Whew! another chapter is coming out of my head and into yours, lol. I'm very glad that LM has a new following. ((^_^)) Welcome aboard, VampireNaomi and a very special welcome to The Joker of Wonderland, who has sent me a piece of gorgeous fanart and has left wonderful comments in reviews. Thank You so much! I appreciate everything! I am very honored to have inspired somebody. ((~_*)) Read her story, The Demon of the Lily, I promise its well worth your while. Tso Lan has romanitc action and I love it!
Welcome back, spinkie! I'm glad you like it!
You know what? I don't own JCA, Tso Lan or Hsi Wu, but Teng is mine! so are the Chi Guardians, Hikari and , heh, Auriel Von Finntorn ( he's shown up before, he has just been unamed). My Skeletor action figure is mine, too. Bad asses rule!
Chapter 12- Teng Marzipan
I sit opposite Teng at a floor table. My lower arms fidget with themselves as my eyes glance
nervously around the room. Teng hums softly to herself as she pours us each a cup of tea from
the round, stout pot that Toki brought us. I feel out of place here. I rarely come to the temple,
finding my spiritual solace in the solitude of the library. I should have come more often, guilt
pulls at my mind. The place is silent in a way which reflects great power. Far off, Toki sings a
hymn, the words reach my ears, though I cannot make many of them out, for they are in a
language that I have not heard spoken for years. Not since the Western Demon Lord came.
"Tso Lan,"
I jump at Teng's sudden mention of my name. Her deep violet pools delve deep into my soul,
contradicting her benign smile.
"Y-Yes?" I manage finally.
"How long have you been having these.....episodes?"
"Episodes, Madame Marzipan?"
"Call me Teng, Everyone else in your family does,"
"I am not like the rest of my family,"
Teng looks up from the teacup that she has lifted to her lips. A clever smile crosses her face,
that is the second time today that I have seen that smile. The first was from a certain half
demon who almost gave his mother a mental breakdown.
"No, I suppose you're not, but you are Rei's son, so it is not surprising. You are avoiding my
question, Lord Tso Lan. Tell me, how long have things seemed to come down around you?" Teng
asks in her smooth voice. Her eyes narrow and her Chi eye glows intently in the center of her
forehead, its green light casting a lime shadow over the table.
"For as long as I can remember, at least since before father married Rumiko-hime," I answer
truthfully, no sense or reason for hiding the truth from Teng.
"I see, any unusual physical ailments?" she inquires even further. I notice that she is writing on a
tablet on her lap. Broad brush strokes and ebony ink leave characters behind.
"I've been getting headaches for almost a decade, worse than migraines,"
"And you never told anyone? Never came to me? I sensed there was something wrong with you,
but you hid it from me. You suffered for so long when there might have been an herbal remedy
or spell that I could have done for you?'
"I didn't want to get in the way,"
"Tso Lan, you are a horrible liar,"
My breathe catches, the familiarity of those words is haunting. I swallow deeply.
"Teng, I-I'm not supposed to tell anyone..."
"Then don't," she says, sipping calmly, eyes downcast, but her Chi eye pattern never looks away.
'What?" her interuption is jarring.
"Don't tell me more than you feel comforable telling me. I won't force you to tell me and I won't
probe your Chi. Just tell me what you want to,"
"Alright.....I have a strong aversion to bright light. I often read in total darkness. I don't
understand why or how,'
"I think I understand, Tso,"
"You under..."
"Yes, its simple,"
Teng never looks at me, but her voice tells me she can see inside my very soul.
"Teng, please tell me what's wrong with me, if you do in fact know,"
She suddenly laughs, almost snorting her tea in the process. I narrow an eye at her, such
behavior is highly unlike the clever, refined Teng whom I have known since I was young. Shec
ollects herself and apologizes, still giving an occasional chuckle.
"Teng!" Her ambiguity is intolerable. I reach across the table suddenly and grab her shoulders
with my upper arms and hold her firmly. I let out a gasp, never before have I acted so rashly...so
demonic. Power thuds in my ears and my heart panics. I release her immediately, I apologize
profusely and wring my lower hands.
