Red Phoenix

Why not? He’s always said he has plans for us.’
    ‘He kept you without food or water, yes?’ John said.
    I nodded. ‘There was a bathroom there, but I doubt the water was drinkable, not if it was China. I wouldn’t have risked it unless we were in serious trouble.’
    ‘Coward,’ he said. ‘Wanted to weaken you first. I’m sure there was no water there anyway. A couple of days without water, you’d be so weak he could do anything he liked with you. And you’d probably do anything he wanted if you saw Simone suffering.’
    ‘Bastard,’ Leo muttered under his breath.
    ‘You got that right,’ I said.
    Simone returned with Monica, the Filipina domestic helper, who was carrying a tray of breakfast food for us. Monica nodded to Mr Chen. ‘Sir.’ To me. ‘Ma’am.’
    I sighed with exasperation. ‘Ever since we came back from Guangzhou you’ve called me ma’am, Monica, and there’s no need!’
    Monica pointed to the green jade engagement ring on my finger and grinned broadly. ‘Congratulations, ma’am ,’ she said, and returned to the kitchen.
    I glanced down at the ring. ‘But it’s not a diamond.’
    ‘She’s picked it for what it is,’ John said.
    ‘What, a Building Block of the World that’s been asleep for five hundred years?’
    ‘No, an engagement ring, silly,’ Simone said. “Cause you and Daddy are going to get married, and about time.’
    ‘Anyway,’ John straightened and became more brisk, ‘you escaped, you are safe, you are going to be Regent, and we have an awful lot to do now that we are back. Gold will be here later today to talk about the rebuilding of the Mountain.’
    ‘Can you mind Simone while we’re doing that?’ I asked Leo.
    Leo bobbed his head. ‘Yes, my Lady.’
    I glared at him. ‘You too? Cut it out!’
    Simone giggled and I rounded on her. Her tawny eyes widened with delight over her half-eaten cereal. ‘Whydoes Leo do that all the time now, Daddy? It really annoys Emma.’
    ‘He’s her Retainer now as well as mine and yours, Simone,’ John said. ‘Now that I’ve asked Emma to marry me, she’s my Lady and Leo is her Retainer.’
    Simone’s eyes became even wider. ‘Oh.’ She glanced at me. ‘That means they all have to call you that.’
    ‘I know.’
    Simone squealed. ‘Uncle Bai too?’ John nodded, serious. ‘Yep.’
    Simone jiggled in her seat. ‘That is so cool, Emma.’
    ‘But mostly,’ John said casually, ‘Leo does it because it really, really annoys her.’
    Simone’s little face lit up. ‘Aunty Kwan’s here!’
    John concentrated. ‘I told her to come straight in.’
    Kwan Yin entered in her normal human form: a graceful middle-aged Chinese lady wearing a white silk pantsuit.
    Leo quickly rose and fell to one knee, saluting her.
    She touched the top of his bald head. ‘No need, Leo, we are all family here.’
    ‘My Lady.’ He rose and towered over her; she was about five six, the same as me, and he was a good head taller than her.
    Ms Kwan glanced around the table. ‘Have you finished, Simone?’
    ‘Yep.’ Simone put her spoon down.
    ‘Leo, please take Simone out. I must talk to Simone’s father and Emma alone before I speak to Simone.’
    Leo nodded. ‘My Lady.’ He held out his huge dark hand, Simone put her little one in his, and he led her out.
    Ms Kwan sat at the table. Monica brought in another tea cup for her and she nodded her thanks. I poured the tea.
    ‘What, Mercy?’ John said.
    ‘I have returned with news from the Celestial, Ah Wu. I have spoken with the Celestial One.’ ‘The Jade Emperor?’ I said. She nodded. ‘I have news.’
    John and I shared a look. Then we turned back to her.
    ‘Did you tell them that I will resign my post if they reject Emma?’ John said.
    ‘No need, Ah Wu.’ She sipped her tea. ‘The Celestial is most impressed with you, Emma, and you are on probation. Your performance as Ah Wu’s prospective Regent of the North will be monitored.’
    I stared at her, speechless. She’d said that as if it was a good thing. ‘Great.’ I ran my hands through my hair. ‘Wonderful. They’re watching me. I’ll make sure I screw up really badly.’
    ‘I have complete faith in you, Emma.’ John turned back to Kwan Yin. ‘They are impressed?’
    ‘She willingly followed your daughter into the nest of the most vicious demon in Hell, then negotiated with the Demon King himself to get her out,’ Kwan Yin said. ‘Of course they are.’
    ‘I couldn’t let her go alone, I