Hi again! I feel like saying that I own nothing.

By the way, have you noticed that Wesley Rank (or whatever his name was) really resembles Gilderoy Lockhart from Harry Potter? Not only the looks, but especially the attitude!

NI TANG

Chapter 28

Tso Lan watched as Bai Tsa and Hsi Wu placed yellow candles all over the room and nodded. It had been pretty difficult to locate the portal, Shendu was the only one who knew where it was. They had left the dragon behind and been forced to find it on their own.

Then again, it hadn't been too difficult, since Tso, who was the most sensitive one of them, had soon sensed where was a great magical charge.

When Shendu and the Dark Hand had opened Tchang Zu's portal there had been a nice fake door just where the portal was. Of course the door had been taken away in this time and they had placed some boxes on the right spot so that the Pan Ku box had something solid to hit.

The group of demons and Jade had got in pretty easily. Bai Tsa had made one of her best shows on the gates and Tso Lan had finished it all with few spells. Most of the demons couldn't trick the eye that well, only Tso, Bai and Po.

The moon demon had seen some trouble to get rid of all the humans who might disturb them, but now when they were finally alone things started to look pretty good.

Now all they had to do was to finish the spell which would open the portal. Because Tchang Zu was the oldest and strongest one of them it required more work, but they had no other option.


Jackie frowned letting his gaze go through the room filled with clothes and scenery. He had stretched all of his senses and was ready to turn around and attack from the slightest distraction.

"Relax," Uncle told him while making his last research and reading a book he didn't want to give up.

"How could I? This place is full of demons and I have the chance to save Jade," Jackie snapped turning to face the old man.

Uncle whacked him with his fingers.

"Quiet! You want everyone know we are here, hm?" he asked much louder than Jackie.

Before leaving here Jackie had asked Black to make sure they would be let in at the studios, where "normal" people weren't usually allowed. He remembered how he had last time got in with Jade's help and it made him sigh.

Who knew what the demons had done to her? She had to be terrified.

But it would end now, all the demons would be banished back to the Netherworld and they could finally forget this all. Of course there would be a problem if all of the free demons weren't here, but in that case too they would have all the cards.

If - when - they won here the Pan Ku box would be on the good side again and after that it was no use for anyone to even think about releasing the demons. The box would be locked up in Section 13 and security would be taken care of so that no one could get in or out. Not even Jade.

Po Kong walked behind them sulking and carrying a box of chi ingredients. She was in a really bad mood, her whole family was walking into a trap and she could do nothing about it!

Luckily everyone else was so excited and caught up in the situation that they noticed nothing strange in her. Or even if they did they thought she was just nervous and didn't say anything.

If the situation got really bad she would be forced to give up her disguise and all her hopes of charming the enemy. It was a sad truth, but Po wasn't stupid and understood what was important right now.

Tohru glanced at her at times, but he was too busy to say anything to the demon. For some reason she fascinated him and it made the Japanese man nervous. It felt like there was something much more in the woman.

"What if the demons are there already?" Jackie asked Uncle. The old man read a line from his book before answering.

"Uncle has prepared for everything. We have a spell for the thunder demon too and if you and Hak Foo distract them long enough we others will cast the spells," he said and Jackie glanced at the warrior walking beside him.

Hak Foo was very quiet. He had decided to kill Shendu here and finally clean his honour, but Jackie wasn't sure if it would ever happen. Uncle wanted to banish all of the demons back and he wouldn't give Hak a chance to kill the fire demon.

When they were almost at the portal Uncle stopped them all, slitting his eyes.

"What is it, Uncle?" Jackie dared to ask. The old man shook his head, Jackie was still too young to understand. He himself could sense something very important would soon happen and to his dismay he couldn't sayifwas it a good or a bad thing.

And that made him so careful.


"We are ready to counter the spell sealing the portal," Bai Tsa said to Tso Lan, who nodded. The moon demon gestured his siblings to gather behind him and grab each other's hands. Then Tso closed his eyes and stepped away from the rest, lowering his head.

