by Kylie Chan
Ma grimaced, dropped his head, then raised it again, concentrating on the road. He sighed heavily, then replied, ‘Okay, so sometimes presidents of countries have their sordid pasts brought up. Some of them may have done drugs when they were in high school—’
‘But they didn’t murder people and eat them!’ Simone said.
‘It’s much the same thing though, my Princess. It’s easy to become addicted to the blood of humans. We’re all reformed addicts.’
He glanced over his shoulder, saw my face and smiled slightly. He knew my cravings.
Simone turned to look out the window. ‘I’m consorting with murderers and cannibals.’ She leaned her head on the glass. ‘And my father was the biggest one of all.’
‘Reformed, judged, punished and redeemed,’ Zhou said. ‘He gave us the Fire Pill and enabled us to control our addiction—’
‘Holy shit, that means you’re all tame demons,’ Simone said, her head snapping around to see him. ‘That’s what we do to tame them—give them the Fire Essence Pill. It took me a long time to learn that at the Academy!’
‘That’s the point they’re trying to make, honey,’ the Tiger said. He dropped his voice. ‘And you complain about me using bad language.’
Simone turned back to the window. ‘What about Daddy—is he a demon too?’ She turned to gaze at Zhou. ‘Am I half-demon? Is that what it means that I can take this demonic form?’ Her eyes went wide. ‘And who gave him the Fire Pill?’
‘Nobody needed to,’ Martin said, breaking in. ‘He met Avalokitesvara and decided on this path himself, the path to redemption. He attained the Tao with her assistance. He is the mightiest creature ever to have shaken off his past and turned to the Celestial.’
‘Will he revert to demon when he becomes whole?’ she said, her voice small.
‘There is no chance of that at all,’ Ma said with conviction. ‘He has changed more than any of us. He will never return to that path, it cannot happen. He is either the Xuan Wu the animal spirit, or Xuan Tian the Celestial General.’
‘We’re here,’ Ma said.
There was a small car park with space for about ten cars at the end of the causeway. Ahead was a towering craggy black cliff seemingly made of some type of shining glass, with enormous red doors, about fifty metres high, adorned with black metal studs, much like the doors of the Celestial Palace. Demon guards in armour carrying swords stood on either side of the gates, like statues.
Ma parked the van sideways to the gate—there were no other cars there—and turned off the engine. He turned to speak to us. ‘Who is bigger than the inside of the van?’
‘Just about all of us, Ah Guang,’ Marshal Zhou said.
Ma peered out the front windscreen. ‘Only two guards on the Gates, and they look parked. Might as well go for it. Use the van as cover.’
We slid the door open and got out. Everybody stood there, obviously hesitant at changing. Martin didn’t bother waiting: he took his demonic form again—black skin with long bright red hair, bulging eyes, and tusks. He raised one clawed hand and summoned the Silver Serpent, the sword that Xuan Wu had originally given to me.
He grimaced. ‘I still have your sword. Do you want it back?’
‘Was it yours originally?’ I said.
He nodded his massive demon head. ‘Father had it forged for me. When I was disowned, he took it from me.’
‘Keep it,’ I said.
Marshal Ma grew and thickened and his skin turned green. His clothing changed from a business suit to a traditional black silk robe, and his face became longer and his eyes round and bulging. His mouth thickened and became redder. When he was about two-and-a-half metres tall he stopped growing, and visibly relaxed.
‘Haven’t done that in a while,’ he said.
‘You look nearly human,’ I said.
He bowed slightly. ‘I thank you, madam.’
Zhao Gong Ming and Shi Cheng shared a look, then both changed at the same time. They took similar demonic forms: Zhao was red all over with scales and tusks, and Shi went completely white. They both wore traditional black lacquer armour. Shi Cheng carried a long, narrow sword with characters along its length. Zhao held a golden leather strap in his left hand, and in his right a sword embellished with tigers on the hilt.
The Generals bowed slightly to me, and Zhao grinned, revealing his fearsome tusks.
Liang Tian, who usually appeared as a middle-aged scholar with a refined, elegant face, grimaced. ‘They’re right. My demon form is a bit extreme.’ He appeared embarrassed. ‘Please don’t take fright at it—and you need to move back, it’s large.’
