'true desires'
The girl was gone, finally, but Meilin had not turned to look at him yet. She was still staring off into space, twirling that flower lightly between her fingertips. Too anxious to wait any more, Eric left the bar and approached the table.
"Ahem. Meilin?"
"Hai?" she responded vacantly, and Eric gave her a quizzical look.
"Um, hi. Are you… all right?"
She had such a glazed, confused look in her eyes when she finally met his gaze, as if she couldn't quite remember who he was. That frightened him more than anything, and he knelt beside her chair to place his hand over hers.
"Hey, it's me. The loudmouth American, the one that you're keeping alive. Right? I'm the guy that's depending on you."
Please don't say you've changed your mind. Please don't leave me and go back to them. Don't go back to him, Meilin, stay with me. Stay with me.
His words must have reached her, because something in her expression stirred and clicked, and then she was with him again. They were so close, like this, and when she looked at him she allowed a hesitant smile.
"That's more like it. I'm the guy that you can smile with."
And don't you forget it, he mentally threatened everyone else. Men that wanted to kill him, her boyfriend, strange girls from out of nowhere… it seemed everyone in this town was out to get Meilin away from him.
Eric did not feel like sharing.
"So can I ask who that was?"
Some of that distant thoughtfulness returned to her eyes, but Meilin's smile did not fade. Instead, it took on a hint of irony.
"She's my best friend."
"Oh." A pause, and then, "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Did she convince you to go back home?"
Meilin's hand moved under his until she clutched at it securely.
"Nothing could ever convince me to go back home."
A shaky sigh of relief as she squeezed his hand, and then Eric couldn't hold back but rocked forward to envelop her in a tight hug. She was a little taken aback, but Meilin didn't move as he embraced her. Everything had been so tangled lately, so new and confusing. But this she understood. Eric wanted her to stay with him.
She didn't return the hug – that she could not make herself do. But she could sit there, and be held. And that is what she did.
*****
"Oh my," was all Tomoyo had to say when she was done explaining. Sakura rolled her eyes as she sipped her tea. It was so much more fragrant and spicier here than back in Japan. Strong tasting, but good once you got used to it.
"I was hoping you would have something better than that. I called you because I am way in over my head. I need some help here."
"Well, it's a lot of information to take in," her friend replied defensively. "Makes me wish I was there. I would have loved to capture her laughing on tape."
"Me too. It was more than just the laughter though, it was everything. She was smiling so naturally, her expression so relaxed. Even after everything that's happened between her and Syaoran and running away – for just the few minutes that we were talking about him, she seemed so happy."
"That's wonderful."
"I thought so too. Meilin doesn't agree, though."
"She just needs time," Tomoyo declared firmly. "You did too."
Sakura shrugged, forgetting for the moment that such an action could not be seen over the telephone. It didn't matter, Tomoyo knew she was doing it anyway.
"So what's the problem?"
"The problem is that she's still in danger," Sakura reminded her. "Except I don't know why or how. I only know who. I should have brought it up at the restaurant, but somehow I just couldn't bear to. I was afraid it would break her trust, make her run away like she did from Syaoran. I couldn't afford that."
"Good idea," Tomoyo concurred, and Sakura smiled with relief. If Tomoyo agreed, then she had probably done the right thing. But that didn't erase her anxiety. With her free hand she continued to doodle a sketch on her napkin. Already a stick figure with long straight hair stood in the corner, holding hands with a smiling young man.
"That's mostly why I sent Kero-chan away, I think. Even if by some miracle he didn't insult her, he would have insisted on following her afterwards. I wanted to, but I was scared she would spot me. Think how hurt she would have been."
Casually she scribbled a clump of little men with angry scowls and bands across their foreheads, in the upper left corner. They were fighters that could live forever, warriors that could train for decades and still retain bodies in top physical condition. They must be incredibly dangerous.
"You did the right thing, Sakura," Tomoyo soothed. "Don't worry about it so much. What's important is that she was never kidnapped and is all right, for the time being. This cult may be dangerous, but she is a tough girl. She can take care of herself."
"You're right, but still…" How had Meilin ever come to be in their crosshairs in the first place? She drew a little arrow with a question mark from the Dragons to Meilin.
It was all so quick… I never had a chance to look back.
What was so quick?
"Li-kun said she was fighting off four of them when he found her, right? She must be holding her own."
"It's difficult to get a coherent story out of him about last night, to tell the truth. He could hardly say a word without launching into a tirade about how reckless she was being. Then he called someone – I'm still not sure who – and stopped talking about it, period."