Ni Tang felt Hsi Wu's clawed hand in his own, they had all given up their human forms to be ready to greet Tchang Zu. The fact that Shendu and Xiao Fung were gone could anger the mighty thunder demon, but neither of the missing brothers was important so it was probably all right.

The air seemed to shudder around them and like others he kept his gazeon the moon demon. Ni swallowed, he felt as if something was rising inside uphim and he couldn't say what was happening.

Tso Lan raised all of his four arms high above and suddenly all the candles in the room were lit. He stood like a statue in that position until he opened his eyes and said the first word.

"Huang."

The moon demon's voice wasn't any louder than a whisper, but still it seemed to echo in every corner of the room. Ni Tang flinched when his brother's voice seemed to cut through him. He glanced at his siblings to see if they found this just as unpleasant as him.

But it wasn't like that, Hsi and Bai stared at their brother as if they were in a trance and both seemed to enjoy it. Ni frownedin worry every time a new cold flash went through him, why was he so different?

Tso Lan's next word hit him and made him let go of Hsi's hand. The sky demon glanced at him in surprise and grabbed Ni's hand again, they couldn't ruin the spell now. Ni knew he shouldn't give up to this weird feeling inside him, but he so wanted to fell on the floor and just lay there until it was over.

Until everything would be fine again.

The flame of the candles turned from red into green and rose high above almost touching the ceiling as a spiral. No one in the room felt the heat on their skin, the flames seemed to be cold.

Tso Lan raised his voice and continued his simple chanting while the flames grew bigger and Ni Tang didn't think he had ever felt this horrible.

From the corner of his eyes he saw how a group of humans rushed into the room, but didn't pay it any attention. The flames made everything look surrealistic and green and he felt like he was drowning somewhere in his own misery. And he couldn't care less even if someone was bothering them.

"Jade!" Jackie shouted and the girl, who had been watching all this in awe, turned towards his voice. Her face brightened when she recognised her uncle and she rushed to him with the Pan Ku box.

Hsi Wu was about to left the others to go after her, but Bai Tsa grabbed his hand tightly stopping him.

"Control yourself, fool. When Tchang Zu is with us again you can have your slave," she hissed angrily and Hsi Wu forced himself to calm down. He wouldn't let those humans take Jade from him, not even if he had to give up everything else.

"Are you all right?" Jackie asked wrapping his arms around Jade and the girl buried her face in his shirt.

"I'm fine," the girl muttered happily and then struggled free, she didn't like being this emotional. Jackie smiled in relief, Jade's eyes twinkled just as brightly as before and the time with the demons didn't seem to have affected her at all.

"What are the demons doing?" he asked in confusion, this all looked pretty amazing, but he didn't see any sense in it. Jade opened her mouth to answer, but Uncle was quicker.

"They are overdoing the spell I cast on the portal! When they are finished they can open the portal again!" he hurried and Jade showed him the Pan Ku box.

"Don't worry, I have the box," she said.

Tso Lan clapped his hands together making everything flash in green and blinding everyone for a while. When they could see again the flames were gone and everything was like nothing had happened.

"The portal can be opened now," Po said and no one could say from her voice what she thought about it. Hak Foo frowned.

"Shendu, Xiao Fung and Po Kong are not here," he noted and made others notice that three demons were missing too.

"Where could they be?" Jackie wondered and Uncle whacked him.

"It doesn't matter! We have enough work with these!" he snapped and drew a lotus flower from the box he had been carrying.

"Tso Lan is the oldest and so on strongest of these demons. Uncle banishes him first," he said and drew a deep breath before starting the spell.

Jackie and Hak Foo glanced at each other, even though Shendu wasn't here the Black Tiger would help them in the fight and right now they had to distract the demons as much as possible. Jackie pushed Jade to the nearest person, Po.

"Take care of her!" he shouted before running away. He didn't have to tell that to Po, reopening the portal of Tso Lan was pretty much impossible and she was not going to let anyone to banish the moon demon back.

