Autumn Moon

by Karen Michelle Nutt

  Autumn smiled as she followed her grandmother to the kitchen. She liked to grumble. Grandfather insisted this was what kept her young.

  “Grandmother, may I ask you something?”

  “So serious. What is it Autumn?”

  She felt silly asking, but she needed information fast and she knew her grandmother believed in the legends. “What do you know about the chiang-shih?”

  Her grandmother whirled around so fast that Autumn had to take a step back. “Shush. Don’t say the name in my store. It will bring bad luck to all of us.”

  “What do you know of it?”

  “The being is evil and must be cast back to hell.”

  “Always? It’s always evil.”

  Her grandmother’s eyes narrowed. What is this talk about Autumn? Are you in danger?”

  “No, of course not. I was interested in the legend.”

  “All legends have a bit of truth to it.”

  That was what Jairec had told her.

  “It’s best not to bring them up. Words are like incantations and once spoken to the winds you can’t take them back.”

  Her grandmother was superstitious, but then she’d lived more years than Autumn had. Who’s to say she didn’t know what she spoke of? Autumn cleared her throat. “How would you rid yourself of it?”

  “Child what has happened? Does this have something to do with the man who stole my moon cakes?”

  Autumn chuckled. “What would a chiang— one of the undead want with moon cakes? Aren’t they only after blood?”

  “Hmmm. They’re after your soul. They can look like monsters if their human counterpart had been evil, but if they were cursed or suffered a violent death, they may look pleasant to the eye. Do not be fooled by a pretty face, Autumn.”

  She wouldn’t call Jairec’s face beautiful but more rugged, weathered in a sexy-all-I-want-to-do-is-kiss-you kind of look. “They’re always dangerous?”

  “They’re evil.”

  “Only if they’ve killed.” The deep voice rumbled from behind them.

  Autumn and her grandmother, both turned at the same time to find Chin standing in the archway.

  “Hello, grandfather,” Autumn greeted him. “So, they aren’t always evil.”

  He stared at her with suspicion, his eyes narrowing, but then he answered her. “Only if the fiend has killed to quench its thirst is it evil. It must make the first kill, an innocent. It must suck the life force from its victim to live.”

  “And if they haven’t done this?” Autumn pushed, needing to know the answer.

  He walked over to her, his gaze locking onto hers as he spoke. “There is still a chance to redeem them.”

  Autumn knew her grandparents were worried. Her grandmother was mumbling the prayer of protection and her grandfather’s expression showed fear that she’d come in contact with one of the undead. God, they really believed the legend was real. What was she thinking? She’d met the legend and he kissed like the Irish devil he was.

  Chin placed his hand on her arm. “You must be careful, Autumn. They can be persuasive, seducers not only of the mind but of the body.”

  She already knew that. “Don’t worry, Grandfather. It’s not like the … you know the undead are walking among us.” She chuckled and didn’t quite meet his gaze. “I was only curious.” She shrugged and lifted one of the trays ready for the festival. “Should I load this in the truck?”

  Chapter Seven

  Jairec thought back to the night he was made, if this was the correct term to use. He remembered walking down to the wharf waiting for his brother to show.

  “Meet me at Castagnolia’s,” Tristan had told him. “We’ll get a few drinks and have a bite to eat.”

  He suspected Tristan was involved with something underhanded. He didn’t know what, but trouble and Tristan went hand in hand. He looked over his brother’s shoulder at the white haired man dressed in ancient oriental garb. He paced back and forth in the shadows. Jairec didn’t like him. He gave him the heebegeebes. “How about we get that drink now, Tristan?” Jairec met his brother’s gaze. Tristan’s eyes were the same shade of sea-smoke gray as his were, but Tristan’s hair was light brown like their mother’s.

  Tristan hesitated as if he’d like to take him up on it, but then he glanced behind him at the white haired man and shook his head. “I have business to take care of, but after…” He met his gaze once more. “After I’m done, I’ll be free.”

