Late that night I was lying awake on the kitchen floor when I realised with a shock that I wasn’t alone. Someone — two people — were just outside the window. I could sense them: they were Shen, not demons, and glowed as small floating balls in my Inner Eye.
I stood up and opened the window a crack. ‘Come in and be quiet,’ I whispered.
Gold and BJ came into the kitchen and changed to human form.
‘You shouldn’t be here,’ I hissed. ‘You know they can control stones.’
‘We have to be quick,’ Gold said. ‘BJ.’
‘I’ll be your comms,’ BJ said.
‘I’m underground. You won’t be able to communicate with anyone.’
‘We’re doing it now while we’re free,’ Gold said. ‘They have to move the child eventually, and you can link up then.’
‘I’ll bury myself in your nervous system,’ BJ said. ‘The same way the demons had stones controlling Leo and Yue Gui. I’ll sit in the back of your neck and link to your spinal cord, and then go as small as I can so they can’t see me.’
‘One: that sounds incredibly painful; and two: are you sure they won’t see you?’ I said.
She nodded. ‘And you’re an Immortal. Just block the pain.’
I hesitated. ‘Exactly how much of my thought processes will you see if you link into my nervous system?’
She didn’t reply but her face said it all.
‘Gold, you’re putting Black Jade where she can see everything I think and do. You know how much black jade I’ve been presented with over the years, don’t you? This is a terrible idea.’
BJ’s face went strange. ‘I know the prophecy —’
‘It’s a prophecy now?’ I said with disbelief.
‘That you’ll be replaced, and the Dark Lord will marry someone else,’ she finished.
‘It’s beside the point, because even if he does marry someone else, he can still marry you as well,’ Gold said.
‘Is divorce allowed on the Celestial Plane? Same-sex marriage isn’t.’
Gold snorted with derision. ‘We’re Immortal. Of course it is.’
‘When the wedding date is set, we’ll lock me up so there’s no chance of either of us being compromised,’ BJ said. ‘Right now it’s more important that you have assistance, data and comms on the ground with you.’
‘Can’t my stone — the Jade Building Block — do this? It’s been put inside me before.’
‘You can trust me,’ BJ said.
‘I’d really prefer the Building Block. Where is it? You didn’t leave it alone, did you?’
Gold and BJ shared a look.
‘What?’ I said, and went ice-cold. ‘No.’
BJ looked away.
‘We went back to my lab to sabotage the Celestial network. We wanted to stop the demons from using it,’ Gold said. ‘The stone wasn’t there, and there were a bunch of guard demons waiting for us.’
‘Dad destroyed all the demons and we escaped,’ BJ said with pride. ‘He took down three level thirties with physical. Do you want to see my recording? It was awesome.’
‘People keep forgetting that I’ve been serving the Dark Lord for more than twenty years, and he’s trained me since the day I arrived in the household,’ Gold said. ‘He enjoyed teaching me. He only had to show me the moves once and I perfected them immediately. The only disadvantage is the lag between the stone giving the order and the body carrying it out — it can be up to half a second.’
‘What about the Jade Building Block?’ I said.
‘We have no idea where it is,’ BJ said. ‘We call and it doesn’t answer.’
‘Did you tell Nu Wa? The stone is one of her creations. She must know where it is.’
‘Nu Wa’s retreated to her mountaintop in Kunlun,’ Gold said. ‘There’s no way to communicate with her.’
I wiped my eyes and took a deep shaking breath. ‘Okay, BJ, put yourself into my spine and let’s go to work. Do you have a backup plan if they find you?’
‘I’ll think of something,’ BJ said.
‘Gold, go,’ I told him. ‘Every second you’re here you’re in more danger.’
‘I have to open you up to put BJ in. Lie on your stomach.’
‘Can the demons see us? We’re probably being monitored.’
‘Not with my abilities.’ He gave me a gentle push. ‘Stomach, Emma.’
I lay my stomach on the floor, put my head on the rolled-up blanket and closed my eyes. Searing pain tore into the back of my neck and I blocked the meridians. There was pressure and movement as Gold worked on me, opening me up and putting BJ inside.
Testing. Say something silently, BJ said.
Can you hear me?
Now speak to me, Gold said.
I’m sorry about your parent.
We will find him, even if we have to go to the top of the Kunlun mountains. BJ?
I’m good. Go.
More pressure as Gold pushed my neck from side to side as he worked.
‘Move your fingers and toes,’ he said.
I wriggled them and felt a bolt of concern. ‘They are moving, aren’t they?’
‘Yes. Can you feel this?’ He touched my hands and feet.
‘Yes,’ I said.
‘Good. No nerve damage. Try healing that up.’
I concentrated my healing energy and closed the wound.
Can you hear me, Emma? BJ said.
Yes. Gold?
Good to go. I’ll leave you to it, Gold said. Stay safe, Emma.
Are my family okay?
They haven’t been touched. They’re under guard in Persimmon Tree Pavilion on the Mountain. They’re all safe.
How is the Dark Lord?
