Chapter 44 - He’s Alive

Welcome to the latest chapter of this epic exclusive YA urban fantasy saga. Feel free to reach out or comment if you like this story. Your feedback is what keeps the magic flowing. If this is your first time finding this story or you’ve missed a couple of episodes then I’d suggest following the link to the index page where you can start reading the entire series for FREE!

“For gods’ sake Ewan, get OUT of bed, youse gonna be late again.”

The sun was streaming through the window as Ewan once more woke with the sound of his mums voice in his ears. This time however he smiled, happy memories instead of tearful regrets.

He looked up and saw his Uncle, standing by the side of his bed, “At last, the young Dragon awakes.”

Ewan sat bolt upright and looked round, “Dad? Where’s my dad, is he ok, what’s happened.”

Monkey smiled, “he’s fine, he’ll be up in a minute, he’s sat by your bed non stop for the last three days, but he said he had to help your cousin Anna open up the shop and he would back back shortly.”

“So what happened, how did we get back, how long have I been here.”

“We got back about a week ago,” Monkey said. He then explained how Dylan, Mac and Anna had helped him get Ewan and his father safely back home, and that after some more demon medicine and a couple of days rest Lian had been up on his feet again, “he’s got a few new scars to add to his collection but he’ll be alright.”

“So it’s all true then, the demons, magic, you and my father?”

Monkey nodded.

“So I’ve been asleep for a week?”, Ewan said shaking his head, “what happened? The last thing I remember is...” Ewan suddenly looked round, “Bai! Where’s Bai? Is he ok?”

“He’s gone,” Monkey said solemnly, “at least in physical form. He’s a part of you now.”

Monkey let the words sink in for a second. “Ewan you are now Dragon Wu.”

“Don’t call me that,” Ewan said, “after everything that’s happened, all the people that got hurt. I don’t want it, I don’t want to be Dragon Wu, it was just a silly dream.”

Monkey shrugged, “I’m sorry, there’s no going back now, I think when you confronted Dong Shen you must have unlocked something inside you, because once you began to repeat the Dragon form over and over Bai started to rise up. One minute he was sitting on your shoulders, then the next a glow began to surround the pair of you and then, BLAMM,” Monkey smacked his fist in to his palm as if to emphasis the point, “you blasted Dong Shen clean across the arena with the biggest fireball I’ve ever seen and then…”

“Then? Then what?”

“Well, then you collapsed, and when I got to you, you’d stopped glowing, Bai was gone and you got a souvenir of your own to keep as a reminder.”

“What do you mean, a…” Ewan put his hand to his chest and looked down in shock at the dragon tattoo.

“How does it feel?”

Monkey looked up to see Lian standing in the doorway, “I was going to ask him that”, he said smiling, “brother”.

Ewan jumped out of bed and ran across the room to hug his father, “Dad, I…”

Lian nodded at his son and returned the hug, “so, how does it feel.”

Ewan pulled away from his father a little and placed his hand on his chest, “it feels weird, a little warm, inside I mean.” He paused for a second, “I think I can feel something, in the back of my mind, like a memory I can’t quite remember. Is that him?”

“Like trying to remember a dream after you wake up in the morning?” Lian suggested.

“Yeah a bit like that, is that what it was like for you?” Ewan asked.

Both Lian and Monkey nodded, “It’s different for everyone but something like that, yes. That is the spirit, Monkey’s right, it’s a part of you now.” Lian said.

“It’s like there’s a voice that’s trying to speak to me but I can’t hear what it’s saying.” Ewan said.

“In time and with proper training you’ll be able to hear it I’m sure.” His father said.

“So you will train me then, properly, proper kung fu?” Ewan asked.

“Do you remember what I said before?” His father asked, “About kung fu?”

“That it means hard work in Chinese.” Ewan replied.

Lian nodded, “good, yes, hard work, hard like you’ve never known, but the rewards are greater than anything you can ever imagine.”

Ewan looked at his father.

“Shall we start with some potato kung fu first?” Ewan asked smiling, “and I think I have some friends who’d like to help.” he added.