She looks up at me with narrowed violet eyes, a smile of knowing graces her porcelain features.
"Do not be sorry for what is in your nature, Tso. Demons are naturally agressive, its alright. Its
normal to give in to what your instincts are telling you on occasion,"
"No! Its not! I don't know what happened1 I'm sorry Teng! I didn't mean to do it! I just...something
came over me and I.."
"Like the time in the market with Lady Rumiko, before Hsi was born," Teng ays plainly.
"How did you know that?" I ask.
"Rumiko told me of course,"
"You two are close then?"
"Very,"
"I cannot understand how huans become so attatched to ne another in such a short amount of
time. Most demons take at least fifty years to even form friendships with someone outside of
the family,"
"Tso Lan, I believe that humans form bonds quickly because we do not have the amount of time
alotted to us that you demons do. We must seek companionship in the short time we are given.
I'll agree with you that it is a short time, but its all we have and we must make the most of it
while we can. Time is a gift that too many demons have forgotten, they consider themselves
immortal. They grow selfish, careless and arrogant,"
"I'm sorry I have distracted you Teng, but could you please, please tell me what's happening to
me,"
Teng's eyes widen enormously and she looks at me with an expression of awe and pity.
"There is nothing wrong with you first and foremost, Tso Lan. I'm sorry I laughed before, but I
thought for sure you would know, what with all he books you've been reading, what was happening
to you. The idea of you being so oblivious was quite ludicrous,"
"Then.....,"
"You're growing up Tso Lan, you're powers are manifesting themselves. Its nothing to be worried
or upset about. Its natural, I'm just surprised that it took so long to complete. Normal demon
adolesence takes roughly eight years, but yours has been lagging a bit. Oh well, nothing to worry
about, just try to keep your temper under control until they have completely formed, alright? We
don't need any more airborne statuary,"
Teng's violet eyes light up mischeviously.
"Alright Teng,"
"I'm glad to see that you at least pretend to obey your spiritual advisor, very few of the others
do,"
"Thank You,"
I tap the knees of my crossed legs with my lower arms. I sigh, a question that has plagued me
for years presents itself once more. I decide to finally garner the courage to make a rather
personal inquiry.
"Teng, why do you dress and act the way you do?"
Silence, she appears frozen momentarily, the tea she was pouring overflows from her cup. She
snaps almost instantly out of her trancelike state and uses the sleeve of her robe to wipe up the
spilled tea. It is not something a normal priestess would do, but this is Teng Marzipan. She
finishes and looks up at me. There is a melancholy in her eyes, but her voice does not betray it.
"A fair question, Tso Lan. One, I sense, that has burned within you for years. There is one other
besides me who knows where I came from, but only I myself know why I am the way I am. But is it
not the indvidual who can explain their actions for what they truly are? No one else understands,
or could hope to. For the individual, the answer exists in oneself, in their past experiences. Life
is a learning experience, if we do not learn from what we see, how will we continue to live?"
"I don't know," I answer. I am entirely perplexed at this response, I have no idea where she is
going with her expalanation, I am not even entirely clear of what she means by it all. I have a
sudden feeling that I do not want to hear her story.
"It is alright, Tso Lan. My tale has gone untold for so long, I believe I have forgotten much of it,"
She sensed my agitated Chi, her Chi eye is that sensitive? Amazing.
"I was born in the land to the West of your father's kingdom, not so far as the Western Woods,
home of the Demon Lord Isthral, but somewhere nestled between here and there. I lived in a
small fishing village with my family, my father and my brother. My mother had dies when I was an
infant, of a strange plague which ravaged the village. It coated the land, air and water in a dark
wave and polluted the hearts and minds of the villagers. Some died, they were fortunate. Those
who did not die became shadows of the beings that they once were. It infected and poisoned the
souls of my brother and father, so that they sold my two older sisters to a brothel in the
neighboring town. Love and family ties were forgotten, I was not to share that fate,, for I was
still a mere babe, motherless, now sisterless and trapped in a world enshrouded in darkness. I
could feel it Tso, I could feel it picking at me, poking and prodding into my being, trying to find a
place it could ooze its vile self into me and convert all that was in me to misery and death in life.
