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  ‘I’ll take the children out and watch them,’ Jade said. ‘Where’s Leo?’

  ‘Parking the car; he’ll be here soon,’ I said.

  Jade took Simone and Michael out, Michael glaring at her.

  My mobile phone rang. It was Leo. ‘Where are you? I’m at the front door.’

  ‘Straight ahead, you should see Jade and the kids,’ I said. ‘Take them and guard them.’

  I leaned into the corridor and saw him come into view. He waved to me, then took Simone and Michael into the waiting room.

  ‘Can I speak to you privately?’ the doctor said.

  I studied him carefully: ordinary human. Simone would have said something otherwise. I let the doctor lead me out of the room into the empty examination room next door.

  ‘I am Doctor Au Yeung.’

  ‘Emma Donahoe. How bad is she?’

  ‘Not bad at all. Actually it was more like a fainting fit than heatstroke. Did she have a fright of some kind? She’s borderline diabetic and her blood sugar was very low. We’ve put her on an IV, but she should be all right to go home after we’ve performed a couple more tests.’

  I sagged with relief. The voice was wrong; she’d really just fainted.

  ‘I wasn’t wrong,’ the voice said. ‘She also has a mild dose of heatstroke and needed to be put on fluids. This was the easiest way to make you move yourself.’

  From his face the doctor hadn’t heard anything.

  ‘How long will this take?’ I said.

  ‘Not long. Please wait here. We have a small procedure to perform, then you can see her. Take a seat, this won’t take a minute.’

  ‘Okay.’ I sat on the chair next to the wall.

  The doctor flipped the curtain up and went into Charlie’s room. He quickly returned holding a hypodermic and approached me with it. ‘You look like you could use some fluids as well. How about a vitamin injection?’

  I shot to my feet and moved into a defensive stance. He approached me carefully and grabbed my arm with his free hand. Bad move. I performed the Push with my other hand and he went down, falling on his own needle.

  I heard a soft sound in the hallway. Simon Wong flipped the curtain up and stood in the opening, watching me. I stared at him, then my breath caught with horror. Simon Wong.

  He glanced down at the doctor on the floor, then grimaced and disappeared behind the curtain.

  ‘He’s making a try for Charlie! Quick!’ the voice shouted, but I’d already charged after him.

  I raced into the next room. Wong stood behind Charlie with his hand over her mouth. Her eyes were wide with fear. He grinned at me over the top of her head and they disappeared.

  I fell to lean on the bed. I couldn’t support my own weight. Simone charged into the room, followed by Leo, Jade and Michael. They stopped dead when they saw.

  The grim-faced nurse came in behind them. She held up a clipboard. ‘Miss Donahoe.’ She glanced up at me. ‘Go home and talk to the Dark Lord. He has been contacted.’ She spun on her heel and went out.

  Simone threw her little arms around me. ‘The bad demon has Charlie!’

  I pulled her into my stomach. ‘I know, sweetheart.’

  ‘No,’ Leo whispered.

  ‘That nurse and the doctor weren’t demons, were they?’

  Simone shook her head into my stomach. Her shoulders quivered. ‘Charlie.’

  ‘This is very bad,’ Leo said. ‘Let’s get home to Mr Chen right now.’

  ‘Should we grab that doctor and nurse and take them with us?’ Michael said.

  ‘That wouldn’t be a good idea,’ the voice said. ‘You can’t go around kidnapping drugged human doctors.’

  Simone jerked her head away from my stomach and stared up at me. Everybody’s mouths flopped open.

  ‘It does sound like an English man,’ Michael said. ‘Who is it?’

  ‘Don’t worry about me!’ the voice snapped. ‘Just get yourselves home! Jade, go directly and brief the Dark Lord. Everybody else, move!’

  ‘By your leave, my Lady,’ Jade said.

  ‘Go.’

  Jade dropped her head and disappeared. Leo guided the rest of us out and followed us down the hallway.

  ‘If you do not tell me who you are right now,’ I said furiously as I stormed down the corridor, ‘I will be very, very cross.’

  ‘I’m not a who, I’m a what, and I’m on your engagement ring.’ I stopped dead.

  Leo pushed me forward. ‘Move, Emma.’

  I raced out the front doors of the hospital, Leo following. ‘You’re the stone?’ I said, stunned.

