Author's notes: Kiem Sum, Korda, Koren, Kage, Kanis, Kenneth, and Cassandra do not belong to me (I believe Rysher has that honor) but were guest characters on the show I have borrowed the concept for Paul from. Any fans of the other show now know exactly what Paul is and how much of Harry's family stories are true and how much is muddied by retelling and myth…. For the rest enjoy the mystery while it lasts ;)
I don't speak Vietnamese and have undoubtedly completely butchered it. I ask the pardon of any Vietnamese readers for mutilating the language and culture.
A Place to Call Home: Chapter 4: Shards from a Shattered House
Ioki
Fuller had originally planned to be the one to pick up Dennis but I'd pointed out his car was wreckage. The truth was I wanted, no, I needed to be the one to do it. The car was merely an excuse, just like I'd used the medical data as a reason to bail and wake Fuller up in the middle of the night. Yes, I was nervous about the possibility of a new disease, anyone would be, but it went so much further than that. The more I heard about 'Gabriel' the more dread tightened a cold knot in my guts. If 'Paullus' was what my heart insisted he was, then he was anything but angelic.
I'd run, like a frightened little girl, not for the reason Dennis thought but in sheer terror that my Grandmother's stories were true. That the bất tử quỷ, ngài của việc chiếu sang , người chủ những thú vật , the Deathless Demons, Lords of Lightening and Masters of Beasts, really did walk the earth and that one of them was in my city.
In running I'd let Dennis down. When we'd been teamed up in the juvenile lockup I had hoped that we could become real partners, the way Hanson and Penhall where. Except Dennis wouldn't even talk. Oh, he had the gift of gab, he could chatter like a magpie and just like a magpie most of it didn't mean a thing. He'd switch sides mid argument if you started to give in just to keep things rolling. He loved to play Devil's Advocate. Just when you decided he was a complete ass who wasn't worth the time of day he'd do or say something really decent and insightful. In some ways he drove me more nuts than Penhall (which was saying something) because I couldn't figure him out. Was he the complete jerk or the nice guy? It was a toss up, anyone's guess, hell, maybe he didn't know himself. The only thing I was certain of was that he was still torn up over that thing with Christine. No matter how well he covered to everyone else I was a linh hon nghia regardless of how much I wanted to deny it or ignore it. He and Hanson were both walking wounded even if Dennis was making a better recovery than Hanson was. Or at least he had been. I parked the car, took a couple of deep breaths, and got out.
I smiled politely to the desk clerk who absently waved me toward Dennis' room without even looking up from her crossword puzzle. I peaked in through the blinds on the door and hesitated when I noticed he was asleep. Fuller wanted us downtown to make formal reports and to have Dennis pick some of the Cook's men out of a line up but what the hell he needed some sleep. I slipped quietly into the room. Dennis looked like six miles of bad road. Fuller had assured me that there were no serious injuries but he'd clearly taken a pretty nasty pounding. Even if Paullus wasn't a Bat Tu Quy this was still my fault. He hadn't wanted this case. Had practically begged to be given a reprieve. He had come to watch my back and I hadn't watched his. And if I was right about Paullus then it was even worse because I was the only one who had any clue what a great and vicious evil we might be facing and I'd left Dennis completely at its mercy. I was lucky he was even still alive.
It had been a long time since I'd sat and just watched someone breathe. It was reassuring despite the fact that his chest was every shade of black, blue, and purple known to man. Kind of restful too….
"Vinh Van Tran" Grandmother's eyes were sadder than I had ever seen them, even sadder than when we had left her behind and gone to the American Embassy "have you forgotten me?"
"NO, NEVER" I swore to her.
"Then why have you forgotten what you are? It is from my blood the Gift came. To reject the Gift is to reject the Ancestors."
"I haven't, I haven't."
"Then tell me where do we come from?"
"We are the children of the sons of the Sea Dragon and the Mountain Angel."
She nodded "But every child of Vietnam knows that, who are you?"
"I am the nguoi gac, the watchman."
"And why are you the watchman, Vinh Van Tran?"
"Because I am linh hon nghia, I can see the Bat Tu Quy."
"And who are the Bat Tu Quy?"
"The sons of the Lord of Lightening enemy of the Dragon and all his children."
"And how are his sons born?"
"They are not. When the Lord of Lightening kills one of the Dragon's children a Bat Tu Quy is formed full grown, created out of death, to visit death on the Dragon's sons."
"Name the Bat Tu Quy."
"Koren is the eldest of those we know, he rides a pale horse and where he goes plague follows, his face is scarred, and the wailing of many multitudes is his aspect. His power is such that linh hon nghia have been struck dead by his mere presence. He neither knows nor speaks of mercy. Flee from him for no human can stand against him.
Kiem Sum, is from the north, he smiles kindly but it hides a lie. He promises to cure all disease but his potions cause madness and death. Humans can not kill the Bat Tu Quy but they can feel pain. Kiem Sum is a coward, rise against him and he will flee. Kiem Sum seeks to rule all the sons of the Dragon so that he can use them as cannon fodder against his brothers for though we can not kill them they can take the ma thuật chiếu sáng, the magic lightening, from each other. Kiem Sum's aspect is a man weeping in terror for he fears his brethren to the point of madness.
Kanis is the greatest nguoi chy nhung thu vat among the Bat Tu Quy and his beasts both follow and proceed him wherever he goes. He is the hunter of his kind and he delights in the slaying of children. He is not turned aside easily but destroy his beasts and he will flee. His aspect is the call of a pack of hounds hot on the trail.
Korda is twin to Koren but lacks the scar. He comes with a fair mien and offers the hand of friendship, trust it not, for he is a thief and a murderer. Like a spider in the web he spins a snare to trap the unwary using others to do his bidding while he reaps the rewards. His aspect is a mocking laugh.
Kage's greed knows no bounds, his smile is the grin of a hungry shark. Stand firm and drive him away or he will strip you of everything including your life. His aspect the sound of coins clicking together.
Cassandra the witch, Mistress of Prophecy, Seduction, Illusion, and Transformation. Do not meet her green eyes or you will lust for her for the rest of time, do not listen to her voice or she will steal your will, do not rely your sight for she can bend it to her wishes, do not trust in her prophecies for she will lead you into darkness and death. Allow her a chance at your throat and like the wild dog she can become she will rip it out. A lone voice in the wilderness is her aspect."