‘Let’s see it,’ I said, curious.
Liang Tian changed quickly, the transformation taking only a few seconds. His body went from human to long and serpent-like, then to that of a dragon on all fours with black scales and claws, three metres long. But his head was like a Chinese lion, all fangs, bulging eyes and a mane of large scales. He shook his head and opened his mouth, revealing his huge red tongue.
‘Frankendragon,’ Simone said. ‘You look like two monsters glued together.’
Liang Tian bowed slightly to her. ‘I shall take that as a compliment, miss.’
‘Your turn. Let’s see it, ma’am,’ Ma said. ‘I’ve heard an awful lot about this famous serpent form.’
I gestured towards Simone, the Tiger and Michael. ‘Me last. You guys first.’
‘Why?’ the Tiger said.
‘Because I might slip into demon form,’ I said.
None of the Generals seemed surprised.
General Ma nodded his huge green head. ‘I understand. You last.’ He turned to the Tiger, Simone and Michael. ‘Any chance of the demon side taking over on you three?’
‘No guarantee I won’t eat anything,’ the Tiger said gruffly, and changed. He grew taller and his head became much larger, turning into a full tiger’s head with long fangs. His body filled out, still remaining reasonably human, and his clothes shrank to a simple tiger-skin loincloth. His hands grew and spread into paws with fearsome long claws that hung level with his knees. He shook his head. ‘Been a while for me too.’
Michael’s change was sudden. His body lengthened and grew pale gold tiger fur with black stripes, and as it lengthened he fell forward to stand on all fours. His head also became a tiger’s head, with a shaggy mane. He must have been at least three metres from nose to tail.
‘That’s not too different from your tiger form,’ Simone said.
‘Different enough,’ Michael said, his tiger vocal cords making his voice a rough growl. He raised his black nose to her. ‘Your turn.’
Simone concentrated, and suddenly grew so that she was at least thirty centimetres taller, and her skin went completely black. Her jeans and T-shirt changed to flowing black robes, and her fingers lengthened and grew long nails that were almost claws. Reptilian scales appeared all over her body, and her face became more narrow and reptilian, her nose disappearing and her large green eyes showing slits instead of pupils. Her legs stayed in normal human shape but were black and covered with scales. She bent forward, stretched her scaled arms in front of her, then, with a growl, threw herself back again to complete the form.
Everyone stared at her in awe.
She rubbed her clawed hands over her face. ‘I hate this form. It’s really itchy.’ She gestured towards me. ‘Your turn, Emma.’
‘I really don’t want to do this. I don’t remember anything that happens while I’m in this form,’ I said.
‘You can always stay behind,’ the Tiger said. ‘Wait here for us.’
I didn’t reply, I just changed. I concentrated on taking the serpent form, and slid into it easily; nearly as easily as demon form. When I lifted my head it was about the same height as Simone’s.
‘You there, Emma?’ Simone said.
‘Yeah,’ I said. I flicked my tongue and tasted the air. It smelt/tasted foul: the presence of the demons and the demonic side of Hell close by. ‘This place really stinks.’
Martin hefted his sword. ‘Follow me. I will guide.’
Ma raised one arm. ‘Lead on, Gui Dai Ren.’
CHAPTER 29
We followed Martin to the base of the gates and the demon guards changed from inactive automatons to living creatures. They raised their pole arms, then saw Martin and lowered them again, falling to their knees. Martin raised one hand and the gates opened slowly and smoothly inwards. A blast of foul-tasting stale air hit us and we went in.
The tunnel was the same craggy obsidian as the cliffs the gates were set into, as high and wide as the gates themselves. We travelled along the smooth floor for some distance and Martin obviously relaxed.
‘I still have the King’s endorsement,’ he said. ‘I wonder how long it will be before he removes it.’ He dropped his head. ‘Then there will be no place for me, in either Heaven or Hell, again.’ He raised his head. ‘I will return to the ocean.’
‘Don’t lay a guilt trip on the girl,’ the Tiger said. ‘You chose this path. You have a lot to prove.’
