Heaven to Wudang by Kylie Chan

all a blur.
    â€˜Is everybody all right?’ I said, but Simone had gone. I moved my head with difficulty to see where she was and relaxed. She was at Michael’s bedside.
    The noise and light faded in and out, and I hoped with detachment that it was just exhaustion and nothing more serious.
    Meredith’s face swam into view above me and she put her hands on either side of my face. Her exploratory energy moved through me. ‘Emma’s fine, just exhaustion,’ she said.
    I grabbed her hand to stop her before she left me. ‘Is everybody okay?’ I said. ‘They shot David and Bridget because they were with us. Are they all right?’
    She smiled and squeezed my hand to reassure me. ‘They’re fine; everybody will be okay. Close your eyes and rest.’
    â€˜Do you need my snake?’
    â€˜Not while you’re half-dead like this,’ she said. ‘So close your eyes, go down deep, rebuild your energy, and when you’re back you can help. Either way they’ll be fine; the injuries aren’t life-threatening.’
    â€˜Good,’ I said, and let go.

CHAPTER 6
    I came around in my own bed in the servants’ quarters. As soon as I sat up, Meredith and Simone appeared next to me.
    â€˜How do you feel?’ Simone said.
    â€˜Great. Full of energy. How are the others?’
    â€˜They’re in the infirmary, they’re fine,’ Meredith said. ‘We’ve done some energy healing. With a few hours’ rest they’ll be up and around again.’
    â€˜Any permanent damage?’
    â€˜No,’ Simone said. ‘But we need to talk about Michael later. I honestly think he’s out of his league guarding you; he keeps getting injured.’
    Meredith leaned in to study me carefully. ‘That’s right, talk later. Right now, tell me: do you crave Shen blood? Do you want to taste it again?’
    I thought about it for a moment, then shook my head. ‘No. Not like I did when I had the demon essence in me. I have to admit that it tasted great, but I don’t feel like an addict.’
    â€˜It tasted great?’ Simone said, incredulous.
    â€˜It doesn’t taste like blood at all,’ I said. ‘Remember that drink at Nu Wa’s palace?’
    â€˜That was awesome.’
    â€˜That’s what Michael’s blood tasted like. Better than that, if possible.’
    Simone hesitated. ‘I wonder if it tastes like that to me too.’
    I was wearing my pyjamas. ‘How long have I been out?’
    â€˜Only a couple of hours,’ Simone said.
    â€˜So it’s what … 2 am? Why aren’t you in bed?’
    â€˜I wanted to make sure you were okay. I don’t have school tomorrow anyway.’
    I found my tatty purple chenille robe in a pile of clothes next to the bed and pulled it around me. ‘Go to bed.’
    â€˜Where are you going?’ Meredith said.
    â€˜I’m going to check on the others.’
    â€˜They’re asleep, leave them,’ Meredith said. ‘Leo’s there watching them. They’re fine.’
    â€˜It’s so cute: Clarissa’s asleep at Michael’s bedside,’ Simone said.
    â€˜I still need to check something out. You two go to bed.’
    â€˜Check what out?’ Simone said suspiciously. ‘It’s the middle of the night.’
    â€˜I want to see if the Murasame came back,’ I said. ‘It won’t come when I call. It only came when I did my strong thing.’
    â€˜You haven’t recovered enough to do any sword work,’ Meredith said. ‘When did you call it?’
    â€˜This evening, when the Mothers cornered us. I just want to pop down to the Armoury and see if it’s there. If it isn’t, then I’ll need to get myself a new one, because it’s probably at the bottom of the sea somewhere, or back in Hell.’
    â€˜Go straight back to bed after you’ve checked it,’ Meredith said, and