Red Phoenix

problem at all.’ He paused. ‘I’m assuming you made it anyway?’
    ‘Yeah,’ I said, ‘but getting this…person is twenty times better. He says he offended One Two Two and has information for us.’
    ‘Yes!’ John said. ‘Did you find out where the original professor is?’
    ‘Apparently in his office, bound, with his memory wiped, from what I gathered.’
    John was silent. Then he spoke with obvious satisfaction. ‘That is extremely good. This is a really big one.’ His voice was full of admiration. ‘Well done, Emma, what a coup. This is the biggest demon tamed in a very, very long time. I hope it lives up to its word; it will be extremely useful. Damn, but I’m impressed.’
    ‘I just hope it really is tamed,’ I said. ‘If it isn’t, we’re in big trouble letting it in past the seals.’
    ‘Oh, and congratulations on the MBA as well,’ he said.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
    L iu waited for us downstairs, wearing a pair of tired jeans and a worn-out T-shirt, looking for all the world like a cleaner on his day off. He grinned like an idiot when he saw us.
    I introduced him as one of the instructors and Jan was obviously bemused at his appearance. He pretended he was there by accident and we all walked the two blocks to the Hennessy Road building together. The demon was tense and nervous. Jan had absolutely no inkling of anything that was going on with her three companions.
    John was waiting for us in the lobby next to the Eighteen Weapons. He met us at the door, and guided Jan and the demon in. The demon hesitated at the doorway, then strode in as if it expected to be electrocuted. It visibly relaxed when it survived the seals.
    ‘This is Mr John Chen, the head of the school,’ I said. ‘I’m the nanny for his daughter, Simone. He’s very kindly offered to show you around.’ I gestured towards Jan. ‘This is Jan, the head of the university’s office here in Hong Kong, and Professor Knight, one of the examiners.’
    ‘Pleased to meet you,’ John said. He shook Jan’s hand and then held his hand out to the demon.
    John, Liu, the demon and I all froze. Time stood still. Liu shifted in the corner of my eye as he readied himself.
    ‘Take his hand,’ I said very softly.
    The demon stood frozen, his face an expressionless mask. Jan hadn’t heard me; all she was aware of was the fact that the demon had hesitated. Bewilderment started to spread across her face.
    ‘Do it, take his hand,’ I said under my breath. ‘Last chance.’
    The demon took a swooping step forward and grabbed John’s hand, its face still expressionless. Its eyes widened with wonder as it realised it hadn’t been damaged. It was such a high level that John’s touch couldn’t destroy it, only cause it major damage; but it seemed surprised that it had remained unharmed.
    ‘Welcome, both of you,’ John said as he released the astonished demon’s hand. ‘Let me take you up and show you around.’
    Jan enjoyed herself immensely. She loved watching the juniors going through their paces. Liu even had some of the young Shaolin Disciples do some circus-style acrobatics for her.
    Knight’s face was completely frozen in a false grin the whole time. John and I could hardly wait to get him alone, and it was obviously difficult for him too.
    When we were back in the lobby the demon had an inspiration. ‘Jan, you go on ahead. I need to stop at the pharmacy next door and buy a couple of things. Meet you back at the office, we’ll go through the vivas and sort them out. See you later.’
    ‘Okay,’ Jan said. ‘We can leave most of it until tomorrow morning anyway.’ She smiled. ‘Good to have it finished, eh?’
    ‘Yeah, we survived,’ the demon said. ‘Can’t believe it,’ he added, without looking at either John or myself.
    She gave us a cheery wave and went out.
    The three of us stood in the lobby looking at each other.
    Then the demon fell to its knees before us and touched its head to the floor. ‘I pledge. I swear allegiance. Thank you, my Lord, my Lady, you have no idea what this means to me.’
    ‘Get the hell up off the floor, people going past can see you,’ John growled impatiently.
    The demon didn’t move. John breathed an obvious sigh of relief.
    ‘Get up,’ I ordered and it immediately shot to its feet.
    ‘Do it again, Emma,’ John said quietly, and held out his hand. ‘I want to be absolutely sure.’
    ‘Take the Dark Lord’s hand again,’ I said.
    This time the demon didn’t hesitate. It