Red Phoenix

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 other 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.’

I stepped back and sagged. I fell to sit on the couch, put my head in my hands, then ran my hands through my hair.

‘No.’ I glanced up at him. ‘Did he win?’

‘If he wins he will tell me. Until then he has requested that he not be disturbed, as he needs to concentrate.’

‘I was taking him to Paris next week, Bai Hu. He’s almost completely drained.’

The Tiger came and sat next to me. ‘It will all be over soon, Emma, one way or another. Have faith in your Lord; he will defeat this bastard, and then you can take him to Paris. Remember…’ He smiled sadly. ‘This is the God of Martial Arts we’re talking about here. He is the best there is, even drained and in human form.’

‘What are his chances, do you think?’

‘About fifty-fifty, my Lady.’ He put his arm around my shoulder and squeezed me affectionately. ‘Would you like to take a look around the palace while you wait? Louise would love to see you.’

I hesitated. ‘If you don’t mind, Tiger, I think I’ll stay here and meditate. Alone. I’ll just wait for him. However long it takes.’

‘Very well, Emma. If you need anything,’ he pointed at a small brass gong on the intricately carved teak coffee table, ‘sound the gong. A servant will come. I am nearby. Would you like tea?’

‘Yes, please. But right now I’d just like to be alone and wait.’

After he’d gone I settled to sit on one of the rugs to meditate. But for the first time since I’d gained the skill I couldn’t do it. Wonderful. If I couldn’t even do this now, then I’d be completely incapacitated when he left, and I would have duties to perform. Not good enough.

I rose and performed a Yang-style tai chi set, to set my body in motion and clear my mind at the same time. This was more effective. I had to concentrate on the moves and I couldn’t think about John. I phased out and relaxed.

I made it. I was freed from the anguish. My mind and body moved in harmony, becoming the moves themselves. I moved the chi around very slowly and deliberately, following it with my eyes as it glowed in my hands, pure shining white.

I stopped mid-move without losing concentration. My chi was white. It wasn’t chi, it was shen. This was incredibly wrong and very dangerous. I had my soul out there on my hands. I didn’t even know I could do that.

I maintained the harmony and very slowly completed the set. It didn’t feel wrong; in fact I felt absolutely wonderful, glowing and relaxed. It felt like Ms Kwan was with me, filling me with complete peaceful serenity. I looked around for her, but she wasn’t there. ‘Kwan Yin?’

‘No, that was all you,’ the stone said. ‘You are on the Celestial Plane, where it is possible to work with shen. But even here, what you just did is exceptional. Thank you; that was a wonderful feeling. If the Turtle returns for you, you should tell him about it. I cannot wait to see his reaction.’

‘I’m on the Celestial Plane?’ I went to the window and looked out. I wished I could enjoy it.

The window was high up in the wall of the palace. Gardens spread below me. They were desert gardens: red soil holding mostly succulents and cacti, with cycads and ferns. The paths between the gardens were paved with golden yellow bricks, and a climbing plant with bright golden flowers hung from a blue-tiled pavilion with a red-tiled roof. A network of ponds and fountains meandered through the gardens, joined by blue-tiled channels of splashing water. Beyond the gardens stood a very high red-brick wall, and beyond that was the desert.

The desert was a rich tapestry of different shades of red and gold, the colours so intense they were almost dazzling. The sky was a brilliant crystalline blue, bluer than any sky I had ever seen, without a single cloud. Crinkled red mountains lounged on the other side of the wide red and gold plain.

Brightly coloured tents flapped in the breeze. Banners snapped on top of the tents, some of them bearing the motif of a white tiger. The sun had nearly set and the tents made long shadows over the red desert plain.

The wind chime hanging above the window made a gentle musical sound.

Riders practised manoeuvres on the plain. They rode Arab horses, decked out with colourful blankets and flowing ribbons. The riders tore over the desert with spears and impaled pegs on the ground.

