White Tiger

  Monica nodded and returned to the kitchen, undoing her apron.

  ‘I’ll see her out and lock up.’ Leo followed Monica into the kitchen.

  I led Simone into the training room. ‘You know what’s happening, Simone?’

  ‘Daddy’s Mountain,’ Simone said. ‘We’ll be safe with Leo.’ ‘I know.’

  Leo charged into the training room and stopped. He took Simone’s hand and led her to the mirrors. ‘Sit here.’

  Simone sat cross-legged in front of the mirrors, unafraid.

  Leo gestured towards the weapons rack. ‘Anything in particular he’s been working on with you?’

  ‘Yeah.’ I selected the short sword from the rack. ‘But what I’d really like is a machine gun and I don’t see one here.’

  ‘Guns don’t hurt them,’ he said. ‘Knives, poles, bladed weapons. You need to cut them or break them.’ ‘What else didn’t he tell me?’

  ‘Probably a lot,’ Leo said with grim humour. He turned to me, raised Dark Heavens and lowered his voice. ‘If I go down, take this. It’s his. It will do a great deal of damage.’ He gestured. ‘In front of Simone.’

  I moved into position. Leo stood in front of me. They would have to make it through both of us to get to her.

  ‘Sharpened your sword recently?’

  ‘Yep. Mr Chen showed me how. But I’d prefer not to have to use it.’

  ‘I’d prefer you didn’t have to use it either.’ Leo faced the door. ‘Ready?’

  I prepared myself in front of Simone. ‘Bring it on.’

  ‘Have I told you how stupid you are?’

  ‘Yep.’

  We waited silently.

  I began to feel ridiculous, standing over the child with a sword, when it was possible that nothing would happen.

  Leo lowered Dark Heavens. ‘Maybe we’ll be lucky and they won’t—’

  The door crashed open. Simone squeaked, then, ‘Demons coming, Leo.’

  ‘Good girl, you remembered.’ Leo unsheathed Dark Heavens and threw the scabbard to one side. ‘How many?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Simone said.

  ‘They can only come in one at a time,’ Leo said. ‘The seals stop them.’

  I pulled my sword out and readied myself.

  The demon appeared in the doorway. It was only about four feet tall, skinny and as black as Leo. It had huge ears and a grotesque, almost comical face. It grinned at us and disappeared.

  ‘Small one,’ Leo said. ‘Saw its own reflection. How many more are there, Simone?’

  Mr Chen walked in the door, holding his sword and smiling. I dropped my arm with relief. ‘Thank God.’

  ‘That’s. Not. My. Daddy,’ Simone said loudly and clearly.

  The demon smiled, raised its sword in a salute to Leo, and moved into a defensive position.

  Leo didn’t move at all in front of me.

  The demon rushed forward and Leo sprang to meet it. Their swords met over their heads then moved together to lock at the hilts with a painful grating sound. Leo and the demon were face to face. The demon’s smile widened. Its other hand shot out to hit Leo’s head, but Leo dodged the blow, spun and jumped back, twisting the demon’s sword away at the same time.

  The demon’s smile disappeared as it leapt forward to strike. Leo blocked the blow, the swords ringing together, but the demon continued to come at him with lightning-fast attacks. Leo moved back as he parried the blows, but when Simone cried out behind him he stood his ground and blocked the demon’s thrusts without shifting his feet.

  The demon became concerned as it saw that Leo had no difficulty dealing with its attacks. Leo didn’t miss the shift in control and pressed forward, still parrying the blows.

  The demon jumped back out of Leo’s reach.

  Leo didn’t give it time to recover. He tore straight into it with a series of fierce attacks. The demon grimaced and fell back. Leo hit it harder each time and the demon blocked with difficulty.

  Leo feinted into the demon’s face with his left fist, and at the same time ran it through with his sword. He twisted the blade inside the demon, then slashed upwards through the demon’s body and out its shoulder.

  The demon smiled. ‘Now you will meet my mother.’ It dissolved.

  Something came down the hallway. A sickening wet slither.

  ‘Mother, Leo,’ Simone whispered. ‘Oh my God,’ Leo said under his breath. I readied myself and hefted my sword. ‘I’m right behind you.’

