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The Plaza looked like something out of a horror movie. A pile of smoking ash marked where Andrew had stood. Body parts littered the paving, interspersed with puddles of blood and toxin. The last of the tourists were being escorted out of the plaza, the girl that Tabatha had rescued being looked after by a female SDO.
The Morrigan’s warriors had pulled back to surround her, pushing Kai back a few steps. The Phoenix’s warriors rejoined her, although they left a gap where she stood beside Melanie.
Zhao left Faidren, Amira and Edward to stalk across the plaza to stand with Kai, glaring at Morrigan.
“What?” Morrigan glared back.
“You are under arrest for breaking the Treaty of Te Ling, causing the deaths of outlanders and countless local people...” Zhao said, but stopped when Kai frowned at him.
Morrigan said nothing.
“Morrigan, you are to surrender yourself immediately.” Kai said.
“No. I answer only to the Banríona.”
The sound of rotors and jets began to echo around the buildings. Ao Qin looked up as a flight of small personal transports entered the clear space above the plaza. Two of them descended to land in a relatively untouched area of paving. The others remained in the air, circling.
A unit of white armoured warriors leapt out of one transport, forming a semicircle around the door of the other as it opened.
The Queen of the Light Fae stepped out of the transport into the circle of warriors.
“Looks like you’ll get your chance then.” Zhao said.
The queen stalked across the plaza, her warriors moving with her, staying in a circle. She didn’t seem to see the bloodbath around her, but she did avoid the puddles of bodily fluids and body parts as she walked, stepping delicately over those she couldn’t avoid.
When she got close to Tabatha and Melanie, she said “Ghoul, awaken and hear my command.”
The white armoured warriors closed ranks around the queen as Tabatha’s warriors arrayed themselves in front of her, protectively.
Melanie pushed herself to her feet, a knife in one hand and turned to look at the queen, she bowed deeply, “what do you wish, oh Queen?” she asked as she rose to stand straight again.
“Remove those who have become traitors to me, and I shall reward you handsomely.” The queen looked at Tabatha, “Start with he who has aided my daughter in her disobedience; Faidren.”
Melanie spun on one heel and ran across the plaza toward Faidren.
“Melanie, Stop!” Tabatha shouted, “Don’t do this!”
The ghoul ignored her and ploughed straight into Faidren, who fought back with all his ability. Amira and Edward backed away, the latter putting himself between the fight and the dragon priestess.
“Daughter, you will have one chance to put yourself back into my good graces and save the next target. Do not mess this one up.” The queen swung her gaze to look at Kai, then looked at Tabatha.
Faidren, bloodied and tiring, shouted, “My queen, I beg that you hear my plea for clemency. I invoke the Name of The Mother of All!” he pushed Melanie back again as she sliced open his cheek with her blade.
“Ghoul, halt in your attack, but do not move far from him.” The queen said.
Melanie stopped fighting as if she had been switched off, bowed and moved backward four steps. Faidren breathed a sigh of relief.
“Speak, Faidren.” The queen crossed her arms and stared at him.
“I submit that in all my actions, I was only carrying out your orders. You said for me to gain your daughter’s trust, to guide her in becoming acclimatised to being Fae and to aid her how I saw fit. I kept her safe at great personal cost and would continue to do so, even should I not be a member of the Court of Light Fae. I beg you, do not seek my life!” He gasped for breath as he came to the end of his speech, holding his ribs with one arm.
Tabatha removed her mask to stare at the Queen, “You ordered him to become my friend?”
“You needed a friendly ear and I needed you to be less resistant to my plan, he seemed to be the best choice, especially as he was willing to wed you.” The queen snorted, “However, I did not count on your stubbornness.
Tabatha choked on that information, “Wed me? If you thought I was stubborn before, you will have a surprise in store for that discussion.” She put her mask back on and swung round to look at Faidren, “I do what I do for my own reasons.”
Melanie yawned ostentatiously.