She dropped the boxes she had been carrying and the items scattered on the floor. Jade, who had been too happy to see her relatives realised the mountain demon was with them and yelped in surprise when Po grabbed her shoulder.

"Give up the spell or the girl is gone!" Po threatened loudly and Uncle turned to face her in surprise. Usually the old man wouldn't have let himself be distracted, but now he was too shocked because of the betrayal and could only stare and close and open his mouth.

"You... you..." he stuttered totally off guard and Po grinned.

"Yes. I guess you all know now where the mountain demon is," she saidbeing pleased with herself and looked at the struggling Jade.

"Tohru! Take the box!" the girl shouted throwing the Pan Ku box to the Japanese man, who caught it dropping everything else he had in his hands. Uncle drew a deep breath in shock.

"Uncle's books!" he exclaimed and bent down to check if they were all right. Po Kong glared at Tohru, who held the box in his hands looking like he had no idea what to do with it.

"Give it to me now, will you?" the mountain demon asked way too friendly.


The spell was now finished and all they needed to free Tchang Zu was the Pan Ku box. Tso Lan shook his head to clear his thoughts, casting the spell had got him pretty confused and he couldn't afford it now.

Jackie and Hak Foo eyed the group of demons. Tso Lan in his long robe and Bai Tsa with no legs didn't look like good fighters, but Hsi Wu and Ni Tang could cause problems.

"I'll take the winged one, you can have the one with the mask," Hak Foo said and before Jackie managed to protest the warrior was moving and already near Hsi Wu.

The sky demon eyed the human in suspicion and slit his red eyes. Right now all he wanted was to make sure he wouldn't lose Jade, but the girl seemed to be safe with Po Kong. Besides, he could have some fun too.

He spread his wings and hit the air. This room wasn't the best place to fly, but he wasn't totally helpless. And he didn't even have to really fly, all he needed was some speed.

Hak Foo quickly dodged when the growling demon rushed at him claws looking pretty dangerous and he immediately stood up.

"Angry panther slashes!"

Jackie saw that Hak Foo was somehow handling the situation so he took a look at the other demons. Tso Lan held his head and seemed to be pretty badly out of picture so he had to choose between Bai Tsa and Ni Tang. Despite the fact the latter was a demon Jackie didn't like the idea of attacking a woman, who on top of all had no legs, so he turned to face the polar demon.

Unlike Hak Foo Jackie never attacked first if he wasn't threatened in any way. He didn't like doing it now, but knew a distraction was a must for their success. He had to wonder why Uncle hadn't finished his spell yet, but one glance at him told him why.

Jackie frowned angrily, Pomako had betrayed them! The woman held Jade tightly in her hands and seemed to be demanding Tohru to put away the Pan Ku box. Anger and desperation rose inside him, everything should have gone so well!

He attacked Ni Tang and the surprised polar demon barely managed to dodge. Like before, he hadn't thought Jackie would attack and collected his thoughts for a while. Now when the spell was finished his world had stopped spinning, but he still didn't feel that good.

"Without you we wouldn't be in this mess," Jackie commented turning to face Ni, who shrugged looking like he really didn't care. He didn't even bother to answer Jackie, if the human wanted to shout out something asobvious as that it wasn't his problem.

Jackie aimed a sharp kick at the polar demon's chest, but he dodged nimbly not returning the attack. He pressed his fingers on his temples and swallowed, he didn't actually feel bad, but still something bothered him.

He didn't have time to think about it more since Jackie's next kick hit the spot and Ni flew on the floor. He shook his head and rolled away when Jackie's fist hit the floor right where his face had been a while ago.

The human was serious.

That was a surprise, somehow he had thought Jackie Chan wouldn't attack anyone without a good reason.

He took a quick glance around noticing how Po held Jade as a captive demanding the Pan Ku box for them and how Hsi Wu was fighting with the archaeologist's warrior friend.