  ‘Stay there. Don’t get in the way. If I go down…’ He hesitated. ‘Don’t let it have you, Emma. It won’t hurt her, she’ll be okay. But whatever you do, don’t let it take you.’

  ‘I understand.’

  The demon appeared in the doorway.

  Its back end was a slimy snake that oozed toxin over its black scales. The front end looked like the top half of a man with the skin taken off. It had to lower itself on its coils to fit through the door; it was enormous.

  It came halfway into the room and raised its body on the coils. Its skinless head nearly touched the ceiling. ‘You are the Black Lion? Disciple of the Dark Lord?’

  ‘I am just an ordinary man.’

  The demon smiled and its red eyes flashed. ‘I like your skin. I think I will take it.’

  Leo readied himself. ‘Come and get it.’

  It moved incredibly fast for something without legs. Leo stepped forward and spun to strike it with the sword, but it was too fast. Its right hand snaked out and wrapped around Leo’s sword hand at the wrist.

  Leo dragged his hand back and tried to free it but the demon had him. It raised itself on its coils and lifted him easily.

  Leo struggled. He tried to prise the demon’s fingers loose with his left hand. His muscles bulged as he attempted to free himself. His feet hung just above the floor.

  The demon’s one-handed grip slid on Leo’s wrist so it used both hands. Its forked tongue flicked out and snapped over Leo’s face, tracing his features. He screwed his eyes up and grimaced.

  I lunged forward to attack it, but Leo was ahead of me. His free left hand flashed out, grabbed the demon’s tongue and, with a twist and a snap, pulled it out.

  The demon dropped him and screamed. It held its hands to its face, still screaming.

  Leo landed on his feet, spun and sliced the demon in half. The human part hit the floor and exploded into black demon stuff. The snake part writhed for a long time before dissipating.

  Leo took a deep shuddering breath and backed to stand in front of us again. ‘Any more?’

  Simone took a gasping breath and screamed. She collapsed over her knees into sobs. I wanted to comfort her but stayed where I was.

  ‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ Leo said. ‘Don’t move.’ ‘I’m still here,’ I said.

  ‘You’re still stupid too. Looks like the Mother blew the seals. This is a really big one, isn’t it, Simone?’

  Simone whimpered something unintelligible.

  The demon appeared in the doorway. It was of average human height. It appeared to be a perfectly ordinary Chinese human male.

  Leo hissed under his breath. It was Simon Wong.

  Wong leaned one shoulder on the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. ‘Hello, everybody. Been having fun with my little pets?’

  Leo shifted his grip on the sword.

  ‘Three little girls.’ Wong didn’t move from the doorframe. ‘Kissed any nice boys lately, girls? Got a new boyfriend, Leo? Still haven’t made out with the boss yet, Emma? And dear little Simone—’

  Leo swung at Wong’s head. He disappeared. The sword took a chip out of the doorframe.

  Leo backed to stand in front of me.

  Wong reappeared, leaning on the doorframe. He held the Wudang sword. ‘I have a special place in my harem for all three of you, but you will require minor surgery, Leo, before you may take your place. I will not have Entires guarding, regardless of their preference.’

  Leo swung at the demon again, and again it disappeared.

 
‘That is some piece of work,’ he said.

  ‘Freaking coward,’ I said, hoping that Wong could hear me. ‘It keeps running.’

  Wong appeared in the middle of the room. He gestured a come-on. ‘Black Lion. You first.’

  ‘Get him,’ I said softly.

  ‘Oh, don’t worry, Emma, you’re next,’ Wong said. He moved so fast he was a blur. The sword was almost invisible as it swept straight for Leo’s head.

  Leo blocked easily, swept Wong’s sword down in a parry, then twisted away to take a spinning swing at Wong’s neck. Wong ducked under it and jumped back.

  ‘You’re as good as they say you are,’ Wong said. He held back and grinned at Leo. ‘They tell stories about you, you know? You should hear what they have to say.’

  Leo swung at Wong’s head. Wong blocked it, swept Leo’s sword down, and attempted to twist it out of his hands. Leo managed to keep his grip on the sword and pulled back. He took a deep breath and readied himself again.

  Wong shifted his feet and lifted his own sword. A hint of his true nature appeared on his face. ‘You’ve improved, Leo. You’re much better than last time.’ His grin widened. ‘I mean the time before. Remember? When I got through you and grabbed little Simone’s darling mother? I had a lot of fun with her, you know. But she broke.’

