Up close the man in makeup smelt like stale cigarettes, beer and unbrushed teeth. When the slow song was replaced by Gloria Gainer belting out her disco anthem Adrian was quite glad to slip away.

Surely Gideon and Evelyn would be back at the table now, he thought. He couldn't see Gideon dancing to this. He worked his way around the dance floor, finding his hungry eyes drawn to pale, bare throats. He would have ditched his companions in a minute for a meal and a quick one in the john if he knew he had Evelyn convinced.

But only Jake and Joe sat at the table, one nursing a beer and the other a sulk.

"Where's Evelyn?" he asked, sliding into the seat beside Jake.

Jake looked over the dance floor. "I dunno."

Adrian looked straight at Joe. Where is she?

Joe didn't make eye contact, just answered with a minute shrug. It might even have been Adrian's imagination.

Can't you locate her?

"What's it to you, anyway?" demanded Joe.

Jake leaned forward, blocking their view of each other. "Look, I'm sure they haven't left the club. They're probably at the bar, getting a drink, or just lost in the crowd or something." He looked straight at Adrian. What is it to you? he asked mentally.

Adrian sat back to keep Jake in Joe's line of sight, and shook his head in mute warning.

What? demanded Jake with annoyance. He'd never seen Adrian act this strange before.

I can hear you, came a strange whisper inside Jake's head.

It was definitely not Adrian.

Jake looked around in alarm -- another vampire? -- and met Joe's green eyes.

"Did you... say something?" he asked, puzzled.

"I didn't say anything," answered Joe with exaggerated innocence.

Adrian cleared his throat. "Getting back to the subject at hand... don't you wonder where your girlfriend" he stressed the word, hoping to appeal to Joe's obvious insecurity. Why not use the boy to find her? "...went to with a strange vampire?"

"No," answered Joe boldly. "I can trust Evelyn."

As much as she can trust you.

Joe just stared back at Adrian and refused to acknowledge the jibe, but the vampire could almost see the wheels turning in his head.

"I'm goin' to the bar, get another Coke," Joe announced.

"I'll come with you," offered Adrian with a conciliatory smile. "Would you like anything, Jacob."

"Another beer," he said. Jake felt like he was going need another beer, maybe a couple more.

I didn't think Gideon was the type, insinuated Adrian as they made their way through to crowd to the bar. Actually he knew perfectly well that Gideon was not the type. He only swung one way, and that was not in Evelyn's direction.

Adrian worked hard on a mental picture of Gideon with this teeth in Evelyn's throat and her with an ecstatic expression. Actually, imagining Evelyn that way wasn't very hard, it was trying to put the Baron in the picture.

Once constructed, he sent it to Joe. What's sauce for the goose.... He slipped his hand into Joe's arm.

Get your damn hands off me, this is a public place! shot back Joe loud and clear.

This boy was either a fast learner or else he had been holding out.

You ought to be a little more respectful of vampires, boy. We don't have to put up with that shit, replied Adrian angrily.

Joe turned to look at him, but said nothing.

They were at the bar now, and Joe had a distinct advantage in the crowd, being so tall. He handed Adrian his wine.

Tell me what you want with Evelyn, invited Joe.

And...? Did Joe expect him to give up information without getting something in return?

And I could be... obliging. Joe sent him a mental postcard showing just how obliging he could be.

Adrian nearly choked on his drink. He snagged a small table as a group of women were leaving it and gestured Joe to a seat. The boy sat down and set Jake's beer away from him, as if the bottle contained a tarantula.

Adrian thought about admitting his real reason -- to piss the Baron off. But it was more complicated than that. To have power again. Not the power of an absolute monarch, like he'd had over his court, but the power of a teacher to shape and guide. He'd have Evelyn in his debt. Jake wanted to be taught, but there was no point -- yet. You couldn't really teach someone to hunt who found blood disgusting, and techniques for avoiding sunlight were lost on one who wasn't hurt by it.

I want her to respect me, Adrian sent. Out loud, he said, "I want her to stop thinking of me as the 'Faggot King'." He deliberately emphasized the insult to see Joe's reaction. He was miffed not to get one.

I wanted to beat the damn Baron just once, he added, in his own private thoughts, hoping Joe wasn't reading those. The boy's ability was remarkable, and he needed training. Undisciplined mental powers could be dangerous. Maybe he was the one Adrian should be offering to mentor.

You're not, Joe's reply puzzled Adrian until he figured out just what Joe was referring to. "You're bi, aren't you?" the boy asked aloud.

You're the one who pointed out this was a public place, Adrian shot at him as a couple of people at the bar shot them speculative looks. Yes, I am. Would you like to find out how bi? He ran his eyes over Joe's broad shoulders and silk shirt, remembering that mental vision the boy had sent.

I offered you a trade. You haven't told me anything, objected Joe.

"Evelyn is a relatively young..." he hesitated to use the word vampire out loud, but Joe just nodded. He understood. "I want to help her out. She needs to know the ins and outs of the game."

"That's it?" asked Joe suspiciously. "So why is he here?"

"To thank you for what you did," said Adrian smoothly, using Gideon's own cover story.

Joe made a scoffing noise. He shook his head and looked away from the vampire.

You don't believe me.

Joe regarded him with narrowed eyes. "I'm not sure I should."

"Believe me? Why not?" asked Adrian out loud. Sleep with me? Oh, you should, Joseph.

"I don't think so," said Joe to both responses, and got up, taking Jake's beer with him.

The boy's a tease! snarled Adrian inwardly.