Free Scale-Bright by Benjanun Sriduangkaew Page A

offer."
    "My wife considered that, but apparently it'd need to know what went into the brew, whether the memory was blocked or outright erased, and how much. You alone would be privy to that." Houyi frowns at the streaks of gore on her clothes. She'd need to remove them before she sees Julienne again. Her niece has never seen her kill; best to keep it that way. "Unfortunately."
    "I can't believe how arrogant you are when you're asking for my help."
    "I'm astounded at your ill manner when it's evident you want something from me. It can hardly be concern for Julienne that drove you here. Appalling though it is, we've something the other requires."
    The viper's jaw tightens. "Among immortals Lady Chang'e is said to be one of the most beautiful. Why hasn't she divorced you yet? What does she see in you?"
    "The simplicity of frankness." Houyi is well aware that she isn't always frank: but that is for another time. "Not that your species values such a quality."
    "You insufferable—" Another reptilian noise. "Very well. I can try to reverse what I did. But before we get to that, I want to know if you've given the monk your blessings."
    "Should I want to hunt you down, I'd do it myself. Why?"
    "Nothing. Let me see Julienne. I'll have to do it in person."
    Houyi holds out her hand.
    Olivia looks at it as though it is a consecrated blade. "Just tell me where she is."
    "You'll have to forgive my discourtesy when I say that I don't trust you to be alone with her. The sooner this is done the better, and you cannot move through the mortal world as I do."
    The demon inhales sharply, taking her hand, and the park falls away.
     
    * * *
    They reappear in a hotel corridor that Xiaoqing knows well. Not the exact floor corresponding to the one she inhabits back in banbuduo, but the layout is identical.
    When she stumbles the archer keeps hold of her, balancing her weight in one hand. She jerks away and leans against the wall, forehead against wood paneling, gasping as her bones and stomach resettle. This method of travel must surely kill a human.
    Houyi is murmuring into her phone, a black bar sheathed in aluminum. Somewhere between there and here her clothes have become immaculate, not even a drop left to mark the bird boy's passing. "Seung Ngo and Julienne will be back shortly."
    The archer lapses into silence, evidently not one for small talk. In spite of herself Xiaoqing supposes she understands what Lady Chang'e might find appealing about this creature, in body if not in personality: a frame tall and muscle-taut, a ruthlessness of being. It still doesn't seem a good basis for a relationship eons-long.
    The lift opens, and at the sight of Julienne the knit of Xiaoqing's thoughts frays apart. The girl gives her an uncertain smile. "Do I know you?"
    "This is Olivia Ching," Houyi says. "She can help you."
    "I didn't know you had a therapist friend." She turns to Xiaoqing. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to talk over you, Ms. Ching. I'm Julienne Lau."
    Lady Chang'e gives Xiaoqing a direct, searching look. The rumors are true: she is lovely, a chiseled face and skin like dawn-touched pearl. Xiaoqing keeps her eyes demurely downcast. By all accounts Chang'e is easier to appease than her wife, though next to the archer a stone would be sweet and tender
    Xiaoqing kneels before Julienne, and wishes for nothing more than to put her head in the mortal's lap and whisper, My dreams have been full of you. I couldn't stop thinking of the girl who took me into her arms. I... "I'm going to need to touch you," she says, "and this might be uncomfortable."
    Julienne smiles, uneasily fussing with her hair.
    Laying her hand on the girl's belly, she searches for the fleck of ground scale that she added to the tisane. As a piece of her it answers immediately, passing through stomach lining and flesh and skin: no larger than a grain, glinting wet and green.
    Julienne leaps to her feet, gagging. The bathroom door doesn't close in time to shut out the noise of her vomiting.