They haven’t tortured him. He’s in the cage and being minimally cared for — food and water. They’re busy preparing the Celestial Palace for the coronation. Simone has disappeared. Leo and Buffy are safe in the United States, and your sisters and nephew are in the Dark Lord’s house in London for a few days while they find somewhere to live.
Amy?
She’s in the North with the rest of the residents under house arrest. I will return to her as soon as we’re done here.
Thank you. Go.
Gold changed to True Form and slipped out of the room.
I have a list of calls and messages for you, BJ said. But nothing so urgent you need to do it right now. Get some sleep.
I haven’t slept since the Heavens fell. I’ve been lying here for hours wondering what I can do — and what I could have done — to avoid this situation. I’m worried about my family and about Simone, and you, and Chang and the orphans, and my students and —
Lady Emma, BJ said, a formal edge to her voice. Shut up and go to sleep.
Like I said, I can’t — I began, but never finished it.
* * *
The grey sky brightened and I gave up trying to go back to sleep. The thoughts spun through my head. What could I have done differently? What could I do now? How was Simone coping? Were my family safe?
It was pointless lying there beating myself up. I needed to move.
You there, BJ?
I’m here. It’s really early, Aunty Emma, go back to sleep.
Yeah, I’ve been trying for a while and it’s not happening. Can you give me the messages while I find some breakfast?
Okay.
I folded up my blanket, then made a cup of tea. I looked around for bread and peanut butter, but when I found it I couldn’t face making toast and eating it. I wanted to change into clean clothes, but the King hadn’t provided any. I should have slept nude, wrapped in the blanket, and washed my clothes during the night, but then I’d have to wear them damp.
The King will have to provide you with more clothes, BJ said.
Yeah, I know. You said you had messages for me?
Most of the messages from yesterday are people checking up on you. You don’t need to answer. I told everybody the situation before we came down here. Brother Chang has been calling me non-stop and he sounds desperate.
Did you tell him there’s nothing I can do?
They’re out on the street.
What?
Listen.
‘Emma!’ Chang did sound desperate. ‘Emma, I need some cash right now. The hotel’s not owned by the Tiger any more and the new management have thrown us out. They claim that we owe them thousands of dollars! Can you send someone to pick us up? We’re all sitting in the street in front of the hotel and I’m worried Child Services will come. The police have already stopped by twice to warn us to move on.’
There was a click, then a buzz. Next one, BJ said.
‘Please help us, Emma,’ Chang said. ‘The police keep cruising past. You have to help me! The police are here again — oh no, they have a wagon, they’re taking us in. Help!’
That’s all, BJ said.
I went through the dark living room and opened the front door. The King hadn’t stationed an armoured demon there. Instead, there was a big Duke, to keep Mothers away rather than stop me from escaping.
‘What’s your number?’ I asked him.
‘Forty-One. Or Hak Yu if you like. I have a human name.’
‘I need to see the King right now. Immediately. It’s very important.’
‘Did something happen to the kids?’ he said as his eyes unfocused.
‘Just find him,’ I said.
‘He’s in the Celestial Palace fucking a couple of senior Mothers, and that’s always tricky. If he doesn’t finish up carefully he’ll kill them. He wants to know what the huge problem is.’
‘How long will he be?’
The Duke nodded, obviously listening to the King. ‘Show me first. The King has the Heavens to run. Is one of the kids sick?’
I pulled back inside, leaving the door open to speak to the Duke. ‘I’ll wait for him.’
‘No, tell me. If something happens to either of those kids on my watch, my head is gone.’
‘There’s no problem with the kids. This is to do with something else entirely unrelated and I can wait for him. It’s urgent, but not that urgent.’
The Duke shrugged. ‘Suit yourself.’
I closed the door and went back to the kitchen. I should have asked the Duke how long it usually took to ‘finish up’ a couple of Mothers but I really didn’t want to know.
An hour later I was in the bathroom arguing with Frankie.
‘You’re too little,’ I said. ‘It will go everywhere.’
‘Then they clean it up. It’s what they’re here for.’
I opened my mouth to tell him that wasn’t what they were there for and realised that in the case of these demon servants it was true.
‘When we’re in the Heavens you’ll treat your staff like human beings or . . .’ I heard what I was saying. ‘You’ll treat everybody with respect. And clean up after yourself.’
‘But I don’t know how!’
‘I’ll teach you — that’s what I’m here for. Now you sit down here,’ I picked him up and sat him on the toilet seat, ‘and do your business without making a mess.’
‘I’ll fall in,’ he said.
‘I know it’s hard, but I’ll find you a toddler toilet seat and that will make it much easier for you.’
The King came in. ‘So what’s so important you had to drag me away from a couple of my girls who haven’t seen me in weeks?’
‘Chang’s orphans,’ I said. ‘They’ve been thrown out of the hotel in Australia. Do you have contacts there to retrieve them?’
‘No,’ the King said, and moved to go out. ‘I thought it was important.’