“Never mind, it is of no consequence. He dies because he went against my will to keep you in Malith.” The queen said, “Ghoul, continue. Then you may attack that cowering priestess. She stands in the way of my daughter’s ascension.”
Melanie laughed and attacked Faidren again, redoubling her attack and pulling him down to the ground, shredding his face with her nails.
“GHOUL, CEASE YOUR ATTACK.” Ao Qin reared up from the shrine roof and roared, flame spilling from the corners of his mouth.
Melanie paused and looked at the Queen, who shook her head and made a continue gesture.
“Melanie, stop this. I know this isn’t who you are.” Tabatha dashed toward them; her warriors began to follow.
“Warriors halt.” The queen snapped and the warriors stopped, looking confused, “If she’s going to deliberately put herself in danger like this, then she can learn from her own mistakes.”
Tabatha ignored the queen and the confusion of the warriors, “Melanie, please!”
Melanie stopped and looked at her. Faidren groaned beneath her, and she casually slapped him with one hand, then cut his throat with the knife in her other hand. Then she looked at Tabatha again, grinned and scooped up a handful of blood, draining it in one gulp, “Tastiest beverage in the world.”
Ao Qin stood and rose into the air, breathing deeply and clearly preparing the blue-green flame again.
Tabatha reached Melanie and grabbed her arm as the ghoul threw herself at Amira, “Stop.”
Melanie looked at her hand, “You are not the queen. I don’t have to answer to you.”
“So, the addition of my blood in your first meal was a lie?”
“No that was real. I feel the tug when you speak; however, my mistress relieved me of all constraints and the requirement to follow your orders was one of them.” Melanie tried to pull away, but Tabatha held on grimly and the ghoul only
Amira and Edward began to inch toward Kai, who unsheathed Wei Tian and walked toward them.
“Don’t do this, Auntie Mellie, please!” Tabatha begged in a little girl voice, “I know the real you is in there somewhere, please stop killing.”
Melanie blinked and the red rimmed pupils receded until it was just a thin line, “You are right, Tabby, I am here, but the Ghoul is stronger and gets stronger with every kill. I...” the red strengthened again, and Melanie pushed a startled Tabatha away, “I am so sorry that I have neither time nor inclination to dance with you, Princess, but I cannot let you halt my task.”
Tabatha stumbled backward and fell onto the ground, staring up at the ghoul, who bobbed a sarcastic little bow and resumed chasing Amira.
Amira and Edward were almost to the other side of the plaza, having sped up while Tabatha distracted Melanie. Kai lengthened her strides and with a push, managed to put herself between them and Melanie as the ghoul left Tabatha.
“What are you doing, Jade Cat!” Edward said, “You won’t be able to kill her remember!”
“No, but I can slow her down until Ao Qin finishes his preparations. Wei Tian assures me that he can do it.” Kai looked at the dragon priestess, “Amira, go to Zhao. Edward, keep yourself between her and me, just in case I fail.”
Amira nodded, but Edward looked mutinous. When Amira kept moving, he circled round Kai and stood in front of her, several feet away.
“I refuse to leave you alone.” He snapped.
“Edward, you have no skill in...” her voice failed as she saw the long knife in his hand and the deep red ring around his pupils.
He tilted his head and grinned, “Amin taught me some self defence moves while we were in that safe house; don’t worry, I can hold my own.” His fangs were the longest that she’d ever seen them.
Kai sighed, then her free hand rose toward him as she raised Wei tian, “Look out!”
Melanie laughed as she ran headlong into his back, making him stumble forward and raise his knife at the same time, “Well now, this is interesting... I thought Andrew and I were the only Ghouls in the city!” she pressed herself against him and purred, “Maybe we should go somewhere and kill together.”
Edward stopped himself from falling over, took his right foot back and turned while throwing his right arm out; the speed of the move threw Melanie to the ground, and he followed it up quickly, keeping the turn going and bringing his knife point down.
Unfortunately, she was faster and had obviously had more training than him, because she kicked his legs out from under him and rolled aside as he fell.
