Youre not.
I am. Ill have it done in brass and put it over the door.
Youre joking, I said.
Deadly serious. Ill buy a couple of stone tortoises and put them on either side of the entrance as well, just to make the point.
Golds mouth flopped open.
The Chinese Disciples will refuse to live there, I said.
They wont have a choice.
Xuan Wu Xuan Tian Shang Di, I said very severely, Celestial Highness, Dark Emperor of the Northern Heavens, if you do this stupid thing your shell is in very serious trouble. I glared at him. Simone will have to go in there sometimes, and I do not want to have to explain this to her, particularly about how it relates to your true nature.
My true nature as the egg of a turtle, or my true nature as a motherless bastard?
Gold made a quiet choking sound.
Both!
Oh, all right. He leaned back, slipped his glasses on and gave it up. But only for Simone. And I will definitely do it when I come back and shes old enough to understand.
You will be the one to explain it to her then. Which are you anyway? Turtle or tortoise?
Gold sounded like he was strangling.
Same thing, same essence, John said without looking up. Turtle in water, tortoise on land. The Tiger is the essence of all the great cats.
And the Phoenix is bird essence. I understand. What about the Dragon?
Essence of arrogant bastard. John gestured with one hand. Gold.
Gold flipped frantically through his notes. Where were we?
Staff for Turtles Folly, John said. Emmas right. Overseas or local domestic helpers are out of the questiontheyd find out too much about us. Ill send some of the Masters out demon-hunting and see what they come up with. Should be okay to put newly tamed low-level demons in there with so many senior Disciples and the Masters to keep an eye on them.
Very good, my Lord, Gold said, taking notes.
We need to buy a couple of buses to carry the students between Wan Chai and the Valley, I said.
Easily done, my Lady. Gold looked up and shrugged. I have nothing else to do.
Ill talk to the Masters about a demon-hunting expedition, John said. And Ill need to put that calligraphy in a safe place so you wont find it and destroy it before I come back.
The Disciples will be out of the building and back on the Mountain by the time you come back, I said. There wont be any place to put it.
John took his glasses off and put them in their case. Ill find somewhere.
CHAPTER FOUR
About ten oclock Saturday morning I put the finishing touches to the first draft of my assignment and set it to print in Johns office. I jumped when he spoke into my ear.
Im going to call you on your mobile. Ready? I put my hand on the phone and picked it up when it rang. Yeah?
Do you have time to come down to Hennessy Road with Leo and Simone? Theres something we all need to do together.
Sure. I need a break from this anyway. Give us twenty minutes.
Youll need longer than that, I have the car. Gold will drive it up for you. Leo can bring you down.
Okay. I hesitated, then changed my mind about mentioning the transport situation. Maybe when Simone started school. See you soon.
You forgot to put your hands on the wheel again, Leo said as Gold pulled up in the car.
Gold just grinned and disappeared.
At Hennessy Road, Leo and I took Simone up to the large training room on the fifth floor. Mirrors covered one of the long walls, and vertical blinds shaded the windows on the short wall. John and Gold were waiting for us.
The room was prepared for demon training. The Academys demon jar sat in the corner, full of large black beads. Black hand towels were stacked neatly on shelves under the windows.
Simone, go with Gold to the top-floor conference room and wait for us there, John said.
Okay, Daddy. Simone took Golds hand to leave the room.
Now. John linked his hands behind his back. Have either of you warmed up?
Leo and I shared a look, then turned back to John and shook our heads.
Good. You are to do this cold, without any preparation. Well start at level ten. John pulled a black bead out of the jar and threw it onto the floor under the mirrors. Leo.
The demon grew into human form: a Chinese man in his early twenties, wearing jeans and a plain T-shirt.
Leo moved to the middle of the room, faced the demon and readied himself. He nodded without looking away.
The demon threw itself at Leo. He ducked under it, turned, twisted, and threw it over his shoulder onto its back. He rammed his fist through its face and it dissipated into feathery black streamers.
Good, John said. Towels on the side.
Leo collected a towel from the shelves and wiped his hands. He tossed the towel into the wicker laundry basket next to the shelves, then returned to stand next to me.
John pulled another demon out. Emma.
Am I limited to physical? I said. If I am, hold off releasing it. Ill take my ring off.
No limit on what you do, John said. Energy, physical, anything. Just take it out.
I raised my hand and transferred my ring from my finger to the chain around my neck anyway. Then I readied myself in the centre of the room and nodded.
