Siren Song 131 Ashes

Even though it had broken his Jid's heart, he sentenced his eldest son Mamud Ilyas al-Ha.s.san to death by a firing squad for the thousands of lives he destroyed, through the attempted coup and the human trafficking ring he managed.

While Hakim al-Ha.s.san pa.s.sed the sentence down, he was unable to view the process himself, and so Liang Jian Amal attended the execution as representation. This had been one of the last things that had needed to be taken care of, now that it was over he could finally attend to his needs.

He put out the cigarette against his heel and left to return to the palace and grab a few things before leaving.

In the front courtyard there was a bit of commotion surrounding two figures in the gateway. His brow wrinkled as he nudged the horse to go a little faster to see what was going on.

Once he was close enough to recognize the figures he was surprised. Liang Jian Amal was completely shocked to see the small woman standing in the gateway, absolutely filthy and covered in cuts and bruises. She had a wild look in her eyes and was completely disheveled, in complete contrast to usual calm collected self. By her feet kneeled an even worse looking man with his arms and hands tied behind his back.

"Hao Jin Ying? Why are you here, I thought you left with-" He stopped himself before saying 'my wife,' his heart dropping and changed it to "Chang. Where have you been for the last 8 weeks? "

"Chairman Liang left me in a bit of a difficult position after he took LiHua and Chang. He came here with armed men, and forcibly took her and then tried to silence me."

"Tch, it's time I defanged that old snake, I'll have to take care of that first.." Liang Jian Amal muttered darkly. "I am glad you are safe, I will see justice for what was done. I was actually about to leave to go to the US, but it looks like there is something I need to settle first in Shanghai. I know you've been through a lot, I can see this but will you come with me?"

"If you don't mind, I am in desperate need of a bath. I brought you a present I'm sure he'll have some interesting things to tell you sir, he and his comrades did for me. Please enjoy my gift while I make myself feel human again." Hao Jin Ying left no room for argument as she headed inside leaving the bound man kneeling in front of Liang Jian Amal.

----

Chang left the crematorium in a cab after listlessly filling out what seemed like endless amounts of paperwork. The nurses gave her several pamphlets for counseling and aid that she left behind, looking at the words only seemed to make the stabbing sensation in her heart feel worse.

In the end all she left with were a mountain of bills that would be mailed to her later, her mother's words which remained unread as if it could change the reality, and a small cold metal urn.

As she rode in silence, she kept her head pressed against the window, trying not to think about the now empty home. As the pain festered she pressed her mother's ashes tightly against her chest, desperately trying to subdue the feeling of drowning in air.