Red Phoenix

Michelle.’
    Charlie gasped and her eyes went wide.
    ‘You know how Michelle died. You know how her family died. The same demon broke into the White Tiger’s stables in Ireland, and raped and mutilated two of his women. Emma heard the Tiger describe what had happened.’
    ‘That’s awful, sir,’ Charlie whispered.
    ‘The demon took all of us down, and went into the house to kidnap Simone.’
    Charlie’s eyes were huge. ‘No. How did you stop it?’
    ‘We couldn’t stop it. It took Simone into its nest. Do you know what Emma did?’
    Charlie glanced at me, her eyes still wide.
    ‘Emma went with them. Into the demon’s nest. She knew exactly what would happen to her if she went, but she went anyway. To be with Simone. To the very end.’
    Charlie stared at me. ‘You willingly went into that demon’s nest?’
    ‘I don’t know why everybody is making such a big deal of it,’ I said. ‘Anybody would have done the same. I couldn’t let Simone go with that monster alone.’
    ‘The King of the Demons himself went in and tried to take them for himself,’ John said. ‘Emma negotiated with him to release them instead.’
    Charlie gasped. ‘The King ’? She turned to me. ‘You faced down the King ?’
    ‘If she hadn’t had the courage and intelligence to negotiate with him, it is quite likely that Emma would be dead, Simone would be in the Demon King’s hands, and my head would be gone,’ John finished.
    Charlie studied me appraisingly for a long time. She didn’t move at all and her face was rigid with restraint. I waited, mystified, to see what she would do.
    She rose, and John smiled.
    I just watched her, wondering.
    She carefully lowered herself to one knee before me. ‘My Lady. I pledge allegiance.’
    I threw myself to my feet. ‘Will you people stop doing that!’ I banged the table with frustration. ‘John, will you please tell your staff to stop doing that. It drives me completely nuts!’
    Charlie rose and threw her arms around me, tearful. ‘I’m your staff too, my Lady.’ She smiled at John with her arms still around me. ‘Congratulations, my Lord, you have chosen well.’
    John put his hands out. ‘I didn’t choose her, Charlie. Fate chose us for each other.’
    I gently pulled myself out of Charlie’s arms. ‘I have had absolutely enough of this.’ I gestured impatiently. ‘Go and unpack, Charlie. Have a rest and settle in. You can start helping with Simone tomorrow, if you’re not too jet-lagged.’
    Charlie bowed. ‘Yes, my Lady.’
    ‘Dammit, will you people stop doing that!’ I shouted, and stormed out.
    They laughed as I went out. They were all enjoying this far too much.
    ‘May I use the phone and call London, my Lord?’ Charlie said behind me. ‘I would love to tell James and my mother.’
    ‘Be my guest,’ John said. ‘Tell everyone you know.’ ‘You all hate me!’ I yelled over my shoulder.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    I checked the phone number: Leo. ‘Hello?’ ‘I know it’s Sunday, my Lady, but I was wondering if you and Mr Chen would like to see the kid. I have him here at the martial arts school in Causeway Bay, and his mother’s out of town. Can I bring him up for you to meet him?’
    ‘John’s not here, but bring him up anyway. John’ll be back soon, he went out with Simone. What’s the kid’s name?’
    ‘Michael. Michael MacLaren.’ ‘Bring him up.’
    Just as I put the phone down the front door slammed. I went out to the hallway. John and Simone had just come in and were kicking off their shoes in the entry.
    ‘Leo’s bringing his student up for us to see,’ I said.
    ‘If they’re here before I’m out of the shower, look at him for me,’ John said.
    ‘You don’t need a shower every single time, Daddy,’ Simone said patiently.
    ‘Yes I do,’ he said, and headed past me towards his room.
    ‘He really hates the summer,’ Simone said. ‘He hates being all sweaty like that.’
    ‘He’s probably not used to it,’ I said. ‘Shen don’t get sweaty in summer.’
    ‘He does. He’s a Shen.’
    ‘He’s in human form. He’s human all the way through.’
    ‘He hates it.’
    ‘Too bad for him, he’s the one who has to wear black all the time,’ I said unsympathetically. ‘He’s a big wussy boy.’
    She grinned. ‘Yeah. He’s so weak!’
    I can hear both of you, John said into our ears. Simone and I giggled together.
    The door opened and Leo came in, guiding Michael.
    Michael was tall for a fifteen year old, about five