Red Phoenix

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 outand 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