Blue Dragon

started talking together, asking me what had happened, then turned to Simone, checking that she was okay.
    Michael and Rhonda came in, and Monica and Ah Yat too, when they heard the noise. Michael rushed to Simone, lifted her and pulled her close for a hug, making her squeal. Then he gently lowered her and threw his arms around me. Rhonda hugged and kissed us as well.
    ‘Don’t you ever go off by yourself like that again,’ Rhonda scolded Simone, then grabbed her and held her tight.
    Something moved in the corner of my eye. The ring had been sitting on the hall table next to the front door. It floated into the air, then the stone took human form. He came to me and embraced me. He pulled back and held my face in both hands. ‘It’s good to have you back, dear,’ he said, his pale blue eyes shining under his white hair. He dropped his hands onto my shoulders. ‘Now, hold your hand out. I want to go home.’
    I put my hand out and he folded up, back into the ring, which slid itself onto my finger.
    That feels so much better, it said. It’s good to be home. Who was buying your clothes? You look like a street sleeper.
    I didn’t have a chance to say something scathing. The doorbell rang and everybody froze.
    ‘It’s two small demons,’ Michael said softly. ‘Everybody back.’
    I knew who it was. ‘It’s okay,’ I said, and went to open the door.
    Yi Hao and Er Hao stood uncomfortably on the other side of the gate.
    ‘Come on in, ladies,’ I said. ‘Come and meet the family, and then I’d better find something for you to do.’
    The two demon servants came in, obviously intimidated by the large number of people in the living room. Yi Hao held a small box wrapped with red and gold paper.
    ‘It’s okay, nobody will hurt you,’ I said, and closed the door behind them. ‘These two little demons looked after me.’
    ‘This is for you, ma’am,’ Yi Hao said, holding the gift out to me. ‘I don’t know what it is; he said to give it to you.’
    I took the gift to examine it.
    ‘What is it?’ Michael said.
    ‘I have no idea,’ I said. ‘Simone, what’s inside it?’
    ‘A CD,’ Simone said. ‘And a phone.’
    ‘What on earth for?’ I said. ‘Simone, is it safe to open?’
    ‘Can’t you see inside it yourself, Emma?’ Michael said softly.
    ‘It’s safe to open,’ Simone said.
    I knelt next to the coffee table and opened the box. The little dragons raced up, wide-eyed with curiosity. The baby stone lifted itself and hovered above them, watching as well.
    Inside the box was, as Simone had said, a CD and a phone. The CD was a writable one, obviously containing files. There was a note on top.
    Call me. Come and have lunch, I’d love to see you. Here’s your story. Please send me a copy when it’s all finished. Have you thought about publishing it? It’s a great read. I loved your description of me.
    George R.
    I put the lid on the box and pushed it to one side, then turned to sit on the sofa.
    ‘I suppose I’d better tell you where I’ve been for the last three weeks.’
    We sat around the dining table: Jade, Gold, Michael, Simone, me. It was five of us now, and would be for a very long time.
    ‘Can you see him?’ I said.
    ‘Yes,’ Gold said. Jade nodded. They didn’t elaborate.
    ‘Tell us,’ Simone said.
    Jade and Gold shared a look.
    ‘Something’s wrong,’ Simone whispered. ‘Is he okay?’
    Jade sighed. It was Gold who spoke. ‘Underneath the icecap of the North Pole, where the water is freezing and dark, swims a great black Turtle, its shell half a li across.’
    Simone grabbed my hand before I could pull it away.
    I changed, knocking the chair over behind me with my tail.
    Michael, Jade and Gold all shot to their feet. Jade moved into a guard stance, but Gold and Michael both generated enormous balls of chi and hurled them straight at my head.
    I closed my eyes and waited. Nothing happened. I opened my eyes.
    ‘They did something to Emma, everybody,’ Simone said, her voice small. She had risen to stand next to meand was still holding my hand, her other arm protectively in front of me. ‘Don’t try to hurt her. It’s really her. Okay?’
    Michael turned his Inner Eye on me and gasped with the pain.
    ‘Whoa,’ he said. ‘You’re half demon .’
    ‘Who did this to you, my Lady?’ Gold said.
    ‘One Two Two,’ I said, my voice hissing. ‘It’s still me, I swear. Simone’s touch forces me to take…’ I hesitated, then took a deep breath. ‘True