  That was the last time he’d seen his brother. When he didn’t show, Jairec went looking for him. He thought he spotted Tristan. He called to him but he disappeared around the corner of a building, bringing him closer to the wharf. The pungent smell of fish and garbage hit his nostrils, making him gag, but he didn’t slow his pace. What a fool he’d been. He ignored the warning bells going off in his head that this was a bad idea. He rounded the bend, but no one was there or at least he had thought no one was there until someone slammed a lead bar into his skull.

  He tried not to lose consciousness, but the world spun in and out. The white haired man stood over him and he chanted in a singsong voice as he performed the perverse ritual. Jairec would swear he felt energy pulse through him as if the molecules of his body were changing. Then the white haired bloke brought down the bar again and the rest was history. Now he was the living dead and that scared the hell out of him.

  The Seer said to go to Jin Lei’s shop in Chinatown. It’s the moon festival, she told him. Autumn moon is your destiny. Not autumn moon the festival, but perhaps she meant Autumn Moon the person, the beautiful woman with forest green eyes. Even with him being dead, she could entice him to forget his mission. Under other circumstances, he would have asked Autumn out, but now he wouldn’t dare. Dating a vampire would prove detrimental to her health.

  Autumn Moon is your destiny. The Seer’s words couldn’t be just a coincidence. Autumn had to have the answer, but what? Some kind of concoction she would mix with herbs and bring him back to life? He doubted it. Maybe she was to help him move on to the next life. Damn, he wasn’t ready to go. He had too much he wanted to do here. Number one on his list was to find the white haired man and give him a taste of the Connelly hospitality. He wouldn’t resort to underhanded backstabbing, but a straightforward punch in the nose would do. Then, he’d kill the bastard.

  Chapter Eight

  Autumn could see the opening parade from her booth. Her grandparents’ table stood two booths over from her booth. The fog had finally burned off and the sun shone warm, making it a perfect day to be outdoors. Autumn smiled as the children marched into view wearing elaborate costumes. The band played the tunes they had practiced for the last few months.

  “Ooh look there’s George.” Loann pointed.

  Loann was dating George, He was one of the guys, who played the part of the lion. The lion dance dated back some thousand years, as far back as the Han Dynasties. The lion expressed joy and happiness. If Loann’s smile was any indication, Autumn believed the dance worked like magic.

  “They’re good,” Autumn agreed. “Since Bruce didn’t show up, we’ll close up about three. I want to see the martial artists. I hear they’re better than the group who performed last year.”

  “Splendid. I can meet up with George then.” Loann looked at Autumn. “I wonder what happened to Bruce. I tried his cell earlier, but no answer.”

  “We’ll probably hear from him later.” Autumn wasn’t too worried. Bruce worked part time. He cared for his ailing grandfather and sometimes couldn’t come in. She’d call later and make sure everything was all right.

  The parade headed toward Washington Street where the main stage was set up. The first performers would be the Polynesian dancers.

  For a moment, Autumn lost interest in the parade. A strange unease assaulted her as if someone watched her. The hairs on her arms stood up and goose flesh rippled up her back. She glanced at the street-filled tourists, snapping pictures and enjoying the morning as they sipped bubble tea drinks and snacked on pastries. No o
ne looked suspicious. Then she spotted him. A white haired man standing toward the back of the crowd, shaded from the sun. For a moment, she’d swear his eyes glowed red. His gaze held hers and his thin lips curved into an evil twist that sent a chill down her spine.

  “Autumn, are you all right?”

  She turned toward Loann. “Uh … uh … I’m fine.” When she looked back toward the crowd, the white haired man had vanished.

  Maybe she’d only imagined him or perhaps it had only been a trick of the light. Of course, it made sense why she saw a boogieman. She just found out the chiang-shih of legends really existed. What other horrors lurked in the shadows? Not that Jairec would be what she’d imagined the chiang-shih to look like. His hair was too dark, his eyes were too gray, but he did send her libido up a notch. The chiang-shih was a sexual creature and Jairec had kissed her twice, leaving her wanting more. She sighed over the memory of the way his lips took hers.

