‘I was bored. You were playing. So I went to do a sword
kata.’
‘Is your dad letting you do that by yourself already?’ I said quickly. ‘I thought you weren’t ready.’
Simone dropped her head and didn’t say anything.
‘You’re not in trouble, sweetheart, we just need to sort this out,’ I said, squeezing her around her waist. ‘So you went in there to do a sword set. Then what happened?’
‘The door opened and there was a
monster
there.’ I suddenly understood. ‘Was it big and black and like a huge lizard with a strange body?’ Leo glanced sharply at me.
Simone nodded, and grinned widely. ‘You saw it too!’
‘Was it a big black turtle, Simone?’ I said.
Her eyes went wide again. ‘Yes,’ she whispered.
I dropped my voice. ‘Do you think it’s possible that you saw your daddy the way he really is?’
‘My daddy is
not
a
monster,
Emma.’
‘He is a turtle, though, sweetheart,’ I said. ‘I think that’s what you saw.’
‘But what about the other one?’ she said.
‘What other one?’ Leo said.
‘After the…
turtle
opened the door, I screamed. And another monster came in.’ Simone gestured towards Leo. ‘And then you came in, Leo, and I went to you.’
‘What about me?’ I said. ‘I came in before Leo did.’
She shook her little head. ‘No, Emma, you weren’t there.’ She explained patiently. ‘The door opened. There was a big black turtle monster. Then a big black snake monster pushed past it and came towards me. It stopped and said something. Then Leo came in. I went around the snake monster and ran to Leo.’
The bottom fell out of my stomach. ‘Did the snake monster say something like “Don’t worry, it’s only us”?’
She nodded. ‘But I wasn’t listening very well, Emma. I was really scared.’
My voice sounded dead. ‘That was me.’
Leo studied me appraisingly. Then he smiled gently. ‘All beyond me, Emma. Wait till Mr Chen comes out; he’ll probably have some perfectly normal supernatural explanation for it.’
‘For a moment I thought you were about to say “scientific explanation”,’ I said.
‘I’ve given up hoping that things will make sense around this place,’ Leo said. ‘You survive from day to day in this crazy house.’ He pulled himself to his feet. ‘Listen,’ he said from somewhere near the ceiling. ‘Wind’s started again.’
‘Daddy hates it,’ Simone said. ‘He won’t say, but it really hurts him.’
‘Leo, could you mind Simone for me for a moment?’ I popped Simone off my knee and guided her towards Leo. ‘There’s something I need to do.’
‘Sure,’ Leo said.
‘Okay now, Simone?’ I said kindly.
‘I’m okay, Emma,’ Simone said. ‘You’re probably right. The turtle was probably just Daddy, and the snake was probably just you.’
Leo stiffened and glanced down at me.
My stomach fell out again. I rose. ‘Mind her, Leo,’ I said, my voice strained. Leo nodded, but he watched me, his face expressionless.
I quietly went through the door to my room. I sat on my bed. I ran my hands through my hair. ‘So I’m a snake, am I,’ I said. There was no reply.
I banged the ring on the end of the bed and the stone squawked. ‘I was asleep!’
‘Yeah, sure you were,’ I said, not believing it for a minute. ‘Am I a snake? And if you tell me I’m a perfectly normal human being, you’ll do the grand tour of Hong Kong’s shiny new sewerage system.’
‘Lord Xuan has been waiting for this to happen. The child opened her Inner Eye. She has done it a good year before it was expected. She is extraordinarily talented, even for a half Shen. She brought it about by doing the sword
kata
alone.’
‘And?’
‘She saw those around her with a heightened vision. She saw her father’s true essence.’
‘She saw me as a snake, stone.’
‘Perhaps she saw your true essence as well,’ it said.
‘So I’m a snake? I asked you that a moment ago, and you still haven’t answered me.’
‘That’s because you don’t want to hear the answer. And I don’t want the grand tour, thank you.’
‘Okay, let’s try this from a different direction. Would it be possible to look at a perfectly normal human being, see their essence, and see it as a snake?’
