Small Shen

by Kylie Chan

  Leo wasn’t in his little living room, he was stretched out on the bed, fully clothed, his forearm over his face. Gold sat on the bed next to him. ‘You okay, Leo?’

  Leo didn’t reply, and then Gold saw the open bottle of pills on the side table. He picked them up; a powerful sleeping drug, bought over the counter at one of Hong Kong’s many pharmacies, where any type of drug could be bought without a prescription. He looked at the date on the bottle; it had been given to Leo the day before, but it was empty. Gold dropped the bottle and quickly checked Leo; he’d taken all of them.

  My Lord, Leo’s attempted to kill himself.

  Gold heard the weapon hit the floor with a thump in the training room and then Xuan Wu raced into Leo’s room. He took Leo’s hand and studied him. ‘Damn!’

  ‘I can heal him, my Lord.’

  ‘No,’ Leo whispered. ‘Let me die.’

  ‘Do it,’ Xuan Wu said.

  ‘No!’ Leo gasped, and attempted to move away.

  Xuan Wu spoke to Leo as Gold moved the cleansing energy through Leo’s body. ‘You are such a coward! Running from failure, and not even clearing your shame honourably — to die by the sword.’ He dropped Leo’s hand. ‘I should dismiss you from my service for this. Hasn’t Simone suffered enough, to have lost nearly all those dear to her? But you would take another? She loves you like a father, Leo, and this is how you repay her love.’

  Gold was horrified at Xuan Wu’s cruelty. ‘My Lord!’

  ‘Heal him. Then I will punish him,’ Xuan Wu said, his voice icy. He turned his attention back to Leo. ‘Coward. Running away when things become difficult.’

  ‘It was my fault,’ Leo gasped. ‘All my fault!’

  ‘That’s right it was!’ Xuan Wu snapped. ‘And it was my fault too, I let them stay when I should have told them about myself, and taken them all to the Mountain with me! You think you are the only one who feels responsible? I have killed them all!’ He dropped his head with misery. ‘I should have known that becoming involved with a human woman would only end in tragedy.’

  Leo was silent.

  ‘But Simone needs us,’ Xuan Wu said. ‘She needs all of us, to gather around her, and help her to recover. We need to be strong — for her. We may blame ourselves and punish ourselves as much as we like — but not in front of her. Because whatever happens, she must not suffer any more.’ He rose. ‘Now as soon as Gold has finished saving your worthless life again, you will rest, and then you will come out, and you will help me to look after this wonderful little girl that both of us have betrayed so completely. She trusts us, Leo, even though we have killed her mother.’ His voice broke, and he took a deep breath. ‘And I do not want to betray her trust again, by leaving her. And neither should you. For her sake, Leo, live.’ He spun and stalked out.

  Gold didn’t say anything, he just continued to cleanse the drugs out of Leo’s system. Leo remained motionless on the bed.

  When Gold was finished, he dropped Leo’s hand. Leo still didn’t move. ‘Are you okay, Leo?’

  ‘He’s right. I need to live for both of them.’ Leo turned his head to see Gold. ‘And you’ve saved my life again. I don’t deserve it.’

  ‘Of course you do.’

  ‘No, Gold, I don’t! I started seeing Rob long before you and I broke up.’ Leo looked away. ‘I cheated on you.’

  Gold took Leo’s hand again. ‘Leo, I knew for a long time that you’d been seeing Rob. I was glad for you. You didn’t betray me, I left. I wasn’t able to give you what you needed.’ He squeezed Leo’s hand. ‘Rob makes you happy, so stay with him.’ He rose. ‘Now rest, and do as the Dark Lord ordered. You’re a Retainer, you’re sworn to obey him, so I suppose you have to.’ He went to the door to go out.

  ‘Gold,’ Leo said.

  ‘Hmm?’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Just get better, okay? And be strong. All of us need to be strong. For Simone.’

  With that, he closed the door, before any of his tears fell.

  FAREWELL TO HEAVEN

  1995

  ‘This humble servant petitions your Celestial Majesty with a request,’ Xuan Wu said, his deep voice echoing through the hall.

  ‘Name it,’ the Emperor said.

  ‘This humble servant has married a human woman and requests permission to join her and live on the Earthly plane as a human.’

