HEING MEH
Chapter 13
It was almost dark, the huge room was lit by only few candles. They ate their wicks and their whole presence smelled of something evil. The flame of the candles wasn't warm, it was icy cold and if you stopped to listen you could almost hear their silent whisper.
Give us your soul, give us your soul...
Hoyle had to flinch.
"I don't like this. Those candles are talking to me." he said to Necrosis, who glared at him darkly.
"Shut up! I don't want to hear that rubbish again!" he snapped.
"But - "
"Silence!"
The truth was that Necrosis could hear the horrible whisper too. He heard it better than well and it made him really nervous. He didn't like being nervous and that just freaked him out some more.
What a ridiculous circle!
And what a ridiculous place!
The strange man, Shin, had brought them in this strange temple. Everything was built of white stone and decorated with beautiful designs, but it was so dark that the glory of the walls and floor disappeared. Only very few candles burned here and there, but their sad whispers kept everyone away from light.
And here they were, surrounded by those candles and preparing an altar. Necrosis didn't know what use there was for it, and he didn't want to guess.
"It is for the girl." Shin had said.
Necrosis wasn't a naive fool, he had seen enough death and blood in his life, but the way Shin had said that had made him shudder. And that was definitely something he didn't like.
Polishing the altar was all they had been doing since their arrival. They didn't know why it was them who had to do it, Shin had told them nothing.
This place disgusted him and he was slowly starting to think that it would have been much better to be arrested by Tag.
"I think we should find a very fine hotel by the sea. One where you have an easy access to the beach. The swimming pools are not good for my scales." Bai Tsa said to Xiao Fung while they walked across the streets.
"Shendu doesn't like water. And hotels that are near sea are never high. I want a high place where I can feel the wind." the wind demon replied.
Bai Tsa glared at him.
"Shendu, Shendu and Shendu. We are older than him! Why are we doing everything he wants us to?" she asked.
"Because he is the only one who knows what to do."
"And another doomed attempt of taking over the world is what you desire? What if we end up like Tchang Zu?"
"You seem to take the death of Tchang Zu very seriously." Xiao Fung noted.
"You don't? He was our brother."
"So is Shendu."
"But he is not Tchang Zu."
Suddenly Bai Tsa stopped on her tracks. Xiao Fung continued for a few steps before he noticed his sister had stopped. He turned on his heels and stared at the water demon in confusion.
"What?" the wind demon asked. Bai Tsa was frowning and she didn't reply immediately.
"Don't you smell it?" she asked.
"Smell what?" Xiao Fung hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings and hadn't noticed anything strange.
"Blood."
"Blood?" Now the wind demon smelled it too, the sweet scent of blood and pain. Some magic was mixed with it and both demons really liked the smell. It was beautiful and reminded them of the old times when they had been able to slaughter humans whenever they wanted.
But there was also something strange... something familiar...
"It can't be!" Bai Tsa breathed and turned at her brother. He had realised it too and together they started to run.
It was not difficult to follow the smell and soon they found themselves on a small street. And there were two figures lying in front of them.
"It is Hsi Wu!" Bai Tsa exclaimed and rushed at the sky demon's side. He was lying in a pool of his own blood eyes closed, but the weak rising of his chest told that he was still alive.
"It has been a while since we last saw our dear brother." Xiao Fung stated and was not as worried as his sister. He was the first one to notice Finn.
"Hey, here's a mortal here." Bai Tsa stood up in interest. Hsi Wu was alive, so she could take a closer look at the scene. The water demon rushed at Xiao Fung's side and eyed the unconscious man in thought.
He was different than most of the men Bai Tsa had seen. Firstly, his hair was red. Bai Tsa knew that in some part of the world it was common to have red hair, but she was much more familiar with black and dark hair. And this man was also... well, strange looking.
"Do you think they have fought?" Xiao Fung asked.
"Bah. A mere mortal could never do that to Hsi Wu." Bai Tsa replied.
"In that case they must have been on the same side." the wind demon stated. "Funny, I never thought Hsi Wu would find an ally in mortals." After saying this he frowned.
"Hey, I know this guy."
"You do? Who is he?" Bai Tsa asked.
"One of the fools who opened my portal for the first time. And he is also the ugly one who Shendu and I didn't want when we had an argument about male slaves. If I remember correctly his name is Finn. Or something like that."
