Blue Dragon Part 62

'You, Emma. You are the best to stay with her, and you would be safe too.'

I leaned forward over the desk and spoke intensely. 'Martin, did you know that I've made a pact with the King of the Demons?'

'You made a pact with the King?' he said with disbelief.

'If I go to him, and stay with him, he can guarantee Simone's safety.'

'So you want to be where you can know what happens. If my father is taken down, and One Two Two has his head, you'll call the King. That way, you can be sure Simone will be completely safe.'

I studied him. His face was expressionless. He wasn't as stupid as his recent actions had made him appear.

'Will you promise to look after her if we're all killed, or if I have to go to the King, Martin?'

He smiled, then gracefully rose to his feet and placed his hand on the table. 'I swear that I will dedicate the rest of my life to ensuring my sister's safety and happiness.'

He sat back down and pulled his chair in, then leaned his arms on the desk. 'I'll be at the Peak on the day. About nine in the morning. If all goes well, I'll return her by dinnertime. If not, I'll just see what happens. She will still own the apartment on the Peak. We can stay there together. If you are all gone I will stay with her, regardless of the outcome, I swear.'

I was tremendously relieved. 'You have no idea how much this means to me, Martin. Thank you.'

'My Lady,' he said, bowed his head slightly and disappeared.

We spent the next two weeks doing exactly what we would normally do. Simone didn't want to do anything special at all. She didn't even spend more time than usual with her father. She clung to her normal life with both hands. She even talked about returning to school in September.

On August twentieth, the night before the feed, we all sat together after dinner in the dining room. n.o.body had eaten very much.

The other three Winds, Na Zha and the Lady had joined us; the dining room was nearly full. Normally a meal like this would be full of fun and banter, with the Tiger teasing the Dragon mercilessly and Simone laughing hysterically. But this time we were all subdued.

'Martin will be here at nine tomorrow,' I said, checking the schedule clipped to my diary. 'When are you taking Michael, Tiger?'

'Right after this,' the Tiger said. 'I'm taking his mother too; we can't be sure that little b.a.s.t.a.r.d won't come after those who aren't involved. Everybody will be kept safe. I'll be back tomorrow morning-I'll make it nine o'clock as well. That son of yours had better be as good as his word.'

'He is,' John said.

'You should call in the Thirty-Six,' the Tiger said.

'You know I can't call them in; this is personal,' John said. 'There is also a chance that the North will be attacked, or the Mountain attacked, as well. They will be on standby just in case there is an attack at the Celestial level.'

'One Two Two is after us, he won't attack the Celestial Plane,' I said.

'The King may take the opportunity of me being distracted,' John said. 'If the Armies aren't on standby he may attack. He only promised not to come after us. He didn't say anything about the Celestial Plane.'

'Oh my G.o.d,' Leo said softly.

I shot to my feet. 'I didn't know that! What the h.e.l.l are you doing staying with us? You should be protecting your homes, and your families, and your realms, just in case!'

'As long as the Thirty-Six are on alert we will not be attacked,' the Phoenix said. 'Sit down, Emma. We know what we are doing.'

I fell into my chair with a b.u.mp. 'Will he attack once Xuan Wu is gone?'

'I doubt it,' John said. 'The Celestial Armies are very strong. I doubt he will attack at all. The probability is very small, as long as the Armies are on standby.'

'You'd better be right,' I whispered.

'Tomorrow morning,' John said briskly, 'Martin will take Simone. I will move down to Wan Chai with the Lady. We will lock down the students, and prepare. At noon, we will begin the feed, and take it as it comes from there. Leo, take Dark Heavens; Emma, use the Serpent. I will not require a weapon. We will meet here 9 a.m. tomorrow. Dismissed.'

The other three Winds and Na Zha saluted and disappeared.

'You and Simone need your rest,' Kwan Yin said. 'I will help you. I will stay here with you until I go with Ah Wu tomorrow.' She reached out and took my hand. 'You will be fine, Emma.'

'Are you sure?' I whispered, looking for rea.s.surance in her eyes.

She smiled her sad smile and didn't say anything.

Simone, Leo and I were already awake and waiting in the dining room when John and the Lady came out.

'Why aren't you wearing your armour?' John said.

'I won't need it until you start the feed,' I said. 'Besides, I feel really stupid wearing it.'

'It took the armourers a long time to make that fit you, Emma,' John said. 'You know it has special abilities. Wear it.'

I didn't say anything. I hated that armour. It was heavy, even though it fitted me perfectly and was exceptionally comfortable to wear. I was the first European woman the armourers had fitted; Immortals like Meredith could conjure their own. It had taken the forge staff six weeks to get over the fact that European women were much curvier than Chinese; they refused to believe that my b.r.e.a.s.t.s and hips were actually that much larger around than my waist. In the end John had to take a photo of me and send it up to the Mountain before they'd believe the measurements.

