‘His word’s not good, you know that,’ I said. ‘He’ll come straight after Simone if he has your head. And me. And Leo, and Michael, and anybody else he can get his hands on. I won’t have a choice, love.’
John studied his hands.
‘Just make sure you stay with us,’ I said. ‘As long as you’re with us, we’ll be okay. Look after yourself. For Simone.’
‘If I run into the Serpent alone, that will be the end of it,’ he said.
I didn’t say anything.
He looked me straight in the eye. ‘There is a way to hold the Serpent off. We can be imprisoned.’
‘What?’
‘You can bind us. With the right sort of enclosure, it’s possible to bind the Serpent. Stop it from joining.’
‘Could the Turtle be bound as well? With the right sort of enclosure?’
‘Yes.’
‘Even at full strength?’
‘Yes.’
‘Even the combined creature?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh my God. How many people know of this, John?’
‘Myself. The Lady. The other three Winds — a similar thing may be inflicted upon them. The Celestial. Others, I don’t know.’
‘Does the Demon King know?’
‘I don’t know. He’s never tried me.’
I put my head in my hands. ‘Oh God.’
‘We should try to enclose the Serpent. That way there is no risk of me running into it alone and rejoining.’
‘I couldn’t do that to you,’ I whispered. ‘I love you too much to do that to you. Either of you.’
‘Get out! Quickly!’
I shot out of my seat and ran to the door. I fumbled with the handle, eventually managed to open the door and threw myself out. I leaned against the wall of the hallway and breathed. I had to stop doing this to us. Every time we mentioned our feelings for each other, I had to leave the room before he drained me completely.
We won’t be going to Paris, I will arrange another place. I am calling the Lady now.
After school the next day Simone and I were spread out in the living room doing her homework. She didn’t really need my help, she was exceptionally bright, but we enjoyed the time spent together.
The doorbell rang. ‘It’s Aunty Kwan,’ Simone said, ‘and Qing Long. With Jade.’
‘Wonderful! Jade’s back!’ I cried, shooting to my feet.
I rushed to answer the door, but Leo was ahead of me. He opened the door. ‘My Lord. My Lady.’ He nodded to Jade and she nodded back without smiling.
Qing Long didn’t say anything as he stepped through the door. He was in his normal human form, taller than Leo, slim and elegant as a dancer, with turquoise hair and matching eyes, and wearing a grey silk embossed robe.
Kwan Yin stopped and took Leo’s hands. ‘Hello, Leo. Let me look at you. You look well.’
‘Thank you, my Lady,’ Leo said.
I took Jade’s hands and studied her. ‘Are you okay?’ I said.
Jade nodded without looking up. ‘Just fine, my Lady. Lord Qing cared for me exceptionally well.’
Leo stopped and listened. ‘Lord Xuan says Ms Kwan and Lord Qing are to go to the dining room.’
‘What’s happening?’ I said.
Come in too, Emma, John said into my ear.
‘I have to go too,’ I said to Jade.
‘I have work to do,’ Jade said. ‘The accounts will be backed up for weeks. By your leave, I’ll return to the Academy.’
I nodded to Jade and she disappeared.
‘Leo, I’ve been called in as well,’ I said. ‘Mind Simone for me? Help her with her maths?’
Simone giggled. ‘More like I help him with his maths.’
Leo grinned. ‘That’s right.’
I followed Ms Kwan and the Dragon into the dining room. Qing Long stopped and saluted John before sitting.
John nodded. ‘Qing Long.’
I remained silent, wondering.
‘For your benefit, Emma, I’ll tell you what I’d like to do. Paris is too far; I won’t make it such a distance from my Centre, now. But I do want to be as far from the demons’ Centre as I can manage.’
‘The resort is on the Eastern Rim. It should suffice,’ Qing Long said. ‘I will provide you with suitable accommodation. Do it there.’
‘Where?’ I said.
‘Kota Kinabalu,’ John said. ‘Sabah. Borneo.’
‘I’ve heard about KK,’ I said.
‘It is as far away from the Centre as the Dark Lord can manage in his current state,’ Ms Kwan said. ‘Far enough away from the demons’ Centre, yet still close enough to our own.’
‘Is the water there clean enough for you to swim?’ I said.
‘Dragon?’ John said.
‘Yes,’ the Dragon said. ‘The shoreline is slightly polluted, but if you go through quickly it shouldn’t be a problem. Out on the islands, in the marine park, absolutely. Should be clean enough.’
‘Excellent!’ I said. ‘You can do both!’ I grinned at the Dragon. ‘Lord Qing Long, thank you so very much. You have no idea how much we appreciate this.’
‘Good,’ the Dragon said with a small smile. ‘I’m losing a lot of income giving you the Presidential Suite and providing you with demon staff.’
‘I’ll give you a pile of gold to sit on,’ John said.
‘Ah Wu! That was uncalled for,’ Ms Kwan said.
John and the Dragon flashed each other a quick smile.
‘Will we take everybody?’ I said.
‘Michael is to go to the Western Palace and spend time with his family,’ John said. ‘So are you.’
I shot to my feet, ready to shout. Then I changed my mind and sat down again. ‘I should spend this holiday time with my family,’ I said softly.
‘Exactly,’ John said.
‘So I will spend it with you. And Simone, and Leo. And Ms Kwan. My family.’
He opened his mouth to protest.
‘I don’t have much longer with you. Every second counts.’
He closed his mouth with a snap.
‘Good,’ I said. ‘Can we take the jet to the airport there?’
‘Yes,’ Qing Long said. ‘I will arrange it. Leave it to me. Enjoy. The resort is quite new and very elegant. I think you will like it.’
‘What are the chances of us being attacked while we’re there?’ I said.
‘Minute,’ the Dragon said. ‘I have placed extensive seals on the resort. I will be there. You will be undisturbed.’
‘Dragon, thank you so much,’ I said.
‘You are most welcome, my Lady,’ he said with a small blue smile.