Red Phoenix

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

I woke up drowsy and dehydrated. I wandered out to find something to drink. I went into the kitchen; Leo sat at the table with some coffee. His eyes were swollen, making them appear even smaller; he’d been asleep too. ‘Is everybody okay?’ I said.

He nodded a reply. ‘Simone’s still sleeping. Mr Chen is asleep too. All the signals have been lowered. Things are starting to get back to normal.’

‘Tea, my Lady?’ Ah Yat said.

I nodded. ‘Sow mei, please, a whole pot.’

Ah Yat busied herself with the teapot.

‘Mr Chen said not to worry about what Simone said, it was normal,’ Leo said. ‘He said that she’d opened her Inner Eye or something like that, and that she could see inside people.’

Ah Yat gave me the tea and I nodded my thanks. I poured for myself. ‘The stone in my ring said the same thing.’

Leo glanced at me sharply. ‘Then why did Simone see you as a snake?’

‘The stone thinks I have a snake totem.’

‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’ Leo demanded, his voice slurring more than usual.

‘Haven’t you ever heard of the concept of a totem?’ I said. ‘Oh come on, Leo, you’re joking, right?’

He just shook his head. He didn’t smile.

I decided to be brisk and scientific about it. ‘Certain cultures believe that people can have animal spirits that either dwell inside them or alongside them, that guide and protect them. They have a special affinity to that animal.’ I eyed Leo sideways. ‘Black Lion.’

‘That’s just a stupid nickname the demons thought up, ‘cause they don’t like the fact that I’m a perfectly ordinary human who can take them down,’ Leo said. ‘Nothing more. Certainly not one of these totem things.’

The stone in the ring broke in. ‘You are courageous in the face of overwhelming odds. You protect your family against any attacker. You travel alone, without a partner. You are without peer as a warrior. And you are as black as night. You are a Black Lion, Leo. You even bear the name.’

‘They call me the Lion because of the stupid name,’ Leo said. ‘I wish my mother had never gone through that stupid astrology phase.’

‘Your star sign is Leo as well?’ I said, incredulous.

‘And he was born in the year of the Tiger,’ the stone added wryly.

‘I know exactly how old you are now, Leo. And I know your birthday to within a month. You’re older than I thought you were.’ I grinned. ‘You’re overdue for a really big birthday party from last year. I’m going to find out your proper birthday, and I’m going to buy you a cake.’ I giggled with delight and pushed him. ‘You’re middle-aged. Over the hill. Getting old, Leo.’

Leo ignored my ribbing. ‘I’m called the Lion because my name is Leo. I’m called Leo because that’s when I was born. It’s just a chain of coincidences.’

‘There’s no such thing as a coincidence, Leo,’ John said kindly as he entered the kitchen. His hair was damp from the shower and he looked tired. ‘Haven’t you worked that out by now?’ He plonked himself down at the table. ‘Tea, tikuanyin,’ he ordered without looking at Ah Yat, and she busied herself with another teapot. ‘August fourteenth. Tiger.’ He thought for a moment. ‘Nineteen sixty-two.’ He turned to Leo. ‘She’s quite right.’

Leo stiffened. ‘Thank you very much.’

I pushed Leo again. ‘Damn, I missed it, it’s already September. You were really quiet. You are still getting a cake, though, and it’ll have forty-one big candles on it.’

John laughed gently and I studied him, concerned. ‘Are you all right? We wouldn’t have put you through that if it didn’t make any difference. You should have told us it would be that bad.’

He shrugged. ‘There is very little chance that another of that power will hit us again in a human lifetime.’

‘Simone opened her Inner Eye and saw your true essence,’ I said, studying him closely. ‘You scared her to death.’

He shrugged again, his voice mild. ‘I have never seen a human child open the Eye at such a young age. We will turn it on small demons this afternoon and see what level she is capable of destroying.’ He glanced sharply at me. ‘You will come and try it as well. We haven’t done this with you yet.’

‘She saw me as a snake, John,’ I said quietly.

‘Did she see Leo as a lion?’ John said, and Leo hissed under his breath. ‘That’s what he was arguing about, isn’t it? That all of his lion alignment is just a coincidence?’

‘It is,’ Leo said fiercely.

