White Tiger

ceiling lay ahead. Three demons, appearing as young office girls in pastel business suits, waited for us.
    Leo and I stopped. The demons behind us came up the escalators and stopped as well.
    Leo and I moved back to back. I faced the office girls: they were smaller, only about level ten. Leo faced the others, the four salesmen and the elderly couple. They were about level twenty.
    ‘Looks like they’re going to get their answer,’ I said.
    ‘Not much we can do, is there?’ Leo said.
    ‘Nope.’
    The three girls threw themselves at me and I didn’t have time to think. I grabbed the closest one by the outstretched arm as she came for me and flung her into the one directly behind her. I kicked the third one in the abdomen at the same time, and I was through her. She dissolved.
    The remaining two crashed into each other and staggered back, then recovered and dived at me again. I ducked the roundhouse fist that came at me, hit one of them in the abdomen with my own fist, then dropped and spun, taking the feet out from under the other one.
    The first demon exploded. The second hit the floor and stayed there, obviously dazed. I fell on top of her and ran my fist through her face.
    I ducked instinctively without even realising. The elderly woman had tried for my head. I grabbed her hand, flipped her over and ran my fist through her face as well.
    I quickly checked around me: quiet. Leo pulled himself to his feet. I rose as well.
    ‘Are you okay?’ he said.
    I wiped my hands on my jeans. ‘Yep. Fine. You?’
    He shrugged. ‘They didn’t lay a finger on me. Not even a scratch.’ He raised his hands. ‘Just filthy.’
    I raised my hands as well. ‘Me too.’
    Suddenly we fell into each other’s arms and held each other, laughing fit to burst. Then we pulled back and wiped our eyes with our shirts; the demon stuff was stuck to our hands and would sting like anything if we rubbed it into our eyes.
    ‘You were great,’ he said, gasping.
    ‘So were you.’ I took a deep breath. ‘You think the car’s still there?’
    ‘Not a chance.’
    ‘We’ll have trouble getting a taxi looking like this.’
    ‘I know.’ He wiped his hands on his slacks. ‘Damn. Another pair ruined.’
    He pulled out his mobile phone and gingerly pressed the buttons, trying not to get too much black stuff on it. ‘Mr Chen, please, Monica.’
    He paused, then, ‘We were attacked by demons in Sheung Wan station, my Lord. It’s highly likely that the car’s been towed…Theatre Lane, I went down into the station to meet her. She was being followed…Nope, we’re both fine.’ He spoke with more force. ‘Sir, we’re fine. They didn’t lay a finger on us, we’re okay. Really.’ He sighed in exasperation and handed the phone to me. ‘Talk to him, Emma.’
    Mr Chen sounded desperate. ‘Are you sure you’re okay? Is Emma all right? She hasn’t been hurt?’
    ‘John,’ I said, and he went silent. ‘I’m just fine. Both Leo and I are okay.’
    ‘Thank the Heavens,’ he said.
    ‘But we need to find a way home—the car’s probably been towed. We’re both covered in demon stuff and we’ll have trouble finding a taxi.’
    ‘Hold.’ He was silent for a while. Then, ‘There will be a white Mercedes waiting for you at exit B of Sheung Wan station. The driver will bring you home.’ His voice softened. ‘Are you sure you’re okay, Emma? You’re not hurt?’
    ‘John, I am absolutely fine, and the sooner you stop talking to me, the sooner I can get home and get this disgusting stuff off me.’
    ‘Hurry home, Emma,’ he said, and hung up.
    ‘Does this car belong to Bai Hu?’ I asked the driver of the white Mercedes.
    ‘Yes, ma’am,’ the driver said. ‘I just brought it round from the hotel in Western.’
    ‘Sorry about the demon stuff,’ Leo said.
    ‘Not a problem, sir. Happens all the time.’
    ‘All the time?’ I said.
    ‘I often take the Lord Bai Hu’s sons out demonhunting, and they usually return in a far worse state than you are now.’ He glanced in the mirror and smiled at Leo. ‘It’s an honour to be driving the Black Lion.’
    Leo hesitated, then, ‘Thanks.’
    ‘Why do they call you that?’ I whispered.
    ‘Because they all hate me.’
    After we’d showered at home we met in the dining room and told Mr Chen all about the attack.
    He sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. ‘Well, we knew this day would come.’
    ‘You’ll have to cut back on the social activities, Emma, until you can