Blue Dragon Part 33

'Does he return it?' I said.

Martin's face didn't s.h.i.+ft.

'Holy s.h.i.+t, but you are an extremely stupid little turtle,' I said. 'It's hard to believe that you're his son.'

'I should disown you completely and send you to h.e.l.l for eternity,' John said, his voice a low rumble.

'There is a place for me there,' Martin said, so softly I could hardly hear him. He straightened and spoke more loudly. 'I'll go. It'll take me at least two years to return. You'll be gone before I come back. You won't see me again for a long time. Satisfactory?'

I couldn't believe this. 'Geez.'

'Report to the Jade Emperor first,' John said without emotion. 'Tell him what Number One just told us. Wait to see if he wants to talk to me about this. If he doesn't, then go. I look forward to not seeing your face for quite some time.'

Martin rose and smiled at each of us. He moved forward and knelt on the plush rug next to the coffee table. 'My Lord,' he said, saluting John carefully. 'My Lady,' saluting me. He rose and disappeared.

John bowed his head and sat silently. I didn't move either. Neither of us spoke.

'I cannot believe he did that,' Leo said as we sat beside the pool watching Simone. 'He used me, he used Simone, he used all of us. He brought that waste-of-time huge demon straight through our front door to make an offer he knew we wouldn't take. He broke every single seal on our apartment.' His voice became more vehement. 'He used used me!' He dropped his head. 'I thought he was different. I thought he was...' He didn't finish. me!' He dropped his head. 'I thought he was different. I thought he was...' He didn't finish.

'Well, he's in h.e.l.l now,' I said. 'He said it'll take him a couple of years to come back out.'

'Lucky for him,' Leo said, raising his head so that he could watch Simone again. ''Cause if he comes out when I'm around, I'll d.a.m.n well send him straight back down there.'

'I hope you get your chance,' I said softly.

'Not going to happen, Emma.'

'I'll send him back down there for you then.'

'My Lady.'

'G.o.d, the lifeguards here are useless,' I said. 'Simone's been swimming around under the water for more than five minutes without coming up for air and none of them have noticed.'

'They probably see that she's still moving and don't try to rescue her,' Leo said.

'Oh yeah. G.o.d, Martin was amazingly stupid.'

'You got some useful information out of that demon anyway,' Leo said. 'It's all happening at once, isn't it. Xuan Wu out of action. This little demon b.a.s.t.a.r.d using all the new technology stuff. New hybrids. Contacting the different regions. Shooting for Number One.'

'Shooting higher than that,' I said, and he stiffened. 'Interesting times. You know that isn't a Chinese curse at all?'

'What?'

'You know, the curse: "May you live in interesting times."

I've asked people. n.o.body's ever heard of it.'

'Neither have I,' Leo said.

'Ah,' I said. 'So you haven't read all all my books yet.' my books yet.'

'No idea what you're talking about.'

b.a.s.t.a.r.d, I signed.

I saw that, he signed back.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

Iwoke with a start. John stood next to my bed, leaning over me.

'Quietly,' he said. 'Come with me.'

I didn't ask any questions; I just levered myself out of bed and followed him.

'I'm not properly dressed,' I whispered as I followed him through the living room. I wore a pair of old shorts and a tank top to sleep. 'Where are we going? Is everybody okay?'

'Everyone is fine,' he said. 'Just come with me. I want you to see something.'

He led me down the stairs, both of us barefoot. He wore his usual plain black pyjama pants without a s.h.i.+rt, his long hair braided down his back. I retied my untidy hair as we walked.

'This had better be good, John,' I said as he led me across the damp, cool gra.s.s towards the water. 'I have to get up early tomorrow and pack. We're supposed to be out of here by eleven to go home.'

'I think you'll like it,' he said. He stopped. 'It's a beautiful night, isn't it.'

I stopped next to him and looked up. The sky was completely clear and the stars blazed. There was no moon. A fresh breeze, full of the smell of the sea, made the dark water before us ripple. 'What time is it?'

'About midnight.' He smiled, his dark eyes s.h.i.+ning in the starlight. 'Come.'

I followed him to the edge of the water. We stood and waited on the small beach.

'The Dragon is coming in True Form,' John said softly, his voice carrying over the gentle sound of the small waves. 'Don't be concerned, he's coming out of the water...now.'

The Dragon emerged in full majestic True Form, nearly twenty metres long. His turquoise eyes glowed. He lowered his ma.s.sive silver-fanged head over his front legs. 'My Lord. My Lady.' He turned so that his back was towards me. 'Climb on, Emma. Right behind my head. Don't worry, my scales won't hurt you. Hold on to my frill.'

I stopped dead. 'You want me to ride ride you?' you?'

'Hop on. We don't have much time,' John said. 'Let's go.'

I moved next to the Dragon's head and he lowered his shoulders so that I could climb on. John didn't move. 'What about you?'

'We are going under the water,' John said. 'Don't worry, you'll be able to breathe. Just hold on to the Dragon, he'll take you. Let's go.'

'You're not coming?'

He gestured impatiently. 'Of course I am. I don't need a ride. Now hurry up hurry up!'

I pulled myself onto the Dragon's neck and held on to the ma.s.sive silver and turquoise frill that surrounded his head. I couldn't ride him astride; he was too big. I had to sit side-saddle. He wasn't cold and sharp; he was warm and the edges of his scales were smooth and fine. He had horns, like a deer, with two p.r.o.ngs; I hadn't noticed that before. The horns towered over me.

'Ready?' the Dragon said.

'Yes,' I said.

'Hold on tight,' John said. 'Here we go. No! Wait!'

