Kylie Chan - Red Phoenix

‘Oh shit,’ my father said softly.

‘We should send them straight back to Australia, John,’ I said. ‘It’s too dangerous.’

‘You are safer here with me,’ John said to my father.

‘Oh my God,’ I said as I understood. ‘ This was the secret weapon. They were planning to take my parents.’

‘I would love to see the look on that little bastard’s face when he finds out that he’s failed,’ John said evenly. ‘Quite a few junior thralls are very likely to turn up on our doorstep in the next few days.’

I had a sudden horrible thought. ‘Mum, Dad, please, tell me,’ I said. ‘Please, tell me the whole truth. Am I your natural daughter? Am I adopted?’

‘Why are you asking me this, Emma?’ my mother said sharply. ‘You think I didn’t treat you as well as your sisters? Is that it?’

‘No, that has nothing to do with it, Mum. I love you dearly. Please, just tell me. Am I adopted?’

‘No,’ my mother said fiercely. ‘You were born in ward four of Montford hospital at five o’clock in the morning, after I was in labour for seven hours. You were a perfectly normal delivery.’

‘Was there anything…’ I hesitated, ‘… different about me? Ever?’

‘Why are you asking this, Emma?’ my father said. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Emma thinks she’s a demon,’ John said.

Both my parents glanced sharply at me.

‘That’s not possible,’ my father said. ‘You are our daughter. Nothing at all different about you. Except for the fact,’ he gestured towards John, ‘that you’ve gone and fallen for this bastard.’

‘Snakes,’ I said.

‘What about them?’ my mother said. ‘I’m a snake.’

‘No, you’re not,’ my mother said patiently. ‘I think you need to talk to somebody if you think that you’re a snake.’

I dropped my head and ran my hands through my hair.

‘Mr and Mrs Donahoe,’ John said, ‘would you like me to show you to your room? You should stay with us while you’re here. Leo and Emma will be glad to show you around, they can take time off from their teaching and guard duties—’

‘I can’t afford time off,’ I snapped. ‘I have three energy work classes on Monday, and I’m on guard duty Tuesday and Thursday.’

‘—to take you around town and show you the sights,’ John continued, ignoring me completely. ‘And tomorrow, we’ll all go to Emma’s graduation. Her family, celebrating her achievement.’ He put his palms on the table. ‘I can’t think of anything better.’

‘Emma, take everybody out, please. I would like to speak to Mr Chen in private,’ my father said.

‘Of course,’ John said. ‘Jade, Gold, leave us.’ He stood and bowed slightly to my mother. ‘My Lady.’

My mother blushed. She was speechless. I gently led her out.

Itook my mother into my room while John talked to my father. My mother sat on the couch as Ah Yat brought their suitcase into the room.

‘I am so sorry, Mum, I should have told you,’ I said. ‘But I didn’t want you to know about it. I knew it would freak you out.’

‘What’s done is done, Emma,’ she said. ‘You actually thought you were adopted? Go and have a look in the mirror.’

‘Tell her, stone,’ I said. The stone was completely silent. ‘What?’ my mother said. I showed her the stone. ‘It talks.’

‘Now I know for sure that you need to talk to somebody.’

‘No, she’s quite correct, Mrs Donahoe,’ the stone said. ‘But she really should talk to somebody anyway.’ My mother stiffened.

‘Maybe that’s enough general weirdness for one day,’ I said.

‘I think you’re right,’ my mother said weakly. I sat on the couch next to her and put my arm around her shoulders. ‘Jennifer’s husband has been Mr Chen’s solicitor for many years. His law firm has acted for John for around two hundred years.’

‘I thought you were going to stop with the weirdness,’ my mother said.

‘Compared to some of the stuff that goes on around here,’ I said, ‘that’s completely normal.’

‘Where’s the little girl?’ my mother said.

‘Probably in the training room,’ I said. ‘Would you like to meet her? She’s the reason I do everything I do around here. I love her as if she were my own.’

‘What do you mean, “training room”?’

‘Oh, damn,’ I said, ‘more weirdness. You sure?’

‘I’m sure.’

‘John is God of Martial Arts. Kung fu. You know he’s been teaching me—remember I showed you some?’ My mother nodded. ‘Well, he teaches Simone as well. The training room is like a dance studio, where we do the kung fu. She’s probably in there practising.’

‘I’d like to see that,’ my mother said.

‘I’ll show you,’ I said. ‘But just before you go in, Mum, I must tell you, there are weapons in there. Don’t be too freaked, okay?’

‘Guns?’

‘No. Swords. Spears. Things like that. Guns don’t hurt demons. We don’t have anything to do with guns.’

My mother rose. ‘Let’s go and meet this little girl that you’ve thrown your whole life away for.’

I tapped on the door.

‘Come in, Emma,’ Simone called.

We went in. Simone had been working with a training sword. ‘I think I’m ready for a real one now, Emma.’ She saw my mother. ‘Hello.’

‘Hello, dear.’

‘This is my mother, Simone,’ I said.

‘Hello, Mrs Donahoe.’ Simone put her little sword back on the rack. ‘Don’t worry about all the weapons. We won’t hurt you.’ She came to my mother and held out her hand. My mother shook it gently.

‘How old are you, Simone?’ my mother said.

‘Six,’ Simone said.

‘She seems older than that, Emma,’ my mother said quietly.

‘She’s half god, Mum.’

‘I’m half Shen,’ Simone corrected me gently. ‘Daddy is a Shen.’

‘That’s what it’s called in Chinese,’ I said. ‘Get the sword back out, Simone, show my mother some moves.’

‘How about you do them with me?’ Simone said. ‘We can move through a pair set. That would be more interesting to watch. How about,’ she stopped and thought, ‘how about a level three Shaolin long sword set? That’s pretty to watch.’

‘Good idea.’ I went over to the rack and picked up my sword. I raised it to show my mother. ‘Same sword.’ She smiled and nodded. I selected the training sword and tossed it to Simone, who caught it easily.

‘Move back, Mrs Donahoe. We won’t hurt you, but you should move to the side of the room out of the way,’ Simone said.

We moved into position and saluted. My mother stood next to the wall and watched with interest.

We went through the set together. I didn’t usually do much work with Simone, and it was a satisfying feeling to work with her. She had improved a great deal. We moved in perfect harmony.

‘I think you’re ready for a real sword too,’ I said. ‘You should take mine.’

‘Oh!’ Simone said. ‘Make it sing for your mother.’ She stopped and gestured. ‘Show her.’

‘Enough weirdness for one day, pet,’ I said kindly.

‘I think Emma has a point,’ my mother said.

Simone inhaled sharply and her eyes went wide with delight. She danced over to the weapons rack and put her sword away. ‘Monica’s here!’

I quickly put my own sword away. Then I stopped. ‘Oh no,’ I said. ‘That means the Tiger’s here.’

‘Uncle Bai’s here too!’ Simone said. ‘Monica’ll cook Western food for your family, Emma.’ She suddenly went serious. ‘Daddy says to explain to your mummy about Uncle Bai first.’

‘What form’s he in, Simone?’ I said.

‘Human,’ Simone said.