I don't own Jackie Chan Adventures and I am not making money with this story. All rights belong to Sony and other companies.
Thanks to my beta reader Alan Wilkinson and everyone who reviewed.
HEING MEH
Chapter 35
Bai Tsa eyed the half painted room, wrinkling her nose. Opening the portal to Sha Fuju had interrupted her and Finn's work and now the man wasn't even there anymore. How infuriating!
Never before had the water demon let a slave escape and survive. Even now she didn't want to do it and her fingers itched to get a hold of the man who had ridiculed her so. What would her siblings think of her now that she had let him go?
"At least that cursed Shendu isn't here to laugh at me..." she muttered to herself. She drew a deep breath. There was no way she would continue painting alone. She wasn't in the mood of doing anything creative.
Her eyes drifted to the Eye of Atlantis and she felt a pang inside her. She hadn't done anything to use the item for their purpose. She had just let it lie there. Now that their plans were stuck, it was a good time to do something for her family.
The water demon slithered to her beloved artefact and caught it in her arms. She caressed the pearl's smooth surface and gave it a gentle kiss. She let herself calm down and recalled the times she had done this in the ancient times.
Using the Eye of Atlantis wasn't very simple. In order for it to work you had to tell it the name of the desired target. If there were many beings with the same name, you had to be more specific and concentrate on something he, she or it had done or what they looked like. The pearl worked very much like computers, in a way.
She took a moment to remember the time when she had spied on Shendu's personal matters. She had been young then and that sort of thing had been fun.
She had to admit that it still was.
"Show me Heing Meh," she whispered, closed her eyes and prepared herself for the vision. It was extremely unlikely that two beings could have that name, so she didn't bother to do much else.
Nothing happened.
Bai Tsa frowned in confusion. There couldn't be two Heing Mehs, the legend only spoke of one. She shook her head and tried again. Perhaps she had forgotten how to do it. But again she got no results.
"Cursed junk," she muttered. Thankfully she knew that Heing Meg was their dead brother. The water demon tried again and this time she pictured a brown dragon with red feathered wings in front of her.
She was faced with nothing again. Now Bai Tsa was starting to get mad.
"I know I'm doing it right!" she hissed and stared in disbelief at the Eye of Atlantis. Why didn't it show Heing Meh to her?
She forced herself to calm down and tried again. This time she asked the artefact to show her Po Kong, and in order to be sure she even thought about her sister's green body.
Suddenly the image of the mountain demon filled her mind and she heard her voice in her head.
"This is quite an odd question. I didn't think that --"
Bai Tsa opened her eyes. Normally she would have been interested in with whom the mountain demon was talking, but right now she had something else in her mind.
"It works," she said to herself and pressed the Eye of Atlantis closer to her. There is nothing wrong with the Pearl. Why doesn't it show Heing Meh to me?
Tso Lan must hear about this! she thought. The water demon rose up and slithered away, holding the pearl against her pounding heart.
She found her brother in the library where he was currently having a conversation with the old Chan. Neither of them looked very happy when Bai Tsa rushed there panting and looking shaken.
"What is it, Bai Tsa?" Tso Lan asked.
"This!" the water demon snapped and threw the Eye of Atlantis in the middle of the table between the moon demon and Uncle. "Something is wrong!"
"Please, do be more specific," Tso Lan suggested dryly.
"Gladly. I was trying to see Heing Meh with this, but nothing happened. Not even after I tried to picture him in my mind!" Bai Tsa said.
"Perhaps it's broken," Uncle suggested giving the pearl a knock.
"No it isn't. I managed to see Po Kong," the water demon replied.
Tso Lan bent down and placed all of his arms on the pearl. He closed his eyes and for a moment Uncle and Bai Tsa could only look as he tried to concentrate. The water demon didn't really like it that her brother touched her treasure like that -- one of her lovers, a shell demon, had given it to her. It was the most personal thing she owned.
"Well?" she asked, crossing her arms on her chest. The moon demon straightened looking serious.
"Nothing. I have seen Heing Meh with my own eyes, so I should be able to see him," he said.
"Then why can't you?" Uncle asked.
"I can't say," Tso Lan admitted, shaking his head. His hand rose to touch the wound Shendu had inflicted on him. "Perhaps Heing Meh was prepared and hides behind a spell that is unfamiliar to us."
"I don't think so," Bai Tsa stated. "The Eye of Atlantis is very powerful and one can't hide from it. There must be something else behind this."
"Then what do you suggest?" Tso Lan asked and Bai Tsa slit her eyes.
