Red Phoenix

don’t believe it,’ he said.
    He hung up. He glared at John. ‘I don’t believe it. Tell me the truth, Emma. Are the police after him?’ I gestured towards Jade without looking at her. ‘Do
    it.’
    ‘You are sure, my Lady?’
    I wasn’t in the mood to mess around. ‘Just do it, Jade.’
    Jade transformed into her dragon form, her back end still on the chair and her golden claws resting on the table.
    My father made a quiet strangled sound and my mother shot to her feet with a gasp.
    Jade transformed back. My mother pressed further back into her chair.
    My father’s face turned ashen and he glanced at John. ‘You’re a fucking god ?’
    ‘Brendan!’ my mother said. Then she heard. ‘ A god ?’
    John smiled slightly and nodded without speaking.
    My mother glared sternly at me. ‘You are coming back to Australia with us right now.’
    ‘No,’ I said. ‘I have a responsibility to his daughter. And I love him.’
    ‘You always were the stupidest member of the family,’ my father said, glaring at me as well. ‘Look what you got yourself into.’
    ‘I know,’ I said. I ran my hands through my hair. ‘I am completely nuts.’
    ‘Why didn’t you tell us?’ my father said.
    ‘Would you have believed me?’ I said.
    My mother and father shared a look.
    ‘No, probably not,’ my father said with a small smile. He leaned back. ‘Okay. So my daughter is engaged to a bloody god who can’t touch her and is going to disappear in a couple of years anyway. And you have these monsters or demons or whatever after you. And you have,’ he said, pointing to Jade, ‘a dragon for an accountant. Marvellous.’
    ‘My solicitor is a rock,’ I added with grim humour. I gestured towards Gold. ‘He’s a stone in human form. That is only the beginning of the general weirdness that surrounds this family. Wait till you meet our best friend.’
    ‘Christ, Emma,’ my father said quietly.
    ‘Well, now you’re here, let us show you around, take you to some tourist spots, and we can all attend Emma’s graduation,’ John said with satisfaction. ‘I’ve wanted to have you over to visit for a while anyway. I nearly invited you to the graduation, but thought the better of it because it may put you in too much danger.’
    ‘Oh shit,’ my father said softly.
    ‘We should send them straight back to Australia, John,’ I said. ‘It’s too dangerous.’
    ‘You are safer here with me,’ John said to my father.
    ‘Oh my God,’ I said as I understood. ‘ This was the secret weapon. They were planning to take my parents.’
    ‘I would love to see the look on that little bastard’s face when he finds out that he’s failed,’ John saidevenly. ‘Quite a few junior thralls are very likely to turn up on our doorstep in the next few days.’
    I had a sudden horrible thought. ‘Mum, Dad, please, tell me,’ I said. ‘Please, tell me the whole truth. Am I your natural daughter? Am I adopted?’
    ‘Why are you asking me this, Emma?’ my mother said sharply. ‘You think I didn’t treat you as well as your sisters? Is that it?’
    ‘No, that has nothing to do with it, Mum. I love you dearly. Please, just tell me. Am I adopted?’
    ‘No,’ my mother said fiercely. ‘You were born in ward four of Montford hospital at five o’clock in the morning, after I was in labour for seven hours. You were a perfectly normal delivery.’
    ‘Was there anything…’ I hesitated, ‘… different about me? Ever?’
    ‘Why are you asking this, Emma?’ my father said. ‘What’s going on?’
    ‘Emma thinks she’s a demon,’ John said.
    Both my parents glanced sharply at me.
    ‘That’s not possible,’ my father said. ‘You are our daughter. Nothing at all different about you. Except for the fact,’ he gestured towards John, ‘that you’ve gone and fallen for this bastard.’
    ‘Snakes,’ I said.
    ‘What about them?’ my mother said. ‘I’m a snake.’
    ‘No, you’re not,’ my mother said patiently. ‘I think you need to talk to somebody if you think that you’re a snake.’
    I dropped my head and ran my hands through my hair.
    ‘Mr and Mrs Donahoe,’ John said, ‘would you like me to show you to your room? You should stay with us while you’re here. Leo and Emma will be glad to show you around, they can take time off from their teaching and guard duties—’
    ‘I can’t afford time off,’ I snapped. ‘I have three energy work classes on Monday, and I’m on guard duty Tuesday and