HEING MEH
Chapter 22
Jackie could only stare at the sight in shock.
Jade, his beloved niece was...
"No... Jade..." he muttered and watched as Hsi Wu cried next to the girl. The demon looked more angry than sad and yet Jackie could tell that his tears were real.
He had had no idea... Had Jade known? Had Hsi Wu himself known until now?
"Jade, please..." he said quietly and stepped next to Hsi Wu. Jackie was too shocked to cry and he couldn't even think of tears. They would come when it was their time.
Only about ten seconds had passed since Jade's death, but everyone had already realised the situation. The demons knew Heing Meh had got what he had been after, Hsi Wu was the only one who cared about Jade's death.
But everyone else had lost someone they had loved - with the exception of Valmont.
"This can't be true." Tohru said and shook his head. He looked lost and could only look at Jade's bloodied figure. He couldn't force himself to take a step closer, doing that would have made it all more real.
"Let me through!" a sharp voice said suddenly and those who were in control of themselves watched as Po Kong rushed at Jade's side. She was in her human form again, she had already realised that she would not be very useful as a demon.
"What are you - " Jackie started, but Po Kong didn't stop to listen. She didn't care about the angry shouts of Jade's relatives and friends, but made her way past them stopping right next to her.
Then she drew a complicated symbol on the girl's forehead with her nail and broke her skin. Blood dripped on Jade's face.
"Why did you do that?" Tohru asked angrily. Jackie looked just as angry and confused. It was clear that he thought the mountain demon had somehow disgraced Jade's body. Uncle and Hsi Wu looked thankful though.
"Thank you, Po Kong." Hsi Wu whispered hoarsely. He brushed Jade's hair with his claws. The girl was still dead.
"What? What did she do?" Jackie asked turning to face Uncle. He looked worried and yet his eyes held a faint hint of hope. Maybe the demons could do something...
Uncle pointed at the wound on Jade's forehead.
"That is one of the ancient symbols of Kan Pu. It forbids Jade's soul from leaving her body." the old man explained.
Jackie blinked.
"So she is alive?" he asked. Uncle shook his head.
"No, Jade is just as dead as a moment ago. Her soul can't travel to the afterlife now."
Now Jackie wasn't hopeful anymore, just angry again.
"What? So Jade is stuck in her body? Why did you do that?" he asked in rage pointing his last question to Po Kong, who stood calmly next to Jade.
"That is the only way to get her back. If her soul had left we could have revived only the body, but that wouldn't have been the real Jade. Now that the soul is still in her we can have her back." the mountain demon said.
"Can you revive the dead?" Tohru asked.
"No one in my family can do it. But he can." Po Kong replied and pointed at Necrosis, who had been standing some steps away without anyone noticing him. The old man lifted his gaze now that he was mentioned again.
"I?" he asked and glanced at the others.
"Yes, you. You have tried to hide the gift of your family, but you will never get rid of it. I could sense you the moment I stepped in here." the mountain demon said.
"What are you even doing here?" Jackie asked. Necrosis looked at him in silence for a while before replying.
"Shin wanted me to prepare the altar for him and be present. He said he needed me. I was forced into this." he said emphasizing the last part. He didn't look like he felt very comfortable in their presence.
"So it is also your fault that Jade is gone..." Jackie said. Now he didn't look that angry anymore, only tired and frustrated. If the same had been told to him a moment ago he would have attacked the older man.
"Yes, but with his help Jade can come back." Po Kong stated. Her words gave everyone new hope.
Tohru looked at Po Kong still in surprise.
"I... Thank you, but... why?" he asked. Po Kong smiled at him.
"Maybe I want someone to trust me." she said quietly.
She wouldn't have had to bother, no one but Tohru could have heard her anyway. Jackie sat next to Jade holding her hand and looking at her in sorrow.
"Be calm Jade, you can come back soon." he whispered and leaned his head against the girl's bloodied chest.
Then he finally cried.
Hsi Wu blinked. His tears had dried and he felt empty. And he was also ashamed.
