Year of the Dragon (Changeling Sisters Book 3)
Page 7
The White Tiger’s gaze softened. –Annyeong haseyo, Girl-Who-Does-Not-Know-Her-Family-Name–
Raina gazed upon the White Tiger, and a flicker of wonder rekindled in her downcast eyes. “Why do you call me that, Lady of Eve?”
–I was like you, once. I was No-Name, until your sister discovered my past–
“Well, my problem isn’t that I don’t have a family name; it’s that I have too many. I’m an Alvarez. I’m a Mejía. Now I’ve been invited to be a Yong.”
The great cat purred. –That sounds difficult. The most beautiful things are, impossibly so. Many will only know one world in this lifetime. You have been invited to know three–
“Technically four, if you count being a flying reptile,” I added. “I’m terribly jealous I’ll never know what it’s like to be cold-blooded.”
Her arms loosened, and then she shoved me, a small smile curving her lips. “Shut up, ’Lalli.”
Miguel stayed back, awkwardly hung up on his past mistakes as usual. Yes, Raina might be the product of three worlds, but until recently, he sure as hell hadn’t wanted her or Mami in his. I understood, because I had been just as bad. All Raina’s “third world” had meant to me was destruction—until I had lived in it.
I gave Miguel a low growl. Get over here. He managed to pat Raina on the shoulder.
Apology didn’t come easy to either of us, I realized, watching him retreat to lean against the far wall. He was a restaurant manager who apologized to upset strangers on a daily basis, but when it came to people we cared about, we didn’t know where to begin.
Raina took a deep breath. “Well, I have received an official invitation to know the Yong clan, and I have accepted. Yong Heesu, the Summer Dragon, came to me last night. I stumbled into Eve by accident while dreaming.”
Hyeon Bin and I exchanged troubled glances. The White Tiger had spoken truly when She had foreseen that the Were-souled would take more unexpected trips to Eve.
“I saw a tropical island surrounded by a strange green mist. Dog-lion haetae and weather demons guarded a group of enslaved haenyeo. The sea women were looking for something in the ocean—a magical jewel or artifact. One prisoner thought she found it and tried to get rid of it. But she was stopped.” Raina stopped and fought back the fear clouding her face. “Vampyre Prince Donovan appeared and ordered her killed for her disobedience. The pearl was not what they were looking for. But whatever it is, enemies across the globe are uniting to find it.”
–So it is time again– A deep growl rumbled in the White Tiger’s chest. Her sapphire eyes met each of ours in turn. –If the enemy is gathering their forces, then we must amass ours. I shall assemble the powerful spirits of our nations: Xiang the Goshawk, fastest Wings in the East. Mun Mu, Fire Guardian of the East Sea”—I glanced at Raina when the White Tiger named her father—“Onikuma the Strong, Thavi the Silver Shadow, and Kadru the Wise. Our enemy may be using all of the Doorkeeper’s strength to keep the Elder Life Spirits out, but as Girl-Who-Does-Not-Know-Her-Family-Name has proved, that leaves room for little imugi and wolf pups to sneak through–
I stood a bit taller, and Raina’s face hardened.
“What do you wish of us?”
–What you were already planning on doing. Infiltrate the island. Save the Doorkeeper. Bring down the mist, and I will be waiting with my army. Can you do this?–
Raina and I flashed each other grim smiles. “It would be our pleasure.”
The White Tiger nodded. –Be warned: magic of this magnitude means that the wielder is powerful enough to control it. Do not enter the mist without training your body and mind–
“How?” Raina asked tentatively.
The White Tiger regarded her. –Begin by making a choice: bravery or fear. If you choose bravery, then accept your father’s invitation. Meet me on Gyeryong Mountain with your three dragon siblings in order to begin the Trials of Wisdom. You must come either all together or not at all–
Raina bowed. “I will choose bravery.”
The White Tiger faced me. –The werewolves, too, must become whole again. You are not tigers. You do not hunt alone–
I swallowed. “I’ll do whatever it takes to unite the pack.”
–It is not just your pack that needs to be united–
Her crystal blue eyes bore into mine until Wolf and Demon were dragged out by their tails from where they hid. Wolf whimpered and rolled submissively onto Its back, but Demon snarled. I shut my eyes, unable to stand the strain on my soul.
