Chapter 46
Forty-Six
Family
Big Wang’s roof terrace is a flurry of commotion; attendants gliding to and fro, carrying plates and napkins, chairs, and linens. Twinkling lanterns hang from every tree. More are artfully placed around the koi and tortoise ponds. A large table, to seat sixteen, sits in the centre of the terrace.
I do a quick head count – three Durands; my three guardians, Bullhead, Horsey, and Old Zao; Big Wang, Lord Aengus, Maomao, Tony, me, Gigi, Ah Lang . . . I wonder who else he is expecting.
The doors to the study open and out steps Big Wang, his blue-black skin gleaming in the lantern light. The first thing he does is hold my shoulders and look me over carefully, as if checking for cuts and bruises. Satisfied I’m not injured, he asks, ‘Did it go alright with Niang Niang?’
I’m about to ask him how he knew, but stop myself. Of course. ‘Lord Black, I assume?’
Big Wang nods. ‘Come, let’s sit.’ We move to the marble table by the railings, where we usually have breakfast. He gestures to an attendant to bring tea. ‘I’m very sorry about your father, though I am relieved he is no longer in pain. Lord Black said you saw your mother?’
‘She was a ghost. Both of them. I didn’t think yaojing could become ghosts.’
‘It is unusual, but not unheard of. They aren’t exactly ghosts, more a concentration of spiritual energy. They don’t reincarnate but go on to another plane of existence.’
‘Where?’
Big Wang smiles gently. ‘That is something only Madame Meng knows.’
‘Is it a good place? Will they be happy?’
‘As far as I understand it, yes. But even I know very little about this place.’
An attendant brings our tea and sets bowls of dough knots, candied pecans, and some caramels on the table. I pour a cup of chrysanthemum tea for Big Wang focussing on the ritual to calm my nerves.
‘You have something on your mind,’ he says.
He knows me well. There’s no point in pretending I don’t, so I nod. Getting the words out is harder than I expect. Finally, I blurt, ‘I-I made a deal with Mémère.’
Big Wang’s eyes burn bright red. ‘What kind of deal?’
Big Wang’s voice has a dangerous edge to it so I hurry to explain. ‘In exchange for the knowledge to make Tony vampire, I promised to move to Paris and live with Mémère, so I can learn more about my vampire family.’
Big Wang relaxes into his chair. ‘I see.’ He sips his tea with as much reaction as if I’d told him I’d bought a new hairpin.
I frown. ‘Aren’t you upset?’
‘Should I be? It’s only Paris. A week by train, and now your dragon pearl is fixed, home is a blink away.’
Home is a blink away. Why didn’t I think of that? ‘Oh,’ I say, feeling somewhat foolish.
‘Isn’t it a good thing to learn more about your heritage? You have the ability to gift immortality. In Tian, only the Jade Emperor can do so. It’s important you learn what it means and how to responsibly wield such a great power.’
I thought he would be angry, or disappointed, but he’s none of those things. Instead, he’s supportive and encouraging. My emotions spill over.
Big Wang continues, enthusiastic now. ‘I am well overdue a visit to our outpost in Paris. This is the perfect opportunity to check on our people and to visit you in your new home.’ His smile drops as he notices my tears. ‘Don’t cry, I don’t have to visit,’ he says, panic in his voice.
I shake my head, laughing. ‘These are happy tears, Big Wang. I was feeling so wretched, like I’d have to give up everything I loved. But you reminded me that I have the freedom to come and go. I’ll be able to see you whenever I want, and you’ll come visit too. It doesn’t feel so scary anymore.’
‘We’ll visit you so often you’ll be itching to send us home.
Lord Nioh, Lord Ma, even Old Zao. Almost forgot – Gigi said to let you know she and Ah Lang have gone to the Celestial Realm to update her father.
He was very worried and she wanted to reassure him personally.
’ He pats my hand. ‘How are things with Tony?’
‘He spoke to me today.’ I smile, remembering how concerned he was.
‘Lord Black told me.’ His voice is hard.
Worried he’ll bring up the lower levels of Hell again, I quickly say, ‘He was worried about me, didn’t want me to go see Niang Niang on my own. We’ll get there.’ This time, I believe it.
‘I’m glad to hear it. Remember what I said, though—’
Voices interrupt him. Bullhead, Old Zao, Horsey, Lord Aengus, and Tony, spill out of the lift onto the terrace. Followed by Madame Meng, the Durands and . . . my father and mother.
I run towards them, only to backtrack when I realise I failed to properly greet Madame Meng. I bow low. ‘Virtuous Madame Meng,’ I say in a rush. ‘Ten thousand years of good health.’