  Simone sobbed once, loudly.

  Wong swung at Leo’s head again. Leo blocked the blow and the swords locked. Leo planted his feet and struggled to free the blade but Wong didn’t shift. ‘I’m better too, aren’t I? I’ve been working out.’

  It became a test of strength. They were evenly matched. Leo trembled with the effort of holding Wong’s sword away from his throat.

  Wong stiffened and his eyes turned inwards. He snapped back and grinned. ‘Close enough to kiss you, Leo. What a shame. It would have been fun to have you beneath me, but that pleasure will have to wait until next time.’

  Leo grunted with the effort of holding Wong back. His feet slipped slightly on the mats. His arms shook as he struggled to keep the sword from his throat.

  Wong turned to grin at me without shifting his grip on the sword. ‘Emma, dear. Why don’t you go to him? You could have years together, you know. Sneak in with him. Wake him up. He’ll give you everything you want, and a whole lot more. You don’t know what you’re missing.’

  He disappeared.

  Leo lurched forward, then straightened. ‘Is it gone, Simone?’

  ‘Yes. No more right now,’ Simone said, her voice trembling. ‘That was a really scary one.’

  I dropped my sword and rushed to hold her. ‘We’re all right now, darling.’

  She buried her face into me.

  ‘Stay here,’ Leo said. He charged out of the training room. A few furious bangs sounded as he tried to close the front door. He returned, shaking his head. ‘Front door’s useless. We need a new one.’ He moved his mouth next to my ear and spoke very softly. ‘Emma, if they win on the Mountain, they’ll be straight here. Go. Go now.’

  I stopped with my arms still around Simone. ‘Here?’

  He nodded. ‘Get out now. If you’re here when they come, they’ll get you too.’ His face softened. ‘Believe me, you don’t want that. You have no idea what they’re capable of.’

  I held Simone tighter. ‘No way. I’m staying with you.’ I raised one hand to stop him. ‘You don’t need to tell me. I know. I’m stupid.’

  Simone stiffened and gasped.

  A loud thump resounded in the hallway.

  Leo snatched up Dark Heavens and stood in front of me. I dropped my arms from Simone, grabbed my own sword and stood behind him.

  ‘This could be what scared the prince away,’ Leo said. ‘Is it a bigger demon, Simone?’

  Simone didn’t say anything. We both checked her; she sat wide-eyed and silent.

  We heard it coming down the hallway with dragging footsteps. The strong smell of burning filled the room.

  He appeared in the doorway. He was blackened and bleeding. His smouldering armour hung off him. He staggered halfway into the training room and fell to his knees.

  Simone shrieked, ‘Daddy!’ and threw herself at him. ‘Simone.’ He collapsed.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Leo pushed Simone gently to one side and tipped Mr Chen onto his back. He was soaked with water and covered in mud and blood. His long hair was plastered to his face. Leo pulled the hair away and tilted his head back. He felt his neck, concentrating, then put his ear next to Mr Chen’s mouth. ‘At least he’s breathing and he has a pulse.’ He checked Mr Chen’s head, turning it from side to side, then opened his eyes one at a time. ‘Looks okay, probably just exhaustion. He has a lump on his head—maybe a concussion.’

  Simone hovered. ‘Will he be all right, Leo?’ ‘Give me time to look at him, sweetheart, but I think he’ll be okay.’

  Leo pulled the shredded black lacquer armour away and pushed it to one side. Mr Chen still had his riding clothes underneath. They were soaked with water and blood. Leo ripped the shirt open, revealing his chest, and Simone squeaked. His skin ran with water, blood and thick transparent goo. He had one large angry gash about halfway down his abdomen, and was covered in smaller bleeding cuts and blistered burns.

  Leo ripped off his T-shirt and pushed it into the large wound. He ran his hand over Mr Chen’s abdomen, sweeping the blood away to see the injuries. ‘Ugh. Venom.’ He wiped his hands on his pants. ‘But he hasn’t been poisoned. Stroke of luck; I don’t think the hospital could handle a demon poisoning.’

