Blue Dragon

is a reptile, Scott. You will encounter a great deal of very strange stuff in the near future. Compared to that, a gay roommate will be a refreshing dash of normality.’ I straightened and folded my arms. ‘So say the word. If you aren’t prepared to learn to be more accepting of those around you, I will quite happily throw you out right now.’
    Scott’s eyes were still very wide. ‘Who?’ He turned to Leo. ‘Who?’
    Leo made another amused sound but didn’t say anything.
    ‘Scott,’ I said, and he turned back to me. ‘Are you scared of snakes?’
    Scott’s face went blank. ‘I don’t like them, but I wouldn’t say I’m scared of them…’
    ‘I change into a snake when my family are threatened,’ I said, very calmly. ‘How big is it, Leo?’
    ‘Oh, it’s a good ten metres long, Emma,’ Leo said, still amused. ‘Big, black, ugly thing too.’
    ‘Big, black and ugly, just like you, Leo,’ I said.
    ‘Yep,’ Leo said with a grin.
    Both Scott and Tymen stiffened.
    ‘Weirdness is the order of the day at Wudangshan,’ I said. ‘About the only thing that’s not weird around here is the fact that some of the staff and students are gay.’
    Scott didn’t say a word.
    ‘I’m leaving you with Tymen, Scott, and I know for a fact that you two will be good friends one day,’ I said. ‘Tymen, don’t hide yourself. There’s absolutely no need. Scott, try to learn, open your mind. ’Cause if you don’t do it yourself, the first time you see a Snake Mother it’ll get opened so wide and so fast the damage will be permanent. Enough, Leo?’
    ‘I can handle the rest, my Lady,’ Leo said. ‘Gold can help me.’
    ‘Don’t tell him who they are,’ I said as I turned to open the door. ‘Let him try to work it out himself.’
    I winked at Tymen. ‘Don’t you tell him either; it’s obvious you know.’
    ‘You read my mind, Emma,’ Leo said softly as I went out to find Monique and see how she was doing in the infirmary.
    Tymen’s grin completely made my day.
    On my way to the infirmary to check on Monique, I passed Sonia in the lift lobby. She was pushing the mail trolley. When she saw me she stopped and fell to her knees.
    ‘Up you get, Sonia,’ I said kindly. When she was back on her feet I moved forward and gave her a little hug, just enough to make her feel wanted withoutembarrassing her too much. ‘Is everybody looking after you?’
    Her face lit up. ‘I cannot believe the kindness I have been experiencing. And some of the other staff here are demons as well.’
    I let the fact that she wasn’t a demon slide. ‘Are you coping okay with the work? It’s not too hard for you?’
    Sonia glanced down at the contents of the trolley. ‘At first I was frightened—I didn’t know where anything was supposed to go. But,’ she smiled up at me, ‘I can ask anyone. Nobody will harm me.’ She hesitated, her eyes wide. ‘It’s a strange feeling to know that I have nothing to fear from anyone here.’
    ‘When are you moving over to the Folly?’
    ‘I can’t believe that happened. The students who asked me to share with them are so kind. They want to teach me to live as a human. They say they enjoy my company and like having me around.’
    ‘Good.’ I smiled down at her. She was much shorter than me, slight and slim. Her tiny blue jeans were too big on her, and she wore a typical Hong Kong T-shirt with a random English phrase that made absolutely no sense: ‘High Fashion Ice-cream’. ‘I’d better go. One of my students drained herself and she’s in the infirmary.’
    ‘My Lady.’ Sonia dropped to one knee and saluted me.
    I sighed. ‘You really don’t need to do that, you know, Sonia.’
    She smiled up at me. ‘I know, ma’am, but I want to.’
    I pressed the button for the lift. Sonia rose but didn’t move.
    I turned back to her. ‘What?’
    ‘Uh…’
    ‘Ask me, Sonia,’ I said. ‘You can ask me anything.’
    She glanced up at me, her face full of hope. ‘I wouldlike to attend evening classes, after work. I would like to study.’
    ‘What do you want to study?’
    She dropped her head, unsure.
    ‘I’m thoroughly impressed, Sonia,’ I said, reaching out and squeezing her hand. ‘If you want to study, I’ll support you any way I can.’
    Her face lit up again. ‘I want to study bookkeeping and typing. I want to help more in the office.’
    ‘Good,’ I said. ‘If you need time off from work for the study, then just tell me. If you want help getting into a