I dared not speak of what I had seen at the Marscapone’s. For weeks I avoided everyone and everything. I couldn’t explain it. But in time, it came to me.

It was the Dream.

That was the only way, I figured, I could have seen the man I did that night.

What had Vlad done? He had to have done something. I just didn’t know what.

I finally figured it was time to stop avoiding the things that frightened me. I went to Straud Manor.

But it wasn’t Straud who answered the door, it was the newcomer, Jia.

I stumbled. I had nearly forgot she was here, much less staying at Straud Mansion.

CEDRIC

HUA JIA, 您好.


She smiled and shook her hand, disarming me.

HUA JIA

OH NO, NO PLEASE. NONE OF THAT SORT OF FORMALITY. 我們是朋友. 你說漢語嗎?

CEDRIC

一點兒.


She smiled again.

HUA JIA

OH, IT IS GOOD TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF MY FOREBEARS.

PERHAPS I WILL TEACH YOU. I EXPECT TO BE HERE A LONG TIME.


She stepped inside the door and I followed her.

CEDRIC

STRAUD ISN’T GOING TO TAKE YOU HOME?


I realized it was a stupid thing to say as soon as it had escaped my mouth. No, things had changed. It was a mystery how Trelaine had got her so far, certainly we would not be making the return voyage.

HUA JIA

NO, IT SEEMS MY HELP IS NEEDED HERE.

I ONLY HOPE I AM ABLE TO REPAY MY DEBT.

THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME THAT NIGHT.


It occurred to me that she had been here for over a year. I had been so absorbed in my studies, that night with Lila, Mandarc, and Áine seemed like eons ago. So much had changed. We had all felt on top of the world, and then the mages had gone missing. Life had become quiet again.

HUA JIA

PERHAPS WHEN YOU SEE LILA AGAIN, YOU’D PASS ON A MESSAGE FOR ME?

CEDRIC

WELL, THE TRUTH IS THAT LILA AND HER MASTER HAVE VANISHED.

WE HAVEN’T SEEN THEM IN, WELL, IT MUST BE NEARLY A YEAR.

HUA JIA

A YEAR?

OH MY.

WELL, MAGES ARE KNOWN TO BEHAVE IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.

I HOPE WE WILL SEE THEM AGAIN SOON.

CEDRIC

ME TOO.


A wistful silence filled the space between.

HUA JIA

I’M SURE YOU DIDN’T COME HERE TO SEE ME.

BUT I DON’T THINK MR. STRAUD IS HERE.


There was an awkward pause that must have revealed my disappointment, for she changed the subject.

HUA JIA

DO YOU HAVE A NAME IN 漢語, CEDRIC?

CEDRIC

A NAME TO USE IN THE MIDDLE KINGDOM?

NO, I DON’T.

HUA JIA

YOU AREN’T FROM HERE, ARE YOU?

CEDRIC

I’M NOT.

HUA JIA

I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE.

YOU DO NOT SPEAK LIKE THE OTHERS DO.

IT IS LIKE HOW YOU MIGHT IDENTIFY A BEIJINGER BY WAY OF HIS “兒話”.

NEW YORKERS HAVE A WAY OF SPEAKING THAT IDENTIFIES THEM.

YOU DO NOT HAVE IT.

CEDRIC

YOU LEARN QUICKLY.

HUA JIA

WELL, I KNEW A FEW THINGS BEFORE I CAME HERE.

YOU MUST COME FROM THE CENTER OF THE COUNTRY?

CEDRIC

THEREABOUTS.


At this, Jia rose her hand, extending a single finger, and began to scribe upon the air. In her finger’s wake, red lines were left, shimmering as they stood in the air. Two 漢字 hovered in the air between the pair.

HUA JIA

西追.


She pointed to the first character.

HUA JIA

THIS ONE MEANS “WEST”.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHERE WE CAME FROM.

BUT ALL THINGS ARE RELATIVE TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, OR WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES.


I tried to appear stoic toward her display of blood magic.

CEDRIC

YOU’RE AN ADEPT OF CHIMERSTRY?


She smiled.