  He checked Mr Chen’s arms, stopping at the left. He gently probed it. ‘This is broken in two places.’ He ran his hands down Mr Chen’s sides and twisted his slim hips. ‘Good. No fractures here.’ He checked Mr Chen’s legs and pulled off his boots. The left foot was severely swollen and Leo gently pressed his fingers into it. Mr Chen flinched without regaining consciousness. ‘Broken ankle.’ Leo smiled grimly. ‘Don’t know how he made it down the hallway on that.’

  Leo pulled his T-shirt out of the large abdominal wound to check it. ‘He’s lucky this wasn’t deeper.’ He packed the T-shirt over the wound again, then rocked onto his heels. ‘We need to get him into a hospital. He must have defeated them and then come back here to check on Simone. If we can get him to a hospital I think he’ll make it.’

  He smiled sadly up at me. ‘All over.’

  I sighed with relief and flopped to sit on the floor.

  Simone fell into my lap. ‘Everything’s okay?’

  ‘I think he’ll make it, sweetheart,’ Leo said. He pulled his mobile phone out and dialled. He listened silently, then said, ‘Ambulance.’

  Simone moved to her father’s head while Leo gave the emergency line the details of where to send the ambulance. She knelt, lifted his head into her lap and shook with sobs. ‘The demons aren’t supposed to be able to hurt him. They can’t. They can’t.’

  Leo closed his phone. ‘The ambulance is coming. Don’t worry, Simone, I think he’ll be okay.’

  ‘But he’s so weak,’ Simone whispered, still cradling her father’s unconscious head. ‘There’s hardly anything in there at all.’

  ‘I know, sweetheart,’ Leo said, full of pain. He glanced up at me. ‘We’ll need a story. Robbery? Burglars broke in and he stopped them?’

  ‘That won’t explain the burns,’ I said.

  ‘Damn, you’re right. What do we tell them?’

  Inspiration hit. ‘Kidnapped. Beaten. Tortured.’ I checked my watch. ‘We paid the ransom, we got him back. He’s only been gone a couple of hours and ordered us not to contact the police.’

  Leo’s eyes widened with admiration. ‘That’s perfect, Emma. There was a similar case in the papers not long ago. It happens all the time.’ He checked Mr Chen again. ‘But the others weren’t beaten.’

  ‘Take one look at him, Leo, and tell me he wouldn’t have fought back. Hard.’

  Leo nodded. ‘Hope the ambulance comes soon.’

  ‘They won’t find out about him? They won’t be ab
le to tell?’

  ‘What we have here is a perfectly normal human being. They won’t be able to tell anything, provided we keep our mouths shut.’

  Simone rested her cheek on Mr Chen’s bloodied forehead. ‘Don’t worry, Leo, I know what to say.’

  ‘I know you do, sweetheart.’

  ‘I’ll go with him,’ I said. ‘You stay here and guard Simone.’

  Simone’s head shot up. ‘I’m going with my daddy!’

  ‘We’ll all go,’ Leo said. ‘I’ll ask one of the security guards from downstairs to mind the flat. They’re good about that. They can arrange for the door to be fixed while we’re gone.’

  The doorbell rang. ‘It’s the ambulance men, Leo,’ Simone said.

  ‘That was quick,’ I said suspiciously. ‘No, there’s a hospital only five minutes away on the Peak,’ Leo said. ‘Everybody know what to say?’ Simone and I nodded. Leo went to show them in.

  We sat on a couch outside the ward. Simone lay across Leo and me, her feet on me and her head in Leo’s lap. I pulled off her little riding boots and dropped them to the floor. The hack on the horses seemed like days ago.

  A slim young doctor came out carrying a clipboard. He looked around.

  ‘We’re with John Chen,’ I said.

  He came to us and flipped the paper on the clipboard. ‘Family only, please.’

  We all rose. Leo picked up Simone and put her on his hip.

  ‘We’re all family,’ I said.

  Leo glared down at the doctor, daring him to disagree.

  ‘Right, now you can come,’ the doctor said, unfazed. ‘The police want to talk to you as well. You’ll need to give us his ID card number and details later.’

  ‘Will he be okay?’ Leo said.

  The doctor studied the chart. ‘He’s lost a lot of blood, and he’s very weak, but there doesn’t appear to be any critical damage. We want to keep him overnight for observation. He took a severe blow to the head and we need to keep an eye on it.’

  Leo and I shared a look. Leo nodded, very slightly.

  ‘Can we see him?’ I said.