‘Don’t worry, Uncle Bai,’ Simone said, her voice hissing. ‘I wasn’t about to feel sorry for him.’
Martin shot a quick, appraising glance at Simone, then turned back. ‘It is a long way, past the Pits, to Six’s nest. It is beyond the edge of Hell, in caverns under Shantou.’
‘Avoid the Pits if you can,’ the Tiger said.
Martin nodded once sharply. ‘We will.’
‘I can see the Pits anyway,’ Simone said. ‘The King said he didn’t know where Six had his nest. How come you do, Martin?’
‘Exactly what words did the King use?’ Martin said.
‘He didn’t say that at all, Simone,’ I said. ‘He knows exactly where the nest is, he just doesn’t want to be involved. He wants us to do all his dirty work for him.’
‘I was sure he said he didn’t know where the nest is,’ Simone said, sounding unsure.
‘Stone?’ I said.
The stone was embedded in my flesh roughly where my shoulder would be if I wasn’t a snake. It didn’t reply.
I shook myself. ‘Stone!’
‘Hmm, Emma? What?’
‘Don’t fall asleep on me now,’ I said. ‘We’re going to Six’s nest. Replay the King’s words where he said it wasn’t within his power to tell us where Six is.’
The stone replayed the King’s voice. ‘I’m afraid it is not within my ability right now to tell you where he is. Martin may be able to help you though.’
‘Oh, that bastard,’ Simone said. ‘He didn’t say anything of the sort.’
‘He says that it’s “not within his ability” when he doesn’t want to do something,’ I said.
‘Why didn’t you call him on it?’ Simone said.
‘What would be the point? We have Martin, who I trust twenty times more than I trust the King.’ I waved my serpent head at him. ‘But that’s twenty times nothing, Ming Gui.’
Martin shrugged. ‘I have a great deal of atonement to perform.’
‘That you do,’ the Tiger said. He straightened slightly. ‘Heads up.’
The way was blocked by a couple of demon dukes, both of them with the bodies of heavily muscled men and the heads of horses. They turned when they saw us and took positions of alert.
‘What are all of you doing here?’ one of them said. ‘I have never seen you on level six before.’
‘They are with me,’ a voice behind them said.
They both dropped to one knee and lowered their horse heads. ‘Da Shi Yeh.’
The Generals and the Tiger quickly dropped to one knee as well.
Kowtow quick, the Tiger said, and Simone dropped, lowering her serpent-like head. Michael knelt with one foreleg, and I did the same as Simone, lowering my serpent head.
The demon Da Shi Yeh—Ancient Demon Grandfather—appeared as a bent, wizened old man wearing a tattered sackcloth shift that came to just above his bony knees, and leaning on a long knotty wooden staff; the only sign of his demon nature was his bright blue skin. He grinned at the demon dukes. ‘Let them come with me. I asked them here to help out with some of the Mothers. An extremely large Mother’s clutch is about to hatch and these serpent demons—and their guards—may be able to assist.’ His grin widened slightly. ‘Do you want to come help?’
The demon dukes rolled their eyes like terrified horses.
‘That will not be necessary,’ one of them said.
The other waved us on. ‘Go with the Venerable Grandfather.’
Da Shi Yeh led us further down the corridor. It narrowed, and other passages appeared on either side, but the walls were still black glass.
‘Thank you, sir. We can go the rest of the way ourselves now,’ General Ma said.
Da Shi Yeh grinned over his shoulder at Ma. ‘Not that easy, my friend. You must pay a price for my assistance.’
‘What price is that?’ Martin said, suspicious.
Da Shi Yeh continued walking down the corridor. ‘I really do need your help. I did not lie to the dukes. There is a very, very large Mother in the nest cavern up ahead, and her clutch really is about to hatch. I need the assistance of the beautiful serpent ladies here to help me salvage a couple of the spawn. I think they may very well be the most powerful demons that Hell has seen in a while—perhaps even a future King.’
‘Do you know why we’re here?’ I said.
Da Shi Yeh shrugged. ‘Of course I do, but that is inconsequential to me. I am here to ensure that the spawn hatch successfully. Apart from that, I do not care for the politics or power plays. The King leaves me alone to do my work, and I return the favour.’
