Autumn Moon

by Karen Michelle Nutt

  “Fine, whatever.” She threw up her hands.

  “You have other things to worry about,” Chin reprimanded. “You need to pack these.” He handed her two bottles, a box of bullets, and a wood stake.

  “What are these for?”

  “The wood stake through the heart will immobilize a chiang-shih and the copper dipped bullets will kill a white haired one.”

  “And what’s in the bottles?”

  “Lighter fluid and salt, of course.”

  Autumn blinked thinking her grandfather had gone mad. “What do we need those for?”

  “We must make sure Loann doesn’t rise. Heng will want an army behind him. He must have his strength back. If we don’t stop him, we’ll have a parade tonight all right only it will be a parade of the damned.”

  “Grandfather, this is Loann we’re talking about.”

  “Loann is gone. What will rise will be a minion with no more personality than a zombie bent on killing. Loann’s throat was ripped out insuring death of the human spirit. There will be no communicating with her. What will rise will be a puppet to do Heng’s bidding.”

  “I don’t understand. Jairec isn’t like that. We could help her adjust—”

  “Stop.” Her grandfather held up his hand. “I saw Loann. There isn’t a ritual to keep her one soul earth bound. The separation was complete, severed without a chance to change her fate. Heng will raise her and he will control her.”

  She shook her head. “What are we suppose to do with the stake and the bottle. Am I to drench her then stake her?”

  “We’re going to burn the body,” her grandfather told her as he swept past her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  They took the long way around, avoiding the traffic from the festival. San Francisco’s hills were brutal with its steep inclines. Chin and Autumn walked the hills with ease. Jairec was surprised he could keep up with them. A few days ago, he wasn’t so sure he could have, but in his preternatural state, he was much stronger.

  Chin pointed out places of interest as they headed for Jackson Street. Jairec assumed it was a ploy to take their minds off what they intended to do.

  “The Chinese Hospital was built in 1925 to replace the Tung Wah Dispensary that was destroyed in the earthquake. You know about the 1906 earthquake, don’t you?” He looked back at Jairec.

  “I believe I’ve heard of the disaster.”

  “Did you know the hospital is the first and only Chinese hospital in America?

  “No, I don’t believe I knew that, sir.”

  “Bruce Lee was born there, too.”

  Autumn pulled on Chin’s arm. “Grandfather, we’re not on a tour of Chinatown or have you forgotten we’re on our way to burn Loann’s body?”

  He shrugged. “Just making conversation.”

  Jairec slipped his hand in Autumn’s. “It’s okay. I was on holiday before this all happened. I didn’t even have the chance to see the Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz.”

  “Too bad, chiang-shih.” Chin shook his head. “They are both a sight to see, but being what you are, you can’t cross a body of water.”

  Autumn frowned and gripped Jairec’s hand tighter. He patted her hand. He’d come to terms with what he was, but he feared she hadn’t.

  They entered the hospital through the front. Sometimes hiding in plain sight was the best course. They looked like they knew what they were doing and where they were headed. No one asked any questions.

  They entered the room where Loann had been placed; awaiting an autopsy as if the ripped out throat wasn’t enough evidence as to why she had died. A sheet covered Loann up to her chin, hiding the ravaged marks that killed her. Her dark hair fanned around her, making her skin look snow white.

  “She looks like she’s sleeping,” Autumn commented.

  Jairec gripped her shoulder. “Why don’t you wait outside and let your grandfather and I take care of this.”

  “No.” She took a ragged breath. “I’ll stay.”

  Chin opened the bag he brought with him. He pulled out supplies and ritual items Jairec didn’t recognize, but Chin explained as he worked. “The Taoist priests used to perform exorcisms to remove the negative energy.” Chin pulled out yellow strips of paper with red writing.

  Jairec’s sense of smell told him it was written in blood. “What are those for?”

  “The talismans will absorb the evil.” He placed the strips on Loann’s forehead. “Autumn, sprinkle the salt around the table Loann is laid out on. It will keep her from leaping from it and attacking us.” He looked at Jairec. “You might want to step back chiang-shih. It’ll also bind you.”