Okay, maybe his reason was good enough.


"Don't listen to her Tohru! Take the box away before she can do anything to it!" Jade warned though they all knew Po couldn't touch the box and after taking the last glance at her, the Japanese man rushed away. He wasn't sure where he was going, he just had to take the box away from Po Kong now.

He couldn't think clearly, he had known there was something strange in Pomako, but that she was a demon? He would have never believed that, the woman had got in despite all their protection spells!

And she had tricked them all. Tohru felt betrayed and angry, he had bought everything the damned demon had said!

"No Tohru! Not there!" Jade's desperate voice woke him from his thoughts and the man stopped to have a look around. To his surprise he noticed he was standing right in the middle of the room, wherethe still dazed Tso Lan stood and watched him.

The moon demon turned his red eyes to him and after noticing where Tohru was standing adark and victorious expression spread on his face.

Tohru didn't have the time to realise what was wrong before the box in his hands started to glow bright green light and rose away from him.

"Oops," he said backing away and leaving Tso Lan to face the returning demon alone.


During the time all this happened Bai Tsa felt herself pretty useless. Po Kong was busy with Jade and the old man, Hsi Wu fought against Hak Foo and Ni Tang surewasn't having aboring time with Chan. Tso Lan was still recovering from his spell, so what could she do?

Snorting angrily at herself the water demon considered joining forces with Ni Tang, because the younger Chan had fascinated her all this time and she wanted to see if he really was as good as Shendu said. Besides, the polar demon didn't seem to be in charge of the situation, part of Jackie's kicks and punches hit the spot when the more agile demon should have been able to dodge them easily.

Bai Tsa was just about to join the fight when a green flash of light caught the attention of her and everyone else in the room.

The Pan Ku box hit the appeared symbol and in the next moment a huge green portal opened in the middle of the room. Tso Lan, who stood right next to it, backed away in hurry to avoid being suckedin at the same time when Tchang Zu stepped through it.

He was a mighty sight, a huge blue demon who somehow resembled aliens in some comic book. He was dressed in a blackish armour and he had huge claws.

Tchang Zu took a look around and turned his gazeto Tso Lan, who was the nearest.

"What took you so long? You should have freed me first!" he thundered, but the moon demon didn't even flinch under his brother's anger.

"The circumstances were against it, honoured brother," he explained and the thunder demon snorted.

"And who can I blame for it?" he asked angrily.

"Them," Tso Lan said pointing at Jackie and his friends, who had all stopped to watch the freshly arrived demon. Tchang Zu slit his eyes.

"I remember you! You banished me back last time!" he raged and in the next moment the air was full of electricity.

Both humans and demons had to dodge the attacks of the furious thunder demon and Hsi Wu landed immediately. No one attacked anyone, but everyone concentrated on saving their own life.

"Calm down, brother! You can have your revenge later, no need to hurt us when the situation is still unclear," Tso hurried to calm the oldest demon of the family and Tchang glared at him, but stopped attacking anyway.

Everyone sighed in relief and turned to face the thunder demon. It was clear that he was the one who decided what had to be done.

"Kill the humans," Tchang Zu said without even thinking. Hsi Wu took a nervous look at Jade, the thunder demon didn't know she was his slave.

"Of course," Tso Lan agreed deciding this was not the time to argue. And by destroying this pathetic group they made sure no one would disturb them in Spain.

Hsi Wu rose on his wings and with few flaps he landed next to Po Kong.

"I want my slave," the sky demon demanded, but his sister shook her head.

"I can't take my real form here so I can't fight. I'll take care of her when you slaughter that pitiful human!" she said nodding at Hak Foo.

"But - " Hsi tried, but Po interrupted him.

"Silence! You do as you are told without arguing! You've got too much liberties lately, Hsi Wu, and it might be the time to put you back in line," she said and Hsi Wu suppressed his desire to snap something at her.

"As you wish," the winged demon muttered and turned around to find Hak Foo. But the man wasn't there where he had last seen him and he frowned, where was he?