“ah...oof!” Edward hit the floor hard enough to knock the breath out of him for a few seconds which gave Melanie the chance to stand up again.
She stood still while he regained his feet, “Not too bad an effort there, but you need to have some more lessons. I’d love to give them to you personally.” She almost purred on the last word.
“I wouldn’t bother, I’m gay. I prefer my weaponry lessons from other sources.” He spat back, “Besides, I refuse to let you see another dawn.”
“Oh, you aren’t going to get a chance to kill me.” She moved so fast he lost sight of her. Then the long knife in his hand was wrenched from it.
“Hey!” he protested. Before he could even think of what to do next, Melanie struck.
He stared at his left arm. Everything from the elbow down had disappeared...
Melanie stood about three feet away, waving his hand at him. Then she took a huge bite out of the muscle, chewed and swallowed, “I have always liked to taste my men; I’ll be able to find you wherever you go now.” She tossed the arm down, spun on her heel and found herself facing the Jade Cat.
“I am ready Jade Cat.” Wei Tian said,
“Let me talk to her first.” Kai replied.
“As you wish.”
Kai watched Melanie throw the arm down and Edward drop to the floor. His arm wriggled and flipped over onto the palm before the hand began to crawl toward him, dragging the arm behind it. After it had gone a foot, it flopped flat. Kai looked at Edward, He’s fainted. I’d better hurry this up.
“Your ghoul was brave. He will recover with time and a little blood from you. I suggest that you get him some weaponry training though; I winced through the whole fight.” Wei Tian seemed amused.
“I didn’t exactly have time to arrange that yet.” Kai said, “It’s on the to do list.”
“Do you often talk to yourself, Jade Cat?” Melanie asked, grinning, “Not really a good thing for a politician of any sort to be considered crazy.”
“It’s often the best conversation I get. I don’t want to kill you, Melanie. Just stand down and you can return to your mistress, the queen and whatever home you have with them.” Kai watched her carefully.
“You kill me? You might be wearing fancy enchanted jade armour now and have an ancient sword, but I don’t think you’ve suddenly gained the ability to fight like a warrior.” Melanie swapped Edward’s long knife to her left hand and drew her own knife with her right, “I’m willing to test you though.”
She feinted with the long knife.
Wei Tian immediately took control of Kai’s body and not only moved her out of the way, but also knocked the long knife aside and scored a long shallow slice across her torso.
“Not bad.” She looked around, “Now where did that priestess go?”
“Oh no, you’re not just going to ignore me.” Kai shifted to put herself between Melanie and Amira. She can’t see or sense Wei Tian. Must be because she was full human before becoming ghoul.
“Get out of my way. I haven’t been told to kill you yet.” Melanie looked irritated as Amira managed to make it to Zhao, who was now stood with the Fae Queen, Morrigan.
“You can’t kill me, Melanie, I’m immortal.” Kai said flatly.
“You been eating peaches or something?” Melanie giggled and began to circle around her.
“Nope, courtesy of a distraught Mage. The life partner of the first of Andrew’s kills actually.” Kai moved again, taking smooth sideways steps, the sword point held steady in front of her.
Melanie frowned, “You were cursed to immortality? Isn’t that a blessing?” she sounded almost normal.
“Only a full blooded, normal human would think that. Technically, as a ghoul, you’re immortal you know. Only fire can de-corporealize you and as you’ve seen, Dragon Fire is the only thing to release your spirit entirely.” Kai spoke quietly and moved as Melanie moved, trying to keep the ghoul’s attention on her.
“That sounds like a plus to me. I’ll live forever.” Melanie said.
“I don’t think you’ve thought it through properly. Everyone you love in the world will die before you do. You could possibly see millennia pass.” Kai flicked her eyes up to Ao Qin.
The dragon king’s fire had changed colour. He was almost ready.
Melanie looked thoughtful and the red in her eyes had dropped down to a thin rim. When she spoke it was through their private mental link, the knives drooped slightly and the edge of mania had disappeared, “I’m not sure I would want that at all. But... the Ghoul... she is so powerful, and she wants to be more powerful still and...”
