The Gravity Engine by Kylie Chan

central atrium the full six storeys tall and stacks of shelving containing hand-lettered and bound manuscripts, covered in a light layer of dust. The floor hadn’t been walked on in a very long time. The amount of knowledge held there was awe-inspiring. Due to the Celestial nature of the location, he had no trouble reading the shelf labels: there were books on history, philosophy, engineering and ‘magic’. He opened a magic book and it was detailed descriptions of something identical to the Asian methods of energy manipulation – chi gong and martial arts. He walked up a flight of spiral stairs to the first level: medicine and history. He opened a history book and it contained a detailed description of the Roman expansion two thousand years before. He shook his head as he returned the book to the shelf; he had to find a way to retrieve this treasure from the demons’ control.
    Something shifted in the corner of his eye and he turned. The building was changing – the metal brightened from grey to almost white and the dust disappeared. He watched with wonder as the structure around him flared into life, the crystalline lamps becoming more brilliant and the glass clearer and more perfect.
    A rhythmic banging began some distance away and it took him a moment to realise that it was the sound of a helicopter. He sent his senses out: it was the Demon King, returning with a Shen whose nature was completely different from any Michael had experienced before – the spirit of the city. The city must be responding to its spirit’s return.
    The Demon King needed to stay unaware of his ability to leave the mansion otherwise he would probably be locked up. He rushed out the door of the library, closed it behind him, and flew as quickly as he could back to the mansion with sound of the helicopter’s rotors seeming directly behind him. He flew through the roof and replaced the panel with a quick weld of the amalgam. He hoped that was enough to hold it as he flew down to the bedroom he’d chosen.
    His feet touched the landing just as the front door opened and the King entered with the spirit of the city.
    ‘Prince Michael,’ the King said, moving forward to speak to him. ‘Please come down here.’
    Michael took a huge stride over the balcony balustrade and landed in front of the King on the floor below. He studied the spirit of the city; it appeared as an elderly European man in a brown robe similar to a monk’s habit. The hood was thrown back and the man had long grey hair held in a braid that fell down his back and a long beard fastened in multiple smaller braids. His intelligent green eyes studied Michael curiously.
    ‘How did you get out of the mansion?’ the King said, his voice sharp with controlled anger.
    Michael considered playing dumb for a moment and decided it wasn’t worth the effort. ‘The building’s made of metal.’
    ‘And?’
    ‘And I’m my father’s son. I could dismantle the entire building in less than five minutes.’
    The King turned back to speak to the spirit. ‘Is there a building in this city that isn’t made of metal?’
    The spirit smiled slightly, and when he spoke his voice was warm and rich. ‘No. I’m one hundred per cent silver, except for the parts that are glass.’
    The King turned back to Michael and concentrated for a moment. Five huddling, terrified demons came out of the kitchen.
    ‘Go up and get the young one and bring her down here,’ the King ordered without looking at them.
    ‘No, wait. Why do you want her?’ Michael said.
    ‘No bamboo here, I’ll have to stick slivers of wood under her fingernails.’
    Michael reeled back, nauseous. ‘Don’t hurt her! Why would you want to do that?’
    The demons stopped halfway up the stairs.
    ‘Will you vow to remain in this building?’ the King said.
    ‘I give you my word,’ Michael said. ‘I won’t leave the building. There’s no need to hurt either of them!’
    The King waved the demon servants away, again without