HUA JIA

IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL IT IN THE COMMON TONGUE?

I HAD ONLY EVER SEEN IT WRITTEN.

CEDRIC

IT’S A FEAT I’VE ONLY EVER SEEN WORKED A HANDFUL OF TIMES.

COLOR ME HUMBLED.

HUA JIA

YOU HONOR ME.

PLEASE DO NOT BELITTLE YOURSELF SO.

YOUR FACILITY AT THE CATHEDRAL WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE.

CEDRIC

WHEN THERE IS A NEED, I’LL BE THERE.


Our conversation is interrupted by the front doors slamming open as if blown by a swift wind. In walks Vladislaus Straud, followed by Mandarc. It is difficult to focus on the old man as he exudes an aura of anger. Tamed anger, but anger nonetheless. Mandarc seems to cower and scuttle behind.

He walks between Hua Jia and myself, causing us to step back in deference. In a moment, he’s disappeared into the house, and the two of us are joined by Mandarc, now released from his duties.

I’m about to open my mouth to speak when Mandarc perks up as if recalling a forgotten memory, turns around, and shuts the entrance door quietly.

A haunting tune begins to echo through the mansion. Straud is in the basement crypt, plunking away at the pipe organ located therein. Insofar as is possible, they are alone in the entry.

They are listening to the music in reverence when Mandarc breaks the silence.

MANDARC

THE PLAYWRIGHT HAS REDACTED HIS PROMISE TO HAVE THE PLAY DONE FOR THE BEGINNING OF SPRING.

CEDRIC

WHAT IS IT JUST GOING TO BE LATE, OR–

MANDARC

IT’S NOT COMING AT ALL.

HE’S QUIT WRITING ENTIRELY.

OR AT LEAST QUIT WRITING FOR US.

CEDRIC

WOW.

THAT’S A SETBACK.

MANDARC

YEAH, IT IS.

THE MASTER IS PRETTY TICKED OFF.

BUT YOU CAN’T FORCE IT.

WE’VE JUST BEEN ATTRACTING A HUGE AUDIENCE WITH OUR PLAYS.

THIS MEANS WE’LL HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE.

CEDRIC

I WOULD THINK THAT WOULDN’T BE SO DIFFICULT…

MANDARC

OH, BUT HE’S VERY SELECTIVE ABOUT WHAT HE PUTS ON STAGE.

FEELS IT’S AN IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTROL WHAT MESSAGES WE LEND OUR STAGE TO.

HE DOESN’T WANT TO GET CAUGHT SPONSORING THE WRONG WORLD VIEW, YOU KNOW?

CEDRIC

FAIR ENOUGH.


The three look at each other as Straud’s music grows in intensity.

CEDRIC

MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE A WRITING CLASS AS THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

MANDARC

OH, THAT REMINDS ME.

KEVIN DROPPED OUT OF THAT VENTURE.


I paused a moment.

CEDRIC

YOU SEEN KEV LATELY?

MANDARC

NO, I HAVEN’T, WHY?

CEDRIC

OH…


There wasn’t any point to bringing this up with Mandarc.

CEDRIC

NOTHING.

YOU STILL THINK NIGHT SCHOOL IS GOING TO HELP YOU TAKE OVER THE WORLD?


Mandarc crossed his arms and took on a defensive stance.

MANDARC

WELL, WISE-ASS, NOT ALL OF US WERE GIFTED WITH A MAGICADEMY EDUCATION.

CEDRIC

FAT LOT OF GOOD IT’S DONE ME, I STILL CAN’T TOUCH THE ELEMENTS.

MANDARC

WHAT ABOUT YOU, JIA?

WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL?


She hesitated a moment. We had touched on a sensitive topic.

HUA JIA

IN MY DAY, DAUGHTERS DID NOT RECEIVE FORMAL EDUCATION.

MY MOTHER AND FATHER ALLOWED ME TO SIT IN ON MY BROTHER’S LESSONS FROM TIME TO TIME, AND I LEARNED MANY THINGS, BUT I NEVER ATTENDED SCHOOL AS SUCH.

