Blue Dragon

weapons in a pile at his feet. His face was grey.
    ‘I thought Ming Gui would be useful,’ Number One said, studying his hands. ‘He has been much more trouble than he is worth.’ He glanced up at John. ‘Are you sure that this one is yours, Turtle? Everybody knows that your kind produce nests of mixed parentage, that you just walk away from.’
    John stiffened and his eyes blazed. Then he sagged. ‘I can’t contact either of them.’ He fell to sit on the other couch and put his head in his hands. ‘No.’
    The demon rose. ‘I’d better go and clean out my nest,’ he said. ‘You should have taken me up on my offer.’
    ‘Wait!’ I said before he disappeared. ‘Where’s Simone? Where are they?’
    The demon shrugged. ‘Don’t ask me. Could be anywhere.’ He smiled. ‘I suggest you give my dad a call, Emma. The only way the child will stay safe now is if you go and screw the hell out of him.’ He nodded to John. ‘Turtle. It’s been nice knowing you. You should have given me your head.’ He disappeared.
    John grabbed Dark Heavens from the couch next to him, threw himself up and went into the trainingroom without saying a word. Leo turned like a puppet and headed down the hallway, also towards the training room. I followed them. John waited for Leo with Dark Heavens in his hand.
    ‘Kneel,’ John said.
    Leo fell to his knees without a word.
    ‘Leave us,’ John said.
    ‘No,’ I said. ‘Anything you do to Leo, you’ll have to do in front of me.’
    ‘Very well then,’ John said, and hefted the sword. He moved to stand over Leo.
    Leo smiled slightly and lowered his head.
    ‘Wait,’ I said. ‘If we trade your head for Simone, I’ll need Leo to assist me guarding. And I may have to use the phone. If I use the phone, then Leo will be all she has left.’ I gestured impatiently. ‘We don’t have time for this. Let’s just go and get her out!’
    John hesitated.
    ‘Do it,’ Leo said without looking up.
    ‘You would forfeit your life?’ John said.
    ‘I have failed. Again. I should pay.’
    ‘And you will,’ John said. His voice was very mild. ‘First, you will pay by living. Then you will pay by helping us to get her back. And then, if we do get her back and you survive it, you will pay by guarding her until the day you die. A natural death. That’s an order.’
    Leo collapsed over his knees and moaned, a wordless sound of agony.
    ‘You have failed me, Leo,’ John said mildly. ‘And your punishment will be: that you live.’
    ‘No,’ Leo whispered into the floor.
    ‘Get up, collect your weapons and prepare,’ John said. ‘Both of you.’
    ‘I still don’t have your promise, Emma,’ John said as Leo drove us to Kowloon City. John sat in the front seat, I was in the back.
    ‘Where’s Michael?’ I said. ‘Do you have any other Celestials to help out?’
    ‘I sent Michael home. He and Gold will guard the apartment so you have a safe place to return to. The Tiger, the Phoenix, the Dragon and the Third Prince will meet us at Kowloon City Park. I want your word, Emma.’
    I tapped the stone.
    ‘I was awake. I know what’s happening,’ the stone said.
    ‘Do you know where the entrance to the tunnels is?’ I said.
    ‘In the yamen building,’ the stone said. ‘I couldn’t find exactly where. Gold will have to help me look. We will both need to move around the room to find it.’
    ‘Your word, Emma,’ John said. ‘Promise me.’
    I was silent.
    ‘Please, Emma, don’t make me beg you. I will if I have to. Ngoh kow —’
    ‘Don’t you dare beg me—you’re a Celestial Emperor!’ I snapped. I ran my hands through my hair with exasperation. ‘I don’t want to give you my word on this, John, you know I don’t.’
    ‘I want you safe when I return, love.’
    ‘What’s he asking, Emma?’ Leo said softly.
    ‘He wants me to pretend to fall for the Demon King if I have to use the phone. So that I won’t be thrown to the Mothers.’
    Leo was silent, watching the road.
    ‘Promise me, Emma.’
    ‘Only if I have no other recourse. Only if that’s the only way to avoid the Mothers. Only as a last resort,’ I said.
    ‘Your word,’ John said.
    ‘Do it, Emma,’ Leo said without looking away from the road. ‘This is about as close as he can get to a last request. Both of us will be able to die with our minds at ease, knowing that you won’t be hurt.’
    ‘We will find Simone and get her out of there,’ I said grimly. ‘And then we will all go home and