Red Phoenix

could shrink myself to any suitable size.’ Gold grinned broadly. ‘What a truly gracious lady you are.’
    ‘Let’s go back to class,’ I said. ‘Sounds like they’re finishing.’
    ‘Very good, my Lady,’ Gold said cheerfully.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
    J ohn drove me and the demon back to the Peak building and the others followed in the second car. When we reached the front door to the apartment, my tame demon stopped.
    John went in, turned and gestured. ‘Come in.’
    She hesitated.
    ‘Go in. Trust him,’ I said.
    Her face screwed up with fear and she closed her eyes as she walked through the door. When she was on the other side she took a deep breath, opened her eyes and smiled.
    Monica came out of the kitchen. ‘The new helper is here, ma’am.’ She hesitated. ‘May I speak to you alone, ma’am?’
    ‘In the dining room, wait for me there.’
    I indicated for my demon to follow me, and took her into my bedroom and pulled out the book of baby names. ‘Choose a name from here, then wait and we’ll decide what we want to do with you.’
    The demon took the book and looked at it. She smiled and shook her head.
    ‘What?’
    ‘I never thought I’d have anything as wonderful as a name.’
    I patted her arm. ‘Just choose one, and wait for me. I’ll be right back.’
    Monica was in the dining room, her face full of misery.
    I sat next to her. ‘What’s the problem, Monica?’ ‘It’s the new helper, ma’am.’
    ‘Ah Yat? I thought you’d like her. She’s very good, she’s from the house in Guangzhou.’
    Monica dropped her head and spoke softly. ‘She lies, ma’am.’
    I leaned back, relieved. ‘She told you about herself.’
    ‘She says she’s more than a thousand years old, ma’am.’ Monica appeared even more miserable. ‘I know you say she’s good, and Sir trusts her, but she lies. I don’t know why she says these things.’
    ‘It’s the truth, Monica. She’s twelve hundred years old.’
    Monica’s head shot up and her eyes went wide. ‘She’s one of them ?’
    ‘She’s a tame demon. Same as the woman I just brought in.’
    Monica stared silently at me, her eyes wide. Then she grimaced. ‘Can you trust her with Simone?’
    ‘She’s served Mr Chen faithfully for six hundred years. I think we can trust her.’
    Monica appeared to come to a decision and nodded. ‘If you and Sir are okay with it, then I am too.’
    I patted her arm. ‘Good. Hurry up and get organised, the Tiger will be here soon to take you to the palace.’
    ‘Will I be able to say goodbye to Simone before I go?’
    ‘Of course. She’s on the way home with Leo and Michael in the other car.’
    She nodded and we both rose. She hesitated at the door. ‘What?’
    She quickly spun and embraced me. ‘I’ll miss everybody.’
    I held her close. ‘We’ll miss you too. Hopefully you’ll be able to come with the Tiger when he visits sometimes.’
    She pulled back, tearful. ‘I hope so too, ma’am.’ She smiled through the tears. ‘There are still a few things I need to show the demon.’
    I squeezed her. ‘Mr Chen says that you are a treasure beyond compare, Monica, and I agree with him.’
    She nodded, speechless, and went out.
    I sighed and went back to my room. John was already there, holding the demon’s hand and studying her.
    ‘Well?’ I said.
    He didn’t look at me; he continued examining the demon. ‘One Two Two has been doing some interesting things with his demon-breeding. I would be fascinated to see the Mother that produced this one.’
    ‘My Mother is terrifying,’ the demon said. ‘And she is one of the smallest in the nests.’
    John released her hand and snapped back. ‘And now we need to work out what to do with you.’
    ‘Have you chosen a name yet?’ I said.
    ‘The Dark Lord says I am the first demon you have tamed, my Lady, so I have chosen Alpha.’
    ‘Go through the Greek alphabet and name them, easy,’ John said.
    ‘You sure?’
    The demon nodded. ‘Yes, ma’am.’ I shrugged. ‘Okay.’
    ‘You’ll probably run out of Greek letters before the end of the year,’ John said.
    ‘Oh no. No way. No way do I want a horde of tame demons trailing after me.’
    ‘I do not think you will have much choice, ma’am,’ Alpha said. ‘I have already told my remaining nest mates about your kind heart.’
    ‘Oh no!’
    John chuckled. ‘So where will we put you, Alpha?’
    Alpha bowed slightly. ‘I am content to serve wherever you put me.’
    ‘She can help run the