Bai Tsa stared at him.
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"I said I'm not sure about the name."
"No, what you said before that. About the male slaves... no wait, I don't want to know." the water demon said. Then she gave Finn a soft kick. "He's still alive too."
"So, what do we do?"
The siblings looked at each other and shrugged.
"We can't leave Hsi Wu here, we must take him with us and heal him." Bai Tsa decided.
"And the human? What about him?"
The water demon looked thoughtful. Then she nodded.
"We will take him as well. If he is Hsi Wu's ally he can be useful for us. And he did work with Shendu before, so we might be able to trust him again. And if not, torturing him will be more fun if he is fully healed." she said.
"Works with me, but what do you think Shendu will say when we bring two wounded with us?" Xiao Fung asked.
"He wouldn't like it at all." Shendu's voice said behind them and Bai Tsa and Xiao Fung turned around to meet their brother.
"Shendu! How did you find us?" the water demon asked.
"It wasn't difficult, I just followed the scent of blood and knew I would find you here." the fire demon replied. Then he glared at Hsi Wu.
"And now he is here too. How pathetic."
"We can't leave him here!" Bai Tsa snapped.
"We already have too much people with us!" Shendu snapped back. Then, like wanting to prove his words, he pushed Origami, who had been standing behind him, towards his siblings so that they could see him. The thief couldn't say anything, he just stared at the impish sky demon and hoped that this mess was just a dream.
"That is one of the Guardians?" Xiao Fung asked and wrinkled his nose.
"Yes. And I haven't let him escape." Shendu said pointing his words at Bai Tsa.
"Bah."
No one said anything in a while. They just stared at each other, the wounded and the walls.
"We will take Hsi Wu and the mortal with us. They will be useful later." Bai Tsa said then. She stood tall and for the first time in a while the inner power of an older demon could be sensed in her. Shendu didn't like the idea and slit his eyes.
"Are you trying to tell me what to do?" he asked poisonously.
"Not merely trying. We will take them with us and find a hotel near the sea."
Xiao Fung shrugged and grinned at Shendu.
"It will be very difficult to carry Hsi Wu through the city in this form." he stated.
"That's why we are getting a car." Bai Tsa said.
"Good idea! I like cars!" Xiao Fung said. Shendu watched his two siblings in suspicion.
"But which of us can drive a car?" he asked.
Uncle sat his nose in a book and eyes frowned. His lips moved as he repeated the words at the paper. Neither he, Tohru nor Jackie had found out anything useful - they didn't even know what they were looking for - but they had a new clue.
Viper.
The woman sat on a wooden chair and held the broken artefact in her hands not letting anyone else touch it. She didn't know why it fascinated her so much, but it didn't really even matter. The important thing was that she had it and that she was safe.
"Let's think about it." Jackie said, "Xu Lin is having dreams about Shendu, three demons are after Viper who feels that she is connected to that artefact. And according to Uncle it has something to do with Sha Fuju."
"And Sha Fuju is the eternal land of Dreams where answers to all questions remain. I am sure Shendu wants something from there." Jade added. They had all gathered in the library to gather knowledge and find out what was going on.
Uncle nodded.
"True, but none of my books tells more. Sha Fuju was thought to be too dangerous for mortals, so all information of it was destroyed in the ancient times. The demons possess that knowledge so they are a step ahead of us." he said.
"But we have Viper. Shendu wanted her, so we have been able to slow him down a bit." Jackie noted.
"True." Viper said. She was a bit worried about that a single artefact was able to catch her attention like this and she forced herself to place it on the table.
"Keep it." Uncle said, "There must be a reason why you have it and it is better if you have it near all the time."
Viper sighed and obeyed.
"I don't understand what use this could possibly be." she muttered.
"Maybe my dreams will show that." Xu Lin dared to suggest. She hadn't had a dream since she had arrived and she felt like one was approaching. It wasn't a very nice idea and she dreaded the next night.
Suddenly they heard as the door of the shop was opened and someone stepped in. They all froze half expecting Shendu and his siblings to rush in, but the voice of Captain Black calmed them down.
"Anyone in here?" Black asked in the empty hall. Jackie went to see him.
