‘Are you staying here?’ I said.
The Tiger and Rhonda both nodded. ‘Got a two-bedroom suite on the other end of the resort,’ the Tiger said. He leaned forward over his knees to speak intensely to John. ‘The Dragon claims to have put in blood seals, Ah Wu.’
‘Michael, leave us,’ John said. ‘I wish to speak to your father privately about this.’
‘I will retire,’ Ms Kwan said, and returned to her room without another word.
Michael rose as well. ‘You want me to go back to our room? Mom? Dad?’
‘Anywhere in the resort is okay, except the bar,’ the Tiger said without turning away from John.
‘There’s a games room and business centre downstairs with broadband,’ I said. ‘The pool is very good as well.’
Michael shook his hands in front of his face. ‘By your leave.’
I had a sudden inspiration. ‘Leo!’ I yelled.
Leo’s door opened. ‘My Lady?’
‘Show Michael around? Maybe take him downstairs and do some hand-to-hand? He could probably use the practice. You up to it?’
‘Just wait, I’ll put a shirt on,’ Leo said.
‘Good idea, Emma,’ John said.
After Leo and Michael had gone out, John and the Tiger went grim. ‘Emma and Rhonda, could you leave us?’ John said.
Neither Rhonda nor I moved.
‘Waste of time, Ah Wu,’ the Tiger said.
‘I want to know,’ I said.
‘Me too,’ Rhonda said.
‘I always knew he was a complete bastard, but this is way past the boundary of acceptable,’ the Tiger said. ‘It’s one thing to encourage Celestials to stay here, but blood seals…’
‘Have you asked him about the source of the blood?’ I said.
‘He claims he bought it,’ John said. ‘He claims not to have harmed a single human.’
‘Oh, and sticking big needles in them isn’t harming them?’ the Tiger growled. ‘He’s taking advantage of you, Ah Wu. Don’t let him get away with it.’
‘He will keep,’ John said.
‘But he’s given us an awful lot of help this trip, John, you have to admit,’ I said.
‘Is there some rule about harming humans?’ Rhonda said.
‘More a matter of honour than a rule,’ John said. ‘Humans are weak. It is simply not honourable to harm them, particularly when they are defenceless. And besides, the Earthly is their plane. We are Celestials. This is their world, not ours.’
‘You talk as if neither of us is human,’ I said softly. ‘I’m not sure how I feel about that.’
‘Both of you are already more than human,’ the Tiger said. ‘Both of you are much, much more. I know for sure that Rhonda is well and truly Worthy.’
Rhonda blushed furiously.
‘How’s Louise?’ I said, and instantly regretted it.
The Tiger and Rhonda both stiffened. The Tiger scowled. ‘She had a girl, number two hundred and forty. Both mother and child are doing well. She says to say hello, and to come and see her soon.’
‘Maybe when my life has returned to something slightly less interesting,’ I said, and smiled at Rhonda.
She smiled back. ‘Never going to happen,’ she said. ‘You will be cursed with an interesting life, I think.’
‘So what will you do, Ah Wu?’ the Tiger said, changing the subject.
‘Take this under advisement,’ John said. ‘In the past it was unthinkable; blood seals were only achievable through injury. Now, with modern technology, it is possible to harvest blood without harming the donors.’
‘You’re not actually saying this is okay?’ I said.
‘Blood seals are impregnable,’ John said matter-of-factly. ‘Not even the Lady can pass through them unassisted. Not a single demon can enter this complex without a suitable escort. The Dragon does have a point.’
‘Trust a yin creature to say something like that,’ the Tiger said. ‘The use of blood is unthinkable. Not even that red-headed bastard would do something like this.’
Rhonda stared at John, wide-eyed.
‘I don’t believe him myself sometimes,’ I said.
‘You are altogether too damn yin right now,’ the Tiger said. ‘Hurry up and get that goddamn Serpent back.’
I put my head in my hands.
‘Sorry,’ the Tiger said softly.
‘If you have nothing else you wish to discuss,’ John said, rising, ‘I have things I need to do. You are dismissed.’ He bowed to Rhonda. ‘Lady. Please join us for dinner this evening.’
