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My hand was wrapped around the hilt of my single-handed sword, and the blade was resting on my left shoulder. Only the forward edge and a few inches at the curved tip were sharp, so it was more comfortable to rest the blunt edge on my shoulder than hold it aloft. A standard weight sword was only two pounds. Still, I felt better with it in a waiting position—and less silly than standing poised to attack.
“I’ve been over this with almost a dozen of you.” I sighed and met several dead-eyed stares. “You all need a social media site or newsletter. This ismybar, and anything other than a human has to havemypermission to be here.”
I ignored the technicality that it was Eli’s bar. It was mine only in the sense that I was happy here.
“We need to talk to you, Geneviève,” the older woman in the center of their clutch said. She was the most articulate monster I’d met, more so than most humans. It still didn’t mean I wanted to chat.
“I have nothing to say,” I told her.
“Darius,” the one in front said.
Maybe because it was my so-called father’s name, or maybe it was because the dead guy reached out. Either way, I brought my sword down reflexively. His hand flopped to the ground, a rotting putrid lump. It looked like week-old meat.
“Newly infected, aren’t you?” I muttered.
“Reborn,” the woman said. “He was reborn during your lifetime.”
“Potato, pa-tah-to.” I didn’t lift my sword or my gun.
Her gaze was still fixed on me, and I realized that her fangs were retracted. There was nothing but control in her form and face. Her voice was steady, and she gazed upon me with the surety that she had no reason to fear. I’d never met adraugras old as her. If she wanted to kill everyone in the bar, we would die.
I still said, “Exit now, or we’ll need to call the body bus.”
The woman pressed her lips together. She looked around, and I resisted the amateurish impulse to see where her gaze fell.Watch the scary lady.Eli could tell me later what she’d been studying.
When her attention re-settled on me, she said, “I knew your father, Geneviève.”
“Cool. That makes one of us.” I pasted a smile on my face.
Two of thedraugrlaughed. Lucky me. I was amusing to corpses. It wasn’t exactly a life goal, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure what my goals were. Don’t die? Don’t wake up a walking corpse? It was more of anun-list than a to-do list. I really ought to have a bucket list that contained things other than “don’t kick the bucket.”
“You’re special, Geneviève,” the dead woman said. “A hy--”
“No.” My sword raising ended her words. “I am a witch, one who very much dislikes dead things.”
“We can speak about your heritage here, or we can sit down like civilized women and address it later. Wewilladdress it,” the woman said in a tone very much like an order.
I really disliked orders.
“Not here. Not now.” I didn’t add “not later” aloud although I had exactly zero interest in talking to her later either. I had a lousy temper, and chatting with something old enough to kill me with her elegant pinky finger wasn’t a great plan.
“We shall plan a luncheon,” the dead lady said. “I will answer your questions, and you will not attack me.”
One of her corpse guards moved forward, and I was left in the unenviable position of deciding how much I wanted to expose myself and how much I wanted to avoid being touched. Most of the people in the bar weren’t looking at me. Fear blurred recall anyhow, so I could explain away my speed.
I opted for expediency, and raised my gun.
“We did not inject those people, Geneviève,” she said. “I wanted to tell you myself, so you would understand the seriousness of it. I’ve watched you and respected your work from afar, but I require your aid directly.”
“What?”
“I am hiring you. Several of my subjects were kidnapped. Milked like serpents.” Thedraugrwoman sounded increasingly agitated. “And left to starve to death. Do you have any idea what they must have suffered?”
I swallowed. It sounded awful. I could admit that. Mildly, I said, “My kills are always clean.”
She nodded. “Yes. I do find your work for us helpful, Geneviève. I would gladly compensate you for it, but I was worried that you’d be affronted.”
I faltered at that. “What?”