‘Yes, of course,’ the stone said. ‘Quite possible. Many people have a very strong animal nature. Like a totem. I’m surprised she didn’t see Leo as a black lion, and Michael as a gold tiger.’
‘About time you made some sense. So I have a very strong snake essence. Like a snake totem. Funny, I don’t feel very…’ I searched for the word, ‘…snaky.’
‘You are very cold-blooded,’ the stone said.
‘Yes,’ I agreed reluctantly.
‘You love a turtle. A reptile,’ the stone continued. ‘You are a perfect match for each other.’
‘Yes.’ I could see where this was going.
‘You are strong and fast and can be completely merciless when your loved ones are threatened.’
‘I yield,’ I said softly. ‘I see your point.’
‘What was your pet in Australia?’
‘Now you’re just rubbing it in.’
‘Have I escaped the Hong Kong tour?’ the stone said.
‘Tell me when Lord Xuan will emerge and I may think about it,’ I said.
‘Give him some time. He is in great pain,’ the stone said. ‘Do not let the storms hit him directly in future, please, my Lady. He is too proud to tell you, but he is suffering greatly. It built up gradually before the eye hit and he could deal with it. But after the eye, it all hit him at the same time and it was excruciating for him. It will take him more energy to withdraw from the tumult than it would have taken for him to move the typhoon in the first place. But he was too proud to admit that he was suffering so horribly.’
‘Thank you, stone, you can be really valuable when you want to be. He was just looking for an excuse when he said he’d move it for school, and I should have seen that.’
‘You are very wise, Lady Emma, and that is another aspect of your serpent nature,’ the stone said. ‘Ask Lord Xuan about it. The nature of serpents. There is a great deal of depth to them. Many very positive aspects. Wisdom, healing, great strength and power. Dragons are serpents too, my Lady. To be a serpent is not necessarily a bad thing. Remember that your own true love is half Serpent himself.’
‘Now
you
are being extremely wise. Thanks. I feel a million times better.’
The stone shot the question quickly at me. ‘Even if
you were a serpent, could you ever hurt Simone, or Leo, or John?’
‘Never,’ I said firmly. ‘And that’s all that matters.’
‘See? Wise. Ah Yat has made some breakfast. Go and eat, and then I suggest you take a nap while you wait for the other reptile to return. You were up awfully early this morning, and you are very tired.’
‘Yes, Mother,’ I said with a smile.
I
woke up drowsy and dehydrated. I wandered out to find something to drink. I went into the kitchen; Leo sat at the table with some coffee. His eyes were swollen, making them appear even smaller; he’d been asleep too. ‘Is everybody okay?’ I said.
He nodded a reply. ‘Simone’s still sleeping. Mr Chen is asleep too. All the signals have been lowered. Things are starting to get back to normal.’
‘Tea, my Lady?’ Ah Yat said.
I nodded. ‘Sow mei, please, a whole pot.’
Ah Yat busied herself with the teapot.
‘Mr Chen said not to worry about what Simone said, it was normal,’ Leo said. ‘He said that she’d opened her Inner Eye or something like that, and that she could see inside people.’
Ah Yat gave me the tea and I nodded my thanks. I poured for myself. ‘The stone in my ring said the same thing.’
Leo glanced at me sharply. ‘Then why did Simone see you as a snake?’
‘The stone thinks I have a snake totem.’
‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’ Leo demanded, his voice slurring more than usual.
‘Haven’t you ever heard of the concept of a totem?’ I said. ‘Oh come
on,
Leo, you’re joking, right?’
He just shook his head. He didn’t smile.
I decided to be brisk and scientific about it. ‘Certain cultures believe that people can have animal spirits that either dwell inside them or alongside them, that guide and protect them. They have a special affinity to that animal.’ I eyed Leo sideways. ‘Black Lion.’
‘That’s just a stupid nickname the demons thought up, ‘cause they don’t like the fact that I’m a perfectly ordinary human who can take them down,’ Leo said. ‘Nothing more. Certainly not one of these totem things.’