I chanted obediently.
She smiled sadly "You have not forgotten Vinh Van Tran. I had prayed to the ancestors that you would not be tested against one of the Bat Tu Quy, for they are terrible, but your time has come. Do not shame us."
"I won't"
"You won't what?" Dennis' left eye was nearly open, the right was pretty much swollen shut.
I rubbed my own "Just a dream. It doesn't matter. We need to head downtown."
Dennis tried to stretch, winced, bit off groan, and kind of curled in on himself instead "Give me a minute?" He said trying to sound nonchalant and failing.
"Sure, you got it." I walked out of the room and leaned against the wall letting him get his act together in private with the dream still tumbling in my brain. If the legends were right then Paullus couldn't be a Bat Tu Quy because he wasn't full grown. It was silly and stupid. A bunch of superstitious nonsense. So I could sort of see auras. It wasn't consistent, useful, or scientific. Mumbo-jumbo. I loved my Grandmother, I always would, I was overjoyed to be able to write to her but that didn't mean I had to stop being American and become Vietnamese again. I'd run off and left my partner like some idiot who'd spooked at a black cat, except I hadn't even SEEN the 'cat'. I firmly set the whole notion aside.
Dennis must have taken something because he was moving with his usual swagger when he came out but his eyes were hazed for lack of a better term. I hoped he could still pick his assailants out of a line up while on pain killers and I was very glad we were going downtown in my car since I did NOT want him behind the wheel. It was funny, Dennis faked being high all the time and the kids totally bought it but I instantly knew this was the first time I'd seen the real thing.
I waited until we were in the car to say "I'm sorry, I am so damn sorry."
"For what? You were reporting to Fuller" he cracked one of scabs on his lip giving me one of those grins of his. I passed him a Kleenex before he bled on the upholstery.
"I should have been there" I said in a tone that allowed no arguments and to my surprise Dennis didn't offer any. Was that because he agreed or because he just didn't feel up to arguing? I wasn't certain which worried me more.
"Are we ok?" I'd lost too many people in my life. Dennis and I weren't really partners yet but we were moving in that direction and I, just nobody else, please, enough.
"We're ok Harry" he said earnestly. I drew a deep breath that was all that needed to be said.
"So what happened last night?"
By the time he was done my hands were hurting I was gripping the steering wheel so tight and no matter how often my head told my gut there was no way the Bat Tu Quy were real my stomach refused to listen and alternated between being full of ice, lead, and butterflies. I was more queasy than I had been on the boat to Guam. Two things were clear in Dennis' voice, he probably didn't mean for them to be, and if he hadn't taken something he probably wouldn't have let anything slip, first he was holding something back, and second, he was completely taken with the 'kid'. If I challenged Paullus Dennis and I would never be the same. It would make the strike look like nothing. Better that he hate me alive than to have him dead like Thai Kieu. One friend gunned down because I led him into disaster was more than enough and then there was Loc moldering in a prison cell. Sometimes I hated my life and my job. I really did. It isn't a Gift, Grandmother, it's a curse. Except I might be the only one who could save my friends since it wasn't just Dennis Paullus had taken an interest in, but Hanson and Penhall as well. You can't have my friends! my heart hissed at him even as my head continued a mantra that the Bat Tu Quy couldn't possibly exist. There were no immortal demons fighting for the right to rule the world. It was ludicrous, really, it was, it had to be.
I let Dennis out at the ramp. For a second it looked like he was going to argue that he wasn't a cripple but his lip twitched, he nodded his thanks, and swaggered (or attempted to) in the direction of the door. Judy would have had something pointed to say about masculine egos. She probably would have been right but I kept my mouth shut, parked the car, and made certain not to catch up too quickly.
"You're late" Fuller said but there was no edge to it "your fan club is getting a little antsy."
"Fan club?"
I knew he meant the guys in the lineup but Dennis was clueless and curious as he followed Fuller through the corridors. He stopped in the doorway "How'd you know who to pick up?"
"You'll see" Fuller sounded amused. As Dennis stepped into the room Roger flipped on the lights and called the line up to attention.
Dennis tried to laugh but you could tell it hurt too much "Where did he get the paint?"
"Road crew was repainting the curbs. They thought they had things locked up tight. Obviously not well enough to stop Paul."
Smiling had to hurt but Dennis did it anyway as he looked over his paint splattered attackers.
"2, 4, 5, 7, and 9"
"You certain?"
"Oh, yeh, is that all you caught?"
"Nah, room only holds ten at a time. We'll have the second batch in for you in a minute."
"They catch Paul?" Dennis was really worried. I bit my tongue to keep from blurting out that he didn't need to because fire could only hurt a Bat Tu Quy not kill one. Except the legends said that the Bat Tu Quy were all adults so either the legends were wrong or he wasn't Bat Tu Quy either way it meant the kid could be hurt. The entire thing made my head ache.
"No, I spoke with Joey, the uniforms, the ambulance driver, and the firefighters. There's some concern about flash burns to the lungs when fire scorched most of the hair from the right side of his head but the consensus is that if that were the case then he wouldn't have been able to shake the uniforms as neatly as he did."
"Adrenaline" Dennis said softly.
"Maybe" Fuller allowed "or maybe the kid is fine aside from getting a little singed around the edges."
"How many people do we have looking for him?"
"None."
Dennis turned too quickly and swayed. Fuller shifted to catch him if necessary but he recovered on his own.
"WHAT?! I thought city hall had its tail in a twist over him, what the hell changed?" Now, Dennis wanted to go after the kid but not to catch him. I swallowed my anger. The Bat Tu Quy do NOT exist. Paul is an incredibly brilliant little kid in trouble my head insisted but my gut wasn't buying it for a minute.
"Finish picking your assailants out of the line and then I'll explain."
Dennis half growled and then snapped "3, 6, 7 and 9. I see Sneezy finally woke up."
Sneezy was wearing a perfect imprint of the toes of Paul's shoes on his face.
As the men filed out Fuller said "Does the Cook remind you of anyone you know?"
Dennis tried to frown and winced "No."
"When we got a positive ID the excrement hit the proverbial rotating blades. His name is Jonathan Addams Blake the III."