‘It is important!’ I said, helping Frankie pull his little pants up. ‘Those kids will be homeless again. We have to bring them —’
‘Oh, we have to, do we? No, we don’t. The Australian authorities will deal with them. They’ll find them a shelter or something.’
‘If they think those kids are illegal immigrants, they’ll put them in one of those awful detention camps!’
‘So?’ he said, leaning on the door frame. ‘They’ll be fine. They’ll have food and water and a roof over their heads, and nothing more than that. Good motivation to make something of themselves — get a job and an education and do something with their lives.’
‘There’s no job or education in the refugee camps!’
He shrugged and turned away. ‘Not my problem. Don’t call me unless it’s something to do with my kids, okay?’
‘Please. The children,’ I began, but he’d disappeared.
‘Can we play now?’ Frankie said.
‘Sure,’ I said absently as I tried to think of a way to find the orphans and re-home them. ‘Let’s pull some Lego out.’
If we had a phone, I said to BJ as I sat on the living room floor with Frankie and the Lego.
We don’t, BJ said. There’s no phone network, no wireless and no cables in this place. He’s way ahead of us.
Is there any way we can contact Simone to help them?
Only if she comes down here to see you.
There has to be something I can do!
Lady Emma, BJ said, I’m sorry. There isn’t.
‘Emma?’ Edu said, and slapped my shoulder. I realised she’d been speaking to me for a while.
‘Sorry, Edu. Yes?’
‘She asked you what a pony is,’ Frankie said. ‘Remember you showed me?’
‘I can’t show you,’ I said. ‘I need a computer to do it and your dad won’t let me have one.’
‘Why not?’ Frankie said. ‘That was fun.’
‘I’ll see if I can find some DVDs for you,’ I said.
‘What’s a DVD?’ they asked in unison.
* * *
‘What’s this?’ Frankie said, looking at the peanut butter sandwiches I’d placed in front of them.
‘Human food?’ Edu said.
I explained about sandwiches, and watched as they tried peanut butter for the first time and, like most demons, were instantly appreciative.
The front door opened and the King came in, accompanied by three silent wide-eyed children. My heart plummeted. It was Gold’s kids, Jade and Richie, and my nephew Matthew.
Oh god, no! BJ wailed in my head.
‘Where’s Amy and my sister?’ I said.
‘Who?’ the King said.
‘Their mothers!’ I shouted, pointing at the children, who didn’t move. He must have been controlling them, otherwise they’d be distressed.
‘I sent them home,’ the King said. ‘I have no use for them.’ He pushed the children forward. ‘Go to Aunty Emma, she’ll look after you.’ He turned and opened the door to go out.
‘These children can’t be here,’ I said to the King. ‘They don’t belong. Take them back to their parents.’
‘These are friends for Frankie,’ he said. ‘Better still, these are relatives. Well, except the stone’s ones, but I want Frankie to be happy and these children can play with him.’
‘They can’t be here, they’re human, and not dea . . .’ I didn’t finish the word. ‘This is not the place for them.’
He shrugged. ‘All the rules are being rewritten.’
‘There isn’t space for them all,’ I said.
‘There will be plenty when we move them up. How much space do they need?’
‘They need their own rooms, so send them home to their parents.’
‘No, Frankie needs playmates. Be ready, I’m letting them go.’
The three children all took a deep breath together and their eyes widened.
I crouched to speak to them, touching their shoulders to reassure them. ‘You’re safe, kids, nobody will hurt you.’
‘Where’s my mummy, Aunty Emma?’ Matthew said.
‘You know how you’re a lion?’ I said, and he nodded. ‘Well, right now I need you to be a lion. I’ll look after you here for a little while, and then you can go home.’
‘Okay.’
I rose. ‘Send them home. They can be playmates when Frankie moves up to the Heavens.’
The King moved closer to me. ‘They’re insurance right now.’
‘I won’t try to escape. I’m doing the job to the best of my ability. You don’t need to take these children away from their mothers!’
‘When it comes to you, having insurance is always a good idea. They stay.’
‘Then I need clothes for them, and clothes for me too. I need a DVD player and an online ordering account.’ I gestured towards Frankie and Edu in the living room, who were still eating the peanut butter sandwiches and watching us with wide eyes. ‘They need to see what I’m talking about. If you won’t give me a computer with internet, at least allow me to show them videos.’
‘Draw pictures,’ he said.
‘Not good enough! They’ve been stuck inside for weeks. They need to go outside into the fresh air and sunshine. I have to take them to the surface . . .’ I realised what I was saying and that the children could hear me. ‘They need to see the sun!’
‘You’re a fucking pain in the ass, you know that?’ he said, and stormed out.
‘Good,’ I said as he slammed the door. I crouched to speak to the three little ones. ‘Come and have a sandwich.’
Matthew looked around, then his face went red and tears ran down his cheeks. ‘I don’t think I can be a lion, Aunty Emma.’
‘Oh, darling,’ I said, and crushed him to me.
His crying set the other two off and the three of them wailed. Frankie’s eyes were wide with concern, but Edu watched with an expression of cruel pleasure.