing blood there. What do you want to do?’

‘Ask Edwin if he can come and cover them up without moving him.’

‘Just a moment, I need someone to relay … Edwin’s on his way.’

I sighed and sat on the bed next to John. I ran my hand over the smooth skin of his chest, feeling the muscles beneath my fingertips. He was completely out of it.

‘You heard the Tiger in the car?’ I said to the stone. ‘Now
he’s
at me about it.’

‘He’s been pushing me to bring it up with you as well. He knows how good it would be for the Dark Lord.’

‘I knew it had to be serious for John to even consider asking me — but really that good?’

The stone hesitated for a moment, then said, ‘Yes. The exhaustion and these feet would not be a problem if … Never mind. I don’t want to freak you out even more than you already are.’

I raised my head; someone was crying. I went to the door to listen: Simone. I checked John again — he didn’t move. I went out and around the balcony to Simone’s door and tapped on it.

‘Simone? Are you okay?’

She sniffled and I heard tissues being yanked out of the box. ‘I’m fine.’

‘Is there a problem?’

‘No problem!’ she said, her voice strained. ‘Just leave me alone, okay? I’m fine!’

‘What’s the matter, Simone?’

‘Nothing! Go away.’ She collapsed into loud sobs, then the door of her bathroom closed. ‘Go away!’ she said, even more muffled.

Any idea, Emma?
the stone said.

Michael
.

Do you want me to call someone to talk to her
?

No, best to leave her to it. She knows the situation. Tomorrow she’ll be smiling and talking about what a great wedding it was
.

Poor kid
, the stone said.

I turned to see Edwin coming up the stairs with his doctor’s bag, and guided him to the bedroom, where John was still lying unconscious and bleeding all over the sheets.

I woke slowly and with the profound feeling of bliss of lying next to John. My head was on his chest and his arms were around me; I’d cuddled up to him in my sleep. The morning sun shone through cracks in the shutters and the fire had gone out, filling the room with the comforting scent of the fragrant embers. Birds called across the Mountain and others replied, echoing through the gorges. There was a shout below: the morning energy session had started. I wrapped myself tighter around him.

‘Morning,’ he said, his voice resonating through his chest.

‘This feels like the first time in forever I’ve woken up and you’ve been here,’ I said, running my hands over him. ‘You’d usually be called away by now.’

‘I know,’ he said. ‘I was just enjoying the feeling as well.’ He lifted his head slightly. ‘Did I lose my feet again? They’re bandaged. They’re sore but not as painful as they were.’

‘No, but they’re raw and the top layer of skin is gone,’ I said.

‘My tail has mostly grown back. It doesn’t hurt nearly as much.’

I looked up into his face and he rubbed his chin on my forehead, his stubble scratchy on my skin.

‘Do you want to go back into the cage for a while and completely heal?’ I said.

‘No, I can manage. I can’t spend all my time in that damn thing.’

I dropped my head on his chest again and heard his heart beating, strong and slow. ‘I just want to stay here forever.’

‘I remember you saying that at the Western Palace, and I said we had to go back.’ He pulled me closer. ‘And now we don’t. We can spend every night like this.’ He lowered his voice. ‘The best part is they all think I’m still sleeping and nobody’s called me yet.’

‘I was thinking about what the Tiger said. We should do it.’

He squeezed me. ‘Is it what you want?’

I hesitated.

‘Tell me the truth, Emma. Not what you think is for the best, not what you think I want to hear. The truth.’

‘The truth is … no. It’s too freaky.’

‘Then the decision is made.’

‘But the safety of the whole Celestial is at stake.’

‘We could kill a tree to open the gateway. We could be up in
the European Heavens tomorrow to spring a surprise attack on the demon army.’

‘I know that,’ I said.

‘Should we? The safety of the whole Celestial is at stake there too.’

‘Okay,’ I said, and he stiffened beneath me. ‘No! I don’t mean we should kill a tree. I mean: if the need is dire, if the Earthly and Celestial could both fall, then we should reconsider. I think if one of the trees is willing to make the sacrifice, then we should consider it to save all the Planes from much greater suffering. And we should also consider letting your Turtle have me if the alternative is the Heavens falling.’

He made a soft sound of pleasure.

‘What?’ I said.

‘Letting my Turtle have you. You have a way with words sometimes.’

‘I love your Turtle,’ I said, and he made another soft sound in his throat.

‘Your Turtle is the sexiest thing on the planet,’ I said, and slipped my hand inside his silk boxers.