Which meant absolutely nothing to me but the lights went on in Dennis' eyes "Well, that certainly casts things in a very different light."
"Yes, it does."
"Would somebody mind letting me know what's going on?"
"Jonathan Addams Blake the II is the head of IAD" Dennis smirked eyes dancing with an absolutely wicked glee.
"Who has been using his…influence to shift attention off of his wayward offspring's crimes by focusing what has been deemed an inappropriate amount of manpower onto an open and shut case" Fuller continued.
"Except now we do need to find him" Dennis countered.
"And what inspired this change in attitude?"
Fuller digested what Dennis had found out from the doctor quietly "Tell you what, I can't put you in the field looking like you just went three rounds with Mike Tyson I was going to give you a few days off" Dennis sighed. The captain was offering a way for him to save face literally. The guys were going to rib him about getting his ass kicked. We just HAD too, it was just too good to pass up. "But if you want to come in tomorrow to make some PHONE CALLS, set some balls rolling as long as you STAY AT YOUR DESK. AND I MEAN that Dennis. You're in no shape to play hero. Then you can look into the kid's history."
You could see him gather up his determination, further proof that Paul had Dennis wrapped around his little finger. He was willing to face the millstone of humiliation just to try and find out some more about the little whatever he was.
"Thanks coach"
"Just as long as you stay on the bench for a few days."
"Scouts honor."
"Why do I get the feeling you were never a Boy Scout, Booker?"
A twitch of a grin.
"Harry, get his statement then drop him off at home and report to the Chapel."
"You mind if I start tonight?"
Fuller frowned "You could use some more rest."
Dennis shrugged without thinking and then closed his eyes for a breath "Resting at home on the couch isn't that much better than sitting at my desk in the Chapel."
"Briefly" Fuller said "Take his statement here then head down to the Chapel. And if I think you're overdoing it when I get there I will personally drag you home and sit on you if necessary."
"I won't over do it" he promised. Fuller didn't look convinced but he waved us away.
Dennis was so quiet on the ride over I suspected that he'd dozed off but if so he woke precisely as we pulled into the parking lot. I forgot until we walked in that no one but Fuller and I knew about the night's developments. Judy gave a little gasp and headed our way while both Hanson and Penhall winced. Maybe Dennis would get off lightly on the ribbing. Then I saw Hanson grin a little. Guess not. When Dennis was in top form it was amusing because he was certainly capable of holding his own, right now though, it would be a bit like kicking a guy when he was down.
"Dennis, what happened?" a gentle touch from Judy. I was jealous, not enough to want to get the crap kicked out of me but jealous all the same. I never thought I'd see the day that Dennis was rendered speechless. Probably torn between a half-dozen glib face saving answers and the truth. Tough call.
"Did you guys hear about that thing with the meth house?"
"What, that like some muckuty muck downtown's kid was the city's biggest meth cook and the whole lab went up like the 4th of July?"
"Yeah, hear any details?"
Everyone shrugged "Not really" Penhall said while Hanson straightened "Where you there?"
"Yep, so was Paul, which is why we need to find him, it's possible he was hurt" deep breath "saving my ass. I talked to the Head of County's ER the kid is a doctor, someone is after him, she's afraid he's burning out so we need to find him fast."
Judy put her hands on her hips "You know you can't just walk in, drop a bombshell like that, and NOT give us the full scoop."
"Judy, this is important."
"Then speak quickly" she challenged not backing off an inch despite his pleading eyes.
"Alright, fine, you want to know why we should find this kid?"
Dennis should be a politician or maybe a spokesman because he made his strike speech sound like tripe. He pulled out all the stops making the kid a cross between Oliver Twist, Mother Theresa, and James Bond without a second's regard for his reputation. How stupid could I have been to have thought little Paul was a demon? I had to grin a little at the image, Dennis Booker, damsel in distress. He was a great public speaker. If he kept this up Officer Milk Carton might have some competition this summer. He was giving me goosebumps…I swallowed and stared at my arms. The Bat Tu Quy were the children of the Ngai cua viec chieu sang, the Lord of Lightening, and their approach was heralded by the same signs as an incipient lightning strike. The hair stands on end, the skin tingles, the smell of ozone. It had to be my imagination, why would Paul come here?? Then the mournful lonely howl of a solitary wolf that clearly no one else could hear began.
"Hey. Dennis" Blowfish bellowed then stopped dead "What happened to your face?"
"What'd'you got?" Dennis asked ignoring Blowfish's question.
"Oh, some little blond kid gave me this letter for you."
"Paul was here?" I don't think I'd ever seen Penhall move that fast. Blowfish almost flinched when he was suddenly looming over him. He snatched the parchment out of his hands.
"Hey, I promised to give that to Dennis" Blowfish protested.
"It's his handwriting" he shoved the paper back at Blowfish and charged out the door followed by the rest of us. We fanned out but Paul was no where in sight. But he was here. I could FEEL him like a gathering storm, roiling, seething somewhere nearby. I could HEAR the howl. I slowed the feeling was fading the further I got from the Chapel.
I turned and jogged back ducking into the shelter of Michelle's car as I watched Judy and Dennis coming slowly down the stairs.
"Dennis, I am taking you home."
"Just wait til everyone gets back. Please."
"OK but JUST until then. So are you going to read that letter?"
Dennis just slumped on the hood of Hanson's Mustang, still yanking the man's chain even when he wasn't around.
"Why don't you read it for me? You have such a pretty voice" he probably meant to be flirty but it came out exhausted. Either the speech or the stairs had taken what was left of the wind out of his sails.
She frowned "Get in the car."
"Not yet, all I'll do is fret at home. I wouldn't get any rest at all."
Judy was far too lady like to snort but I was willing to bet she wanted to before unfolding the letter while I scanned the parking lot. He was here. I knew he was here but I couldn't spot him. He must be like the witch Cassandra, able to cast illusions. A couple of bills fluttered to the ground as she unfolded the parchment.
"What are these for?"
Dennis mumbled "Read it and see."
Dear Dennis,
It has come to my attention that you are emphatically distressed that I might have come to grief during the explosive results of our escapade. Fear not, with the exception of my hair I am quite unscathed and the girls assure me that a change of style was long overdue. I am uncertain about the results of Snips endeavors at repair but am told it is quite fetching.