"We are here in the library." he said. Black stepped in and joined them and because of that there was no more room in the library. He looked around himself and nodded at Xu Lin, who he didn't know.
"Jackie, we have a problem." he said.
"I know. We are trying to solve it at the very moment." Jackie said. Black stared at him in surprise.
"So you already know about the slaughtering?" he asked.
"Oh that? I watched the news. But we are actually concentrating in demons." Jackie said. He remembered how Uncle had thought that Shendu or some other dragon had something to do with the murders, but this mess had made him forget about it.
"Me too. My men think that those people were not killed by any normal animal. I thought you might know something useful."
Jackie nodded.
"Actually we do. We are pretty sure of that Shendu and the rest are coming back." he said.
"Shendu?" Black repeated. "And I hoped I would never have to see him again."
"Me too." Jackie added. Uncle snorted.
"Bah!" he said, "Fools! It was only a matter of time before they came back! And you were stupid when you didn't prepare for it!"
"But didn't we agree that Shendu didn't kill them?" Jade pointed out. Everyone turned to stare at her. Though she had grown from the little girl she had once been Jackie didn't always remember to treat her with a new way.
"I think we did." he said.
"Right. Shendu is an intelligent demon and he wouldn't reveal himself by killing some unimportant humans. He is not that stupid." Jade said.
"Could be, but we have to remember that Shendu - like all other demons - are bloodthirsty beasts. Maybe Shendu just couldn't resist the urge." Jackie said.
"No, I think Jade is right. Shendu is not a fool, I would have never been able to escape if he had been guarding me." Viper said.
"Maybe so. But if that is true, who killed those people?" Black asked. No one could tell the answer to that.
"You crazy! Turn left! Left!"
It was a very strange and dangerous sight at one street in San Francisco. An old red van practically flew on the road and broke everything it hit on its way. Fortunately there was pretty much no one on the street.
"I'm trying!" Xiao Fung replied to Shendu, who just a moment ago had stretched from the back seat and forced his brother to turn before they hit a telephone box.
"Then why don't you turn, you fool?" Bai Tsa asked angrily.
"I can't drive a car!"
Shendu and Bai Tsa glanced at each other - strangely, they didn't look angry - and then turned to glare at Xiao Fung.
"You said you have a driving licence!" they snapped and of the car hadn't been moving they would have attacked their brother.
Shendu sunk in his seat and covered his eyes with his hand. This had started badly, they had been forced to steal this piece of a junk in order to take Hsi Wu away and then they had let that fool drive. The fire demon promised himself that if he survived this he would learn to drive himself.
Sure, he had driven in Valmont's body, but that had been different. Back then he could have intruded in the man's memory and read how to drive and what to do. Now he couldn't do it and it frustrated him a lot.
"Beware the bikers!" Bai Tsa exclaimed. She sat on the front seat with her brother and desperately tried to keep the car from hitting buildings.
It was not much easier in the back. From the three souls there Origami was the only one who was conscious and he sat as far away from his fellow passengers as possible. Especially from Hsi Wu.
He recognised Finn to be one of Valmont's men, but that didn't make him feel any better. He hated Valmont and his organisation and didn't want to have anything to do with him. Not that he wanted to be involved with these creatures either.
"Shimatta..." he muttered when he hit his head again as the car made a sharp turn. He thought it was travelling on two heels at times. Why kind of maniacs were those three?
And what was this mess that he was in?
Origami was afraid of Shendu, he was not going to deny that. The demon hadn't showed his true form yet, but merely that he controlled one of those few elements that could defeat Origami were enough.
He would find a way to escape, but until that he would just play along and stay alive.
Hsi Wu and Finn flew around in the back because no one had bothered to tie them down. The demons were worried about their brother - who more, who less - but they hadn't wanted to waste precious time by making sure he didn't get more hurt.
They kept travelling like that until Shendu got enough and forced Xiao Fung to take his place at the back seat. The fire demon took the wheel and after that everything was much better. Shendu had to congratulate himself, he was better that he had thought he was.
Now that they had a responsible driver the trip was over pretty soon. It didn't take long before they found a hotel that pleased them all - fine enough for Shendu, high enough for Xiao Fung and it was located near the sea. Xiao Fung, Bai Tsa and Origami - to the Japanese man's dismiss - would take the wounded in while Shendu got rid of the stolen van.