  “What are you thinking about?” Loann broke through her reverie.

  “What?”

  “You’re wearing a silly grin. If I didn’t know better I’d say you’re smitten with someone.”

  Smitten? More like the hots. She shook her head. What was she thinking? Jairec didn’t have a pulse. She needed him to move on and leave her alone.

  “Hello sweetheart, miss me?”

  She whirled around to face the devil himself. Damn if her heart didn’t race. “No, not really,” she whispered back, hoping her voice didn’t betray her.

  Jairec frowned but didn’t comment. He looked toward Loann who smiled up at him.

  Autumn cleared her throat. “Loann, why don’t you take a break?”

  “I’m fine,” she said all dreamy like as she gazed up at Jairec as if he were a god.

  “Loann,” she snapped.

  “What?” She tore her gaze away from Jairec.

  “Go over to my grandparents’ booth. They have tea and moon cakes for you.”

  “Fine.” She didn’t seem happy to go, but she did. She only glanced over her shoulder once before she lost interest.

  “Do you have this effect on everyone?” Autumn accused.

  “What effect?” His eyebrows furrowed.

  He really didn’t know. Autumn sighed and decided she wasn’t going to enlighten him about his charming allure he had on women. He proved dangerous enough without him trying. “What do you want Jairec?”

  “I need your help.”

  “I don’t believe acupuncture will help you.”

  “I believe you have the elixir I seek whether you know it or not.”

  Autumn’s attention was drawn to the parade as the actors imitating the immortal moon goddess, Chang O and the god, Hou Yi came into view. Their elaborate ceremonial garb was done in cream, red and gold. The legend stated the two knew of an elixir of life. They paid a hefty price for having it. The goddess was banished to the moon and the god became stranded on earth. Only once a year could the two come together. “Maybe you should talk to them.” She pointed, jabbing her thumb at the performers. “They’re the gods. The elixir of life is theirs to give.”

  “Do you think this is funny?”

  “No, Fang Boy I don’t.”

  “We’re back to name calling again, I see.”

  “I need you gone. I have a business to run.”

  “I understand how it is. You can’t be bothered with a dead bloke. I get it.”

  He knew how to hit below the belt, making her feel guilty when she shouldn’t. “If I knew how to help you, I would. Maybe you should let this life go. Move on.” She waved her hand in front of her. “Don’t you see a white light or something?”

  “No. I’m cursed, Autumn. If I don’t find the cure by the end of your Moon Festival I’m damned to be a vampire, one that will kill your neighbors and friends. Do you really want their deaths on your hands?”

  She chewed on her lower lip. “Why me? I don’t know what I could do to help. I work with needles.”

  “Aye, and herbs.”

  She nodded. “To help the mind and soul, but I don’t have a magical cure to bring you back to life. If I did, my schedule would be full for years.”

  “Maybe your Uncle Jin had the cure. Maybe something he put together. I don’t know a secret formula of some sort.”

  “There isn’t—” Then she did remember something. She looked up at Jairec. “This could be irrelevant, but My Uncle Jin had a book he used to jot down notes in. He said it was his recipe book.”

  He nodded his head. “That’s good. This could be it.”

  She didn’t want to give him false hope. “Slow down Fang Boy, I don’t know what’s in the book, but I’ll pull it out and rifle through it.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me yet. I frankly don’t think I can help you.”

  “The Seer said you could.”

  “I thought you needed to see my Uncle Jin.”

  “She said Autumn Moon is my destiny.” He met her startled gaze. “I had thought she meant the festival, but she never stated the festival as my destiny, only I must find the cure by the end of it.”

  Autumn chuckled. “How could I be your destiny? I don’t know you.”

  He leaned close…too close. She would have backed away, but his hand gripped her arm, holding her in place. His eyelids closed in a slow deliberate blink as he inhaled. “Mmmm. Your scent is like an aphrodisiac. Surely you feel the pull as I do.” He released her and met her gaze, pinning her down for an answer.

  “I…” She swallowed the lump in the back of her throat. “I’m drawn to you, but so was Loann.”

