Page 106 of Night's Reckoning
There was silence. A minor protest from Kadek, but she heard his footsteps departing and the door opened and closed.
“Tell me.”
“Zhang did it.”
He answered with a string of low curses. “Your father gives nothing without price,” Cheng said. “What did you have to promise?”
“To continue being his daughter.” She wiped a hand over her eyes. “Cheng, tell me what happened after I left.”
“It was Johari. She is gone. I cannot tell you where. By the time we put everything together after you flew away, my men couldn’t find any trace of her.”
“She has the sword.”
His eyes narrowed. “Are you sure?”
“Ben told me. They found it. She was waiting for the opportunity. She took it and tried to kill him.”
“Did she?”
It was a fair question. If she had wanted Ben dead, she could have slashed his neck. She could have cut the hoses that let him breathe underwater.
What was in your mind, Johari?
Cheng’s brow furrowed. “None of this makes any sense. She is Saba’s daughter. Saba and Arosh are consorts. Why would Saba—?”
“What does it benefit Saba if Arosh and Zhang are allies?” She wiped an errant tear from her nose. “What does she care if one human gets in the way?” Two humans. Johari had killed Meili also. “For that matter, Johari may not be loyal to Saba. She may be working for someone else entirely. She abandoned her element, Cheng. She gave up her amnis to live a few more years. She. Has. No. Loyalty.”
Cheng appeared to be surprised by her outburst.
“I need you to send men to find her,” Tenzin continued. “She’s an earth vampire, not wind. Not water anymore. She won’t be able to get far without help.”
“Saba has connections in Asia.”
“Not as many as you do.” She lifted her eyes. “Send a message to Sina in New Zealand. Tell her I am calling in a favor and offering one in return if she finds her for me.”
“Just finding her?”
“Find and hold only.”
Cheng nodded. “You’re going to Penglai.”
“At first dusk before he wakes.”
Cheng took a deep breath. “Are you sure you want to be there?”
“I have to be.”
“Cricket—”
“Wo péngyou.”Tenzin held up a hand. “No matter what happens, I need to be there. He deserves that.”
“I understand. Call me if you need me.” Cheng’s eyes turned calculating. “So after thousands of years, Zhang Guolao has sired a son.”
“Don’t get that look on your face.” She reached to turn off the screen. “This has nothing to do with him.”
“I think you’re wrong, Cricket. This has everything to do with Zhang.”
* * *
