Free Autumn Moon by Karen Michelle Nutt Page B

said he needed to teach her how to ward off Heng?
    “That’s it. I want to know what is going on.” She marched over to the door, as it swung open. Jairec’s right eyebrow rose as if he suspected she’d been eavesdropping. She wished she’d thought of it sooner. Her eyes caught sight of her grandfather’s wrapped hand.
    “What happened?” She eyed Jairec then her grandfather.
    “It is nothing, Autumn. I cut myself is all.”
    She didn’t believe him. She looked at Jairec, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze.
    “Fine, whatever.” She threw up her hands.
    “You have other things to worry about,” Chin reprimanded. “You need to pack these.” He handed her two bottles, a box of bullets, and a wood stake.
    “What are these for?”
    “The wood stake through the heart will immobilize a chiang-shih and the copper dipped bullets will kill a white haired one.”
    “And what’s in the bottles?”
    “Lighter fluid and salt, of course.”
    Autumn blinked thinking her grandfather had gone mad. “What do we need those for?”
    “We must make sure Loann doesn’t rise. Heng will want an army behind him. He must have his strength back. If we don’t stop him, we’ll have a parade tonight all right only it will be a parade of the damned.”
    “Grandfather, this is Loann we’re talking about.”
    “Loann is gone. What will rise will be a minion with no more personality than a zombie bent on killing. Loann’s throat was ripped out insuring death of the human spirit. There will be no communicating with her. What will rise will be a puppet to do Heng’s bidding.”
    “I don’t understand. Jairec isn’t like that. We could help her adjust—”
    “Stop.” Her grandfather held up his hand. “I saw Loann. There isn’t a ritual to keep her one soul earth bound. The separation was complete, severed without a chance to change her fate. Heng will raise her and he will control her.”
    She shook her head. “What are we suppose to do with the stake and the bottle. Am I to drench her then stake her?”
    “We’re going to burn the body,” her grandfather told her as he swept past her.
    Chapter Seventeen
     
    They took the long way around, avoiding the traffic from the festival. San Francisco’s hills were brutal with its steep inclines. Chin and Autumn walked the hills with ease. Jairec was surprised he could keep up with them. A few days ago, he wasn’t so sure he could have, but in his preternatural state, he was much stronger.
    Chin pointed out places of interest as they headed for Jackson Street. Jairec assumed it was a ploy to take their minds off what they intended to do.
    “The Chinese Hospital was built in 1925 to replace the Tung Wah Dispensary that was destroyed in the earthquake. You know about the 1906 earthquake, don’t you?” He looked back at Jairec.
    “I believe I’ve heard of the disaster.”
    “Did you know the hospital is the first and only Chinese hospital in America?
    “No, I don’t believe I knew that, sir.”
    “Bruce Lee was born there, too.”
    Autumn pulled on Chin’s arm. “Grandfather, we’re not on a tour of Chinatown or have you forgotten we’re on our way to burn Loann’s body?”
    He shrugged. “Just making conversation.”
    Jairec slipped his hand in Autumn’s. “It’s okay. I was on holiday before this all happened. I didn’t even have the chance to see the Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz.”
    “Too bad, chiang-shih.” Chin shook his head. “They are both a sight to see, but being what you are, you can’t cross a body of water.”
    Autumn frowned and gripped Jairec’s hand tighter. He patted her hand. He’d come to terms with what he was, but he feared she hadn’t.
    They entered the hospital through the front. Sometimes hiding in plain sight was the best course. They looked like they knew what they were doing and where they were headed. No one asked any questions.
    They entered the room where Loann had been placed; awaiting an autopsy as if the ripped out throat