He went into his room without saying another word. Ms Kwan emerged from her own room, nodded to us, and followed him, closing the door behind her.
‘How long are you staying?’ I said.
‘Just a couple of days,’ the Tiger said, then smiled affectionately at Rhonda.
‘Go out to the islands, they’re fabulous,’ I said. ‘Oh, Simone’s started to breathe water.’
‘She is more impressive all the time,’ the Tiger said. ‘Where is she?’
‘Asleep,’ I said with amusement. ‘Worn out. You’ll see her at dinner. You’ll come?’
‘Sure,’ the Tiger said, and rose. ‘Let’s go and have a look around and see if we can find that son of ours. I’d like to see him sparring with the Lion, that should be good.’
‘You’re not having him back, you know,’ I said as I saw them to the door.
The Tiger grinned. ‘Not even if I promoted him?’
I stopped dead. ‘How…Promoted? You wouldn’t.’
‘What if he were my Number One?’ the Tiger said. ‘Would you still hold on to him?’
‘You can’t promote him to Number One, he’s not Immortal,’ I said as I opened the door for them. ‘So don’t try that stuff with me.’
The Tiger shook his hands in front of his face. ‘My Lady.’
Rhonda took my hand and kissed me on the cheek. ‘Look after yourself, Emma.’
I kissed her back. ‘You too, Rhonda.’ I squeezed her hand, then released it. ‘See you at dinner.’
At the end of the eleventh day, John and I sat on the balcony overlooking the water and shared a pot of tea. Simone was asleep, exhausted as usual. Michael was busy in the business centre, chatting with his friends over the net. Leo had disappeared, probably taking a solitary stroll along the waterfront.
Frogs sounded in the garden pond below us, and crickets chirped all around. The night was a blaze of stars; the clear air seeming to magnify their brilliance. We couldn’t see the ocean or the islands, but the small waves hissed as they washed against the beach below us. Smoke rose lazily from the mosquito coil inside the decorative ceramic frog next to the balcony rail.
‘You still have two more days,’ I said. ‘Relax. Enjoy the time.’
‘I intend to,’ John said, pouring more tea. ‘But there is something else I want to do as well.’
‘No work,’ I said.
‘Work for you. The Dragon has an executive development centre here. Team building, focus groups, things like that.’
‘I don’t think our team needs much building,’ I said wryly.
‘No, you are quite correct. But the facilities can be used to teach some advanced techniques. As I said, I never did get you flying.’
The door to the suite opened and I stiffened.
‘Leo,’ John said softly, and I relaxed.
‘Alone?’
John hesitated, concentrating. ‘No.’
‘Martin?’
John’s voice was very soft. ‘Yes.’
‘Good.’ The door to Leo’s room opened and closed. ‘I’m pleased for him. Can you get Jade in to catch?’
John laughed quietly.
I realised, and joined him. ‘That was unintentional.’
‘I’m sure it was. Jade’s busy doing the taxes. I’ll get the Dragon to catch.’
Both of us laughed quietly together. John poured more tea.
Lightning flashed across the ocean on the horizon. The sound of the thunde
r echoed deeply across the water.
‘There is an enormous storm out there,’ John said. ‘It will hit us in about half an hour. The rain will be torrential.’
‘Let’s just stay here and enjoy the remaining time we have then.’
He didn’t reply.
The executive development centre was mostly outdoors. There was a military-type obstacle course, artificial rock walls for climbing and abseiling, and a large open area used for corporate paintball tournaments. It was perfect.
‘Revise the wall-running first,’ John said, gesturing towards the rock walls. ‘Show Michael. He could probably learn the skill as well.’ He turned to Qing Long. ‘Could you take True Form about four, five metres long?’
Qing Long eyed John with disdain. ‘The smallest I can manage is about ten metres. I am an extremely large Shen, you know that. Take it or leave it.’
