Red Phoenix

strode forward confidently and grabbed his hand.
    ‘I’m finding it hard to retain human form while you have me like this,’ it said, its voice straining. ‘Either release me, or take me somewhere I won’t cause panic in the streets.’
    After the demon had returned from releasing the real Professor Knight, we sat together in a meeting room on the third floor. John wouldn’t let the demon any higher in the building than that. Tamed was tamed; but trusting was another matter altogether.
    In True Form the demon was a huge humanoid and, unusually, it was blue. It only had two eyes, and no scales. Not too bad. It even had a name; for some reason known only to itself, it had chosen the English name of Ralph.
    Ralph was minor demon nobility. He wouldn’t tell us what he’d done to upset Wong, but we had an idea,knowing Wong’s appetites and Ralph’s unusual appearance. The demon stayed in human form, big glasses and everything, to talk to us.
    ‘Do you know what he’s planning?’ John said straight out.
    ‘Something big,’ Ralph said.
    ‘All of us?’ I said.
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Are you aware of the details?’ John said.
    ‘I know that it is planned for later this year. I know that he has made some very special, rather nasty hybrids that he hopes will take you out. He is bringing in something that will disable you, but I don’t know what.’
    ‘Disable the Dark Lord?’ I said with disbelief. ‘Surely such a thing isn’t possible.’
    ‘No,’ John said. ‘Either you kill me or you don’t. You can’t disable me.’
    ‘One Two Two seems to think that he has some sort of secret weapon that will ensure your cooperation.’
    ‘Impossible,’ John said.
    ‘Well, that’s what he’s been saying. He’s also bragging that he will bring the Dark Lady to his Father, reveal her true nature, and be promoted very quickly.’
    My stomach fell out. I was speechless.
    ‘More,’ John said.
    ‘No more,’ Ralph said. ‘That’s all I know.’
    ‘Any other word about her true nature?’ John said. ‘This is vital.’
    I suddenly wanted to run out of the room.
    ‘She has caused quite a stir,’ the demon said with a small smile. ‘She scares the living daylights out of most of the Mothers, they hate her.’
    ‘Throw that phone away,’ John said to me.
    ‘No.’
    ‘That was quite a feat in London, my Lady,’ the demon said. ‘I feel most honoured to serve you. Youappear to be an ordinary human, but in action and word, and particularly in battle, you appear very much more.’
    ‘ Why were they both in Europe ?’ John demanded loudly.
    ‘Ah.’ The demon leaned back and took his glasses off. ‘You heard about the Kwok woman? His pussy cat?’
    ‘Kitty Kwok,’ I said. ‘Agricultural holdings in China. Biotech in China, Australia, America…’ I stopped as I remembered. ‘Europe.’
    ‘Europe,’ Ralph said. ‘Biotech in Europe.’
    ‘Damn,’ John said quietly. ‘Did the King stop him?’
    ‘The King wanted to,’ Ralph said. ‘But when he saw the results of the experiments, he decided that it was too good a chance to miss. He has found the activities of this particular son rather diverting. He saw the chance to take both of you.’
    I suddenly understood. ‘Oh my God, it was all a huge setup.’
    ‘You are quite right, my Lady,’ the demon said.
    ‘The King gave me the phone. Then Wong attacked us. They were hoping that they would take out the Dark Lord with the hybrids. If they took out Lord Xuan, I would definitely call the King immediately to ensure Simone’s safety.’
    ‘Exactly,’ the demon said. ‘I was surprised that they seemed to want the Lady more than the child, but that was the plan.’ He gestured towards John with his glasses. ‘Take him out.’ He smiled as he spoke to me. ‘You would call the King to ensure the safety of the child. He would have respite from the Dark Lord, and the Dark Lady in his hands. He was willing to pass up the child to have both of you.’
    ‘Shit,’ John said under his breath. ‘They played us like a pipa .’ He tied his hair back, then leaned his elbow on the arm of the chair and rubbed his chin. ‘Damn,but I miss my Serpent. The snake would have seen this coming.’
    ‘But Wong chickened out at the last minute,’ I said. ‘He decided not to face the Dark Lord. He must have been in huge trouble for that.’
    ‘No, not really.’ Ralph leaned back, quite relaxed. ‘He promised that he will have the means to make the Dark Lord