HEING MEH

Chapter 15

Shendu eyed his siblings pleased for that he knew something they didn't. He had always enjoyed situations that he controlled and this was one of them.

"What is this big plan of yours, then?" Tso Lan asked in suspicion.

"And why do you want your Asian slave to be tied to you? That is usually done only when dealing with a mortal lover." Po Kong added. "And that makes me wonder..."

Shendu shook his head.

"Don't even think about that. He is important to me, but not that way." he said.

"Dai Gui wants a clear answer."

"All right, my dear siblings. Unlike you, I know how to get rid of Heing Meh. Or I will know it soon." the fire demon said.

"Stop fooling around and tell us." Tso Lan said. Shendu glared at him angrily, but gave up anyway.

"We will get all the information we need in Sha Fuju." he said.

Everyone else was quiet for quite a while. Xiao Fung had already known this, but he didn't have anything to say.

"Opening a portal to Sha Fuju is impossible. No one knows who the Guardians are and even if we did - " Po Kong started, but Shendu interrupted her with an amused laugh.

"I do know! My Asian slave is one of the Guardians, the Chans have another one and I also know where to find the Chosen of Dreams." he said and his eyes glowed with dark delight. He probably looked a bit mad, but it was nothing new.

Even Tso Lan looked surprised.

"Shendu." he started, "If what you say is true we might have brilliant future in front of us."

Shendu snorted.

"Yes. My original intention was to use Sha Fuju in taking over the world, but it can wait until we have got rid of Heing Meh." he said.

"Dai Gui likes the plan." the earth demon announced. All demons had realised that now when they had an access to Sha Fuju they could do anything. Even make Tchang Zu's dream come true and take over the world.

Po Kong chuckled.

"I never thought you would turn out to be useful, Shendu." she said.

"Oh thank you, my sister." Shendu said dryly. "But we have no time to lose. We will have to capture the Chosen before Chan finds out who he is. Only then we can get the other Guardian."

Tso Lan nodded.

"True. Shin will probably try to attack again soon. Especially if he finds out what we are up to." he said.

"I will take over this operation now." Po Kong announced. Shendu's eyes flashed and he opened his mouth to object, but the mountain demon silenced him with one glance. "This operation, Shendu. If you want to take over the world after this I don't care."

"Thank you, Po Kong." Shendu said sarcastically. Everyone knew that he would have done what he wanted even if Po Kong hadn't let him.

"I shall go and get the Chosen. Once we have him we are certain to win." he said.

"I will come with you." Tso Lan announced. Shendu glanced at him sharply.

"Don't you trust me?" he asked.

"Don't be childish, Shendu. I want to make sure that nothing goes wrong." the moon demon replied.

"I don't like this, I really don't." Hoyle announced. Necrosis glanced at him in frustration and tiredness.

"Me neither, but do you think there's anything we can do?" he asked. Hoyle didn't reply, merely sighed.

He would have never thought that he'd consider something to be cruel. He hadn't got his position as Necrosis' right hand by being gentle, but the horrible torture of the woman had made even him feel sick.

And he really hoped he would never have to fight against Shin.

"Why does he need us? All we do is clean up the mess he makes. Anyone could do that and yet he chose us! Why?" Hoyle continued to himself. Necrosis didn't really listen, but sat on his bed and kept his eyes on the floor.

He had a strong feeling of that he knew why Shin needed them.

Or him, actually.

When he had asked it Shin had just laughed at him and told him to think.

"It is very simple, my friend. As I said, you will find out sooner or later. If you get it you can feel the pride of being the third person in the world who knows." he had said.

At first Necrosis had had no idea of what Shin meant, but then he had been forced to watch the ritual murder of the woman.

Shin had said it had been just a practise. Necrosis could understand that, but practise for what? He was sure Shin didn't need to practise torturing - he could do it better than well.

Necrosis couldn't help but think that the practise had been for him.

The dark corridors, candles, the altar and desperate screams reminded him too much of his past that he had wanted to leave behind. He had tried to forget all that, forget his father, family and all what had made him feel sick since he was a child.

He had done that too, but it looked like his past was catching up with him.

"In the end no one is able to escape from themselves." Shin had said.

Necrosis buried his face in his hands. Damn...

The world whirled around him and he sat waiting. In mortal years he had been waiting for long, but to a creature as old as he it had been just a blink of an eye.