IT WAS NOT SEEN AS APPROPRIATE FOR YOUNG GIRLS TO SPEND THEIR TIME SO.

MANDARC

WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!

CEDRIC

MANDARC!!


I raised my hand to silence him. It was not his place to judge other cultures. Besides which, I still had no idea how old Hua Jia was. It was rude to even think of asking.

HUA JIA

OH, IT’S ALRIGHT.

I THOUGHT THE SAME THING WHEN I WAS A GIRL TOO, AND WAS SURE I LET MY FATHER KNOW MY OPINION.

I HELPED MY BROTHER STUDY FOR HIS EXAMS AND THEREBY LEARNED MUCH OF THE FOUR BOOKS & FIVE CLASSICS.

MANDARC

THE IMPERIAL EXAMINATION WAS A CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION IN THE MIDDLE KINGDOM.

THE PRACTICE OF SELECTING BUREAUCRATS BY MERIT RATHER THAN BIRTH STARTED EARLY IN CHINESE HISTORY, BUT THE FORMALIZED WRITTEN EXAM WAS FIRST ADMINISTERED DURING THE SUI DYNASTY OF 581-618–

CEDRIC

BEEN LOOKING OVER THE HISTORY ARCHIVES?

MANDARC

IT’S INTERESTING!

MY MEMORY IS GETTING BETTER.

THE IMPERIAL EXAMINATION LASTED UNTIL THE LATE QING DYNASTY, ABOLISHED IN 1905.


It did not do much to narrow down ranges of how old Hua Jia was.

CEDRIC

IT WAS KIND OF YOU TO HELP YOUR BROTHER PASS HIS EXAMS ALTHOUGH YOU COULD NEVER HOPE TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE.


She smiled.

HUA JIA

OH 西追, YOU ARE TOO KIND.

IT WAS MANY YEARS AGO SO I DO NOT THINK OF IT OFTEN.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN ILL-SUITED TO SUCH A CAREER.

THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT’S TRUE OF ALL WOMEN, THOUGH.

THE PASSAGE OF SPRING BRINGS NEW LIFE TO THE WORLD.

CERTAINLY THE CONDITION OF ALL WILL BE IMPROVED AS WE ELIMINATE INIQUITY.

IT IS HARD FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN MANY SEASONS TO RECALL WHAT IT WAS TO NOT KNOW, BUT WITH PATIENCE, THESE WILL BECOME OLD THINGS TOO.

MANDARC

PERHAPS YOU COULD WRITE FOR STRAUD’S STAGE.


Oh, Mandarc.

HUA JIA

WRITE FOR THE STAGE?

I’M NOT SURE I’M WELL-ENOUGH VERSED IN THE COMMON TONGUE.

MANDARC

OF COURSE YOU ARE!

YOU SPEAK WAY BETTER THAN THE SCHLOCK WE HAVE GOING UP THERE!


The music we had barely been noticing stopped and in a quick second, the smell of pitch filled the air. Straud stood before us.

STRAUD

SCHLOCK, EH?

IS THAT WHAT YOU MAKE OF WHAT I’VE SHOWCASED?


Mandarc tried to retreat.

MANDARC

OH, NO, MASTER!

I WAS MERELY BEING INFLAMMATORY SO AS TO GIVE JIA A COMPLIMENT.


Straud raised one, fine eyebrow.

STRAUD

YES, OF COURSE.


The old man turned around to face Hua Jia and gave her a small, but sincere, bow.

HUA JIA

MR. STRAUD HAS BEEN TUTORING ME IN MODERN, LOCAL SPEECH.

I AM FINDING THE TEXTS I HAD BEEN USNG A FAIR BIT OUT-OF-DATE.

PERHAPS I WILL THINK OF WRITING SOMETHING IN GRATITUDE.

STRAUD

WE WOULD BE HONORED TO SHOW ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO WRITE FOR US.

HUA JIA

I WILL TRY NOT TO WRITE, HOW DO YOU SAY IT, “SCHLOCK”.

STRAUD

YES, YOU HAVE IT.

IT MEANS “TRASH”, “GARBAGE”, “JUNK”.