The red flared in her eyes again and the knives rose. “Get out of my head, Jade Cat.”
“Surely you have feelings about this...” kai kept on.
The red dropped again, and Melanie said, “I do. I don’t want to live forever. Stop me. Please.”
It flashed back and the Ghoul attacked, “Keep out of my head, Jade Cat. You will have to chop me into pieces to stop me from carrying out my orders!”
“Oh good. I’ve got her permission now, I can do what I like. Hold on to your spirit, Jade Cat, I’m taking over.” Wei Tian said gleefully.
Chapter 44
Kai felt as if she had been shunted aside in her head as Wei Tian took over. Everything looked odd, as if she were looking at what was happening from above the fight. Then she realised, He’s pushed me out of body, I’m completely out of control of my own body. She looked at Ao Qin who was above her in the sky, chest inflated and green-blue flame trickling out of his nostrils and from the corners of his mouth. He looks like he’s ready to flame Melanie. Why is he holding back? She looked back at the fight below.
Wei Tian had already scored several hits on the Ghoul; Melanie was minus an ear, the remains of one eye dribbled down her cheek and two fingers had hit the ground around the fighters. Melanie didn’t seemed fazed by her injuries though, she attacked again and again. Wei Tian swatted the two blades away without even thinking and Kai concluded that they were evenly matched, Either that or Wei Tian isn’t trying very hard.
Melanie growled in frustration and sped up. Wei Tian matched the speed increase. Their blades met and bounced from each other faster and faster, their movements blurring. Kai was in awe of the grace that Melanie moved with and the confidence in every movement Wei Tian made, I am going to feel this in the morning! My body has never moved like that before...
Wei Tian sliced through Melanie’s left wrist, the hand holding the long knife falling to the ground, still gripping the hilt. It wriggled and let go of the knife, before flipping itself up onto its three remaining fingers and thumb. The ghoul howled in annoyance and threw her whole body at Kai. Wei Tian sidestepped, and Melanie flew past him and hit the floor, the other knife flying out of her remaining hand. The severed hand began to scuttle back to its body.
As soon as the ghoul had hit the floor, Wei Tian glanced up at Ao Qin and nodded, sheathing the blade and throwing kai into a series of somersaults. Kai was dragged toward it and as her body returned to its feet on the last somersault, she returned to full control. She fell onto her backside and winced.
Ao Qin took a breath through his nose then blew out a stream of flame that surrounded Melanie. Her body began to burn and melt. The ghoul hauled herself onto her feet and glared at Kai, dripping flesh like a candle melting wax, “You may have destroyed me, but the Queen and my mistress live on...”
Kai said nothing, sighing unhappily. As the flesh became bone, kai felt Melanie touch her mind, “Kai, forgive me for what I’ve done.”
Kai nodded, “You weren’t in full control of yourself; Magic is a tricky thing, just look at what happened to me.”
The bone became a pile of ash with Melanie’s spirit hovering above it. Ao Qin stopped the flame and dropped down onto the shrine roof again.
“Young one, I can remove her from this wheel with another gout of flame, or she can move on herself, but only she can make that move.” He said.
Kai struggled painfully to her feet, muscles aching where she didn’t know she had them, and walked across to the smouldering ash, “Melanie, what do you want to do?”
The spirit looked around her and with an odd shimmering there were suddenly two of them. One was the Melanie that Kai had come to know and the other, the slavering ghoul.
Was she a twin at some point? What’s it called, Vanishing Twin syndrome? Kai blinked as the Ghoul growled at Melanie.
“We grew together for a time, but mother only bore one of us physically.” Melanie glanced at the Ghoul, “She was with me all the time and it was only the Fae magic that allowed her to take control of our body. She would have been called Lisa.”
With the name came a change of form, from ghoul to woman. Lisa wasn’t quite as tall as Melanie, but she looked exactly the same.
