see mages sitting cheek to fang with vamps without fights breaking out. Not to mention you never saw werewolves in California. Nymphs and other faeries were common in L.A., but they mainly had their own hangouts.
Back in California, vamps were at the top of the food chain, and the Dominae ran everything with iron fists. That’s not to say mages or faeries didn’t exist there, but they tended to avoid interactions with us. Occasionally a brave mage would wander into a vamp bar, but it rarely ended well. But here I got the impression the races not only tolerated each other, but that they even hung out. Odd.
“Looks like we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” I whispered to Giguhl.
“No shit,” the demon replied.
“You’re supposed to bring demons in through the back entrance for the fights.” The bartender was a vamp with a thick neck and greasy copper hair. The name “Earl” was embroidered into his black shirt. He eyed Giguhl, as if he expected him to tear down the place any minute. Meanwhile, his gray dishrag made lazy circles on the bar.
“That won’t be an issue,” Rhea said reasonably. “I’m here to see—”
“Look, lady, I don’t have time for this. Demons aren’t allowed in the main bar. If you wanna stay, you’re gonna have to take him to the basement.”
Rhea slammed a hand on the bar, impeding the rag’s progress across the sticky surface. “I have an appointment.” Thus far I’d only seen her in her earth-mother guise, but I enjoyed this tough side to Rhea. She wore it well.
The bartender stopped wiping and glared at Rhea. “I don’t give a rat’s ass if you’re meeting the Queen of the Fae, lady. Take the demon outside before I do it for you.”
Giguhl snorted behind me. “I’d like to see you try, fang boy.” He’d lowered his voice a couple of octaves for effect. I tried not to roll my eyes at his posturing. Although, truth be told, I would enjoy watching Earl try to move Giguhl. But only if I had popcorn and a good seat from which to watch the fireworks.
Rhea leaned over the bar and grabbed the bartender’s collar. “I don’t think you’re using your ears. I have an appointment with The Shade.”
Tension crackled, and patrons swiveled their eager gazes to the standoff at the bar. I think I even heard a pin drop somewhere back near the pool tables.
Just then, a phone on the bar back rang. The shrill sound cut through the electric silence like a knife. Unlike most normal phones, this one had no buttons—just a single red light, which flashed maniacally with each ring.
“That would be your boss,” Rhea said quietly. She jerked his head toward the phone and released the bartender. “Answer it.”
Earl scowled but hurried over and picked up the receiver. As he whispered into the mouthpiece he looked across the bar and up at a large mirror in an ornate frame. It hung near the balcony on the second floor. Obviously, someone was keeping an eye on things. I sensed a presence behind the mirrored surface. I couldn’t see anyone, but I could feel eyes on me. I ignored the hairs prickling on the back of my neck and focused on having Rhea’s back in case this all went south.
The bartender hung up and came back over, looking sheepish. “I apologize for the misunderstanding. The Shade said you should go down to the locker rooms behind the fight pit to get ready for the duel. It will begin in half an hour.”
Giguhl leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Remind me not to cross Rhea.”
I nodded and looked at Rhea. The aggression she’d displayed a few minutes ago had evaporated. She flashed an easy smile to the bartender. “Thanks.”
The bartender looked at the mirror, hesitating. “He also asked me to tell you the demon isn’t allowed in the fight area. He’ll have to stay here.”
“Now, wait just a—” I began. Rhea grabbed my arm for silence.
“That will be fine,” she said. “Please make sure he’s taken care of while we’re gone.”
“Rhea, what
Back in California, vamps were at the top of the food chain, and the Dominae ran everything with iron fists. That’s not to say mages or faeries didn’t exist there, but they tended to avoid interactions with us. Occasionally a brave mage would wander into a vamp bar, but it rarely ended well. But here I got the impression the races not only tolerated each other, but that they even hung out. Odd.
“Looks like we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” I whispered to Giguhl.
“No shit,” the demon replied.
“You’re supposed to bring demons in through the back entrance for the fights.” The bartender was a vamp with a thick neck and greasy copper hair. The name “Earl” was embroidered into his black shirt. He eyed Giguhl, as if he expected him to tear down the place any minute. Meanwhile, his gray dishrag made lazy circles on the bar.
“That won’t be an issue,” Rhea said reasonably. “I’m here to see—”
“Look, lady, I don’t have time for this. Demons aren’t allowed in the main bar. If you wanna stay, you’re gonna have to take him to the basement.”
Rhea slammed a hand on the bar, impeding the rag’s progress across the sticky surface. “I have an appointment.” Thus far I’d only seen her in her earth-mother guise, but I enjoyed this tough side to Rhea. She wore it well.
The bartender stopped wiping and glared at Rhea. “I don’t give a rat’s ass if you’re meeting the Queen of the Fae, lady. Take the demon outside before I do it for you.”
Giguhl snorted behind me. “I’d like to see you try, fang boy.” He’d lowered his voice a couple of octaves for effect. I tried not to roll my eyes at his posturing. Although, truth be told, I would enjoy watching Earl try to move Giguhl. But only if I had popcorn and a good seat from which to watch the fireworks.
Rhea leaned over the bar and grabbed the bartender’s collar. “I don’t think you’re using your ears. I have an appointment with The Shade.”
Tension crackled, and patrons swiveled their eager gazes to the standoff at the bar. I think I even heard a pin drop somewhere back near the pool tables.
Just then, a phone on the bar back rang. The shrill sound cut through the electric silence like a knife. Unlike most normal phones, this one had no buttons—just a single red light, which flashed maniacally with each ring.
“That would be your boss,” Rhea said quietly. She jerked his head toward the phone and released the bartender. “Answer it.”
Earl scowled but hurried over and picked up the receiver. As he whispered into the mouthpiece he looked across the bar and up at a large mirror in an ornate frame. It hung near the balcony on the second floor. Obviously, someone was keeping an eye on things. I sensed a presence behind the mirrored surface. I couldn’t see anyone, but I could feel eyes on me. I ignored the hairs prickling on the back of my neck and focused on having Rhea’s back in case this all went south.
The bartender hung up and came back over, looking sheepish. “I apologize for the misunderstanding. The Shade said you should go down to the locker rooms behind the fight pit to get ready for the duel. It will begin in half an hour.”
Giguhl leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Remind me not to cross Rhea.”
I nodded and looked at Rhea. The aggression she’d displayed a few minutes ago had evaporated. She flashed an easy smile to the bartender. “Thanks.”
The bartender looked at the mirror, hesitating. “He also asked me to tell you the demon isn’t allowed in the fight area. He’ll have to stay here.”
“Now, wait just a—” I began. Rhea grabbed my arm for silence.
“That will be fine,” she said. “Please make sure he’s taken care of while we’re gone.”
“Rhea, what
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