The final word he delivered with searing judgement toward Mandarc. But something suggested he did not mean it so fiercely.

STRAUD

A GOOD CRITIC CAN FIND FLAWS IN HIS OWN WORK BUT IS ALSO QUICK TO DEFEND IT.

OTHERWISE, WHAT GOOD IS HIS BITE?

MANDARC

I AM SORRY, MASTER.

STRAUD

YOU ARE FORGIVEN, MANDARC.

BUT YOU SHOULD AVOID BEING SO CARELESS WITH YOUR SPEECH.

HUA JIA

還行吧? 還可以?

STRAUD

IT’S LESS COMMONLY–

HUA JIA

馬馬虎虎.

STRAUD

AH, YES.

馬馬虎虎.

HORSE HORSE TIGER TIGER.

THE TALE OF THE LACKADAISICAL PAINTER FROM THE SONG DYNASTY.

PERHAPS THE PAINTER WAS SIMPLY AHEAD OF HIS TIME…

CEDRIC

WHAT’S THIS?

HUA JIA

A 成語.

IT’S A FOUR CHARACTER EXPRESSION FROM THE MIDDLE KINGDOM.

LIKE YOUR IDIOMS, OUR 成語 ARE ALLUSIONS OR QUOTATIONS OF LITERARY TEXTS THAT HAVE A SET MEANING.

CEDRIC

ET TU, BRUTE?

HUA JIA

PARDON ME?

STRAUD

PRECISELY.

MANDARC

“ET TU, BRUTE?”

ACT 3 SCENE 1 OF SHAKESPEARE’S PLAY JULIUS CAESAR.

MEANT TO EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE UNEXPECTED BETRAYAL OF A FRIEND.

HUA JIA

AH YES, THAT ONE IS MUCH LIKE OUR OWN 成語.

STRAUD

TRULY A LOST ART, LATIN.

CEDRIC

WITH THE SLOW DEATH OF THE CHURCH, IT’S GOT NOTHING TO HOLD ON TO THESE DAYS.

STRAUD

THE MORTAL YOUTH STILL HOLD IT ALOFT IN THE IVORY TOWERS BUT THEIR WORDS CARRY LITTLE WEIGHT.

THE OLD WISDOMS ARE SUFFOCATING BUT NONE ARE PREPARED TO REPLACE THEM.

AT ANY RATE, TO WHAT DO WE OWE YOUR VISIT, CEDRIC?

SURELY YOU DID NOT COME HERE TO PLAY WORD GAMES AND DISCUSS ETYMOLOGIES.


I was surprised–surely he knew the purpose of my visit but I had not been prepared to discuss it in front of the others.

CEDRIC

WELL, I DID AS YOU ASKED AND WENT TO PAY A VISIT TO THE MARSCAPONES.

STRAUD

YES, THAT WAS SOME TIME AGO.

I AM SORRY I HAVE NOT MADE IT INTO ASTORIA FOR SOME TIME.


I felt my hand quiver in anxiety. He was always so calm, so collected, it was difficult to fathom trying to express my state.

CEDRIC

I SAW SOMETHING I CAN BARELY EXPLAIN, BUT…


I stood up tall and forced the tremor from my hand.

CEDRIC

IT MUST HAVE BEEN DREAM, CERTAINLY DREAM, AS A RESULT OF THE MIRACLE YOU INVOKED.


It occurred to me that this may not have been common knowledge, but I held fast to my convictions.

STRAUD

WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU SEE?


Mandarc and Hua Jia were staring directly at me.

CEDRIC

I SAW, FIRST, MYRTLE’S GREY HAIR.

IT HAD NOT BEEN THAT WAY, NOT SINCE DAVIAN BROUGHT HER BACK.

NO, IT WAS DEFINITELY GREY, AS IT HAD BEEN WHEN I MET HER.

AND THEN SHE SUMMONED KEVIN, AND EVERY AURA OFF HIM RADIATED… NOT MAGIC, BUT…


I was sure of what I had seen, so why couldn’t I speak the word?

STRAUD

VAMPIRE.


Tension, and then, conclusion.

