He trails kisses down my neck, over my bare shoulder. My skin is so sensitised his every touch feels like a brand. I want this, always.
The words aren’t premeditated, they simply slip out. ‘If you became vampire, we could do this forever,’ I whisper.
Tony flinches, pulls away. ‘What did you say?’
‘Just, wouldn’t you like to do this’ – I gesture between us – ‘forever?’
Glancing down, he gently pulls my shirt closed and shifts so he’s sitting on the bed, a buffer of cold air rushes between us.
He takes my hand, his expression sombre but determined. ‘I’m really happy you found your family, truly I am. After the way you were treated growing up, I can imagine how much it means to you.’ I glance down at our hands, now our only point of contact. ‘So long as the Durands treat you well, I will accept them as they are. I will honour them, give them the respect they are due as your elders and your family, all becauseyoucare for them. But, from what I’ve seen, the way they lead their lives is chaotic and cruel. They are driven by lust and hunger. They think nothing of lying to achieve their own ends. You know me well enough to know these are traits I find deeply abhorrent. Jing, I need you to hear me when I sayI never want to be one of them.’
Chaotic, cruel, abhorrent. It takes a moment before I can speak.
When I do, I can’t hide the hurt. ‘How am I any different to them? I hunger for blood, I lust for you. I lie. I manipulate others. I don’t think I’m cruel, but no doubt others will. I am certainly chaotic. Am I also abhorrent to you?’
‘Of course not. I love vampire and hulijingyou. All I’m saying isIdon’t want to be vampire myself. Their lifestyle is not one I would choose.’
‘But—’
A knock at the door interrupts us.
‘Jing? Tony? Are you in there?’ Gigi half sings through the door. ‘My father and Big Wang have both responded. Yue Guewants us downstairs in ten minutes to discuss next steps.’ She rattles the doorknob with a giggle.
Tony gestures for me to answer, so Gigi will think I’m in here alone. Is this not lying? Manipulating? I get to my feet and slowly turn to face Tony, letting my shirt slide off my shoulders and drop to the floor. He swallows before quickly turning his head, squeezing his eyes shut for good measure.
It’s the last bit, the way he shuts his eyes, like that will stop me from being half naked, that makes me see red. What is his hang-up? I grab his hand and put it right on my naked breast.
He makes a strangled sound and snatches his hand away.
The vampires make no apologies for their bodies or their desires. Why do we torture ourselves like this?
‘Mr Lee,’ Gigi calls through the door. ‘We’re counting on you! Make sure Jing is presentable and downstairs in ten, oh wait, nine minutes.’
He clears his throat, stammers, ‘Y-yes, of course.’
Gigi’s answering laugh trails away as her footsteps fade.
In a strained voice he says, ‘Please put on your clothes, Jing. We need to wash and change so we don’t keep the others waiting.’
‘They won’t care.’
His answer is exactly what I expect. I mouth along when he says, ‘But I will.’
Keeping his eyes averted from my nakedness, he slips out of the room without a backwards glance.
After a much-needed wash, I pull on the cornflower-blue robe they provided and knock on Tony’s door so we can head down together. No answer. The rotted coward didn’t wait for me. But, I decide to be magnanimous and head downstairs without throwing a tantrum.
They’re all sitting around the low wooden table waiting for me. Tony sits stiffly, staring at the celadon double-gourd teapot on the table. He doesn’t move or acknowledge my arrival as the others greet me. My brief interlude of zen goes up in flames.
If he’s going to give me the cold shoulder for crossing his line, I can play that game too. My temper is about to stomp me over to the empty chair on the other side of the table when I notice his ears are bright red. I look closer – and his whole face is flushed a delicate pink.
Curious, I saunter over and sit in the empty chair beside him. He still won’t look at me, but I notice his complexion is now bright red, like he’s shoved his head into a brazier. I’ve never seen him so flustered; suddenly I’m not quite so annoyed anymore.
I grab a sugared dough knot from the table and happily munch away while Yue Gui pours us each a cup of tea. ‘Please, enjoy.’
The steam from the tea wafts towards me. The aroma is familiar – a whiff of toasted pecan, a hint of peach, and the sweet crisp scent of mountain streams. I’m sure I’ve had this tea before.
Taking one of the delicate jade green cups, I inhale deeply. The memory comes bubbling to the surface: my coming of age birthday over ten years ago. Big Wang brought out a black cloisonné jar inlaid with crimson dragons matching his tattoos – a beautiful work of art I’d not seen before nor since. With great care he removed the lid and showed me the tea inside. The leaves resembled gilded pine needles. Steeped, they unfurled into gleaming golden leaves. The tea itself glittered when the light hit it just so.