John threw the demon to the floor and it took the form of an elderly Chinese woman in a bright green cheongsam. She lunged forward to attack me and I took her out with a ball of chi.
Good, John said. Obviously not a challenge for either of you. Lets try something bigger. He shuffled inside the jar. Level twenty. He glanced up. Call if youre not confident. He stopped and spoke more fiercely. I mean it. This is not a competition. Call if youre not confident.
Yes, sir, Leo and I said in unison.
Good. John threw the bigger demon and it formed under the mirrors. Leo.
Leo took it easily. John pulled out another level twenty and I took it just as easily with energy.
Level thirty.
Once were higher than this Ill need a weapon, my Lord, Leo said. Theyre much faster than me and I need an edge.
Emma?
Me too. I cant generate enough energy without the weapon to take them out.
Ive seen you take a level twenty-five bare-handed, John said.
I prefer to use energy. Dont get my hands dirty.
Against humanoids?
Oh, come on, you know that physical is the only way to go with them.
Very well, John said. Take the level thirties, and then well move to weapons.
Is this a test? I said.
Of course it is. A simulation.
Leo and I shared a look, then shrugged. Whatever. He was the boss.
John tossed the level thirty to the floor under the mirrors. It took True Form: a massive humanoid, seven feet tall, with black scales and tusks.
Nice one, I said.
Leo hesitated. You want it?
Nah, you can have it.
Leo stepped forward, readied himself and nodded.
The demon came alive. It looked at each of us in turn, then quickly saluted John. Dark Lord. It nodded to Leo. Black Lion. I am honoured. It saw me and stopped. What are you?
Perfectly ordinary human female. What, youve never seen one before? I find that hard to believe.
Not like you. The demon turned its three red eyes onto Leo. Lion.
A second chance, John said.
The demon threw itself at Leo, clawed hands raised. Leo ducked beneath its hands and sliced at its abdomen as he went through. His hands glanced off.
The demon stopped and turned. Leo took two steps back, leapt, and ran a jumping high kick straight through its head.
He landed lightly on his feet and the demon dissipated.
Leo! John shouted.
Leo didnt reply. He just turned to face John and held his hands out from his sides.
How many rules did you break just then?
Leo hesitated. I think at least five, my Lord.
It is possible that it could have been a higher level disguising its speed. What if it had been a level fifty and you performed a stupid move like that?
Leo didnt reply.
You know the drill; you teach it! Treat all weapons as if they were sharp. Treat all demons as if they were Mothers. And never take both feet off the floor. When we return you will face five demons of random levels, and if I see you do any more stupid moves like that you will be restricted from weapons for three weeks.
My Lord. Leo wasnt fazed. How many more? I need a shower now. He gestured towards his slacks, which were covered in black demon stuff. Another pair ruined. He grinned at me. I see what you mean.
Not much longer, John said. If it burns let me know and Ill dismiss you. You should be fine for a while. He turned and threw a bead onto the floor. Emma.
The demon took female human form. She came straight for me.
I quickly bound her, and she stood frozen, her face a mask of loathing.
Move back, Leo, this is going to be big.
Leo backed away.
I used the chi I had drained from her when I bound her and made it into a huge ball, a good metre across. I threw it at the demon and she exploded.
That was a foolish thing to do, John said. You are pushing your reserves too hard.
That was a foolish thing to do, John said. You are pushing your reserves too hard.
I can handle it.
Not only was that a dangerously large amount of energy to throw at the demon, the energy you received when you destroyed her was an even more dangerous amount.
I need a larger reserve. I need to be able to take out much bigger demons with energy. Is there any other way to enlarge my energy reserve?
He sighed with resignation. No. I understand. But please be careful; we need you. He gestured towards the weapons rack. Your weapons are there; collect them and well move up to level forty. And that means no more stupid grandstanding from either of you.
Can you take one that high, Emma? Leo said as he selected Johns sword, Dark Heavens, from the rack.
With the sword, yes, I said as I collected my own. Bare-handed, probably another year and Ill have it.
Sooner than that if you continue to work this hard with the energy, John said. He shuffled in the jar. Damn, not many that high a level. Wait. He closed his eyes and held his hand over the jar.
No! Leo shouted.
You are in serious trouble! I yelled.
Two beads slid to the top and flew into his hand. He opened his eyes. There are only about ten left.
For heavens sake will you guard your energy, John.
If Ms Kwan saw you do that shed have your shell for breakfast, Leo growled.
Too late. John threw one of the beads onto the floor. The level forty took human form, a tiny ancient Chinese man. Who wants it?