He could wait for a while longer. Everything would happen when it was time.

"They are all fools." he sighed to himself and opened his eyes. He still saw nothing but brief flashes of the world, but they were enough for him. Reading them was not as difficult as in the beginning, but he still understood only a part of them.

He needed the help of the Chosen of the Dreams if he wanted to know what was going to happen.

He shook his head to himself.

"Fools. Just like I was."

Tchang Zu closed his eyes again and continued waiting.

His head ached and his limbs felt unusually numb. His eye lids were too heavy for him to open his them and all he could do was to lie there and hope to get his strength back.

Where was he?

He swallowed and was able to open his red eyes. At first the world was just a mixture of colourful lines, but then everything took its place and he noticed he was in his own office.

His office?

Ni Tang blinked and sat up. Now that he saw something everything made much more sense and he got new strength from that. After a while he was strong enough to stand up.

He was in his office. But since when had he had an office?

A confused sigh escaped from his mouth and he pressed his fingers on his temples. It felt so strange... Part of him recognised the office and he was certain of that he knew where each paper and pen was, but to his other half it was all unfamiliar.

Which half was right?

His other, panicking side knew where a mirror was and he rushed to it. The result was both relieving and shocking.

His skin was grey, his eyes glowed as red as they always had and white hair framed his face. The mask was gone and Ni Tang was grateful for that, he had never really liked it.

He was happy to see he looked like his own self again.

And yet he felt like he really wanted to smash the mirror in pieces.

"Valmont." he said to himself. A strange name. Why had he even thought of it?

There was a loud bang behind him and the polar demon turned on his heels. For a while he forgot about the mirror and his reflection and concentrated in the two men that stood in front of him. They were unfamiliar to him and yet he could immediately tell that their names were Chow and Ratso.

"Who are you and what are you doing in Valmont's office?" Ratso asked. Ni Tang blinked. Valmont? That strange name again.

The other man looked much more nervous.

"Ratso." Chow started, "That is the demon I saw five years ago!"

"Huh?" was the reaction of both Ratso and Ni Tang.

Five years ago? Now that he thought of it Ni Tang could remember the incident, but had it really happened so long time ago? What had he done during these years?

"What is your name?" Chow asked sharply. He hoped Finn was there to lead the situation, but this had to do.

"Valmont. Ni Tang." the polar demon replied. He was surprised of his own answer and shook his head.

Ratso glanced at Chow.

"That guy is nuts." he said. "Though I have to admit he looks like Valmont. Their hair matches and so on."

"Yeah. Something's wrong here." Chow said. He licked his lips hoping for that the demon wouldn't try anything. They had guns, but were they any good against a magical creature? Who knew what he could do?

"Valmont." Ni Tang said again and didn't even remember that he wasn't alone. The name echoed in his mind and felt as familiar and right as was possible. It was just as beautiful as his own name.

"Yeah, what have you done to him?" Ratso asked.

Valmont was...

He was...

"I am me." Ni Tang whispered. His mind was filled with images of Hsi Wu and his other siblings, he remembered the emptiness that had replaced the early memories of his life. Actually he could remember that there had been an empty place, but now it was replaced with memories.

There was no empty space in the ocean of his memories.

But unlike he had believed and hoped, his early memories didn't show him China, his siblings, family or home.

A young girl with white hair.

A might mansion in the country side.

London.

"No. I am what I am." he said to no one and leaped up. Ratso and Chow were too surprised to do anything and they could only watch as the polar demon landed on Valmont's desk. Papers fell on the floor.

Ni Tang looked around himself.

"They will come for me. I can not panic." he said.

Away. He had to get away.

Ni Tang was confused, but he could think straight enough to understand that he would have to leave this horrible office behind himself. They would come for him here and he couldn't get caught now. He would have to find his siblings and find out what had happened.

He jumped again and landed right next to Chow. The man yelped in surprise and Ni Tang continued his way jumping out of the open doors.

"Hey! Wait!" Ratso exclaimed and he and Chow rushed after the demon.

"So you are trying to tell me that one of Valmont's stupid men is actually the Chosen of Dreams?" Tso Lan asked Shendu when they were on their way to get their prey.

"I didn't believe it either, but it's impossible to not sense it in him." the fire demon said.

"Chosen ones of Dreams are usually very talented. Why didn't I sense anything when I met him?" the moon demon wanted to know.

