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That explained the fierce, overwhelming loyalty, Bao thought, watching some workers bow as low to Mistress Vy as though she were Empress Jade herself.
“I’ve worked hard to build a safe city,” his mother said, beckoning him to follow her upstairs to the top level. “We built schools to educate the children of families affected; we provide jobs of all kinds and ensure that everyone here works. No one is allowed to be idle. We even developedour own printing press so that writers could share their stories and knowledge.”
Bao remembered her calling him a prince. “You’re a strange sort of monarch,” he commented as they emerged onto a floor similar to the one below. “I don’t think many rulers care to intercede into ordinary lives.”
“Everyone in the Gray City matters to me. This is no kingdom where officials serve as fingers at the end of the ruler’s arm and do what she isn’t inclined to.” She made her rounds among the patients with a nod here and a soothing word there. “A man in my place would be deemed a great leader, butIwill spend the rest of my life trying to convince the world of my worth and the vision my family has bled for. I’ve made my peace with that.”
They came to a row of pallets lining the far wall. The patients lying there were quieter and more subdued than the others, who called out greetings and waved their hands to Vy as she passed. Two workers in gray uniforms were moving among these patients, who all seemed to be asleep or dazed. Bao moved closer, frowning, and saw that each patient had at least one elbow resting in a curved basin. He studied the man closest to him and saw a cut in the crook of the man’s arm, from which blood was flowing into the bowl.
“Why are you bleeding these people?” he asked Vy, who was watching him again with that appraising look. “Master Huynh—the physician with whom I trained—used to do this only to the sickest of his patients.”
His mother took a deep breath. “This is the secret to my new formula. The medicine comprises many different ingredients, and over the years, we played with amounts and varieties and mixtures. But everything failed. Either the drug was too addictive, or it brought on the bloodpox even more quickly, or it wasn’t effective at treating anything.” She looked Bao directly in the eye. “All of that changed on the night Idecided to use blood, about three years ago. I was thinking about how much I resented Huong for her magic and for leaving me instead of helping. But then I thought... I might not have her abilities, but I do have the same blood flowing through my veins. And so I added some of my blood to the formula I was working on.”
Bao listened, his eyes darting from her face to the dazed patients with dawning horror.
“It didn’t work right away,” Vy went on. “It took me years to figure out exactly how much blood to use, and at what temperature, and when to add it, and so on and so forth. And it required a great deal more blood than I had, unfortunately.” She stood scanning him, her arms crossed over her chest. “So I decided to take some of the sickest people who came to me for help and keep them alive. Safe and comfortable and well fed. And I used their blood to experiment.”
He opened his mouth, but the questions refused to emerge from his dry throat.
“They consented to having their blood taken,” his mother said quickly. “I told them it was for research that might help them, which was almost the truth. And over time, the formula grew more effective and less addictive, and I used some of my own blood again and saw how much more powerful it was than the others—because of that element of magic, I suspected. So what, I asked myself, couldtruemagical blood do? What would happen if I bled a person who actually had magical abilities?”
“And that’s why you decided to find your sister after all this time,” Bao said, his voice working at last. He felt something bubbling inside him, and after a moment, he realized it was a steadily simmering rage. “That’s why you finally sent your guards for Huong. Because she could be useful to you, and you could farm her for blood as you’ve done to all of these other people.”
“I wanted to find her because I want our family to be together again. I want you and Huong to live with me.” Mistress Vy placed her hands on his shoulders, and it was all Bao could do not to shove her backward. “I showed you all this because I want to be truthful with you. I want my good work to be carried on, and to see you marry Lan and have children to whom you could pass on our legacy. Join me, Bao. Help me, work with me, and never be alone again.”
He reeled backward at the mention of Lan. “Do not speak that name.”
“The Gray City will be the center of all power and commerce. It started with the vision of one family.Ourfamily, Bao. We will save lives with our good work, you and Huong and I.”
Bao gritted his teeth. “I am a physician’s apprentice, and my work centers upon healing others, not wounding and using them. I will not support anything that requires such measures to be perfected.”
“I treat all of my patients with care and respect. You saw that yourself,” Vy said, looking bewildered by his anger. “In this building, you see with your own eyes the miracles my drug can bring about. Look at the second chance it has given to everyone. Don’t be so quick to condemn something that brought us back together and may fulfill our vision forever.”
“Yourvision,” Bao pointed out, clenching his fists. He tried in vain to stem his fury, but it gushed out of him like air. “Do not bring me into this. You’re bleeding helpless people who don’t even know exactly what you’re using their blood for! You spoke of the Serpent God as though you admired him, and now I see why: you agree with his use of blood magic and black spice to hurt and manipulate people. Well, I want no part of it, Mistress Vy.”
“You mean Mother,” she said softly. Bao had the impression she wasnot only taking in every inch of his face, but his mind and heart as well. “So this is your answer, then?”
Bao looked straight into her eyes. Even now, beneath the all-consuming ire and fear he felt, he found a thread of pity for her. “There are three armies at your door. Four, if you count the Crimson Army,” he said quietly. “You can’t possibly believe that there is anything you can do to stop or win this battle. They are going to destroy this city. Your fantasy of us living together here and continuing to make this drug by bleeding and killing people... it’s just that, a fantasy.”
“And what of honor? What of principle?” She let her arms fall to her sides and came close to him, with pleading eyes. “Surrendering means giving up. And no one in our family has ever given up. I will hold on to my conviction and prove to everyone that I was right all along.”
“You’re going to lose. Don’t you see?” Bao asked, frustrated. He could not save his own mother from herself—no one could, except her, and she wasn’t going to do it.
An inexpressible sorrow filled her eyes, and Bao saw that she knew he was speaking the truth. Perhaps she had known all along, but her stubbornness had not allowed her to back away. Tears streamed down her face, but her voice was calm. “I think you and Huong have more in common than you realize.” She wiped her eyes, her mouth twisted with the same grief Bao remembered from when she had told him of her relatives, and of Sinh. “Very well, then. You have both refused to help me, and I accept your refusal.”
“I’m sorry,” Bao said, and meant it.
Vy looked up at him tenderly. “So am I.”
And then she ripped the charm from his neck.
21
Someone was shaking Lan. Anxious hands patted her cheeks, and a blurry, pale oval face hovered in the darkness. “Can you hear me?” the woman asked, her voice sounding as though it were coming from underwater, and then Lan felt something cold and wet splashing her nose and eyes. She gasped and jerked awake, looking around frantically.
Lady Yen sighed with relief. “You’re alive! I didn’t want to waste too much water, not knowing if they’ll bring us more, but I’m glad that revived you. Are you all right?”
“I think so.” Lan’s mouth felt dry and cottony, and her temples throbbed with pain. Her back hurt, too, and she realized that she was lying on a cold, hard floor. Stone, from the feel of it. “Where on earth are we?”
