Free Heaven to Wudang by Kylie Chan Page A

can’t give me to them — that goes against everything both of you stand for. You keep humans safe from demons; you don’t hand them over for the demons to play with.’
    I was silent at that. She was right. I pulled myself together. ‘Name your terms.’
    â€˜You’ve agreed to give me to the King. He’s already paid for me. But if he’s destroyed, you don’t need to pay the price.’
    â€˜The last thing we need right now is a civil war in Hell,’ I said. ‘He may be a two-faced bastard, but at least he doesn’t create demons that are self-aware, think they’re human and are programmed to turn — like the ones your friend the Death Mother is making. Such things are cruel beyond belief.’
    â€˜Not my doing,’ Kitty said. ‘I’m only after Immortality; I don’t want to destroy anybody. I’ve never hurt your students. I’ve stayed quietly in my corner doing my stuff. It’s not my fault that I scare the living shit out of the King.’
    â€˜You’re nice and humble now your little posse’s gone,’ I said.
    â€˜Destroy the King and I’ll set up a replacement. I have one ready to go; he’s intelligent, powerful and does what I tell him. Do this for me and I’ll put a King on the throne who will never bother you again. You’ll no longer have the forces of Hell breathing down your neck, killing your Celestials and harming your little human students.’
    â€˜You want to set a puppet on the throne of Hell?’ I said.
    She gestured with impatience. ‘I don’t want to rule Hell. I just want to be left alone to succeed with my Immortality and then live my life in peace! I’ve never wanted any of you dead; I just want to be left alone.’
    â€˜Gloria Ho,’ I said. ‘Andy Ho. The Death Mother. Before that, Six, and the Geek, and Simon Wong. Don’t tell me you won’t try to kill us, Kitty; you and your friends haven’t stopped trying. You’ve been the leader of this all along, so don’t play the innocent. You want to put a puppet on the throne of Hell and then try to take over the Earthly Plane as well.’
    She raised her arms to the side. ‘This is a waste of time. Get me out.’
    The two bodyguards transformed into humanoid demons with black scales and tusks. All three of them disappeared.
    â€˜Whoa!’ Simone said. ‘They were demons? I saw them as human.’
    â€˜Me too,’ Leo said, and Michael nodded agreement.
    â€˜Did you see them as demons or human, John?’I said, turning to see him, but he’d disappeared. ‘Is he all right, Simone?’
    â€˜Daddy went back to the Grotto,’ Simone said. ‘He seemed totally confused by the whole thing.’
    â€˜It was strange my sword didn’t come to me,’ I said. ‘Kitty must have been blocking it somehow, which is very disturbing.’ I raised my hand and summoned the sword and it still didn’t come. ‘Are you having the same problem?’
    Simone raised her hand and Dark Heavens appeared in it. She dismissed it. ‘I have no trouble calling my sword.’
    â€˜You haven’t called the Murasame since you lost your demon essence,’ Leo said.
    â€˜You’re right,’ I said. ‘Maybe it doesn’t serve me any more. Maybe it went back to the King?’
    â€˜After this, we’ll head back to the Mountain and ask Miss Chen,’ Simone said. She ran her hands through her hair and fluffed it out over her shoulders. ‘Let’s go upstairs and raise some money for these poor kids.’

CHAPTER 5
    W e made our way back up in the lift to the floor above. The speeches had started, and we slipped in at the back to watch. Michael nodded to Leo, then went to the side table and grabbed a tray of drinks for us.
    About halfway through David’s welcoming speech, a deep vibration thrummed through the floor beneath