Kylie Chan - Red Phoenix

‘Oh Lord,’ my mother said quietly at the side of the room.

The Tiger stayed and had dinner with us. It was complicated: my parents were served Western food, and the rest of us ate vegetarian Chinese, even Leo and Michael.

I introduced everybody as we sat.

‘Everybody, these are my parents, Brendan and Barbara Donahoe. Mum, Dad, this is most of the family.’

My parents appeared bewildered.

‘Okay,’ I said, ‘here goes.’ I gestured towards John. ‘John you know.’ I gestured towards the Tiger. ‘This is Tiger.’

‘Tiger,’ my father said, nodding. ‘Unusual name.’

‘Not that unusual in Hong Kong,’ the Tiger said with a grin.

‘Leo you’ve met.’ Leo nodded to my parents. ‘The other bodyguard.’

‘I’m a perfectly normal human being, one of the few in the household,’ Leo lisped. ‘Pleased to meet you.’

‘Pleased to meet you too,’ my father said loudly and clearly.

Leo and I both flinched.

‘Please don’t talk to him like that, Dad,’ I said softly. ‘Leo’s not deaf.’

‘Oh,’ my father said. ‘Sorry.’

‘The Snake Mothers hurt his mouth,’ Simone said, helping. ‘He can’t talk well now.’

‘What’s a Snake Mother?’ my mother said.

Nobody said anything, not even Simone.

‘Okay,’ I said briskly. ‘Next to Leo is Michael. Trainee bodyguard.’

Michael nodded to my father then turned to me. ‘Can I go out after dinner, Emma?’

‘Who with?’ I said.

‘Na Zha,’ he said defiantly.

‘Certainly,’ John said, and I glared at him.

‘Can Na Zha take anything that Wong throws at him?’ I said.

‘Na Zha is the best person he could be with in the current circumstances,’ John said. ‘He is a better demon killer than you and Leo put together.’

My parents shared a look.

‘All right then, you can go,’ I said. ‘Take your phone…’ I cut him off before he could protest. ‘I know you don’t need it, but I do, so take your phone and be back by ten.’

‘My Lady,’ Michael said with a grin.

‘What do these demons look like?’ my father said.

‘You’ve seen them already,’ I said. ‘The guy at the airport was one.’ Ah Yat came in. ‘Here’s another.’

My parents looked around, bewildered.

‘Ah Yat here, the housekeeper, is a demon,’ I said.

Ah Yat smiled and bowed slightly. ‘I am honoured to meet you, sir, madam,’ she said. ‘Yes, I am a demon.’

‘You look like a perfectly ordinary person to me,’ my father said.

‘Oh, thank you, sir, you really are most gracious,’ Ah Yat said.

‘They can take different forms,’ I said. ‘They can take human form.’

Ah Yat took the teapots into the kitchen with her.

‘She’s a tame one, she joined us,’ I said.

‘I see,’ my father said.

‘That’s everybody,’ I said.

John and the Tiger focused on one another.

‘Oh no you don’t!’ I said. ‘Out loud!’

‘What do you mean, Emma? “Out loud”?’ my mother said softly.

‘I’ll explain later,’ I said.

‘We’re discussing what we should do, Emma,’ John said. ‘Maybe your parents shouldn’t be involved in this.’

‘We’re involved now,’ my father said. ‘I want to know what your plans are. We’re in this now. We have a right to know.’

‘He’s right, John,’ I said.

‘People have died, Brendan,’ John said softly.

‘Even more reason for us to know what you have planned,’ my father said.

‘We will not let them control us. We are not going to hide,’ John said. ‘We will go to Emma’s graduation, and we will show you around Hong Kong. After that, we will ensure that you are safe.’

‘They can stay with me,’ the Tiger said.

‘But we will eat first and discuss this later,’ John said. ‘Dinner is not the time to be discussing this. Tell me about yourselves. I want to know everything. Emma is a remarkable woman, and I’d love to know where she gets it from.’

‘Me too,’ my father growled softly.

After the plates had been taken away, Monica appeared at the door from the kitchen. ‘The Chinese helper will clean up for me, sir, ma’am,’ she said. ‘May I spend some time with Simone?’

‘I was going to ask you to take her anyway, Monica,’ I said. ‘You two go and do something together.’

Simone hopped off her chair and took Monica’s hand. ‘I bought some new toys with my birthday lai see money, Monica. Come and see.’

Monica nodded and smiled around the table, then let Simone gently lead her out.

Michael rose and saluted around the table. ‘My Lord, my Lady.’ He nodded to my parents. ‘Mr and Mrs Donahoe.’ He turned to me. ‘By your leave, my Lady.’

‘Off you go, Michael, but remember what I said.’

Michael patted his father on the shoulder as he went past him. ‘Dad.’

‘Three One Five,’ the Tiger growled. ‘Don’t get yourself into any trouble with that little bastard, he can be bad news when he wants to be. Don’t go near any dragons with him.’

Michael silently went out.

‘He’s your son?’ my father said.

‘One of the best,’ Bai Hu said.

‘How many children do you have?’ my mother said.

‘I have absolutely no idea,’ the Tiger said with a grin. ‘Right now, something in the region of about six hundred, six hundred and fifty—boys and girls. Couldn’t tell you the exact number, they keep dying.’

‘Dying?’ my mother said with a gasp.

‘Most of the children are mortal. The Tiger isn’t,’ I said, explaining. ‘They grow old and die. He doesn’t.’

My mother’s eyes were wide. ‘How about you?’ she asked John.

‘Simone. One. That’s it,’ John said. ‘One human child.’

‘Don’t ask,’ I said.

‘I cannot believe you let yourself get mixed up in this,’ my father said softly.

‘Me either, sometimes,’ I said.

‘She does it all for Simone,’ John said.

‘And she’s worth it,’ I said.

‘Okay.’ John put his hands on the table and addressed my parents. ‘When you came to Hong Kong, there were probably things you wanted to do. Shopping, sightseeing, things like that. Where would you like us to take you? What would you like to do? Stay for a while after the graduation. Let us show you around.’

‘Are you sure that’s a good idea?’ my mother said weakly.

‘We will protect you. You’ll be safe,’ I said.

‘I don’t think we should be out sightseeing with all of this happening,’ my mother said.

‘You are perfectly safe as long as you are with us,’ John said. ‘Please. Take the time—you are here anyway, enjoy the sights. Let us show you. We will protect you.’

‘Well, okay, if you’re sure,’ my father said. ‘I saw the tourist stuff on the way in. I wanted to have some suits made, Hong Kong is famous for that.’

‘Mr Li,’ I said.

‘Good idea,’ John said. ‘I need a new dinner suit. Get him to make it at the same time. Get a couple of new cheongsams made as well, Emma, you’re wearing those ones you bought last year to bits.’

‘What’s a cheongsam?’ my mother said.

‘Traditional-style Chinese dress,’ the Tiger said. ‘Suzie Wong.’

John stiffened and glared at the Tiger. Leo’s expression darkened but he didn’t say a word. The Tiger grinned at John. ‘Black Turtle.’ Leo silently shot to his feet. John’s face went completely rigid. His eyes blazed. ‘Leave it for later, John, Leo,’ I growled softly. ‘He’ll keep.’

‘You are an extremely offensive little cat with a great big mouth sometimes, Ah Bai,’ John said softly, his eyes still blazing. ‘And you will mind your manners in front of my Lady and her honoured parents.’