  ‘What of your duties as First Heavenly General?’

  ‘I would that they were delegated to Er Lang, Second Heavenly General.’

  ‘Your dominion, the Dark Northern Heavens?’

  ‘My Generals will manage the Heavens in my absence.’

  ‘Your Mountain?’

  A soft rustle echoed through the hall, the hissing sound of moving silk. None of the gathered Celestials said a word, but everybody present knew how much the Celestial Mountain of Wudangshan meant to the Dark Lord.

  Xuan Wu waited until the noise died to silence. Then he raised his head and looked the Jade Emperor in the eye. ‘I have lieutenants capable of running the Mountain in my absence. I request permission to remain on the Earthly.’

  ‘Permission denied,’ the Emperor said. ‘You are needed on the Celestial Plane, Dark Lord of the Arts of War. We cannot spare you. Bring her to the Celestial, she will be welcomed and given full honours as your Empress.’

  The rustle of moving robes hissed through the hall, then once again there was silence.

  ‘She refuses to leave the Earthly,’ Xuan Wu said. ‘If it needs be, I will forsake my dominion for her.’

  ‘Permission is still denied, you are not given Celestial consent.’ The Jade Emperor spoke with an edge of exasperation. ‘This has been discussed and negotiated. The position of the Celestial is clear.’ His voice became vehement. ‘You are needed here.’

  Xuan Wu raised his head with defiance. ‘I will do it anyway, Celestial Majesty. With your permission or without it, I will be with my wife.’

  The rustle of robes was accompanied by a gentle hush of voices which trickled to silence.

  The Jade Emperor spoke loudly and clearly. ‘You will not do this.’

  ‘Arrange someone else to fulfil my duties for the next hundred or so years, Majesty, I will be living on the Earthly.’

  The Jade Emperor banged the arm of the throne. ‘You will not do this, Ah Wu, I forbid it!’

  Xuan Wu took two steps towards the dais.

  The Jade Emperor rose, stepped forward, and glared with menace. ‘You are walking a very fine line, Ah Wu, do not disobey me!’

  ‘Go to hell.’

  And with that, Xuan Wu stalked out of the hall, surrounded by a dull roar of astonishment.

  Oh my, that was better than I expected, the Dragon said silently to Gold. Did you get it all?

  Yes, my Lord, Gold said. He hesitated, then, If I had known it would lead to this much trouble I would not have aided him.

  He may be thrown from Heaven, the Dragon said, still amused. There are many who question his place here, and this is exactly the excuse they have been looking for.

  The Celestials filed out of the hall, quietly discussing the events once they were through the door. Gold and the Dragon followed the crowd. It took some time for them to reach the door, and they were the last people in the hall to leave.

  Gold slumped and wiped his hand over his face. Not again.

  ‘Azure Dragon, you are dismissed,’ the Jade Emperor said. ‘I wish to see the Golden Boy alone.’

  You’re on your own, the Dragon said, and disappeared.

  Gold sighed and walked to the dais. The empty hall echoed with his footsteps. He fell to his knees in front of the dais and spoke the obeisance with resignation. ‘Wen sui, wen sui, wen wen sui.’

  ‘Rise,’ the Emperor said.

  Gold rose and waited.

  ‘Find the Jade Girl. Bring her here to my private apartments in one hour. I wish to speak to both of you.’

  Gold took a deep breath, hesitated, and then threw his life away. ‘Celestial Majesty.’


  The Jade Emperor had turned to sit on the throne. He paused for a moment, then sat and leaned his elbow on his knee. ‘Speak.’

  ‘Celestial Majesty.’ Gold fell to his knees again. ‘If it pleases your majesty, the Jade Girl was not involved in this. It had nothing to do with her; it was all my doing. I take full responsibility. Please do not punish her for something she did not do. It was me and me only who assisted the Dark Lord in this matter.’

  ‘Did you hear my order, stone?’

  ‘I did, Celestial Majesty, and still I beg for my friend’s life. She was not involved.’

  ‘Your friend, eh?’ The Jade Emperor didn’t move. ‘I repeat my order, stone. Return with the Jade Girl to my private apartments in one hour. Do not even begin to think of running. You will obey me.’

