Blue Dragon Part 32

'I'm fine, sweetheart,' Leo said. 'I don't even know what you made me do.'

Simone shook Michael's hand free. 'I don't like that skill. Are we finished yet? I'm hungry hungry.'

'Emma should try it,' John said, gesturing. 'Michael, show her.'

Michael took my hand. I felt him reach inside Leo and pull the strings. Leo walked away and back again. My throat thickened; Leo didn't care at all. He trusted us completely.

When Michael had finished I attempted to reach inside Leo and pull the strings as well, but I simply didn't have the strength to make them move. I struggled, trying to gather enough power to control him.

'You can't do it, Emma,' John said. 'Maybe after a year or so more of training you may be able to. Right now, I don't think so.'

'Good,' I said, and I meant it.

'One more,' John said. 'The most fun one of all. Carrying. Michael can already do it, he'll show you.' He looked around. 'Anybody have a pen?'

n.o.body replied; nope.

'How about we have some lunch beside the pool and do it there?' I said. 'Simone's starving.'

'Yeah!' Simone said.

'You'll have to be careful that n.o.body sees you,' Leo said.

'Not a problem,' John said. 'We'll do it at the end of the pool nearest the lobby, to one side, and if anybody sees us Michael can just blank out their memory.'

'I really don't like messing with people's heads, my Lord,' Michael said as we rose to go out to the pool. 'I thought it was cool when Na Zha showed it to me, but every time I do it I feel lousy afterwards.'

'What, it makes you feel ill?' I said. 'Drained?'

'No,' Michael said. 'It makes me feel bad. It's wrong.'

John moved to walk beside me as we went through the lobby to the stairs that would take us down to the pool. 'It's a shame Leo won't be around to help you, Emma,' he said softly. 'He is the finest judge of character I have ever seen.'

'I know. And I think he and Martin are developing something very special.'

John sighed. 'I know.'

Michael and Simone could do PK. I couldn't. John said I was the weirdest mix of talents he'd ever seen. Great. Even the Xuan Wu thought I was weird.

After lunch we returned to the suite. I sat on the balcony enjoying the scenery and putting photos together for the Tiger to take to my family. John was with Kwan Yin having a quick top-up. Michael had gone with his parents to the islands. Leo and Simone were playing Go Fish in the living room.

A commotion erupted inside. 'Leo!' John shouted. 'Guard!'

I heard thumping and doors banging, and rushed into the living room.

John and Ms Kwan raced in too and stared at the front door. Leo had pushed Simone behind him. John and Ms Kwan went forward to stand in front of them.

'Emma,' John said. 'Stay back.'

'What's going on?' I said.

'He would not do this. I cannot believe this,' Ms Kwan said. 'Why?'

The Dragon appeared next to John and Kwan Yin. 'You are entirely much more trouble than you are worth, my Lord,' he said evenly. 'The seals are blown. I will never have them back to what they were. No Celestial will be able to stay here unmolested for a very long time. I will lose a great deal of money on this.'

n.o.body said anything.

The doorbell rang.

'Leo, weapons, quickly,' John said.

Leo raced to the hall cupboard, scrabbled through the bag and pulled out swords for each of us. He threw Dark Heavens to John, my Serpent sword to me, and hefted Michael's white blade in his own hand.

'Back, Leo,' John said. 'Guard.'

Leo moved to stand in front of Simone and me.

'What's going on?' I whispered.

Ms Kwan answered the door. Martin stood there, smiling slightly. Next to him was an enormous demon. It had taken the shape of an ordinary-looking Chinese man in his mid-fifties wearing a plain shirt and pants. It was the biggest demon I had ever seen short of the Demon King himself. Way into the nineties in level. Absolutely enormous. None of us had a chance against it.

'What have you done, Martin?' I whispered.

'Hold,' Martin said loudly. 'Number One will not harm you, he is here to talk terms. Remember, he has a similar goal to us. He has given his word that during this visit he will harm no one.'

John lowered his sword. 'Go,' he said. 'Leave us.'

Ms Kwan disappeared. The Dragon also vanished.

'Is his word good?' I said.

'Yes,' John said. 'He is renowned for it. Leo.' John held Dark Heavens out, hilt first.

Leo collected the blades and stood holding them, guarding.

'Enter,' John said. 'Leo, take Simone into her room. Emma, please go with them.'

Leo took Simone gently by the hand and led her, wide-eyed and unprotesting, into her bedroom. I didn't move.