Shendu shrugged.

"It took a while to realise who he is. I was with him pretty much all the time when you merely met him." he said.

"And maybe his talents know to hide."

"If he has any."

Shendu couldn't remember when he and Tso Land had last talked with each other as peacefully as now. The moon demon and his deep thoughts, calm nature and books didn't fascinate him and he didn't approve his brother's philosophy. Usually the moon demon managed to make him enraged, but this time he was something Shendu could stand.

Maybe the lonely years in the moon had changed him.

"This is where Valmont lives now?" Tso Lan asked when they arrived at the Dark Hand HQ. Setting sun coloured the high building and made it reflect bright light.

Shendu nodded.

"Yes, this is the resident of our former brother." he admitted.

"Funny to hear you say that."

"What do you mean?"

"I never thought you considered him as our brother." Tso Lan replied.

"I didn't, but the word brother is shorter to say than 'a human who was turned into a demon by our family and who we pretended to be related to us.'" the fire demon threw back.

"How amusing. Has the mortal world made you sarcastic, Shendu?" Tso Land asked.

"Shut up." Shendu snapped.

They were about to step in but then the doors banged open and Ni Tang jumped out Chow and Ratso after him.

"Hey! Tell what you did to Valmont!" Ratso shouted and tried to keep up with the polar demon. The three disappeared in the red evening leaving a very confused demonic duo behind.

"I don't believe this! Everything goes wrong!" Shendu cursed and kicked the ground. Tso Lan was just as confused, but - like usually - could control himself better.

"Did you see who that was?" he asked.

"Of course I did! Do you think I'm blind?"

Tso Lan didn't reply to Shendu's angry question, but shrugged and looked at the direction where the polar demon had disappeared. He either hadn't recognised them or didn't want to have anything to with them. Both options were very likely.

"This makes the situation much more complicated. Ni Tang was never supposed to come back." the moon demon said.

"On top of that the Chosen escaped from me!" Shendu added.

"You?"

"Fine, us."

Shendu placed his hands on his hips and sighed in frustration.

"We better go after him. No one knows what he can do." he said.

"He's a bit like you." Tso Lan stated. Shendu turned to stare at his brother in surprise. Had Tso Lan really said that?

"Are you sure you are not sick? I almost thought you tried to be funny."

Ni Tang didn't understand anything, but he felt much safer now when he had got out of the mortals' building. The sun hadn't set yet, but it would soon get dark and it calmed him. Soon he'd be able to curl up in shadows and think.

He hadn't needed need much time for escaping from the two men and after a few minutes he could sit on a roof and eye the city. Wind brushed his hair and he sighed.

What was going on?

He knew that something was very wrong and neither Hsi Wu nor Tso Lan was there to help him. Were his siblings even free anymore? Maybe the Chans had banished them back? Now that he thought of it he realised he had no idea of what had happened after they had opened the portal of Tchang Zu.

It made him really nervous. Something had eaten his memories again.

And yet he felt like it all was almost in his grasp. He thought he was a man who was locked up in a dark room and knew that the light switch was near.

Ni Tang shook his head to himself.

"I should remember..." he said.

Valmont.

Ni Tang wasn't the only confused soul in that nigh. Xu Lin was troubled by her own thoughts and fears too. She was afraid for herself, those who she loved and who loved her.

She bit her lip. Uncle and others kept telling her how she was somehow important and that sooner or later her dreams would reveal something.

Well, they had done it now but it was different from what she had been expecting. She had thought she would see a battle between demons and humans and who won, but the truth had been worse.

She would have to...

Xu Lin shook her head. Despite that she tried to convince herself of that the dream didn't mean what she thought it did she couldn't help but think about it. She thought about Shendu and what she would probably have to do. Was there a worse fate for a young woman?

She sniffed and hugged her pillow. Xu Lin didn't want tell about her dream to anyone, it was too frightening already. And she was ashamed.

Her mind told her that the dream was a sign of her dark fate and of how she would suffer in the future. And yet she had been relieved to see Shendu in the dream. Now when she was awake she was disgusted by it and it made her feel really dirty.

What would she have to do in the future to make Shendu like her enough to save her?

And how many would suffer because of it?

Her parents would break once they learned that their daughter would have to sacrifice herself, her brother would try to save her and die. She was also sure of that many young men from her village would try the same in hope of becoming legendary heroes. And then there were Jade, Jackie, their relatives and friends.