He was answered when something hit him behind and made him fall on the floor.

"Angry bear knocks down the bat!" Hak Foo shouted pressing the sky demon against the floor not letting him stand up. Hsi hissed angrily and tried to shake the man off, but his grab was strong and for a short moment the sky demon thought he was gone.


During this time Uncle had thought about what he would do. He desperately wanted to banish at least one demon, but realised the ones left would soon find a way to free their brother or sister.

So he had decided that his responsibility was to attack them with his spells and even if he didn't manage to kill any of them, he could at least hurt them and win some time.

When Tchang Zu had been freed he had taken his books and chi ingredients and crept away from Po Kong. Then he had found himself a lonely corner where to cast spells without anyone noticing. He had quickly went through one of his books looking for a proper offensive spell.

And he had found one.

It was rarely used and Uncle had never before said it aloud. So he wasn't sure what it would do, but didn't dare to waste time by reading another book. If he didn't hurry the demons would either kill them or escape and both were very bad options.

Now the old man stood there a book in his hand and few dried leaves in another, ready to cast the spell. He read it through one more time and saw from the corner of his eye how Jackie barely managed to dodge a punch from Tchang Zu.

Uncle was usually very careful when dealing with magic, but he realised they were in a hurry now. He didn't want to see his relatives or apprentice dying in the hands of the demons just because he hadn't been fast enough.

He closed his eyes and started castingthe spell.


"Leave this pathetic human to me," Tchang Zu said and pushed Ni Tang away violently. Jackie stopped to stare at the huge thunder demon a bit nervously. Ni Tang had been the youngest of the demons and a pretty easy foe, but he could do nothing against Tchang.

At least with traditional ways, he had to come up with something else. Jackie leaped away nimbly when the thunder demon's fist hit the floor making it crack. He landed on his feet and took quick glance around.

He made a brave jump past the raged demon and stood up behind him. Whatever he did now, it didn't look that good. One or even two demons might have been okay, but this many were just too much.

Suddenly Uncle's voice echoed in the room and even Jackie felt a shudder in the air.

The demons felt it more clearly and they all grabbed their heads screaming with agony. Jackie glanced around in confusion and shock, what was Uncle doing? Tchang Zu fell on his knees right next to him and the man quickly jumped away, the last thing he needed was a nasty death under the demon's body.

Hak Foo couldn't decide whether he should kill Hsi Wu by himself or let Uncle's spell take care of it. The result would be the same anyway, at least the sky demon didn't seem to be fine at all.

"He is using magic against us!" Po Kong hissed through her clenched teeth and tried to find Uncle with her gaze. She knew this spell too well, it was supposed to suck their life force until they weren't even able to stand.

But she wouldn't let it happen, she had her own spells for this!


Uncle's spell probably affected Ni Tang the most. The polar demon couldn't feel anything else but the stinging pain everywhere in his body and how his powers slowly disappeared. He couldn't keep his eyes open, but had closed them tightly as if it was the only way to drive this experience out of his mind.

He barely heard the voice of Tchang Zu, but the following feeling of relief didn't go unnoticed by him. Ni raised his eyes when the pain slowly faded and saw Tchang Zu had attacked the chi wizard with his own spell. The old man had fell on his other knee, but seemed to be okay.

Even though it didn't hurt anymore Ni felt something was terribly wrong. He opened and closed his fist and was worried to notice how weird it felt, as if he didn't control his own body anymore.

"You thought you could match us, mighty demons, you pathetic human! And as a punishment you will be forced to witness how all of your loved ones die and then it shall be your turn - if even then!" Tchang Zu roared his red eyes glowing with fury.

The thunder demon said afew words which were probably supposed to tear Jackie apart, but he was so controlled by his anger that it was no use. Instead of Jackie he managed to destroy some boxes and a smoke machine.

Ni Tang felt a slash in his body as if the thunder demon had meant to attack him and fell on his knees. No one seemed to notice it, everyone was watching Jackie who desperately tried to avoid Tchang Zu's attacks.

