The Shadow Kingdom

Chapter 20 - New Year's Eve

"Behold Shanghai, the Crown Jewel of China." Adrian opens the car door and proudly introduces me to his ancestral home. The Chinese celebrate New Year's Eve the same way Americans celebrate Independence Day. Vanessa, unfortunately, is the only Siren who is not on assignment right now, so she escorts Adrian and me into the city in order to join in the festivities. I have lived in Shanghai for about a week now, and I finally get to set foot in the city proper.

Vanessa parked the car at the Bund. It is the district that borders the western side of the Huangpu River, which runs north and south straight through the middle of the city. On the opposite side of the river is Pudong, the main financial district of Shanghai. On any given night, the view of Pudong would be breathtaking, but tonight, it is truly something to behold. The faces of the skyscrapers light up brilliantly to form clocks that count down the few hours left until midnight, and the streets are packed so tightly that a shoulder brushes past me every second.

"What are those skyscrapers called?" I ask, pointing across the river.

"That big round one is called the Oriental Pearl Tower." Adrian answers. "It's also a broadcast station. The one with the pointy top is called the Jinmao Tower, and the one with big rectangular hole in it is called the Shanghai World Financial Center. The tallest one is called the Shanghai Tower."

God, I love this feeling. Prior to meeting Adrian, I had never even left the continental United States. Now, I get to explore exotic and fantastic places like Shanghai, wrapped in the arms of the man I love. In this moment, I'm not a renegade princess, and he's not a crown prince. We're just a happy, young couple in love, enjoying the scenery together. Young in my case at least.

Adrian leads me to Nanjing Road where the crowds are more dispersed. It is lovely being able to take a stroll with him outside the walls of Seven Hills. As expected, Vanessa is armed and dangerous. She conceals a carbine inside her attaché case. "I read somewhere that firearms are illegal in China." I say to Adrian.

"Vanessa could be carrying a rocket launcher, and the police wouldn't do anything about it." Adrian grins. "My father owns this city. The government, the police, the media; they're all in his back pocket."

"Augustus bribes them?"

"Hardly," Adrian scoffs. "Bribes are only effective as long as the money keeps coming, and they have a tendency to always get larger. Blackmail is far more cost effective. My father has a collection of incriminating evidence on anyone of importance in this city. And he reserves the positions of real power for his own."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean the mayor, the chief of police, and the head of the broadcast commission; they are all warlocks."

The extent of Augustus's influence sends an unsettling chill through me. Adrian wasn't exaggerating when he talked about absolute power. "That is why no one notices his giant, magical palace. Does William wield this kind of power in London?"

"London and Paris. House Ashcroft was originally from mainland Europe. They expanded into England around the time of the Roman Empire. Today, all of Western Europe is at their mercy whether they know it or not."

"How loyal are House Ashcroft's vassals?" I ask. Adrian's eyes frown at me. "Are there any families who are dissatisfied with William's treatment of them? I don't imagine my father or siblings are especially kind to their subjects."

"Scarlett, I know what you are thinking. Don't." The warning could not be sterner, but I refuse to heed it.

"Adrian, I exist here solely by your grace. I know you want to protect me, and I value your love more than life itself, but it alone will not earn me my keep. My name is Ashcroft. If there are factions within William's regime who are disillusioned with him, I could be the flag that unites them. If I were a real princess, I wouldn't hide inside my boyfriend's castle; I would fight back. I want to be useful."