"I don't know! You should be the expert on these things!" she snapped.
"You can't expect us to concentrate on this right now. We already have problems," Uncle pointed out and the water demon turned to stare at him in awe and rage. Did that mortal really dare to talk like that to her?
"Listen --" she started, but Tso Lan silenced her with a wave of his hand. She turned to glare at her brother instead. Was he on the mortal's side?
"You are frustrated for a reason, sister. But it may be for the best if you use your energy on something else than annoying others," the moon demon said.
"Like?" Bai Tsa asked sharply. It seemed that she wouldn't manage to get along with anyone on that day.
"Help finding your missing slave and his companions. We need the one called Chow if we ever want to get rid of Heing Meh," Tso Lan stated. "We don't have an idea where they have gone."
"Yes, I'm sure you've been looking for them so hard," the water demon stated dryly. She knew Tso Lan better than well. He only wanted to sit, surrounded by his books, and sound wiser than he was while letting everyone else do the dirty work.
"I will send Jackie after them," Uncle decided. "He can bring them back faster than anyone else."
"Wait a minute," Bai Tsa started. "He is my slave, after all. This is my hunt!"
She caught the Eye of Atlantis in her arms, turned her back on her brother and Uncle and slithered away. She felt much better all of sudden. It was long since she had last time taken part in action.
San Francisco wasn't very familiar to her as she had spent most of her time in New York after Tchang Zu's death. She realised that Viper was probably still furious at her, but she moved the thought aside. She would make up with her former friend later when she had time -- and if she was in the right mood.
She took the Eye of Atlantis to her rooms and left to look for her prey. Not Finn and the others though, but someone who could tell her where they were.
"What do you want from me?" Valmont yelped when Bai Tsa suddenly charged at him behind a corner and pressed him roughly against the wall.
"Information, dear... brother," the demon growled. Valmont struggled in her grasp and Bai Tsa could only imagine how unpleasant the man had to find the situation. Her mind was momentarily filled with images of the ancient times. Times when she had used men as she pleased.
It was actually a pity that Ni Tang was her brother. In a way, at least.
"What information?" Valmont asked. "I don't know anything you could be interested in!" He chuckled and took a glance around, as if searching for an escape or expecting someone to come and save him.
"Where did your men go? They must have a hide-out and you know where it is," Bai Tsa hissed.
"I have no idea where they could be! I am in no way interested in how they spend their time, so I can't possibly know all the rat traps they can hide in!" Valmont attempted and continued his struggle. Bai Tsa tightened her hold a little.
"Oh, really? And what would make you know?"
"You can't hurt me! We are family!" Valmont snapped.
"Yes... Shendu expressed touching sibling love a moment ago, don't you think? I would like to try as well." Bai Tsa brought her face so close to Valmont that their noses almost touched.
"I don't know anything! I swear on my mother's grave!" the Brit swore.
"You do realise that unless we find them we will never get Heing Meh destroyed, and therefore he is ready to come and kill you?" Bai Tsa asked, remembering what Valmont had said about the demon.
"Did I already mention that they are probably with a woman named Isabelle? Let me write the address down for you," Valmont said.
"This is so infuriating! I want to do something! Anything!" Jade argued.
"Jade, be sensible. You are sick and can't wander around the palace. Remember what happened last time. If Hsi Wu hadn't been there..." Jackie said sounding really frustrated.
"Yeah, but couldn't Uncle come up with a healing spell or can't we just use the Horse Talisman? My head will explode if I can't do something soon!" Jade said. She didn't even remember when she had last felt that horrible. She wanted to run along the corridors, explore them and enjoy this great adventure before it was all over.
"Uncle is busy with other things, but that Talisman sounds like a good idea. I'll ask Captain Black if I could fetch if for you tomorrow. Be patient," Jackie promised.
"Could I at least get out of bed today?" Jade asked and her uncle only sighed.
"I almost want to say yes to have some silence here..." he muttered.
"Gee, thanks for patience toward the sick."
"So now you're sick?" Jackie asked. Jade showed her tongue at him. "Stay here with Xu Lin. I will go and see if I could get the Talisman."
Jade's face brightened immediately. She had to wonder why no one had thought of the little horsie sooner.
"Sure, Jackie. I won't move an inch," she promised eagerly and flashed her most innocent smile at him.
"Good," Jackie and turned to Xu Lin. "Make sure she keeps her promise."
"Of course. I won't let her leave," the girl promised. Jackie left the two of them alone.