He swallowed and raised his shaking hand in front of his eyes. What was happening? A wave of nausea hit him and he wrapped his arms around himself to protect himself against this new and incredibly unpleasant feeling.

Tso Lan saw something from the corner of his eye and turned to look. At first he could only stare at the fallen figure of Ni Tang, but after few seconds he understood.

The huge magical charge in the room, overdoing the spell on the portal, freeing the thunder demon and all these new spells had caused that everyone who had any magical potential could sense the chance in the atmosphere. To the demons it was nothing, they were fully magical creatures, but Ni Tang was clearly affected by it.

The polar demon was falling apart.

"Stop!" he said to Tchang Zu raising his voice against the thunder demon for the first time in centuries and Tchang turned to face his younger brother clearly in shock. It didn't last for long, soon they all could see he was not pleased.

"Tso Lan," he said, "you'd better have a very good reason to disturb me right now," he said dangerously.

"I think we should leave. Now," the moon demon said. He could only hope the oldest demon understood what was going on, it was impossible to explain the situation now.

He wished for too much, Tchang Zu just wasn't too clever right now. And he was not interested in what happened around him so he didn't notice the misery of Ni Tang.

At the same time Uncle used this chance and started another spell.


Ni Tang screamed when the flash in the air caused by the new spell went through him. The hit wasn't aimed on him, but it hurt him more than Tchang Zu, who just turned to face Uncle. The scream of the polar demon finally told Tchang that something was wrong and now everyone had noticed the figure on the floor.

The whole world seemed to disappear and blacken in his eyes and Ni didn't know in what position he was. His whole body ached and he felt like he was trembling recklessly. The mental slashes flashed through him and he could do nothing.

Except scream.

"What's going on? What's happening to him?" Hsi Wu asked in worry and managed to crawl away from confused Hak Foo. The man didn't even seem to notice, but just stared like everyone else.

"Is this your doing?" Jackie asked from Uncle who touched his glasses lightly and eyed the scene in interest.

"Uncle not strong enough. Something else is going on," he said.

Right there in front of their eyes Ni Tang started to chance. It was hard to describe, but he seemed to glow bright light and shrink until he was the size of a normal man. His skin slowly changed colour from grey to what was the skin colour of a human and his whole figure turned into something that didn't look that dangerous.

"What - " Jackie asked in shock, what was happening to the polar demon? He watched in awe as the black clothes on his shifted shape and took the form of a familiar black and blue dress, which he had seen last time when...

"He's coming back," Jade said quietly and was so concentrated on watching this that she didn't even notice Po Kong was holding her.

Soon it was all over and no one could say anything.

Valmont raised his gaze from the floor in confusion. The red glow had disappeared from his eyes.

The grey porcelain mask fell on the floor and broke into pieces with a sharp crash.


Jackie could only stare. He knew his mouth was hanging open and he desperately wanted to say something, anything, but noticed his body wasn't following his orders.

"Va... uh... val..." he managed to stutter, but no one else could do any better.

"I never thought it would go this far," Tso Lan muttered in thought and Hsi Wu turned to face him in worry.

"What? What happened? Is Ni Tang all right?" he asked, but the moon demon paid him no attention. He turned to face Tchang Zu.

"Our spell has completely lapsed. Now the best thing to do might be leaving the scene and thinking this over," he suggested and the thunder demon nodded slowly.

"I agree. This is a very big chance," he said accepting the plan of his little brother. He was a stubborn and hot-blooded demon, but he knew when they were dealing with something serious.

And this sure was serious.

"We are leaving now! Everyone with us!" he said and gave everyone a hard stare. Bai Tsa and Po Kong, who dragged Jade behind her, quickly obeyed and hurried next to their brother who could take them all away, but Hsi Wu didn't do anything.

"What about Ni Tang? We can't leave him!" he worried and eyed Valmont in confusion. What had happened? Why had Ni taken his human form? Why didn't anyone tell him anything?

