The Draco Society Trilogy

Chapter 3:

Chapter 3:

Helena and Phoebe left Deirdre sleeping on the table. Phoebe sat on the bed while Helena paced around her cramped cabin.

“At least she is alive. You said you think you guessed where Gertrude is. Where is she?”

“The only place I think she can be after the clue we were given. If she is flying, she must be on our ship or on the Russian ship—unless another one is cruising the skies we still don’t know of.”

“But how?”

“I’m not sure, but it must have happened during the attack. It’s the only time I can think of where we were all so focused, possibly she fell overboard and was rescued, or she was nabbed off the deck. It really doesn’t matter the how or why. What matters is it true.”

“Do you doubt it?”

“I’m beginning to doubt everything. The spirits are no better than the immortals, and they are worse than humans.”

“What do you mean immortals?”

“Yes... I guess I haven’t told you since I only started remembering my travels while I slept. I’ve told no one this secret, so I trust you with what might be my future freedom. Swear you will tell no one.” Helena sat on the bed next to Phoebe.

“I swear on all my ancestors before me, I will not tell a soul.” She then crossed her heart.

“The night I freed Missy Whitaker at Sutter’s Baths the people at the ceremony were trying to call a dragon. Trying to control a dragon. Sister Ping had delivered a dagger that would allow them to call a dragon from the spirit world. Sister Ping had double-crossed them. The dragon they summoned was not happy to be woken. He swallowed up everyone involved.”

Phoebe listened intently, like a person that believed every word that came out of Helena’s mouth. She spoke softly, “The spirit world is not a place to play around with.”

“I am learning that, but it gets worse. After the dragon attacked, I was pulled into the land of the immortals. They call the place Kunlun Mountain.”

Phoebe’s eyes opened wide in response. “This is not good.”

“I know, right? I didn’t know I was going. I traveled when I slept and never remembered. I keep meeting a man, but he isn’t a man—he goes by Master Ao. I think he is a dragon. He has been training me. Says I am a guardian. I don’t understand how I might be one since I’m not even Chinese...”

“Mistress, Ao is Mandarin for Dragon,” the Chinese woman whispered as if they might be overheard.

“Yes, I guessed it was him in human form the first time we met.”

“This is not good...”

“I think something followed me back. That was where the blood in the bed came from. I think it might have killed Gertie. If the mob didn’t want to burn me at the stake back in San Francisco, I would be out helping Doyle search for Tsang Mei.” Helena hung her head in shame at the admission.

“This is all so scary. I was brought up on tales like these. They can be so wonderful and so terrifying. I am glad you trust me enough to tell me, but I am not sure how this will help us.” Phoebe waited for Helena.

She wiped the tears from her eyes before raising her head and continuing. “The first time I went to the cave on the jade mountain, and several times since, Master Ao has used a small pool of water to show things happening in the realm of mortals. I’ve traveled there now and recall what has happened in the past. I might be able to take both of us, and we can use the pool to find Gertrude.” Helena wanted to tell her everything about the hidden dragon dagger but decided to use that only as a last resort.

Helena stared into Phoebe’s eyes and saw only fear at her suggestion. “You want to bring me? Is that possible?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure. The last time I tried to travel there, I failed to reach the place myself. I can only try. I promised both of you to do what I could to keep you safe.”

Phoebe’s cheeks flushed when Helena told her the last part. She watched her swallow her concern before she spoke. “Then I will gather my courage and travel with you. I would not want you to travel alone to rescue our friend. I will do my best to be brave.”

“I knew you would once I told you.”

“How do we travel to a place that no one on foot has ever been able to find?”

“With our minds. We need to close our eyes and meditate. That is the only way I reach the place, unless I’m asleep, and I wouldn’t know how to take you while I slept.”

“Then we shall try. I’ve learned how to meditate.”

“Just so you know. . . this probably won’t work. I’ve only been able to reach there once this way.”

“But we will try. Your aunt still sleeps.”

Helena glanced over at Deirdre, and indeed, she still slept. The woman’s snore might’ve awakened the dead if any had been nearby. The glass of brandy still sat within her arms reach, so if she woke while they were gone, she should be fine.

“Let’s try this then.” Helena held out her hands for Phoebe to take.

She tentatively grabbed her hands. “What do we do?” the younger woman asked.