‘And I will repeat myself,’ John said, spreading his hands. ‘There is no such thing as a coincidence.’

‘She didn’t see Leo as a lion, but she saw me as a snake, John,’ I said desperately. ‘She saw me as a snake.’

‘And?’ John said.

‘Just how much snake am I?’

‘Probably just enough to be beautiful,’ John said. ‘Maybe it’s the reptile in you that loves the reptile in me.’ He smiled. ‘We’ve been through this before, Emma. You know what’s important. Don’t worry yourself about it; we need to have these children organised for school. And if we can get Simone using her Inner Eye, then she will be even more prepared. I may have Michael there this afternoon as well to do the exercises.’

Ah Yat presented him with his tea and he poured for himself. ‘I just thank the heavens that it’s all over.’

‘You should have told me it was so bad,’ I said, exasperated. ‘If we’d known, we would have let you move it.’

‘Oh, I thank you, most gracious Lady. You would grant me your permission.’

Leo made a soft sound of amusement.

I looked John right in the eye. ‘You. Me. Staves. Training room. No mercy, no quarter, no rules. No limits; but no touching. I can take you.’ I tapped my fingertip on the table for emphasis, the edge of my voice very sharp. ‘First one to break their opponent’s staff wins.’

‘I can take both of you at once,’ John said mildly.

Leo shot to his feet. ‘Let’s go. You’re on.’

‘Go and warm up and practise to prepare for me,’ John said, raising his tea cup. ‘I will be in there as soon as I’ve finished my tea. I will defeat your combined attacks and break your staves within three minutes, unarmed, without a warm-up, and without touching either of you, or I am not Pak Tai, God of Martial Arts.’

Leo and I shared a look. Then we both grinned. ‘Excellent.’

It only took about twenty seconds. He was definitely God of Martial Arts.

Later that afternoon Simone and I were drawing pictures together when there was a tap on the door. ‘Come on in, Michael,’ Simone said.

Michael sidled in. He hated going into Simone’s room; too girly for him. ‘Lord Xuan is ready for us,’ he said.

Simone and I rose together.

‘You think I’ll see the Turtle again, Emma?’ Simone said.

‘Are you scared of it, sweetheart? It’s just your dad.’ I gestured towards Michael. ‘You’re not scared of his dad in True Form.’

‘His dad isn’t big and black and scaly and horrible.’

‘No,’ I said with a smile. ‘He’s big and white and furry and horrible.’

Michael didn’t say anything but I could see that he was delighted.

Simone hesitated at the training room door. She hadn’t seen her father since, and was obviously worried. I took her hand and opened the door. Her little hand clutched mine.

John waited patiently for us with his hands clasped behind his back. He studied Simone carefully when she came in, his face expressionless. Simone stopped and gazed at him. They studied each other for some time. Simone’s hand still clutched mine.

Then she dropped my hand and ran to her father with her arms up. She hit him hard and he hoisted her. She wrapped her little arms around his neck and held him very tight. He clamped his eyes shut, his face fierce, as he held her.

I moved to guide Michael out and leave them. ‘Don’t go, Emma,’ Simone said, turning in her father’s arms. They both watched me calmly. ‘I’m okay.’

John nodded. I shrugged, closed the door, and motioned for Michael to follow me into the middle of the room.

‘Come and sit,’ John said, and we sat cross-legged together in the centre of the training room. ‘First we will look at what we will do.’ He gestured towards me. ‘You can do it already, Emma, you help Michael. I will help Simone.’ His voice became brisk. ‘The Inner Eye is your vision of the world around you that doesn’t require your physical eyes. Once you open it, it is very useful. You can see past obstacles, and,’ he looked pointedly at Simone, ‘see the inner essence of other creatures.’

Simone nodded, wide-eyed.

‘Lady Emma has discovered some other uses; we may try them later. Simone,’ he said kindly, ‘that’s what you did before. You opened your Inner Eye. You could see right through things.’

‘I saw you, Daddy,’ she said. ‘I saw the Turtle.’

‘How do you do it, my Lord?’ Michael said. ‘How difficult is it?’