He reached down and gently pulled my hand out. ‘Please stop talking about it — you’ll bring it out yourself.’

‘Then I’ll just stop talking altogether,’ I said, and put my hand back inside.

He reached around me to pull my camisole off. ‘Don’t do that. Tell me what you think about the rest of me.’ He spoke softly into my ear. ‘Just don’t mention turtles.’

‘Last time we were at this stage you were called away,’ I said.

‘I’m switched to answering machine,’ he said. ‘I’ve been aching to finish the matter.’

He leaned into me and kissed me, and we shared the feeling for a long time. Our fingertips traced each other’s curves, enjoying the touch of smooth skin and the warmth of our shared connection.

He pulled away to whisper in my ear. ‘Did you know you are massively oversexed? You want it way more than any human woman I’ve ever been with.’

I pulled back to see him. ‘Wait, hold on … You’ve only ever loved one human woman apart from me, you’re famous for it.’

He smiled slightly.

‘I’m not really human anyway,’ I said. ‘I’m a snake. And part demon.’

‘Oh yeah,’ he said. He watched me, his dark eyes intense, as I pushed him onto his back and climbed on top. ‘That explains it.’

‘Can you take female form right now?’ I said. ‘It’s not too hard on you?’

‘No, it’s easy.’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘You want that?’

‘No,’ I said, putting my chin on his chest. ‘I want that for you.’

He changed beneath me, becoming female. I didn’t move and my chin was between her breasts. Her dark eyes crinkled up. ‘You are completely wonderful.’

I moved my mouth slightly so that I was on top of a nipple, and sucked and teased it with my tongue. I gently tweaked the other one with my fingertips, and she arched her back with a soft sound of delight.

I raised my head. ‘I wonder what happens if your eyes go black and you lose control in female form?’

‘Don’t push me too hard. I might change.’

‘Tell me if I am,’ I said, running my mouth down over her tight abdomen. I gently tugged the boxers off her, then moved back up to hover above her.

She moaned softly. ‘Don’t be surprised if I suddenly go male.’

‘Let’s see how close we can get then,’ I said. I lightly touched her with my tongue, then pushed harder into her and enjoyed her quivering reaction.

I stopped, raised my head, and looked up into her eyes as she panted beneath me. ‘When I take the Elixir …’

‘Yes?’ she said, her voice husky with need.

‘Will I be able to change gender too?’

She snapped into male form and his eyes went black.

I forwarded Cheung’s email to Simone with a note suggesting that in future she make it clear that she was married when dealing with Earthly liaisons. Unless, of course, she was interested, but in this case I knew Cheung was way too old.

‘Is Emma in?’ a male voice said outside my office.

‘She’s awfully busy, can you make an appoint—’ Yi Hao began, but the young man came in anyway, accompanied by a middle-aged intelligent-looking European woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a pair of slacks and a navy cashmere sweater.

I tried to place the man. He was Chinese, obviously a human Immortal, and was in his mid-thirties, tall, slim and extremely good-looking in a nerdy way, wearing a tailored black silk robe that flattered his slender shape, and fashionable rectangular metal-rimmed spectacles. His chi aura was vaguely familiar. I knew I’d met him before, but had no idea where or when.

I rose and saluted them both and tried to work out who they were as I sat.

The woman studied me appraisingly without returning the salute, and he shook his hands in front of his face before flopping into one of the visitors’ chairs.

‘Sit, Margie, don’t mind about the saluting business,’ he said, and she took the other chair. ‘Hi, Emma.’

Any idea who this is?
I asked the stone, but it didn’t reply.

‘Forgive me, sir,’ I nodded to her, ‘ma’am, have we met before?’

He rested his chin in his hand and studied me, full of amusement. ‘You don’t know who I am?’

I spread my hands. ‘Most of you Immortals change your appearance so much I lose track. I have no idea who you are.’

He widened his eyes in mock offence. ‘You Immortals?’

The European woman’s expression went severe. ‘Are you being an ass again, Archie?’ she said with a soft Welsh accent.

He turned to smile at her and reached to touch her hand. ‘Can’t help it.’

‘Archie. Archie.’ I shook my head. ‘Nope. No idea.’

‘He’s the Archivist,’ she said with exasperation. ‘Apparently everybody’s used to seeing him as a pompous twelve-year-old boy and now he’s a pompous thirty-year-old,’ she glared at him and said the last word with emphasis, ‘
ass
.’