But something potected me then, I didn't realize it, for I was too small, but the Chi Eye protecte
dme from the shadows, from whatever dark being was laying seige to my home. Around that
time, it began to materialize itself, ever so often, it would come to glorious illuminated life. When
I was five, I heard my father whispering to my brother that if the Eye remained on my forhead, I
wouldn't be worth anything. I was wise beyond my years and realized that the way of insuring my
freedom was to always leave my Chi Eye activated. There was talk of course, that I was
posessed, or a demon myself, but I ignored their harsh comments and turned them into flattery,
the more I was not like the average girl, the less chance I would have to share my poor sisters
miserable fate. I began taking my brother's old clothes and tailoring them to fit me. I taught
myself to read, going for days without sleep, for I could only study at night. I read by the light of
my Chi Eye. My powers matured much faster than most other Chi Seers because I used mine so
much. When I turned nine, my father decided to sell me anyway, covering my Eye with a
makeshift bandage, though the green glow shone through it. I sruggled and cried and begged. I
pounded him with my small, childish hands, demanding to know why he had forsaken me, what I
had done to deserve such a horrible future. He never answered. Whether he would not, or
whether the darkness had eaten at him so long, that he was unable to say why, even o himself.
As he carried me down the street, thrown over his shoulder, I felt something that I had not felt in
years, since my sisters were taken away. Good Chi. My Chi Eye took over my vision and I saw a
bright green silhouette at our neighbor's door. I did not care who it belonged to, this was the
outline of my sole hope for survival. I cried out to it, the warm green light turned in my direction,
red eyes shone through the lime green glow. I felt warm, safe and loved in that Chi. It stood out
like a beacon to me, after years of being surrounded by shades of blue and purple whenever I use
dmy Chi eye, the joy at finding another uncontaminated soul was indescribable. The stranger's
voice seemed muffled to me, he was talking to father. I reached for that voice, so deep, it
vibrated my bones. Their words became clearer. Father wa sexplaining what he was going to do
with me. I kept reaching for the green light. I heard him make an offer to father, he would pay
him twice what he had gotten for both my sisters combined, as well as a bolt of fine silk if he
would be allowed to take me away from the village that very day and to his kingdom in the East. I
remember of the joy I felt when my father agreed. I would be free of that horrible place, that
neverending darkness. The stranger picked me up, taking me from father. I still had not
surrendered to my normal vision, all I saw was green light. I felt leathery skin and taloned hands
lift me gently. They were so strong, yet they were gentle with me, as if I were made of china and
they were afraid to break me. I began to cry with joy, the strong hands held me close to a
beating heart and the body was so soft, so warm. I closed my eyes and snuggled up to it, the last
thing I felt before falling asleep was being whisked skyward, away from the haze of Dark Chi and
into the sky, where light shone and the air was filled with small blips of green Chi. I didn't care
where I was going or who I was with, but it didn't matter. I was going away from that awful place
and that was all that mattered,"
"It was father, wasn't it?" I ask, my throat tight from haring such an honest confession from
someone who had kept so much pain inside her for so long. I feel honored and sadened by th tale,
she told me the story of her life, no matter how tragic it was in the begining, I am grief stricken
that someone so understanding and kind had to endure such suffering.
"Yes, He understood the power of the Chi Eye and its usefulness. I found out later that he had
been searching for me since a wayward Tengu had wandered into his kingdom rambling about me,"
she finally answers, looking out the window into the garden where Hsi Wu and Hikari, the young Chi
Guardian play.
"You had better get going Tso, Rei will be worried about you, do tell her hello for me. I am sorry
to have kept you so long,"
She wants to be alone with her thoughts, I had best follow her advice.