‘You may not be able to do it, you are quite young,’ John said. Michael seemed about to protest, then subsided. ‘Normally even half Shen must wait until adulthood. We will see what you can do. I think you may be able to. Emma will show you how to do it.’ John took Simone’s hand. I took Michael’s hand. ‘Just open your Eye, Emma. Do it in front of Michael, see if he can follow you. I will do the same for Simone when you’re done.’

I opened my Eye and Michael watched me attentively. It was an unusual feeling; normally it was me watching somebody else. I turned the Eye on John to show Michael. I didn’t see the Turtle at all; I just saw the Dark Lord part of him, like a smaller version of the Celestial Form. Michael gasped. I internally reached out and touched him, comforting, without physically moving at all. It was like there was a second set of people there: our physical beings and our spiritual ones.

‘Can I turn it on Simone?’ I said softly.

‘No, don’t attempt that,’ John said, and his Celestial Form spoke. ‘She’s not ready for that yet. Emma,’ his voice became more forceful, ‘I am going to turn my Eye onto you. Be ready, it will feel very strange. If it hurts, tell me and I will stop immediately.’

I nodded, and the Celestial Form smiled through its thin black beard, still with John’s eyes.

‘Close your Eye, Emma, and sit very still. Warn me if it hurts.’

I closed off the extra senses and opened my physical eyes. Michael opened his eyes as well. He smiled at me. ‘Cool.’

I waited quietly. Simone’s little face was rigid with concentration as she watched her father. John’s face was serene, his golden skin glowing. He looked me right in the eyes, smiled slightly at me, and I felt it.

It was like static electricity, all the way through me. It was like touching an electric wire, but it didn’t stop. A continuous tingling spark ran through me, slightly unpleasant, but not painful.

‘Are you all right, Emma?’ John said softly, still smiling gently. ‘I’m not hurting you? Tell me if I am.’

‘It doesn’t hurt,’ I said. ‘It feels weird, but I’m okay.’ I hesitated. ‘What do I look like?’

‘Are you a snake?’ John said, voicing my unspoken question. ‘Is she a snake, Simone?’

‘No, Emma, you’re a beautiful lady,’ Simone said, her voice full of awe. ‘You’re really beautiful.’ Her voice softened. ‘You love us a lot. Me and Daddy.’

‘Stay still, Emma, let’s let Simone try by herself,’ John said, and the electricity snapped off. He let go of her hand.

I remained still, to let Simone see me. She closed her eyes and her face went slack as she concentrated. Nothing happened.

‘You’re trying too hard, sweetheart,’ John said. ‘Just relax. Like you were doing the sword set. Don’t try, just do it.’

Still no tingling.

Simone frowned.

John took her hand. ‘Let me.’ He concentrated, holding her hand.

The tingling went through me, then stopped.

‘Now you,’ John said, releasing her hand.

Simone’s face went rigid with concentration.

The force of the shock knocked me over. My head hit the floor with a smack. I was held paralysed on the floor with the electricity going through me.

‘Let her up, Simone,’ John said quietly, ‘you may hurt her.’

The electricity stopped. ‘Sorry, Emma,’ Simone said. ‘I don’t know what I did.’

‘Why did that happen?’ I said as I pulled myself back up. ‘That didn’t happen when I came in before and she saw me as a snake. I didn’t feel anything.’

‘She only had it half-open when we came in, but her vision was clear,’ John said. ‘This time she had it open all the way, but her vision wasn’t as clear. When you are more experienced you will understand. Are you okay? You didn’t hit your head too hard?’

I shook my head. ‘I’m fine.’ Michael watched me with a grin of mischievous delight. ‘You will keep,’ I said. ‘We haven’t done it to you yet.’

‘She has a powerful Eye and she hasn’t any control over it yet,’ John said. ‘Once we have control over it, we can choose the level of effect we have on you. I could quite easily kill you if I turned it completely onto you.’ He smiled gently at Simone. ‘I wasn’t expecting anything quite so powerful out of you yet, love. It’ll be interesting to see what you can blow up with that little Eye of yours.’

‘Whoa, really?’ Michael said, aghast. ‘My dad could kill somebody just by looking at them?’

