Red Phoenix

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 themotif 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