‘Holy shit,’ my father said.
‘I’m inclined to agree with you,’ John said, watching Leo as he balanced on my hand. He glanced at me. ‘Can we put Michael on the other hand?’
‘No,’ I said. ‘I couldn’t hold him as well. Leo is about as much as I can handle.’
‘How much do you weigh, Leo?’ John said.
‘Two hundred and ninety-five pounds,’ Leo said, still hovering above me.
‘Holy shit,’ my father said again.
‘Down,’ John said.
Leo effortlessly lowered himself. He hesitated, watching me. There was complete silence as everybody stared at me with awe. Then Leo fell to one knee and saluted me, bowing his head.
‘What are you, Emma?’ my father whispered.
‘I wish the hell I knew, Dad,’ I said. I ran my hands through my hair and went out. The silence followed me down the hall.
After breakfast the next morning the entire Donahoe clan was sitting around the dining table when John poked his head in the door. ‘They’re here.’
I sighed and rose, the rest of the family following me. We went into the living room. The Dragon, the Phoenix and the Tiger were there, as well as a couple of the Academy dragons, and Gold. The Celestial Masters Meredith and Liu had also come to help out.
‘Step forward,’ the Dragon ordered brusquely. ‘I want to re-evaluate you, to see who would be the best to carry you.’
My family stepped forward without saying a word.
‘Okay, say goodbye now,’ the Dragon said, gesturing impatiently.
I hugged my father and kissed my mother. ‘Goodbye,’ I choked. ‘I’ll see you soon. I’ll come and visit you in the Western Palace.’
My mother held me close and stroked my hair. ‘Come and see us soon, love.’
I went to Amanda and Alan. ‘I am so sorry about this, guys.’
‘We’ll live,’ Alan said. ‘As long as the boys are safe.’
We hugged and kissed goodbye. Simone raced to Mark and David and kissed them both on the cheek, embarrassing them horribly.
I went to Jennifer and stood in front of her, silently, for a while.
‘I’m sorry, Jen,’ I whispered without looking up.
‘Emma,’ she said, and I looked at her. She held her arms out and I fell into them and held her tight.
‘You know I can’t stay mad at you,’ she said.
‘I don’t deserve a family as wonderful as you,’ I said into her shoulder.
John came into the living room. He paused in the doorway, looked down and put his hands behind his back.
‘You don’t need to say anything, John,’ my father said. He gestured with his head. ‘Come on.’
John looked up at my father, his face rigid, then strode to stand in front of him.
My father put his hand out. ‘Will we see you again?’
John shook his hand. ‘I don’t know. If you come down from the palace I can see you, but I can’t travel there. And it might be best if you stayed in the palace until the demon is destroyed. Destroying it will probably kill me as well.’
‘But you’ll come back?’ my mother said. ‘Emma said you’ll come back.’
John released my father’s hand. ‘Yes. I’ve promised Emma that I’ll come back.’
‘How long will it take?’ Alan said.
John was silent.
‘Anything from ten to a hundred years,’ I said without looking up. ‘Probably something in the region of twenty to twenty-five years is the best bet.’
‘Oh God, Emma,’ Jennifer said.
‘A hundred years? So it’s possible that you could already be dead when he comes back?’ Amanda said.
‘More than possible,’ I said. ‘But he’s promised.’
‘What if you’re very old?’ Amanda said. ‘What if it takes a very long time?’
I just shrugged.
My mother went to John and embraced him. He seemed surprised for a moment, then put his arms around her and held her.
‘Look after her,’ my mother said into his chest.
He pulled away to smile down at her. ‘You know I will. I love her more than anything in the world. She and Simone — the two most precious things in the world to me.’
‘He’s given up everything for us,’ I whispered.
‘This is all very delightful and pleasant,’ the Dragon said loudly, ‘but I have places I need to be.’
John didn’t look at the Dragon; he remained holding my mother. ‘Wait.’
The Dragon shifted his feet and sighed loudly.
‘If you need anything at the palace, tell the staff,’ John said. ‘You will be allocated servants. If they are insufficient, then just tell the Tiger.’
‘Don’t worry, Ah Wu, you know I’ll look after them,’ the Tiger said gruffly. ‘I’ll bring Michael back with me when I return.’
John dropped his head and released my mother. ‘Goodbye.’
‘I wish circumstances could have been different,’ Alan said.
‘So do I,’ John said. ‘Now, each of you has been assigned a carrier. Go to them. Goodbye.’
‘Bye, all,’ I said.
Simone ran to my parents. ‘Bye, Mr Donahoe, Mrs Donahoe,’ she said, reaching up to hug both of them. ‘I love you.’
My mother crouched to hold her close. ‘Bye, darling Simone. I didn’t have a granddaughter until now, and I always hoped Emma would give me one. And she already did.’
‘When Daddy’s killed One Two Two you can come and stay for a long time,’ Simone said. ‘Promise you’ll come back.’
‘I promise,’ my mother said. ‘And you must come to Australia.’
‘Okay,’ Simone said, pulling away. ‘I think you should go now, otherwise Emma’s going to cry.’
My family moved to the Shen and Immortals. The carriers lowered their heads and everybody disappeared.
None of us said a word. I turned and went down the hallway to the student room to collect my stuff and return it to my bedroom. John went to his office. Simone went into her room. We were all very quiet for a long time.
Ididn’t need to see John’s face to know that he wore an expression of amused satisfaction as we entered his office on the top floor of the Hennessy Road Academy building. Chinese New Year had come and gone; there had been no more attacks; and it was time for me to take up my duties as Regent-to-be. But mostly I had to do it because by February I had run out of excuses.
The Generals were already sitting around a conjured conference table, waiting for us. They all rose and saluted formally and carefully.