He lifted his gaze and looked at his siblings. What were they thinking of him? It was not special for a a demon to cry. He remembered how Tso Lan had told him about Shendu's sorrow after the dragon's friend had been slaughtered by humans. But it was not proper for a demon to mourn because of a mortal.
Shaking slightly he stood up and flew to his siblings. It felt bad to leave Jade, but the demon knew her body was safe with her family.
"I am sorry." he said harshly and kept his head lowered. He knew that he should have been proud and not crawled in front of anyone. He also tried to remind himself of that if he had to apologize to someone it certainly wasn't his family.
Maybe they mean more to me than I want to admit, he thought to himself, but pushed the thought back. There was no time for it.
"Don't be." Tso Lan said and for a short moment Hsi Wu could feel his brother's hand on his shoulder. He raised his head. None of his siblings looked angry or despising, not even Shendu and that surprised him.
"You could have at least chosen a decent mortal..." the dragon muttered and looked away. Hsi Wu knew that that he could never make Shendu say anything better. The fire demon hated Jade just as much as Hsi Wu... loved her...
"She might not be the same girl you made friends with five years ago. Humans don't change only physically." Tso Lan said.
Hsi Wu nodded.
"I know and I sound stupid. I... I haven't really even met her after I let her go. But I didn't have to. I don't have any doubts." he said and this time Shendu snorted.
"How pathetic..." he muttered. "Hsi Wu likes Chan's niece. Can anything bring more shame to our family?"
Hsi Wu slit his eyes and glared at his brother, but didn't say anything. It was very unlikely for Shendu to ever learn to tolerate any of the Chans. Other mortals maybe, but never those who had embarrassed him so much.
"I am not on the mood for fighting with you." he growled. Then he glanced behind him where the Chans had gathered around Jade. Po Kong had been polite enough to leave them.
"So you promised that we will revive the Chan girl." Shendu stated when the mountain demon had returned to them.
"Yes I did. So?" she asked.
"She is our enemy! They might be on our side now, but that doesn't mean that we need to help them!" Shendu said.
"Keep your voice down. If someone is putting our family in shame it is you." Bai Tsa snapped.
"Bai Tsa is right. You need to learn to control your anger or it will destroy you." Po Kong said. Shendu didn't reply, but everyone could see how angry he was.
Hsi Wu sighed to himself. Without Shendu he could have even liked his family.
Xu Lin swallowed with difficulty and looked at Jade's body. The previous year a girl had drowned in her village. She hadn't seen the body, but she had been told that she had looked sweet and like she had been just asleep.
Jade wasn't sweet and anyone could see that she wasn't asleep. Her skin was pale, pain was still clear on her face, her eyes were slightly open and the blood from her wound was all over her.
The worst part was of course the dagger in her chest and the white nightgown that looked like it had been dipped in red paint.
Xu Lin glanced at Jackie who sobbed against his niece and at very sad looking Uncle and Tohru. She bit her lip not knowing what to think. She concentrated in the demons' conversation for a while.
And then she felt ashamed.
She had worried so much about her dreams and even ran away because of them. She had thought that dreaming of Shendu was a horrible fate. It was nothing compared to what Jade had been through.
"Will she be fine?" she asked hopefully.
"Yes, we just need to revive her." Uncle said surprisingly softly and glanced at Necrosis. Xu Lin followed the old man's gaze and tilted her head when eyeing the other old man.
He didn't look very nice. Xu Lin didn't understand how he could have helped Shin in any way. The mere thought made her young heart fill with anger, but she thought she could keep it down if Necrosis really could help Jade.
Suddenly they heard loud steps and Xiao Fung stepped inside the hall. Viper and Hoyle were side by side with him. The trio looked around themselves in amazement.
"I have a feeling that we missed something important." Xiao Fung stated.
"Jade! Oh no..." Viper ran to her friends and stopped when she saw Jade's body. She covered her mouth with her hand and could say nothing in a while.
"What... what happened here?" she asked then her voice shaking.
"Shin. He killed Jade." Xu Lin explained.
Viper shook her head and kneeled next to Jackie.
"Jackie, I am so sorry..." she said softly. The man turned to look at her and tried to smile.
"I know." he said hoarsely. "But Jade will be back."
