Chapter 29 #2
Harper stops abruptly in front of a small cove, and crouches down to two squares at knee level, her fingers pressing into the carvings as she explores the surface of the marble.
Suddenly, I feel out of place. ‘We should have brought offerings.’
‘It’s okay.’ Harper brushes ash off the flowers beside them. ‘Hi,’ she whispers, her tone achingly reverent.
I crouch beside her as I struggle to read the Chinese characters etched into stone. ‘Hey, Mr and Mrs Leong. I’m Tia, Harper’s girlfriend.’
A small smile graces Harper’s face. She says something in Cantonese that I can’t understand, running her thumb over the bevelled images of her parents.
I frown. ‘What’d you say?’
She hums and shrugs. ‘Told them I’m dating a stuck-up princess.’
‘Asshole.’
‘And proud of it.’ She turns back to her parents.
When she glances at me again, tears shine in her eyes.
I catch the first one that streaks down her cheek with a thumb. Is she sad? Happy? Concern stirs in my gut as I reach out to hold her hand. ‘You all right?’
A nod. ‘I just—’ She flaps vaguely around her. ‘All this. Thanks. I don’t know . . . You’re making me emotional, whatever.’
I laugh, and it prompts Harper to dig an elbow into my side, nearly knocking me off my squat.
‘So, what’d you want to ask?’ Harper looks so much more at ease, crouched in front of her parents, her fingers tracing the marble idly as she cocks her head at me.
I suck in a breath. ‘Canyoupleasebemypartner?’ Thrown from my mouth like a bullet, strung with hope and bursting with anxiety.
Harper blinks. Her shoulders drop slightly. ‘Your . . . partner? Like, your girlfriend? Were we not already—?’
I’m the absolute worst at speaking. ‘Um, yes. No. I mean, no, that’s not what I meant, I—’ I tug at my moonstone pendant, punish myself quickly with the way the chain digs sharply into my skin.
Harper’s eyes drop down to it, but she doesn’t comment.
Old habits die hard. ‘I meant . . . as a Sentinel. I was thinking you’d want to, you know. Join us.’
Harper’s eyes bug out of her head. Her hands fall to her side. ‘What the hell?’
‘You’re experienced in the field and I know you’re a good fighter,’ I rush to explain. ‘And I think we worked together pretty well, back at Marina Bay Sands. I’ve asked Niko and Kiran, and they agree.’
‘I’m not a hero, bunny.’
‘No, but you’re a protector.’ I reach out to hold Harper’s hands. ‘You have a tough spirit, and I know I’ll always be safe in the field, because you’ll always have my back. There’s no one I would trust more with my life and my heart.’
Her mouth hangs a little open, and her fingers curl lightly over mine. ‘You do realize if it comes down to saving the world and saving you, I’d choose you, right? I don’t care about saving people I don’t love.’
‘Good, because I lose myself when I save people. I need you to hold me back and make sure I stay alive. Then I can save more people.’ It’s all lined up in my head; sure, Harper wouldn’t risk her neck for a bunch of random civilians, but that’s always been my job – now I need someone who’ll stick their neck out for me.
Who cares if she’s a criminal? I deserve to be a little selfish too.
Harper stays silent a little longer. My knees dig into my armpits as I hold my squat, and it’s getting sore. ‘The public won’t trust Raven.’
I wince. I’ve run an analysis on that. With the amount of crimes Raven’s committed – which is to say several counts of suspected manslaughter, massive amounts of assault and an endless list of petty crimes – there’s a certainty of public backlash.
But I’ve seen the other comments cheering for Raven, the anecdotes of Raven always threatening but never actually harming civilians. ‘There’ll be teething issues,’ I confirm. ‘For now, we can start with telling the public that you’ve, you know, turned.’
Harper raises a brow. ‘Do I still get to beat people up?’
I hum. ‘Only if they’re bad people. And only if you have a permit.’
A gagging noise. ‘Permits are gross.’
‘It’s how we work.’
‘Can I just . . . not go by permit?’
We stare at each other.
I sigh. ‘We’ll need to have a very detailed meeting with the prime minister, and make sure you don’t get sent to jail first. But will you be my partner? Please?’
‘Ooh, please.’ Harper’s head does a little jig as her lips curl into a smile. ‘Wasting all your pretty little manners on me, a rabid criminal? Outrageous.’
I know when Harper’s trying to deflect. ‘It’s a yes or no, kit.’
The act drops. ‘Of course yes. Can we seriously talk about the permit-to-beat-people-up thing, though?’