"Thank You Teng......for everything,"
"It was nothing, I'm glad you came,"
"I'll see ou again soon, I hope," I tell her, I am aware that it sounds horribly unrefined.
"That would be wonderful, Lord Tso Lan." she bows low to me, smiles and exits the room, making
her way to the temple sanctum.
I sigh and leave. I hear Hsi and Hikari's laughter and I walk in their direction. They tumble
together in the short grass. I smile, the're so happy, so young. Hikari has seen the world of
darkness that Teng has and like Teng, has overcome her sorrows to live again. I am in awe.
Hikari suddenly stops and grabs at her head. Hsi ceases play at once and approaches her on all
fours carefully, one ear raised, the other flat against his head.
"Auriel!" Hikari screams. She begins to sob, Chi Eye illuminated with a strange brilliance.
"No, Mother, don't let Auriel go! Auriel, don't! They're going to hurt you! stab you! kill you! No
Don't-Arrghhhhhhhh!" she shrieks and collapses on the ground, rolling aroun while clutching her
head. The Chi marking for "Chi shield" becomes illuminated. Hsi moves to hake her, but his hand
is burned by the field which becomes visible only as he touches it. He jerks away in pain and
surprise.
"Teng!" I shout."Toki! Virgo! Teng! Father! Anyone! Its Hikari!"
The temple door slides open and Teng rushes out, followed by Virgo. Teng rushes to Hikari's
side and kneels beside Hsi. She traces Chi characters in the air and manages to crack the field
long enough to pick up the small Chi child.
"Kami-sama, I've never seen one this bad before. Virgo, ready a bath,"
Virgo lowers her head to Teng before rushing off.
Hsi Wu looks up at his friend, both ears against the back of his head, eyes full of worry.
"Teng, Who is Auriel?"
"The golden Chi Beast, the red maned dragon. Why do you ask?" she answers as she gently
rocks the perspiring and shaking child.
"She began to cry out his name and her Chi Eye became extemely bright. I thought that it would
be of assistance to you,"
She looks at me fiercely.
"It was Tso Lan, thank you. I suggest you take Lord Hsi Wu with you now and be on your way
home,"
"Yes, Teng," I pick up Hsi, who offers little resistance, too preoccupied with his companion's
condition to contemplate the absurdity of a ten year old being carried like a sack of vegetables
by his older brother. He watches Teng and Hikari until they are out of sight. He gives a little
whimper, but that is all. When we reach our bungalow, Mother slides the door open before we
reach it. Her bottom lip quivers and she hugs the two of us.
"I...was..so scared," she whispers, silently sobbing into my robe.
My heart pounds and all I can hear is screaming. My vision goes red, blood is everywhere, mixed
with Chi ooze. Many have fallen. Teng is running. She comes to a wall and turns around. Her left
hand is clutched over her left eye, deep, red blood pours from behind it. She breathes heavily,
face contorted by a grimace of sheer hatred and betrayal. With her right hand, she summons a
Chi staff and attacks her pursuers head on, screaming as she charges. There is a sickening
squirt as her blade enters the first opponent. Blue liquid flows from her enemy as it sinks into its
own shadow. There are at least ten of the strange beings around her. Clad in the black garb of
the ninja, eyes ablaze like embers. She dispatches them all, Teng stands triumphant. Suddenly, a
golden claw encircles her throat and squeezes. A hissing voice that I would recognize anywhere
drifts through my mind:
"Do you know how long I've waited for this? I plan on savoring this as long as I can, Human Filth,"
Shendu. There is a period of silent gasps and grunts of desperation, even dull thuds of blows
striking their targets. Until there is a sharp snap and then there is nothing. The golden claw
releases its grip and the limp body of Teng Marzipan falls to the ground, her Chi Eye fades as her
essence departs her body.
I am back in my mother's arms, in the doorway of my home. I look up and see a moth flying into
our lantern over and over again. Its tiny body beats against the paper, hoping to penetrate the
barrier between itself and what it desires, but it does not realize that desire will lead to
destruction. Poor ignorant insect, but the more I wonder, are we not like this simple creature?
