Blue Dragon

you.’ I sighed. Michael
    particularly wasn’t a morning person. ‘Michael’s a prince anyway. You’re both very special.’
    They glared at each other. Simone poked her tongue out at Michael, who turned back to his cereal and pointedly ignored her.
    ‘Ah Yat,’ I said, ‘where’s Lord Xuan? I just had a call from the Academy; he was supposed to be there and never turned up.’
    ‘The Lord is still sleeping, ma’am,’ Ah Yat said with a smile.
    I glanced at the clock over the kitchen door. Eleven o’clock and he was still sleeping? Simone looked worried. I tried to control my face.
    ‘What?’ Michael said.
    ‘That’s very late,’ I said. ‘He wasn’t up late last night either. Where’s Leo, Ah Yat?’
    ‘In the training room, ma’am,’ Ah Yat said, the smile gone. ‘Is the Dark Lord all right?’
    ‘I hope so,’ I said softly. ‘He is just sleeping?’
    Ah Yat’s eyes unfocused, and she nodded.
    ‘We should go and have a look, Emma,’ Simone said.
    I hesitated.
    Simone rose and took my hand. ‘Come on, Emma, you’re nearly married anyway. It’s okay. He won’t mind.’ She sounded much more mature than her six years. Her eyes unfocused, then she snapped back. ‘I told Leo.’
    We went down the hall together, leaving Michael in the kitchen, his expression grim. Leo met us outside the training room.
    ‘He has been sleeping much more lately,’ Leo said. ‘Most days last week he wasn’t out of bed before we took them to school.’
    I nodded. He was right.
    ‘He said to call the Lady if he went into a coma,’ I whispered.
    Leo’s face went rigid. ‘Oh my God.’
    ‘Let’s go and see if he’s okay,’ Simone said, pulling my hand. ‘Come on, Leo.’
    My heart was in my throat as we approached his door. Simone tapped on it. Not a sound. My stomach fell out.
    Simone opened the door for us and led us in. The room was dark and he was asleep, as Ah Yat had said.
    Simone dragged me to him. He was on his back, hisnoble face peaceful, his dark hair spread in a wild tangle around his head.
    ‘Daddy,’ Simone whispered. ‘Daddy, wake up.’
    He didn’t move.
    ‘Oh, dear Lord,’ I said softly.
    Simone reached under the covers and found his hand. She pulled it out and held it. ‘Daddy.’ She brushed her hand over his face. ‘Look inside, Emma.’
    I put my hand on his forehead and concentrated. I sagged with relief. His eyes opened. He smiled slightly at us.
    ‘What are all of you doing in here?’ he said, his voice low. He turned to Simone. ‘Don’t let go of my hand while Emma’s touching me.’
    I removed my hand from his forehead but Simone didn’t let go. I crouched to look at him directly. ‘It’s after eleven o’clock, John.’
    He shot upright. ‘I have a class to teach!’ He grabbed his forehead and fell back on the pillow.
    Simone and I both held him; she by the hand and I by the arm.
    ‘Are you okay?’ I said.
    He nodded, his eyes closed. He opened them and smiled at us again.
    ‘Are you ill, my Lord?’ Leo said from behind us.
    John shook his head. ‘No. Just…’ He didn’t finish.
    ‘We should get the Lady,’ I whispered.
    ‘How long until we go?’ he said, his eyes searching my face. ‘What day is it today? How long?’
    ‘It’s Saturday today. We go Monday,’ I said.
    ‘I’ll make it.’ He smiled. ‘Leave me. I just need to sleep.’
    I dropped my head into my hands, then brushed my hands through my hair, desperate. ‘Leo, please take Simone out.’
    Simone didn’t protest and I didn’t look as they left.
    ‘Can I feed you myself?’ I said.
    ‘No, of course not,’ he said. ‘You are the last person in the world who should try that.’
    ‘You won’t make it, John!’ I whispered fiercely.
    He didn’t say anything.
    ‘Can Meredith feed you?’
    ‘I don’t want to risk it,’ he said. ‘I could easily destroy her.’ He turned his head to me. ‘More than death, Emma. If I were to drain her, it would be destruction .’
    ‘Call the Lady,’ I said. ‘She keeps saying she’ll come and do it here.’
    ‘I’ll make it,’ he said. ‘If I call her and she feeds me here, we’ll have demons down our throats straightaway. They’ll know how weak I am and come after all of us. Every single place will be under attack. Here, the Folly, the Academy, everywhere. Best to wait until we are far from their Centre. She is an incurable optimist offering to come here herself. But the consequences would be disastrous.’
    ‘You were