That was the second time Li had managed to find Meilin in that crowded city. It couldn't have been a coincidence. He said he was following the sense of that gang, but what about the first time, in Bird Street?
"I wonder if he said the same things to her," Tomoyo mused. "She's very proud of her combat skills. I can see why she would be angry when he interrupted the fight."
"Of course," Sakura whispered. How did Tomoyo always know the right answer for everything?
He's just someone that needs me.
"What did you say?"
"Of course, Meilin is trying to fight them on her own! Because she's needed."
He's desperate to stay by my side; he refuses to leave me.
Sakura drew an arrow from the American to Meilin with the kanji character for 'help'. Things were rapidly falling into place.
"Sakura?"
"I think I got it. She's not fighting them for herself, she's doing it to protect the American. I don't know how they met, but I think the Dragons must be after him, and she's keeping him safe."
"That does make sense. But why are they after him?"
"I don't know exactly, but he's a part of their cult magic. Syaoran and Kero-chan were following his sense when Syaoran saw her in Bird Street. And again last night, although he said it was much stronger. Kero-chan said he felt the same thing a little while ago, right when I saw Meilin with him. And I could feel it too, the whole time I was with her. The Dragons and the American, they feel the same, magically. Perhaps they need him for some ritual that lets them live longer." Sakura wrinkled her nose as she sketched an arrow from the Dragons to the American, with the kanji character for 'sacrifice'. She didn't much care to hear about the practices of dark magic, and most of what she knew stemmed from hearing Yue and Kero talk about sorcerers Clow had fought. The thought of Meilin facing such a group on her own made her skin crawl with trepidation.
"If that's so, then surely this American can fight them."
"I doubt it. Otherwise he wouldn't need Meilin to fight for him. He's no sorcerer, of that I'm sure. I'd bet that he knows less about this than Meilin. Poor guy."
Sakura looked at her little drawing, with arrows connecting Meilin, the American, and the Dragons in a complicated triangle. Then, as an afterthought, she drew Syaoran in the corner. But there were no arrows to draw to him, no way he was really connected to any of this. No wonder he was nursing such a grievance back at the house. If there was anything that he hated, it was being a bystander to someone else's fight.
"She's forcing him," she sighed, and for once Tomoyo didn't follow.
"What?"
"Meilin. She's forcing him to go through what she must have been feeling during that whole mess with the Cards."
"Sounds like it. They're so alike, you know. Both have their pride. Meilin's always been the one to put hers on hold, but this time it's his turn."
"That's it exactly. He's so hurt, and he's worried about her too. He's pretending that it doesn't matter anymore, and he wouldn't even leave the house today. But I know he's affected."
"I think," Tomoyo decided, "that no matter how things turn out, those two are going to have to have a long talk. I hate to say it, Sakura, but I don't think there's much that either of us can do. Not this time. This needs to be worked out between Li and Li."
"I think you're right. I just hope that we get to a point where that can actually happen." Sakura drained the last of her tea with a frustrated gulp. The way things were going, they'd be lucky to ever have Meilin and Syaoran in the same country again, let alone room.
But, as Tomoyo pointed out, there wasn't anything she could do about that. Sometimes these things just had to be worked out without the assistance of the Card Mistress.
"It's getting dark, Kero-chan might be worried. I should probably get back to the house."
"Any thoughts on how long it will be before you're back?"
"Not really. If Meilin doesn't want to come back, then I certainly can't make her. Either way, I should be back in plenty of time for the first day of school. How about your homework project?"
"In the final wrap-up. If you're not here by the end of the weekend, I'll be there."
"You really don't have to, Tomoyo. I don't think you could change her mind."
"I wouldn't try," Tomoyo responded immediately. "If you ask me, I think this is exactly what she needs. But I wouldn't mind just seeing her. If for no other reason than to meet this infamous American."
Sakura laughed at that, and dropped some change by her empty teacup.
"All right, then. I guess only time will tell. I'll see you in a few days, hopefully."
"Ja ne."
"Ja ne." Sakura hung up, stuffed the napkin into her pocket, and started walking. Unlike the night before, it was a beautiful twilight evening in Hong Kong, with the sky turning a rich velvet blue above the city lights. The moon rose like a silver bubble over the oily calm water, and abruptly Sakura stopped walking.
She'd been a sorceress too long, been working with Yue too long, to not be attuned to the phases of the moon overhead. Through him she could feel the waxing and waning power it brought with its various stages of visibility. The moon affected so much of life on earth, from ocean tides to sex drives, and magic the world over throbbed to its pulse.
