Page 39 of Blood Magic

Chapter Fifteen

Joe got into the back seat without me having to ask him. He knew that neither of us would want Remy Simon at our backs. And Remy didn’t argue about us taking my car.

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“We're going to a club called Scarlett’s,” I told him. “It’s one of Frederick Axton’s favorite hangouts. It’s not likely he will be there tonight, but I want to start staking out the place.”

“You’re not going in?”

“I might walk in just to see if I’m thrown out or if they decide to play nice despite who I am.”

“Can’t hurt to take a chance,” Remy said. “I’ll go in with you. They might not mind visitors, as long as we don’t cause trouble. Although,” he said dryly, “they’re going to know we’re hunting as soon as we walk into the place.”

“They already know I’m hunting,” I told him. “I paid a visit to Alexandria a couple of nights ago. The master invited me in.”

I didn’t take my stare off the road though I could feel him watching me.

“And how did that work out?” he asked, finally.

“She punched Axton in the face,” Joe said, unable to help himself.

“He’s not one of my fans,” I said, “but I think he might be curious enough to tolerate me. At least for a while.” I hesitated, and I wasn’t sure why, but finally I told him about Bastien and the girl, Farrow.

“I killed a few of them,” he said, “but I have never dug one of them up to talk to them.”

“Yeah,” I said. “I wouldn’t recommend it.”

He laughed, and it sounded genuine. But really, I doubted anything Remy showed me was real. He was locked up as tight as anyone I’d ever seen, including myself.

I had good reason to hide. I supposed he did, as well, though I doubted he was anything other than a trained, angry human. He’d never know what it was like to have to hide what he was because the humans would find him unacceptable.

I drove us downtown to Scarlett’s, and we sat in the car for an hour, scoping out the place. The place was busy, no matter what night of the week it was. Two bouncers stood outside the front entrance, and every time the door opened, we heard a blast of music.

Finally, Remy opened his door. “Fuck it. I’m going in.”

Joe and I did the same. No way were we staying put while Remy went inside the club. Or, at least tried to go inside the club. I had a feeling the guards at the door were going to put up a fuss and try to keep us out. I did not believe they would succeed.

“Remember,” I said. “Do not go inside to cause trouble. Don’t get into a fight, and for God’s sake, don’t shoot anybody.”

“Sure, sure,” Remy said. “We just want to see what’s going on in there. Maybe talk to a few people. See how many vampires we’re looking at.”

“Would you know a vampire if you saw one?” Joe asked skeptically.

“Yeah,” Remy told him. “I would.”

I eyed him. “I can’t even tell a vampire from a human most of the time,” I said, “at least not when they’re putting effort into disguising themselves.”

He shrugged. “Why would you? I’ve been at this a long time. I have a talent for spotting the bastards.”

“Look,” I told him, as we neared the bouncers. “I know you want to kill them all for what they did to Sara. But there’s a time and a place, and this is neither. We need to find out more about this…super shading, and I need to find Brenda Ferguson. Behave in there tonight.”

“Ms. Silver, I know how to handle myself. I’m a hunter, not a two-year-old.”

“I wonder if Axton knows we’re onto him,” Joe said.

“Probably,” Remy and I said at the same time.

We walked up to the bouncers, ignoring the line of people waiting impatiently. One of the bouncers held up his hand. “Sorry, folks. We’re filled to capacity. No one else can go in right now.”