‘Margie?’ I said, studying her. ‘Oh my god. Margaret Anathain.’ I went around the desk and held my hand out for her to shake. ‘I owe you so much. Thank you. Thank you!’

She stood as well, took my hand and turned it into a hug. ‘I wanted to thank you, actually. And John.’ She pulled back, smiling broadly. ‘He introduced me to Archie.’

I looked from her to the Archivist. He grinned.

‘Don’t you have an actual
name
, Archivist?’ I said.

He shrugged. ‘I don’t remember, it was so long ago. I’ve just been the Archivist for nearly a thousand years, so that’s me.’

‘Love the look, much more appropriate,’ I said as I returned to my seat.

He promptly changed back to his twelve-year-old boy form.

Margaret put her forehead in her hand. ‘I really wish you wouldn’t do that. What are you saying about me?’

‘That you’re a disgusting old pedo,’ he said with glee.

Her face went rigid and she walked to the door.

‘Wait! Wait!’ He leapt to his feet, changed his form back and took three huge strides to her. ‘I’m sorry.’ He took her hand. ‘I apologise. Please, come and talk to Emma. I’m sure you and she have a lot in common.’ He raised her hand to his face and kissed it. ‘Please?’

She turned him around and pushed him back towards the desk, and winked at me behind his back. I was hard-pressed to control my amusement.

‘We both wanted to thank you,’ he said, flopping into the chair again. ‘You and the Dark Lord brought us together.’ He glanced at her and some of the adoration leaked through his expression. ‘You changed our lives.’

She nodded, her face controlled but her eyes full of joy.

‘So where’s the Dark Lord?’ he said.

‘That’s really what he’s called?’ she said with disbelief. ‘His name isn’t —’

‘Nah, he’s not nearly cool enough to be called Voldemort,’ I said, and we laughed together.

‘See? Told you you’d have a lot in common,’ the Archivist said.

‘Yi Hao!’ I yelled at the door. ‘Where’s the Dark Lord?’

She was silent for a moment, then when she spoke it was full of urgency. ‘Oh, ma’am! He’s in the infirmary, Edwin has already —’

The outside door burst open. ‘We need Lady Emma in the infirmary right now,’ a male voice said in Yi Hao’s office. ‘It’s happened again.’

I ran out to Yi Hao’s office. ‘How bad is he?’

‘He’s unconscious.’

‘Battle stations, Yi Hao,’ I said, and stormed back into my office. I picked up my phone and texted Gold.

‘What’s going on?’ Margaret said.

‘Emma?’ the Archivist said.

‘Give me a minute,’ I said, pacing up and down in front of my desk. ‘Why aren’t those damn bells ringing? Yi Hao!’ The bells started to ring outside. ‘Never mind.’

Gold came in and stood in front of me. ‘Ma’am?’

‘He’s unconscious. Send the message through the network. Confirm by text when you’re sure that the Masters, Ma, Er Lang and the Winds are informed.’

Gold froze, his eyes wide, and stopped breathing.

‘Good,’ I said. I quickly bowed to both the Archivist and Margaret. ‘My apologies. I have to go.’

I hefted my phone and rushed to the door.

‘Wait, were we attacked?’ the Archivist said. ‘What’s going on, Emma? He’s unconscious?’

‘I suggest you head back to the Archives and lock it down. We’re about to be attacked,’ I said on my way through the door.

‘The Archives are safe. I need to know what’s happening,’ he said behind me, and chased me out the door with Margaret trailing him.

I stopped and turned to speak to him. ‘Back off, Archivist. You’re not cleared for this information —’

‘I’m cleared for all information; information is what I do!’ he shouted. ‘I have top-level clearance and I might be able to help you.’

‘You can’t. I’ll talk to you later.’ I nodded to Margaret and headed for the infirmary.

‘What’s going on?’ Margaret said behind me.

‘You Europeans are all the same,’ the Archivist said to my back as he followed me. ‘Always so damn superior.’

‘You’re going to lose me if you don’t drop this incredibly racist attitude all the bloody time,’ Margaret growled. ‘Fighting racism with more racism isn’t the way to improve anything, and she
wasn’t
being superior anyway.’

‘You try putting up with it for a few hundred years … but you’re right,’ he said, still following me. ‘So why’s the Dark Lord in the infirmary?’

I raised my hand. ‘Keep it quiet, and if you must come don’t say anything. Need-to-know.’

‘Understood.’