John’s face went rigid and he looked the Dragon right in the eye. The Dragon went completely still. Then he smiled, bowed slightly, and changed into True Form of about five metres long. His Dragon form was glittering turquoise and silver with scales that rattled with a metallic sound as he moved. He thrashed his tail with its enormous silver fin and wiggled his head from side to side.
‘Close enough,’ John said.
‘Come and watch, Michael,’ I said. ‘This requires a lot of concentration.’
‘You know what you have to do?’ John said.
‘Yeah,’ Michael said. ‘It sounds hard.’
‘If the energy gets away from you, be sure to drop it,’ John said. He gestured for the Dragon to position himself underneath me.
I readied myself and studied the wall appraisingly. ‘Ready, Dragon?’
‘My Lady,’ the Dragon said.
I ran to the wall, took three strides up it, and lifted myself from the inside using the energy centres. I had it. I ran all the way to the top of the wall, about ten metres. I grabbed the top and jumped to stand on it. It was difficult to balance; the wall was a thin layer of what appeared to be fibreglass over a metal frame, only about a centimetre thick. I turned and looked down.
Try something, John said into my ear. Jump off. Use the centres again, this time in the opposite direction, to slow your fall.
‘What if I lose it?’ I shouted down.
Call, John said. The Dragon will catch you.
‘If I come down too fast, catch me,’ I called to the Dragon.
My Lady, the Dragon said, his voice hissing in my ear.
I hesitated. This would be even more difficult; I would have to be very careful. It was much easier to move the centres when I was already going in the same direction.
I concentrated. I wanted to let myself simply fall off the wall, but it was at a slight angle and I might hit it on the way down. I had to leap clear of it.
I jumped. I tried to ignore the sensation of falling, and instead concentrated on the energy centres. All three, moving in the opposite direction, smoothly. Smoothly, upwards.
I slowed my descent, but not enough to avoid injury when I hit. The ground came rushing up to meet me.
‘Catch me!’ I yelled into the air and spun onto my back. I dropped the energy and sped up. I hit the Dragon’s forearms with a jerk that jarred through my body.
‘Thank you,’ I said.
‘You are most welcome,’ the Dragon said. ‘Was that really the first time you have attempted that?’
‘Yes,’ I said. He tipped me out of his arms onto the ground and I turned to study the wall again. ‘Slowing my descent is much harder.’
‘Have another try,’ John said, ‘and then we’ll let Michael attempt it. Don’t tire yourself too much; you need to try horizontal holding as well.’
‘How long have you been training this one, Ah Wu?’ the Dragon said.
‘I think about a year and a half,’ John said. ‘Emma?’
‘That’s about right.’
‘Let me know if you tire of her, Ah Wu,’ the Dragon said. ‘Despite her plain appearance, she would make a worthy addition to any household, untouched or not.’
I faced the Dragon. John did the same thing.
‘You will need to line up,’ I said softly. ‘The White Tiger and the King of the Demons have both attempted to win me away from Xuan Wu already. But you are all completely wasting your time. I’m a lot like him, and his number is one. For me, there will never be any other.’
The Dragon’s expression was unreadable. He gazed at me with his enormous shining turquoise eyes. Then he spoke. ‘You are quite correct, my Lady, and I most sincerely apologise.’ He lowered his massive silver-fanged head over his front legs. ‘Please believe me, I meant no offence. Permit me to present you with a gold coin later.’
I turned back to the wall. ‘Let me have another try.’
You’ll have two coins when you get back, John said into my ear.
I didn’t reply. I ran to the wall, hurled myself up it, and made it to the top without difficulty. The skill was easier each time I did it.
I turned at the top and concentrated. I gathered my energy and jumped away. I ignored the fact that I was falling and concentrated on moving the energy. I gently moved the centres upwards, then with more force. I slowed myself; I had it. I floated down. At about five metres up I put my arms out and rotated so that I was feet first, balancing for a soft landing. I studied the ground, readying for the impact.
I completely lost it. I fell straight into the ground and hit it hard, left side first, winding myself.
John raced up, crouched next to me and put his hand behind my head, lifting it. ‘Are you all right?’ he said. ‘Are you hurt?’