Martin and the demon carefully entered and approached John.

'Emma, please,' John said without turning around.

'I am staying here and hearing what he has to say,' I said.

'Come. Sit,' John said, gesturing towards the couch.

Martin smiled at me but I scowled at him.

Martin and the demon sat together on one of the couches. John sat on the other couch. I pulled the chair away from the desk and sat behind John. I folded one of my feet underneath me and leaned on the back of John's sofa.

'My Lady,' the demon said, giving me a small smile.

I ignored him.

The demon gestured and a cup of black coffee appeared in front of him. 'Tea, my Lady?' I shook my head. He nodded to John. 'Xuan Tian?'

John didn't move. 'Ming Gui,' he said, 'after this is completed, you will remain. I wish to speak to you.'

'My Lord,' Martin said with a wry smile.

'Well?' John said.

'Anyone who presents your head to the King will be promoted to Number One,' the demon said. 'I will be out.'

'I am well aware of that,' John said.

'If One Two Two gets your head, it will be only the beginning. He will be promoted. I hate to think of the consequences.'

'The most immediate ones are for you,' John said.

The demon smiled slightly but didn't say anything.

'What is your offer?' John said softly.

'Give me your head-'

'No!' I hissed.

'Give me your head,' the demon continued, 'and I will remain as Number One. One Two Two will remain as he is. I will do my best to ensure that your family remain unharmed.'

'Can you guarantee our safety?' I said. 'Simone's safety?'

'You will be safer than you are now,' he said.

'If I go to the King, he guarantees her safety,' I said.

'If you go to the King it will mean that One Two Two has taken the Dark Lord's head and has been promoted,' the demon said. 'You certainly do not want that, my Lady.'

'Can you take out One Two Two?' John said.

The demon leaned forward, picked up his coffee and took a sip. He put the coffee back down and put his elbows on his knees. 'No.'

'Why not?' John said.

'He has done some things to himself and to his closest allies. He has made himself immensely powerful. I can't take him.'

'He's more powerful than you?' I said.

Number One nodded, his face grim.

'What about the King?' John said. 'Why hasn't he destroyed this one? It's obvious where this is headed. He should have destroyed it a long time ago.'

'That's what I think,' Number One said. 'The King is overconfident. They get that way after a few centuries of being able to handle anything thrown at them.'

'Am I correct in understanding that a lower-level demon can destroy the King and take over?' I said.

'Exactly,' John said. 'This particular King was Number One himself for about five hundred years before sneaking up and stabbing his father in the back.'

'I have vowed not to try against my father, and I am renowned as a creature of my word,' Number One said. 'That is the only reason I am still here today.'

'I really can't see the advantage in giving you the Dark Lord's head,' I said. 'The only real benefit seems to be to you.'

'Please consider my offer, Turtle,' the demon said. 'You do not want to see One Two Two promoted, believe me. He has no hesitation in using modern technology.' The demon leaned back and its voice remained mild. 'He has contacted the other Centres. He is attempting to make pacts with the other Kings.'

John inhaled sharply. 'No.'

'Oh, dear Lord,' I said softly.

'The Celestial must be informed immediately,' John said. 'Martin.'

'My Lord,' Martin said.

'I will consider your offer, One. Go. I will contact you if I decide to give you my head. If I do not contact you, do not approach, because I may take your your head instead. Martin, remain.' head instead. Martin, remain.'

'Okay, whatever you say,' the demon said, and disappeared.

Martin remained on the couch. He smiled wryly again.

'I should give you to the Dragon,' John said mildly.

'Please, go right ahead,' Martin said, the wry smile not shifting. 'I know it'll take me a long time to work this one off.'

'Did he tell you the deal before you brought him?' I said.

'Yep.'

'Then why did you bother to bring him? That deal wasn't anything we'd take him up on, unless we were desperate,' I said.

'You really are extremely stupid sometimes, Martin,' John said. 'It's almost as if you want want to stay out of my good favours.' to stay out of my good favours.'

'I did what I had to do,' Martin said, still smiling.

'Oh geez, you haven't fallen for that b.a.s.t.a.r.d, have you?' I said. 'I can't believe a Celestial like yourself would have anything to do with a high-ranking demon.'

'It's happened before, Emma,' John said. 'But I also find it difficult to believe, considering who Martin is, and whose son he is.'

Martin didn't say anything.