The stone in the ring broke in. ‘You are courageous in the face of overwhelming odds. You protect your family against any attacker. You travel alone, without a partner. You are without peer as a warrior. And you are as black as night. You are a Black Lion, Leo. You even bear the name.’
‘They call me the Lion
because
of the stupid name,’ Leo said. ‘I wish my mother had never gone through that stupid astrology phase.’
‘Your star sign is Leo as well?’ I said, incredulous.
‘And he was born in the year of the Tiger,’ the stone added wryly.
‘I know exactly how old you are now, Leo. And I know your birthday to within a month. You’re older than I thought you were.’ I grinned. ‘You’re overdue for a really big birthday party from last year. I’m going to find out your proper birthday, and I’m going to buy you a cake.’ I giggled with delight and pushed him. ‘You’re middle-aged. Over the hill. Getting old, Leo.’
Leo ignored my ribbing. ‘I’m called the Lion because my name is Leo. I’m called Leo because that’s when I was born. It’s just a chain of coincidences.’
‘There’s no such thing as a coincidence, Leo,’ John said kindly as he entered the kitchen. His hair was
damp from the shower and he looked tired. ‘Haven’t you worked that out by now?’ He plonked himself down at the table. ‘Tea, tikuanyin,’ he ordered without looking at Ah Yat, and she busied herself with another teapot. ‘August fourteenth. Tiger.’ He thought for a moment. ‘Nineteen sixty-two.’ He turned to Leo. ‘She’s quite right.’
Leo stiffened. ‘Thank you
very much.’
I pushed Leo again. ‘Damn, I missed it, it’s already September. You were really quiet. You are
still
getting a cake, though, and it’ll have forty-one big candles on it.’
John laughed gently and I studied him, concerned. ‘Are you all right? We wouldn’t have put you through that if it didn’t make any difference. You should have told us it would be that bad.’
He shrugged. ‘There is very little chance that another of that power will hit us again in a human lifetime.’
‘Simone opened her Inner Eye and saw your true essence,’ I said, studying him closely. ‘You scared her to death.’
He shrugged again, his voice mild. ‘I have never seen a human child open the Eye at such a young age. We will turn it on small demons this afternoon and see what level she is capable of destroying.’ He glanced sharply at me. ‘You will come and try it as well. We haven’t done this with you yet.’
‘She saw me as a snake, John,’ I said quietly.
‘Did she see Leo as a lion?’ John said, and Leo hissed under his breath. ‘That’s what he was arguing about, isn’t it? That all of his lion alignment is just a coincidence?’
‘It
is
,’ Leo said fiercely.
‘And I will repeat myself,’ John said, spreading his hands. ‘There is no such thing as a coincidence.’
‘She didn’t see Leo as a lion, but she saw me as a snake, John,’ I said desperately. ‘She saw me as a
snake.’
‘And?’ John said.
‘Just how much snake am I?’
‘Probably just enough to be beautiful,’ John said. ‘Maybe it’s the reptile in you that loves the reptile in me.’ He smiled. ‘We’ve been through this before, Emma. You know what’s important. Don’t worry yourself about it; we need to have these children organised for school. And if we can get Simone using her Inner Eye, then she will be even more prepared. I may have Michael there this afternoon as well to do the exercises.’
Ah Yat presented him with his tea and he poured for himself. ‘I just thank the heavens that it’s all over.’
‘You should have
told
me it was so bad,’ I said, exasperated. ‘If we’d known, we would have let you move it.’
‘Oh, I thank you, most gracious Lady. You would grant me your permission.’
Leo made a soft sound of amusement.
I looked John right in the eye. ‘You. Me. Staves. Training room. No mercy, no quarter, no rules. No limits; but no touching. I can take you.’ I tapped my fingertip on the table for emphasis, the edge of my voice very sharp. ‘First one to break their opponent’s staff wins.’
‘I can take both of you at once,’ John said mildly.