  Leo ran to collect the car. Michael and Simone stood with me, watching me as if I was completely bonkers.

  ‘You were wondering when I’d wake, weren’t you?’ The stone’s voice was cheerful. ‘Well, now you know. I am extremely displeased with the Turtle for keeping me locked up for so long. He should have known better. Even though I was unaware, I honestly feel I deserve better treatment than that.’

  ‘Maybe he was waiting for someone worthy?’

  ‘You think you’re worthy of something as precious as me?’ the stone said with delight.

  ‘I don’t know. Am I?’

  ‘Are you talking to the voice, Emma?’ Simone said. ‘Yep. It’s the stone—’

  The stone cut me off. ‘Here comes Leo. He managed to find a meter not far away. Now there is someone worthy. Shame this setting wouldn’t fit on him.’

  ‘If you want me to give you to Leo, just say the word,’ I said. ‘You are very precious, you know.’

  ‘More precious than you could possibly imagine. But I think I’ll stay with you for now, and see what you do.’ Its English accent made it sound like a BBC newsreader. ‘You are a very interesting person, you know. A great deal of hidden depth to you. And most of it isn’t even there.’

  ‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’ Leo brought the car around and I opened the door for Simone.

  ‘What do you mean?’ But the stone didn’t reply.

  I was quiet in the car for a while, and everybody kept sneaking glances at me. Eventually I thought I’d better reassure them.

  ‘I haven’t gone crazy, guys. The stone in the ring that Mr Chen gave me woke up and started talking to me. It helped out. That’s what you heard.’

  ‘Let me see, Emma,’ Simone said.

  I showed her the ring. She touched it and squeaked.

  ‘Did it do anything to you?’ I said.

  ‘Of course I didn’t,’ the stone said. Its voice became kind. ‘Hello, Princess.’

  Simone’s eyes went wide. ‘Hello.’

  ‘That jade ring?’ Leo said over his shoulder as he drove. ‘That little green stone?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘Do you have a name?’ Simone said.

  ‘I am far too important to have anything as mundane as a name,’ the stone said. ‘I am thoroughly above such boring inanities.’

  ‘O.. .kay,’ Leo said without looking away from the road.

  Michael grimaced.

  ‘Yes, it just gets stranger and stranger, Michael,’ I said. ‘Sometimes it’s more the House of Weird than the House of Chen.’

  He shook his head. I’d read his mind.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  We sat around the table and looked at each other. Leo, Michael, John, me. We’d included Michael; he was a part of this now. I didn’t have the energy to tell him off. He’d genuinely tried to leave the triads. ‘How did Wong contact you?’ I asked John. ‘On my mobile. Perfectly normally. How did he manage to take Charlie?’

  ‘He separated us,’ I said. ‘He probably wasn’t expecting us to have Jade, though. He didn’t try for Simone while Jade was with her.’

  Michael snorted with amusement. ‘He’s scared of your accountant?’

  ‘My accountant is a dragon,’ John said. ‘One of the fiercest on the Celestial. She would protect Simone with her life.’

  ‘Oh. Sorry.’

  ‘Anyway,’ I continued, ‘he separated us
. Leo was out parking the car. Simone and Michael were alone, but we were lucky, we had Jade, and Leo found a meter, so Simone was protected quickly. He separated me from Charlie using a freaking human doctor—’

  John’s face went very grim as I continued.

  ‘—and the doctor tried to sedate me so he could take me. I Pushed him and he went down. Wong himself didn’t want to try me without sedation, so he took…’ I hesitated, searching for the right way to put it. ‘He took Charlie as second prize.’

  ‘He knows Simone can sense demons,’ John said. ‘So he’s using humans to work around it.’

  ‘I am so glad you taught me the Push. He used humans right up to the last minute. Oh, and the stone woke up and helped.’

  ‘Good evening, stone, good to see you awake,’ John said.

  The stone was silent.

  ‘I think it’s cross with you for keeping it locked up for so long,’ I said. ‘It has the most incredible English accent, it sounds like somebody reading the news on the BBC.’

  ‘Well, if I’m forced to speak English I may as well do it properly,’ the stone said. ‘You have more important things to deal with right now, Turtle.’

  John rubbed his hands over his face, then pulled his hair out of its tie, tidied it, and tied it back again. He sounded helpless. ‘I don’t know what to do.’