Viper blinked.
"How is that possible? I know that demons can do much, but can even they revive the dead? If they could, wouldn't they had done it to their brother?" she asked.
"The demons can't do it, but Necrosis can." Jackie said. Then he turned to Jade again and sighed. "Poor Jade... How she must have suffered." Jackie started to cry again and Viper's heart filled with pity and compassion. She felt her own eyes get teary when she looked at Jade.
She had to sniff.
"Jade is brave. She will make it." she said.
"I know." Jackie said forcing himself to talk. "But her soul is trapped in her body. Is it right for us to force her to live?"
Viper wanted to say yes, but she didn't. The question was too difficult, just like the answer.
When some time had passed Tso Lan decided that the mortals had had enough time to mourn. In a way he understood their desperation and grief, but he could not let it disturb their plans. Heing Meh had just grown remarkably stronger - even if they didn't know much of it - and they had to do everything to survive.
"We failed and now we must reconsider the situation." he said hovering to the mortals. He got angry glares as a reply.
"We have our hands full of something else at the moment." Jackie stated. Tso Lan frowned.
"I understand why you have momentarily forgotten our goal, but it is time to concentrate in what is important." he said.
"Important? We did all this because of Jade! She is the only reason why we are still here!" Jackie snapped.
"I am aware of that. And I have taken it into account when making new plans." the moon demon replied.
"What have you been thinking?" Uncle asked before Jackie managed to say anything else. Anyone could tell that the old man was tired and sad, but he somehow managed to stay in control of himself better than any of the mortals.
Well, with the exception of Valmont. The crime lord hadn't done or said anything and looked very calm indeed. Slightly pale perhaps.
"We have much to do at the moment, but nothing will be finished if we all don't agree. I have already decided what we need, and I also dare to suggest who will do what." Tso Lan said.
"You are too fast." Shendu pointed out.
"Probably because he never does anything but thinking." was Xiao Fung's opinion. Tso Lan paid no attention to either of his brothers.
"In order to defeat Heing Meh we need to know how to do it. To know it we need to open a portal in Sha Fuju and get the answers. We need me, the old Chan, Viper and Shendu's human slave for the spell. The small Chinese man is also needed to walk through the portal." he said.
"His name is Chow." Hsi Wu pointed out. He didn't look like he was listening to Tso Lan at all, he kept his eyes locked to Jade. The sky demon's claws twitched restlessly as if he couldn't bare to just stand there.
Tso Lan ignored the comment. He was a good leader and cared only about the information that actually meant something.
"And because we need the old Chan we have to revive your niece. It must be the only way to keep you on our side. This errand will be lead by Po Kong. The necromancer, his servant, Hsi Wu and Tohru will work with her." he continued.
"Wait! I also want to - " Jackie started, but Tso Lan raised a palm.
"Not before I have finished." he said. "It is also important to have our brother Ni Tang back. I have chosen Shendu to take care of this. Valmont will naturally be with him, just like Xiao Fung, the girl you call Xu Lin and the Chan warrior."
"And the rest of us? I was not given anything to do!" Bai Tsa said sharply. "If Xiao Fung and Shendu get a responsibility, I have to get one too!"
Tso Lan shot his sister a stern look.
"Patience, Bai Tsa. The rest of you - you, Dai Gui and all other mortals - will make sure that we are fully informed of everything. We others prepare our attack against Heing Meh and you find out as much as you can about him." he said.
"I want to be a part of Jade's revival! You can't understand how much she means to me." Jackie said.
"I know that, but you are needed elsewhere. You have no knowledge of necromancy. And do you want to leave Xu Lin alone with demons and a criminal?" Tso Lan asked.
"Of course not, but you can't just order us around! We are not your slaves!" was Jackie's angry reply.
"Not yet, at least..." Shendu muttered and Tso Lan glared at him.
"No, but we have many times more knowledge and experience than you. If we let you make the decisions we would all be doomed. Remember how you fought against us. No plan, you acted without considering and truested your luck." he said pointing his words at Jackie.
"We won." the man replied.
"But Heing Meh is a greater enemy than us. Choose; give up this time and win, or be stubborn and see everyone you love die."
