Blue Dragon

into the terminal building. He had taken the appearance of a good-looking Chinese of about thirty. He was still very slim and graceful, and more than two metres tall, but his long turquoise hair was now standard short and black. He wore a pair of elegant grey slacks and a matching silky shirt.
    The customs and immigration counters were deserted.
    ‘Too late,’ the Dragon said. ‘It’s already past six. And we were the only plane coming in.’
    ‘What will we do?’ I said.
    ‘Just go through. I’ll have my staff take your bags. Don’t worry about the paperwork, I’ll arrange for it to be fixed up for you.’
    ‘We could get into trouble for this,’ I said.
    ‘Wait,’ the Dragon said.
    A bubbly tingling sensation moved through me.
    ‘Go straight through. Hurry,’ the Dragon said. ‘I can’t make the Dark Lord invisible for very long, he is extremely large. Quickly.’
    I took Simone’s hand and we rushed past the customs and immigration counters together.
    Stay quiet, the Dragon said. They can still hear you, even though they can’t see you.
    A few drowsy security guards didn’t notice us, even though our feet probably made some noise.
    ‘This is so cool ,’ Simone whispered.
    I hushed her until we were on the other side. The bubbly sensation stopped.
    ‘Can I learn to do that too, Daddy?’ Simone said as we went out the terminal to the car waiting area.
    ‘Invisibility? Probably,’ John said. ‘We’ll have asession together when the Lady is finished with me. We may try a few things.’
    ‘Cool,’ Simone said.
    A large van with tinted windows waited for us.
    ‘This is it,’ the Dragon said. ‘The driver is one of mine. He will take you directly to the resort. I will follow when the luggage is secured. I’ll meet you there.’
    ‘Thanks, Dragon,’ I said.
    He smiled slightly. ‘You are most welcome. Let’s get you sealed and safe.’
    I stopped before I entered the van and looked inside. The driver smiled at me. I held Simone back. ‘Dragon, please double-check for us.’
    The Dragon opened the front passenger door and poked his head in. There was a blinding white flash and the driver disappeared.
    ‘They are certainly on to you, my Lord,’ the Dragon said. ‘Please wait, I will get another driver for you.’
    ‘Damn,’ John said under his breath.
    ‘On second thoughts, I will come with you,’ the Dragon said as another grinning driver materialised in the van. ‘They’re probably planning to ambush us on the way to the resort.’
    ‘How did you know?’ John said.
    ‘I have no idea,’ I said. ‘But I think it’s just application of Murphy’s Law.’
    ‘What’s Murphy’s Law?’ Simone said as I strapped her into her seat.
    ‘If something can go wrong, it will go wrong,’ I said.
    ‘Once you are at the resort you will be safe,’ the Dragon said, pulling himself into the front passenger seat. ‘The seals there are the most powerful in existence. I had them set when the building was erected. They are part of the structure. Nothing will get in.’
    ‘The seals on my house in Guangdong were breached,’ John said grimly.
    ‘These are blood seals, my Lord,’ the Dragon said.
    John stiffened. ‘You will tell me more about this later,’ he said, his voice a low rumble.
    ‘Let’s go,’ the Dragon said.
    No one tried to ambush us with the Dragon in the car.
    The lobby of the hotel was at least five storeys high with a soaring pitched roof. Splashing fountains decorated the centre, and the walls were rich with Malaysian designs and local Borneo handicrafts. The check-in counters were to one side.
    ‘I suggest you go to the end of the lobby and take a look at the resort while I arrange keys for you,’ the Dragon said. ‘I will need to have the keys put through the computer. How many do you need?’
    ‘How many rooms are you giving us?’ I said.
    ‘The Presidential Suite,’ the Dragon said. ‘Fourbedroom apartment.’
    ‘One for me, one for John, one for Leo should be enough, I think.’
    ‘If they are blood seals then the Lady will not be able to materialise in there,’ John said. ‘One for her too.’
    ‘Very good,’ the Dragon said. He hesitated and his face went blank. ‘Good. Your bags are here. I will arrange the keys. Go,’ he said and gestured towards the end of the lobby. ‘Have a look.’
    I took Simone’s hand and we walked across the lobby, John and Leo following us.
    Simone looked around, goggle-eyed. ‘This place is huge