White Tiger

Red Warriors on our side, your Dark Disciples won’t have a problem.’
    ‘ You threatened to eat the Phoenix ,’ Mr Chen said with feeling.
    ‘She needs to lighten up.’
    Mr Chen glowered.
    ‘All right, all right, I apologise.’ Bai Hu saluted without rising, just shaking his hands in front of his face. ‘My Lord.’ He threw his arm over the back of his chair and glanced around. ‘Now, where will we find two more legs?’
    ‘We can’t have a game now,’ Mr Chen said.
    ‘How about we invite a couple of the Immortals?’
    ‘That lot?’ Mr Chen said with disdain. ‘Last time I had them here they nearly destroyed the apartment. Took my housekeeper a week to recover. She almost resigned.’
    I choked back the giggle as I put the last of the toys in the box. Simone and I shared an amused look. The Eight Immortals were astonishing. The havoc they created was unparalleled. Monica had almost resigned.
    ‘Kwan Yin?’ Bai Hu said more softly.
    ‘She’s retreated from the world,’ Mr Chen said. ‘Leo? Leo can play.’
    ‘Your earthly Retainer? Really?’ Bai Hu grinned. ‘We still need a fourth.’
    ‘What about the white chick?’ Bai Hu gestured towards me. ‘My favourite colour. Maybe I will have chicken for dinner.’
    I froze.
    ‘One more inappropriate comment like that and I will throw you out,’ Mr Chen said, a menacing rumble.
    ‘Try me.’ Bai Hu leaned across the table and glared at Mr Chen. ‘I can take you.’
    They faced off for a while, then both smiled and leaned back.
    ‘You are absolutely incorrigible. The Red Lady was right.’ Mr Chen turned to me. ‘Can you play, Emma?’ ‘Sure. But I’m not very good.’
    Mr Chen and Bai Hu shared a look, then Mr Chen gestured towards the tiles. ‘Would you like to join us?’
    I shrugged. ‘Okay. Just let me put Simone to bed and I’ll be right back.’
    Bai Hu opened his mouth to say something but Mr Chen glared him down. ‘Fetch Leo while you’re at it,’ he said to me.
    ‘I’ll come too,’ Bai Hu said. ‘I promised Simone a ride.’ He came over and lifted the box of toys for me. ‘I’ll take this.’
    ‘Don’t let Monica see you, she would die of shock,’ Mr Chen said. ‘And Bai Hu,’ he added pointedly, ‘behave yourself.’
    Bai Hu raised a hand and followed me down the hall to Simone’s room.
    I pulled back the bedcovers, turned, and stepped back.
    An enormous white tiger, easily half as big again as any natural animal, seemed to fill the room. He grinned up at me and winked. ‘Better give her a ride, eh?’
    Simone climbed onto his back, holding onto his shaggy tiger mane. He gave her a couple of turns of the room while she crowed with delight.
    They were extremely cute. I decided I liked him, despite his crass behaviour.
    ‘Finished now,’ he said kindly. ‘Go to bed, little Princess.’
    She leaned to hug him around the neck from his back, then loudly kissed the top of his head. I felt his fur as I lifted her off; it was plush and thick and silky soft.
    He changed back into a man, gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and went out. I popped her into bed. Her eyes were shining.
    ‘Bai Hu is great,’ she said contentedly. “Night, Emma.’ She turned over and closed her eyes with a sleepy smile.
    I turned off the light, half-closed the door to her room, and nearly walked into Bai Hu where he was lounging against the wall of the hallway.
    ‘Did I freak you out?’ he said, grinning.
    ‘I think I’m getting used to it,’ I said.
    He moved closer to me and I backed up until I hit the wall.
    ‘You know why they use tiger parts in medicine? Our stamina is famous. But you won’t get skills like mine from cutting up a tiger.’ He moved closer to me and pressed his body into mine, pinning me against the wall. ‘You like my fur?’ He rubbed his hands against my arms and I felt the silky fur. I shivered at the velvety sensation. ‘How’d you like to feel it rubbing you all over?’ He slipped one arm behind my neck and pressed his cheek into mine, the silken sideburns brushing my face. He turned his head to gaze into my eyes, very close. ‘I’d love to show you what I can do.’ He thrust himself gently against me,his voice a low husky rumble. ‘You wouldn’t believe some of the things I can do.’
    ‘ Bai Hu !’ Mr Chen roared from the entrance to the living room, and both of us jumped.
    Bai Hu pulled back, grinned, and winked at me. ‘Later.’ He strode up the hall towards the living