  ‘I will obey you, Lord, you know I have no choice.’ Gold dropped his forehead to the floor. ‘This humble Shen is honoured.’ He shook his head, still with his forehead on the floor, and whispered, ‘No.’

  ‘Go.’

  Gold pulled himself to his feet and went.

  Gold sat in the office chair next to her at the desk. ‘You remember when the Dark Lord asked for my help to win the human? How we laughed about that?’

  Jade smiled down at the printouts then back up at him. ‘That was delightful, the most I’d laughed in twenty years.’

  Gold’s voice was hoarse. ‘He married her, and now he’s forsaken his duties and wants to live on the Earthly with her as a human.’

  ‘He just had a major altercation with the Jade Emperor. Let me show you.’ Gold concentrated and presented the recording so that Jade could view it.

  When the recording had finished Jade shook her head, confident. ‘Without the Dark Lord to defend it, Heaven is at the mercy of the demons. They won’t throw him from Heaven, it’s simply not possible. Besides, he’s the North Wind.’

  ‘With him full-time on the Earthly, Heaven is at the mercy of the demons anyway,’ Gold said. ‘This is just the excuse his enemies have been looking for.’

  ‘He has no enemies.’

  ‘He is Yin itself, he refuses to play the political games and is straightforward in all his dealings. Of course he has enemies.’

  Jade sighed. ‘I hope it doesn’t happen, I have a great deal of respect for him. And he tried to help us when we were in trouble, by taking us into his service.’

  ‘Jade.’ Gold fingered the printouts. He sighed. ‘This is very hard.’

  Jade touched Gold’s hand. ‘Go on, I trust you, my friend.’

  Gold didn’t look up from the paper. ‘The Jade Emperor wishes to see me in his private apartments in forty minutes. Apparently my interference, once again, has returned to bite me on the ass.

  ‘He wants to see you too.’

  Jade shot to her feet. ‘No!’

  Gold put his head in his hands. ‘I am so sorry.’

  Jade grabbed Gold’s forearm and hauled him to his feet. He watched with confusion but didn’t attempt to defend himself.

  She threw her arms around him and held him close, pulling his face into her shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, whatever happens, it will work out.’

  ‘I hate to think what our sentence will be, Jade, and it’s all my fault.’ He nuzzled her shoulder. ‘And you had nothing to do with it at all.’ He gripped her tighter. ‘This shouldn’t happen to you!’

  Xuan Wu turned to the Jade Emperor. ‘The Dragon released them, Celestial Majesty?’

  ‘He had trouble finding them more work. He said they were just redoing tasks because he’d run out of things for them to do.’

  ‘Well, I’ll have plenty for them to do.’

  Jade inhaled sharply but didn’t look up.

  ‘Jade Girl. Golden Boy,’ the Jade Emperor said sternly.

  ‘Celestial Majesty.’

  ‘The Xuan Wu is so obviously insanely in love with this human woman that the Celestial has seen fit to give him permission to remain on the Earthly with her for a human lifetime.

  ‘The Xuan Wu will obviously require assistance whilst living on the Earthly, and he has suggested that you worthless pair may be of some use.

  ‘Where should they present themselves, Ah Wu?’

  Xuan Wu shifted slightly. ‘Hong Kong, Peak. One Black Road. Top floor.’

  ‘You heard him,’ the Jade Emperor said. ‘You have three hours to collect your belongings and present yourselves there. You are to remain in human form while in the Dark Lord’s service, you have not atoned completely for assisting the foreigners to steal China’s greatest treasure.’

  ‘Don’t bring too much, Hong Kong is very small, there won’t be room,’ Xuan Wu said. ‘One bag apiece. If you need more you can purchase it later.’

  ‘Celestial Highness,’ Jade said.

  The Jade Emperor waved them away. ‘Go.’

  HONG KONG

  2002

  GOLD ENTERED the living room and stopped. Simone was playing with Lego on the living room floor, the pieces strewn all over the carpet. A young European woman was talking to her in English, and Simone was replying, telling a story.

  Simone saw Gold, jumped up, and ran to him. ‘Hello, Gold!’

