Red Phoenix

He’d left them a long time ago, but they came after him.’
    ‘I’m sorry, Emma, I honestly didn’t know,’ Rhonda said. ‘I knew he had some nasty friends, but I didn’t know he was that caught up in it. I’ll kill him!’
    ‘We handled it.’ I didn’t elaborate. ‘But John’s housekeeper from London was visiting, and fainted from the stress. We took her to the hospital. A particularly nasty demon took her as second prize when he couldn’t get his hands on Simone or me. He used her as a bargaining chip, and when she was no longer useful, the slimy little bastard killed her.’
    Rhonda’s face didn’t move.
    ‘Michael’s learned his lesson. They know who he is, what he is, and they want him for that. The demon who killed our housekeeper,’ I said, and took a deep breath, ‘is the Big Brother of all the Big Brothers. And he wants Michael for his own amusement.’
    ‘Shit!’ she exploded quietly, and banged the table softly. ‘I’m going to kill him!’
    Gold jumped, but didn’t say a word. His face said it all.
    ‘Rhonda.’ I tried to keep my voice even. ‘Michael is in big trouble. This guy wants him. Michael is an enormous target. He’s the son of the West Wind, and they know that.He’s a Retainer of the Dark Lord, and they know that too. They want him very badly.’ ‘Is he safe with you?’
    ‘He is safer alongside the Dark Lord and the Dark Lady than he is anywhere else on the Earthly Plane,’ Gold said.
    Please don’t call me that, I begged Gold silently.
    The food arrived. All three of us sat and looked at it miserably, without touching it.
    ‘Why did you bring your lawyer, Emma?’ Rhonda said softly. ‘You want me to sign a release? In case something happens to him?’
    ‘I want a witness,’ I said, trying to stay calm. ‘I don’t want a release from you; I know you trust us, there’s no need for that. What I do want is your permission to move him to the Western Palace if things get out of hand. We have control of the situation right now…’ I tried to sound confident. ‘But if it appears that Michael is in real danger, and we can’t protect him, then we’ll move him to the West where he’ll be completely safe. If he refuses to go, Gold will be able to back me up that it’s your wish as well.’
    The noodles were going cold. Ho fan were absolutely no good cold, they went stiff. I didn’t care.
    ‘Would you like us to move him to the palace now?’ I said. ‘I asked him if he wanted to and he refused, but you’re his mother and it’s your decision as well.’
    ‘Don’t you dare ,’ she said fiercely. ‘Not unless you absolutely have to. I do not want my son spending all his time with his father, I don’t want him learning anything off that man. Only move him if you have to. I’d much prefer he stayed with you and John, as long as you think you have it under control.’ She leaned back. ‘I trust you not to put him in danger. I leave the decision up to you.’
    ‘What if he wants to visit the palace and have a look?’
    ‘He can go for short stays, maybe school holidays or something. But I don’t want him spending all his time there. He’ll learn too much of his father’s attitude.’
    ‘His father asks about you all the time,’ I said.
    She didn’t say anything, but her face spoke volumes. She hadn’t remarried after leaving the West.
    ‘You ever think about going back?’
    ‘Not as long as I’m one of a hundred.’ She straightened, picked up her fork and stuck it into the salad. ‘I think I deserve better than that.’
    ‘You definitely deserve better than that,’ I said. ‘I think you’re the only one who ever left him.’
    Her face said it all.
    ‘Getting involved with Shen is always an extremely bad idea,’ I said, trying to cheer her up. ‘Look at me.’ I became serious again. ‘You still okay about Michael going to Europe tomorrow?’
    ‘Sure. From what I understand, they’re at their most powerful near the centre of China. Europe is a long way away, and they’ll be weak. It’ll be good for him to see a bit of the world. Take him, show him around. Just make sure he rings me now and then so I can keep track of him.’
    ‘I’ll make sure he does. Every day.’
    The apartment was quiet when I returned. I poked my head into the kitchen. ‘Where is everybody, Ah Yat?’
    Ah Yat’s eyes unfocused. ‘Master Leo and Master Michael have taken Miss Simone to the park. The Dark Lord is in his room, resting.’
    ‘Any