"Fetching??" this time Judy nearly did snort "Where is this kid from?"
'When is the kid from? Is a better question' I thought as I kept scanning the parking lot since the bất tử quỷ did not age and lived until destroyed by another of their own kind 'and WHERE is he?' best of all.
I must confess that I am quite concerned about you. While I was relieved to hear that you have taken no lasting hurt from your ill-advised invasion of the Cook's demesne you are doing your own recovery no favors with this noble but unnecessary quest. I implore you to go home and rest for a few days if you wish to continue the hunt then I will by all means play the fox and lead you a merry chase. I swear to God and on my mother's honor
An easy oath for a motherless demon to make I thought cynically.
I will continue to be in good health for the chase.
I have enclosed $100 dollars as repayment for the paint and other items liberated from the road crew and fire department. If it wouldn't be too much of an imposition could your captain possibly see the debts for the equipment I appropriated in the heat of the moment repaid? I am many things but I am not a thief and I have no desire to garner a reputation as such.
Please, I implore you, REST (Doctor's orders),
Paullus
"Now, can I take you home?"
"Just wait."
He tried to reach for his cigarettes but you could tell he was hurting. Judy sighed and shook one out "I can NOT believe I'm doing this. You do know these things are bad for you?"
"I know, I know, one of these days I'm going to quit, swear to God and on my Mother's honor."
"Does she know you use her name in vain like that?"
"I AM going to quit" a deep drag, a loosening of tension on the exhale "someday."
Was that movement under the Mustang? No sooner had I thought it than the wolf popped up. I'd wondered if he was controlling the wolf like Kanis or becoming the wolf like Cassandra. Now I had my answer as I threw my arm up, eyes burning from the light of his ma thuật chiếu sáng, his magic lightening. The Latinos were right, the demon and the wolf were one and the same. I couldn't shoot at the demon-wolf without risking shooting Dennis or Judy as the beast deftly took the cigarette out of Dennis' hand with his tongue. They both jumped, Judy squeaked and Dennis swallowed a groan as the demon-wolf took a couple of puffs, spit out the cigarette, coughed, wheezed, staggered, rolled over, and played dead with one paw doing a final over the top dramatic quiver as he held his breath long pink tongue splayed out the side of his mouth. He maintained the pose for a couple of seconds, rolled to his feet, and ground out the smoldering cigarette with a paw. He cocked his head at Dennis expectantly.
"I'm sorry about last night. I should have listened and I shouldn't have hit you. Forgive me?"
As the demon-wolf put his huge fore paws on the hood, I had to force myself not to shoot because if the bullet went through and through it would go right into Judy. 'Please, please, please', I begged silently 'don't rip out Dennis' throat' I would never forgive myself if that monster killed him right in front of me while I didn't do a damn thing but he just swiped a quick flash of pink tongue along his jaw and up under his ear before giving him a thorough check with his nose. The demon-wolf dropped back down onto his haunches, chuffed, and then laid his head down pretending to sleep.
"See" Judy said "even the wolf thinks you need to take it easy."
The demon-wolf rose, chuffed in agreement, and then looked back at Dennis tail wagging just a touch ears pricked forward. I took aim. They were both still closer than I liked and its blue white aura was so bright I had a tough time looking at him. I hesitated hoping for a cleaner shot.
"How rude of me" Dennis seemed to have caught the demon's 'playful' mood "Judy this it 'Yeller', 'Yeller', Officer Judy Hoffs."
The demon-wolf sat and daintily raised a paw. I snatched my finger off the trigger as a smiling Judy reached down to take it. He turned his paw just a bit and gave her knuckles a disgusting lick though Judy look entirely taken with the possessed pooch.
"Pleased to meet you" she beamed at him as he let her ruffle his ears. His aspect shifted from a lonesome howl to playful yips. 'Damn it, guys' I thought at them 'he isn't what you think, just give me one clean shot.' I knew it wouldn't kill the Bat Tu Quy but it would hurt him and they were a lazy race preferring to prey on the ignorant. Like bullies once you stood up to them most (Koren being the notable exception) would move on to easier pickings. He looked a Dennis, dropped back into the sleeping pose, and then barked for the first time at Judy.
"Don't tell me, tell him."
"Make you a deal" Dennis said raising his voice "I figure if you're here Paul's close. If we promise, swear to God on our mothers' honor that we won't try to catch you will you please just talk to me?"
The demon-wolf pricked his ears turning his head as if listening to something and then trotted off. I tried to follow him with my gun but he wove cleverly through the cars never giving me an opportunity. I cursed silently, everyone would be ticked if I shot the wolf but it wouldn't get me into the kind of trouble shooting at the 'kid' would. I had expected him to shift forms as soon as he was out of Dennis and Judy's line of sight but he continued on the feeling of his presence fading and then growing again except he didn't come walking back into the parking lot. At least not that I could see. I still wasn't certain if he could cast illusions or not according to the list of known Bat Tu Quy only Cassandra could do it but then she was also able to turn into a wolf too so maybe the abilities went together. I bashed my head against the side mirror as Paul's voice came from above us.
"So speak" I peaked over the edge of the door hoping he hadn't spotted me. He was perched like the world's cutest gargoyle on the tin roof of the Chapel's half hearted 'steeple'. Some 'steeple' the building actually went up another story above it.
"Would you mind coming down? You're making me nervous."
"I like the view here" that accent everyone kept mentioning was thick as syrup. He drew a deep breath, cleared his throat, and when he continued it was nearly gone "There is no cause to fret. Unlike orthopedic surgery rooftops are one of my specialties."
A smirk from Dennis "I wasn't worried, my neck's sore."
"And I'd like to get a better look at the new do" Judy chimed in.
He ducked his head letting his obviously fine nearly white hair fan over the left side of his face. The cut was asymmetric, barely even fuzz on the right side, short and spiky on top, and then cut in a soft feathery line that ended at his chin. He seemed almost shy. The lonely howl was back. Demons should never appear that sweetly innocent. He looked more like the star on top of a Christmas tree than anything my Grandmother had described.