Kai had a sudden thought but kept it to herself. Now is not the time for theories.
“Do you want to be reborn?” she asked.
“Yes.” Melanie said.
Lisa shook her head, “I don’t deserve it. I killed too many and revelled in their blood.”
“Everyone gets a second chance. This is yours. Take it and who knows what your next life will be like.” Kai said, “Just try and be better.”
Lisa looked at Melanie and smiled first at her twin then at Kai, “Thank you Lady for rescuing me, from myself.” She shimmered and passed over.
Melanie sighed and smiled at Kai, “Thank you my friend. No doubt I will see you again, in another life.” She shimmered and passed over too.
Kai found herself staring at the pile of ash and crying.
“Jade Cat!” The strident tone of voice shocked Kai back into the world.
She looked up.
The Fae Queen stood beside the crumpled body of the Morrigan, who had clearly passed out from the pleasure of Melanie’s death. Her black uniformed warriors clustered around them closely, the queen’s white armoured warriors standing further out.
“Jade Cat, you have destroyed two of my finest assets, I insist on reparations.” The queen stood tall and looked as arrogant as she sounded.
It infuriated Kai.
She strode over to the Queen, pushed past the warriors and shoved the woman backward, “You send ghouls to murder the Triang Council; ghouls that had been created by a member of your court, completely against the will of the people they were created from.” She pushed the queen again, “You torture and murder a British MP and his wife, abuse your own daughter, mentally and turn a tourist city upside down for your own ends, for what?”
The white armoured warriors moved toward them; the Fae Queen waved one hand and they stopped.
“I am the salvation of this planet, Jade Cat. I will bring peace to it.” The Queen hissed at her.
“I don’t care what delusions of grandeur you might have, Queen of the Light Fae. This is my city and I intend to look after it. You are not welcome here.” Kai pushed her again punctuating her words, “Get. Out. Of. Te. Ling.”
The queen took two steps back, “Fine. We will meet again, Jade Cat and I will not countenance such rudeness again. Lady Torqithrelle, return with me to Malith, we have much to discuss. Warriors bring Morrigan.” She waved one hand and spun on her heel, striding away toward her transport.
Tabatha looked at Kai.
Kai shrugged. “There are always Mojitos.”
Tabatha nodded then waved at her golden garbed companions to follow. The warriors picked up Faidren’s body and carried it with them.
The leader of the black warriors picked Morrigan up, cradling her carefully against his chest and followed the queen.
Zhao, Amin and Amira walked up behind her as the transports loaded up and took off.
“That was way too easy.” Amin said thoughtfully.
“You have a strange idea of easy, Amin.” Zhao grumbled then he noticed the TLPD vans began arriving, “I’ll handle the physical clean-up. You had better go and deal with the political clean-up.”
Kai groaned, “Thanks, I think. Amira, can you take Edward somewhere please? You’ll need to reattach his arm and help him to heal.”
“Of course. I have all I need at the Earth Temple.” The priestess paused, “However, I cannot take him there.”
“Of course. The house is not ready yet though and my apartment has been cleared.” Kai sighed.
“Take him to the safe house.” Amin suggested, “I’ll bring him; you can join us there, Priestess.”
“Good idea.” Kai nodded her agreement, “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Amin walked away to find Edward. Kai watched as he used a torn shirt from a nearby corpse to collect Edward’s arm and his long knife, wrapped them up and laid them on Edward’s chest, then he picked Edward up tenderly and commandeered a gurney to lay him on, as well as one of the mortuary vans.
“Priestess,” He called, “I can take you to the temple if you like?”
She shook her head and grinned, “I want to fly over; I haven’t had this much fun for ages.” She shimmered into her dragon form, “I’ll race you to the safe house, Naga.”
Amin laughed as she took off.
Kai felt oddly alone. She turned away from their exit and saw Ao Qin watching her. He took off from the shrine roof and landed beside her.
“Come with me Young One, I see that you need to talk.” He held out one paw and helped her to climb up onto his back again. Then he took off.