“To tell the truth, I’m not quite sure. Last time I traveled...” Helena was about to go into detail about the time she was locked in a padded room but thought better of it. She doubted the story would instill trust. “I was distraught. I needed to calm my mind while meditating, so I let my mind go blank, and before I knew it, I was standing before Master Ao.”

“Let’s close our eyes and try to empty our minds. A quiet mind brings strength and self-confidence.”

Helena closed her eyes. “You know that sounds like something Master Ao would say.”

“Shush, Mistress. Let’s concentrate on our quiet minds.”

They sat on the bed, but try as hard as she might, Helena couldn’t calm her mind. She was worried about too many people. The escape from San Francisco was still riding heavy on her mind. Her fear for Sigmund lay right below the surface. If she stopped for a second, her thoughts moved to his safety.

Next in line to pull her focus was the stupid man Doyle. Strangely enough, after Tsang Mei offered to step aside for her to take Doyle, she felt shocked at her sacrifice. Helena doubted she would ever be as honorable as Tsang Mei proved to be that day. Even though her crush on Doyle had lessened, she still worried about the man since he had a bad habit of continually finding himself in trouble.

Her thoughts drifted to Annie. Their separation lasted only a handful of hours, but she missed her already. The small woman had been by her side and saved her life so many times that Helena couldn’t keep track of them all. If the b***h Sister Ping hadn’t murdered her father, Annie might be curled up beside her right now. Helena understood she needed to take over as Queen of the wererats, but the fact didn’t make her decision any easier.

Faces of the dead rolled past her closed eyes—Gertie, Angus, the crazy knight Hidalgo Don Cervantes, and even the vegan Zachariah in Placerville. The visions didn’t stop with the people she missed. The faces of the people trying to kill her flooded her mind.

“Argh!” Helena broke contact with Phoebe and moved to the table where Deirdre still snoozed. She reached for the glass containing the double shot of brandy and the bottle sitting next to it.

“That is not the answer.” A soft voice came from behind her.

Helena hesitated. “I know, but I can’t stop thinking of everyone and everything. This helps me forget the faces.”

“No, it doesn’t. It only dilutes them for a time. They are still waiting and will come back twice as controlling. They are a part of you now. You can’t ignore them, nor can you bury them.” Helena turned to see Phoebe still sat with her eyes closed.

“How old are you?” Helena watched her, and then glanced back at the glass waiting in her hand.

“I told you, I am sixteen.”

“How did you become so wise?”

“When I went fishing with my father, there was a lot of hard work. There is also a lot of waiting. I would read and meditate.”

“There is more there than what you can get from books.” Helena started to eye the young Chinese woman as if she held a secret.

“I am who I am. Some people believe we live many lives, come back many times until our souls are ready to experience Nirvana.”

“Heaven?”

“Not really. More like heaven in our minds, but you will never find peace if you reach for that when you feel weak.” Phoebe motioned with her head to the bottle.

“You’re right. I have been told this before, but life can be so hard.” Helena turned to replace the glass and bottle on the table.

Before she set it down, Deirdre took the glass from Helena’s hand. “This is not to drown my sorrow. It’s medicinal for my splitting headache.”

“Sorry about that.” Helena sat the bottle back down.

“Not your fault. I knew the agony would happen. Did you learn anything?” Deirdre poured another double shot. “This one is for the pain as well.

“Yes, Gertrude is alive, but we don’t know where.” Helena almost mentioned her plan to find her but decided against it.

“Well, I can’t do another search right now. I need to take this lovely brandy and nurse my head.” She knocked back the double shot, stood, and grabbed the bottle. “I will be in my cabin if you need me.” She swayed to the door from the headache, movement of the ship or the brandy, Helena wasn’t sure.

Helena turned to Phoebe. “I am tired, as well. Shall we take a break for an hour or two and try again?” Helena climbed onto her bed, laying her head on the pillow.

“If you like.” Phoebe padded toward the door of the stateroom.

Before Phoebe departed the room, Helena patted the side next to her and softly said, “Please stay here. I find your presence a comfort.”

Without question, Phoebe lay down next to Helena and stared up at the overhead. “We will find her, I can feel it.”

“I know we will. I just need to calm my mind. Then we will try again.” Helena reached for Phoebe’s hand, and they both lay on the bed, watching the sun’s patterned flicker across the ceiling.