White Tiger

greatest achievements of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The palace is situated on the slopes of the Wudang Mountains in Hubei province and contains Taoist buildings from as early as the 7th century. The palace was a World Heritage Listed site.
    ‘What, the journalists didn’t see the demons? Are they invisible or something?’
    ‘The demons attacked the Mountain on a higher plane,’ Leo said. ‘The one at Wudangshan reflected the damage. At least that’s my understanding of it. You ever been there? Wudangshan?’
    I shook my head.
    ‘It’s a really amazing place. The whole Palace clings to the side of the mountain. There’s a little temple right on top of the mountain, made of gilded copper with a gold roof, with a statue of him, ’ he nodded towards the door, ‘inside. Love to see that. The one on the Celestial Plane, I mean.’
    ‘Maybe one day he’ll be able to take you.’
    ‘He won’t be taking anyone,’ Leo said with bitter finality. ‘He’ll hang around until Simone’s ready, and then he’ll go.’
    I sighed. ‘Most of the Mountain on the higher plane is gone anyway.’
    ‘It’ll be killing him,’ Leo said. ‘It was bad enough when he couldn’t go there. Now that it’s been destroyed I hate to think how he’s being affected. The Mountain is a part of him.’
    ‘And that part of him has been destroyed with it.’
    Leo dropped his head.
    Ms Kwan came in, and Monica made her a pot of tea. Ms Kwan seemed tired.
    ‘Are you okay?’ I said after Monica had moved away. ‘You’ve been holding human form for a long time.’
    ‘I spend most of my time human,’ she said. ‘I wander the world. I care for you all.’
    I nodded understanding. It was one thing to give your life for another, but she gave her whole Immortal existence to serve humanity.
    ‘Ms Kwan,’ Leo said, ‘there’s something we haven’t told him. About the attack.’
    ‘What, Leo?’
    Leo fiddled with his coffee mug. ‘I didn’t tell him about one of the demons that attacked us. It was a Demon Prince.’ He tilted his head, still studying his cup. ‘It was the one that killed Michelle.’
    ‘Do not tell him,’ she said sharply. ‘I will be the one to tell him. He is not ready yet. I think I know the one you mean. It does not have the skill to defeat you, Leo, but it is learning.’
    ‘It broke in and stabbed me in the back in October.’
    ‘I am not surprised,’ Ms Kwan said. ‘It is quite a piece of work.’
    ‘You have no idea,’ I said. ‘It said some things you wouldn’t believe.’
    ‘I would believe it,’ she said. ‘I wish the King had not sworn that foolish oath. To be Number One is a very grand prize for them. They know Ah Wu would swap his head for anything he loves. We must not let it have its hands on Emma or Simone, Leo. You must protect them.’
    ‘So far they’ve only sent small ones to try me out, and I’ve managed to avoid facing them,’ I said. ‘I don’t need Leo’s protection, I can handle it.’
    Ms Kwan hesitated, looking at me, then turned and glared at Leo. ‘She doesn’t know?’
    Leo smiled wryly.
    I looked from one to the other. ‘What don’t I know?’
    Ms Kwan sighed. She picked up the teapot and two cups. ‘Come with me, Emma, we need to talk.’
    ‘Sorry,’ Leo said as we went out.
    ‘You will very shortly receive the sharp edge of my tongue,’ Ms Kwan said without looking back.
    Leo’s voice followed us down the hallway. ‘You don’t have one, Ms Kwan, and you know it.’
    Ms Kwan led me to my room. There was very little evidence of her residence there. She gestured for me to sit on the couch and sat next to me. She poured the tea.
    ‘Now.’ She turned to face me. ‘It is obvious that these stupid men have not told you.’
    ‘Told me what?’ Then I understood. ‘Why he won’t have me. Why won’t he, Ms Kwan? We could haveyears together! I don’t need anything permanent. I don’t need promises or grand sentiments. If I could just have him for the short time we have left…’ My voice broke and I tried to control it. ‘I don’t need more than that.’
    She passed me the box of tissues from my desk.
    I pulled one out and wiped my eyes. ‘I know he feels the same way! Even the demon said I should go in and wake him up!’
    ‘Emma. Dear Emma.’
    I dropped my head with misery. ‘That’s what he called me in the hospital.’
    ‘I cannot believe these two useless men have not told you, but I should not be surprised. They really will