‘What? No. No, I’ve seen you break bones for no reason.’
‘Bunny . . .’
‘Seriously, I will leave.’ I stand.
There’s a gasp as Harper follows and pulls me towards her. ‘But I haven’t scandalously kissed you in front of our ancestors yet!’
‘It’s not scandalous. You said your family was okay with it.’
‘You said this whole columbarium wasn’t made of my family.’ She drapes an arm around my neck to pull me in, sending shivers down my spine as my lips brush hers.
And I may be a daughter of the moon, but in this moment I take everything the moon is – cold, alone, detached – and renounce my celestial title, trade it in for everything Harper gives me: warmth, company, home.
HARPER
With part of my family fixed, I have to face the other. I still haven’t invited the Elders over to celebrate the leadership. To be honest, I might never. Instead, I leave Lain with Niko’s contract and head for Ah Ma’s flat.
The medallion feels heavier than usual now, slipped into my new suit instead of swinging round my neck. Every groove presses against my skin as I leap from roof to roof, reminding me of the responsibility I’ve sworn to maintain.
And in my backpack, the contract from Niko lies pressed against me. Another sworn responsibility to another family.
When I stand before Ah Ma, I keep my head bowed, because I’m not oblivious to the concessions they’ve made for me. ‘Thank you for choosing me as the Fox leader. I understand the circumstances of my assignment were unique, and I’m grateful you still trust me as a leader.’
The contract lies between us as Ah Ma puts her reading glasses on and skims it. It’s all in English, but I made sure to ask Niko for an official translation in Mandarin, which they quickly provided.
‘You’re leader because we’ve trained you to be, and because the circumstances worked in your favour,’ Ah Ma scoffs as she shuffles the contract back into its file. ‘“Trust” is a strong word. You and Tia made fools of us. Malaysian and Korean Fox clans are laughing at us. We have lost face.’
. That’s the word she uses – to throw a face away, to embarrass.
I swallow. To embarrass a family is to kick it into the ground like rubbish, drag its reputation into a ditch so shameful it’d equate to the concept of Western sin. If the Chinese were to write about sin, embarrassing a family would be damn near the top of the list.
But condemnable sin doesn’t exist, not within a family.
‘About your contract, I’ll need to talk to the other Elders, but this contract would be in our favour if the Sentinels are willing to provide us protection and compensation.
’ Ah Ma stands from her chair. There are no other Elders around us; we are an Elder and a child, a predecessor and her successor.
‘You know, to trick us after we tricked you was admirable.’
I blink. ‘What?’
‘Some Elders wanted Maria, but she has always been the more ruthless of the two of you. She could lead us to greatness, but she’s also too power-hungry. She would hurt anyone for her own gain.’
Relief washes over me. I clear my throat. ‘I have more news.’ I swallow. ‘I’ve agreed to be a Sentinel. As Raven. They’ll train me for a bit before making the announcement.’
Ah Ma stills. ‘You are no Sentinel.’
‘They’re taking me in. I cannot abandon them just as much as you will not abandon me.’
‘Your surname is Leong. You are born to us.’
‘Ah Ma.’ I step forward. Place a hand over my medallion. Bow. ‘I will always fight for the clan. But please, let me do this. The Sentinels trust me, and they have strong resources and connections with the government. I can make this work.’
For a long moment, Ah Ma’s rheumy eyes track the brilliant sky outside.
Her wrinkled lips purse, and the grip on her cane tightens.
‘I will talk to the Elders. Your responsibilities as a leader will be shared with someone else, and you will work with them to lead the clan. But you are still your parents’ daughter – being the leader of the clan is in your blood. ’
‘I know.’ I clutch the medallion tight. The fact that I’d tried to quit, that I’d technically succeeded then failed my assignment, and meddled with clan matters for my girlfriend, all stand in the space between me and Ah Ma.
Still, as the Chinese idiom goes – to be eternally grateful to all that has made and sustained you – I refuse to forget all the Foxes have done for me. They are, ultimately, still family.
Ah Ma doesn’t smile, but she nods, and that’s close. ‘Your parents would be happy to see you wearing that medallion.’
Emotion chokes my throat and I turn away quickly. ‘Thank you.’
As I leave, Ah Ma stops me. ‘Before you go, I just cut oranges. Take some. You’re getting skinny.’
It’s the quiet love, sweet pulp over my tongue, the same one my mother offered, the same one I promise to uphold for Tia, the same one I feel now.
It’s family.
And I’ve found home.