Leo shot to his feet. ‘Let’s go. You’re on.’
‘Go and warm up and practise to prepare for me,’ John said, raising his tea cup. ‘I will be in there as soon as I’ve finished my tea. I will defeat your combined attacks and break your staves within three minutes, unarmed, without a warm-up, and without touching either of you, or I am not Pak Tai, God of Martial Arts.’
Leo and I shared a look. Then we both grinned. ‘Excellent.’
It only took about twenty seconds. He was definitely God of Martial Arts.
Later that afternoon Simone and I were drawing pictures together when there was a tap on the door. ‘Come on in, Michael,’ Simone said.
Michael sidled in. He hated going into Simone’s room; too girly for him. ‘Lord Xuan is ready for us,’ he said.
Simone and I rose together.
‘You think I’ll see the Turtle again, Emma?’ Simone said.
‘Are you scared of it, sweetheart? It’s just your dad.’ I gestured towards Michael. ‘You’re not scared of his dad in True Form.’
‘His dad isn’t big and black and scaly and horrible.’
‘No,’ I said with a smile. ‘He’s big and white and furry and horrible.’
Michael didn’t say anything but I could see that he was delighted.
Simone hesitated at the training room door. She hadn’t seen her father since, and was obviously worried. I took her hand and opened the door. Her little hand clutched mine.
John waited patiently for us with his hands clasped behind his back. He studied Simone carefully when she came in, his face expressionless. Simone stopped and gazed at him. They studied each other for some time. Simone’s hand still clutched mine.
Then she dropped my hand and ran to her father with her arms up. She hit him hard and he hoisted her. She wrapped her little arms around his neck and held him very tight. He clamped his eyes shut, his face fierce, as he held her.
I moved to guide Michael out and leave them. ‘Don’t go, Emma,’ Simone said, turning in her father’s arms. They both watched me calmly. ‘I’m okay.’
John nodded. I shrugged, closed the door, and motioned for Michael to follow me into the middle of the room.
‘Come and sit,’ John said, and we sat cross-legged together in the centre of the training room. ‘First we will look at what we will do.’ He gestured towards me. ‘You can do it already, Emma, you help Michael. I will help Simone.’ His voice became brisk. ‘The Inner Eye is your vision of the world around you that doesn’t require your physical eyes. Once you open it, it is very useful. You can see past obstacles, and,’ he looked pointedly at Simone, ‘see the inner essence of other creatures.’
Simone nodded, wide-eyed.
‘Lady Emma has discovered some other uses; we may try them later. Simone,’ he said kindly, ‘that’s what you did before. You opened your Inner Eye. You could see right through things.’
‘I saw you, Daddy,’ she said. ‘I saw the Turtle.’
‘How do you do it, my Lord?’ Michael said. ‘How difficult is it?’
‘You may not be able to do it, you are quite young,’ John said. Michael seemed about to protest, then subsided. ‘Normally even half Shen must wait until adulthood. We will see what you can do. I think you may be able to. Emma will show you how to do it.’ John took Simone’s hand. I took Michael’s hand. ‘Just open your Eye, Emma. Do it in front of Michael, see if he can follow you. I will do the same for Simone when you’re done.’
I opened my Eye and Michael watched me attentively. It was an unusual feeling; normally it was me watching somebody else. I turned the Eye on John to show Michael. I didn’t see the Turtle at all; I just saw the Dark Lord part of him, like a smaller version of the Celestial Form. Michael gasped. I internally reached out
and touched him, comforting, without physically moving at all. It was like there was a second set of people there: our physical beings and our spiritual ones.
‘Can I turn it on Simone?’ I said softly.
‘No, don’t attempt that,’ John said, and his Celestial Form spoke. ‘She’s not ready for that yet. Emma,’ his voice became more forceful, ‘I am going to turn my Eye onto you. Be ready, it will feel very strange. If it hurts, tell me and I will stop immediately.’
I nodded, and the Celestial Form smiled through its thin black beard, still with John’s eyes.