  The young European woman rose as well, and stood with her hands clasped in front of her. She was in her mid-twenties; about five six tall with mid-brown hair tied back into an untidy ponytail. She wore a plain blue T-shirt and a pair of jeans, both of which had seen better days. Her eyes were a clear shade of blue, standing out in her face which was pale without make-up. Compared to the immaculately turned-out and made-up Hong Kong women, she was a refreshing blast of naturalness, and Gold found himself immediately intrigued.

  ‘And who is this?’ Gold asked Simone.

  ‘This is Emma, she teaches me English,’ Simone said. She dropped her voice and her eyes went wide. ‘Well, she’s supposed to teach me English, but most of the time we just play together. Don’t tell Daddy.’

  The young woman bowed slightly with her hands in front of her in the traditional Chinese way; she’d been learning or had been in Hong Kong for a while. ‘Good afternoon, I’m Emma Donahoe.’

  ‘I’m Gold, Mr Chen’s lawyer, I’m here for a meeting,’ Gold said.

  The door opened and Jade entered. She stopped when she saw Emma. ‘Miss Donahue,’ she said coldly.

  ‘Actually, it’s Donahoe, I believe it’s a more ancient form of the traditional Irish name,’ Emma said without rancour.

  ‘Donahue, Donahoe, whatever,’ Jade said, and shoved Gold. ‘He’s waiting for us, let’s move.’

  Gold bent to speak to Simone. ‘I have a meeting with your dad, okay?’

  Simone nodded. ‘That’s fine, me and Emma are wan wan Lego.’

  ‘English, Simone,’ Xuan Wu said from the doorway of the dining room. He gestured with his head. ‘In here, Jade, Gold, I’ve been waiting for you.’

  This one might last a little longer than the others, Gold said to Jade as they walked to the dining room for the meeting.

  I hope she doesn’t, I don’t like her, Jade said. She doesn’t know her place.

  They entered the dining room. Xuan Wu stood at the doorway, watching Emma and Simone play with the Lego, and then came in and closed the door. ‘That Emma is remarkable. She has taught Simone so much — and has demanded that I buy Simone books and videos that will entertain and educate her.’ He sat at the table. ‘There really is much more to her than meets the eye. Kitty Kwok did me a huge favour recommending her.’

  ‘She comes in three days a week, my Lord?’ Gold said.

  ‘Yes, three afternoons, when she’s finished at Kitty’s kindergarten.’ His expression became wistful. ‘Leo says I should put her on full-time as a nanny for Simone, to free Monica up from caring for her. It might be a good idea.’

  ‘She is after you,’ Jade said grimly.

  Xuan Wu stared at her. ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ He swept one hand across the table. ‘I am done with human women forever. Never again. I may offer her a position as a human nan
ny for Simone, that is all.’

  ‘Get a tame demon or a Shen,’ Jade said. ‘Not a human.’

  ‘Simone needs to learn how to interact with humans, and this one is perfect,’ Xuan Wu said. He rested his elbow on the table. ‘She has a strong personality and is not afraid of anything. She’s very impressive. Simone adores her. And she has the most astonishing blue eyes…’

  ‘You’ve certainly had problems keeping domestic staff, my Lord,’ Gold said with grim humour. ‘They all run when they see the weapons in the training room.’

  ‘I don’t think this one will. Anyway.’ Xuan Wu picked up the folder in front of him. ‘Regardless, that is a decision to be made in the future. Right now, I need to make another trip to Paris, and I need you to buy me an airplane.’

  Gold and Jade stared at Xuan Wu, aghast. ‘An airplane?’

  ‘Just a small one, to take to Paris for my energy visits with Kwan Yin.’

  There was a tap on the door, and it opened. ‘Sorry to disturb you, guys,’ Emma said. ‘But Simone’s spilled her drink on the carpet. Can someone show me where I can get stuff to clean it up?’

  ‘I will,’ Xuan Wu said, and rose from his seat. ‘She does that all the time.’

  ‘She’ll grow out of it,’ Emma said, smiling up at Xuan Wu. They went out of the room together, talking about Simone’s clumsiness.

  Simone came into the room holding a collection of Lego blocks smashed together in a multicoloured tangle. ‘Look what I made.’

  Gold took the Lego. ‘That’s very clever, Simone.’

  Xuan Wu came back in, followed by Emma.