They would all die trying to save her.

Xu Lin swallowed and at up in her bed. Maybe...

What if she surrended? She was obviously no real use in the battle against the demons and would only be a burden if she stayed. Besides, if her dream was true fighting would be useless anyway. Shendu would get her.

She placed her bare feet on the floor. It didn't make a sound and she sighed in relief. It was almost dark in the room and Xu Lin had to be very careful when dressing up to avoid making any sound.

Jade will never understand this. she thought and brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear before moving to the window. Her small room was in the second floor and since she wasn't very agile it would be difficult to get down.

The window opened easily and Xu Lin lifted herself on the windowsill. She looked down at the small street and bit her lip. She knew the ground wasn't as far away as it seemed to be, but it was still a nasty fall. Then she braced herself and jumped.

She let out a suppressed cry as she hit the ground and she could feel her knees bleeding a bit. Xu Lin hissed quietly when she stood up and tried to ease the pain with her hands.

She glanced back up and only now realised she should have left a message for Jade. Now it was too late.

It was cold and dark outside and Xu Lin regretted leaving. Of course she could have gone back, but she didn't think she'd be able to climb back up. And if she used the door the Chans would wake up and demand an explanation.

She took one last glance around herself and started walking.

Despite that it was night the demons weren't asleep. Bai Tsa and Po Kong stayed next to Hsi Wu, Shendu and Tso Lan had not come back and Xiao Fung had introduced Dai Gui to cable television.

"We have to do something about the mortals. We can't keep an eye on them all the time." Bai Tsa said. Po Kong nodded.

"When Shendu comes back the other one will be bound to him. If one of us is willing to have the other one we can use the same ritual." she said.

"Shendu wants a slave bound to himself Isn't that pretty... personal?"

"If Shendu was Xiao Fung I would be worried, but we have to do this. We can't allow any of our slaves to escape." the mountain demon said.

"Yes, yes, Sha Fuju is too important. I know." Bai Tsa said. Po Kong had explained everything to her and told her about their plan. It felt good to have the whole family together again.

Hsi Wu moved and tried to open his eyes.

"What...? I..." he mumbled and his sister moved closer.

"How are you?" Po Kong asked quickly. Hsi Wu was no awake and though he was still tire he should have been able to stay up a while.

"Po... Kong? I feel tired."

"I know. Try to have some more sleep".

Hsi Wu let out a quiet sigh and closed his eyes again. Bai Tsa watched him in slight worry.

"He has slept a lot. Why didn't the mortal act the same way? she asked.

"Because he is a mortal. Shin didn't use all of his powers against him, but concentrated in our brother. And Hsi Wu will be fine in the morning, I am sure of that."

Bai Tsa nodded.

"Do you think he'll stay with us? I mean that he left us and I don't think he has forgiven." she said.

"I don't know, and he will not be given the chance to decide. He is still the youngest of our family and because of this Shin mess we can't let him wander away alone." Po Kong replied. Bai Tsa chuckled.

"So it will be like in the old days. If he doesn't want to do something we'll just force him to do it."

"Exactly. Just like old times."

Xu Lin was feeling cold and she was afraid. San Francisco was different at night than at day and now she really regretted ever leaving the Chans. What had she hoped to achieve? She didn't even know where Shendu was!

And even if she did, what use would it be? She couldn't really be stupid enough to surrender without a fight, right? It was something you could expect a hero of a story to do, but it had nothing to do with real life.

She would have to go back, no matter what Jade and others would say.

"Jade?" someone asked above her and Xu Lin flinched. She froze and lifted her gaze only to see a pair of red eyes.

She screeched in shock and something landed next to her. In the dim glow of a street light she could see that it was a creature that looked like a man with white hair and was dressed in black clothes.

It was a demon, she was certain of that.

"Don't yell. Are you Jade?" the creature asked and stepped closer. He didn't look as frightening as Xu Lin had expected, only confused. She shook her head.

"No, I... I am Xu Lin." she replied and her voice sounded small and terrified in her own ears.

"Xu Lin." Ni Tang said tasting the name. "I don't know you." he added sounding slightly disappointed.

Xu Lin thought of something.

"Do you know Shendu or where he is?" she asked.