Jackie lowered his eyes and looked like he was thinking hard. His chest rose fast as if he was out of breath and he closed his eyes for a moment.
"Fine..." he said sounding tired. "Fine, but this better work."
The situation was horrible and everyone was aware of the threat. No one could do anything though and it made them all feel frustrated. The demons had withdrawn to talk with each other and Tso Lan had asked Uncle to join them. The moon demon had said that he would be useful for them.
Valmont looked around himself in boredom. Chan with his relatives and friends was around Jade again and no one paid any attention to him. It was a good thing, he finally had some time for himself.
He licked his lips and felt rather nervous. The feeling had become familiar to him during the last weeks and now he was not able to put it behind him anymore. Now he couldn't claim that everything was fine.
The demons were going to bring Ni Tang back.
The thought made Valmont flinch. He had been aware of the demon's existence, the latest events hadn't allowed him to forget. But he didn't want to know much of it. Ni Tang meant only more disorder in his life.
Good thing that Sharon left, he thought to himself. He had got a hasty message from his sister, something about going back home. Valmont had been surprised, but not sorry. He hadn't been able to talk with his sister in a long while and it would have been really difficult to explain all this to her.
But Ni Tang... What had happened with Xu Lin had been enough to tell Valmont that something was wrong. He had actually turned into the polar demon he feared so much, at least if he was to believe others. He himself had no memory of the event.
It could happen again at any moment. Valmont didn't know if there was a special reason to why the demon had broken free at that certain moment. He only knew that he didn't want to experience it again.
Tso Lan had said that his inner conflict would tear him apart if nothing was done. Valmont didn't think he could solve the problem himself. He needed help from the demons and Chan - as much as the thought disgusted him. Especially when the demons were concerned.
And then there was one other thing he had to think about.
The Nameless hadn't talked to him in a long while now. Valmont didn't miss the demon at all - if he even was one - but he was worried because of his sudden disappearance. Where had he gone? And why?
He felt like he should have talked about it to someone, but it didn't seem like a very appealing option. He wasn't very keen on the idea of associating with the demons any more than was necessary.
"Do not move her!" he exclaimed suddenly when he saw Jackie slip his arms under Jade. The Chinese stopped and stared at him.
"Why not? We can't leave her here." Jackie said.
"I know, but you can't move her that way. She has a deep wound in her chest. I also see that someone has removed the dagger in such an amateurish way." Valmont replied taking steps closer.
Jackie frowned.
"It would have been cruel to leave it there." he said.
"So you are the one who took it? I should have known. By doing that you hurt your niece more. The wound is now larger and it's bleeding more." Valmont said. He felt very odd when looking at Jade's dead form. The girl had always been so... living.
Jackie frowned.
"And you could have done better? What do you know about this?" he asked. Valmont flashed him a self-confident grin.
"I studied medicine, Chan. I am almost a doctor." he announced.
Jackie blinked.
"You? A doctor? Hard to believe." he stated in surprise and suspicion. Valmont said nothing, merely looked pleased with himself. Surprising and irritating Chan was fun every time he did it. He had to admit he had almost missed it.
The bad thing was of course than in order to do it he had to be in Jackie's presence.
"Well, you don't look like a world saviour either." he said.
Jackie didn't reply, but looked at the man in front of himself looking thoughtful. Then he glanced at Jade.
"Can you do anything for her?" he asked. Valmont said nothing, only lifted a brow. Jackie clenched his fists. "Please?"
Valmont smiled weakly. That was all he had needed to hear. He took a step closer.
"Her body is dead so the wound will not heal. It can get nastily infected though, so we have to at least try to bandage it somehow. Besides, I doubt she'd want to wake up with a whole in her chest, hm?" he said.
"I could have guessed that too. How will we get her out of here?" Jackie asked.
"We will carry her."
"But you just said - "
"In a proper way."
Jackie frowned.
"You don't seem like a doctor. I would have never though that you wanted to help people." he stated.
"I never wanted, but doctors get paid rather well and they have a high social status. Besides, knowing my family, I didn't have much options." Valmont replied. He didn't look at Jackie when he talked, but eyed Jade. The wound was very nasty.