Hyeon Bin stepped forth. “I shall work with the monks of Peomeosa Temple to find the mist’s vulnerable areas.”
“Let us know and we will be ready,” I vowed, my single eye flashing with Wolf’s golden intensity.
One by one, we parted to wake up in our different parts of Korea. Raina was gone first, jumping at the sight of a curious Mangdung who popped up from a kimchi pot. Hyeon Bin gripped my hand, warm with thanks. Miguel slunk back out through the kitchens, but his face looked like a brooding storm about to explode. I was sure I’d get an earful about volunteering for life-threatening missions later.
–Citlalli–
I blinked in surprise. The White Tiger rarely addressed anyone so personally.
The Lady of Eve gazed around the cluttered lantern shop, and Her eyes clouded with disappointment.
–Old Man Zhi gave this gift to you–
“Yes,” I said, shaking my head. “Trust me, I love it! But it’s all so much. I have the pack to think of, Raina’s new family, my life bond with Khyber, and now moonlighting as a magical lantern maker to help ghosts move on?”
She stretched Her sinewy muscles and yawned, already weary of my excuses. –If you cannot complete something’s purpose, then give it to someone who can–
Chapter 10: Yong Enterprises
~Raina~
I gazed up at the Seoul skyscrapers through the taxi window, my fingers twisted into a knot on my lap. Our muddy weekend of fun was over, and Citlalli and I had returned to reality. Cars honked and the low buzz of passerby trickled in through the window, but inside my head was cool and empty. I had felt nervous to the point of nausea all day at school. However, the minute I had plunged into the cool waters at swim practice, my worries had evaporated.
I refused to be this worked up over meeting a stranger.
Citlalli had come with me. She’d been busy coordinating with Peomeosa Temple to find werewolves in the other cities, but when I had told her I’d answered my father’s invitation, she had delegated authority to Yu Li and hopped on the first subway over.
“You’re trusting Yu Li more,” I said with a smile.
“The other wolves are still subordinate to her, whether they like it or not,” she replied grimly. “Even Rafael won’t cross her…yet. Besides, this will keep her too busy for our brother.”
I laughed. “Come on, Citlalli. If Yu Li is willing to put up with Miguel, then this could be the best thing that’s ever happened to him.”
She huffed. “It was supposed to be Una.”
“Yah,” our taxi driver called to get our attention. The wheels clacked as we rode over Seongsu Bridge on the Han River. “Yong Enterprises-i yo?”
“Neh, kamsahamnida, gisa-nim!” Citlalli confirmed our destination yet again. We hid grins behind our hands. Clearly, foreign high school students weren’t the usual crowd at the secretive and prestigious company. The cab driver shook his head, but stepped on the gas pedal as we entered the Gangnam District of Seoul.
Twenty minutes later, we rolled up to the gates of Yong Enterprises. It was surrounded by a wall of black glass that reflected our curious faces. The guard at the gate read our credentials and then waved us through.
“This is so cool,” Citlalli breathed as we finally laid eyes on the mysterious company dedicated to developing futuristic technology. It was shaped like a Mobius Strip: an interweaving silver band with no end or beginning. Flourishing gardens gleamed on the roof and solar panels decked the walls like portholes on a ship.
“Look, Raina! It’s Vault 7, which Mami worked on!” Citlalli pointed toward the holo-face of the prestigious club overlooking the Han River. Its screens shimmered and then showcased fine dining cuisine for outer space, housecleaning robots, translator ear implants, and other advancements in assistive technology, all bearing the signature emblem of the Yong character intertwined with a red dragon. Sleek, silver tables full of patrons rimmed the lip.
We left our dazzled cab driver and entered the metallic coils of my father’s company. The receptionist gestured for us to have a seat and handed us non-disclosure forms to fill out. My eyes scanned the English translation of the Hangeul. More rules.
Citlalli and I finally relaxed back in soft swivel chairs that molded to our backs. We gazed about in wonder. The floor alone was a priceless masterpiece of gemstones creating the spiral of a giant red dragon. Flags of many nations hung between lanterns overhead, all facing the South Korean emblem in the center.
I bent to examine the geode-studded floor. “Are we allowed to walk on it?”