There was no problems with Finn, but the impish Hsi Wu was a difficult case. Especially since he had his wings. Bai Tsa was already thinking she would have to charm him invisible, but then they decided to tell everyone that they were travelling entertainers and that the demon doll was for their big show.
Shendu logged in as Aaron Davidson and got the whole up most floor for them. He was not about to share a room with anyone and he didn't want useless humans to notice any of the strange events that could occur in their floor.
"I don't think you are being very serious." Origami said after they all had somehow mystically fit in the elevator.
"Why so?" Shendu asked with a nasty tone. He didn't really like it when someone criticised him.
Origami pointed at Hsi Wu and Finn.
"If they really mean something to you I think you should do something about them before they die. That can not be the proper way to take care of wounded." he said.
"Can Hsi Wu die?" Bai Tsa asked from pretty much no one.
"Of course not! He is a demon and can stand more than a hundred of mortals!" Shendu hissed angrily. "Besides - " he was about to continue, but there was a sharp 'ping' and the doors of the elevator were opened.
Their floor was identical to all others in the hotel. An old couple lived with them, but Bai Tsa was about to get rid of them as soon as she got some time for herself.
Or at least after she had made sure Hsi Wu would survive.
She was not going to admit it, but her little brother meant her much more than she had thought. Hsi Wu was of course an annoying wise cracker, but he had that something that made the water demon like him. Just like she liked Po Kong and Tso Lan.
Besides, she had to respect her brother. The sky demon had made sure he wanted nothing to do with his family - as shocking as it was - and left. Bai Tsa could understand the reason, she would have been confused too if she had found out that she was something else than what she had thought she was. Hsi Wu had the courage to be what he wanted and show it, Bai Tsa had to admire that.
"You will take this room, you this, I this and this if for them." Shendu said pointing at everyone. He placed Origami, Hsi Wu and Finn at the end of the corridor and took the room next to them to make sure that no one of the three tried something stupid. He thought he could trust Xiao Fung and Bai Tsa, but not the others.
Bai Tsa suppressed her desire to say some certain words to her brother and settled with walking in the room Shendu had chosen for the prisoners and Hsi Wu. The water demon would mouth her opinion later, but now she wanted to make sure Hsi Wu was all right.
Because of the wings of the sky demon it was difficult to find him a comfortable position, but Bai Tsa managed to do it by moving all the furniture at the other side of the room and spreading all pillows and covers on the floor for him.
"Better than nothing." she muttered and frowned. Hsi Wu was bloodied and bruised, but the wounds didn't look very severe. Yet he was unconscious and something in his aura smelled of tiredness, confusion and pain.
Maybe she would find out once he woke up. Bai Tsa nodded at herself and decided to take care of Hsi Wu as well as possible. It looked like someone had out-powered him, but that was not something Hsi Wu was not familiar with. He had been the other demons' favourite punching bag in the Netherworld.
Remembering the Demon Realm made Bai Tsa flinch. They were again here in San Francisco. The old master Chan lived here as well and he still wanted to banish them back. Now that the demons had been free for five years being imprisoned again would drive them crazy and they'd rather die than go back.
"You take care of the human." the water demon said to Origami, who was not pleased with the order. Actually he was not pleased with anything, but decided to stand few moments more. There were windows in the hotel, so when these creatures slept he would creep away and leave this city for good. Screw Valmont and the laws of the underworld!
Bai Tsa had taken all soft materials in the room so Origami had nothing for Finn. He didn't feel sorry though, this Irish man meant nothing to him. He placed him in an empty corner and decided it was for the best if he managed to get him awake.
Neither of the wounded seemed to be in a serious state. It felt as if they were just sleeping and Bai Tsa was sure someone had used magic against them. Who could it be, she didn't know. The old Chan? It was not his style to leave it like this. Someone else? Who?
"Wake up." Origami said and stroked Finn's shoulder.
"He won't wake up like that." Bai Tsa stated. She had ripped a piece of one of the sheets, poured water on it and cleaned the blood on Hsi Wu's chest, arms, face and wings. Now she was just sitting and trying to read one of Po Kong's healing spell with little success.
