Blue Dragon

Serpent?’
    He nodded. ‘Hn. Just Turtle.’
    As if in answer to his saying the word, a large sea turtle swam right up to the beach and rested its head on the sand between us. Simone dropped her net and raced to stand behind it, her eyes wide with wonder.
    ‘Move away from it, Simone,’ John said quietly. ‘Come behind me.’ His face was expressionless. ‘I told you I did not want to see you.’
    The green turtle watched him, its eyes sad.
    ‘Go,’ he said, glancing sharply away from it.
    It transformed and I gasped. Simone squeaked behind John.
    For a moment I thought there were two Dark Lords on the beach. In human form, the turtle was a young Chinese man appearing to be in his mid-twenties. He was golden and muscular and had long black hair hanging loose over his shoulders. His face had some softer angles than John’s, but there was a remarkable resemblance. He lay on his belly as the turtle had done, half in and half out of the water. He rose to his knees. He wore a simple pair of plain dark green long pants.
    ‘I wish to offer my services,’ he said, ‘my Lord.’
    John didn’t look at him. He didn’t say a word. His face was an expressionless mask.
    ‘You need me,’ the young man said quietly. ‘You don’t have much more time.’
    John shot to his feet, strode into the water and disappeared below the surface.
    The young man turned and sat next to me. ‘Good day, my Lady,’ he said without looking away from the water. ‘My name is Ming Gui, but you can call me Martin, if you like.’ He smiled at Simone. ‘Hello.’
    ‘Hello.’ Simone studied him curiously, then came around him to sit in my lap. ‘Who are you?’
    ‘I’m your big brother. But our dad is mad at me and hasn’t spoken to me for centuries. That’s the first word he’s said to me in over two hundred years.’
    Simone’s eyes went very wide. ‘You’re my brother?’
    He nodded quietly. ‘Hn.’ Something inside me squeezed tight. He was definitely John’s son. The resemblance was devastating.
    ‘What are you, Martin?’ I said.
    ‘I’m just a little turtle Shen,’ he said, turning back to the water. ‘If you want me to go, just say so.’
    ‘He’s mad at you?’
    He nodded again. ‘I did something very wrong. He lost a great deal of face. Both of us did. The entireHouse of the North was shamed. He still hasn’t forgiven me.’ He sighed. ‘I wonder if he ever will.’
    ‘What did you do?’
    ‘Not in front of my sister.’
    He stiffened and froze. His face went blank. Simone’s face went blank as well. Then he and Simone turned to each other and smiled.
    Simone approached and studied him closely. ‘You look a lot like Daddy.’
    He nodded, his eyes sparkling. ‘Thank you.’
    ‘Can you do the Arts?’ she said.
    ‘That’s why I’m here,’ he said. ‘I think you may need me very soon.’
    ‘When Daddy goes,’ she said.
    He nodded.
    ‘Did somebody just talk to you?’ I said.
    ‘Daddy introduced us to each other,’ Simone said.
    ‘He doesn’t want to be on the same beach as me,’ Martin said. He sighed with feeling. ‘Still hasn’t forgiven me.’
    ‘I’d really like to know what you did,’ I said.
    ‘I’ll drop by and tell you about it later, if you like,’ he said. ‘We can talk about the future as well. Whether you are willing to take me up on my offer, after he’s out of the picture.’
    ‘I’m asking Xuan Wu if I can trust you first,’ I said.
    He turned back to the water. ‘Go right ahead.’
    Leo came up and sat down next to Martin. He reached across Martin and offered me a young coconut with a straw sticking out. ‘Thanks,’ I said, and waited for it.
    Leo offered one to Martin, saw Martin’s face and stopped dead. He stared, speechless.
    Martin smiled gently at Leo. ‘Hello, Lion. My name is Ming Gui and I’m the son of the Dark Lord.’
    ‘You’re Martin?’ Leo finally said.
    Martin’s smile didn’t shift as he nodded.
    ‘Michelle told me about you.’ Leo put the coconuts carefully onto the mat. He brushed his hands on his shorts, then held out his huge hand. ‘Pleased to meet you.’
    Martin shook his hand and his grin broadened. ‘I’m delighted to finally meet you.’ He stiffened. His face froze.
    ‘Bye, Martin,’ Simone said, her voice full of disappointment. ‘Sorry.’
    ‘Bye, Simone,’ Martin said kindly. ‘I hope I’ll see you again soon.’
    Simone hesitated, then walked up to him, threw her little arms around his neck and kissed him