Her responding smile is wide and toothless, full of warmth and joy. ‘This one of the teahouse arrives before Little Jing unharmed.’ She waves her small hand. ‘Go, greet your parents.’
I nod, then turn to my mother and . . . a tall dark-haired man. I barely get to look at him before my mother wraps me in her arms, weeping and holding me tight, for a long time.
‘Look at you, my Jing.’ She holds my face, gazing at me with wet eyes. ‘You grew up well. I’ve missed you so much.’ She hugs me again. ‘Baobei, meet your father.’
‘My darling girl,’ Romain de Durand says as he puts a gentle hand on my shoulder. ‘I’m so sorry I couldn’t see you grow up. Was it hard, by yourself?’
He looks so pained I want to lie, to say No, it was fine.
But the tears come, unbidden and uncontrollable.
He strokes my hair, nodding, as if he knew all along, and pulls both my mother and me into a tight hug.
‘I’m so proud of you. Mémère has told me how loyal and brave you are. A Durand through and through.’
Big Wang joins us. My mother immediately gets to her knees.
My father understands and joins her. They both kowtow three times.
When they rise, my mother says, ‘Abundant gratitude, noble Yan Luo Wang, for not only keeping our daughter safe, but nurturing her, and giving her a home where she is cherished.’
‘Please, Lady Rey, get up.’ Big Wang, embarrassed by the attention, helps my mother to her feet. ‘We didn’t expect you until the morning,’ he says.
In her high sweet voice, Madame Meng says, ‘I heard you were having a family dinner so I made a special trip to fetch them, with the help of Fisherman Lo.’
‘Will you stay for dinner, Madame Meng?’ I ask.
She pats my cheek. ‘Thank you, my dear, but I’m afraid I need to prepare for the ghost ferries arriving tomorrow morning. Your parents may stay, but they will have to cross over once they say their farewells.’
‘The Naihe Bridge?’ I ask.
Madame Meng smiles, her eyes crinkled into half-moons. ‘No, they are not ghosts, so they will not reincarnate but will move on to the next realm.’
I wait, hoping she’ll elaborate, but she doesn’t. She bows and takes her leave.
Big Wang ushers us to the dinner table, pulling out a chair for Mémère. Soon we are all seated, attendants keeping the wine flowing. I can’t stop looking from my mom to my dad, marvelling that I get to spend a whole evening with them when I thought I’d never see them again.
‘I read about your friend Crispin,’ I say. ‘He seemed like a great guy.’
‘How do you—’ He blushes. ‘My journal? Goodness, I hope I didn’t write anything compromising.’
Normally I wouldn’t be so forthright, but I won’t get another chance, so I say, ‘Reading your journal made me feel closer to you and helped me get to know you.’
I feel the warmth in his answering smile all the way to my toes.
My parents pepper me with questions – my mother asking about my studies, what I’ve learned, my favourite poems. She is a little taken aback to learn of my predilection for gambling, though she rallies when she hears I almost always win.
I smell the blood before I see it. An attendant carries a tray of crystal goblets filled with the dark crimson liquid.
It still turns my stomach, but at least it doesn’t make me retch.
All four Durands are given a glass, as well as Tony and me.
My mom picks up her line of questioning again, asking about Gigi, and soon I forget about the blood and my nausea fades.
Mémère and Horsey try to outdo each other with embarrassing tales of my father’s childhood and mine.
Even Bullhead joins in. I throw Bullhead a stink eye and get a gap-toothed smile in response.
The evening passes in a warm glow. Then Lord Black appears between the koi ponds, Niang Niang at his side.
The table falls silent as Niang Niang’s gaze lands on my mother. My mother doesn’t look happy, and suddenly I worry I’ve made a mistake in inviting my grandmother.
My mother leaves the table, strides towards Niang Niang. My father follows, and the three of them move beyond the lifts to talk in private, without all our eyes on them.
‘Lord Black, was it dragon sight that made you fetch Niang Niang?’ I ask.
He chuckles. ‘No, Madame Meng sent a message asking me to fetch Sister Niang. She would have been heartbroken to miss her daughter.’
He joins the table. The dishes continue to arrive, and as far as I can tell, the Durands enjoy the food and the company. When my parents return with Niang Niang, both mother and daughter are teary, but they seem to have found an understanding. Niang Niang too joins the table.
My whole family, here, together. The Maotai has been brought out, along with Big Wang’s favourite cognac.
Mémère makes a cocktail of blood and whisky, clinking glasses with Big Wang, both of them knocking their drinks back like they’re doing shots.
Horsey, Marianne and Lord Aengus are deep in a philosophical debate about some esoteric point of Confucian benevolence.
My mother hugs Maomao, whispering and laughing.
Even Tony seems to be at peace, chatting contentedly with my father.