"My apologies but I still prefer my current location" he swept the hair back off his face "I might have your word but I do not have your compatriots' promise." A flick of blue eyes in my direction. Blast, he'd spotted me. Of course he might have smelled me here from the beginning when he was the wolf. That would certainly explain why I'd never been given a clean shot.
"It does look good on you" Judy offered.
He played with the tapering end where his ringlets had started yesterday "Really? I must confess it isn't a style I had ever considered before but Snips was so insistent that I didn't have the heart to refuse. She wanted to be a stylist to the stars before she ended up on the streets." He sighed "I'm still working on finding her a place to call home. She isn't making it easy." He wrapped one arm around his knees while the other formed a third point of contact against the steep, slick roof. If it wasn't for the nearly blinding gleam of his aura and the fact that my arm hair was permanently standing at attention that little plea for reassurance would have convinced me that he couldn't possibly what I knew he was. Evil entities bent on world domination and wanton slaughter just shouldn't ever sound that uncertain and nearly forlorn. Which proved he was probably the most dangerous of all his kind. The sly little serpent slithered right into your heart and then the ancestors knew what he might do. He was undoubtedly as innocent as an asp.
"Oh, yeah" Judy assured him "ringlets are so last year. And they made you look like way too young and cutesy. But you know it's kinda chilly to be running around without a coat. I mean it's a nice scarf and all but we could probably find you something a little warmer in the Chapel."
"Young and cute was rather the point. And I'm surprisingly chill resistant." he retorted dryly "While I never had the privilege of meeting my mother, as promised her honor is intact. Now, Dennis, while I am sincerely touched at the tenacity of your concern for my wellbeing will you PLEASE GO HOME?"
"Why don't you come with me?"
An absolutely wicked grin tugged at the corners of his mouth and you could tell he had to literally bite his tongue to stop from saying the first thing that leapt to mind.
"That would not be a tactically prudent choice for either of us" was what he finally said.
"I'm a police officer, Paul, not a patient in an ER. You've been helping us out, let us return the favor by helping you."
An innocent, bemused look "With what officer?"
"With whoever it is that is keeping you from accepting Dr. Blackburn's offer."
Ice. It was like something or rather someone had sucked what little heat the winter sun had provided right out of the air. The gentle spill of silvery light that had been swirling nearly hypnotically out around him drew inward and flashes that reminded me of heat lightening flickered around him.
"Dr. Blackburn has been shockingly indiscrete" he purred. The pitch might be a little boy's but the tone was as icy as the air, feral and dangerous. So the demon was showing his true colors. Now that he was away from Dennis and Judy I had a clear shot but if I put a bullet in him with them watching they would never understand and I'd lose my badge. 'Just make the least threatening move' I urged mentally 'just give me the slightest excuse and I'll put a bullet right through your black heart.' His blue eyes flickered to me as if he could read my mind and then back to them. Could they read minds? None of the stories seemed to indicate that but each Bat Tu Quy in the stories had different abilities so maybe he was a telepath. Dennis tried to be casual about glancing behind him but I'd had too much practice to not know what he was doing.
"But I fear there is nothing to be done, the situation is what it is" he began to rise from his crouch clearly intending to leave.
"You must be really close to your dad" Judy said trying to keep him talking "what with your mom not being around."
"I never met either of my parents" he returned in that frigid tone.
"So you're an orphan?'
"I have absolutely no idea. Good day, Officer Hoffs, it was a pleasure meeting you. Dennis, for goodness sake, lay down before you fall down."
"But someone must have taken care of you when you were a baby."
'If you only knew, Judy' I thought as I braced myself to rise. I couldn't let it get out of here without a challenge. It would shame the ancestors and leave my friends thinking it was a sweet little boy instead of a devious little monster. Somehow I had to force it to reveal its true colors without ending up losing my badge or in a room with rubber wall paper myself.
"My first..." he paused clearly trying to think of the right word "protector was slaughtered some time ago."
"So someone is after you" Dennis challenged.
"Mirrors, Dennis, one person dead trying to protect me is enough for a hundred lifetimes" it still wasn't a little boy's tone but instead of icy cold it was as soft and gentle as a spring breeze pregnant with sorrow. The flickers of lightening stopped but the howl was ear splittingly loud. "Just go home, and forget you ever saw me."
"I can't. You deserve better than that."
He sighed, eyes unfocused and far away, tone distant "Perhaps, perhaps not…."
Now was my moment. I rose, my sights fixed on his heart, and snapped "Freeze, police." But it hadn't been as distracted as it looked even as I had made my move he was making his, tumbling nimbly down off the tin 'steeple' and landing confidently on the alley roof. I bolted forward, sweeping past Judy and Dennis, ignoring their shouts of protest, taking the stairs three at a time. The alley roof dead ended onto Jump Street, it had no where to go….except right off the edge.
Dennis shrieked "Paul!" and managed to pull ahead of me snatching for what he thought was a kid but it was already out of reach. He slid down the wall head in his hands murmuring "Not again, God, not again" so he missed it using the telephone wires to do a pretty impressive imitation of the 'daring young man on the flying trapeze.' It deftly flipped, somersaulted, twisted, and made a landing that would make an Olympic gymnast jealous on the roof across the street. How could ANYONE believe that this thing was really a little kid?
One look at Dennis and the smug grin vanished from the demon's face.
"Dennis?" If I didn't KNOW better I'd have thought that it was genuinely worried. It backed up as if to return despite my gun trained on it but Dennis who had raised his head as soon as he heard its voice shouted "NO! Sit! Stay!"
It stopped and barked.
"Huh?"
It shrugged "I figured speak was next, besides 'Yeller' already did play dead earlier, and I'm not really inclined to fetch."
"Hands where I can see them" I snapped.
It rolled its eyes but obligingly laid them on the ledge of the building across the way where it sat with its feet swinging out into space.
"Paul" Dennis' voice shook "Please get back from the edge."
It did a back flip landing with his hands raised before turning around and laying its empty hands palm up. It looked past us both at Judy questioningly.
"About a month ago the suspect in one of his cases committed suicide in front of him by throwing herself off the edge of a building."
The demon winced.
"Hey, I am sitting right here. Don't talk about me like I'm not."
I flinched, finger tightening almost involuntarily on the trigger but I forced myself not to fire as it reached out to Dennis. The ancestors alone knew what it might be doing to him. I was supposed to protect people from that thing and instead I was just standing here my hands tied because no one would believe me if I said the kid was a demon.