‘I’m fine, I’m fine,’ I said, trying to suck in enough air. ‘Nothing’s broken. Just had the wind knocked out of me.’
‘Thank the Heavens,’ he said, and took my hand in his. He smiled into my eyes and I realised. Too late. I opened my mouth and inhaled deeply, trying to get enough air in to shout at him. Too late.
The great gaping dark vortex opened in front of me and I was sucked in. My ears were full of rushing wind and my eyes full of raging darkness.
Something brilliantly blue and silver flashed and then everything went black.
‘This time she really will tear strips off you,’ Leo said, his voice full of amusement.
‘I know,’ John said.
Damn. I couldn’t move.
‘She moved,’ Simone said.
‘Squeeze my hand if you can hear me,’ John said.
I tried. I didn’t know if I did it.
‘She squeezed my hand, Daddy,’ Simone said.
Okay. I tried the other one.
‘That’s me,’ John said.
‘Hold,’ the Dragon said. ‘Ah Wu, Simone, let go.’
My hands were released and a warm breeze washed over me, making my hair flutter. I inhaled deeply, breathing in the sweet air. It filled me; my blood flowed back.
‘Whoa,’ Michael said softly.
‘She is extremely large, my Lord, are you sure she’s human?’ the Dragon said as the warm air flowed over me.
‘Fat chick,’ Leo said.
Simone giggled.
‘You will keep,’ I croaked.
‘Michael, get her a drink of water,’ John said.
‘That’s the best I can do,’ the Dragon said, and the warm air stopped. ‘She will be weakened, but still able to complete the training, I think.’
‘You can open your eyes now,’ John said.
I did. I was still on the training course, on the ground. All of them crouched next to me, concerned, except for Michael, who quickly appeared holding a water bottle.
‘Help me up,’ I said. Leo took my hand and gently raised me so that I was sitting. Michael handed me the bottle and I took a huge drink, then gasped a breath. ‘Thanks, Qing Long.’
‘You are welcome,’ the Dragon said, his turquoise eyes glowing.
‘You really are a stupid damn Turtle,’ I said. ‘You haven’t been able to touch me for more than a year no
w, and you completely forgot.’
John didn’t say anything but his eyes were full of amusement. Simone giggled again.
‘Has Michael tried it yet?’ I said.
‘No,’ John said.
‘How long have I been out for?’
‘Only a few minutes.’
‘Good,’ I said. ‘Give me a couple of minutes while Michael tries. Then I want to have another go.’
‘You sure you’re up to it?’ John said.
‘What do you say, Qing Long?’ I said.
‘Let me look at you. Yes. Not a problem,’ the Dragon said. ‘Sit, drink some water, rest for a few minutes, watch Michael. Even better, I will get you an energy drink. If you get some carbohydrates into yourself you will be fine.’
He nodded his huge blue and silver head and a bottle of sports drink appeared on the ground next to me.
‘Thanks,’ I said, grabbed the drink, twisted the lid off and took a swig.
Michael, John and the Dragon went to the climbing walls together. Simone and Leo stayed with me.
‘What are you guys doing here?’ I said. ‘I thought you were having a swim, Simone.’
‘Leo won’t go in with me. It’s boring,’ Simone said. ‘The pool’s too small. I want to go back out to the islands and feed the fish. And Leo won’t let me go to the kids centre and play there.’
‘They won’t let him stay and guard you,’ I said. ‘It’s not safe.’
Simone crossed her little arms in front of her chest. ‘Humph.’
‘Don’t you want to stay and watch me and Michael learn to fly?’
‘No,’ she said, irritated. ‘I want to learn to fly too.’
She concentrated on her father, arms still crossed over her chest. He turned to her, then a big grin spread across his face and he gestured with his head.
Simone threw her arms up, whooped with delight, and charged over to him. He’s going to teach me to fly too! He says it won’t hurt my bones at all!
‘Great,’ I said. ‘Another thing she’ll be better at than me.’
‘One day she’ll probably be protecting you,’ Leo said.
‘Help me up,’ I said, putting my hand out. ‘I think one day she’ll probably be protecting both of us.’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN