Earth to Hell. Kylie Chan

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       CHAPTER 5

      Evening was falling and the sky behind the beach was a flame of sunset colours. Over the ocean the sky was darker, and Venus already shone. The waves crashed and the warm breeze ruffled my hair as I walked on the soft sand, thinking.

      I looked up and froze. A dark shape, alone on the beach. Hair lifted by the wind. Watching the waves.

      It was him.

      I didn’t run. I continued to walk towards him, and saw him clearly as I neared. He watched the ocean with longing.

      When I was close enough he turned to me and smiled slightly, his noble features serene. His hair wasn’t tied back and it flew around him in the breeze. He wore his plain black pants and jacket, and his feet were bare.

      I approached him carefully and stopped next to him. He smiled down at me. He reached out and ran his fingertips over my face, and I closed my eyes. His hand came around the back of my neck and pulled me closer and his lips met mine. I delicately held him, unwilling to grip him too hard because he might disappear. The wind changed and his hair wrapped around us, clinging to both of us.

      He pulled back and gazed into my eyes. ‘Who are you?’

      ‘I’m your Serpent,’ I whispered.

      ‘No, you aren’t.’ He turned to the ocean and gestured. ‘My Serpent is out there.’

      I turned to see, his hand still behind my neck. The Serpent raised its head in the water out past the breakers. It was enormous; it must have been more than twenty metres long, a black shadow against the darkening sky.

      He smiled down at me again. ‘I think I know you.’

      ‘Emma.’

      He tasted the name. ‘Emma.’

      ‘Xuan Wu,’ I said. ‘John.’

      Something changed in his eyes. ‘Hello, Emma.’

      I ran my fingers over his face. I floated my fingertips along his throat, revelling in the silken skin. ‘Hello, John.’

      ‘How long have I been gone?’

      ‘Eight years.’

      ‘You haven’t changed at all.’

      ‘Are you ready to return, John?’

      He looked out at the surf. ‘My Serpent is there.’

      ‘You haven’t rejoined,’ I said. ‘You’re still in two pieces.’

      He sagged so slightly it was almost undetectable. ‘It hurts.’

      ‘I know it hurts, love. Go to it.’

      He glanced down at me. ‘But then I would leave you alone. You and …’ His face went strange.

      ‘Simone,’ I said.

      He jerked as if he had been hit, grimacing with pain. He spun and ran to the surf. When he reached the water he changed into the Turtle and pulled himself into the waves.

      I watched him go without moving.

      Then I woke up.

      I shook my hands with frustration as I tried to push them into the voluminous sleeves of the Tang-style robe. Mr Li had made it out of black silk with gold chrysanthemums, which somehow seemed to have become my signature fabric. The sleeves were wider than they were long, probably about a metre wide, and designed to hide a noblewoman’s hands as she never needed to use them; servants should do everything for her. Maybe I should have let Jade come into the changing room with me to help after all. I finally found the openings, then quietly cursed as I drew the belt around the robe.

      Gold’s child appeared at eye level next to the mirror. ‘Aunty Jade says hurry up.’

      ‘You should not be in here,’ I said. ‘This is a changing room.’

      The stone grew two long appendages and pretended to cover its nonexistent eyes. ‘Can’t see anything, Lady Emma.’

      ‘I’m done,’ I said, and raised my arms to the sides. Now that I had the robe on, the sleeves added to the volume of the kimono-style dress, making it elegant and flowing. Unfortunately the style didn’t suit me at all and I looked ridiculous. My more generous Western shape made me appear fat and my breasts made the front opening bulge out. I looked awful.

      I sighed and walked out of the change room. Jade and her three children were waiting for me next to the cushioned seats. The children were in dragon form, chasing each other around the waiting area, but Jade was in human form and wearing a robe similar to mine with willowy elegance.