CEDRIC

YES, VAMPIRE.

STRAUD

AS HE HAD BEEN WHEN YOU MET HIM.

CEDRIC

I COULDN’T EXPLAIN IT, BUT IT, IN RETROSPECT, MUST HAVE BEEN DREAM.

HE DIDN’T FIND ANYTHING CURIOUS ABOUT ME, SO I DOUBT I HAD BEEN TRANSPORTED INTO THE PAST.


I sensed a sort of psychic twinkling, a telepathic message from Mandarc to Hua Jia. Probably delivering some sort of clarification.

CEDRIC

HE DIDN’T FIND ANYTHING OUT OF PLACE THAT I WASN’T A MAGE.

STRAUD

NOR SHOULD HE.


Straud turned around and faced his enormous bookshelf, heavy with ancient tomes.

STRAUD

THE DREAM IS BEHAVING IN STRANGE WAYS AND I HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE IT IS MY DOING.

I ASKED AND I RECEIVED.

BUT I CANNOT SEE INTO DREAM AS I USED TO.

IT IS AN ANCIENT DOMAIN, BUT I FACE IT WITH TOO MANY PRECONCEIVED IDEAS.

IT WILL TAKE WORK FOR ME TO GLEAN ITS WISDOMS AGAIN, WORK THAT I AM WILLING TO DO, BUT WORK THAT WILL TAKE TIME.

HUA JIA

IS THIS… 夢幻世界?

STRAUD

YES, INDEED.

YOU’VE SEEN IT, AND WILL CONTINUE TO SEE IT.

YOU HAVE A GIFT, LIKE CEDRIC.


I looked at her, and she looked at me, dark eyes seeming endless.

STRAUD

MANDARC, YOU TOO HAVE A GIFT, BUT IT IS FIRMLY PLANTED IN THE REALM OF THE LIVING, AND THERE YOU MUST FOCUS YOUR EFFORTS.

YOU HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO DO THIS, AND FOR YOUR DILIGENCE, I APPLAUD YOU.

MANDARC

THANK YOU, MASTER.


There was a pause in the conversation, and I noticed the wind beating against the outside of the house. The weather was changing.

Hua Jia broke the ice.

HUA JIA

大師, PLEASE DO NOT BE UPSET ABOUT YOUR PLAYWRIGHT.

REMEMBER THE OLD MAN AT THE BORDER.

STRAUD

塞翁失馬，焉知非福.

MANDARC

(It’s always fú.)

HUA JIA

塞翁失馬，焉知非福.

A STORY ATTRIBUTED TO 莊子 OF THE WARRING STATES PERIOD.

THE TALE TELLS OF AN OLD MAN WHO LIVED NEAR THE BORDER WITH HIS SON.

ONE DAY, HIS HORSE RAN AWAY, BOUND FOR ENEMY TERRITORY.

HIS NEIGHBORS REMARKED ON HOW MISFORTUNATE THIS WAS.

BUT THE OLD MAN, WISE AND PATIENT, RESPONDED, “MAYBE IT’S A BLESSING.”

A FEW DAYS LATER, THE HORSE RETURNED WITH MANY WILD HORSES IN TOW.

THE OLD MAN’S SON ATTEMPTED TO TAME ONE OF THE WILD HORSES.

HE WAS THROWN FROM THE HORSE AND BROKE HIS LEG.

AGAIN THE NEIGHBORS LAMENTED, BUT THE OLD MAN REMAINED STOIC, STATING PERHAPS IT WASN’T A CALAMITY.

NOT LONG AFTER, ALL THE YOUNG MEN IN THE VILLAGE WERE CONSCRIPTED TO FIGHT, BUT THE OLD MAN’S SON WAS SPARED BECAUSE OF HIS BROKEN LEG.

IN THE END, A LOST HORSE TURNED OUT TO BE A BLESSING.

LIFE IS UNCERTAIN.

PERHAPS YOUR LOST HORSE WILL TURN OUT TO BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, TO USE A TURN OF PHRASE FROM YOUR TONGUE.

STRAUD

BEAUTIFULLY STATED.