"As if a demon could do this better." Origami muttered. He wasn't actually sure if all of these others were demons, but he suspected that was the case. And to his knowledge demons knew nothing of taking care of the sick.
"Actually I could." the water demon said. She left her spell for a moment, walked to the three men and gave Finn a sharp slap at the face.
"Well." Bai Tsa said happily, "That always wakes men up when they are too tired." she said.
Finn didn't know where he was. He felt nothing, his whole being - both body and thoughts - were numb. He didn't see, hear or smell anything. Hey, he didn't even know if he existed.
The last thing he remembered was how some strange dude had attacked. Or did he remember? The scene flashed in his mind like a goldfish that had not been captured by a cat yet.
He wasn't sure, but there was one thing he knew.
He had to get out.
If he had remembered how to open his mouth he might have shouted for help, but just as he was about to probe his own memories something happened.
His whole body shuddered as if a lighting bolt had hit him and he felt like he was a part of a huge curtain and being ripped in parts.
"Ouch!" he exclaimed, pressed his hand on his cheek and opened his eyes. He tried to sit up, but regretted in immediately. "Dude, moving hurts..."
"I told you I can do it." a female voice said and now he realised to pay attention to where he was. He looked around himself.
The first thing he saw was a woman. She was tall and slim, she had blue a bit curly hair - somehow Finn could tell the curls were not natural - and few strands were on a plait. She had sweet honey coloured eyes.
Next to the man stood an Asian man, but he didn't look interesting at all.
Finn blinked.
"Woah... Where am I?" he asked. Then he saw Hsi Wu and came to the conclusion that demons had something to do with this. Especially since another man came in doors banging.
"Bai Tsa! I and Xiao Fung demand you to accompany us. We need to talk." Shendu hissed. He had been about to make Xiao Fung deliver the message, but the lazy wind demon had already realised how to use the movie channels the hotel provided.
Bai Tsa raised a brow and tore her eyes from Finn, who still tried to put all of the pieces together.
"So now you need me, Shendu?" she asked.
"Don't play with me, just come." Shendu replied. Bai Tsa decided that one day Shendu's impatience would get him killed.
"Fine, fine." she agreed and glanced at Origami. "What about them? What if they escape?" she asked. Shendu looked thoughtful.
"Good point. We should do something about it. Maybe if we charm them so that they can't move..."
"Hey, I can't move even now, Shendude." Finn pointed out. Now that Shendu wasn't in Valmont's body nor in his own form he didn't look so dangerous.
"No one asked your opinion."
"I can't cast that spell - I know you can't - and Po Kong is not here." Bai Tsa stated. Then she pushed Finn with her leg. "Though he won't move even if we do nothing."
"That reminds me, why hasn't Hsi Wu woken up yet?" Shendu asked.
"I don't know. Maybe he was the target of the actual attack."
"Better so. Our whole family will be ridiculous if a mere mortal - especially one of Valmont's stupid men - could stand an attack better than our own brother." the fire demon stated. Then he crossed his arms on his chest in frustration.
"We will take him with us. He will be an important part of our plan anyway, so it is the one and the same whether he hears now or later." he said nodding at Origami.
"Wouldn't it be easier to get Xiao Fung here since we others are here already?" Bai Tsa suggested.
"If you can get that idiot leave his beloved television..."
"I'll get him." the water demon promised. This was her chance to leave and get one thought out of her head. Shendu gave her a surprised glance. Was Bai Tsa doing something for him?
After getting out of the room Bai Tsa dared to sigh. She shook her head and snorted softly.
The man had green eyes.
Bai Tsa thought it was something strange and exotic. She had grown up in a world where everyone had brown eyes and all different colours had always fascinated her. Blue was great, so was grey, but rare colours like purple, gold and green always got her really excited.
The water demon laughed at herself and hurried to get Xiao Fung before Shendu came to ask what was taking so long.
"Get up." she said to her brother, who glanced at her and obeyed after a few seconds. Xiao Fung didn't say anything, but Bai Tsa frowned at him in annoyance. Her brother had changed so much, this modern mortal world had ruined him...
"Shendu wants to talk with us."
Shendu was on fairly good mood. He had one of the Guardians, a fine hideout, one of Valmont's men as a prisoner and three siblings on his side. Yes, his team kept getting stronger and stronger.
