Temple: A New Journey Begins
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Xia entered the old Spanish-style mission house that had been the home of Lyon Holmes. It was rumored that he had led a life like no other. Tales sprang up about the man that he had dabbled in the mystic arts of the East. He was not a Shaolin, but he was thought to belong to the order of the Dim Mak. The order had once been one of healing until certain individuals discovered that the touch of the serpent could be used to kill. A simple quick jabbing touch behind the earlobe proved most effective, poisoning that person's life force, quickly and effectively. It was one of the arts that Xia had decided she wanted to learn besides what she had learned from her father.
With her ability to cloak herself in darkness and move unseen, she could strike and no one would even know she had been there. It was a perfect setup. There would be no mark on the body, no evidence to show how that person died. It was perfect, except for one thing, the Shaolin. Eventually, they would learn who or what was killing their order, but for now, no one suspected a thing. Initially it had taken her many years and thousands of dollars to learn of this place, the birthplace of her most hated enemy. For years she had waited for her revenge and now it would seem revenge was closer than she ever hoped for.
Xia poured herself a drink then rested back against the chair with a satisfying sigh. Her mind played back the events of the past four weeks. It wasn't hard to discover which of the monks were Shaolin. Cloaked in shadow and hidden from prying eyes, it was easy to walk among the monks and see which monks had the brands and which ones did not. After that, it was a simple task to begin the elimination.
The killing of the Shaolin priests would have its desired effect. She knew eventually, he would come. As the weeks began to pass, and as each priest died by her hand, she was beginning to have her doubts, until she spied a well-known shape in the distance. He had the same gate, the same build, but this was a much younger man. In her cloak of darkness she watched him approach the ruins of the temple. He turned toward her and she saw the face of her enemy.
'He must be his grandson,' she thought. 'I was too late to take my revenge a second time against your grandfather. I have yet to take it against your father for tricking me. That will happen when I will take my revenge against you. The line of Caine will cease to exist and my father can once again rest in peace.'
She had continued to watch and followed the Shaolin in her cloak of darkness. A man approached. One that she recognized as a member of the small community. She watched him toss a knife at the priest. What was he up to? Was she going to have a rival? Would this person beat her to the punch? Xia stopped for a moment and thought about the rumors she had heard throughout the town. She had not paid them any mind, but perhaps she would have to check them out again. Someone else was not happy that this particular priest had returned. Perhaps if she could find out who that person might be, they might be able to join forces.
Perhaps it was time she let the priest know that she was here, and the best way to do that was to return to the shrine. Xia followed the young priest and his companion. She did her best to keep her distance because she did not know the skills of this particular Shaolin. He was young, and yet the Caines were unique. They were so much more than just Shaolin priests. Xia had to be careful not to let her presence be known before she had a chance to carry out her plan.
She waited until both the young priest and his companion enter the home of Samuel Lowery, then she once again entered the shrine.
Xia's thoughts returned to the present and she brushed her fingers along the serpent that marred her right hand. After she had received the brand, a tattoo was placed over the burn to give it three-dimensional shape. It was the mark of the dim mak, and it was her badge of honor. She bore this mark for 12 long years, continuing to learn all of the secrets of the dim mak.
She learned how the touch could be used for healing as well as using it to strike down her enemies. When the serpent was used with a caress and the open palm placed against another, healing energy would fill that being, and within 48 hours, all evidence of illness would disappear.
When the touch was quickly applied with the pointing of the fingers, it was as if the serpent was alive and striking at prey. The person receiving that bite would die within 48 hours. The death would be painful and the person would become completely aware just who it was who murdered them.
Xia sat back and smiled at her own ingenuity then took another drink of her scotch. She smiled at the prospect of giving Caine's grandson that poison touch, and seeing the face of Peter Caine as his own son died in agony before him.
Continues with Part 7
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2003.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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