‘Once the Tiger was attacked on the Earthly Plane by a band of robbers in the West. This was a long time ago,’ John said, remembering, ‘about a thousand years ago. He was riding alone. He was attacked by a whole group of them, about twenty. He turned his Eye on them and killed them all in one go.’ He smiled grimly. ‘Humans are easy.’

‘He didn’t give them a chance at all?’ I said.

John shook his head.

‘You were right, Emma,’ Michael said. ‘He is a bastard.’

‘Lady Emma,’ John corrected.

‘Just Emma,’ I said. ‘He’s family.’

‘I suppose he is,’ John said. ‘And it’s his turn.’ He gestured towards Michael. ‘On me first. We don’t want to hurt the ladies.’

‘Do you want me to show you again, Michael?’ I said.

Michael nodded. I took his hand and showed him again how to do it.

‘Try to open it more, Emma,’ John said. ‘That’s a pathetic attempt if ever I saw one. You won’t be able to kill anything with that.’

I huffed at the insult, and tried to open the Eye further.

‘Try looking deeper inside me,’ John said. ‘Look for the Turtle. It is in there, believe me.’

I tried hard. I managed a little more. Not very much more, though.

‘I suppose that’s the best you can do,’ John said, sounding slightly disappointed. ‘Oh well, humans aren’t supposed to be able to do it anyway.’

‘Aren’t they?’ Michael said. ‘Then how come Lady Emma can?’

‘No idea,’ John said. ‘We’ll find out eventually. No great hurry. We have all the time in the world. Now, Michael, you try. Look for the Turtle in me.’

I closed my Eye and released Michael’s hand. I waited and watched him.

His face relaxed as he concentrated. He closed his eyes. Then his face cleared and he opened his physical eyes. ‘That is the most incredible thing I have ever seen.’

‘Don’t look at Emma,’ John said sharply. ‘With an Eye like that you could easily kill her. Don’t look at Simone either, I don’t think she could handle it. Excellent,’ he added with satisfaction. ‘Well done. Close it quickly before you hurt somebody.’

Michael’s eyes snapped back and he grinned at me. ‘He is,’ he said, pointing at John, ‘the ugliest damn reptile I have ever seen in my life.’ His face changed and he looked horrified. He bobbed his head. ‘No offence intended, my Lord, forgive my forwardness.’

‘No offence taken, Michael,’ John said. ‘I happen to agree with you.’

‘I want to see, Daddy,’ Simone said.

‘It’s a little scary, sweetheart,’ he said. ‘You may not like it. It made you really scared before, remember?’

She nodded, her face serious. ‘I want to see anyway.’

‘Go and sit next to Emma while you do it,’ John said. ‘She can hold onto you.’

Simone nodded, came to me, and sat carefully in my lap. She reached down and took one of my hands, holding it tightly. I wrapped my other arm around her middle and she put her arm on top of mine. She nodded. ‘I want to try.’

She went very still in my lap. Then her Eye opened onto her father. She held my hand even tighter. I saw him as he usually appeared; I also saw the small Celestial Form at the same time, through her.

‘Open wider,’ John said. ‘Put more into it. Come on, Simone. Michael can do it, why can’t you?’

I nearly laughed out loud at how much that stung her. She stiffened, and threw all of herself into it.

John wavered. He shimmered. He grew and went black.

Simone squeaked and shot to her feet. John snapped back to normal; I could no longer see him through her Eye.

Simone was completely rigid. Her breathing accelerated. I reached to hold her hand again, but she pulled it away. She didn’t want to hold my hand. She was concentrating.

‘Control, Simone,’ John said, watching her intensely.

Simone took some quick, deep breaths.

‘Are you okay?’ I said.

She nodded, still rigid.

‘What does he look like?’ I said.

‘He’s not ugly, he’s beautiful. You’re mean, Michael.’ She stiffened even more. She gasped, then screamed very quietly, almost a squeak of despair. ‘Why didn’t you tell me, Daddy?’ she wailed, then dashed out the door of the training room. ‘Leo! Leo!’ she yelled, and Leo rushed to comfort her, his deep voice rumbling.

‘What?’ I said.

‘She knows,’ John said, his voice full of anguish. His eyes were dark and burning, his face was expressionless. ‘She saw. She saw it all.’

‘Oh dear God, no,’ I whispered. ‘No.’