'Please wear it for me, Emma,' John said gently.

My throat thickened and I nodded into my tea.

'Have you eaten anything?' John said.

Both Simone and I shook our heads. Leo glowered into his coffee.

'You will need to eat something, ladies, Leo. We are going into battle today and you will need your energy.'

'Eat,' Kwan Yin said.

Suddenly I was starving. 'Ah Yat!'

Ah Yat poked her head around the dining room door.

'Toast and peanut b.u.t.ter for me, cereal for Simone, please.'

'And apple juice,' Simone said.

'Eggs, ham,' Leo said.

Ah Yat smiled, nodded, and disappeared behind the door.

'Thanks,' I said.

The doorbell rang. 'It's Martin,' Simone said.

'Finish your breakfast before you go with him, sweetheart,' John said.

Simone nodded. Ah Yat came in with the breakfast things. I went out to get Martin. He waited outside the gate.

'She's just started eating,' I said as I opened the gate for him. 'Wait until she's finished, and then take her.'

'I'll wait in here then,' Martin said, gesturing towards the living room.

'No, come with me. It's okay.' I took his hand and led him into the dining room.

The minute Martin entered, Leo grabbed his breakfast and coffee and slinked into the kitchen without a word.

Martin and Simone shared a smile, a hug and a messy kiss before he sat next to her. I b.u.t.tered my toast. John glowered.

'My Lord, my Lady,' Martin said to John and Kwan Yin.

Ah Yat poked her head around the door. 'Can I get you anything, Ming Daiyan Daiyan?'

'Ceylon, please, Ah Yat,' he said. 'How close are you? You should be there soon.'

'Nearly there,' Ah Yat said, bobbed her head, and disappeared.

'You know Ah Yat?' Simone said.

'I tamed her,' Martin said. 'Just before...' His voice tapered off.

John's expression darkened but he didn't say anything.

'Where are we going, ge ge ge ge?' Simone said. John grunted at the table.

'I am taking you to a cave that is very safe, mei mei mei mei,' Martin said gently.

'A cave?' Simone's eyes were wide, her spoon poised halfway to her mouth.

'Eat, Simone,' John said.

Simone nodded and ate.

We sat in uncomfortable silence until Ah Yat brought Martin's tea.

'You should eat something too, John,' I said.

'Eat,' Kwan Yin said. 'She is correct.'

John concentrated. Ah Yat brought him some congee. He picked up his spoon and stirred the rice, then put his spoon down again.

'Eat. That's an order,' I said firmly.

He shrugged, picked up the spoon and mechanically ate. Martin made a quiet sound of amus.e.m.e.nt and John glared at him.

Simone put her spoon down. 'Finished.' She hesitated. 'Martin, Aunty Kwan, could you go out, please? I want to say goodbye to Daddy.'

Martin left, taking his tea with him. Kwan Yin rose and followed him.

John dropped his spoon and leaned back.

I choked on my toast. I took a huge gulp of tea. 'I'll go too, and let you say goodbye to Daddy by yourself.'

'No, Emma, I want you to stay,' Simone said. 'Because I'm going to hold Daddy's hand, and you can kiss him goodbye.'

I tried very hard to swallow. My throat was so thick I couldn't manage words.

Simone went to John and climbed into his lap. She threw her arms around his neck and held him tight. 'Come back, please, Daddy. Don't die today.'

'I can't die, Simone,' he said. 'I will just be gone for a while, whatever happens. The important thing is that you are safe.'

She held him tight and he buried his face in her hair, squeezing his eyes shut. They remained unmoving for a while.

'I love you, Daddy,' Simone whispered.

'I love you, Simone,' John said, his voice thick. He nuzzled her hair. 'I will return for you, I promise.'

'And Emma,' Simone said softly.

John glanced up at me and smiled sadly. 'And Emma.'

John held his arm out and I knelt beside him. I buried my face in his chest next to Simone and he held me close. We remained still, holding each other, for a long time.

'Kiss Emma goodbye,' Simone whispered. 'I'm not looking.'

'We don't need to, sweetheart,' I said. 'This is enough.'

John didn't say anything. Words weren't necessary.

John remained in the dining room while I took Simone to Martin. She went into the kitchen to see Leo first, and was in there for a while. Then she came out, gave me a final hug, and she and Martin were gone.

I returned to the dining room and drank some more tea. John ate his congee. We didn't say anything.

The Tiger turned up and sat down without a word. Ah Yat brought him a pot of Chinese tea and he drank it silently while we ate. Leo came in and finished his coffee.

Ten minutes later the rest of the Immortals arrived. Ah Yat made tea for them. n.o.body said a word.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR.