Leander hesitated, not sure he should give the police information without some legal counsel.However, Auntie Daiyu narrowed her eyes, and he decided he was more afraid of her than the law.“The Americans were seeking something my wife left with me,” he said slowly.Referring to Tecca as his wife left him with a bitter taste in his mouth, but he didn’t want to give Chinese officials too much information..
Auntie Daiyu’s eyebrows rose.“Were they so determined to get this object back?Why?”
“I don’t understand their motives for any of this,” Leander said, although that was half a lie.He suspected Shanlin had seen something that could damage Druwolf badly, but a child should not carry the burden of doing an adult's job.The American police could either get evidence against Druwolf themselves or they could accept that people like Druwolf would always exist as long as the American government turned magic users into virtual slaves.
“Where is your wife?”the police commander asked.
Leander shied away from the word commander.He didn't know the official rank this officer held, and he did not want to create another permanent flaw in his Chinese.It was bad enough that for the rest of his life he’d have to mentally swap father-in-law for adopted father.He didn’t want to create more errors.
Before Leander could answer, Auntie Daiyu spoke.“She is dead, which is why Boon Lian returned to us with his son.His grandmother was a great fool, falling in love with blue eyes and pale skin, and her son was a greater fool who knew nothing of responsibility.I am only grateful that when life became difficult and the American government intolerable, Boon Lian returned to his true family.However, this is family business, and you are not family.”She glared at the officer before offering Leander a smile.He so wished that story were true and that this was his family–his true family.
The officer turned a startled look toward Leander.Leander had a few features of some Asian ancestors.His eyes were a little narrower than most.His hair was the silky black so common in this country.But European features dominated his face, so he was not surprised that the officer seemed doubtful of his supposed genealogy.
“Very well.How did the Americans die?”the officer asked.He didn’t take out a notebook, which implied this interview was being recorded.
Leander turned to Auntie Daiyu to see if he could get some clear signal on whether or not he should answer.
She rolled her eyes.“This is not America where you can keep your silence, nor is this America where you will be condemned for using magic.”
“He's a magic user?”The officer sounded alarmed.
Auntie Daiyu chuckled.“Indeed he is.Too much western blood means the magic is somewhat restricted, but it is powerful nonetheless.Family magic breeds true.”
The officer's eyes were wide as he considered Leander with something that appeared frighteningly close to respect.
“The Chinese government will not target a Chinese citizen for defending himself against outsiders,” Auntie Daiyu said firmly.As far as Leander knew, he was not a Chinese citizen, but he was also beginning to suspect that Auntie Daiyu was far better at lying than he’d anticipated.
“We had a strange compulsion to turn down an alley even though in hindsight it made no sense.When we entered the warehouse, three people appeared.”Leander described the conflict, carefully editing out any of Xi’s contributions.Perhaps Auntie Daiyu would lie about his mysterious Chinese grandmother because Leander was valuable and connected to the Nie family.She wouldn’t extend that protection to Xi as well.
When he finished telling the story of using Cadell's peanut allergy to kill him, the officer had grown quite pale.
Auntie Daiyu cackled.“Great fools always believe they are more powerful than they are.Good for you.”She leaned forward and patted his arm as though congratulating him for excelling at killing.
“Now that you know what happened, will you tell me whether Nie Heng is okay?”Leander desperately wanted to know that his past hadn’t cost Heng his life, and no one was talking to him.
“Nie Heng is well into his second stage of core formation.His qi is like a boiled egg, and that makes him far more durable than someone who has not fully completed the body foundation stage,” Auntie Daiyu said.“He will be fine.”
The fear that had been gnawing at Leander's heart eased.“And Huang Min?”
Auntie Daiyu’s expression turned predatory.“She willnotbe fine once we find her.The Nie family has announced their intent to hire assassins.She attempted to kill their second son, which might have severed their relationship to their only grandchild and heir.They are quite wroth, especially because Heng has never been shy about his intention to commit himself to the school rather than a family.Her actions were those of a fool.”
Leander was shocked, and he expected the police officer to react to such an overt threat, but he didn’t bat an eye.Apparently, the magical community was allowed to kill each other.That did not make Leander feel safe.“If Min cared for Heng, why didn’t she stay in the school with Heng?”That part didn’t make sense, which made Leander suspect that he wasn’t understanding some cultural rule.
Auntie Daiyu clucked at him as if he were a particularly stupid child.Leander resented the gesture, but he couldn't deny that when it came to magical China, he felt clueless.
“Heng hopes for immortal ascension.That requires letting go of not only physical needs but emotional attachments.He never would have started a family with her.But she did not understand that.She believed that longing would bring him to her side once she left the school.”
Before this, Leander had thought the Chinese had avoided being poisoned by stories like Romeo and Juliet and the weird belief that love would overcome all.“You knew?”he asked Auntie Daiyu.“You knew that she felt that way?”
She shrugged.“I knew she was a foolish young woman who longed for a handsome man.I also knew that she was never going to have the husband or the children or a place in the Nie home she desired.But knowing all of that does not mean that I knew she would kill in pursuit of her ridiculous dream.”
“So did she kill the pill master?”While that was the most logical explanation, Leander had seen Druwolf frame enough people to distrust easy answers.
“Likely,” Auntie Daiyu said.“He was a cruel man, but not a stupid one.The moment he realized what poison had been used to try to kill you, he would have questioned her involvement.If the Nies ask their assassin to learn the truth, then we shall know.Assassins are rather well-trained at obtaining truths, but that would require an additional fee.They may simply want her dead.”
Leander blinked at the idea of the amiable Nie Xiaobo or the motherly Nie Huiling hiring an assassin to torture information out of someone.It reminded Leander that people were rarely simple creatures.No one shared their real feelings or showed their true motives, so he should not expect the Nies to be better than any other human on the planet.
“We’re leaving now,” Auntie Daiyu said.The police officer opened his mouth, likely to protest, but she stood and poked a finger in his direction, a very rude gesture which she followed up with a noise like one might make when scolding a dog.“Lian has been held for three days, and you have benefited from his impressive control over magic.Most of those with his talents would have turned magic against you.But perhaps you do not understand how gracious he has been.Tell me, what magic user can control the essence of plants and animals?”
