‘So you created the outpost.’
‘Yes. And the fulu. By then you were in your teens. Your temper was prodigious.’
‘Understatement of the century.’
This elicits a soft chuckle. ‘By then I knew there was an entire community in Paris, but you were unpredictable and stubborn, only hearing what you wanted to hear and acting on whatever thought came into your head, no matter the consequences. We were constantly at odds; I worried that if I told you about them, the next time you had a tantrum you might well run away. I couldn’t bear the thought, so I kept putting it off. I told myself:When she’s older. She’s not ready yet.
‘I sent you to anger management lessons to prepare for that day because I was convinced you’d hate me for keeping you in the dark. Years turned into decades; before I knew it you came of age. There was no reason now not to tell you; but I kept putting it off. My justifications were weak even to my own ears. A great rock would settle in my throat, stopper my words, when I tried to tell you about the vampires.’ His voice breaks. ‘Your train would not have been hijacked if I’d told you about them. If I’d sent the North Wind Division like I’d planned. If I hadn’t been a coward. What did they want from you? Were they...’ he pauses, his voice barely audible. ‘Were they kind to you?’
I blow out a long breath. He was right not to tell me when I was a teen; now at least I recognise when I make bad life choices, back then I had no such awareness and simply followed my impulses come what may. His words return to me:When making decisions to protect someone, it’s not always clear if the path is the right one. You can only hope for the best.
Big Wang tried his best; I can’t ask for more than that.
‘Don’t blame yourself. They weren’t looking for me at all. I’ll explain, but you have to promise to listen calmly until I’m finished.’
Big Wang doesn’t reply.
‘Silence means consent, okay? There are two things you need to know. The first is that the train wasn’t exactly diverted... the vampires hijacked it – REMEMBER YOUR PROMISE!’ I shout over the noise at the other end. When it quiets down again, I continue. ‘They were after Gigi, to petition her for help in overturning the Jade Emperor’s ban on vampires. House Durand believes one of theirs went missing in the Middle Kingdom about a hundred years ago.’
‘Mmmgh,’ he says.
‘The second thing you should know is that the missing vampire is my father.’
Another long silence as Big Wang fits the pieces of my past together. ‘The vampires in Paris, the Durands... they are your family?’
‘Yes.’
More noise on his end, crinkling paper. ‘I’m reading Yue Gui’s report,’ he says, voice gruff.
‘It’s an exciting story. Let me know when you’ve gotten to the part where the Durand matriarch rips off her chevalier’s head,’ I joke. ‘I should write my memoirs. It’ll be a great riposte to that Bram Stoker’s mean-spirited account.’
‘Do not leave the Manor!’ Big Wang bellows down the line.
It’s so loud and sudden, I nearly fall off my stool.Shit sticks,I’m clearly not as funny as I think. There’s a deafeningscuff scuff bang scuffon Big Wang’s side of the line. It sounds like he’s simultaneously scraping cardboard over the mouthpiece and throwing rocks at it. Raised voices in the background are followed by Big Wang’s muffled bellow,Lord Ma! Lord Nioh! Come now, immediately, at once!
‘Big Wang! It was a joke!’ I try to get his attention, but he’s too busy shouting.
More scuffing and banging, then Big Wang says, voice no longer muffled, ‘Do not leave until Lord Nioh and Lord Ma arrive. I will contact my colleagues from the Convention of Immortals to arrange a security force—’
‘Stop! Big Wang, please, stop! I was joking! JOKING! I didn’t mean to scare you. Mémère has no intention of harming me. You should have seen her – all she did was weep and pat my hand.’
The background noise quietens. ‘Little Jing, how can you be certain you are not in danger? You said this woman ripped the head off one of her own!’
Shame makes my voice tremble. ‘She did it because I asked.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I-I didn’t know my words would cost him his life. I demanded recompense for Gigi and Ah Lang’s injuries.’ Big Wang’s silence tells me he’s not convinced, so I try again. ‘If I were not who I am to her, then you’d be right. But you need to understand how much she loves her son – my father – and how much guilt she carries over his disappearance. Her last living link to him isme; I’m pretty sure the others will all agree with my assessment that she would rather die than see me harmed.’
Big Wang’s exhale triggers my own sigh of relief. Another round of scuffing and bangingis followed by a shout ofStand down. Return to your posts.I think the noise must be Big Wang’s rings knocking against the mouthpiece.
His voice crackles down the line. ‘I trust your judgement, Little Jing. I’m happy for you. Contain my selfishness. I should have gone to meet them when I discovered there were vampires in Paris. I should have asked them why they came to the Middle Kingdom instead of assuming they came to hurt you. You might have had a loving family growing up.’
His voice is so heavy my chest hurts. ‘Big Wang, I already have a loving family.’
‘Oh.’
It’s only one sound, not even a word, but it carries so much – surprise, pleasure, even a hint of bashfulness. I smile and keep talking, so he doesn’t have to be embarrassed. ‘I do want to find out more about my heritage and it’s as if the Cosmos is showing me a Way. I am fortunate to have this chance.’