"I see." Jackie merely said. Valmont could sense that the Chinese was not interested in his little story and he didn't even want to share it with his enemy. One thing he was going to say though, and enjoy Chan's reaction.
"But to be honest, I always wanted to become an archaeologist." he announced.
Jackie shot him a disturbed look.
When most of the group had stayed in Shin's odd palace Bai Tsa had returned to Dai Gui's place. She was excited because of her and Dai Gui's mission and could hardly wait getting on it.
"Hey mortals!" she said cheerfully and peered in the room where Finn and others were.
No one replied, merely stared at her. The water demon frowned.
"I greeted you. Aren't you going to say anything?" she asked.
"Eh... hi?" Finn offered.
"We have been given a mission." Bai Tsa said happily ignoring the Irishman.
"We meaning who?" Finn asked. He glanced at others.
"Me, brother Dai Gui, you, him and him." the water demon said pointing at Hak Foo and Ratso in the end of her speech.
"What about me?" Chow asked. He didn't look very pleased knowing that he was going to be separated from his friends.
"Tso Lan has plans for you. Just like for you too." Bai Tsa said. He last words were for Origami who looked just as displeased as Chow.
"Is she always that odd?" Ratso whispered to Finn when the demon didn't look in their direction.
"Yeah, but she happens to be on a good mood at the moment. She can snap in seconds and lose her self-control." his friend replied.
"You must know her pretty well."
"Nah, she just drags me around everywhere." Finn said and then he thought about something.
"Hey, what happened with Chan's niece?" he asked.
Bai Tsa shrugged.
"Oh, she died." she stated.
"Ouch... Chan is not going to like that." Finn said.
"He doesn't really have an option. Besides, we already got a necromancer to revive her. But that has nothing to do with out mission." Bai Tsa said.
Ah, this was so exciting! For the first time in a while she could do something important almost by herself and without taking instructions.
"What do we have to do?" Hak Foo asked. He didn't seem to have anything against of being involved with demons again. Bai Tsa smiled at him.
"When the others take care of other things we are looking for information. We have to find out as much as we can about Heing Meh and how to use that information to our advantage."
Hak Foo looked disappointed.
"Library work?" he asked.
"Come on Hak, it might be boring but at least it's safe." Finn pointed out.
"Not really." Bai Tsa said. "Tso Lan and the old Chan can keep their books to themselves as long as I am concerned. We are going on an adventure."
"Adventure?" Finn repeated in suspicion.
"Yes. First we have to visit my dead empire and get the Eye of Atlantis. After that we are going to spy on Heing Meh." Bai Tsa explained excitedly. She knew better than well that she didn't sound very demonic or cruel, but she was too happy to care. Nothing this exciting had happened to her in a while.
"We are going to Atlantis? Isn't it like, underwater?" Ratso asked in curiosity.
"Yes. So?" Bai Tsa asked.
"Hey, in the case you forgot, we are humans. We won't survive long without air." Finn said.
Bai Tsa tapped her cheek in though. Well, she had kinda forgotten, but would never say it aloud.
"I will take care of that. Be ready, we will leave soon. There is no time to lose." she said. Then she suddenly remembered something. "Oh! Tso Lan asked me to bring Shendu's slave and the one named Chow to him. I didn't forget of course, but we better go before he gets mad." she said and gestured at Chow and Origami. "Come on, now."
Viper kept her arms around her. It was an old childhood habit that helped her to feel safe. And at the moment she needed to rely on something.
So much had happened in a short amount of time. Now that the situation had calmed down a little she couldn't avoid thinking about it anymore. They really were working with the demons now, she had something to do with this Sha Fuju and on top of it all, Jade had died.
The woman felt tears in her eyes as she thought about it and she blinked angrily at herself. Why had that happened? Jade had never hurt anynone, she hadn't deserved her fate.
She glanced at the others who were around. Tso Lan stood in silence and his red eyes held no emotion. Not even anger or disappointment. At that moment Viper hated him more than ever.
Thankfully Unce was there with them. The old man wasn't perhaps the best company, but at least he was someone Viper could trust and she knew that he meant good.