Citlalli laughed. “No, I’m sure hovercrafts will fly us to our desired floor. Whoa!” When she leaned back, her chair automatically extended to accommodate her feet.
“What the hell? Can it read my mind?” She hurried to examine the arms for buttons.
A short laugh echoed behind us. “The White Lotus Chair features internal sensors designed to pinpoint and alleviate your stress. I am glad it appears almost sentient.”
At just the twitch of our heads, our chairs swiveled to face the powerfully commanding Korean man standing in immaculate dark gray Armani behind. His eyes crackled black like the heart of a storm, and his face was all hard lines and edges. The customized Yong emblem was sewn into his upper breast pocket. He stood a proud and poised king of his high-tech kingdom. I had never met someone less likely to be my father. How different would my life have been if I’d grown up in the heart of this industrial revolution?
He inclined his head, and we bowed clumsily in return.
“Pangapseumnida,” he said formally. “I am Yong Mun Mu.”
Just his mere name was enough; he didn’t need to elaborate for us to feel its power. The White Tiger Herself had named him one of the great Elder Life Spirits of the East. I was on the verge of losing my nerve again, but then I remembered Heesu’s warmth and carefree laughter. If this man could raise someone as kind-hearted as Heesu, then I didn’t have to be scared enough to piss myself.
My sister’s alpha temperament had already risen to meet Mun Mu’s unspoken challenge. “Citlalli Alvarez,” she said, tossing her enormous curly hair over her shoulder and stepping forward to extend a hand. “Pleasure to meet you. And yes, I would love to take home a Lotus Chair.”
That broke the tension. My father—I squirmed and thought of Papi—stared at Citlalli as if he’d never seen anything quite like her before. Then he laughed and accepted her hand.
“I have heard much about you, Citlalli,” Mun Mu exclaimed, his English flawless except for a slight bobble over her name. “The spirits love to speak of your great deeds. You are the fearless warrior who brought down the Vampyre Queen. All of Eve thanks you. Giving you a chair is the least I can do. Indeed, by the time we have finished our tour of Yong Enterprises, I guarantee we will add several other technological marvels to that list as well.”
“I’m down,” Citlalli replied, shooting me a grin. “Raina, your appa is awesome!”
“You know Korean, too, Citlalli?” Mun Mu asked, sounding doubly impressed.
“Not as well as Raina.” My sister steered me directly into his sights, and I had no choice but to meet those hard ebony eyes. They flickered over our similar features: our sleek inky-black hair, our small noses, our angular chins. I looked like him, and that’s how Papi had known I wasn’t his.
“Hi,” I said softly. “I’m Raina.”
Harshness receded in his eyes, morphing into something more horrible—disappointment. Mun Mu gave a jerky nod.
“The Vampyre Queen didn’t hurt you too badly?” he asked quickly.
Emotions climbed up in my throat, one on top of the other, until I felt sick. But I managed to nod.
“Good.” Mun Mu glared at an unseen foe. “If you had been raised with me, then you would have known how to defend yourself. You would have known you were a water dragon.”
My voice returned to me as quickly as it had left. “Mami made the decision she thought was right.”
Mun Mu muttered something in Korean, and I doubted it was flattering.
“I apologize,” he said. “I still hold much anger. My late wife passed, you see, believing it was her fault that the Celestial Cycle was not completed. You are not just any water dragon, my daughter,” he said slowly. “Raina, you are the Spring Dragon. Our family is descended from the royal Celestial Dragons, dedicated to bringing seasonal balance and good harvest to the people of Korea. That is why you have wings; lesser imugi like the chicken dragons or the kirin do not.
“Four Celestial Dragons are born every generation to the Yong clan, who receive their sacred gift from Eve and become guardians of the seasons. My eldest twins Sun Bin and Ankor are the Winter and Autumn dragons; Heesu, whom you’ve met, is the Summer Dragon. However, if not all four dragons surface, then the cycle is broken. My children remain imugi, unable to take the tests granting them wisdom to grow their fourth claw and become dragons. The powerful yeouiju falls, but there is no one wise enough to catch it and understands its secrets. If the yeouiju falls unclaimed, then it breaks upon the earth, showering it with curses. And then evil spirits of famine and pestilence run rampant.”
