Great plan, I told myself dejectedly. Now he trusts me even less than he already did.
Total failure.
What else was new?
I started walking along Spadina Avenue. I needed to clear my head and think things through even though I knew it wouldn’t change a damn thing. Red Devil Thierry didn’t come out of the woodwork again. He was probably pissed off at me, too.
Take a number.
I tried to make things better and they just got worse. It was a talent, or something. I should teach classes at the Learning Annex.
After ten minutes of wandering in the cold night air with only my self-deprecating thoughts to keep me company I passed the entrance to Darkside. Like any self-respecting secret vampire nightclub, it was completely nondescript from the outside. In fact, it appeared to be a boarded-up used bookstore with a For Sale sign in the front window. If I concentrated and used my stronger vampire senses, I could hear the dance music from inside, but the insulation was very good. No humans, including hunters, would be any the wiser.
The bouncer—the same one from the other night—stood outside with his back to the club.
To anyone who didn’t know better he looked like some guy loitering all alone and definitely unapproachable if you knew what was good for you. He smoked a cigar and eyed me as I passed. I remembered the last time I’d seen him, when he’d let me run after the fledgling-in-distress because he wasn’t paid enough to put himself in harm’s way.
Still charming.
“Slayer of Slayers,” he said with a grin.
I forced a smile onto my face. “Thought I told you that wasn’t me.”
“You told me but I don’t believe you—I know who you are. Honestly, you should be proud of such a rep. I’m impressed.”
“Then my work here is done.” I looked up at the building. “I heard a rumor this place has been sold. Please tell me it’s not closing down.”
He shrugged. “No idea what’s going to happen next. Nobody tells me nothing.”
It would suck if the new owners shut it down. No more vampire clubs in Toronto would be a major bummer. Maybe I’d teach myself how to knit.
“Anyhow, good to see you again.” I wanted to move along toward my comfortable bed and try to forget tonight ever happened, as if that was remotely possible.
“Yeah, you, too.” He leered at me and it made me uncomfortable enough to start walking, quickly, away from him.
Creepy men seemed to come in the fanged and nonfanged varieties.
After another minute I came to the alley where I’d nearly had a fledgling midnight snack, and I repressed a shudder at the memory. Would I really have hurt her? I had no doubt I would have bitten her, but would I have stopped before it was too late?
“Hey,” the bouncer said, and I froze and looked over my shoulder. He’d trailed after me from the club. “Can I ask you a question?”
I swallowed, feeling more than a little uncomfortable. “Sure.”
“How many slayers have you killed?”
“That’s a bit hard to answer.”
“That many, huh?” He gazed at me with obvious appreciation of my deadly prowess.
“That’s pretty hot.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. Blood and guts is hell on a manicure.”
“So, do you think you could take me in a fight?” he asked.
I eyed him. He was big and brawny and looked tough enough to smash beer cans against his forehead if he was so inclined. “Let’s never find out, shall we?”
His expression soured. “You’re not too friendly, are you?”
“The least friendly person I know, actually.”
“I don’t normally take any shit from women. My ex-wife used to cost me a fortune in alimony. She was a total bitch.”
“Was?” I asked, tentatively.
“Yeah. Was.”
“Look, I don’t want any problems tonight.”
“Do I seem the type to give somebody like you a problem?”
“Actually, yes.” My heart rate had picked up. “Very much so and regularly. And I’m not in the mood to deal with any extra strife in my life so if you wouldn’t mind leaving me alone so I can go home to my Slayer of Slayers lair, I’d really appreciate it.”
“You didn’t answer my question before,” he said.
“What question?”
“Do you think you could take me in a fight?”
“I don’t think so,” I answered honestly, a chill going down my spine. “So why don’t you go away now and I won’t have to scream my head off for help.”
“Nobody’s going to help you,” he said. “Nobody helps anybody anymore. It’s everyone for themselves, dog eat dog. Kill or be killed.”
“If you’re thinking about mugging me, I think I have about five bucks in my purse. Hardly worth the effort.”
He laughed. “I don’t attack women. What kind of a monster do you take me for?”
I finally exhaled the breath I’d been holding. “You were seriously freaking me out. Then why are you acting like this?”
“Like what?”
“Like somebody who is going to attack somebody.”
“I’m stalling for time.”
I frowned. “You’re… stalling for time?”