Earth to Hell. Kylie Chan

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ skirted the edge of the water. The villas were two storeys high and had traditional Chinese roofs with white tiles. The fencing around their gardens also had a small tile roof with decorative fan-shaped, square and circular windows cut in them.

      ‘Leo’s cell is the second one,’ the demon said.

      ‘Tell me that you see these as luxurious houses,’ I said to Simone and Michael.

      Simone nodded.

      ‘Yep,’ Michael said. ‘If this is Hell, then to hell with Heaven.’

      ‘This is the tenth level, Celestial side of Hell,’ Meredith said over her shoulder as she walked down the stairs in front of us. ‘Not all of Hell is this pretty, believe me.’

      The sky was still the same; just a universal warm, white glow. It was bright enough that it seemed to be the middle of the day but completely without glare. We reached ground level and walked along the white path towards the villas. People sat on the grass and strolled on the pathway, all of them seeming happy and relaxed. A couple waved to Meredith and she waved back.

      ‘Don’t ask, because we cannot tell you,’ the official said before I could speak. ‘You are here to collect your Retainer. Please convince him to take the Elixir and fulfil his destiny. It saddens all of us to see him like this.’

      As we approached the villas we saw Leo. He was sitting in a wheelchair on the path outside the second house, watching the water.

      ‘Leo!’ Simone called, and raced to him. He looked up and saw her but his dark face was expressionless. When she reached him, she crouched to throw her arms around his neck and held him.

      Michael put his arms around Leo’s neck from behind and rested his cheek on the top of Leo’s head. I crouched next to the chair and held his arm.

      Meredith stood back, letting the family have its moment.

      ‘God, Simone, you’ve grown up so beautiful,’ Leo choked. His restraint dissolved and he smiled up through his tears at Michael. ‘You’re a fine young man.’ His smile turned wry. ‘Hey, Emma, you guys don’t know how long I’ve hoped you’d come and visit me.’

      ‘They wouldn’t let us,’ I said. ‘I’ve been fighting the Celestial bureaucracy for eight years to let us down here.’

      Simone raised her head so she could see into his face. ‘Come home with us, Leo, we need you.’

      Leo gestured slightly with one hand. ‘No, you don’t, beautiful. I can see that you can look after yourself just fine.’

      She traced his cheek where the tears fell. ‘I miss you so much, Leo, please come home.’

      Michael spoke to the top of Leo’s head. ‘Come home, old man, back where you belong.’

      Leo shook his head. ‘I’ve been hoping for so long that I’d see you all again. They kept telling me to take the Elixir and go back.’ He sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. ‘Emma, can I talk to you alone?’

      ‘Whatever you want to say, you can say in front of all of us, dear Leo,’ Simone said gently. ‘Don’t worry, I understand. You loved Daddy. But we love you.’

      Michael placed one hand on Leo’s shoulder. ‘You’re more of a father to me than the Tiger ever was.’

      Simone put her head on Leo’s lap and spoke softly. ‘We need you.’

      Leo stroked Simone’s hair. ‘Please let me talk to Emma alone.’

      Michael straightened. ‘Come on, Simone, let’s go skip stones or something.’

      Simone glared at him. ‘I’m not a little kid, Michael.’ She smiled up at Leo. ‘Okay, you talk to Emma, and then we’re taking you home.’

      Leo waited until Simone and Michael were out of earshot. ‘Let’s go inside.’

      He grasped the wheels of his chair to wheel himself inside, but I moved to the rear of the chair and took the handles. I wheeled him past his two demon guards into his villa.

      I sat on the rosewood couch and he sat in his wheelchair facing me, fidgeting in his lap. I waited for him to start, but he didn’t say anything. Eventually I said, ‘I know you’ve been asking to die for eight years, Leo.’

      He sighed and tilted his head without looking up. ‘That’s all I want, Emma. An end to it. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.’

      ‘There’s no way we can convince you to come back with us?’

      He just shrugged.

      ‘Simone and Michael need you.’

      He smiled slightly. ‘They’re already grown-up, look at them. What do they need me for?’ He gestured towards his legs. ‘I’m useless.’

      ‘Immortals can fly; you could probably learn to levitate, or even make use of your legs. Iron Crutch doesn’t have to take the form of a cripple all the time, and probably neither would you, unless you chose to.’

      Leo bowed his head. ‘A cripple.’

      I raised my hands. ‘Disabled. Disabled. Geez.’

      He rubbed his hand over his face again. ‘No, you’re right, Emma, I’m a cripple. And here you are, wanting to sentence me to an eternity of being like this and pining after him?’ He heaved a deep sigh. ‘No, thanks. Go and wait for him, and when he comes back for you, be happy together. Simone and Michael are grown-up now. None of you need me. Please. Let me go.’

      I hesitated, then dealt my trump card. ‘I know what you want more than death, because I want it too.’

      He looked away.

      ‘I want to be his Serpent, Leo. I want to join with him when he comes back, be one with him. I want him to absorb me.’ I reached out and touched his hand. ‘And I know you want him to absorb you too. It’s what you asked him to do when you thought you were going to die.’

      He still didn’t look at me.

      ‘What if you had the chance to be drained by him?’

      His head shot up so he could see me.

      ‘Be one with him forever?’ I went on. ‘I know that’s what I want. I’m sure you want it too. Would you wait for him to come back, to have that chance?’

      ‘That would be wrong, Emma. He loves you.’

      ‘He loves you too, Leo, and I’m sure he’d be merciful enough to do this for you.’ I smiled and shrugged. ‘My husband and my best friend in one gorgeous package. How could I lose?’

      He chuckled. ‘That sounds so wrong.’

      ‘Shen only seem to follow human rules when it suits them.’ I held his hand tighter. ‘So what do you say? Come home with us and spend the time with us, your family, until he returns. Simone’s only fourteen and has a lot of growing to do. Michael could really use your advice; he isn’t on speaking terms with his father. They really do need you, and СКАЧАТЬ