White Tiger

others?’
    Simone turned, looking. She pointed. ‘There’s about five dog demons over there, and a big lizard thing.’
    John concentrated as well. His face went rigid. ‘I can’t see them, Simone. Wait.’ He concentrated again, and Jade flew down to us in dragon form, with a bucket in one claw and a rag in the other. ‘How far away, Simone?’ John said.
    ‘Twice as far as Ah Yat.’
    John indicated the direction Simone had pointed. ‘She says there are about five dogs and a reptile that way. Should be four, five kilometres. Fly up and have a look.’
    ‘My Lord,’ Jade said. She dropped the bucket and cloth, raised her head, her green eyes flashed, and she flew into the air.
    ‘Why’s she holding a bucket?’ Simone said.
    ‘She’s in trouble and she has to wash the windows in her True Form,’ John said.
    ‘Oh, that’s mean, Daddy.’
    ‘It was Emma’s idea.’
    Simone giggled. ‘You’re mean, Emma.’
    ‘She did something really, really naughty, Simone.’
    Jade landed lightly on the grass. She bowed, still as a dragon. ‘Princess Simone was quite correct. Five dogs and a reptile. They sensed me coming and fled.’
    We all shared a look. Simon Wong’s little friends.
    John shrugged. ‘You can sense them coming from a long way off, Simone. You’ll be fine at school.’
    Simone jiggled with delight. ‘Cool!’
    ‘Return to the windows, Jade. You should be onto the gutters by now.’
    Jade picked up the bucket and cloth and grinned, revealing gleaming white dragon teeth. ‘Yes, my Lord.’ She flew back to the house.
    ‘Why could Simone sense them and you couldn’t, John?’ I said.
    ‘Right now I think Simone is slightly more powerful than me,’ John said. ‘Now.’ He dropped to one knee to talk to Simone. ‘Have you noticed how I summon Jade and Gold sometimes?’
    ‘You mean when you call them?’ Simone said.
    ‘Exactly,’ he said. ‘I can call them to come to me. It doesn’t matter how far away they are, I can tell them I need them.’ He paused and selected his words. ‘It would be good if you could call us when you’re at school, if you see a demon. That way we can come and get it for you.’
    ‘That’s a good idea, Daddy,’ Simone said, her little face serious. ‘That way I can study hard and not worry about demons.’
    ‘Okay,’ he said, rising. ‘Let’s try it.’
    ‘How do I do it?’ she said.
    ‘Hold my hand and I’ll show you. I’ll call Emma. It’s about time I showed her how this works.’
    He smiled into my eyes. ‘The first time this happens it can be quite disconcerting, and I’ve been waiting for a chance to show you…’ His voice trailed off.
    ‘Without freaking me out?’ I said.
    Yes, he said, and I jumped. It sounded as if he’d spoken right into my ear.
    Are you okay?
    ‘That’s a very strange sensation.’ ‘Did you see what I did, Simone?’ he said. ‘I don’t know, Daddy. Could you do it again?’ Lady Emma, please remain right where you are. Hello, Emma, Simone said. ‘Did you hear that?’ ‘Yes I did, Simone, well done.’
    She jumped up and down and clapped her hands with delight. Then she hugged her father around his legs. He hoisted her and kissed her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. They shared a moment of triumph.
    ‘Call Leo,’ John said, still holding Simone in his arms.
    Simone went still.
    Leo came charging out the front door, across the lawn and skidded to a halt in front of them.
    ‘Try calling Gold,’ John said. ‘This will be harder. Let me see where he is.’ He paused. ‘He is on the Mountain. The Shadow one, on the Earthly Plane. It may be too hard for you.’
    Both of them stilled, and a minute later Gold appeared. ‘Yes, my Lady Simone?’
    Simone threw her arms above her head with triumph. ‘Yay!’ she yelled. ‘I’m really good!’
    John twirled her and she shrieked with delight.
    ‘Try it, Emma!’ Simone shouted. ‘It’s really easy!’
    ‘Emma can’t do it, Simone. She’s not half Shen like you are,’ John said.
    ‘Don’t be silly, Daddy, I’m not half Shen. Shen are the gods that you see in the temples back in Hong Kong. I can’t be half one of them.’
    John lowered her and went down on one knee to speak at her level. ‘I’m a Shen, Simone.’
    ‘No, you’re not, silly Daddy, you’re just a special man,’ she said, explaining patiently.
    ‘I’m a Shen.’
    She put her little hands on her hips, disbelieving. ‘Okay then, which Shen are