LITMIR.BIZ

       CHAPTER 1

       The Serpent slides through the

      black icy water of the Antarctic,

       wreathed in permanent darkness.

       The Turtle hides from the weak

       Arctic sun beneath the ice.

       They cry, but there is no answer.

      ‘Now,’ I said gently, ‘concentrate. You’ve done it before. This time, bring the chi out as slowly as you can. Feel the rubber band pulling it back.’

      Apple bit her lip and the glowing yellow ball of chi floated out of her outstretched palm.

      Emma, emergency, the stone in my ring said. Some third years have run into trouble. They raided a prostitution den in Mong Kok that was holding sex slaves, and instead of humans running the show they met up with demons. They need help.

      ‘Let the chi go, Apple,’ I said, still very gentle.

      The chi floated back down into Apple’s hand and she sagged.

      ‘Take a break now, and don’t try it again without supervision,’ I said. ‘I’ve been called away, so we’ll end it there. Head back to the Folly and have a rest.’

      Apple nodded. ‘Yes, ma’am. Thank you.’

      I patted her shoulder, then quickly rose and spoke urgently to the stone as I charged out to the stairwell. ‘Get Marcus to bring the car around the front. I’ll meet him at the ground floor. Which Masters are free?’

      ‘Sit, Park, Lee and Edwards are there already. The demons are holding the students hostage. It’s a standoff,’ the stone said.

      I jumped over the balustrade to the empty space in the centre of the stairwell, twenty storeys to the ground. I fell at maximum speed until the floor loomed below me, then slowed my fall, levered one foot on the railing and jumped down to the landing in front of the ground floor door.

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