We long for our own happiness, unaware of what it even is. I stand there, unmoving as I hear the
moth's futile attempts to bridge the gap between misery and happiness.
End Chapter 12
Welcome back, spinkie! I'm glad you like it!
You know what? I don't own JCA, Tso Lan or Hsi Wu, but Teng is mine! so are the Chi Guardians, Hikari and , heh, Auriel Von Finntorn ( he's shown up before, he has just been unamed). My Skeletor action figure is mine, too. Bad asses rule!
Chapter 12- Teng Marzipan
I sit opposite Teng at a floor table. My lower arms fidget with themselves as my eyes glance
nervously around the room. Teng hums softly to herself as she pours us each a cup of tea from
the round, stout pot that Toki brought us. I feel out of place here. I rarely come to the temple,
finding my spiritual solace in the solitude of the library. I should have come more often, guilt
pulls at my mind. The place is silent in a way which reflects great power. Far off, Toki sings a
hymn, the words reach my ears, though I cannot make many of them out, for they are in a
language that I have not heard spoken for years. Not since the Western Demon Lord came.
"Tso Lan,"
I jump at Teng's sudden mention of my name. Her deep violet pools delve deep into my soul,
contradicting her benign smile.
"Y-Yes?" I manage finally.
"How long have you been having these.....episodes?"
"Episodes, Madame Marzipan?"
"Call me Teng, Everyone else in your family does,"
"I am not like the rest of my family,"
Teng looks up from the teacup that she has lifted to her lips. A clever smile crosses her face,
that is the second time today that I have seen that smile. The first was from a certain half
demon who almost gave his mother a mental breakdown.
"No, I suppose you're not, but you are Rei's son, so it is not surprising. You are avoiding my
question, Lord Tso Lan. Tell me, how long have things seemed to come down around you?" Teng
asks in her smooth voice. Her eyes narrow and her Chi eye glows intently in the center of her
forehead, its green light casting a lime shadow over the table.
"For as long as I can remember, at least since before father married Rumiko-hime," I answer
truthfully, no sense or reason for hiding the truth from Teng.
"I see, any unusual physical ailments?" she inquires even further. I notice that she is writing on a
tablet on her lap. Broad brush strokes and ebony ink leave characters behind.
"I've been getting headaches for almost a decade, worse than migraines,"
"And you never told anyone? Never came to me? I sensed there was something wrong with you,
but you hid it from me. You suffered for so long when there might have been an herbal remedy
or spell that I could have done for you?'
"I didn't want to get in the way,"
"Tso Lan, you are a horrible liar,"
My breathe catches, the familiarity of those words is haunting. I swallow deeply.
"Teng, I-I'm not supposed to tell anyone..."
"Then don't," she says, sipping calmly, eyes downcast, but her Chi eye pattern never looks away.
'What?" her interuption is jarring.
"Don't tell me more than you feel comforable telling me. I won't force you to tell me and I won't
probe your Chi. Just tell me what you want to,"
"Alright.....I have a strong aversion to bright light. I often read in total darkness. I don't
understand why or how,'
"I think I understand, Tso,"
"You under..."
"Yes, its simple,"
Teng never looks at me, but her voice tells me she can see inside my very soul.
"Teng, please tell me what's wrong with me, if you do in fact know,"
She suddenly laughs, almost snorting her tea in the process. I narrow an eye at her, such
behavior is highly unlike the clever, refined Teng whom I have known since I was young. Shec
ollects herself and apologizes, still giving an occasional chuckle.
"Teng!" Her ambiguity is intolerable. I reach across the table suddenly and grab her shoulders
with my upper arms and hold her firmly. I let out a gasp, never before have I acted so rashly...so
demonic. Power thuds in my ears and my heart panics. I release her immediately, I apologize
profusely and wring my lower hands.
She looks up at me with narrowed violet eyes, a smile of knowing graces her porcelain features.
