Red Phoenix

aware of them; they’re so dangerous.’
    Lai dropped her head. ‘I think one broke into my mother’s nest once and ate all the chicks. That’s why she won’t talk about them.’
    The class went wide-eyed and silent at that.
    ‘That’s awful,’ Julie whispered.
    ‘Snake Mothers,’ I said, bringing them back to the point. ‘Anybody know what level they are?’
    ‘Anything from fifty up,’ Alvin said. ‘The biggest ones are as big as the King himself.’
    ‘Good,’ I said. ‘They occupy the nests, and they bear all the demon spawn. The smaller ones mate with…? Anyone?’
    ‘The smaller ones can produce spawn with any male demon,’ Julie said. ‘But the biggest ones will spawn only with the King—they produce the Demon Princes.’
    ‘Good,’ I said. ‘Do they leave the nests?’
    ‘No,’ Alvin said with certainty. ‘They stay in Hell.’
    ‘No, that’s not right,’ Lai said patiently. ‘Lady Emma herself faced a Mother when the Mountain was attacked.’
    ‘That’s right, Alvin.’
    ‘But if they leave the nests…’ Alvin began, his face filling with horror. ‘Then they could come out and attack any of us.’
    ‘They come shopping here all the time,’ I said. ‘Watch for groups of gorgeous young women, all wearing clothes the colour of dried blood.’
    Bunny, a young local girl from Sha Tin, gasped. ‘I don’t believe it, I’ve seen them in Pacific Place!’
    ‘They won’t go for you if you don’t go for them,’ I said.
    ‘But what about Leo?’ Alvin said. ‘What happened to him?’
    I dropped my head and ran my hands through my hair. ‘They kidnapped him and took him to the nests to play. The King wouldn’t let them kill him because I’m so fond of him.’
    ‘Dear God,’ Julie said softly. ‘ Play ?’
    I grinned at her without humour. ‘Yep. They like to amuse themselves with a variety of games in the nests. The victims are usually low-level demons, but sometimes the King will give them a human or Shen to play with, and they regard that as a special treat. They try to make the toy last as long as possible.’
    They remained silent for a while, digesting this.
    ‘They cut Leo’s tongue in half. Master Liu was able to heal it, but he’ll never speak properly again.’ I checked my watch and snapped out of it. ‘Lunchtime. Off you go. Don’t worry, this building is thoroughly sealed, nothing can get in. You’re safe here and in the surrounding district. Anywhere the language charm works, you’re safe.’
    ‘Come with us, ma’am,’ Julie said. ‘I want to hear about this pact you made.’
    ‘How do you know about that?’
    ‘The fifth year has a big mouth.’
    I opened my mouth to say I had to work on my thesis and then closed it again. To hell with it; the students needed reassuring. I pulled myself to my feet. ‘Sure. Let’s go to the Seven Brand downstairs, I feel like some ho fan.’
    The students grinned and saluted.
    As we passed the display rack of the Eighteen Weapons in the lobby, Alvin and Julie had another whispered argument.
    I stopped to speak to them. ‘What now?’
    Julie gestured towards the weapons. ‘Alvin says they’re wrong, that the mace should be replaced by a spade. I say the trident should be replaced by a spade.’
    I laughed softly. ‘Guys, Lord Xuan himself selected that set. I think they’re the right ones, even though every single student that comes through the door seems to think that they’re wrong.’
    ‘Oh,’ Alvin and Julie said together.
    We filed into the noodle shop and took a table. The owner of the shop thought that we were an English school and was pleased at the business we brought him. We knew him quite well, and he always made sure we had preferential treatment. We had preferential treatment at a few of the eating places around the area, and never had to take a number for the yum cha across the road.
    ‘Shame I have to be vegetarian,’ Alvin said. ‘Now the cooler weather’s coming, the snake shop will be open. I used to like a bit of snake soup in the winter.’
    ‘You eat snakes?’ Julie said with disbelief.
    ‘If its back faces Heaven you can eat it,’ Alvin said with a grin. ‘Snake is yang. Heats up your blood. Makes you warm in winter.’
    ‘Alvin,’ I said grimly, ‘remember the nature of your Grand Master.’
    They all went silent at that. They knew about John’s true nature.
    ‘Sorry, ma’am,’ Alvin said.
    ‘I still don’t believe that you eat snakes ,’ Julie said. She