And tonight the moon was full.
I don't know about last night, but night before last I'm sure it was full. I remember looking at it before trying that fortune-telling with the Cards. If Meilin disappeared just two nights before the first of the full moons, and tonight is the last, then what does that mean?
It was nothing more than a hunch, but Sakura was already pulling out her phone. Kero-chan had told her long ago that her instincts were keen when the world of magic was concerned. And Sakura had seen her hunches come true too often to ignore this. This last full moon meant danger.
"Kerberos here!"
"Kero-chan, quick, where's Syaoran?"
"I dunno. Hey, how come you're not home yet? You didn't go out to dinner, did you?"
"Forget about that! I need to talk to him, right now. Could you find him for me, please?"
"Well…"
"Kero-chan! This is important!"
"Hai, hai," he sighed dramatically, and after a few moments she heard his grunt as he hefted the phone and started flying. "Kid! Hey, kid, where are you?"
"Try the roof," she suggested, and after another several seconds of silence Kero shouted again.
"Hey kid! Sakura's on the phone!"
"Tell her I don't feel like talking." Sakura could hear him clearly, and stamped her foot in annoyance.
"Kero-chan, give him the phone!"
"She says it's important."
"I don't care."
"SYAORAN!" Sakura screamed as loud as she could, and had the satisfaction of feeling his aura flinch. The people around her on the sidewalk gave her startled looks, but she hardly had the time to worry about them.
"What?" he finally snapped into the mouthpiece.
"It's a full moon tonight."
"Yeah, so?"
"So, Meilin first ran off a couple nights before the first full moon. I think the Dragons need to perform a ritual using the American, and tonight is probably their last chance."
"What?" both he and Kero said at the same time, and Sakura gave a tiny groan. There was no time to explain everything now, that sense of foreboding was growing more insistent.
"Never mind, I'll explain later. I think I know why Meilin is fighting these guys. But she doesn't know that tonight's their last chance. You said you found them downtown before following them, where was that?"
"Last chance?" Syaoran repeated uneasily, before shaking his head slightly. "It doesn't matter, Sakura, I told you before. It's over with me and Meilin, she said she doesn't want my help. I'm not a part of this, why should I get involved where I'm not wanted?"
"Syaoran! Would you shut up and get over it? This is your cousin we're talking about, and no matter what you say, I know you love her. I know you don't want to see her hurt. I know I don't want to see her hurt. So please." She took a deep breath and mustered every ounce of persuasiveness that she could.
"Please, get down here and meet me. She might need us. Are you really going to sit by when she's in danger? After all she tried to do for you when capturing the Cards? Are you really going to turn away from her?"
There was no reply.
"Syaoran?"
*****
They walked back in silence. The moon had barely begun to rise, but it was obvious that Meilin wasn't in the mood for any wandering tonight, no gymnastics or chatting over ice cream. So he stuffed his hands into his pockets and trailed her across the marble floor of the hotel lobby, stopping just shy of her in front of the elevator.
And there she stood, in front of him, smelling so good and looking just so damn beautiful. Those wonderfully long legs, that svelte waist, her toned and supple arms. The way she walked, and held herself, unconsciously declaring her agility and physical prowess. That silky black curtain of hair, how it swished with her movement and practically shone with the reflection of lights above. And most of all, her face. So young but wise, experienced but naïve, determined but simultaneously unsure. How could anyone not want her? How was he supposed to keep himself in check, even after what happened that morning?
Especially after what happened this morning. Maybe she wasn't ready, maybe she pushed me away, but it doesn't have to be like that forever. She liked that first kiss. There could still be a chance for us, if I try again.
Inside, the elevator was far too small for Meilin's liking. Keeping her eyes steadfastly on the buttons, she didn't look up or even twitch when Eric reached to brush some of her hair back from her shoulder.
"You look really pretty tonight."
She closed her eyes, part of her loving it and part of her wishing she couldn't hear him. The alternating emotions of fear and wanting took her breath away, even faster than the time he'd blurted out that he thought she had a nice voice.
It was becoming harder and harder to resist.
Eric did not miss the way her fists clenched ever so slightly, as if she was struggling to contain herself.
"Do you really have to keep holding back like this?" he murmured. In front of them, the doors slid open with a soft sigh.
"Always." She escaped into the hallway before he could say anything, and he had to hurry to catch up with her long strides.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means, please stop. I can't take much more of this!"
The barely noticeable crack in her voice prompted him to turn and walk backwards, never breaking his gaze. She kept her eyes on the floor.