"Do not be sorry for what is in your nature, Tso. Demons are naturally agressive, its alright. Its
normal to give in to what your instincts are telling you on occasion,"
"No! Its not! I don't know what happened1 I'm sorry Teng! I didn't mean to do it! I just...something
came over me and I.."
"Like the time in the market with Lady Rumiko, before Hsi was born," Teng ays plainly.
"How did you know that?" I ask.
"Rumiko told me of course,"
"You two are close then?"
"Very,"
"I cannot understand how huans become so attatched to ne another in such a short amount of
time. Most demons take at least fifty years to even form friendships with someone outside of
the family,"
"Tso Lan, I believe that humans form bonds quickly because we do not have the amount of time
alotted to us that you demons do. We must seek companionship in the short time we are given.
I'll agree with you that it is a short time, but its all we have and we must make the most of it
while we can. Time is a gift that too many demons have forgotten, they consider themselves
immortal. They grow selfish, careless and arrogant,"
"I'm sorry I have distracted you Teng, but could you please, please tell me what's happening to
me,"
Teng's eyes widen enormously and she looks at me with an expression of awe and pity.
"There is nothing wrong with you first and foremost, Tso Lan. I'm sorry I laughed before, but I
thought for sure you would know, what with all he books you've been reading, what was happening
to you. The idea of you being so oblivious was quite ludicrous,"
"Then.....,"
"You're growing up Tso Lan, you're powers are manifesting themselves. Its nothing to be worried
or upset about. Its natural, I'm just surprised that it took so long to complete. Normal demon
adolesence takes roughly eight years, but yours has been lagging a bit. Oh well, nothing to worry
about, just try to keep your temper under control until they have completely formed, alright? We
don't need any more airborne statuary,"
Teng's violet eyes light up mischeviously.
"Alright Teng,"
"I'm glad to see that you at least pretend to obey your spiritual advisor, very few of the others
do,"
"Thank You,"
I tap the knees of my crossed legs with my lower arms. I sigh, a question that has plagued me
for years presents itself once more. I decide to finally garner the courage to make a rather
personal inquiry.
"Teng, why do you dress and act the way you do?"
Silence, she appears frozen momentarily, the tea she was pouring overflows from her cup. She
snaps almost instantly out of her trancelike state and uses the sleeve of her robe to wipe up the
spilled tea. It is not something a normal priestess would do, but this is Teng Marzipan. She
finishes and looks up at me. There is a melancholy in her eyes, but her voice does not betray it.
"A fair question, Tso Lan. One, I sense, that has burned within you for years. There is one other
besides me who knows where I came from, but only I myself know why I am the way I am. But is it
not the indvidual who can explain their actions for what they truly are? No one else understands,
or could hope to. For the individual, the answer exists in oneself, in their past experiences. Life
is a learning experience, if we do not learn from what we see, how will we continue to live?"
"I don't know," I answer. I am entirely perplexed at this response, I have no idea where she is
going with her expalanation, I am not even entirely clear of what she means by it all. I have a
sudden feeling that I do not want to hear her story.
"It is alright, Tso Lan. My tale has gone untold for so long, I believe I have forgotten much of it,"
She sensed my agitated Chi, her Chi eye is that sensitive? Amazing.
"I was born in the land to the West of your father's kingdom, not so far as the Western Woods,
home of the Demon Lord Isthral, but somewhere nestled between here and there. I lived in a
small fishing village with my family, my father and my brother. My mother had dies when I was an
infant, of a strange plague which ravaged the village. It coated the land, air and water in a dark
wave and polluted the hearts and minds of the villagers. Some died, they were fortunate. Those
who did not die became shadows of the beings that they once were. It infected and poisoned the
souls of my brother and father, so that they sold my two older sisters to a brothel in the
neighboring town. Love and family ties were forgotten, I was not to share that fate,, for I was
still a mere babe, motherless, now sisterless and trapped in a world enshrouded in darkness. I
could feel it Tso, I could feel it picking at me, poking and prodding into my being, trying to find a
place it could ooze its vile self into me and convert all that was in me to misery and death in life.
