Red Phoenix Read online

  ‘Take True Form,’ John said. Once again they didn’t move. ‘Good. Tell them, Emma.’ ‘Take True Form.’

  They were small humanoids in True Form. Nearly two metres tall, red, with smooth skin instead of scales. They had bulging horns and huge bulbous eyes. The one that had appeared as a boy had small tusks.

  ‘Yuck.’

  ‘Not too bad, could have been worse.’

  ‘Yeah, I suppose,’ I said. ‘Could have been worms.’

  ‘You know worms don’t take human form.’ He straightened and spoke briskly, suddenly the teacher. ‘What level are these?’

  ‘Three, very low level. I could bind them easily.’

  ‘Yes. Good. I wonder why they were sent.’

  ‘Me too.’ He was right. These low-level demons weren’t a danger to any of us. ‘Go back to human form.’

  They complied immediately. This time they appeared as a Chinese couple in their mid-thirties.

  ‘Final test,’ John said quietly. ‘If they can do this then they are truly tamed. If they can’t, they will attack immediately.’ He held his hand out and the demons eyed it suspiciously. ‘Tell them to come and take my hand. One at a time.’

  ‘What are your names?’ I said.

  They didn’t reply, they just watched me.

  ‘These low-level ones don’t have any names, they never do,’ John said. ‘You can name them later if you like. I ran out of names a long time ago.’

  ‘Is that why you just give them numbers?’ ‘Yes. Much easier anyway.’

  ‘You.’ I pointed at the woman. ‘Come and take the Dark Lord’s hand.’

  She hesitated, watching John’s hand as if it was something highly toxic.

  ‘Be ready, Emma,’ John said quietly without moving.

  The woman sidled towards John. This was obviously very difficult for her. I had seen what Simone could do when she touched a low-level demon; something much worse would probably happen to this one if it touched John.

  ‘You won’t kill it?’ I whispered.

  ‘I could quite easily kill it,’ John said, loudly enough for the demon to hear, ‘but it must take my hand anyway.’

  The demon inched to John, reached out gingerly and touched his hand, its face completely expressionless. The other demon flinched.

  Nothing happened to the demon and its face filled with wonder. It moved forward with more confidence and clasped John’s hand. It dissolved into True Form and stood holding John’s hand with awe.

  ‘Well done, Emma,’ John said with quiet satisfaction. ‘You have tamed your first demon. Now you need to work out what you will do with it. Order it back, let’s do the other one.’

  ‘Let go and move back,’ I said. It nodded and complied. ‘Oh, for God’s sake, take human form.’

  It changed into a Chinese woman again. She smiled and bowed slightly. ‘My Lady.’

  ‘You.’ I pointed at the other one. ‘Come and do the same thing. Take the Dark Lord’s hand.’

  The other demon moved towards John, its face rigid with terror. John waited calmly with his hand out.

  Just as the demon was within touching distance it went for him, swinging its arm around in a vicious slice at John’s neck.

  John blocked the attack with his left hand and caught the demon’s hand in his own. The demon dissolved into True Form and its mouth fell open.

  ‘Duck, Emma,’ John said. The demon exploded, covering both of us with black stuff. ‘Too slow. Damn. We’ll need to take a shower now. Ask the other demon if it knew that its partner wasn’t tamed.’

  ‘Did you know that it wasn’t tamed?’

  ‘No, my Lady, on my honour,’ she said. ‘I honestly thought that he had turned. But he was more hesitant about coming, he knew that this might happen.’

  ‘Good enough,’ John said. ‘We can shower upstairs. Not together.’

  ‘I dunno, together sounds like a good idea.’

  ‘Yes, it does.’ He shrugged. That was enough for both of us; we had more important things to do than brood. ‘Let’s go up and work out what to do with your new little toy.’

  I opened my mouth to protest that it was a living thing, not a toy, then closed my mouth again. Low-level demons weren’t really alive. They were more like animated black stuff. Automatons, programmed to take orders, and really only mildly sentient—unless they had a flash of free will, decided to take matters into their own hands, and joined us in an attempt to attain humanity.

  ‘Come on,’ I said, and the demon followed us to the lift. ‘Why were you following us? Were you ordered to attack us?’