"Shendu is my brother. I am looking for him too." Ni Tang replied. "Why do you want to find him?"

"I don't know... Maybe I..." Xu Lin shook her head. Here she was talking to Shendu's brother! According to all common sense she should have been terrified, but she was only slightly afraid now. Maybe it was because this demon wasn't the monster with seven heads you found in stories. He was very humane, actually.

Yes, he looked like a human.

"Can you help me to find Shendu?" she asked new determination in her voice.

"Finding him is difficult. Maybe if we find Hsi Wu or Tso Lan first..."

"You are not Tso Lan?" Xu Lin asked in surprise. She had assumed that this creature was the moon demon.

"No, I am Ni Tang."

"Ni Tang?" Xu Lin couldn't remember ever hearing about a demon with that name, at least as a part of Shendu's family. Jade had told her about the other demons, but had never even mentioned Ni Tang.

Ni Tang nodded. He felt strange and disturbed. He could remember that he didn't like talking, but something gave him... courage... to speak and make himself more visible. As if he had an extra spirit inside himself.

And this mortal girl... she looked like Jade and that's why Ni Tang had first thought she was his former slave. Why would a mortal look for Shendu? Had something dramatic happened?

"Come with me. I'll help you to find Shendu." he promised. The girl was pretty and young, maybe she was Shendu's personal slave? At least she looked like the fire demon might like her.

Xu Lin looked around herself in uncertainty. Then she shrugged. There was no way she could say "no" to a demon.

"We lost him." Ratso said in disappointment and shook his head. Chow nodded. They were both out of breath because of the chase and had just given up. It didn't feel good knowing that a demon had escaped just like that.

"I am nervous. Finn hasn't come back yet and this can't mean good." he said.

"Maybe he has returned while we were gone?" Ratso suggested.

"I don't think so. Let's ask Hak Foo about it, he might know something."

They returned to the Dark Hand HQ and in Valmont's office. The man wasn't back, but Hak Foo was there instead. The warrior had noticed the open doors and come to see what had happened.

He glanced at the duo, but didn't say anything.

"Hey, have you happened to see Finn or Valmont anywhere around?" Chow asked.

"No." was the short answer.

Chow and Ratso looked to each other. Where had the two disappeared?

"Something must have happened to them. Maybe the demon we just saw has - " Ratso started and Hak Foo grew interested.

"Demon?" he repeated.

Chow licked his lips. If Hak Foo decided to go demon hunting he would most certainly make them come too and now that he had had more time to think about it he thought it was a bad idea. Who knew what the demon could do!

"Yeah, a grey creature, slightly larger than a human. A little like those elves in LotR, except that he had red eyes." Ratso explained in excitement. He could understand the threat the demon was, but he took it much more lightly than others.

Hak Foo frowned.

"Ni Tang." he muttered.

"Huh? How did you know his name?" Chow asked. Hak Foo didn't reply, but seemed to have fallen into the sea of his own thoughts. He had a thoughtful expression on his face and Chow and Ratso looked at him. How much did Hak Foo know, anyway?

"We have to go after him and bring him back." the warrior decided suddenly.

"Why?" Ratso wanted to know.

"Yeah. Wouldn't it be better if he stayed away?" Chow added.

"No, because this demon is Valmont."

There was silent until Chow started to laugh.

"Haha... That was a good one Hak." he said. "Wasn't it?" he made sure hoping that it really had been a joke.

"I never joke." Hak Foo replied.

"But... Valmont? What are you talking about?"

Hak Foo thought it over a while. He had many times considered telling the others the truth of what had really happened, but had never done it. Valmont hadn't allowed it and he had had no right to rebel against his master. But he was gone now - at least on some level - and it was the best for everyone if the truth came out.

"When Valmont was banished in the Netherworld five years ago the demons turned him into one of them and sent him here to open the portals. His name was Ni Tang and he remembered nothing of his real life until they opened the portal of the thunder demon. The spell broke there and he became a human again. Now something must have activated the spell and Ni Tang is back." Hak Foo said. He rarely talked that much at once and just accepting that was hard enough for Chow and Ratso.

"Valmont is..." Chow began.

"A demon?" Ratso finished. They glanced at each other in shock. Of course they had noticed how the demon had looked like Valmont, but neither had imagined those two could have something to do with each other.

Hak Foo nodded.

"He can tell more once we have broken the spell again." he said.

To be continued...