‘How?’ Tony’s voice is flat but his eyes betray his curiosity.
‘That is something we cannot disclose right now. Such knowledge in the wrong hands would be our undoing. Perhaps in due course, once you’ve proven your loyalty to the house. Binding his abilities is a grave punishment. Max will not earn the right to mist until we are able to trust him again.’
Tony swirls his glass. ‘Another question then. Since Jing turned me, does that make me a Durand?’
Marianne glances at Mémère, uncertain how to answer. Tony turns to Mémère and asks the same thing in French.
‘Yes,’ Mémère says. ‘Normally you would be under Jing’s tutelage. But under the circumstances, I will teach you both.’
‘I see.’
Marianne translates for Jing, who nods.
‘As for Max,’ Mémère continues, ‘the greatest punishment a vampire can receive is to be cast out of House Durand. It is a fate worse than death for a vampire to lose their family. As the heir of House Durand, Jing, and Tony, as the victim of his attacks, you each have a say.’
Once translated, Jing asks, ‘What about La Grande Morte?’
‘That’s not a punishment. For vampires with very long lives, La Grande Morte is a very sacred gift.’
Jing frowns, but says no more.
Marianne says, ‘Then, what are your thoughts? Should Max be cast out?’
‘Yes,’ Jing says, at the same time Tony says, ‘No.’
‘What do you mean,No?’ Jing asks, incredulous.
Tony gazes into his glass as he says, ‘What’s done is done.’
‘Noted,’ Marianne says with a little frown. ‘Jing, what about you?’
Jing doesn’t hear Marianne’s question; her attention is on Tony. ‘That’s it? You’re just going to let him go?’
He sardonically raises his half-empty glass. ‘We’re family now. I don’t want to be burdened by responsibility for someone I couldn’t care less about. But even if we were strangers, to pursue such a punishment, one that is a “fate worse than death”, is neither commensurate nor ethical. Satiating a personal grudge is a pleasure that never lasts; in time I would regret my selfishness.’
Jing looks like she’s swallowed a hornets’ nest. She looks like she wants nothing more than to rip Max de Durand into shreds. But in the end, she says, ‘I agree with Tony.’
Marianne relays their answers. Max is surprised; his gaze darts between Tony and Jing, before settling on the floor.
‘I know this is a lot right now,’ Marianne says, ‘but we also need to make arrangements for our journey to yin Shanghai.’ From the way both of them stiffen, Marianne guesses they’d forgotten amid all the chaos.
‘Firstly, as we’re meeting your grandmother, Jing, and need her cooperation, what kind of gifts would she appreciate?’ Marianne asks.
Jing frowns. ‘She is very vain. Loves pretty things, or more specifically, pretty things that make her even prettier.’
‘That’s what Mémère deduced. She suggests what we’ll call French beauty secrets. Lace lingerie, hose, heels, and cosmetics such as lipstick and powders.’
‘She’ll love lingerie and sexy heels. Anything that will make her ta-tas stand out. No hose, though. Too constricting, she won’t like that. And no make-up either – she’ll think you’re implying she needs it.’
Marianne nods. They should have a third gift. Something special, something daring. She thinks she knows exactly what to bring. She chews her lip. ‘Secondly: the Immortal Express will be ready to leave tomorrow at noon.’ She knows Max doesn’t deserve their mercy, but at the same time... she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she didn’t at least ask. So she squares her shoulders and says, ‘We are most grateful to the Jade Emperor and Yan Luo Wang for all their assistance. We don’t know if we’ll find Papa; and even if we do, we don’t know what condition he’ll be in, or even if he’s still alive. It may be our only chance to say goodbye. I want to ask for your mercy, Jing. Please allow Max to join us.’
Jing’s expression hardens. Marianne thinks she’ll say no. But then she mutters something aboutZijiren, aboutfamily,whether we like it or not.
‘What do you think, Tony?’ Jing says, her tone light. ‘I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.’ As soon as the words are out of her mouth, she blanches, knowing she misspoke.
‘Perhaps you should have thought about thatbefore.’ Tony regards her with an icy glare, tips his glass, as if toasting her, then drains it. ‘Let Max come. Right and wrong exists and I won’t let someone I care little about corrupt my world view.’
Jing swallows. ‘He can come, but if he misbehaves, he goes straight back to France.’