"Oh, I'm sorry, am I making you uncomfortable?"
"Yes. Again."
"Great! That means you feel something, at least." She gave an indignant gasp as they reached their room, but Eric made no move to unlock the door. "This denial isn't healthy, Meilin."
"You too, ne? All of a sudden, everybody's convinced they know how I feel. Doesn't anybody care about my opinion? What about me?"
"I care," Eric assured her. "I care a lot. That's the point. Why can't you just sit back and admit that you care too?"
Meilin stared at him for a long moment, fighting to maintain control.
"I," she said slowly, deliberately, "love… someone… else."
Eric bit his lip and straightened.
"You keep saying that. I'm not so sure."
"What?"
"You left him, Meilin. You turned around, and you chose to come with me last night. Not him. You insist that you love him…" He gestured towards her, then placed his hands over his chest. "But, you're here. With me."
She was taking a step back now, shaking her head, trying not to hear.
"Tell me that doesn't mean something!"
"Stop it! Stop trying to tell me what's in my head! I love him! It's the one true thing I've known all my life and I won't let anyone dismiss it just because he doesn't love me back!"
Eric inhaled sharply, and she clapped a hand over her mouth. She hadn't meant to scream it out loud like that. But it was too late now, the damage had been done.
"He doesn't love you back?" Eric repeated, slowly and carefully. He could hardly believe it, though it really should have been obvious, but still…
She gave a slow nod, expression pained.
"He doesn't love you back. You're still trying to stay faithful to him, and he doesn't love you back."
She winced at the blunt words, but did not reply. Eric took her silence for agreement.
"Oh my god," was all he could say at first. "Oh my god. You really are in love with pain. No wonder you try so hard to be miserable all the time, no wonder you can't even deal with a stupid compliment! You're too used to being neglected to handle so much as a kiss!"
"So what if I am?" she stormed. "Maybe I don't need anyone to hold my hand and tell me I'm pretty. Maybe I'm past that now. I'm a fighter, I can take care of myself!"
"That doesn't mean you have to be alone," he shot back.
"I am always alone."
The frozen hatred in her voice actually made him flinch, and unconsciously he pulled away. Her face was masklike, she was so still, but her voice was choked with emotion.
"I didn't want to admit it when I was younger but I know it now. It doesn't matter what you say, it doesn't matter what you promise. It's never real, it's never true. You found the bird, you brought her back for me, but it doesn't mean anything. Nobody loves me, nobody even really cares. Everybody goes. They all leave me."
The dizzying pace of her words left Eric stupefied and at a loss, staring at her.
"You will too."
She let the horrible quiet hang between them for another heartbeat before snatching the key card from his hand and swiping it at the lock. Still standing dumbly in the hallway, he tried to speak too late.
"Wait, Meilin, I -"
The door slammed in his face, and he heard the click of the lock on the other side. Eric was stranded, and timidly he rapped on the wooden surface.
"Meilin? Meilin, open up."
No response.
"Come on, you can't just lock me out all night. We- we have to talk about this. I know you're upset, and you're scared, but you can't ignore the truth. Maybe you loved him once, but not anymore. You did choose to stay with me, for whatever reason. And I just want you know that I'm glad that you did. You mean something to me."
Still no answer, and he sighed in an exaggerated way.
"Fine. I'll be downstairs in the bar when you're ready to talk. Could I just -"
The door opened a crack, and his pack of cigarettes plunked squarely off his forehead.
"Thanks."
There was no reply as the bolt slid home again, leaving him alone in the hallway.
*****
As the sky grew a richer, darker blue outside, the lounge bar had begun to fill. A few European sightseers, but mostly local Chinese, had gathered around tables. No longer was it the starkly empty and private room that it had been that morning. One American tourist with Pacific blue eyes and sun-bleached hair found himself a seat near the end of the bar, ignoring the others. Instead he motioned in a resigned way for the bartender, and opened his pack.
Just two left. He'd have to get another tonight. Out of habit he stuck the spare in his shirt pocket, and held up the other for the bartender to light. But it wasn't until he'd exhaled the first cloud of smoke that he realized he hadn't had to buy a new pack since he met Meilin. He must have been smoking less each day without realizing it.
That does it, he thought, and reached for the phone, still sitting where he and Meilin had left it that morning. Once again he dialed his calling card number from memory, but this time he wasn't calling his father.
Ring… ring…
Eric took the offered Scotch and sipped it, waiting patiently. Finally, after the fifth ring, someone picked up.
"Hello?" slurred a groggy voice.