"Well, finally. I would have gone crazy if I had had to stay here any longer," Jade sighed.
"He didn't actually promise anything yet," Xu Lin reminded her.
"No, but it doesn't matter. Black can't say no to his request," Jade remarked happily. She looked at the nightgown she was wearing. "I will be so glad to get out of this."
She wondered what had happened to her own clothes. She remembered waking up in Shin's place in another kind of gown. It had probably been thrown away, and she didn't miss it. She frowned as she tried to remember what had happened after she had been imprisoned.
Her mind wasn't completely empty and when she closed her eyes she could almost see glimpses of events. Shin, Necrosis, a dagger...
She gave up with a sigh. It was useless to torment herself. Besides, the Talisman would probably help her remember -- if she even wanted that.
"I could go and get you new clothes from your room at Uncle's shop," Xu Lin promised.
"Would you? That would be great!" Jade said. "And hey, could you also buy me some chocolate or something? I'm sick of the soup Jackie makes me eat. There is money in my drawer."
"Sure. I'll leave now so I'll be back before Jackie returns," Xu Lin said.
"Nah, he would never be angry at you."
"What do you think will happen to us once this is over?"
"That is quite an odd question. I didn't think that you'd ask me about it," Po Kong said.
"Sensei couldn't offer a satisfying answer," Tohru stated. The mountain demon looked at the man somewhat amused. She was in her human form for a change, only to be able to have a better conversation with the mortal.
"And I can?"
"Not necessarily," Tohru said carefully. "I would just like to hear a demon's opinion. What do you think we should do?"
Po Kong tilted her head in thought.
"I would go after the escaped mortals, take them back here, force the answer out of them and punish them for disobedience," she said then. "That way I would solve this entire problem."
"So you agree with Tso Lan?" Po Kong could hear that Tohru was disappointed. It amused her even more.
"Not exactly. My idea of a suitable punishment is a little different than his." She patted her belly and Tohru grimaced in disgust.
"You can't be serious," he said.
"Of course I can. I don't enjoy the taste of mortals any more than I like to eat animals, but you always provide a wonderful show beforehand," Po Kong stated.
"Are you aware that meat tastes bad if the subject was very afraid before death? If it never knows what hit it, it will taste much better," Tohru said.
"Really?" Po Kong asked smiling. "And if I like the taste of fear?"
"In that case I would be very disappointed," Tohru said, looking even a little sad. Po Kong felt herself growing frustrated. What did that mortal expect? Should she have denied all of that just to please him?
"Me too. I thought you were mature enough to understand what we are like."
"I do understand. Better than well, in fact."
"Then why are we having this conversation?" The mountain demon raised her voice and looked angrily at the Japanese. There wasn't supposed to be anything unclear between them. Five years ago she had wanted to have a little fun and seduce him when he didn't know who she was, but that was it. That was all.
"I want to understand better," Tohru said. "Jade understands, Xu Lin is not far from it and if an impatient and selfish person like Valmont can understand... so can I."
Po Kong smiled. "Perhaps he understands because of those exact qualities. Many have tried to understand and some managed, but that was in the ancient times. I can't even think that you modern humans would learn to appreciate what was important back then. You have grown in a different world, surrounded by different values."
"It's about more than just our understanding. You know that we will have to banish you back if you don't begin to learn to adjust to our world. You also know that we will be successful. We don't have to go that far if you try to understand us," Tohru said.
"What do you think we have been doing the past five years? Why do you suppose I was working in that bakery? Because I was secretly planning to take over San Francisco?" Po Kong asked sharply and Tohru was startled.
"I didn't think of that," he admitted. "This is too difficult. I don't know what to think or do."
"Well, if you really want to do something, you could offer me a lunch. I'm hungry," Po Kong said.
"Again? Didn't you just eat?" Tohru asked.
"That was a snack. A girl like me can't be filled like that."
Several people turned their heads when a tall, nice looking woman who for some odd reason had blue hair, walked past them on the street. Her face was completely expressionless and even the death glare from one older lady didn't change that.
Bai Tsa drew the paper with the address from her pocket and took another look at it. As stated before, she didn't know San Francisco very well and had wandered around the same area for a while now. And when one took into notion her looks, it wasn't a wonder that people were starting to pay attention.
"Excuse me," she said stopping one of the by-passers, despising herself for having to ask a mortal for help. "Could you tell me where to find this address?"
The person in question was a dark young man. He took a quick look at the demon's paper. Then he raised his eyes and looked at her.