  ‘Tell Emma,’ the stone said gently.

  ‘He wants me for a one-on-one.’

  I fell back. ‘No.’

  ‘I’m very drained, and I don’t know how strong he is right now. There is a chance he could take me down. If I face him, win or lose he’ll give Charlie back unharmed. He’s a Demon Prince, he’ll stand by his word. If I don’t face him, you have an idea of what will happen to Charlie.’

  ‘Holy shit,’ I said softly. ‘This is really bad.’

  ‘I know,’ John moaned.

  ‘Simone can call a Celestial Master; she’ll be safe even if you lose. You have to go and face him, and get Charlie back. He can’t kill you if he wins, and he won’t be able to get Simone. He’ll just take your head to his dad, receive a nice little promotion, and you’ll be out of their way slightly sooner than we’d planned.’

  ‘You will still be at risk, Emma,’ John said, looking into my eyes. ‘You can’t call anybody for help. If he wins he’ll come straight after you. You know the King wants you.’

  ‘He’s right, Emma,’ Leo said, his voice full of misery. ‘Simone might be okay, but the Demon King wants you and you know it.’

  ‘Simone is the important thing, Leo.’ I looked John in the eyes. ‘Simone and Charlie. We must get Charlie back.’

  ‘Why do they want Mr Chen’s head?’ Michael said. He bobbed his head. ‘Sorry. My curiosity gets the better of me sometimes.’

  ‘No, Michael, you’re quite right to ask,’ I said. ‘Always ask if you need to know. We might not answer, but we’ll never tell you off. Where to start?’ I ran my hands through my hair. ‘The King of the Demons has put a price on Mr Chen’s head. Any demon that brings him the Dark Lord’s head will be promoted to Number One.’

  ‘Like Number One son?’

  ‘Precisely,’ John said. ‘Number One is second in precedence only to the King; all the other demons must obey it. It is an immensely powerful position.’

  ‘One particular Demon Prince, the One Hundred and Twenty-Second son, has decided to make a bid for it,’ I said. ‘He’s been at us for a while, either trying to take Mr Chen’s head directly, or kidnap Simone or me to swap for it. He appears in human form most of the time, and his human name is Simon Wong.’

  Michael’s head shot up and his eyes went wide. ‘Simon Wong?’

  ‘You know of him?’ John asked sharply.

  ‘He’s the Big Brother of all the Big Brothers.’

  ‘Somehow I’m not surprised,’ I said. The idea of that creep being in charge of all the underworld activity in Hong Kong wasn’t much of a leap.

  ‘He’s notorious,’ Michael said. ‘They keep bringing girls over from the mainland for him, all the time. They say he does things to them that you wouldn’t believe. The girls have even started refusing to come to Hong Kong, because they’ve heard what happens if he gets his hands on them.’ His voice softened. ‘Boys too. Even young ones. I left when someone warned me. He wanted me. They were coming to take me.’

  ‘He worked out what you are, Michael,’ John said. ‘I’m not surprised he wanted you.’

  Michael gestured towards Leo. ‘Leo helped me. If it wasn’t for him, I think I’d be dead.’

  ‘You should have told me that was who you were running from,’ Leo said. ‘I would have brought you in a long time ago, son of the Tiger or not. You should hear what he has planned for me.’

  Michael glanced sharply at Leo. Leo smiled slightly and shook his head.

  ‘He has Charlie, Michael,’ I said very calmly.

  ‘Oh my God,’ Michael said.

  ‘He wants a one-on-one with Mr Chen, so that he can take his head and present it to his father. And become the second most senior demon in Hell.’

  ‘Holy shit,’ Michael said.

  ‘That’s what I said.’

  ‘If he takes your head, what will happen to you, my Lord?’ Michael asked. ‘Can he kill you? Can you even kill a Wind?’

  ‘No, you can’t,’ John said. ‘But I would revert to my True Form and be gone for a long time, leaving Simone and Emma without my protection. The demons would have a chance to hold my two most loved people in the world, and through that gain control over me.’ He rubbed his hands over his face. ‘Now you see why Simone is my first human child, Emma. I always knew this could happen. You are my weakness. If they have you, then they have me, and without me to defend it all of humanity would be at their mercy.’