  He didn’t have to be told twice. He stood to the side as Chin and Autumn worked. Autumn handed her grandfather the other bottle she’d been carrying. Chin doused the sheet that covered Loann. The sulfuric smell of the accelerant filled their nostrils.

  Autumn strode over to Jairec, linking her arm through his.

  Chin spoke the ancient words to purify the unclean spirit from Loann’s body. Jairec could feel the power radiating in the room, pressing in on him even though it wasn’t directed at him. Then Loann sat up as if she’d been kissed awake. Autumn gasped and took a step forward, but Jairec held her back. “Remember it isn’t her.”

  Loann with the flesh ripped at her neck turned to look at Autumn. She reached her hands toward her. “Save me, Autumn. I’m your friend.” Her voice sounded heartfelt but her eyes were soulless orbs glazed with death.

  “Don’t listen to her,” Jairec told her, pulling her against him.

  Chin’s voice rose over Loann’s as he continued his chant to eliminate what possessed Loann’s body.

  Stop old man, Loann hissed as she threw back the sheet, revealing her bloodstained and torn clothes. She stepped down only to jump back onto the table with a hiss. She screeched in frustration like a trapped animal searching for a way out.

  Chin lit a match and Loann shrieked again, an unearthly shrill that made them cover their ears. Chin threw the match and the sheets caught on fire rising, swirling around Loann until she became a screaming torch of light.

  Autumn hid her face in Jairec’s chest. He held onto her, his gaze transfixed on the blaze, knowing he would most likely end up like this. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he found Chin staring at him.

  With his keen audible range, Jairec heard the commotion first—angry voices. “They’re coming,” he warned. “We have to get out of here.”

  “Let’s move then.” Chin swung open the door and ran out into the hall. Autumn and Jairec were close behind.

  “Stop!” One of the two orderlies yelled. One was tall and the other buff. He looked more like a bouncer for a pub than a caretaker at a hospital.

  Chin slammed through the emergency doors at the end of the hall. Alarms blared and the sprinklers went off, the smoke finally triggering them. The men behind them cursed as they slid on the wet tiled floor. Jairec slammed the emergency door shut. Chin raised his hands. “Move aside, chiang-shih.”

  Jairec pulled his hood over his head and ran over to Autumn. She grabbed his hand, squeezing tight.

  Chin summoned his power swinging it toward the doors, stopping anyone from exiting. “That’ll hold them for only few minutes. So move!” He ran past them. For an old man, he was fast on his feet.

  “We’ll split up and meet back at Autumn’s shop,” Chin ordered.

  “Grandfather—”

  “Do not argue.” He looked at Jairec. “See her safely back, chiang-shih.”

  “Don’t worry.”

  “Jairec, we can’t let him go alone. What if he’s caught?”

  “I have a hunch your grandfather has a better chance of escaping than we do.” He took hold of her hand and hurried down the street. He heard the doors break open and knew the men from the hospital were after them. They kept going until Jairec couldn’t hear anyone following them.

  They headed down Grant Ave. with its dragon-entwined lampposts, intending to go straight to the shop.
Autumn tugged on his arm and he skidded to a halt. Her eyes widened and fear radiated in her gaze.

  “What’s wrong?” He followed her line of vision and cursed.

  Chapter Eighteen

  A man dressed in what looked like a period costume of gold and red stood in front of them. His white long hair flowed down his back as if he’d never had his locks trimmed. He could easily be one of the actors for the evening parade but Autumn suspected otherwise. He stared, his slanted lifeless eyes a shade of silver over black. He tilted his head to the side and his mouth slid into a smile that made Autumn’s skin crawl. Jairec pulled her closer to him and she felt safer. A strange feeling since she should fear Jairec with his bite-you-on-the-neck and suck-the-life-out-of-you potential, but this man, this being that stood in front of them was soulless. There was something evil lurking beneath his surface and it scared the hell out of her.

  “Do you know the man?” Jairec whispered.

  She shook her head. “No, but I saw him in the crowd yesterday. I don’t think he’s one of the performers.”

  “I believe he’s the bloke who was with my brother the night I was attacked.”

