Blue Dragon

brought him some congee. He picked up his spoon and stirred the rice, then put his spoon down again.
    ‘Eat. That’s an order,’ I said firmly.
    He shrugged, picked up the spoon and mechanically ate. Martin made a quiet sound of amusement and John glared at him.
    Simone put her spoon down. ‘Finished.’ She hesitated. ‘Martin, Aunty Kwan, could you go out, please? I want to say goodbye to Daddy.’
    Martin left, taking his tea with him. Kwan Yin rose and followed him.
    John dropped his spoon and leaned back.
    I choked on my toast. I took a huge gulp of tea. ‘I’ll go too, and let you say goodbye to Daddy by yourself.’
    ‘No, Emma, I want you to stay,’ Simone said. ‘Because I’m going to hold Daddy’s hand, and you can kiss him goodbye.’
    I tried very hard to swallow. My throat was so thick I couldn’t manage words.
    Simone went to John and climbed into his lap. She threw her arms around his neck and held him tight. ‘Come back, please, Daddy. Don’t die today.’
    ‘I can’t die, Simone,’ he said. ‘I will just be gone for a while, whatever happens. The important thing is that you are safe.’
    She held him tight and he buried his face in her hair,squeezing his eyes shut. They remained unmoving for a while.
    ‘I love you, Daddy,’ Simone whispered.
    ‘I love you, Simone,’ John said, his voice thick. He nuzzled her hair. ‘I will return for you, I promise.’
    ‘And Emma,’ Simone said softly.
    John glanced up at me and smiled sadly. ‘And Emma.’
    John held his arm out and I knelt beside him. I buried my face in his chest next to Simone and he held me close. We remained still, holding each other, for a long time.
    ‘Kiss Emma goodbye,’ Simone whispered. ‘I’m not looking.’
    ‘We don’t need to, sweetheart,’ I said. ‘This is enough.’
    John didn’t say anything. Words weren’t necessary.
    John remained in the dining room while I took Simone to Martin. She went into the kitchen to see Leo first, and was in there for a while. Then she came out, gave me a final hug, and she and Martin were gone.
    I returned to the dining room and drank some more tea. John ate his congee. We didn’t say anything.
    The Tiger turned up and sat down without a word. Ah Yat brought him a pot of Chinese tea and he drank it silently while we ate. Leo came in and finished his coffee.
    Ten minutes later the rest of the Immortals arrived. Ah Yat made tea for them. Nobody said a word.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
    A t ten o’clock we all took our places. John and the Lady went together to Hennessy Road in the car, with Na Zha sitting in the back in case they were attacked before they even started.
    The Tiger and the Phoenix both quickly embraced me then disappeared to guard the students at the Folly.
    Gold went with them to organise the students, then returned. ‘All is ready.’
    Leo helped me into my armour, looping the leather through the buckles and making sure it was fitted correctly. We checked through our weapons. Ah Yat gave us sports bottles full of water without being asked and then disappeared.
    Ready, the Dragon said from the roof. I have about six other dragons with me. Nothing will get past us.
    A while later John’s voice appeared in my head. We will start the feed in twenty minutes. Dragon, inform Gold if you sense them coming. Gold.
    ‘My Lord,’ Gold whispered.
    ‘Where is a good place to wait for them?’ I said. ‘In the training room?’
    ‘Anywhere,’ Gold said. ‘They can only come in one at a time, unless they blow the seals.’
    ‘I’d like to stay in the living room. That way I know what’s happening,’ I said. ‘If they come through the front door, or through the glass, we can stop them.’
    ‘Training room, Emma,’ Leo said softly. ‘Please.’
    ‘Okay,’ I said, just as softly.
    ‘Go. I’ll stay in the living room and keep you posted,’ Gold said.
    ‘You don’t have armour,’ I said to Leo as we prepared ourselves in the training room.
    ‘Never wanted it,’ he said. ‘Too heavy. I’m big enough as it is; with armour on I can hardly move.’
    I nodded. That made sense.
    ‘I love you dearly, Leo,’ I whispered. I sidled to him and put my arm around his waist. He threw his enormous arm around my shoulder and we held each other without lowering our weapons or turning away from the door.
    ‘You’re like a sister to me,’ he whispered back. ‘I think a long time ago I told you he’d never love anybody the way he loved her. I was