  ‘My Lady,’ she said, ‘we escaped.’

  ‘Who was your master?’ John said quickly.

  ‘One Two Two.’

  We shared a look. Simon freaking Wong.

  ‘Why did you escape?’ John said. ‘Such an act of disobedience is highly unusual. You know what will happen to you if you are caught?’

  ‘I know,’ she said, miserable. ‘But One Two Two is completely without honour. He treats his thralls worse than he treats his victims. I have already lost fifty nest mates to him. I would be next. Coming to you was my only, slim hope.’

  ‘Why did your partner change his mind?’ I said.

  ‘I honestly don’t know. I think he panicked at the idea of touching the Dark Lord.’ She stared at John with awe. ‘Why could I touch you, Highness? It felt…’ She hesitated. ‘I don’t know how it felt.’

  ‘I will explain that later, after you have truly proved your worth,’ John said.

  ‘You are a legend, my Lord. I have touched you. I serve your Lady. You have no idea what this feels like, for a small thing such as I.’

  ‘Why did you call me Dark Lady?’ I said.

  ‘Because your essence is dark,’ she said. ‘Dark, and pure, and beautiful. Same as his.’

  ‘You have tamed a poet,’ John said with quiet delight. ‘She has described you in a nutshell. Dark, and pure, and beautiful.’

  I suddenly felt a million times better.

  We stopped at the ninth floor to shower and change into some training gear we kept at the Academy. The demon waited patiently outside for us.

  Back on the sixth floor, one of the Celestial Masters was taking an advanced group through hand-to-hand. Leo and Michael practised the moves at the back of the class. Michael had some trouble, the moves were slightly too complicated for him, but he tried valiantly anyway with Leo’s help. Gold and Simone sat to one side and watched. When we entered everyone stopped, fell to one knee and saluted us, then rose and continued.

  Simone ran to her father. He hoisted her to sit on his hip and they watched the class.

  I saw my opportunity. I gestured for the demon to stay put, then went to John and cuddled into him, wrapping my arm around his waist. He put his free arm around my shoulders and rubbed me affectionately. The three of us, him holding Simone, watched the students together. It was delightful.

  Leo saw us out of the corner of his eye and his face went rigid. He spun and rushed towards us, but stopped halfway. His eyes turned inward as he listened. Then he smiled, nodded, raised his hand in understanding, and returned to Michael.

  ‘Which one of you told him?’ I said.

  ‘Me,’ Simone said.

  ‘I didn’t know you knew, Simone,’ I said. John smiled affectionately down at Simone. ‘I never told her.’

  ‘You did, Emma,’ Simone said. ‘You said Daddy could never drain me. And that means that while he’s holding me, he can’t hurt you.’

  ‘You are a very clever little girl, you know that?’ John said, delighted.

  We enjoyed the closeness as we watched the students.

  ‘I think a couple of these are ready to move up, Emma,’ John said. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘Matthew, definitely. Yong Xin, maybe. I’d give her more time if it was me.’

  ‘Whatever you say, my Lady. You’re the boss.’

  ‘Not here. When it comes to the Arts I think you have the tiniest bit of seniority
on me. Being God of Martial Arts and all.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I am too.’ He glanced down at me and squeezed me around the shoulders. ‘I keep forgetting, the way you boss me around all the time.’

  ‘You need bossing around, Daddy,’ Simone said. ‘You’re hopeless at everything except martial arts.’

  ‘You think so, Simone?’ he said.

  She nodded, her little face serious.

  ‘I think I must be the happiest old Turtle in the whole wide world,’ he said with a sigh and a huge grin. ‘But I’m afraid a couple of these students could use my hand, so I’ll have to let both of you wonderful ladies go.’

  ‘Let me move away first before you put Simone down,’ I said, and he released me.

  ‘Go and talk to Gold,’ he said. ‘I saw that look on your face.’

  ‘What look?’

  He gently lowered Simone. ‘The look that says you have to find something out right now or somebody will be in big trouble. Go and ask him.’

  He was right. I told the demon to stay at the back of the class, then went to Gold.

  ‘How can the stone in my ring be your father, Gold?’

  He smiled cheerfully and it made him seem very young. ‘Come with me, out of the room, and I’ll show you.’

