Jennifer didn’t say anything. She hugged Colin, still unconscious, to her and pulled Andrew closer on the sofa.
‘What’s her problem?’ the opal said.
‘Stop it!’ Jennifer whispered ferociously. ‘Go away!’
The boys began to come around. Colin whimpered and Jennifer held him tighter. Andrew’s eyes opened and he looked around, then buried his face in his mother’s sweater.
‘I think it would be a good idea if you people were to leave us alone for a while,’ my father said grimly, moving around the couch to sit next to Jennifer.
John nodded without saying a word, and all the Shen disappeared. John turned and went down the hall to his study. Leo took Simone’s hand and led her out as well.
‘Well, here we are, all three sisters in one place — first time in years,’ I said with forced cheerfulness.
Everybody ignored me.
‘I’m in Hong Kong?’ Jennifer said.
Everybody nodded.
‘The Tiger will take you to the Western Palace tomorrow,’ I said. ‘You’ll need some time to rest from this trip before he does. How do you feel?’
Jennifer stared at me and didn’t say anything.
‘Okay,’ I whispered.
‘This is all your fault,’ she finally said, glaring at me.
‘I know,’ I said, running my hands through my hair. ‘I’m so sorry, guys. I’ve completely screwed up your lives.’
‘Stupid bitch,’ Jennifer said and turned away.
I didn’t know what to say.
Amanda’s son Mark threw himself at me. ‘Teach me some kung fu! I wanna learn!’
Everybody was completely silent.
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea right now, sweetheart,’ I whispered.
Jade appeared in True Form on the other side of the room with the bags, and collapsed. I ran to her, ignoring the shrieks of fear from my nephews; she was bleeding, her scales ripped in many places. One of her front legs was obviously broken.
She attempted to rise, looking around. ‘I did make it,’ she said. ‘I thought I’d made it. They were so fast . . .’ Her voice trailed off and she fell heavily.
‘John!’ I screamed.
John and Leo raced into the room, Simone hurrying behind them. John crouched to examine Jade. My parents hovered behind him.
‘Is this Jade? The girl?’ my mother said.
‘Yes,’ John said, placing his hand on Jade’s head. He concentrated, and the Blue Dragon appeared next to him in his usual human form.
‘Out of the way,’ the Dragon said, quickly moving to Jade’s side and putting both hands on her head. Everybody retreated to give him room.
The Dragon concentrated, and his long turquoise hair floated around his head. ‘I’m taking her home,’ he said softly. ‘She needs to be under the water. This will take a while. My Lord?’
‘How long?’ John said.
‘I’ll still be able to return tomorrow to take the Lady’s family West,’ the Dragon said. ‘Jade will need to recuperate for a few weeks. She has massive internal injuries, far too much for any energy worker to handle. Leave her with me.’
‘Go,’ John said, and both Jade and the Dragon disappeared.
I flopped to sit next to the bloodstains on the carpet. I lowered my head and shook it. ‘Damn.’
‘This is all your fault,’ Jennifer said loudly from the couch.
I jumped up and stormed to the spare room where I was staying. Gold was still in the bed, his boyish face peaceful as he slept. I sat on the floor next to his head with my back against the wall and buried my face in my knees.
About five minutes later, John came in and sat cross-legged on the floor on the other side of the room. He rubbed his hand over his face, sighed, and tied his hair back.
‘No one should be suffering like this for me,’ I said into my knees. ‘I’m dragging my entire family away from their homes. Gold and Jade nearly died. I can’t do this to them any more.’
‘Gold, you are released,’ John said loudly. ‘You have your freedom. Go.’
‘You can’t release him,’ I said. ‘He told me only the Jade Emperor can release him.’
‘I am the First Officer, Highest Celestial General,’ John said. ‘In precedence I am second only to the Celestial himself. If I say Gold is free, then he’s free.’
Right Hand of the Jade Emperor. I inhaled sharply as I understood. ‘But you said that as your chosen, after you’ve gone I’ll be accepted as . . .’
‘Precisely,’ John said. ‘As my equal. Over everybody.’ He spoke firmly. ‘You’re free, Gold. Go.’
Gold didn’t move. ‘No.’
‘Why not,’ John said, and it wasn’t a question.
‘Because I love serving you,’ Gold whispered. ‘I will go if you order me, but I beg you, please, let me stay.’
My father came in and closed the door softly behind him. He hesitated.
‘Brendan,’ John said, still seated on the floor, ‘do you blame Emma for all of the troubles we are having right now?’
‘No,’ my father said. ‘I blame you.’
‘Good,’ John said. ‘You’ve laid the blame in the right place. Does it make any difference, now that the blame has been laid?’
‘Not a bit,’ my father said. ‘We’re still in the same situation, and we’ll all make it through somehow.’ He leaned on the wall. ‘Don’t mind Jen, Emma, she’ll survive. Right now her kids are fighting with Amanda’s for rides on the Tiger. They’re having a great time. Don’t worry about them.’
‘Jade nearly died,’ I whispered.
‘And if I attempted to free her, she would stay as well,’ John said.
‘We all love you, my Lady,’ Gold said, still without moving. ‘We are profoundly honoured to serve you and the Dark Lord. I would rather be here with you than anywhere else in the world, and so would Jade.’
‘We do what we have to,’ my father said. ‘And we survive.’
‘Your father is a very wise man, and I can see where you gained much of your own wisdom.’ John looked up at my father. ‘No snake spirits in the family tree?’
My father shrugged. ‘How would I know? Until a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t even know that snake spirits existed. What does that have to do with it?’
‘Snake spirits are renowned for their wisdom,’ I said into my knees.
‘Are they renowned for falling in love with the wrong guy?’ my father said.
‘Nope,’ I said, smiling despite myself, ‘that’s definitely a female thing. All women are renowned for falling in love with the wrong guy.’
‘Your mother didn’t,’ John said.
‘I don’t think you did either, pet,’ my father said. ‘This man is about as good as you can get. It’s just the situation that’s difficult.’
‘Thanks,’ John said softly.
‘Come and help with the kids,’ my father said. ‘Are all the sleeping arrangements