"Hey Todd, it's me."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line as Eric inhaled again, waiting for his best friend to wake up.
"Eric? Jesus Christ, do you know what time it is?"
"I didn't feel like doing the math. It's not like you've got class in the morning or anything, so wake up. I gotta talk to you."
"Where the hell are you?"
"Hong Kong, remember?"
"Oh yeah." Todd yawned loudly into the mouthpiece, and Eric could hear the sheets rustling as he sat up. "Still? What are you doing over there, anyway? Don't you know Jessica's been coming by, like, every day? She's been trying to find you since Saturday."
It said a lot for the week's frantic activities that Eric had no idea who Todd was talking about.
"Who? Oh, Jessica, right." He took another leisurely drag. "How's she doing?"
"Who?" Todd repeated in disbelief, now fully awake. "Is this Eric speaking? The pathetic and sloshed mess that was sleeping on the frat house couch for three days and skipping class because his teacher slept with his girlfriend?"
"The one and only."
"Jessica's been going nuts, man, you should see it. She keeps calling for you and crying all over the place, going on about how she's sorry and she made a mistake. I think she wants to give it another chance."
"That's nice. But I'm sure she and Professor McBoring can make things work if they just give it the ol' college try. Tell her I said that."
"What the- are you drunk?"
"I'm on my first," Eric assured him, and smirked as Todd groaned out loud.
"You've met someone, haven't you?"
The pale smoke streamed out as he exhaled, then drifted in an insubstantial mist upwards before dissipating.
"Have I ever."
"Another tourist?"
"Nope. Local girl."
"You hooked up with a Chinese girl for your rebound?"
"She's not a rebound," Eric automatically denied.
"Right," Todd drawled.
"Really, she's not. I haven't even slept with her- well, we slept together, but…" Eric trailed off as he remembered their session in bed that morning, and sighed. "Well, anyway, she's just sixteen."
"Sixteen! Congratulations!"
"Shut up. I really like this girl, Todd, I mean it. She's special."
"Of course she is."
"I'm not kidding," Eric added sharply, and swallowed a rather large mouthful of Scotch. Normally he stuck to beer, but he really felt in need of something stronger tonight. "Things have been… undeniably strange since I got here. Sometimes I feel like I fell through the rabbit hole and all I want to do is get home. But then I look at her and I think, 'hey, things'll be all right. I'm okay as long I'm with her.' She is… indescribable. Amazing."
"Rebound."
"I thought so too," Eric pleaded. "That's exactly what I thought the first night. But this is different than rebound. I've done the rebound thing before. This is something more than that."
Todd was silent for a moment as he took another drag on his cigarette.
"Eric, do you think you love this girl?"
Once again the exhaled smoke gathered itself into a small cloud before floating up toward the ceiling. I couldn't say it upstairs, the young American was thinking. It was too fast, too quick, she took me by surprise. But when she declared that I would leave her, that I would do what everyone else has done to her for her entire life, I knew the answer. There's no way I could leave her. Not ever.
"Yeah. I think I do."
There was a long sigh on the other end of the line, and Eric knew from experience that Todd was pinching the bridge of his nose out of frustration.
"Eric, it is way too late in the night to be having this conversation, but I'll humor you. You left L.A. in a somewhat emotionally unstable condition. If I know you, then you promptly got smashed as soon as you landed in Hong Kong. However you ended up meeting this chick, I promise you that you were not rational and unbiased at the time."
"I agree wholeheartedly," Eric declared with a straight face. "But that doesn't change things. She's so different than anyone else I've ever met. She makes me feel different. We're complete opposites, but – but we complement each other."
"You're starting to sound like a bad eighties song."
"What can I say? I'm in love."
"Stop saying that, Eric. You are not in love, you just think you're in love. I know you, man, I know how you hate to be alone. If she hadn't come along, you would have just picked up the next girl."
"If she hadn't come along, I'd probably be dead," Eric commented wryly.
"What?"
"Nothing. It's complicated. I have had a week that you would not believe."
"Then I probably don't want to hear about it. But you've got to wake up over there, Eric. Snap out of whatever vacation-induced fantasy you've got going and look at the facts. This chick, she lives there. You live here, and school starts in four days. You know you have to come home. And Jessica, she's here. She told me she's sorry and she wants you back. Didn't you tell me you were thinking about proposing to her? This is a serious relationship you've got here."
"And what I have with Meilin isn't?"
"Hey, calm down. I'm sure she's a bundle of joy." Eric almost choked on his drink with laughter, but managed to smother it in time. "But she's a teenager. Living on the other side of the ocean, for crying out loud. What on earth would make you think that something like this could work?"