‘Close your Eye, Emma, and sit very still. Warn me if it hurts.’
I closed off the extra senses and opened my physical eyes. Michael opened his eyes as well. He smiled at me. ‘Cool.’
I waited quietly. Simone’s little face was rigid with concentration as she watched her father. John’s face was serene, his golden skin glowing. He looked me right in the eyes, smiled slightly at me, and I felt it.
It was like static electricity, all the way through me. It was like touching an electric wire, but it didn’t stop. A continuous tingling spark ran through me, slightly unpleasant, but not painful.
‘Are you all right, Emma?’ John said softly, still smiling gently. ‘I’m not hurting you? Tell me if I am.’
‘It doesn’t hurt,’ I said. ‘It feels weird, but I’m okay.’ I hesitated. ‘What do I look like?’
‘Are you a snake?’ John said, voicing my unspoken question. ‘Is she a snake, Simone?’
‘No, Emma, you’re a beautiful lady,’ Simone said, her voice full of awe. ‘You’re really beautiful.’ Her voice softened. ‘You love us a lot. Me and Daddy.’
‘Stay still, Emma, let’s let Simone try by herself,’ John said, and the electricity snapped off. He let go of her hand.
I remained still, to let Simone see me. She closed her eyes and her face went slack as she concentrated. Nothing happened.
‘You’re trying too hard, sweetheart,’ John said. ‘Just relax. Like you were doing the sword set. Don’t try, just do it.’
Still no tingling.
Simone frowned.
John took her hand. ‘Let me.’ He concentrated, holding her hand.
The tingling went through me, then stopped.
‘Now you,’ John said, releasing her hand.
Simone’s face went rigid with concentration.
The force of the shock knocked me over. My head hit the floor with a smack. I was held paralysed on the floor with the electricity going through me.
‘Let her up, Simone,’ John said quietly, ‘you may hurt her.’
The electricity stopped. ‘Sorry, Emma,’ Simone said. ‘I don’t know what I did.’
‘Why did that happen?’ I said as I pulled myself back up. ‘That didn’t happen when I came in before and she saw me as a snake. I didn’t feel anything.’
‘She only had it half-open when we came in, but her vision was clear,’ John said. ‘This time she had it open all the way, but her vision wasn’t as clear. When you are more experienced you will understand. Are you okay? You didn’t hit your head too hard?’
I shook my head. ‘I’m fine.’ Michael watched me with a grin of mischievous delight. ‘You will keep,’ I said. ‘We haven’t done it to you yet.’
‘She has a powerful Eye and she hasn’t any control over it yet,’ John said. ‘Once we have control over it, we can choose the level of effect we have on you. I could quite easily kill you if I turned it completely onto you.’ He smiled gently at Simone. ‘I wasn’t expecting
anything quite so powerful out of you yet, love. It’ll be interesting to see what you can blow up with that little Eye of yours.’
‘Whoa, really?’ Michael said, aghast. ‘My dad could kill somebody just by looking at them?’
‘Once the Tiger was attacked on the Earthly Plane by a band of robbers in the West. This was a long time ago,’ John said, remembering, ‘about a thousand years ago. He was riding alone. He was attacked by a whole group of them, about twenty. He turned his Eye on them and killed them all in one go.’ He smiled grimly. ‘Humans are easy.’
‘He didn’t give them a chance at all?’ I said.
John shook his head.
‘You were right, Emma,’ Michael said. ‘He is a bastard.’
‘
Lady
Emma,’ John corrected.
‘Just Emma,’ I said. ‘He’s family.’
‘I suppose he is,’ John said. ‘And it’s his turn.’ He gestured towards Michael. ‘On me first. We don’t want to hurt the ladies.’
‘Do you want me to show you again, Michael?’ I said.
Michael nodded. I took his hand and showed him again how to do it.
‘Try to open it more, Emma,’ John said. ‘That’s a pathetic attempt if ever I saw one. You won’t be able to kill anything with that.’