"Finally." he said when Bai Tsa and Xiao Fung arrived.
"What do you have to say?" the water demon said kneeling next to Hsi Wu. The sky demon hadn't woken up yet and it made her feel worried. What had they done to him? And why was a mortal able to recover so soon?
She glanced at Finn and frowned slightly. Strange... The man sat on his place looking like he would rather have been anywhere else and nothing in him looked strong.
"We have to make plans." Shendu announced. The situation was stable now, but it was important to decide what they were about to do next. Personally he wanted nothing more than to rush in the Chans' shop and kill them all, but his mind told him it wasn't an option.
Bai Tsa shrugged.
"Easy. We have to find Po Kong, Tso Lan and Dai Gui. Only Po Kong can help Hsi Wu." she said.
"Maybe." the fire demon said.
"Maybe? Admit it Shendu, you are nothing without them. That is why you wanted to find Po Kong, right?"
"I can do anything without anyone's help, so keep your jaw shut."
The water demon laughed in amusement and brushed Hsi Wu's forehead.
"I would really like to see that." she said softly.
Sharon tapped at her cheek in thought. She had been in San Francisco a while now, but had not managed to do anything. She had met her brother only once and that time had not been very useful.
Captain Black had told her not to worry and she knew how patient he could be. It was Sharon's own mind that got her frustrated and she didn't like it. She needed something to do and soon!
She flinched as her cell phone started to ring. She caught it from the bed.
"Yes?"
"Sharon? It is me, Jonathan." her husband said at the other end. Sharon felt immediately better. Finally someone who understood her.
"Hi, nice of you to call. How is Jeremy?" she said.
"He is actually the reason I call." Jonathan said and a dark tone crept in his voice. It made Sharon frown in worry.
"Has something happened?" she asked.
"You have been gone for many days and your son misses you. And so do I. Come home Sharon. Finding Sebastian can't be that important."
Sharon blinked.
"You want me to come back to London?" she asked in surprise. "What about Sebastian?"
"I don't think he is interested in our life. He doesn't even know you are married and a mother. You worry for nothing."
"But.."
"Please Sharon. We need you here. Your life, family and friends are in London. Forget Sebastian and let him live his cursed life as he wants to." Jonathan said and Sharon heard her husband really meant it.
She swallowed. She was probably going to regret this, but...
"All right." she promised.
She had to live her own life and Sebastian was no longer part of it.
Fire blazed all around her and Xu Lin could feel the heat on her skin. Every part of her body ached and when she glanced at herself she saw blood on her torn clothes. Her before so perfect skin was covered in bleeding bruises and cuts and only now she noticed she was on her knees in dirt.
She heard screams around her, but couldn't hear the words or who was screaming. Only that they were fighting somewhere and she had no idea of on whose side she was or who was winning.
Adangerous growl could be heard and Xu Lin already knew what she would see. After all, she had seen this same dream so many times...
Two glowing red eyes, the blaze of flames when they grew higher around the approaching figure.
The dragon stepped closer and the fire made his scales glow maliciously. His mouth was slightly open and Xu Lin could see the sharp teeth that were also red because of the blood that covered them.
Whose blood.
There was a horrible wound in the dragon's side and the blood that had gushed from it had painted his left side red. The wound was clearly painful and made the already cruel looking demon look even more horrible.
"Shendu." Xu Lin whispered in fear as the dragon's shadow was cast on her.
She was afraid and all she wanted was to get out. Away from the pain, fear and screams that echoed everywhere around her. She kept her eyes on the wounded dragon, who stood in front of her like a statue of doom.
Shendu bent down and lifted her carefully in his arms. Xu Lin whimpered, her wounds hurt and she leaned against the demon's scaled chest.
"Xu Lin." Shendu said surprisingly softly, "Are you all right?" Xu Lin nodded slowly and looked around herself. So much destruction, so much pain.
"I am." she said quietly and let Shendu carry her away.
Xu Lin woke up panting and stared in front of herself in the dark room. Her heart was beating like no tomorrow, her skin was wet from sweating and she felt like she had just woken from her own death.
"It can't be..." she muttered and wrapped her arms around herself.
She had understood it all wrong! She wasn't supposed to fight against Shendu, but on the same side with the cruel fire demon...
To be continued...