Blue Dragon

None of us had a chance against it.
    ‘What have you done, Martin?’ I whispered.
    ‘Hold,’ Martin said loudly. ‘Number One will not harm you, he is here to talk terms. Remember, he has a similar goal to us. He has given his word that during this visit he will harm no one.’
    John lowered his sword. ‘Go,’ he said. ‘Leave us.’
    Ms Kwan disappeared. The Dragon also vanished.
    ‘Is his word good?’ I said.
    ‘Yes,’ John said. ‘He is renowned for it. Leo.’ John held Dark Heavens out, hilt first.
    Leo collected the blades and stood holding them, guarding.
    ‘Enter,’ John said. ‘Leo, take Simone into her room. Emma, please go with them.’
    Leo took Simone gently by the hand and led her, wide-eyed and unprotesting, into her bedroom. I didn’t move.
    Martin and the demon carefully entered and approached John.
    ‘Emma, please,’ John said without turning around.
    ‘I am staying here and hearing what he has to say,’ I said.
    ‘Come. Sit,’ John said, gesturing towards the couch.
    Martin smiled at me but I scowled at him.
    Martin and the demon sat together on one of the couches. John sat on the other couch. I pulled the chair away from the desk and sat behind John. I folded one of my feet underneath me and leaned on the back of John’s sofa.
    ‘My Lady,’ the demon said, giving me a small smile.
    I ignored him.
    The demon gestured and a cup of black coffee appeared in front of him. ‘Tea, my Lady?’ I shook my head. He nodded to John. ‘Xuan Tian?’
    John didn’t move. ‘Ming Gui,’ he said, ‘after this is completed, you will remain. I wish to speak to you.’
    ‘My Lord,’ Martin said with a wry smile.
    ‘Well?’ John said.
    ‘Anyone who presents your head to the King will be promoted to Number One,’ the demon said. ‘I will be out.’
    ‘I am well aware of that,’ John said.
    ‘If One Two Two gets your head, it will be only the beginning. He will be promoted. I hate to think of the consequences.’
    ‘The most immediate ones are for you,’ John said.
    The demon smiled slightly but didn’t say anything.
    ‘What is your offer?’ John said softly.
    ‘Give me your head—’
    ‘ No !’ I hissed.
    ‘Give me your head,’ the demon continued, ‘and I will remain as Number One. One Two Two will remainas he is. I will do my best to ensure that your family remain unharmed.’
    ‘Can you guarantee our safety?’ I said. ‘Simone’s safety?’
    ‘You will be safer than you are now,’ he said.
    ‘If I go to the King, he guarantees her safety,’ I said.
    ‘If you go to the King it will mean that One Two Two has taken the Dark Lord’s head and has been promoted,’ the demon said. ‘You certainly do not want that, my Lady.’
    ‘Can you take out One Two Two?’ John said.
    The demon leaned forward, picked up his coffee and took a sip. He put the coffee back down and put his elbows on his knees. ‘No.’
    ‘Why not?’ John said.
    ‘He has done some things to himself and to his closest allies. He has made himself immensely powerful. I can’t take him.’
    ‘He’s more powerful than you?’ I said.
    Number One nodded, his face grim.
    ‘What about the King?’ John said. ‘Why hasn’t he destroyed this one? It’s obvious where this is headed. He should have destroyed it a long time ago.’
    ‘That’s what I think,’ Number One said. ‘The King is overconfident. They get that way after a few centuries of being able to handle anything thrown at them.’
    ‘Am I correct in understanding that a lower-level demon can destroy the King and take over?’ I said.
    ‘Exactly,’ John said. ‘This particular King was Number One himself for about five hundred years before sneaking up and stabbing his father in the back.’
    ‘I have vowed not to try against my father, and I am renowned as a creature of my word,’ Number One said. ‘That is the only reason I am still here today.’
    ‘I really can’t see the advantage in giving you the Dark Lord’s head,’ I said. ‘The only real benefit seems to be to you.’
    ‘Please consider my offer, Turtle,’ the demon said. ‘You do not want to see One Two Two promoted, believe me. He has no hesitation in using modern technology.’ The demon leaned back and its voice remained mild. ‘He has contacted the other Centres. He is attempting to make pacts with the other Kings.’
    John inhaled sharply. ‘No.’
    ‘Oh, dear Lord,’ I said softly.
    ‘The Celestial must be informed immediately,’ John said.