Page 57 of Only a Monster

Joan sipped her tea, giving herself a moment to collect her thoughts. The tea was good—grassy and fresh and green. The kind of tea Dad kept in the freezer. ‘We’ve heard rumours,’ she said. ‘About your family’s power.’

‘Perfect memory,’ Ying said. ‘That’s common knowledge.’

‘There are rumours about hidden aspects of the power.’

‘I’ve heard rumours,’ Ying said thoughtfully, ‘about hidden aspects of the Oliver power.’ To Aaron, he said: ‘They say that the heads of your family can see more than other Olivers see.’

For some reason, Aaron’s gaze flicked to Joan, his expression unreadable. ‘We’re not talking about my family,’ he said.

‘No?’ Ying said musingly. ‘Olivers see. Hunts hide. Nowaks live. Patels bind. Portellis open. Hathaways leash. Nightingales take. Mtawalis keep. Argents sway. Alis seal. Griffiths reveal. But only the Lius remember.’ The words were slightly chanted—the recital of a nursery rhyme. ‘The twelve great families of London,’ he said.

‘I hope you’re not expecting us to pay for that,’ Aaron said dryly. ‘Every monster child in London knows that rhyme.’

Ying’s face did that thing again, where he seemed amused without actually smiling. ‘The family powers are common knowledge,’ he said. ‘But you’re asking about family secrets. If I were you, I’d be concerned that a Liu family secret might cost more than you’re willing to pay.’

‘I’m the one making the bargain,’ Joan said. She was the one who’d wanted to come here. ‘Not Aaron. And I’m willing to pay.’

Ying gave her a long look, as if assessing whether she really wanted to make the trade. ‘Have you ever heard of the zhenshí de lìshi ?’ he said finally.

‘The true history?’ Aaron said.

Ying’s eyebrows went up. ‘You know Mandarin?’

‘No,’ Aaron said. ‘I know of the belief.’ He sounded disapproving.

Ying turned back to Joan. ‘Some people believe that there was once another timeline,’ he explained. ‘One that existed before our own. Some families call it the vera historia. Or the true timeline.’ There was a sad reverence in his voice. ‘We believe that the true timeline was erased, and that this timeline was created in its place.’

‘A fringe belief,’ Aaron said. ‘Everyone knows that the timeline corrects itself. It’s impossible for there to have ever been another timeline.’

‘Some of my family believe they remember fragments of it,’ Ying said.

Joan’s breath caught. It was true, then. The Lius did remember changed events. ‘Do you?’ she asked. ‘Do you remember it?’

Ying took a long moment to answer. ‘The Liu power is perfect memory,’ he said. ‘For some of us, our power goes beyond that. We remember small changes—the ordinary fluxes of the timeline. But only those of great power have glimpsed the zhenshí de lìshi.’

Joan leaned forward, eager. ‘If there were another timeline, then something changed it. Or someone.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Ying said, not unkindly. ‘But that completes our conversation. I’ve given you information about the Liu power. Now you owe a favour.’

‘No,’ Joan said. The conversation was just starting. She needed to know so much more. ‘How was the timeline changed? Please. I’ll owe another favour.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Ying said. He refilled Joan’s tea. ‘As I told you, my family likes to keep things simple. One debt is simple. Multiple debts are complicated. But please. Finish your tea and feel free to peruse the gallery afterward.’

Aaron shifted from the white pillar. He came over to sit beside Joan on the edge of the garden bed. ‘Joan,’ he said softly. ‘He’s met the terms of the bargain.’

‘We can’t leave,’ Joan said. She was sure that Ying knew more. ‘Aaron, I can’t leave until I know.’

Aaron bowed his head. When he raised it again, it was to look up at Ying. ‘I’ll take on a debt,’ he said.

‘No,’ Joan said. That wouldn’t be fair. He hadn’t even wanted to come here.

Maybe Ying would take something other than a favour. But what did Joan have to trade? She hadn’t brought anything with her into this time except for a phone and her clothes—and she’d sold the phone yesterday.

The only thing she still had was . . . She put her hand to her chest, feeling the lines of the necklace under the soft fuzz of her jumper. The man at the market had offered to buy it yesterday and Joan had refused.

Her hands shook as she unclasped it. It was the last thing she had left of Gran. She tried not to think about that as she offered it to Ying. ‘Will you take this instead of a favour?’

‘I’m sorry,’ Ying said.

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