‘If you stopped assisting the hatchlings, would demon reproduction stop altogether?’ Simone said.
Da Shi Yeh stopped and turned to her, smiling broadly. ‘Oh, you are your father’s daughter, dear!’ He turned back and raised his staff. ‘The cavern is just up ahead.’
Simone looked down. ‘I’ve had about enough of nest caverns.’
‘Me too,’ I said.
‘Holy shit,’ the Tiger said in front of us.
‘Whoa,’ Michael said.
We reached the end of the tunnel and stopped. It opened into a nest cavern that had to be at least four hundred metres across, with a ceiling so high it was invisible. Snake Mothers writhed across the floor, some in their nest indentations with their eggs, others appearing to be chatting, or sitting on piles of cushions watching the several widescreen plasma televisions standing around the edges. A couple were in human form, sitting on the stone floor playing handheld video games; but the rest were in True Form, at least four metres long.
‘These things are huge,’ the Tiger said under his breath.
‘The eggs that are about to hatch are in the middle,’ Da Shi Yeh said, and walked without hesitation towards the centre of the cavern.
Simone sidled closer to me. ‘This is very scary.’
Michael, the Tiger and the Generals moved to form a protective shield around Simone and me. When the Mothers nearby saw us they dropped what they were doing and quickly slithered closer to examine us.
‘Ignore them. This way,’ Da Shi Yeh said from the darkness.
‘That’s very easy for him to say,’ Simone said.
One of the Mothers raised herself on her serpent tail to see us more clearly. ‘Oh, look, girls, snake soup,’ she said.
‘I adore snake broth,’ another said, her voice hissing.
‘Perfect for the winter, heats up the blood,’ the first one said.
We continued walking, trying to ignore them, but they matched our pace. As we passed more Mothers they joined the group.
‘Did Little Grandfather bring us some toys?’ one said. She reached out to the Tiger and he slapped her hand away. Her voice changed to petulance. ‘Little Grandfather only brings toys to the biggest. We want some too!’
‘Ooh, toys, really?’ another Mother said as we passed her. ‘I love playing with snakes! And
these are big demons too!’ She clapped her hands. ‘Little Grandfather brought us some toys!’
‘Me first, me first, I haven’t played with anything in ages,’ one of them said. She had a small scuffle with another Mother that was blocking her from moving closer to us. ‘Mine!’
Some of the other Mothers heard her and approached. We now had at least fifteen enormous Mothers hovering on their serpent tails over us, arguing over who would be the first to play with us.
Da Shi Yeh stomped back to us and waved his staff at the Mothers. ‘These aren’t toys for you, girlies. Go back to your soap operas. They’re with me; you can’t play with them.’
One of the Mothers poked her tongue out at him—all thirty centimetres of it. ‘You’re no fun at all. Bring us toys! Tell the King we want toys.’
‘Yes! Tell him to send us toys or no sex for him!’ one of the other Mothers said, and laughed.
A third nudged her. ‘Don’t be silly, Fifty-Three. You deny him and he kills you.’
‘I know that,’ Fifty-Three said. ‘I was just joking.’
‘These demons are with me. Leave them alone,’ Da Shi Yeh said, and gestured for us to follow him.
A very large Mother, with a thickly scaled black tail and a heavy-set human torso, spoke with a deep, almost masculine voice. ‘Is Seventeen’s clutch about to pop?’
The Mothers suddenly stilled. Those who had been moving away stopped to listen as well.
‘Don’t you worry about what’s happening in the middle,’ Da Shi Yeh said. ‘You stay away from those big ones, they’ll eat your tails for breakfast.’
‘But their babies won’t,’ the big Mother said.
‘Ooh, babies,’ Fifty-Three said. ‘I love babies.’
‘Nearly as good as snake broth,’ one of the other Mothers said.
‘You going to fight a Mother in the centre for her clutch?’ Da Shi Yeh said with amusement.
The Mothers hesitated at that, then most of them wandered back to their cushions and televisions.
A couple stayed. ‘You would protect us, Little Grandfather,’ one said. ‘Let us see.’
‘I want to see,’ the other said.
