Hi: This chapter is dedicated to a new follower. Their interest has motivated my creative juices.
Chapter 21
LU…
The new day saw the two sisters preparing their shop for business. A combination of elbow grease spiced with a little magic, and the defrock monk's destruction of the backroom became a distant memory.
"Xiaoqing, our little caterpillar has not blossomed as of yet?"
The young sister looked at her Jie Jie sporting a humorous expression. A twinkle in her eye matched the flash of her smile.
"No sister, his little head peaks out, but he is far from flying away." Ending her words with a casual tone, she hoped to disguise the revulsion at Bai's evolving malicious character.
"Do you think the next monk that wishes us to return to a life of slithering and slime will be a playmate for our little toy?"
Dressed in a white blouse, the sheer material flared open above Bai's breasts, due to the sudden habit of leaving that area unbuttoned.
Xiaoqing gritted her teeth under a serious expression, her sister's sudden change in style did not sit well with the young woman.
What has happened to her? She called me an immature, precocious girl. Now she dresses as a woman in need of filling.
As the material slipped on occasion off her left shoulder. Bai's raven colored hair hung loose covering and yet advertising the exposed skin.
As she entered the front of the shop, Bai spoke.
"Madam," Said to the stout customer in her forties. "I am trying these new jeans for the first time. Are they a good fit?" The stunned woman straightened her stance, seeing the once respected proprietor sliding her hands up and down the skin-tight material brought a faded hue of red upon her worn face.
Bai brought her hands up with outstretched fingers gliding flat palms over her waist, her shoulders dipping down and up under a devious smile.
Look at her. In front of a stranger.
Xiaoqing's mind screamed her thoughts.
It's as if she lost her sense of morality cause. Because of this unnatural fling with the American.
The lone customer left the shop with a perplexed look on her face. The woman's plump pale cheeks could not escape the darkened shade of red still prominent from embarrassment.
Her exit enabled Xiaoqing to voice her thoughts.
"What are you doing?" The younger sister asked. "It's not bad enough you bring scandal to your name," stretching her chest to inhale enough air to speak. "You advertise to prove the cackling hens correct." The younger sister found the courage to continue. "You dress in an outfit; I would not wear." Stopping to regain the power to speak, that had been exhausted from her fear. "Gossip isn't enough; you must dress the part?" Xiaoqing threw her hands into the air as a symbol of her distress over the older sister's attitude.
"My dear Mei Mei," Bai smiled as she spoke. "Isn't this a glorious life?" As if her dismayed sister's words were unheard.
Bai pawed her tight blue jeans, an annoyed gust of air traveled from her nostrils.
"Sister?" Xiaoqing's voice trembled with dread. "Could this be the working of the potion? You've changed."
"What non-sense!" Her voice rose. "You wear a skirt that ends right above the area men desire, and you insinuate I dress as a Harlot from a big city."
Xiaoqing's paisley-print rust colored shift dress did have a front seam angled toward the area so described by Bai, though it stopped several inches short of that vicinity.
"You advertise our existence with your magic." Xiaoqing's long braid whipped as she became more animated. "And then, you dare these women to gossip about a teacher," her modest breast puffed outward, "bewitched by a medicinal shopkeeper." Green eyes sparkled as both began to show a slight black line running down their middle. "Have you ever read the many books about us?" The younger sister's cheek began to flap as if hit by a blast of wind born from a hurricane. "Stop and listen to me."
The young woman put up a stiff palm to counter the power growing in her angered sister. She needed to continue with her pleas.
"I beg of you, please listen."
Bai remained silent, though snorts of air continued form her nostrils.
"My Jie Jie, you say these people are superstitious and believe in magic," taking time to snatch a breath before continuing, Xiaoqing hoped to maintain her poise against a sister's ever increasing rage. She puffed out her neck as strained skin took on a tinge of green. "They must see these events as a replay of the ancient texts."
"You dare to transform to challenge my authority?" Bai voiced in a loud booming tone.
As the two women continued to express their hostile reactions, glass jars and small burlap bags shook. A row of jars on a bottom shelf took on the appearance of unidentifiable ingredients atop the surface of a witches bubbling caldron.