"My deepest apologies, Dennis, I didn't know. I had no intention of dredging up painful memories."
"No problem" he still sounded shaken "just don't do it again."
"I fear I can't promise that. I survive by being quick, clever, and by being able to escape using routes my pursuers are either too big or too clumsy to overtake me on. Giving up rooftops would get me killed or worse in depressingly short order."
"Then let me help" it was equal parts plea and command but it just shook its head.
"Orthopedic surgery. Dennis, this is out of your skill set. I promise if I need help with something that is within your expertise you'll be the first person I ask. Good day and GET SOME REST!"
"Hey" I snapped "I said freeze."
It gave me a cocky grin "Why? I'm not threatening anyone, there are no longer warrants out for my arrest. Are you actually going to shoot me for trespassing?"
I made a show of centering on him. I could feel Judy and Dennis both staring at me.
"Did I wrong you in a former life?" the little demon asked "What do you have against me?"
I breathed, "I know what you are" in Vietnamese. Then continued in a firmer voice, "You are one of the Deathless Demons. You are an abomination, an insult to all life, and I will not let you hurt my friends"
The howl of its aspect turned into an angry snarl while the demon flinched as if I'd slapped him before lightening crackled out its aura arching and flickering. I fell back a step before regaining my nerve. I should have known this thing would understand Vietnamese.
"I am not a demon, an abomination, or an insult to life and I have no intention of harming anyone! " it snapped back its blue eyes swallowed by the agitated energy of his magic lightening. How could Dennis and Judy not see it?! Fear coiled itself around my heart like a constrictor. It might look like an innocent little boy but this was a demon that I couldn't kill and I had just obviously REALLY pissed off. I fought not to tremble as he glared at me. It had already proven that the empty street between us was no barrier and besides it was a shooter itself, and a killer. I had no doubt even if I hurt him he could kill me right here, right now. What the hell had I been thinking?
"Hey" Dennis tried to get to his feet and failed "how about speaking English?"
The demon looked down its nose at me in haughty fury as a touch of winter wind fanned its blond hair across its face and remained utterly silent. Even the sound of the wolf ceased and the wind died as it went as motionless as an icy sculpture.
My heart was beating so fast all I could hear was the slosh of blood in my veins. I licked my lips. I had to get it to DO something so I would have an excuse to shoot it. I should have known that the stories' claims that just identifying them as demons was often enough to make them flee was too good to be true.
"Do you deny you possess the magic lightening?" I didn't dare ask the question in English. I would be fitted for an 'I love me' jacket and I'd heard Judy's stories about rescuing Hanson from the hell hole of State's psych ward.
"I do." it admitted, in Vietnamese. Northerner, he spoke like a Northerner a wash of anger replaced the fear.
"Then how can you say that you aren't a demon?"
"The lightening grants the potential for great longevity, nothing more, nothing less. Like all men, it is what one does with it that separates the meek from the monster. I may fall far short of the heroic ideal your friend wishes to grant me but I am neither a demon nor an abomination. "
"That isn't what the Ancestors say. I have heard that tales. I will not be deceived. You will not fool me as you have fooled my friends."
"You certainly do not require any assistance from me to be a fool." the demon retorted dryly, deeply offended but completely unruffled "You're doing superlatively all on your own."
"I won't stand by and let you kill them."
It abruptly switched back to English "Stop thinking like a Vietnamese peasant and kindly recall that you are a police officer in the United States of America where things like evidence, logic, and innocent until proven guilty are supposed to matter."
"Harry?" Judy sounded frightened, of me or for me I couldn't tell but either way I'd done the exact opposite of what I wanted. Dennis was just watching us both as fiercely as he could with one eye swollen shut.
"What you've done to Dennis is proof." I retorted in Vietnamese
"The only thing I did to Dennis was save him from his own folly at risk of burning alive. There is nothing wrong with my ability to feel pain and we endure long past where normal mortals find the surcease of unconsciousness and death" it riposted in the same language.
"You tricked him into going in because you wanted rid of the Cook." I accused.
"On the contrary I tried to dissuade him. Yes, I wanted rid of the Cook but not at the risk of other lives. I happen consider that life is precious and only to be cut short at the direst of needs."
"If you were so eager to keep him out why didn't you transform and TELL him not to go in?"
Its eyes dropped. I had it there.
"I said I wasn't a demon or an abomination, I never said I wasn't a coward. As much as I dislike the concept of being immolated again I find the notion of being a lab rat even more disconcerting."
And now I knew what it feared "Leave or you will be" I threatened.
It smiled "It's 1989, who is going to believe you if I don't do something to prove your allegations? And it's a free country, OFFICER. You don't have the right, the authority, or the power to tell me what to do, where to go, or whom to associate with. I don't know what stories you've heard but don't judge us all by the actions of a few. I would think you would have learned that racism harms both parties."
"It isn't racism" I'd meant to be firm but tendrils of doubt crept in. The part of me that always had been and always would be Vietnamese didn't care. It wanted to obey the traditions and the Ancestors and drive this thing away but I'd spent half my life in America becoming a cop and dealing with racism. Every shred of actual evidence argued that this was one of the good guys. Wasn't the definition of racism judging someone based on a physical attribute? Maybe there were some, what did I call him if it wasn't Bất Tử Quỷ? That weren't monsters. Or maybe he was just the most devious of his kind. The crackling lightening had stopped and his aura was once more a slowly swirling vortex of liquid silver light. Calming, seductive. Sneaky little bastard or genuinely caring saint I couldn't tell.
"What about the Game? What about your quest to rule us all?"
"It isn't my quest. And I don't play. When Hunters come calling I run."
"Don't you mean you're too little to play?" I challenged.
"Kenneth is no bigger than I and he is quite accomplished. Yes, the fact that I was murdered at nine" Murdered at nine. That meant that the stories were wrong, (unless he was lying) that they didn't simply spring into being full grown. Where they all murder victims? "would make being an active participant more difficult but not impossible. I choose not to play. I choose not to kill except to save the life of another. I choose to run and one day I won't be fast enough when a Hunter comes for me" he didn't want to die. I wasn't sure how to define what was in those timeless eyes. Maybe it simply wasn't a human emotion at all. "and my long 'childhood' will be over."