But something potected me then, I didn't realize it, for I was too small, but the Chi Eye protecte
dme from the shadows, from whatever dark being was laying seige to my home. Around that
time, it began to materialize itself, ever so often, it would come to glorious illuminated life. When
I was five, I heard my father whispering to my brother that if the Eye remained on my forhead, I
wouldn't be worth anything. I was wise beyond my years and realized that the way of insuring my
freedom was to always leave my Chi Eye activated. There was talk of course, that I was
posessed, or a demon myself, but I ignored their harsh comments and turned them into flattery,
the more I was not like the average girl, the less chance I would have to share my poor sisters
miserable fate. I began taking my brother's old clothes and tailoring them to fit me. I taught
myself to read, going for days without sleep, for I could only study at night. I read by the light of
my Chi Eye. My powers matured much faster than most other Chi Seers because I used mine so
much. When I turned nine, my father decided to sell me anyway, covering my Eye with a
makeshift bandage, though the green glow shone through it. I sruggled and cried and begged. I
pounded him with my small, childish hands, demanding to know why he had forsaken me, what I
had done to deserve such a horrible future. He never answered. Whether he would not, or
whether the darkness had eaten at him so long, that he was unable to say why, even o himself.
As he carried me down the street, thrown over his shoulder, I felt something that I had not felt in
years, since my sisters were taken away. Good Chi. My Chi Eye took over my vision and I saw a
bright green silhouette at our neighbor's door. I did not care who it belonged to, this was the
outline of my sole hope for survival. I cried out to it, the warm green light turned in my direction,
red eyes shone through the lime green glow. I felt warm, safe and loved in that Chi. It stood out
like a beacon to me, after years of being surrounded by shades of blue and purple whenever I use
dmy Chi eye, the joy at finding another uncontaminated soul was indescribable. The stranger's
voice seemed muffled to me, he was talking to father. I reached for that voice, so deep, it
vibrated my bones. Their words became clearer. Father wa sexplaining what he was going to do
with me. I kept reaching for the green light. I heard him make an offer to father, he would pay
him twice what he had gotten for both my sisters combined, as well as a bolt of fine silk if he
would be allowed to take me away from the village that very day and to his kingdom in the East. I
remember of the joy I felt when my father agreed. I would be free of that horrible place, that
neverending darkness. The stranger picked me up, taking me from father. I still had not
surrendered to my normal vision, all I saw was green light. I felt leathery skin and taloned hands
lift me gently. They were so strong, yet they were gentle with me, as if I were made of china and
they were afraid to break me. I began to cry with joy, the strong hands held me close to a
beating heart and the body was so soft, so warm. I closed my eyes and snuggled up to it, the last
thing I felt before falling asleep was being whisked skyward, away from the haze of Dark Chi and
into the sky, where light shone and the air was filled with small blips of green Chi. I didn't care
where I was going or who I was with, but it didn't matter. I was going away from that awful place
and that was all that mattered,"
"It was father, wasn't it?" I ask, my throat tight from haring such an honest confession from
someone who had kept so much pain inside her for so long. I feel honored and sadened by th tale,
she told me the story of her life, no matter how tragic it was in the begining, I am grief stricken
that someone so understanding and kind had to endure such suffering.
"Yes, He understood the power of the Chi Eye and its usefulness. I found out later that he had
been searching for me since a wayward Tengu had wandered into his kingdom rambling about me,"
she finally answers, looking out the window into the garden where Hsi Wu and Hikari, the young Chi
Guardian play.
"You had better get going Tso, Rei will be worried about you, do tell her hello for me. I am sorry
to have kept you so long,"
She wants to be alone with her thoughts, I had best follow her advice.
"Thank You Teng......for everything,"
"It was nothing, I'm glad you came,"
"I'll see ou again soon, I hope," I tell her, I am aware that it sounds horribly unrefined.
"That would be wonderful, Lord Tso Lan." she bows low to me, smiles and exits the room, making
her way to the temple sanctum.