  John moved through the class to give the students individual attention. Simone sat down cross-legged against the back wall and the demon stood next to her. The demon nodded and smiled, and I nodded back. Looked like she would be a good one.

  ‘This way, ma’am,’ Gold said, and led me out.

  He stopped in the lift lobby and grinned at me. ‘Don’t worry, this doesn’t hurt a bit.’

  He held his hand out and flicked his wrist like a magician. Then he plunged his hand straight into his chest. He pulled out a stone about the size of his fist and held it out to me.

  I took it gingerly, expecting it to be wet and disgusting, but it was warm and dry. It was a gorgeous piece of clear quartz shot through with shining veins of gold.

  ‘That’s me,’ he said, his eyes sparkling.

  I nearly dropped the stone. ‘You’re a rock?’

  ‘Yes. Gold isn’t my name, it’s what I am.’

  ‘Pretentious,’ the stone in my ring said. ‘You are less than twenty per cent pure gold. Your correct name is Quartz.’

  ‘Give it a rest, Dad,’ Gold said, still smiling. ‘Go back to sleep, old rock.’

  ‘Humph,’ the stone said, and went silent.

  I studied the stone in my hand. ‘You are very beautiful, Gold.’ I turned it over and ran one finger over the veins of gold. It was smooth and warm, quite delightful to touch.

  Gold shivered and inhaled sharply. His eyes went wide and dark.

  I rubbed my palm over the stone, enjoying the smooth texture.

  Gold breathed heavily and became very flushed. ‘Uh, my Lady…’

  I stopped and felt my face redden. ‘Sorry,’ I mumbled, embarrassed. ‘I didn’t know.’

  He pulled himself together. ‘Not a problem. I should have told you. Better give me back, my Lady, I can’t hold human form well unless I am inside it.’

  ‘Oh, wonderful,’ the stone in my ring said. ‘You know she rubs me sometimes when she’s thinking. Now she knows, she won’t do it any more.’

  Gold’s grin didn’t shift. ‘You are a dirty old man.’

  ‘And I won’t be rubbing you any more,’ I said.

  ‘Damn,’ the stone said softly.

  ‘Your father said you were stuck, Gold.’ I handed the stone back to him. ‘What did he mean?’

  ‘Not my father, my parent.’ Gold shoved the stone back into his chest. ‘Like Jade, I displeased Heaven, and I am stuck in human form, serving, until I have atoned.’

  ‘What did you do?’

  He looked sheepish. ‘I would prefer not to say, my Lady. If you order me, I will tell you. But I would prefer not to.’

  I changed the subject to spare his feelings. ‘If the stone in my ring is your parent, I really don’t think it’s appropriate for me to be wearing it around. Do you want to take it?’

  ‘It is honoured to be an item of jewellery. It is the highest honour a stone can attain, to be treated as something truly precious. And the fact that it symbolises the bond you share with the Dark Lord gives my parent a great deal of distinction.’

  ‘Oh. I never thought of it that way. You are pretty enough…’ I stopped. ‘I mean your stone is pretty enough…’ I was lost for words. I didn’t know how to say it.

  ‘I think I understand what you mean, and I am sincerely flattered. When I am freed, I would be honoured to become an item of jewellery for you. I could shrink myself to any suitable size.’ Gold grinned broadly. ‘What a truly gracious lady you are.’

  ‘Let’s go back to class,’ I said. ‘Sounds like they’re finishing.’

  ‘Very good, my Lady,’ Gold said cheerfully.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  John drove me and the demon back to the Peak building and the others followed in the second car. When we reached the front door to the apartment, my tame demon stopped.

  John went in, turned and gestured. ‘Come in.’

  She hesitated.

  ‘Go in. Trust him,’ I said.

  Her face screwed up with fear and she closed her eyes as she walked through the door. When she was on the other side she took a deep breath, opened her eyes and smiled.

  Monica came out of the kitchen. ‘The new helper is here, ma’am.’ She hesitated. ‘May I speak to you alone, ma’am?’

  ‘In the dining room, wait for me there.’

  I indicated for my demon to follow me, and took her into my bedroom and pulled out the book of baby names. ‘Choose a name from here, then wait and we’ll decide what we want to do with you.’

  The demon took the book and looked at it. She smiled and shook her head.