Citlalli elbowed me. “I thought my job was bad. Damn, girl, you’ve got your work cut out for you.
I folded my arms. “Did you ever tell Mami any of this?”
Mun Mu spread his arms. “How could I? I did not know you existed until now. Believing the cycle broken, our family fell into a deep depression, unable to enter Eve and stop Maya’s hellish reign. But now you have come home, Raina.” He said my name warmly, and it caught fire, spreading like hope throughout my chest no matter how hard I dug my heels in. “I will teach you how to become a proper warrior like your sister.”
Citlalli’s face glowed. For someone who blamed Mami all of her life for the ‘family-destroying’ affair, she sure is forgiving the man it was with fast in exchange for a stupid stress chair, I thought grumpily, watching them lead the way.
Yong Enterprises was the technological wonderland everyone believed it to be. Mun Mu’s father had created it as a clandestine operation to study his children’s Weres in the 1960s, but now it specialized in futuristic assistive technology based on private client needs. We met the Yeong-o Bot on the Education Belt, which was a robot that taught children English. It came in Tiger, Dog, and Pig models. The Agriculture Belt was developing crops immune to the Yellow Dust storms that blew over from China every year. Mun Mu led us up a ramp past the vaguely-termed “Laboratories,” which I suspected were developing some type of weapon based on the frequency of explosions.
The wrap-around ramp grew steeper, and there were successively more holo-doors for Mun Mu to scan his hand against in order to gain entry. Few personnel were allowed in the upper belts, he explained as he led us down a dark hall lit only by glowing geodes in the floor.
“Your mother mentioned you lost your job, Citlalli. There might be a place here at Yong Enterprises for you,” Mun Mu continued, the latest in a string of compliments to the pro-Citlalli parade. “I understand Old Man Zhi left his lantern shop to you? Can you make magical lanterns like he did?”
Citlalli flushed. “I can do some of the basic designs. I made Raina a Sunshine Lantern to keep the dark away!”
Mun Mu raised an eyebrow. “A dragon should not be afraid of the dark.”
“Thanks, what rule was that in the Declaration of Dragonhood you sent me?” I asked
sarcastically.
“Raina.”
I whirled on Citlalli and let my inner Were flash: amethyst eyes and a thunderous growl. Fawning over my father as if he were, well, hers was one thing. Siding with a stranger when she knew my Eve experience hadn’t been rainbows and butterflies was another.
Citlalli hesitated, and then backtracked. “I’m just saying, Appa here could help you overcome your fears. Those undead ass-fuckers have already done enough to hurt you. They shouldn’t have one more second of control over your life.”
My temper snapped. “Thanks, Citlalli, but they do. I’m sorry if watching me wallow about in fear has become too pathetic for you.”
I felt a hand on my shoulder: Mun Mu’s. His black eyes were alive and crackling with enough electricity to power the building.
“You have known much grief for one so young,” he said softly, “but that is why I think this floor will help you. The upper belts are for our clients who are—unseen.”
“What do you mean? Oh!” We entered a tall, glass-ceiling dome where rainbow light tumbled down over a river of spirits. They danced to a lively melody.
A tall Korean girl with clever black eyes pranced around with a violin tucked under her chin as if it were an extension of her. Her waist-length hair flowed around her like threads of shadowy silk. Up above, ghosts of small children, bearded turtles, miniature winged horses, and blue paper cranes flew in time to the music. In the heart of them all: a gamboling green dragon. I laughed and waved at Heesu.
Citlalli fell into a defensive crouch, sniffing about warily. “What is this? Are we in Eve?”
Mun Mu smiled proudly. “This is the Rainbow Room. Its ceiling is made of special crystals that refract not only light, but dimensions. We can see into other realms besides ours. Especially at dawn and sunset, the veil is thin and we see the spirits most clearly. Which is why Sun Bin should have brought offerings, just in case they decided to come over to our side.” He frowned at the dancing violin girl.
She ignored him, leaping onto the empty offering table and drawing the playful melody down to a slow-moving interlude. The spirits mirrored her music, coming to sway gently like leaves in the wind. Sun Bin leaned heavily on the lower strings, and eventually the spirits were lulled to sleep. They blinked once, twice, their auras swelling like heartbeats, and then they vanished amidst the setting sun’s rays.