"You look more like that slut from America, that once possessed my Angelo." Bai's words ended with a blast of air from expanding nostrils.
"My dear sister," Xiaoqing's shallow breaths interrupted her attempt to speak "You have not done anything to that poor girl?" She asked.
A sinister smile covered the once soft skin of Bai. Slight dark eyebrows sloped upwards as the older sister's pupils rolled.
"No! Please say you have not. Your power is too strong for just simple tricks." Xiaoqing grabbed Bai's upper left arm.
"Unhand me my dear Mei Mei."
A look of fright overtook Xiaoqing's expression. Taking in a breath as she stepped away from her Jie Jie, the shaken young women shook to resist the transformation. She would be no match for an enraged Bai.
"You are smart to retreat to the figure of a vulnerable female." Bai said.
"My Jie Jie, you cannot hurt her."
"I can do whatever, I please." A twitch developed over her left cheek. Bai's face began to contort.
"Please, Bai I beg you." The distraught sister took a step forward. "Using your gift will bring a real enemy to our lives." The young woman paused, her teeth grazing a lower lip. "A descendant of the greatest of all our pursuers over the ages."
"And who is that, my dear sister?" Bai's slim lips sneered at her Mei Mei's words.
"The mere mention of his name strikes fear in my heart." Answered Xiaoqing.
"Fahai!" Bai shouted. "I relish the chance to devour him, as I should have to his ancestor a thousand years ago." Bai su zhen relaxed her imposing stance. The need to become the Great White Snake had passed.
"Bai, his powers would have doubled with each reincarnation." Though not a drop flowed from her eyes, the younger sister's lids held her tears at bay. "But, if you meet?'
A soft expression took control of the older sister's face. With a casual smile she said, "we are destined to meet."
The knock on the door brought them back to their senses.
The hotel room within walking distance of the Blessed Brew held no such chatter.
Its lone occupant shook in silence.
Janet packed her two suitcases only to unpack them. An evening hiding under the covers offered her little sleep, and little energy to think clearly.
What a damn night.
Her first lucid thought since rising from bed.
Tossing and turning, at times fluttering her blue eyes to see if the horrific nightmares gained substance. Every creak from a stressed slat in the room's teak wall to the occasional squeak of a hotel guest's stroll to the communal bathroom brought images of some demonic presence beside her bed. The disheveled blond could not stop the visions clawing their way into her subconscious, as grotesque looking gigantic snakes coiled as if ready to attack her mind. The most horrid, the image of a giant white serpent.
"Bitch!"
Her first word since daybreak.
The vocal and at times physical turmoil displayed in the Blessed Brew disappeared in a flash. The polite knock on the front door could not have hinted at their present predicament.
"Mistress Bai, this is a visitor from America." Li Tao attempted to act cordial and unmoved by Xiaoqing. Seeing her in the paisley print dress caused his heart to vibrate through his chest. Choosing to focus on Bai, he ignored the shining emeralds eyeing his frame up and down. He continued with the introductions. "Mr…"
"Heng Feng, though I was raised in the United States," Fahai launched into the conversation. "My family name is first."
Li Tao added, "unlike those Westerners, disrespecting the family name by putting it last."
The Math teacher expected a chuckle from the sisters. It did not occur.
"Mr. Li," Xiaoqing hoped to shake off the eerie feeling crawling up her skin. Turning to address the stranger.
"Heng, the phoenix rising from the ashes." His surname spoke of this legend.
"Yes, Miss Xiaoqing. My family name is a good description of my ancestors' history." He turned to smile at Bai.
"As with my given name." His eyes kept a deep stare at the uncomfortable woman. "Feng represents everlasting, almost eternal," extending his hand toward a silent Bai. "Never ending." Fahai bowed after his words.
Bai and Xiaoqing could feel their skin tingle with the appearance of the stranger. The sound of his voice intensified their dread.
Exchanging pleasantries continued, though the older of the two women held her head downward struggling to keep a sense of balance. Floor, shelves and ceiling meshed together.
"Lu…" Her whisper before falling into Fahai's arms.
Thank you, Wolfy9123