I sigh and leave. I hear Hsi and Hikari's laughter and I walk in their direction. They tumble
together in the short grass. I smile, the're so happy, so young. Hikari has seen the world of
darkness that Teng has and like Teng, has overcome her sorrows to live again. I am in awe.
Hikari suddenly stops and grabs at her head. Hsi ceases play at once and approaches her on all
fours carefully, one ear raised, the other flat against his head.
"Auriel!" Hikari screams. She begins to sob, Chi Eye illuminated with a strange brilliance.
"No, Mother, don't let Auriel go! Auriel, don't! They're going to hurt you! stab you! kill you! No
Don't-Arrghhhhhhhh!" she shrieks and collapses on the ground, rolling aroun while clutching her
head. The Chi marking for "Chi shield" becomes illuminated. Hsi moves to hake her, but his hand
is burned by the field which becomes visible only as he touches it. He jerks away in pain and
surprise.
"Teng!" I shout."Toki! Virgo! Teng! Father! Anyone! Its Hikari!"
The temple door slides open and Teng rushes out, followed by Virgo. Teng rushes to Hikari's
side and kneels beside Hsi. She traces Chi characters in the air and manages to crack the field
long enough to pick up the small Chi child.
"Kami-sama, I've never seen one this bad before. Virgo, ready a bath,"
Virgo lowers her head to Teng before rushing off.
Hsi Wu looks up at his friend, both ears against the back of his head, eyes full of worry.
"Teng, Who is Auriel?"
"The golden Chi Beast, the red maned dragon. Why do you ask?" she answers as she gently
rocks the perspiring and shaking child.
"She began to cry out his name and her Chi Eye became extemely bright. I thought that it would
be of assistance to you,"
She looks at me fiercely.
"It was Tso Lan, thank you. I suggest you take Lord Hsi Wu with you now and be on your way
home,"
"Yes, Teng," I pick up Hsi, who offers little resistance, too preoccupied with his companion's
condition to contemplate the absurdity of a ten year old being carried like a sack of vegetables
by his older brother. He watches Teng and Hikari until they are out of sight. He gives a little
whimper, but that is all. When we reach our bungalow, Mother slides the door open before we
reach it. Her bottom lip quivers and she hugs the two of us.
"I...was..so scared," she whispers, silently sobbing into my robe.
My heart pounds and all I can hear is screaming. My vision goes red, blood is everywhere, mixed
with Chi ooze. Many have fallen. Teng is running. She comes to a wall and turns around. Her left
hand is clutched over her left eye, deep, red blood pours from behind it. She breathes heavily,
face contorted by a grimace of sheer hatred and betrayal. With her right hand, she summons a
Chi staff and attacks her pursuers head on, screaming as she charges. There is a sickening
squirt as her blade enters the first opponent. Blue liquid flows from her enemy as it sinks into its
own shadow. There are at least ten of the strange beings around her. Clad in the black garb of
the ninja, eyes ablaze like embers. She dispatches them all, Teng stands triumphant. Suddenly, a
golden claw encircles her throat and squeezes. A hissing voice that I would recognize anywhere
drifts through my mind:
"Do you know how long I've waited for this? I plan on savoring this as long as I can, Human Filth,"
Shendu. There is a period of silent gasps and grunts of desperation, even dull thuds of blows
striking their targets. Until there is a sharp snap and then there is nothing. The golden claw
releases its grip and the limp body of Teng Marzipan falls to the ground, her Chi Eye fades as her
essence departs her body.
I am back in my mother's arms, in the doorway of my home. I look up and see a moth flying into
our lantern over and over again. Its tiny body beats against the paper, hoping to penetrate the
barrier between itself and what it desires, but it does not realize that desire will lead to
destruction. Poor ignorant insect, but the more I wonder, are we not like this simple creature?
We long for our own happiness, unaware of what it even is. I stand there, unmoving as I hear the
moth's futile attempts to bridge the gap between misery and happiness.
End Chapter 12