The Dragon hesitated.

'Emma, while we are under the water, the Dragon and I will be able to speak to you, but you won't be able to talk to us.'

'That will kill her,' the Dragon said wryly.

'I'll survive,' I said, nudging his frill. 'Let's go. This had better be good, I'm missing my beauty sleep.'

I think it will be worth it, John said. John said. Let's go. Let's go.

The Dragon launched himself into the water but I didn't feel the movement. The water pounded past us but there was no pressure.

Don't hold your breath, the Dragon said. the Dragon said. You can breathe. You can breathe.

I nudged his frill to show that I understood. I looked right. John swam next to us, matching the Dragon's velocity without moving a muscle. He was stretched out as if he was flying. He noticed my gaze and smiled.

Not many humans have seen me swim like this, he said. he said. I feel self-conscious swimming in human form, I know it looks strange. I hope you'll see me swim in True Form one day. I feel self-conscious swimming in human form, I know it looks strange. I hope you'll see me swim in True Form one day.

I nodded. I hoped so too.

The Dragon's body whipped beneath me but there was still no other sensation of movement.

The water became very dark as we plunged deeper. I gripped the Dragon's frill tighter.

If the darkness bothers you, close your eyes, the Dragon said. the Dragon said. I will let you know when there is something to see. Some of my human wives have found this part of the journey quite claustrophobic. I will let you know when there is something to see. Some of my human wives have found this part of the journey quite claustrophobic.

The wives were right. The water was dark and pressed in all around me. I couldn't see a thing. I wasn't sure whether the flashes of illumination that sped past us were real or just my eyes playing tricks. I closed my eyes and lowered my head. I wondered how deep we were.

About a hundred metres, the stone in my ring said. the stone in my ring said. But we are a good twenty kilometres from sh.o.r.e. We are travelling very fast. We will drop off the continental shelf any second...There. But we are a good twenty kilometres from sh.o.r.e. We are travelling very fast. We will drop off the continental shelf any second...There.

There was a definite change in the movement; the Dragon seemed to be using more effort to travel.

Not more effort, the stone said. the stone said. He just sped up. Before, he was going about three hundred kilometres an hour. He has just doubled his speed. I must say, Emma, this is quite exhilarating. He just sped up. Before, he was going about three hundred kilometres an hour. He has just doubled his speed. I must say, Emma, this is quite exhilarating.

That was pretty d.a.m.n fast. I hoped that John could keep up.

The Dark Lord has absolutely no problem at all. I suspect he may be able to travel faster than the Dragon.

It is about a twenty minute trip, my Lady, the Dragon said. the Dragon said.

If you are feeling unwell, give the Dragon a kick, John said. John said. I know it's quite a trek. I know it's quite a trek.

I opened my eyes. Nothing but darkness around me. I relaxed and closed them again, enjoying the sensation of travelling without motion through the warm darkness. The Dragon's scales were smooth and silky, and his frill felt like a velvety chamois.

Don't go to sleep, John said, jarring me out of my slumber. John said, jarring me out of my slumber. You need to hold on. Here we are. You need to hold on. Here we are.

I opened my eyes and nearly fell off.

'Here' was a fairytale castle, glittering with multicoloured lights. It seemed to stretch forever, with curved towers and arched walkways. The walls were transparent around the edges, milky white in the centre. It had a traditional tiled Chinese roof, with upwardly curving edges and sweeping corners, covered with glistening white tiles and edged with coloured lights. It was enormous.

I opened my mouth to exclaim my astonishment and nothing came out. John chuckled into my ear.

I nudged the Dragon's frill.

Thank you, the Dragon said. the Dragon said. They all say that. They all say that.

A pair of small gold dragons emerged from the arched entranceway that glittered with coloured fairy lights. They bowed to us. I nodded back as we pa.s.sed.

Number One and Number Two, John said into my ear. John said into my ear. He honours us. He honours us.

We swept through the archway and a pair of enormous pearly doors opened before us.

I asked the stone if it had ever been to a place like this before. It was silent. Eventually it spoke.

No. I am speechless.

I laughed quietly to myself.

Yes, you are quite right. I also think it is the first time.

We travelled through a corridor that was at least twenty metres high, with towering walls of what looked like ice, but appeared to be gla.s.s or crystal. Flowing crystalline chandeliers provided sparkling light above us. The white floor was polished to a high reflective sheen.

There was another set of huge doors at the end of the corridor. They opened by themselves and we went through.

On the other side was an elegant formal garden, glowing with colour. But the garden wasn't flowers; it was coral, and sparkling reef fish flitted between the tiny spires and archways.

I'm rather proud of this, the Dragon said. the Dragon said. Huge amount of upkeep, but the wives like it. Huge amount of upkeep, but the wives like it.

I nudged his frill and he slowed as we pa.s.sed through the garden. It was in a courtyard with towering walls on all sides made from a glistening semi-transparent material. They were at least five storeys high, and people and dragons watched us from the arched walkways on higher floors.

They're not here to see the North Wind or the East Wind, Emma, John said into my ear. John said into my ear. They're hoping to catch a glimpse of you. They're hoping to catch a glimpse of you.

I dropped my head and tried to hide behind the Dragon's enormous frill.

Won't work, my Lady, the Dragon said, and abruptly changed direction, heading straight up. At the top floor he changed direction again and flew onto one of the walkways.

And here we are, John said. He landed lightly next to us and stood on the balcony. His long hair had come completely out and floated around his head, but he had no trouble standing. He smiled, his eyes sparkling, and gestured. Follow me. Follow me.