Eric had no answer for that, and could only stub out his cigarette with a little more vigor than was necessary.
"Nothing," he finally admitted. Todd was right. There was no logic, no relationship wisdom, nothing to give any indication he had a future with Meilin.
But today I learned there was such a thing as magic. There is more to life than rational analysis. Can't it work just because… it feels like it should?
"Eric? Hello?"
"Sorry, what?"
"I said, you're going to have to break it off. I mean, you really don't have a choice. This is something that just can't happen."
Choice. That most precious of rights for a libertarian. Hadn't he said as much to Meilin the night before?
"You're wrong, Todd."
"Come again?"
"There's always a choice. I know it might be stupid, but I have to try. She deserves to know, at least.
I have to tell her I love her."
*****
Meilin listened to the sound of his fading footsteps, then sniffled. But she was not going to cry, not again, not after the flood this morning and last night. She was all cried out, there were no more tears. She hadn't cried this much in years.
Instead she perched on the edge of the bed and hugged her knees to her chest, tucking her face down in the dark crevasse for privacy. Privacy from whom, she wasn't really sure. Maybe the mirror in the bathroom, taunting her with the truth. Meilin didn't want to see the truth, it had never held anything but pain for her before. And this time it was even scarier than the last.
She was scared he might be right. She was scared that maybe she didn't love Syaoran anymore, not like how she thought she did. And she was scared of Eric. This stranger, this smiling blonde foreigner who had unwittingly given her the things she'd craved for a lifetime. Respect. Admiration. Friendship. Smiles. Laughter.
She wanted him, and that scared her more than anything. She had been down this path before. Wanting only led to pain. And since she was scared of the pain, possibly even worse than last time, she buried her face and trembled.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't even hear his return, but cringed at the feel of his arms encircling her.
"Eric, don't -"
"My turn," Jing Kun whispered into her ear, and with a yelp she was dragged off the bed to hit the floor. Thrown violently from her inner conflict to one far more dangerous, Meilin reacted too late and tried to kick. But Jing Kun had the tactical advantage of surprise. She had no chance to struggle free of his grip before he rolled once across the floor, under the cover of the bed. This time, she was the one pinned, and he braced his forearms against hers, shins digging into her splayed legs just below the knee.
It was as effective as any aikido hold, and Meilin squirmed under his weight with no success. It was so dark under here, so stuffy and close. His hot breath was right on her face, he was so close, the pounding of his adrenaline-heightened blood hot against her skin. It was so dark… so close…
She whimpered as she felt her chest constricting, her breath growing ragged.
"Get- get off," she panted. "Stop it! Get away!"
His face split into a delighted grin, the teeth unnaturally white in the darkness.
"Not fond of enclosed spaces, are you? I had a feeling that was the case. I've seen fighters like you before, you know. You're like birds fighting in mid-air, need your space to move around in. I'm actually not too keen on them myself, but I can tolerate it. If I'm in control."
He lowered his head and brushed his nose up the side of her face, toward her hair, inhaling deeply. She whimpered again and tried to jerk her head away, but her limited range of movement left her totally at his mercy – at least, for the moment.
"Please," she rasped, mortified that he'd reduced her to this so quickly. But she couldn't fight him, not trapped like this. Frustration welled up in her throat and she knew she should scream, cry out for someone to help. But there was no one to hear, no one that could save her from someone like this. She was on her own.
Finally she quieted, lying still as she tried to control her breathing, head turned determinedly to one side so she would not have to face him.
"That's more like it. There's no point in struggling; I'm not going to hurt you."
The sharp pain of his forearms digging into hers was making her eyes water, but she said nothing.
"I had to see you again tonight, I had to speak with you. You are so fascinating; I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since you pinned me three nights ago. I know you've been thinking about it too – wasn't that an amazing moment? Couldn't you just feel the chemistry?"
She didn't answer, but closed her eyes as the traitorous memory flashed through her mind. Yes, she remembered. The triumph in gaining the upper hand, and the fear, and adrenaline, and most of all the way he had looked at her. A look not dissimilar from the ones Eric had been giving her lately, but less kind, more demanding. Frightening.
"You gave me the most exciting fight I've had in ninety-seven years," he murmured dreamily into her ear. "And here I thought I'd never have a challenge again. I've been doing this longer than any of the others, you know, I'm the oldest. They all stop when they get bored, eventually everyone quits. I was getting there when I met you. You made it fun again."