"What are we going to do now?" she asked.
"If the demons have told the truth we can open a portal in Sha Fuju and - " Uncle started, but Viper interrupted him.
"Another portal? I am starting to think that the solution to everything is opening a portal." the woman said.
"Don't disturb Uncle! Portals have been useful this far, but we can not use them forever. It could be that Sha Fuju is the last place where we can travel through a portal." the old man snapped.
"Uhhuh. But what does it exactly do?" Viper asked. She had understood most of what everyone had said, but she was not pleased with her information. She wanted to know much more!
"Have you not listened? Sha Fuju is the realm of Dreams where all answers are. According to the demons you and Origami can open the portal and Chow can travel through it. If everything goes as we have planned Heing Meh will fall." Uncel said sounding greatly impatient. Viper suspected that it was because all that had been explained many times already.
"Fine, I won't ask it again. But I have no idea how that portal should be opened." she said.
"Neither does Uncle. It must have something to do with the artefact that fascinates you so much." Uncle replied.
Viper slipped her hand in her pocket and felt the item in her finges. So many things had happened that she had almost forgotten that it existed. It had been in her mind at times, but only now she fully remembered it.
"It has something to do with many things." Tso Lan said after Viper had taken the artefact for everyone to see. "It is the other half of the key that we need to open the portal."
"And Origami has the other half?" Viper asked.
"Yes, at least according to Shendu. I think I have an idea of how to use the key. But we need to do some research and then we can open the portal." the moon demon replied.
"Well, what about - " Viper started, but stopped when Bai Tsa appeared with Origami and Chow. She looked at the two men in thought. She had met both of them, but Viper didn't know either very well. They could have been complete strangers to her.
"Now we are all here." Tso Lan announced. Bai Tsa left pretty soon and waved at her brother in the process. The water demon was in her human form again, she insisted staying that way because of the state of Dai Gui's palace, and now that she was on a good mood she looked exactly like she had in New York.
The thought made Viper feel slightly more depressed. She hadn't really lost a friend, she just hadn't wanted to be in contact with her after she had found out who she was. But that was understandable, right?
Maybe, maybe not. Viper realised that Bai Tsa hadn't known anything about Heing Meh or this mess when they had made friends. The water demon had befriended her because she had wanted and with no evil motives. And when she had tried to capture Viper with her brothers she had done it only because they had needed her.
Would Heing Meh have been already destroyed if she hadn't defyed the demons? Would Jade be still alive? The demons would have had everything they needed to open the portal... No, she shouldn't think that way. She hadn't known anything about the demons' plan and had done exactly what everyone else would have.
"... and when we have compleated our research we can finally open the portal." Tso Lan said. Viped realised that she hadn't been following the conversation at all. She hoped that nothing important had slipped past her.
"But what are you going to do to us when you don't need us anymore?" Origami asked.
"Yeah. Viper is your friend and all, but what about us? We are no use to you after this." Chow added.
"Shendu has taken you as your slave and it is up to him to decide about your fate. And you - " Tso Lan was talking to Chow now, " - I believe that you can do whatever you want after this. If you don't want to join us, that is."
"Not a chance." Chow stated looking clearly happier. Origami on the other hand didn't look that pleased. Viper didn't have to ask why. She wouldn't have been smiling either if her life was in the hands of Shendu.
"Maybe he will let you go. Isn't this exactly why he took you? He has no use for you after this." she suggested. Origami glanced at her looking slightly surprised because Viper had talked to him.
"Hope so." the man said. Viper saw nothing positive in his eyes. The Japanese was almost expressionless and the only feeling Viper could see in him was hate. It was a weak, but clear proof of what the man felt towards them.
"You can't be serious if you want me to resurrect the girl. It is far beyond my abilities." Necrosis said corssing his arms on his chest.
"You are a necromancer, aren't you?" Po Kong asked.
"I was supposed to be one. I chose my own path when I had just started my studies. And even if I could help I wouldn't do it voluntarily. I do not want to return to that life!" the old man said. He closed his mouth when he realised he might have said too much already.