The students scurried around us, pulling on armour and carrying weapons as they took their positions for battle stations. Margaret made sounds of astonishment as she followed us.

‘It may be ugly,’ I said, dropping my voice but still walking as fast as I could. ‘His injuries could be severe.’

‘Margie, you can stay outside … Never mind,’ the Archivist said.

‘Now we’re getting somewhere,’ Margaret said with amusement.

We arrived at the infirmary. A couple of students who were standing guard outside let us through. I gave up trying to hold back to a walk and ran into the treatment room.

John was attended by Edwin alone. He was unconscious and his face was ashen.

‘What did they do to him?’ I asked Edwin. My phone dinged and I raised my hand. ‘Wait.’

It was a text from Gold.
All informed
.

An order came through from the Jade Emperor to prepare for attack.

‘Good, everybody’s aware and ready,’ I said, and sat next to John.

‘Good Lord, I felt that,’ Margaret said. ‘Prepare for attack?’

‘You’re safe here,’ the Archivist said. ‘What happened to the Dark Lord?’

‘I don’t know,’ Edwin said. ‘Just when we have his feet back, this happens. He’s unconscious, his blood pressure is dangerously low, his blood oxygen similar, his temperature has dropped to nearly freezing —’

‘That’s normal for him when he’s stressed,’ I said.

Edwin shrugged. ‘I have no idea what they did to him. We can only hope that if he dies, the Serpent dies as well.’

‘Do you mind if I have a look?’ Margaret said. ‘I’m a doctor too.’

I listened to them with half an ear as I watched my phone. I texted Gold:
Updte plz
.

No attack so far
, he replied.

‘Uh … I appreciate your offer,’ Edwin said, ‘but he’s not really human and this situation is unlike anything you’ll have ever encountered before.’

‘Explain for me then,’ Margaret said, taking John’s pulse, then dropping his wrist when she felt how cold it was. ‘Damn.’

The Archivist concentrated on her and she nodded a few times, then stepped back. ‘There’s no way I could be of any use to you. This is completely out of my league.’

‘Stone,’ I said.

‘Still no movement,’ the stone said. ‘The Tiger’s most senior sons are manning the Hell barricades. The Earthly is quiet, and no incursion on the Celestial.’

‘I haven’t met you before. Are you a resident of the Celestial?’ Edwin asked Margaret.

‘Maybe, sometime in the future,’ she said.

‘Would you like to learn to deal with this sort of thing when you are?’ Edwin said. ‘I’m run off my feet and another trained physician would be a tremendous boon. I’m overworked and stressed to the point that I’m not providing the best of care.’ He gestured towards me. ‘She’s watching to see if we’re attacked. The last time we were, there were hundreds of casualties and we could really use any medical help we can find.’

‘Absolutely!’ Margaret said. ‘If I could learn things like this, I’d move here right now.’

‘Stone?’ I said.

‘I’ll let you know if anything happens, I’m connected to the remaining network,’ the stone said. ‘So far, nothing. No movement whatsoever. The Generals are considering downgrading the alert.’

‘They may be holding off and waiting for us to do that,’ I said.

‘That’s why they haven’t.’

‘You’d move here?’ the Archivist asked Margaret. ‘I thought you were planning to return to Britain.’

She pushed him out of the way without looking at him and moved next to John’s head. ‘I just said that to scare you. This sort of variety, with strange and powerful people …’ She put her hand on John’s forehead, then lifted it off again. ‘This would be … wonderful.’ She smiled at the Archivist. ‘Truly.’ She looked back down at John. ‘Dear John, I came all this way to thank you for changing my life and you may not make it through the night.’

That drew my attention back to them. ‘He has to. He can’t die now.’ I turned to Edwin. ‘How out of it is he? Can we wake him up and talk to him?’

‘He seems to be in an induced coma,’ Edwin said. ‘I tried to rouse him but he’s insensible. I’m waiting for a stone to come do a brain scan to see how much activity there is …’

‘Gold will be here as soon as he’s done relaying,’ the stone said. ‘The Generals have decided to stay on high alert for another hour.
They request that we keep them updated as to the Dark Lord’s state. If he comes around we can assume they won’t attack.’

‘Why does everything depend on how awake he is?’ Margaret said.

‘I’ll explain later,’ the Archivist said.

‘No, you won’t,’ I said. ‘Need-to-know.’ I rested my hand on the cold cloud above the blankets and spoke to Edwin. ‘If he’s brain dead will he rejoin?’