  “Who?” His right brow rose in question.

  “My assistant. The one I sent away because she couldn’t keep her eyes off you.”

  His mouth slid into a smile. “Ah. You were jealous, hey?”

  "I was no such thing.” She inhaled deeply and brushed her hands over her shirt as if straightening it.

  He chuckled. “It’s okay. I didn’t fancy leaving you with Yi this morning.”

  “With Yi? He’s only friend.” She waved her hand in dismissal.

  “He wants more.” There was no mistaking the low growl in his throat.

  Her eyebrows lifted. “Now who sounds jealous?”

  He rolled his beautiful eyes that spoke of honesty, not treachery of the chiang-shih.

  “You haven’t killed anyone.” She meant it as a statement, but he answered anyway.

  “No. I haven’t. And I’d like to keep it that way.”

  She placed her hand on his arm. It was cool to the touch, but an electrical charge sifted through her, warming her from the inside out. A protective feeling she didn’t care to dwell on set her actions in motion. She’d help him anyway she could. “I’ll look through my uncle’s books. We’ll work to find the cure, but until then … hmm… May I ask how you tame the blood lust?”

  He looked embarrassed as he turned away not meeting her gaze. “Pig’s blood.”

  “Good, let’s keep it that way. Take a seat. I want to try something.”

  “Excuse me.” He looked at her with suspicion.

  She waved to the cushioned foldout chair. “I have an idea. I think it will help you.”

  He eyed her for a blink of second before he decided to trust her. He plopped himself down, stretching his long legs in front of him. She opened her pack that was on the table, exposing the needles she would need to use. Sitting down, Jairec was eye level with her, but she ignored his intent gaze. She needed a steady hand and his heated gaze made her nervous. She brushed away the wisps of hair on the side of head, exposing his ear.

  He jerked away. “What are you doing?” He looked at her tools then her. “I’m not a voodoo doll. Don’t think you’re poking me with those.”

  She shook her head. “I’m trying to help. Now stop being a baby and sit still. It won’t hurt.” She forced herself not to smile. A big tough vamp and he was afraid of needles. “Well?”

  He didn’t exactly relax but he leaned his head
to the side, exposing the ear. She placed two small needles behind the upper portion of the lobe. “Now that wasn’t so bad.”

  “You’re just going to leave them?”

  “Yes. I don’t know if it will work on a chiang-shih since I’ve never treated one, but on a human, it helps to curve the appetite for an addiction.”

  “You hope I won’t crave blood.”

  “That’s the point of this experiment.”

  He nodded and stood. “Let’s hope it works.”

  “Meet me at the shop later tonight after the festivities die down. We’ll take a look at my uncle’s book.” She turned away but he grabbed her hand.

  “Thank you.”

  “I told you, don’t thank me yet. We still have a long haul and in the end I may still have to …” She pursed her lips together, not wanting to voice what might have to be done, but it seemed he already knew.

  “End my existence? Aye, I know.” His gaze wavered over her as if memorizing her features. “I trust you, Autumn. No matter what you have to do, I know it will be the best decision.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against her cheek before turning around and disappearing within the crowd.

  The man could be so cryptic and sexy all in one—not bad for being dead.

  Chapter Nine

  Autumn arrived back at the shop a little after four. She put her supplies from the booth on the counter before she went upstairs to her apartment and put the bag she picked up at the butchers in the refrigerator. The day had been profitable with the streets crowded with tourists. Her booth was busy, but she kept checking her watch wishing the time would go by faster.

  She headed for the bathroom to wash her face. She always felt refreshed when she did that. She needed a clear mind if she was going to weed through her uncle’s notes. After she changed into a pair of jeans and her comfy Bon Jovi T-shirt, she headed back downstairs to the store and into the back room where her uncle liked to work. She hadn’t the heart to clean it out after he died and now she was glad she hadn’t. The wood shelves were lined with jars filled with herbs. He kept the journal in the workbench’s top drawer. It was locked, but she had keys. She hoped one of them opened the drawer.