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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. I’ll 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. Let’s try something bigger.’ He shuffled inside the jar. ‘Level twenty.’ He glanced up. ‘Call if you’re not confident.’ He stopped and spoke more fiercely. ‘I mean it. This is not a competition. Call if you’re 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 we’re higher than this I’ll need a weapon, my Lord,’ Leo said. ‘They’re much faster than me and I need an edge.’
    ‘Emma?’
    ‘Me too. I can’t generate enough energy without the weapon to take them out.’
    ‘I’ve seen you take a level twenty-five bare-handed,’ John said.
    ‘I prefer to use energy. Don’t 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 we’ll 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, you’ve 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 didn’t 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 didn’t 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 wasn’t fazed. ‘How many more? I need a shower now.’ He gestured towards his slacks, which were covered in black demon