There was a warm wetness on her earlobe and she jerked her head upwards, trying to bang into his mouth. He was too quick for her, though, and avoided her easily with a low chuckle.
"You've got spirit all right, firecracker. You'd have to, to fight us off. I can't believe how long you lasted. Of course, you lose tonight. This time he has to go back with me."
Eric.
"If you hurt him I'll kill you," she snarled, turning to face him. Her vision was adjusting, and she could see the superior smirk in his black eyes. "I will."
"Ooh, protective. You haven't left his side until tonight; I'm impressed. What a hold on you he must have, to convince you to leave your family for him."
She stiffened in automatic denial, but there was a smug knowing in his eyes as his gaze traveled downwards, down to her neck.
"I see he's already made his mark on you. Did it hurt? Did you like it?" He lowered his head, and she gritted her teeth as he placed his lips over the slight bruise Eric had left there that morning.
At first he sucked gently, but increased the pressure quickly, pressing his teeth into her flesh and humming with pleasure. She whimpered, she struggled, but he was simply too heavy. After what seemed forever he pulled away, licking his lips in delight.
"Damn, you taste good. No wonder he can't take his eyes off you. The poor kid is absolutely smitten." His expression turned fiercely hopeful, taking her by surprise.
"He's not for you, Meilin. You're like me, you're a fighter. People like him don't measure up to warriors like us. We're the ones that should be together. You could become one of us."
Meilin was almost shocked out of her claustrophobia. This was the last thing she'd expected.
"What?"
"You're one of the best fighters I've ever met, you could become one of the Dragons. You could live forever if you wanted, become an unstoppable fighter. Respect, fear, power… it'll be yours."
She wasn't even resisting him anymore, and he traced his lips across her cheek. Mesmerized, Meilin felt their movement against her own lips.
"Have you ever wanted to be powerful, Meilin? Ever wanted to be magic?"
She closed her eyes, and for the longest moment of her life, she thought. She thought about her failed test, and her parents' screaming anger. She thought about being ignored and cast aside, being useless and expendable. For so much of her lifetime she had dwelled on it, fixated upon it as the one thing that stood between her and happiness. The magic was everything she'd ever wanted.
But the price was Eric. And that was a cost she would never pay.
"It's not true power," she finally said, dully. "It's not real magic. You're stealing the life-force of others to keep yourself alive; you have to take from one and give it to another. You are nothing but a thief. And I will not become you."
Almost frightened at the sureness of her words, she watched his eyes darken and narrow with annoyance. He was silent for a moment after she finished.
"Okay," he finally sighed. "Guess I should go get him then."
Immediately she renewed her struggles, but she was losing feeling in her arms and legs.
"Uh-uh, shh. Relax. We're all gonna die if we don't get his blood tonight. I have to. You can't stop me."
"I won't let you!"
"You can't do anything about it," he said practically, and watched the panic surge in her eyes. "Oh, don't be sad. This is for the best. Once he's gone, I'll have you all to myself."
There was that superior tone again, and Meilin tensed.
"What are you talking about?"
"The others, they always split up and take off again once we've eaten. But not me – I can't leave it like this. I want you too much."
From the first moment of attack, Meilin thought there was something that smelled strange about Jing Kun. The odor had bothered her, but concerned with escaping his hold, she had no time to wonder at it. Now he was moving slightly on top of her, reaching to pull something out of his left sleeve.
"I'm here alone, and I can't get you both back to the ritual site. So I have to leave you here. I'll take him, and I'll kill him, and you'll be too late to do anything about it. But you will be determined to punish me for what I did, so we'll fight."
He smacked his lips in anticipation.
"And we'll finally get a good fight, with no audience. It'll be fantastic. And when I win – and I will – I'll take you. It'll be just like our fighting: hard, fast, and brutal."
Meilin burned with humiliation as he slowly and deliberately licked her face.
"Mmm. I can't wait. And now I think I really should get going. The blood has to be spilled by moonset. Don't hold your breath now."
The object he had pulled from his sleeve was a small white cloth, pungent with some chemical. Meilin squealed and tried to turn her head when he reached to cover her mouth with it.
"Come on, firecracker, don't be naughty. We both know you can't escape this. Time to say goodnight."
His eyes shone with glee as she struggled to keep clear, but it was of no avail. Snarling his fingers into her thick black hair with his left hand, he held her still and pressed the cloth over her nose and mouth.
It's the struggle he likes most, she thought drowsily, watching him lick his lips. That's what he's after. He wants me because I challenge him, because I'm a fighter.
Eric.
He's going to kill him, and I can't do anything to stop him. I can't escape this. Jing Kun has won.