"You aren't even human" I barked desperate to cling to my anger and yet eager for him to refute the charge as well.
"If you cut me I bleed, admittedly I heal faster but I still bleed, tickle me and I laugh just as long and well as any, slap me and it stings. When a friend is ill I fret, if a friend dies I weep, I can marvel over the gossamer wings of a butterfly, I can be awed by the sight of a man on the moon, I can stand on the edge of the sea and dream of distant horizons, I can treasure the camaraderie of a simple meal where love is. In what manner am I less than human?"
It took a step forward and without even thinking my finger tightened on the trigger. Judy yelled but Dennis forced my arm just a little to the left so that bullet lodged harmlessly in a heap of old roof tar that had never been removed from the last round of repairs. The whatever it was didn't even bother to flinch. Dennis had EXPECTED me to shoot.
"Drop" he didn't even have to finish before I was shoving the gun into his hands. I might not know what to do about the whatever it was serenely watching us but I hadn't MEANT to discharge my firearm. If I was that panicked then I had absolutely no business holding a gun even if it couldn't be hurt, no that was wrong, the whole premise of the watchmen was that they COULD be hurt, just not killed, did I WANT to blow a hole in him? The part of me that was scared witless did the rest of me was a lot less certain. Maybe it was Dennis' speech, maybe it was his own arguments. I had to at least grant him that much. Dennis absently slid the gun into his right pocket while watching Paul. I could see him trying to add things up and getting nothing that made sense to him.
"A tree without roots withers and dies" Paul said in English "but roots without branches swiftly fail as well. Transplanted trees take careful husbandry to provide the proper balance. Don't let your past swallow your future, Officer Ioki, but cutting yourself off from it will only destroy you. The East has a bad habit of considering anything old to be wise, the West seems to think anything old is perforce wrong. Foolish of anyone to blindly follow either principle. All men are fallible be they ancient beyond imagination or dewy youths. Judge all things by their merits and tree by its fruit, be wary, do not trust easily or swiftly. I think you might find reading The Modern Prometheus surprisingly enlightening."
He glanced down, bowed, whirled, and calmly crossed the roof disappearing just as a breathless Penhall joined us followed by Hanson.
Fuller's voice came from further back "Did that shot come from here?" Great, just great.
"Yes, but no damage done. It was probably just a misfire" Dennis called back. This guy had been assigned to IAD?? Weren't they supposed to hunt down and crucify cops for their mistakes? I'd been surprised when he'd let Hanson slide about breaking into his apartment but I was stunned that he was giving me an out about his precious Paul. Would he do that if that thing had somehow captured his will?
"Come on, it's cold out here" he muttered his good eye sliding shut for several breaths "and he's obviously gone."
"Paul was here? And you let him get away again?" Hanson's voice held just a hint of scorn.
"Not now" Judy snapped putting herself between us and them "Move it guys I'm freezing my" significant pause "off."
Hanson half turned to Penhall as they swung down onto the steps "So which part of her anatomy"
"Finish that thought Hanson and I'll freeze something that isn't part of my anatomy"
Penhall chuckled at Hanson's expense. I expected to hear one from Dennis too and turned to check on him when I didn't. He was sort of listing against the wall.
"Just give me a minute."
"You need someone to lean on?"
I could see 'go to hell' on the tip of his tongue but he measured the distance with his eye and muttered "Thanks."
Well, Dennis Booker actually COULD think before he spoke. It was a miracle. I looped one arm over my shoulder and keeping all the bruises in mind was as gentle as I could be while taking some of his weight.
"Coast is clear" Judy hissed at us as we approached the drop to the stairs. She kept a look out while I gave him a hand down and then took over as his crutch making it look flirty to cover the fact that he was a half inch short of falling on his face.
"You three, my office, right now."
"Iokage to the principle's office" Hanson clucked "and Judy too. That's what happens when good kids start associating with a bad element."
I rolled my eyes. I had absolutely no problem with good natured ribbing or Hanson and Dennis' not quite so good natured war which had been very entertaining but there was a time and place for everything and this wasn't it.
Judy leaned a little closer into Dennis as if listening but I knew he hadn't said a word. Dennis never let a challenge pass unanswered, ever.
"Dennis says you're just jealous" Judy quipped, and he was a good bit more creative than that too.
Hanson and Penhall shared a worried look. Hanson might be at 'war' with Dennis but he was still a fellow officer. I hoped they weren't going to follow us into Fuller's office. I breathed a sigh of relief when door closed with them still on the other side.
"You, couch, now."
Not even a whisper of an argument from Dennis who promptly closed his eyes with a faint whimper. I felt a flare of anger against the Cook and his cronies for doing it, against Paul for however indirectly leading him into it, and myself most of all for not being there.
"Alright somebody start talking." I wasn't even certain Dennis was still conscious. Judy and I just blinked at each other.
"How old are you guys?"
Judy started talking when I didn't. As she filled Fuller in on what had happened I mentally assembled the 'evidence', trying to think like a cop and not someone who was scared witless.
OK, prior to entering the city he'd been leading a pack of wolves 3 things – first I need to contact the biologists up there and find out if the pack had been in any way aggressive to humans or livestock because if it had it proved he was lying scum like the ancestors said. Second – he had been DRUGGED. Nothing in the stories mentioned the bất tử quỷ being susceptible to sedatives but they clearly must be. That meant that I didn't necessarily have to shoot the kid. I could drug the wolf and dump him up in the hills instead. No harm, no foul, the Lobo de Oro didn't belong here anyway. Too bad I hadn't thought of that before I made an idiot of myself. Third and most troubling, the gang members had essentially kidnapped him but when one of them was hurt he'd saved him. I had NOTHING that unequivocally pointed to Paullus being in the wrong. He was either one slick little snake or Dennis' saint. Great.
"Harry" Fuller promted.
"Yes?"
"The two of you chatted in Vietnamese?"
"Yes."
"All you have to say is yes? Because I'm still waiting to hear why there was a shot fired."
"He speaks better Vietnamese than I do" I paused catching Fuller's eyes "if you ignore the Northern accent."
Instant suspicion, Paullus just went down several notches in Fuller's estimation.