‘That’s tent-pegging,’ I said. ‘I did that in pony club.’

‘At full gallop on a pure-bred Arab?’ the stone said.

‘I wish.’ I began to warm to the stone. It was good company.

I sighed. ‘This is so beautiful.’

‘The Mountain was even more exquisite,’ John said behind me.

I turned. There he was. He still wore the black cotton pants and T-shirt he had worn to the meeting earlier, and appeared uninjured. His hair had come completely loose and fell around his shoulders. He smiled gently, the golden skin of his face glowing. It was all I could do to stop myself racing to him and throwing myself into his arms.

‘Is that really him?’ I asked the stone.

‘Yes, my Lady, it really is,’ the stone said.

I sagged against the window frame with relief.

The Tiger, in True Form, padded out from behind John. He went out the door and it closed softly behind him.

‘What are you doing here?’ I said.

‘The Tiger brought me here. He is a complete fool. It will take him at least a day and a night to recover from the exertion before he can carry us back. He is completely incapacitated. He can’t even take human form.’

‘I’ll have to rearrange the Paris travel plans. What a nuisance.’

‘I think Mercy will understand.’

We sat together on the couch and I poured the tea. He was far too close to me; I could feel the warmth from him. His T-shirt was damp and crumpled from the exertion of battling the demon. Now he was closer I could see tears in the fabric where Wong had made some near misses.

‘Are you hurt? He made it through you a couple of times.’

‘He didn’t touch me.’

‘Will everyone be okay while we’re stuck here for two days? Will Simone be all right?’

‘Monica, Leo and Michael are minding her for us. A Celestial Master is also guarding. It’s a shame Simone can’t travel to the Plane.’ He glanced out the window. ‘But I’m sure she’ll like it when she can come.’

‘How old will she have to be before she can come?’

‘Fully grown.’ He shrugged. ‘I will know, but I will not be here anyway.’ He smiled and I became lost in his eyes. He really was sitting far too close to me. His eyes studied my face, his voice warm and low. ‘But while I am here there’s something I can do.’

More duties to perform. ‘What’s that?’

He reached to take my hand, pulling me closer. ‘I can touch you.’

My heart leapt to my throat. ‘Oh dear Lord, no.’

‘Oh dear Lady, absolutely yes.’ He put his hand gently around the back of my neck, pulled me in and kissed me.

I pressed hard into him. I threw my arms around his neck and dug my fingers into his hair. His hands stroked over my shoulders and down my back. He pulled my shirt free and shoved his hands inside, running them along the bare skin of my back and making me moan into his mouth.

I couldn’t be close enough to him. The blood pounded in my ears. He breathed heavily, his chest heaving against me. His grip tightened, then he pulled away to study me, his face very intense. He glanced down and worked at the buttons on my shirt, making me tremble.

Then he stopped and his face went rigid. A black shutter rolled up over his eyeballs. No whites, no irises, nothing. Just black.

He shoved me backwards on the couch and threw himself on top of me. He held me down by the throat. I nearly panicked but I tried to control it; he wasn’t choking me, he just held me.

‘John. John. What are you doing?’

He didn’t hear me, his face had twisted into a fierce grimace. I didn’t struggle; he could easily snap my neck. I tried to lie very still but my heart raced.

He grabbed the front of my shirt, pulled it upwards and ripped it off me, chafing the skin of my back. He shifted sideways slightly and did the same to my jeans; grabbed, pulled, ripped them away. His black eyes didn’t focus on me.

He released my throat but I didn’t move; I didn’t risk fighting back.

I touched his cheek, trying to snap him out of it. He grabbed my wrist, thrust it over my head and pinned it to the couch. He held it, grabbed my other hand, and put it over my head as well. He pinned both of my hands in one of his, his grip like steel. He breathed heavily, his eyes hard and black and glittering above mine. His hair hung like a curtain around our faces.

He shifted on top of me and pinned me with his body. He tugged at his pants using his free hand.

