Blue Dragon

on.
    Kwan Yin gracefully stood.
    After Leo had tied the belt of the robe, he fell to one knee and saluted her. She placed her hand on his head.
    ‘Will he be able to do it at will?’ I said.
    She hesitated, gazing at him, her hand still on his head. ‘With a great deal of concentration and training, in the right circumstances he will.’
    ‘I won’t get a chance to try then,’ Leo said, returning to his feet and fixing the robe. ‘One more week, and then I’m off demon hunting.’
    ‘You may be able to learn it in a week,’ I said.
    ‘I’ll be practising with the sword,’ he said. ‘That will be much more useful than claws anyway.’ He turned to go out of the room, took a couple of steps, and tottered. I rushed to hold him up, and he leaned on me.
    He straightened. ‘Let me go. I’m not weak, it’s just a matter of regaining my balance.’ He took a couple more steps, realised that he had it, and moved more confidently. ‘Tell Mr Chen I’ll meet him back in the dining room when I’ve put some clothes on.’
    ‘Emma,’ the Lady said, and I turned back as Leo went out. A glowing white aura surrounded her. ‘It does not matter what you are. The fact that you can make this energy is inconsequential. Do not let the foolish Dragon sway you. You will never harm your family. Never.’
    ‘But what am I?’ I said.
    The aura blinked out. ‘It does not matter what you are. Because it is who you love that is the most important.’
    She was right. She was always right.
    I went to her, fell to one knee and saluted her as Leo had. She placed her hand on my head and I felt her power move through me: a feeling of total peaceful serenity. ‘You will never harm them,’ she whispered. ‘Go and prepare. Ask Ah Wu to teach you energy calming techniques, because very soon you will need them.’
    ‘Not for a week,’ I said. ‘But thank you, that’s a good idea.’ I pulled myself to my feet.
    ‘I am no longer needed here,’ she said. ‘Remember, though, Emma, you can call me any time you need me.’
    The doorbell rang: Simone was back. I raced out of the training room with delight. John and the Tiger were already in the hallway, and John opened the door.
    Simone threw herself at her father and squealed. He raised her so that she nearly touched the ceiling, then held her close.
    Martin smiled through the doorway and disappeared.
    John moved Simone to one hip and closed the gate and then the door.
    ‘Hello, Uncle Bai!’ Simone said loudly. She saw me. ‘Everybody’s okay? Everybody’s fine?’ She saw the wreck of the living room. ‘Is everybody okay?’
    ‘Everybody’s fine, sweetheart,’ I said. ‘And Gold had a baby.’
    ‘A baby ?’ Simone cast around excitedly. ‘Where? Where?’ She stopped. ‘Where’s Leo ?’ She concentrated, looking for him. ‘You’re in your room, Leo, come on out. I know you’re there!’
    Leo came out, fully dressed, and Simone wriggled a request to her father. He let her down and she raced to me, gave me a quick hug and a kiss, and then ran to Leo, who hoisted her into his arms. She wrapped her little arms around his neck with glee. ‘Everybody’s okay !’ she shouted into his grinning face.
    ‘Gold’s sleeping, he’s very tired after having the baby,’ I said. ‘It just looks like a rock anyway.’
    ‘Uncle Bai, give me a ride!’ Simone shouted, jiggling in Leo’s arms with delight. ‘And then Daddy can do some sword with me! I hope Ah Yat’s made something good for dinner!’
    ‘If Leo lets you down I’ll give you a ride,’ the Tiger said. ‘But you know you’re really getting too big for this.’
    Leo gently lowered Simone and she grabbed the Tiger’s hand and dragged him into the living room. Ah Yat had finished cleaning up the glass and was taping clear plastic over the window frames. The Tiger transformed and Simone crawled onto his back. She was so big now that her feet nearly touched the floor.
    I checked my watch. Three twenty. Only just over three hours since the attack. It seemed like forever.
    ‘Should we get together and discuss what we’ll do while the feed happens?’ Leo said.
    I shrugged. ‘I suppose.’
    John gestured towards the dining room and he, Leo and I went in and sat together. My diary was on the dining table in front of me, where I had left it that morning. I flipped it open and pulled out the card for Simon Wong’s law firm.
    ‘Will they be able to recognise the Tiger when he walks into the law offices?’ I