False Horizon - Alex Archer [94]
“You can change.”
Hsu Xiao cast a quick glance at Vanya’s corpse and then shook her head. “No. I can’t. And what would I do without my mistress? I live to serve her whims and I have carried out my orders faithfully, even when they entailed doing horrible things that no one should have to endure.”
“You’ve served her honorably, no doubt,” Annja said. “But let it go now. Think of your family.”
“My family doesn’t know I exist,” said Hsu Xiao. “Vanya raised me from the time I was taken out of the nursery. My mother had triplets and was told only two survived. I was raised in secret to be a tool for her ambitions.”
“Go home, then,” Annja said. “Find your family. Tell them who you are.”
Hsu Xiao shook her head. “I will never be permitted to live. I know too much and my connection to Vanya means I will be branded an enemy of the state. My life is forfeit.”
Tsing sneered. “She’s right. And once I get back I will see to it that she and her entire family are put to death.”
Annja was about to say something when Tuk kicked Tsing’s legs out from behind him and then clocked him on the head. Tsing sank to the stone floor unconscious. Tuk frowned. “He talks too much.”
Annja kept her eyes on Hsu Xiao. “What if Tsing doesn’t survive? There would be no one left to tell the government what happened here. You could make up any story you wish and they would never know.”
Hsu Xiao shook her head. “It’s not possible. I know what my future holds and I know what I have to do.”
“But—”
As Annja started to protest, Hsu Xiao was already rushing at her. She cut and slashed and hacked at Annja, driving her back toward the grand staircase. Annja struggled to endure the assault, surprised that despite Hsu Xiao’s injury she was still incredibly strong.
“Dammit, it doesn’t have to be like this!”
Hsu Xiao smiled. “It does. I will die, Annja Creed, but first I will see to it that you die, as well. My mistress would have wanted it that way.”
Annja felt the stairs beneath her feet and fell away, tumbling down them. The treads bit into her spine as she rolled. Annja willed the sword away before it toppled from her hands. She concentrated on tightening up into a ball as much as possible. If she could just minimize the impact to her body, when she came to rest at the bottom, she’d be okay.
But she hadn’t counted on the steps being so sharp. The treads cut at her and she knew she was bleeding everywhere. When the bottom rushed up to greet her at long last, Annja unfolded with blood running from her arms, legs, back and head.
Hsu Xiao followed her down the stairs and landed gracefully at the bottom none the worse for wear.
Annja summoned the sword to her hands. “You mean to end this?” she asked.
Hsu Xiao nodded.
“Then let’s do it.” Annja frowned.
Hsu Xiao ran at her and Annja cut up, trying to take the offensive. But Hsu Xiao came in close and knee-locked Annja. Driving her own knee against Annja’s, she swept Annja’s leg out and she collapsed onto the ground.
Annja pivoted and backfisted Hsu Xiao in the stomach. Hsu Xiao grunted and staggered away.
Annja got to her feet and brought the sword up in front of her, charging forward to cut down again and again at Hsu Xiao’s exposed body. But as she brought her last cut straight down, Hsu Xiao brought her claws together and stopped the blade.
Annja was shocked. She’d never known anything that could stand up to a direct cut from her sword. It was then she realized that Hsu Xiao didn’t have regular fingernails at all. She had metal claws like some movie character.
Worse, her claws had edges everywhere instead of just on one side.
Hsu Xiao flicked them at Annja and she felt one of them score a line across her face.
Blood streamed down her cheek.
Hsu Xiao pushed off against the sword blade and then kicked Annja again in the stomach. Annja rolled over backward, keeping a hold on the sword, but also smarting from the impact of the kick.
Annja immediately lashed out with her own kick and Hsu Xiao blocked it by bringing her leg up so it bent at the knee. Annja felt the kick slide off, but used