He pushed himself hard onto me and forced his knee between my legs. He moved his forearm across my throat to hold me down. His other hand held my hands above my head. I was unable to move and barely able to breathe as he forced himself on me, black eyes glittering, face fierce and terrible.

I didn’t try to move. I didn’t try to fight him. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything. I was completely defenceless. He had me.

When his eyes returned to normal he pulled back to study me, his face expressionless. He threw himself off me, fixed his clothes, and stalked to the window. He brushed his hair out of his face to watch the desert.

I rose as well. I didn’t bother with my clothes; they were ruined. I shrugged off the remains and went to him. I stood behind and slightly to one side of him, leaned into him and put my arm around his waist.

He silently leaned on the window frame, looking at the desert for a long time. I held him and waited.

Finally he spoke, his voice very soft. ‘Did I hurt you? Are you injured?’

‘I’m fine. You didn’t hurt me at all.’

He banged his palms on the stone of the window ledge, stalked back to the couch and threw himself to sit on it. He bent forward and put his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. I followed and stood over him, waiting. He rubbed his hands over his face and looked up at me. He saw me without my clothes and his face went intense again. He looked away.

I sat next to him and took one of his hands in both of mine. ‘You completely lost control, didn’t you? Both you and Ms Kwan said that could happen.’

He studied his hand where I held it. ‘It’s been more than three years.’ His face went fierce. ‘I should have better control than that!’ He looked into my eyes. ‘I am so sorry, Emma. I could have hurt you.’

I squeezed his hand. ‘Will it be like that every time?’

‘No, not every time. But sometimes…’ He hesitated. ‘Perhaps. I don’t want to hurt you. This is such a bad idea; having a human wife has always been a bad idea.’ His voice gained a very slight edge of despair. ‘I would understand if you were to change your mind now.’

‘So it won’t be like that every time?’

‘No. But sometimes it may be.’

‘Good,’ I said firmly. ‘Because if it was like that every single time, it would definitely be too much of a good thing.’

His face went blank. Then he heard what I’d said and it filled with wonder. ‘You really are amazing sometimes.’

‘You’re pretty damn amazing yourself.’

I levered myself over him so that I straddled his lap, and threw my arms around his neck. I moved my face very close to his and looked him in the eyes. ‘I want to see your eyes go black again. That was cool.’

He wrapped his strong hands around my bare waist and his face became intense. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

‘So soon?’

He just smiled.

I woke with a start. Someone lay next to me, facing away. Long, black shining hair. Smooth, muscular golden shoulders. I vaulted out of the bed and nearly brushed the ceiling as I somersaulted and landed lightly on the carpet nearly seven metres away. What the hell?

He rolled over to see me. His eyes sparkled in the moonlight as he smiled. ‘That move needs some work, Emma. You have been concentrating far too much on the energy work lately and letting the physical training fall beside the way. You are even becoming slightly soft in the middle.’

I looked down at myself. He was right.

He threw the covers open. ‘Come back to bed.’

He was teasing me. He’d deliberately thrown the covers off so that I could see him. He was magnificent. His long black hair had come completely loose and fell over his shoulders and neck in wonderful disarray. He was solid muscle under smooth golden skin, shining in the moonlight.

‘You really need to go to Paris,’ I said. ‘You look nearly fifty years old yourself.’

He laughed softly. ‘I’m an old man.’

I climbed back into bed and he pulled the covers over us; the desert night was cold. I snuggled next to him and ran my hands over his strong back. He wrapped his arms around me and I felt the muscles of his back move beneath my fingers. His hands were cool, but his chest was warm. I stuck my face under his chin and he nuzzled the top of my head.

‘Not where it counts.’

It became very warm under the covers. One of his hands trailed up my back and buried itself in my hair. He gently rolled me so that I was on my back and he was above me. He lowered his face to mine.

I could tell his eyes didn’t go black, even though I couldn’t see them. He took his time.