His smirk was fading in and out of her vision now, as her eyelids fluttered shut.
No. I made a promise to Eric. I have to stop him, I have to get out of this. But I can't… He planned this too well, he has me exactly where he wants me. I can't do anything like this. I always was useless…
Meilin's thoughts were starting to scatter; it was becoming an effort to think clearly. Desperately she tried to will her mind away from shutting down.
I can't do anything like this. Nothing but the one thing Jing Kun would never expect. I could pretend to stop fighting. I could give up.
Almost as soon as the idea came, she could feel her muscles relaxing, her body releasing the tension. Her eyes closed, she let her head drop to the side with her expression calm and peaceful. It was barely an act; she'd inhaled so much of the ether compound that most of her senses had already fled. Through a dim fog she heard him chuckle.
"That's better. Nice and easy, no pain. Though that's more than I can say for later. So rest up, Sleeping Beauty. You'll need your strength."
Meilin was vaguely aware that the pressure on her arms was gone now, and fingers were stroking her face, holding her still. Only the drug coursing through her blood and long hours of meditation kept her compliantly still during what happened next.
Holding her firmly by her chin, Jing Kun parted her lips with his fingers and plunged his tongue into her mouth. Deeply, lovingly, and invasively he explored her, until she was sure she would suffocate from lack of air.
It was the last sensation she felt before passing out completely.
**
After Eric had finished talking to Todd, he sat quietly, taking his time to finish off his Scotch. Meilin was upstairs, probably still upset, and he wanted her to have a chance to cool off before approaching her.
Maybe he shouldn't tell her. Maybe it would just scare her more. But no. She was convinced that nobody in this world loved her, and that wasn't right. She had to at least know the truth about how he felt.
He nodded to himself and stood up, then remembered that he needed to buy more cigarettes. With a little pantomiming, and broken Chinese and English on both sides, he managed to learn from the bartender that there was a vending machine in the back hallway behind the lobby. After leaving a generous tip, he found the right door, and the empty white hallway beyond it. Here the walls were cracked and stained with moisture, the floor bare wood instead of carpet. A couple geckos disappeared into crevasses as he shuffled past, and the humidity and smell of soap in the air told him that this was just a service corridor. The hotel's laundry facilities were probably around the corner.
But the cigarette machine was right here, and that was all he was concerned about. Carefully he picked out the right coins and fed them in, then punched one of the buttons. Gears clicked and whirred, and the pack dropped with a satisfying thump into the tray. With a grunt of satisfaction Eric leaned forward.
"Those are so bad for you," someone lectured, and he didn't even have a chance to flinch before a hand gripped his and twisted his wrist, driving him with a smack into the wall behind him.
It didn't particularly hurt, but Eric was so startled that he yelped. Then his eyes met Jing Kun's, and he stiffened.
"You got lazy, gwei lo. Splitting up…" He shook his head and clucked his tongue disapprovingly. "Very careless. She should have known better, but she can't do anything about it now. You're mine."
Eric didn't move, but clenched his fists at his sides. Fear was charging through his bloodstream, but he would not give in without a fight no matter how hopeless it was.
"Where's Meilin?"
"You really don't have the luxury of worrying about her right now, you know. You have your own problems to deal with."
"Did you hurt her?" Eric demanded anyway, anxiety for her swamping his other fear.
Please don't let her be dead, he mentally begged. Please, please, please…
"Relax. She's just sleeping, she's fine. You won't be seeing her again, though."
Eric snapped and, without thought of how he could hope to win, pushed himself away from the wall with his fist flying. Jing Kun just laughed as he slid to the side, grabbing Eric's arm and twisting it behind his back to pin him against the opposite wall. Eric hit the plaster dead-on, and winced at the shock of pain in his mouth. Taking advantage of the momentary stun, his attacker planted a foot behind his and tripped him gently down onto his back.
"You've got guts," Jing Kun praised, "I'll give you that." Then he frowned in concern when he saw the thin line of blood welling up on Eric's lower lip. "Uh-oh, look at that."
Casually he wiped up the blood with his index finger and tasted it.
"Mm, delicious. But we can't have you spilling blood all over the place, you'll waste it."
Repulsed, Eric tried to wriggle free. But the Chinese warrior had his arm twisted at some weird angle above his head, and only exerted a slight pressure on his hand to make Eric yelp again.
"I spent a little longer talking to her than I planned to, so we're in kind of a hurry. Do me a favor and don't waste anymore time all right?
We've got a ritual to perform."
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Disclaimer: I do not own these characters