  “He’s not human, is he?”

  He inhaled deeply and his nostrils flared. “No. We haven’t been properly introduced, but I would bet this is Heng.”

  The white haired man was on the move and so were Jairec and Autumn. They followed him down the alley until Autumn pulled on Jairec’s arm, drawing him to a stop. “What if he’s leading us into a trap?”

  “You’re right. You stay here.” He took a step and she pulled him back again.

  “That’s your plan. I stay here while you confront the demon from hell.”

  “Autumn, I’m already dead. You’re not.”

  “Okay you have me in the dead department, but it doesn’t mean you should be stupid and let the guy finish the job he started.”

  He tweaked her nose. “You’re cute when you’re all fired up.”

  “Don’t try to distract me, Jairec.”

  He sighed. “I had to try.”

  She rolled her eyes at his lame attempt. She opened her purse. “I have holy water, salt and I have this.” She pulled out a gun. “It’s loaded with the bullets dipped in copper.”

  “Remind me not to piss you off.”

  “What I want to know: Do you want to take him alive … alive as he can be or do you want me to use the ammo and finish the bastard off?”

  “I’d like to take him down, but I want answers too. I want to know if I can reverse this or if you should save one of those bullets for me.”

  She shuddered at the thought. “We’ll keep the guy alive long enough to find out some answers.”

  “You must promise me you’ll stay out of the way and if things get out of hand, that you shoot and ask questions later. If he finishes me off, you’ll be vulnerable, so if you see I’m losing, blast us regardless if you could hit me. Do you understand?”

  “I’m a good shot, Jairec. I won’t hit you.”

  The corner of his mouth lifted in a lazy half smile.

  Boy did she love that grin.

  “Autumn, if I don’t get the chance to, I want to thank you for all you’ve done for me.”

  “Not a big deal.”

  “Aye, it is.” He kissed her soundly and quickly on the lips. “For luck, hey.”

  “Yeah. Well then.” She threw her arms around his neck and claimed his mouth like there was no tomorrow. When she came up for air and met his gaze, he felt a pull low in his gut. “Now that Fang Boy is for luck.” Her voice was low, seductive.

  “I do believe I like your way better.” He caressed her face, wishing they could have more time together without fear that death would steal them away. He gave her a half smile. “Are you ready?”

  She nodded. “Ready.”

  They burst into the room.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The walls were painted gray and there was a couch in the center of the room. A table and chairs stood under the overhanging lamp. Every window was blackened to keep most of the light out.

  “Where’s the white haired man?” Autumn whispered.

  Before they could decipher what had become of him. An unearthly wail from above had them ducking as something swooshed over them, knocking both of them to the ground.

  Apparently the white haired demon could fly. Jairec pulled her toward him, rolling away as the demon screeched toward them. He left her side meeting the next attack by slamming into the demon. They rolled on the ground both trying to gain the upper hand. Autumn held the gun poised and ready to shoot. They were a swirl of gold and gray clothing. She couldn’t decide who was winning, but the demon’s shriek made her believe Jairec had gotten in few damaging blows.

  Then as if the situation wasn’t bad enough, four more of the undead appeared from the backroom. The damned flying demon must have called them with his piercing shrill. They’re movements were stiff and jerky as if they’d never used their limbs. Two of them wore Hawaiian shirts, one looked dirty and unkempt and the last wore a business suit. It wasn’t difficult to realize where Heng had picked up his crew.

  “Jairec?”

  “Little busy here.” He slammed into Heng and he went flying.

  “Yeah, well we have company.” She backed up a step, pointing her gun.

  “Shit.” Jairec finally realized what they were up against.

  Heng laughed and flew to safety above them, sitting on the rafters. “Meet my children.”

  “You killed them,” Autumn accused.

  Heng shrugged his shoulders. “They didn’t complain.”

  “What do you want Heng?” Jairec asked. He stood by Autumn. He kept the minions in his sight. He was ready to fight if he needed to.

  “So you know who I am. I believe you’re smarter than your brother.” His gaze wavered behind Jairec’s left shoulder.

