Red Phoenix

ma’am?’ ‘Sure.’ I shrugged and followed her into the kitchen. ‘Hurry up, Emma, if you want to take a photo,’ John said.
    ‘I’ll be right out, don’t be so impatient.’
    ‘Humph,’ John said, and the Tiger chuckled again.
    I went into the kitchen and closed the door. Monica rinsed the teapot for us.
    ‘What did you want to ask me, Monica?’
    ‘Ma’am,’ Monica said without stopping or looking up, ‘what animal is Mr Chen?’
    ‘He’s a turtle.’
    Monica collapsed over the sink and howled with laughter. I had never heard her laugh like that before. Tears sprang from her eyes. She shook her head, speechless.
    I just smiled and went out. Obviously she knew.
    ‘One more,’ I said, fell to one knee and lined them up. Before I pressed the button I stopped and glared at the Tiger. ‘Put that tail back.’
    The Tiger grinned and covered himself with his tail again.
    ‘What’s he doing, Emma?’ Simone said from his back.
    ‘Nothing,’ the Tiger said, but the minute I’d taken the photo he moved his tail away again. ‘Good thing it’s a digital camera.’
    ‘I forgot once before and had some photos taken out and processed,’ John said. ‘Family photos at a banquet. The staff asked me a lot of questions. They recognised us as the Four Winds. I told them it was a movie set.’
    ‘I’d love a photo of all four of you Winds in True Form,’ I said.
    ‘Bai Hu?’ John said.
    ‘You’re on,’ the Tiger said with a smile in his voice. ‘What a good idea.’
    ‘As soon as I’m back, we’ll do one for you, Serpent and all,’ John said.
    ‘Not eating,’ I said.
    Monica came out of the kitchen holding the tray of tea things. I didn’t push her; I went to her to take the tray.
    ‘No, ma’am, I’m fine.’ She walked calmly around the Tiger and put the tray on the coffee table. She returned around the Tiger as if he was a big cat, carefully stepping over his tail, and proceeded into the kitchen as if absolutely nothing was amiss.
    We stared at each other. Leo grinned like an idiot.
    ‘Every single member of my household staff is a treasure beyond compare,’ John said with wonder.
    ‘I don’t know how you do it, Ah Wu,’ the Tiger said. ‘I have hundreds, and not a single one can hold a candle to anything you have. And you have less than a dozen.’
    Michael had heard our voices and came down the hallway. He stopped dead when he saw the Tiger. The Tiger gently eased Simone off his back, then rose to face Michael. He stood completely immobile, but the tip of his tail twitched.
    Simone moved to John’s lap and he wrapped his arms around her.
    We all waited quietly to see what would happen.
    ‘Is this him, my Lady?’ Michael said.
    ‘Michael MacLaren,’ I said loudly, ‘this is your father, the White Tiger of the West, Lord Bai Hu.’
    ‘You are Rhonda’s boy?’ the Tiger rasped.
    Michael nodded and his blond hair fell over his forehead.
    The Tiger’s voice was still a low rasp. ‘How is your mother, boy?’
    ‘My mother is well, my Lord.’ ‘She remarried?’ ‘No, sir.’
    The Tiger sat on his haunches and flicked one ear. ‘You are working as a Retainer for the Dark Lord, Xuan Wu?’
    Michael nodded, his hair flipping over. It was an even match. The kid was totally unafraid.
    ‘Ah Wu.’ The Tiger spoke to John over his shoulder. ‘If the kid ever wants to leave your service, let me know. I have a place for him with the Horsemen.’ He turned back to Michael. ‘Serve the Dark Lord well, Three One Five. If you wish to leave his service, I will take you.’ He paused, then dropped his voice. ‘Say hello to your mother for me.’
    He turned and bowed to John, lowering his head over his front legs. ‘My Lord. I think I should return and recuperate. By your leave.’
    ‘Bai Hu,’ John said kindly.
    The Tiger bowed similarly to me. ‘My Lady. I suggest that you permit me to offer my services and my palace one more time before the Dark Lord departs. It is the least I can offer the two of you.’
    ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea, Tiger,’ I said, my heart breaking. ‘We need you strong.’
    ‘I understand. But I’ll see what I can do.’ He bowed again. ‘By your leave, my Lady.’
    ‘Go home to your palace, Tiger. Come back soon. I like having you around.’
    He gazed at me with his golden eyes, then he was gone.
    Michael stumbled to the couch and dropped to sit on it. John saw what was up and took Simone out, gesturing for Leo to follow him.