"What did you talk about?"
I licked my lips this was going to be touchy I wanted to lie as little as possible without revealing that I knew Paullus to be a supernatural being.
"I accused him of belonging to a secret sect known for its brutality."
"So that's what pissed him off" Dennis sounded like he was having a hard time staying awake "then he told you you were full of shit?"
"No, he admitted to being a member he just argued that that didn't make him evil be default."
"Hence the judge a tree by its fruit comment just before he left" Dennis muttered "they must be who's after him because some of them ARE dangerous. That's why he told us to be wary." He half sat up, the hazel eye that wasn't swollen shut boring into me "How did you know? How do you recognize them? How many are there?"
"I have no idea how many there are and I didn't know for certain that he was a member until he admitted it."
"Then what do you know about them?" Fuller took over as Dennis faltered and slumped back.
"Know? As in solid facts? Essentially nothing. If you want legend then they're the greatest evil to ever walk the face of the earth. Demon is the nicest thing the stories call them."
Fuller stared waiting for me to elaborate. I didn't say a word. "Fine. Whose gun went off?"
"Mine" I admitted.
"Why?"
"I had my finger on the trigger instead of the trigger guard."
"Was Paul doing anything that in any way could be construed as threatening?" Fuller asked Judy who shook her head.
"Ioki, do you have any idea how much paperwork this department would have had to fill out if you had actually shot Paul? You are on a desk until you complete a remedial fire arm safety class. Give me your gun."
I was surprised that Dennis was still awake as he silently held it out.
"Your first assignment is to get Mr. Overextended here home and in bed. Then take the rest of the day off to reflect on the wisdom of only pulling a weapon when it is appropriate. Judy why don't you give them a hand getting down to the car?" Dennis sat up slowly looking like he didn't want to move for a week.
"How could I ever say no to such a dashing escort?" she gave him one of her brightest smiles to which he gave no response "Come on tough guy." He got it together and onto his feet. "I'm going to follow them" she announced. Fuller nodded. She shot Penhall and Hanson a glance but Hanson ducked his head pretending not to see. She rolled her eyes but given the war of wills between the two Hanson couldn't notice without making Dennis pay for it later so he ignored us while Penhall trailed behind just in case.
I don't think he was awake for more than thirty seconds of the ride to his place. I pulled in as close as I could get to the door.
"Dennis" not a twitch, "BOOKER" out for the count and entirely too big for me to be hauling up the steep stairs to his apartment. Judy gave him a peck on the cheek and sighed "What can I say, it must not be true love."
"Then there's still hope for the rest of us" I said only half joking.
She smiled "Help me get him out."
I wished it was Penhall instead of Judy since Dennis had a good six inches on her but we got him up the stairs without too much additional damage. He never even stirred. She slipped off his shoes and tucked him into bed. If he'd been the shy type this would be absolute gold for ribbing him later but once he was back on his feet he'd shred me. Hanson might hold his own with Penhall for backup but English wasn't even my first language. Every guy in the Chapel wanted to be tucked in by Judy, figures that when it finally happened the poor sap was unconscious.
"Do you think someone should stay?"
I watched him breath and shook my head "The doctors did a pretty good work up on him. He just needs rest." Judy still seemed uncertain but followed me out waving at me as she slid into her car.
I did my best not to think on the drive home because if I started I'd probably get distracted and rear end someone but once I was in the quiet of my bare, empty apartment there was no ignoring any of it. Oh, I had great stereo equipment but I was alone. Completely, utterly, alone. Back in Vietnam the nguoi gac were respected if I had called Paullus a bất tử quỷ fifty years ago in my grandmother's village every male for miles would but after him with torches. People would have understood, here I would find myself locked up in State's psych ward.
I hadn't been this homesick in years, not even after that case with Loc and the Pai-Gow Boys. I couldn't even walk into Little Saigon any more (not that I ever had). I would never have wished my parents dead but their loss on the beach had given me the opportunity to make what I had hoped was a truly clean break. No ties, no roots, and with my not so little lie about being Harry Ioki instead of Vinh Van Tran not even the stigma of refugee status. Except that it was a lie. I hadn't just sprung into being the day I stole Harry Ioki' social security number I was still Vinh Van Tran no matter how much I tried to forget him. I missed the smell of joss sticks, the little shrines everywhere, but more than anything I missed family, my family.
Grandma Bessie's kids and grandkids had always been polite but once she died they had made it very clear that I wasn't one of them. Man if looks could kill her youngest daughter had murdered me in the street when they found out she'd actually left me an equal share of the (small) inheritance. I took dinner out of the microwave thinking about Van Luy's words about family and food. If I had ever wanted to make a place for myself in the local Vietnamese community being loyal to my job had blown up every bridge except one, the one to my enemies. I'd shot a guy I genuinely liked (despite the fact he was an extortionist) to save my enemy who gave me back the one member of my family who was still alive. It was almost as tangled a knot as my current problem but the bottom line was no one in Little Saigon outside of Van Luy's people would give me the time of day and I risked a knife in my back every time I went down there.
I was overjoyed to be able to write to my Grandmother but I had hoped without even really realizing it for something more, that some cousin, uncle, or aunt had made it out. What I had discovered was that as far as she or I knew we were all that was left, just a couple of shards that were all that was left of a shattered house. I didn't even like to think about how she must have felt, all alone with everyone death or missing. I at least had the hope (though I wasn't doing all that hot a job at making it a reality) of finding a mate and starting a new family in my new land. Every letter I'd gotten included an imploring inquiry into the state of my non-existent love life. I was torn between lying to her to make her feel better and begging for advice. Advice from a woman whose marriage had been completely arranged and who hadn't even seen the groom until the ceremony. I shoved the microwave dinner away. I had a great apartment, more money and things than I ever would have back in Vietnam but wasn't a home. I had good, loyal friends at the Chapel but none of them were ever going to understand this. Dennis especially, it had been stupid of me to ever think we could be partners the way Hanson and Penhall were, we were just too different.
I grabbed some paper because there was something I could ask her advice about. By the time the letter made a round trip hopefully Paullus would be a bad memory, I might not even send it, but writing it all out would help me wrap my head around it. What the hell was I going to do? Because my gut told me that I hadn't seen the last of Paullus….
18