Chapter 46 #2
Lord Aengus taps his glass with a spoon. ‘I have an announcement.’ When he has our full attention he says, ‘Maomao and I will do some hiking in the Celestial mountains before we both travel back to Inis Fáil.’
‘You’re going home?’ Tony says, clearly surprised.
Lord Aengus inhales deeply. ‘Yes. I need to have a heart to heart with the Dagda. Maomao says I should try to be open and honest, and to make an effort to understand him too. That way, both of us have a chance to be happy, rather than being miserable whenever we’re together.
And even if he refuses to meet me halfway, at least I can say I tried with my whole heart, and thus will have no regrets. ’
‘A wise choice,’ Lord Black says.
Too soon, the time comes to say goodbye. My parents take turns to hug me. I don’t want to let go, but I know I have to. When they step away, they each pull out a small pot.
At my questioning look, my mother explains. ‘Madame Meng’s oblivion tea.’
‘You want to forget us?’ I say, my voice pitching high.
‘There is much bitterness inside me, Jing. It eats away at me.’ She turns to my father.
‘You saw how he suffered; the tea will allow him to forget the pain of the shrine. Madame Meng said our red thread of Fate will ensure we don’t lose each other in our new realm.
It is the best way to move forward, to find joy, and to let go of the poison that clings to us.
’ She holds my hand. ‘I know this is difficult and unexpected. But I believe, if you know that we are content, you will be happy for us. Our memories are not completely lost; they are in your safekeeping.’
My mother’s gaze locks with mine as she drinks her tea.
I watch her memories disappear; the line between her brows smooths, the tension at the corner of her eyes fades, even the way she holds herself changes, as if a heavy burden has lifted from her shoulders.
Her gaze slips from mine, then sweeps across her loved ones, Niang Niang, Maomao, me, with perfect disregard.
She has no idea who we are. A red thread appears on her wrist, connecting her to my father.
Their eyes meet and they smile shyly at each other as a soft golden glow surrounds them.
When the light wanes, they’re gone.
The others return to the table, to their drinks. I’m not hungry or thirsty, so I wander over to the koi pond. Tony follows me.
‘Jing, can we talk?’
‘Sure.’ Remembering Big Wang’s threat about the lower levels of hell, I pull him over to the other side of the terrace.
When we’re alone, he starts to paces, agitated. ‘You normally have at least five meals a day. I watched you all dinner. You didn’t eat a thing.’
This wasn’t what I expected. ‘I wasn’t hungry,’ I say.
‘You didn’t touch your blood either. You actually looked queasy when the attendant put it in front of you.’ He grabs me, squeezing my arms and shoulders. ‘Jing, you’re nothing but bones.’
I twist from his grip. Settling onto the terracotta tiles, I lean against the railings. He sits beside me.
There’s no point in lying, not to Tony, so I say, ‘If I try to drink blood, it comes right back up again.’
‘But you need blood to live. You must be ill – have you told Mémère?’
I sigh. ‘To turn you, I had to drain every last drop from your body. I can’t drink blood without remembering you dying in my arms.’
He stares at me so hard I feel like he’s boring holes in my head. Finally he says, ‘But I’m not dead.’
Leaning my head against the railings, I look up at the inky sky.
‘You did die. Your heart stopped. I had to wait for the very last heartbeat before I could give you my blood. I counted twenty breaths, but your heart stayed silent. I was convinced I’d lost you.
’ I’m proud of how even my voice is. Hardly a tremor.
‘I didn’t know.’
‘How could you?’ I say.
‘You still shouldn’t have done it.’
Turning, so he can see my whole face, I say, ‘I don’t regret that you are still here, still alive, still stubborn enough to be angry with me. I will never regret that.’
Tony clings to his principles. I can tell he’s annoyed I won’t admit my mistakes. But much to my surprise, he doesn’t leave in a snit. Instead, he too leans his head against the railing.
‘You’re wearing a qipao.’
I glance down. ‘This green one is Horsey’s favourite.’
‘You’ve been indulgent with Lord Ma all night. And every time you look at Big Wang, you get weepy. It’s like you’ve been saying goodbye to them. Is there something I should know, Jing?’
I think about telling him, but suddenly I don’t want to.
At my silence, he exhales, runs a hand through his hair. ‘I was angry with you, Jing. I felt betrayed because I told you I didn’t want to be vampire and you made me one anyway. To me it felt like you were just bulldozing your way to whatever you wanted, without thought to anyone else.’
‘I’m sorry I hurt you, Tony.’
‘No, it’s me who should be sorry.’ His gaze touches my collarbone, my shoulders.
‘You put everything into keeping me alive, regardless of the cost you have to bear. Witnessing your parents lose their memories, I realised how insensitive I was to suggest how wonderful it would be for you to meet me at the docks after I die.’ He gently takes my hand. ‘Forgive me?’
My vision blurs with tears, so I can’t see his fingers intertwined with mine, but I can feel them. ‘You’re here. You aren’t dead. For that, I’ll forgive you anything.’
‘We’re bound by the threads of Fate,’ he says. ‘The Cosmos will always find us a path to each other.’
I give him a look.
He chuckles. ‘Seeing the red thread of Fate connect your parents gave me confidence that you and I are connected in the same way. Would you like it if I moved to yin Shanghai? Big Wang says I can work full time at the Bank of Hell.’
I bite my lip. ‘There is something I haven’t told you.’
‘What?’
‘I’m moving to Paris.’
‘When? Why?’
‘As soon as I’ve packed up, I guess. A week? It was part of the deal I made.’
Tony stills. ‘What deal?’
‘Mémère would only tell me how to save you if I promised to move to Paris and learn about being a Durand.’
‘Lord Black was right,’ he mutters, shaking his head.
‘What’s that about Lord Black?’
‘He asked me if I knew what price you paid this time to save my life. Your home and everyone you love. You have been saying goodbye.’ He blows out a long breath. ‘You aren’t going to Paris alone. I’m coming with you.’
‘Really?’
‘I’m not letting that Olivier anywhere near you.’ I’m worried he’s mad, but he pecks me on the cheek and laughs lightly. ‘I need to learn about being vampire, too. Besides, Big Wang and your parents tasked me with taking care of you.’
‘When?’
‘I made the promise to Big Wang the last time we were in Turquoise Hills, when he and Lord Black helped heal me. Before we met you, I spoke with your parents and asked for their blessing.’ He smiles sheepishly and holds out a red velvet box.
In it is a ring set with a sparkling pink gem, like the blush of dawn.
‘If you’ll have me, I want to share an eternity of stars and sunrises with you. I want to make your heart sing, I want us to live our best lives together, forever.’
He waits for my answer, hope and fear in his eyes.
My heart flutters. ‘Yes!’ I crush my lips to his and taste sunshine.
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