White Tiger

slowed to a walk because Simone’s pony couldn’t keep up with Star’s long strides.
    ‘What happened?’ I said.
    ‘My Mountain is under attack.’
    ‘How bad?’
    ‘Very bad. An army of demons. My Dark Disciples are holding them off, but it is an extremely large force and they need me there.’
    ‘Can you go? Without losing your human form?’
    He hesitated, still leading Simone’s pony. He didn’t look at me. ‘I hope so, Emma.’
    ‘Go now,’ I said. ‘I’ll mind Simone.’
    He turned but didn’t really see me. ‘No. This may be a diversion so they can grab Simone. I need to see her safely with Leo before I go.’
    I nodded, understanding. If anything really big came after us I didn’t have the skill to hold it off. We needed Leo.
    When we returned to the stables the grooms for Simone and me were already waiting. Mr Chen threw himself off Star and cast around; his groom was nowhere to beseen. He hissed with frustration and gently led the horse into its stall. Then he took us out to wait at the entrance to the stables.
    His eyes unfocused again. He listened for a long time. ‘They’ve broken through the wall. My Palace is on fire,’ he whispered, stricken. ‘They are desecrating my halls and pavilions. They need me there now to make some rain to put out the fires.’ He refocused. ‘ Where the hell is Leo ?’
    ‘There he is, Daddy!’ Simone shouted, and ran to Leo who was charging down the drive towards us.
    Mr Chen turned to go, but I stopped him with a hand on his arm. ‘John.’
    He hesitated.
    ‘John. This could be goodbye.’ I swallowed. ‘I just want to say…’ I struggled to find the words. ‘I just wanted to say…’
    He took my hands, raised them to his face and kissed them. He gazed into my eyes, full of pain. ‘You don’t need to say anything. I know.’ He released my hands and ran into the stables.
    Leo approached me with Simone on his hip, carrying her easily.
    ‘—and Daddy said there’s a lot of demons up there and he’s going there now and we have to stay here and we’ll be just fine with you, Leo,’ Simone finished without taking a breath.
    ‘Let’s get her home and safe, Emma,’ Leo said grimly. ‘How bad is it?’
    We turned and walked back up the drive towards the car. ‘Very bad.’
    ‘Damn.’ We reached the car and he unlocked it with the remote. He gently dropped Simone into the back seat. ‘This may be it, Emma.’
    ‘I know,’ I said softly. I buckled Simone in and Leo pulled himself into the driver’s seat.
    ‘It? What, Leo?’ Simone said. ‘Lunchtime.’
    ‘Oh, yeah. Daddy will be hungry after killing all the demons. We should make him some tea. I wonder if he’d like some bean curd? Or some noodles?’
    ‘I’m sure he would,’ Leo said. He choked and tried to turn it into a cough.
    When we arrived home Leo pulled down Dark Heavens, the sword in the hallway. He turned to me and spoke softly. ‘Emma, take off now. They don’t want you, they want her. Get yourself out of this now; as long as you’re not here you’ll be completely safe.’
    ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
    ‘Go, Emma.’
    I moved closer and glared up into his face. ‘No! I’m staying here with Simone!’
    He bent and studied me carefully. ‘Are you sure?’
    ‘Of course I’m sure!’ I took Simone’s hand. ‘Where’s the safest place?’
    Leo shook his head. ‘You are amazingly stupid sometimes.’
    ‘I know. Where?’
    ‘Training room. Monica!’
    Monica came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel. She saw the sword in Leo’s hand and her eyes widened.
    ‘Monica,’ Leo said, ‘Mr Chen won’t be needing you for the rest of the day. Take the afternoon off.’ He hesitated, then spoke with force. ‘ Out .’
    Monica nodded and returned to the kitchen, undoing her apron.
    ‘I’ll see her out and lock up.’ Leo followed Monica into the kitchen.
    I led Simone into the training room. ‘You know what’s happening, Simone?’
    ‘Daddy’s Mountain,’ Simone said. ‘We’ll be safe with Leo.’ ‘I know.’
    Leo charged into the training room and stopped. He took Simone’s hand and led her to the mirrors. ‘Sit here.’
    Simone sat cross-legged in front of the mirrors, unafraid.
    Leo gestured towards the weapons rack. ‘Anything in particular he’s been working on with you?’
    ‘Yeah.’ I selected the short sword from the rack. ‘But what I’d really like is a machine gun and I don’t see one here.’
    ‘Guns don’t hurt