"It's in that direction," he said pointing towards left. "Turn right after a while. I think you should walk past it within ten minutes or so. I'm not sure." Bai Tsa thanked briefly and continued. She slipped the address back to her pocket and quickened her pace.
She wasn't in a bad mood -- that was quite a miracle -- but really eager to have this done and get her slave back. If she got the answer in the process she could say that she had been immense use to her family. That hadn't happened in a while.
Suddenly she felt like someone was watching her. Bai Tsa stopped on her heels and turned to look around her. Of course she roused attention because of her hair -- it was a conscious choice, she loved attention -- but this felt different. As if someone had tickled her back.
"Strange..." she muttered to herself and let it be. The feeling didn't last for very long and she decided to think about it again once she had more time.
Soon she found the building she was looking for and tried the door. It wasn't locked so she stepped in.
Bai Tsa fond herself in a spacious, dim room. Surprisingly, everything was made of wood and the place was more like a medieval pub than a modern one. Pictures with mountain views only added to that effect. At the back of the room was a fireplace made of stone, but there was no fire in it. One would have never thought that a place like that existed in San Francisco.
"We're not open yet, miss," a female voice behind her said and Bai Tsa whirled around. She stared the roundish woman in the eyes. She had a white towel over her shoulder, and the demon guessed she either owned the place or worked there.
"I didn't come to drink but to look for some people," she stated. She noticed how the woman's eyebrows moved a little, but other than that there was no change in her.
"Then you must come again later. Right now only I am here. Even the guests are away," Isabelle said.
Bai Tsa shifted on her place. "I don't think so. Someone trustworthy told me that they are here right now. It would be the easiest for you to tell me where Finn and the rest are."
"Why do you want to see them?"
The water demon heard a tone in the woman's voice and it made her both amused and annoyed at the same time. Nevertheless, a wide smile appeared on her face.
"Let's just say that I and Finn are very close. You could call him my slave," she said self-confidently. Dark flush rose on Isabelle's face and her eyes flashed.
"I see," she snapped abruptly. "Follow me."
Bai Tsa chuckled to herself as the big woman led her upstairs. There they stopped at one of the doors and Isabelle knocked on it.
"You have a guest," she announced poisonously. It didn't take longer than mere seconds before Finn had rushed to them with a shocked expression on his face.
"But no one was supposed to know that we are here!" he said. Then his eyes fell on Bai Tsa. "You!" he snapped.
"Did you think you could escape me just like that?" the water demon asked maliciously and slit her eyes. Finn looked at her and then at Isabelle. The demon would have liked to laugh, but it would have entirely ruined her fun.
"Quick, hold her while Ratso takes Chow out and then --" the Irishman suddenly exclaimed at the dark woman, but she didn't seem very happy to hear about his ideas.
"Dream on. This is one problem you can take care of on your own!" she snapped angrily, turned around and marched downstairs. Bai Tsa thought she saw tears in her eyes. How amusing indeed!
"Wait! She's not what you think!" Finn attempted, but it was useless. He and Bai Tsa were now alone in the corridor. The water demon placed her other hand on her hip and eyed the Irishman coldly.
"We're not coming back, you know," Finn stated.
"Hey Finn, what's going on?" Ratso's voice was heard from the room. Finn turned to answer his friend.
"Nothing much, only a minor problem with details," he said. He drew a deep breath and closed the door so that Ratso wouldn't be able to hear him and the demon talk.
Bai Tsa could see that the Irishman was tired. His hair was a mess and his eyes wore an expression that told of worry and perhaps even fear. The demon guessed the man's friend hadn't woken up yet. If he ever would.
"How is he?" she asked. Finn looked surprised to hear the question.
"Now very well," he replied.
"Let me see him," Bai Tsa ordered and took a step closer to the door. Finn tried to stop her, but the demon pushed him aside in determination. "Don't be stupid."
The room she stepped into was small, and there was only one not so very wide bed. On the sheets lay the unconscious Chow and Ratso had taken a chair next to him. Chow's face was deathly pale and his chest rose and fell slowly.
"Hey," Ratso greeted her, but stood up anyway, ready to protect his friend. "What are you doing here?"
Bai Tsa didn't reply, but walked straight to Chow.
The man's skin was cold and sweaty. She doubted he'd survive on his own. Bai Tsa didn't care about him the least as a person, but if he died he would take his secret with him.
She drew a deep breath and turned to Ratso. "Do you have anything to write on?" she asked.
The man slipped his hand in his pocket and drew out a pen and an old piece of paper. "Why do you want these?" he asked curiously.