  ‘He will never take me alive,’ I said. ‘I’d fall on my own sword before I let that monster have me. Don’t worry about Simone; she can call a Master.’

  John dropped his head and spoke quietly to the table. ‘I want to be absolutely sure that she is able to defend herself.’

  ‘What will you do, my Lord?’ Leo said, full of despair. ‘If I were Charlie I know what I would want you to do. All of your Retainers understand the situation. We would rather die than put you or your loved ones at risk.’

  ‘And you all know that I would never leave you in a demon’s hands if I could do anything about it,’ John said. ‘You are my family. I love you all. I will fight to the end to protect you.’ He raised his head and looked me in the eyes. Suddenly it was just him and me. ‘Leo, Michael, go out. I need to speak to Lady Emma alone.’

  Leo didn’t move. ‘Don’t risk yourself. Don’t risk your loved ones. Charlie wouldn’t want this.’

  John didn’t look away from me. ‘Leo, go out and take Michael. That is an order.’

  ‘My Lord,’ Leo said hoarsely. He and Michael rose and went to the door.

  ‘Leo,’ I said.

  He stopped and turned back.

  ‘Please don’t tell Simone what’s happening. Until it’s all over. Guard her for us.’

  Leo nodded and he and Michael went out, closing the door quietly behind them.

  ‘Just go, John,’ I said. ‘I agree with your decision. We must get her back. It’s your duty as her Lord. Go.’

  ‘He wants to meet me on the top floor at Hennessy Road. I’ll have to let him in past the seals. His presence will blow every seal on the building.’

  ‘Clever. Two birds with one stone. You, and broken seals on Hennessy Road.’

  ‘And perhaps you as well if he wins, dear one.’

  ‘Never. I meant it. That thing will never get its hands on me.’ I knew what I had to do. ‘I’ll come with you, and bring Michael. Leo can stay here and guard Simone. Win or lose, we’ll have Charlie back, and Michael can escort her home.’ I tried to control my voice. ‘If you lose, I’ll end it there. You won’t have to worry about me. Charlie and Simone will be safe.’

  ‘No, Emma.’

  ‘There’s no othe
r way. You won’t have to worry about them having me. If you lose, we can both die in peace. Simone will be safe, and that’s all that’s important.’

  He looked down at his hands and didn’t say anything for a long time.

  ‘It’s the only thing we can do, John.’

  He looked up at me and smiled. ‘No. I have a better idea.’

  I heard the quiet jingling of a wind chime and snapped open my eyes. The geometric carvings on the ceiling were picked out in gold. The fringes on the blue silk light fitting fluttered in the warm breeze.

  I sat up. There was barely room for me on the couch with all the cushions. The main colour around me was purple, with peacock blue and gold. Brilliantly blue late afternoon sky filled the large arched windows in the red stone walls. I appeared to be in some sort of Middle Eastern or Indian palace; what looked to be priceless Arabian rugs covered the floor.

  ‘Where the hell am I?’ I demanded. ‘Snow White said that differently,’ the stone said dryly.

  ‘Tell me where the hell I am right now or I will take you off my finger and throw you down the nearest toilet.’

  ‘You are safe in my palace in the Western Desert,’ the Tiger said from the doorway. ‘Who are you talking to?’

  ‘My engagement ring.’ I pulled myself around to sit on the edge of the couch. I felt dizzy; it must have been from the travelling. I rubbed my hand over my forehead. ‘It seems to think it’s a BBC newsreader.’

  ‘The weather will be very dry today,’ the stone said in its very best announcer voice.

  ‘Shut the hell up,’ I said. ‘I meant it about the toilet.’

  ‘Typical of the Turtle.’ Bai Hu leaned against the wall and folded his arms over his chest. ‘Never does anything by halves. Not a diamond, oh no. Has to give his Lady a Building Block of the World.’

  I ran to him and threw myself into his arms. He held me gingerly and kissed me on the cheek. His golden face lit up with a huge smile and his tawny eyes sparkled. He wore his usual old-fashioned white cotton pants and jacket trimmed with gold.

  ‘Why am I here, Tiger?’

  ‘No demon can get you here.’ He shrugged. ‘You’re completely safe. He doesn’t have to worry about you.’ His voice changed slightly. ‘Whatever happens.’