"Forget him, Hsi Wu! Come now or never!" Tchang Zu threatened impatiently and the sky demon glanced at his family, then at the human who just a moment ago had been his brother.

He was uncertain for a moment and then stepped to stand next to the thunder demon. Hsi didn't want to leave Ni, but letting his siblings to have Jade was out of question too.

Ni Tang could take care of himself, at least he hoped so.

The demons and Jade disappeared in one flash of light.

Valmont stood up slowly and took a look at himself. He couldn't say what he was thinking, he felt like his whole body had been pushed through a mincer and then moulded into something that was supposed to resemble a human.

He didn't feel like whole, something very important seemed tobemissing but he had no idea what it was. He looked all right, he had blue eyes, white hair, the nose which made him look like a hawk...

And yet he felt so strange and he wanted to tear his hair out in frustration, he was so confused!

The man's last clear memory was from the Netherworld when the demons had... He didn't want to think about it and pushed the thought aside.

Everything that had happened after that... He didn't quite remember it, but he had several unclear glimpses of memories that belonged to someone else than him. Somehow he thought he knew what had happened, but it felt like it had happened to someone else.

Valmont had never feltthis betrayed, just like someone had torn his soul away and revealed all his dirty secrets to everyone.

"Valmont?" he heard someone saying his name and raised his gaze. It felt like an eternity since someone had called him by his real name and hearing it felt so good. And it also reminded him that he wasn't alone in the room.

"Yes?" he asked forcing his voice sound cold. He wasn't Ni Tang anymore, he didn't have to humble anyone or anything.

"Is it really you?" Jackie asked and Valmont frowned. He was thinking the exactly same question, was he really Valmont? Or was he Ni Tang? Both? Was he even human?

"What does it look like, Chan?" he asked sharply not showing his confusion to anyone.

"At least it sounds like it," Jackie muttered and yelped when Uncle pushed him away.

"Let Uncle see!" he said and brought his face as close to Valmont as possible. The man backed away a step.

"I am not an exhibit!" he snapped angrily when the old man followed stubbornly.

"Very interesting... I have never heard this to happen before," he muttered. Jackie glanced at him.

"What has happened?" he asked. Uncle whacked him with his finger.

"Where are your eyes? Haven't you seen anything?" he asked angrily while Jackie rubbed his temples.

"Ni Tang changed into Valmont..." he muttered. It was unbelievable, they had all thought the Brit had died months ago in the hands of the demons and now he was here with them looking exactly like back then.

"Exactly! Everything is clear, the demons used him and made him one of them," Uncle said frowning, and finally understanding what was going on. Jackie raised his brows in shock and eyed the crime lord more closely now.

"So... Ni Tang was Valmont all the time?" he made sure not really believing it, this was so impossible.

Valmont didn't like the way the Chans talked about him as if he wasn't present at all or was too handicapped to understand a word. He was a human after all, they couldn't treat him like an animal!

"I'm leaving," he announced abruptly and just then realised he had no place to go. His criminal empire must have fallen and he couldn't just walk on the streets without getting arrested.

"Wait!" Uncle hurried to stop him and grabbed the already leaving man's shoulder. Valmont turned around and shoved his hand away, he could listen, but never allow a Chan to touch him.

"What?" he asked.

"We don't know what will happen. The demon's spell has shattered, but that doesn't mean the demon inside you is gone for good. You have to come with us, Uncle does research and - " the old man started, but Valmont interrupted him angrily.

"No. I won't ever do anything with you. No conversation about the matter," he said and turned around not waiting to see if someone still had something to say. Uncle crossed his arms on his chest and snorted.

"Hmph! His problem. If Uncle's help not good enough he faces the results alone," he muttered. Jackie nodded and said nothing, he could only stare at the leaving Valmont.

"I will go too," Hak Foo said suddenly and Jackie glanced at him in surprise. Wasn't the warrior going to fight on their side?