  Jairec’s back stiffened. He whirled around as his brother slammed into him. “Run Autumn. Get out of here.”

  She hesitated not wanting to leave Jairec. She looked back at the zombie creatures and shot two. Their bodies exploded. Stunned, she stood frozen. Dust swirled around like a tornado before hurdling toward the crevices of the door as if summoned back to where they belonged. She turned to shoot the other two, but Heng screeched and flew down from his perch, knocking her to the ground and her shot went wild, slamming harmlessly into the wall. She scrambled for the gun, but someone kicked it out of her reach. She looked up, her expression changing from confusion to horror. “Bruce, oh my God Bruce, is that you?” He had turned twenty-one last week. He wore his dark hair trimmed above his ears, but now it reached his shoulders with white strands mixed with the black. His almond shape eyes were now dark and lifeless when they usually spoke of mischief and good fun. “Bruce?”

  His lips curved. “Hi boss.” His voice wasn’t his. This wasn’t the Bruce she’d worked with. “Do you want me to kiss you like I kissed Loann?”

  “What?” She scrambled to her feet. He had killed Loann.

  “She’ll be with us soon.”

  Obviously, the Bruce-demon didn’t realize they had destroyed her already.

  She backed away, scooting across the floor until she felt the gun behind her. Six bullets and she had used three.

  “Come to me, Autumn.” Bruce’s lips sneered and his fangs lengthened.

  She gripped the cold metal. As Bruce lunged, she whipped the gun in front of her and pulled the trigger.

  Heng snarled and floated toward her. “You will pay for what you’ve done.” She pointed the gun at him and pulled the trigger again, but he disappeared in a wisp of smoke. “What in the heck?” She stood and whirled around. “Where did he go?”

  ****

  Jairec backed away from Tristan.

  “You should have listened to me, brother.” Tristan stalked him. His strands of hair had taken on the whitish hue.

  “What and miss all the fun?” Jairec noticed Autumn took out two zombies and another white haired
vamp, but Heng flew around like a vulture, waiting to pick away the flesh of the remaining contestants. Two more of the zombie creatures headed toward Autumn. She fired two more shots. She was out of bullets and defenseless.

  They must retreat. “I hate to break up the party, Tristan, but we have plans. So why not for old time’s sake, tell me how I can reverse this curse.”

  He whooped and slapped his knee. “You’re a real wanker, aren’t you? Pull your head out of your arse. There’s no going back.” He glanced at Autumn. “If it’s about the lass, take her. Make her one of us and she can be at your side for all eternity. You’re one of us now, Jairec. Accept it.”

  “I’ll never be one of you.” He charged, head butting Tristan into the other two zombies. He grabbed Autumn’s hand and rushed for the door, bursting out into the bright sun. Jairec cringed and yanked the hood of his sweatshirt down. Tristan had followed but skidded to a halt at the entrance. Shaded by the yawning, he made sure he didn’t step into the direct sunlight.

  “This isn’t over, Jairec,” Tristan shouted. “Tonight we finish this, one way or the other.” He stepped back and slammed the door shut.

  ****

  Heng clapped his hands and swooped down from the rafters. “Bravo, bravo. I haven’t had so much fun in centuries.”

  Tristan wiped his bloodied lip with the back of his hand. “Fun? You effing freak!”

  Heng moved like a flash of light. He grabbed hold of Tristan by the throat, lifting him off his feet. He tilted his head to the side his black lifeless eyes burning into him. “Watch your tongue, minion or I may see fit to cut it out.” He let him go, dropping him to the floor where he gasped for breath.

  “They almost wiped us out,” he choked out.

  “Yes. Disturbing isn’t it, when a human girl and chiang-shih sucking on animal’s blood can take us down. I want them. I want the girl at my side, my queen to rule. The other will be my dog. We’ll change him. I’ll force him into submission.” His gaze bore into Tristan’s. “I can be very persuasive.”

  Tristan knew that already. The bastard liked torture and before the night was through, Chinatown would be screaming in terror. A part of him thrilled at the thought. He shook his head fighting off the urge to kill, but with each cup of blood he drank, it became harder to resist.