"You have to help us. It is the only way to get Jade back." Tohru said. "Now that her soul can not go on we have to do something."
The Japanese's words made everyone turn to look at the girl's body. Jackie and Valmont had done their best when cleaning her and taking her to Dai Gui's palace. Now she looked better, almost like she was ready to be buried.
And Hsi Wu sat next to her keeping his wings protectively above her. Necrosis thought the sight was more than disturbing.
"How many times do I have to say that I can do nothing? I probably could help if we had books from my family's library, but we don't." he said.
"Well, why don't we go and get them?" Hsi Wu asked.
"Excuse me? I have to travel to Sweden?" Valmont asked and shouted at the same time.
"Yes, and we as well. As if I had nothing better to do." Shendu muttered.
"But why Sweden?" Valmont wanted to know. He didn't know much about the country, only that it was in north and that people spoke an odd language there.
"I would like to know that too." Jackie pointed out.
"We have to solve this Ni Tang problem and the best place for that is Sweden." the fire demon explained. He looked really angry and no one had to guess why. He had been forced to work with the two mortals he hated the most, and his stupidest brother was with him too.
The only one he thought he could tolerate was Xu Lin. And that was only because the girl was silent for most of the time.
"Why can't we do it here? I don't know anything about Sweden. And we can't even speak their language." Valmont said.
Shendu rubbed his face tiredly.
"Xiao Fung can." he said.
"Actually I can't. I speak Norwegian." the wind demon corrected.
"Norwegian, Swedish, what's the difference? Aren't they exactly the same?" his brother snapped.
"They resemble each other, but have many differences too. I don't even know much about Sweden because Loki was from Norway."
"Who is Loki?" Xu Lin asked. Xiao Fung looked pleased because someone had asked.
"A friend of mine. You must have heard of him, he is often associated with wind and fire, and he is the father of Midgårdsormen, Fenrir and Hel and the mother of Sleipnir." he said.
"I don't want to know how that is possible." Valmont stated.
"No you don't and we have no time for Norse mythology anyway. We are talking about Sweden here." Shendu said.
"Well, one could say that ancient Norway and Sweden - "Xiao Fung started, but when he saw his brother's angry glare he decided to stop.
Shendu drew a deep breath.
"So, there is a mountain called Kebnekaise in the northern parts of Sweden. It has many mysterious powers and the air is thick of nature's magic there. That is one of the reasons why it is perfect for Ni Tang. The other is that it is now winter in Europe so there is a polar night in Scandinavia." he explained.
"And polar night is Ni Tang's element." Valmont added in defeat. Ugh, just thinking about it disgusted him. What did they think he could do in Keb - whatever?
"Exactly. We will jump in an airplance and travel to northern Europe." Shendu said. From the fire demon's voice and position anyone could say that he wasn't interested in the task at all, and that he wanted to get it over with as soon as possible.
The Nameless stretched his red wings in pleasure and drew air in his lungs. It was so long since he had last breathed! And the joy of it hadn't even lasted that long... Ah, it felt so good to be alive!
"You have done well." he said to Shin who had knelt in front of him. Shin was badly injured and his face was ruined by the sky demon. His blood made the Nameless feel excited and if Shin hadn't been important he would have tasted it.
"As I promised, master." Shin said. The Nameless watched him and it seemed to him that Shin had been about to say something else as well.
"Yes? I sense that you have something to say." he stated.
Shin froze for a moment before replying.
"Master... It was our agreement that I would help you to regain your strenght. I have now revived you and I would like to know... May I return to my wife and children now?" he asked.
The Nameless chuckled.
"Our agreement is not over yet. I am alive, but not powerful yet. Besides, I still need you. I have many enemies and much work if I want to take my place as Heing Meh." he said. "But thankfully I have been helped already. Ni Tang has been fighting with himself and by doing that he offered a place for me in his mind. Without that touch to this world I might not have been able to return."
"Yes, master." Shin said. "But could I at least inform my family that I am alive? They must be worried."
The Nameless slit his eyes and slashed with his tail. His black tongue tasted the air.
"Family... I don't understand why you value it so much." he snorted. "My family has never been any good for me."
To be continued...