"I'll write you a shopping list of what I need," the water demon replied.
After arriving to Uncle's shop Xu Lin had taken Jade's back bag and stuffed it full of clothes for her friend. She had taken as much of shirts, trousers and underwear as she had been able to pack. Then she had snatched a little money from the girl's drawer and gone to get her chocolate.
I never knew she liked chocolate, she thought to herself. The day was turning to night and she hoped she'd get to a store and back before it became dark. After her nightly adventure she wasn't very keen on the idea of walking in San Francisco in the dark again.
When she stepped into the small grocery store she greeted the owner happily and headed for the sweets section. Xu Lin liked American stores. They were cool, tidy and all products were more or less in order.
She quickly chose a bar for Jade and was about to go and pay. Suddenly she froze and the chocolate almost fell from her numb fingers. For a moment she could do nothing, but then she gathered her thoughts and tried to back away behind the fruit desk as quietly as possible.
Unfortunately she wasn't looking where she was going and a couple of oranges rolled on the floor as she hit the pile.
Shendu, in his human form, turned around when he heard the voice. His lips twisted into a cruel smile when he saw the scared Xu Lin. The girl didn't even remember to wonder what the demon was doing in the store.
"What is going on here?" the owner's angry voice asked as he came to them. The sound of the falling oranges had alerted him as well, and he shot a stern look at Xu Lin.
"I'm very sorry," Xu Lin muttered and knelt to pick up the fruits.
"You must excuse my sister. She is a complete fool," Shendu said sounding somewhat amused and watched how the girl put the oranges back.
"You are lucky they weren't apples," the owner said as he returned to his place.
"So," Shendu said looking at her, "what brings you here?"
"I came to get chocolate for Jade. I must go," the girl replied quickly and tried to get past the demon, but he stopped it by taking a side step.
"Not so courageous here, are you? You know that I could crush you like a bug now, and no one would ever know who did it. In Dai Gui's palace you could annoy me as you liked and act all hypocritical, but there is no one to protect you here. And I no longer need to care about the opinion of my family," the fire demon announced with a sneer on his face. He grabbed Xu Lin's wrist and pulled the girl closer. She drew a hissing breath and grimaced from pain.
"Let me go!" she pleaded, but Shendu had no intention of doing that.
"How does it feel? Didn't you swear that you could accept demons and let us roam free? Do you still think so?" When Xu Lin didn't reply Shendu's amused expression disappeared, and he glared at the girl with eyes glowing with rage. "Answer me! You were so eager to annoy me with your wisdom before!"
"I didn't want to annoy you!" Xu Lin snapped. She blinked to stop the tears flowing on her cheeks.
"Then what did you want?" Shendu asked.
"I wanted to learn to know you! Learn what you are really like!"
The fire demon let go of her in surprise and looked at her. He looked like she had suddenly slapped him.
"And what made you do something so foolish?" he asked.
"My dreams!"
"Ah, Chan mentioned something about them when we were stripped of our honour and agreed to help you," Shendu muttered. "Tell me at once what happens in them!"
Xu Lin stared at the demon in fright. If she had ever thought Shendu only had a cruel shell, she now regretted it. This was perhaps the first time she fully realised what a despicable creature the fire demon truly was. She sniffed and wiped the corner of her eye.
"I see the remains of a huge battle. I'm hurt and fire blazes everywhere. Then... then I see you," she started carefully. She swallowed.
"Yes? And this time? Tell me, girl! If your dreams are repeated they might tell something about the future, and I must know it!" Shendu demanded. He looked furious, even in his human form. Xu Lin was thankful for that she didn't have to face him as a dragon that time.
"You pick me in your arms and ask if I'm alright. You are injured, but carry me to safety anyway. And then we hear a horrible scream. I can't tell who dies, but it's neither of us," she continued.
"You must know!" Shendu snapped and caught Xu Lin again. He forced her closer and glared at her with an almost insane look on his face. "Who dies?"
"I don't know!" Xu Lin exclaimed and this time she wasn't able to hold back her tears. "Can't you see how scared I am? I see you almost every night and hear your words! I hate it! I can't help thinking why you are so nice to me in the dream, and it sickens me! I don't want to have anything to do with you!" She wrenched herself free from the demon's hold, which wasn't very difficult since Shendu was, to be completely honest, quite shocked about her sudden outburst.
"What are you saying?" he asked, but then he understood it too. "You cursed mortal!" he snapped in disgust and rushed away, leaving the crying Xu Lin alone.
To be continued...