  ‘What?’

  ‘I never thought I’d have anything as wonderful as a name.’

  I patted her arm. ‘Just choose one, and wait for me. I’ll be right back.’

  Monica was in the dining room, her face full of misery.

  I sat next to her. ‘What’s the problem, Monica?’ ‘It’s the new helper, ma’am.’

  ‘Ah Yat? I thought you’d like her. She’s very good, she’s from the house in Guangzhou.’

  Monica dropped her head and spoke softly. ‘She lies, ma’am.’

  I leaned back, relieved. ‘She told you about herself.’

  ‘She says she’s more than a thousand years old, ma’am.’ Monica appeared even more miserable. ‘I know you say she’s good, and Sir trusts her, but she lies. I don’t know why she says these things.’

  ‘It’s the truth, Monica. She’s twelve hundred years old.’

  Monica’s head shot up and her eyes went wide. ‘She’s one of them?’

  ‘She’s a tame demon. Same as the woman I just brought in.’

  Monica stared silently at me, her eyes wide. Then she grimaced. ‘Can you trust her with Simone?’

  ‘She’s served Mr Chen faithfully for six hundred years. I think we can trust her.’

  Monica appeared to come to a decision and nodded. ‘If you and Sir are okay with it, then I am too.’

  I patted her arm. ‘Good. Hurry up and get organised, the Tiger will be here soon to take you to the palace.’

  ‘Will I be able to say goodbye to Simone before I go?’

  ‘Of course. She’s on the way home with Leo and Michael in the other car.’

  She nodded and we both rose. She hesitated at the door. ‘What?’

  She quickly spun and embraced me. ‘I’ll miss everybody.’

  I held her close. ‘We’ll miss you too. Hopefully you’ll be able to come with the Tiger when he visits sometimes.’

  She pulled back, tearful. ‘I hope so too, ma’am.’ She smiled through the tears. ‘There are still a few things I need to show the demon.’

  I squeezed her. ‘Mr Chen says that you are a treasure beyond compare, Monica, and I agree
with him.’

  She nodded, speechless, and went out.

  I sighed and went back to my room. John was already there, holding the demon’s hand and studying her.

  ‘Well?’ I said.

  He didn’t look at me; he continued examining the demon. ‘One Two Two has been doing some interesting things with his demon-breeding. I would be fascinated to see the Mother that produced this one.’

  ‘My Mother is terrifying,’ the demon said. ‘And she is one of the smallest in the nests.’

  John released her hand and snapped back. ‘And now we need to work out what to do with you.’

  ‘Have you chosen a name yet?’ I said.

  ‘The Dark Lord says I am the first demon you have tamed, my Lady, so I have chosen Alpha.’

  ‘Go through the Greek alphabet and name them, easy,’ John said.

  ‘You sure?’

  The demon nodded. ‘Yes, ma’am.’ I shrugged. ‘Okay.’

  ‘You’ll probably run out of Greek letters before the end of the year,’ John said.

  ‘Oh no. No way. No way do I want a horde of tame demons trailing after me.’

  ‘I do not think you will have much choice, ma’am,’ Alpha said. ‘I have already told my remaining nest mates about your kind heart.’

  ‘Oh no!’

  John chuckled. ‘So where will we put you, Alpha?’

  Alpha bowed slightly. ‘I am content to serve wherever you put me.’

  ‘She can help run the house in Guangzhou while Ah Yat’s here,’ I said. ‘Sixty-eight can manage, but he could really use another pair of hands.’

  ‘Good idea,’ John said. He took Alpha’s hand. ‘Go here, report to this demon. Do this.’

  Alpha’s face lit up. ‘This is one of your residences?’

  ‘Yes. You can help maintain it.’

  Alpha glanced from John to me. ‘Thank you!’ she said, breathless with delight. ‘I am profoundly honoured.’ I smiled back. ‘Go.’

  She released John’s hand, bowed slightly, and disappeared.

  ‘What are you doing with a book of baby names in your room?’ John said.

  ‘April gave it to me to hand on to Louise, now that Louise is married,’ I said. ‘I’m hoping to see her in Paris. The Tiger said she’d be there.’

  ‘Oh.’ He opened his mouth and closed it again.