Hak Foo seemed to guess what Jackie thought and shook his head.

"Valmont is still my master and I must serve him loyally," he announced and without saying anything else rushed after Valmont.

"This is so much more complicated now," Uncle commented darkly and neither Jackie nor Tohru could disagree. They had managed to do nothing, all demons were still free and Jade a captive.


It was quiet in the moon.

And silence was what Tso Lan wanted now above everything else. His head ached and he pressed his fingers on his temples sighing heavily.

Everything was so mixed up now.

The unavoidable had finally happened and the spell of Ni Tang was gone. Valmont was back and remembered everything that had happened.

It shouldn't have gone like that, usually spells like that lasted forever, but this one had had a flaw. Tso Lan hadn't been in the magical ring, but had kept an eye on Hsi Wu and because of that Ni Tang had never been a real demon.

Hsi Wu was sick of worry, no one had told him what had really happened. The moon demon believed the slave would tell the truth sooner or later and he knew he should do something to stop it.

But he just didn't care. He was so tired... This was all useless, somehow the whole family seemed to be falling apart just like the polar demon.Earlier they had at least felt compassion and attachment towards each other, but it was all gone.

It wasn't just the hatred between Shendu and Bai Tsa, Tso could sense it in all of them. Even he and Hsi were angry to each other and it was all his fault.

Or was it?

All this had happened just so that they were freed from the Netherworld and could start taking over the world. He had sacrificed the friendship of his brother just to make sure he didn't find out the truth too soon.

For who were they playing this game?

Tso Lan shook his head and took a look around himself. Bitterness filled his mind and he had to close his eyes.

Humans had been here too.

In the ancient times the moon had been his private hiding place where no one else ever came. He had enjoyed himself ehrnthinking he could retreat there any time and be alone as long as he wanted.

It wasn't possible anymore, the human race had visited the moon and taken his last joy in the world. It had lost part of its mysterious beauty and just being here made his heart bleed.

The humans had changed so much. They had become stronger, more independent, courageous and ambitious. They didn't settle with just living anymore, they had to visit every place and get everything as soon as possible, preferably immediately.

How long would it take until they inhabited the moon?

Tso Lan took one final glance around before raising his hands above himself to return to the others. He had nothing here oron Earth, but with his siblings he could at least achieve something.


Hsi Wu let the blowing wind whip his face. He kept his gaze on the ground and could think only aboutNi Tang who they had left behind. Was his brother all right? What had the mortals done to him?

He couldn't believe the others had abandoned the polar demon like that. He was one of them! Hsi was sure no one would ever have suggested leaving Bai Tsa or Tso Lan behind, for them they would havetaken huge risks.

Maybe it was because Ni was the youngest? He wasn't that valuable to the family, but Hsi had thought those rules were forgotten by now. They hadn't needed them anymore after they had been freed.

"Hsi?" Jade asked carefully behind him and the demon didn't bother to turn around. Immediately after they had returned to San Francisco he had taken Jade with him and flown away so he could be alone and think. No one seemed to have noticed it, Tso Lan had disappeared too and Hsi felt like he was not needed anymore.

The girl's confused and maybe even worried voice made him feel a bit - just a bit - better.

"Yes?" he asked and to his surprise Jade sat next to him on the roof.

"You don't have to worry about Ni Tang," the girl said and the sky demon glanced at her. What did she mean this time?

"I'm not worried," he announced though he knew Jade wouldn't believe him. The girl rolled her eyes.

"Tch! You are a terrible liar," she commented. She didn't know what she should do, she knew what had happened and was sure her relatives wouldn't hurt Valmont. But should she tell it to Hsi? Was it better if he though Ni was dead and let him mourn until the pain faded or tell him the polar demon had never even existed?

Hsi Wu sighed.

"What do you mean?" he asked. Jade bit her lip. The sky demon was in pieces already, could she hurt him more?

"I'm sure Ni Tang can take care of himself," she decided to say and gazed at the sky.

To be continued...