White Tiger

it.’
    Everybody stared at me.
    ‘Let me destroy the demon.’
    ‘Do you think you are ready, Emma?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Very well.’ Mr Chen went to the rack and selected the short sword he’d been teaching me to use. ‘You identified it; it is your privilege to destroy it.’
    I took the sword, pulled it from its scabbard, tossed the scabbard to one side and readied myself. I nodded without looking away from the demon.
    ‘Go, Emma,’ Simone said softly behind me.
    Leo hushed her and she squeaked with indignation.
    The shadow of the demon disappeared. Something changed in the demon’s eyes and I knew she was free.
    She raised her hands, palms up. ‘I am unarmed. Are you that much of a coward?’
    No, I wasn’t. I stepped back and passed the sword behind me to Leo without looking away from the demon.
    ‘Be very sure, Emma,’ Mr Chen said.
    I moved forward, faced the demon and moved into a left guard stance.
    I felt uncertain for a moment, then it hit me like a lightning bolt. I’d been waiting all my life for this moment. It just felt so damn good. I couldn’t hold back the huge grin that spread across my face. I didn’t feel a hint of fear; only the thrill of battle.
    The demon didn’t move. I gestured a come-on. Leo hissed under his breath and Simone hushed him.
    The demon wasn’t trained in the Arts. She threw a fist at my face and I blocked it easily, and tried to hit her in the face with the other hand at the same time.
    It didn’t work. She was faster than me. She somehow thrust through me but I blocked it again. I did a spinning kick to take her feet from under her, and she fell onto her back.
    I lunged forward to hit her in the face but her palm lashed out and struck me in the nose. My eyes were full of blood and my face was a mass of pain but my fist went through her and she dissolved.
    I straightened to stand upright and the floor moved under me, making me stagger. I tried to wipe the blood out of my eyes, but before I could, strong hands grabbed me and tipped me gently onto my back. A towel swept over my eyes, clearing the blood, and I saw Mr Chen. He was holding me with his hand behind my neck.
    He put his other hand on my forehead, took it away and smiled gently. ‘It’s not broken. You’ll be fine.’ He looked up. ‘Leo. Icepack.’
    Leo went out the door.
    Simone appeared over her father’s left shoulder. ‘Is Emma okay? She’s bleeding!’
    ‘Emma will be fine,’ Mr Chen said. ‘Go to Monica. Change out of your uniform. We’re finished now.’
    Simone pulled herself up and went out.
    ‘You have the makings of a fine warrior, Emma,’ Mr Chen said. ‘You have a great deal of raw natural talent, combined with the courage of a tiger. It is just a shame that you have come to me so old.’
    ‘Positively geriatric,’ I quipped. ‘I’ll be thirty soon.’
    He stroked my hair.
    Leo reappeared with the icepack and Mr Chen put it on my face.
    ‘You were terrific,’ Leo said.
    ‘Yeah, look what I let it do to me,’ I said. ‘It nearly broke my nose.’
    Leo grinned over Mr Chen’s shoulder. ‘The first one I faced broke my nose, my jaw and my left arm. I win.’
    ‘I remember,’ Mr Chen said without looking away from me. ‘You threw your sword away as well. You two are as bad as each other for heedless valour.’
    Leo and I shared a smile. We were probably both thinking the same thing though: how stupid we were.
    Mr Chen moved the icepack away. ‘It’s stopped bleeding now. Do you think you can stand up?’
    ‘I can try,’ I said.
    Leo took one arm and Mr Chen took the other. They raised me easily. They released my arms, then stood ready to grab me if I went down again.
    I swayed slightly and steadied myself. I raised my hands as they moved to help me. ‘I’m all right.’
    ‘I’ll call Monica,’ Mr Chen said.
    I shook my head. Bad move: stars sprang up around me, but they cleared quickly. ‘I’m okay.’
    ‘Have a shower. Have a rest. We will mind Simone,’ Mr Chen said.
    ‘I’ll be fine.’ I moved to the door. Once I started walking I felt okay. ‘I am fine.’
    They followed me to my room anyway. When I reached the door I turned back. ‘I’m all right, really.’
    ‘Tell me if you need help. I’ll call Monica,’ Mr Chen said.
    ‘You sure, Emma?’ Leo said.
    ‘I’m fine !’ I turned and opened the door, went in and closed it in their faces.
    I stormed to the bed, grabbed the fake rat off it, went back to the door and slammed it open. I