Keeper of the Dawn

my time. Will you be there?”

“I wasn’t planning on it,” he admitted. “But now...you can count on it.”

She smiled sweetly at him. “I’ll be coming with a friend,” she said.

“Oh?”

She pointed out Sailor.

“Very pretty girl,” he said. He looked back at Alessande. “But there’s only one lead role.”

“But there are...victims, right?” Alessande asked.

He nodded. “Can I buy you a drink?” He leaned closer. For a moment, she read his thoughts again.

Oh, man, this is cool. Most actresses know writers don’t have much power, so they ignore us. But this one... She’s hot and blonde and tall, and I could get lucky tonight.

Alessande stood quickly. “I would love to, but I’m here with friends, and I don’t... Well, when I make a date, even with friends, I keep it. Wonderful to meet you, Mr. Swayze. Your work is really remarkable.”

He looked up at her, and she caught his eyes and read his mind for a minute.

She’s stunning, and so bright. I have to have her....

She turned away quickly. She’d done everything she’d needed to do.

As she returned to her table, Declan started to move to make room for her. She quickly shook her head.

It was important that she not appear to be attached to either of the men in any way. She looked meaningfully at Barrie, who quickly slid over to give her room.

But just as she sat down, someone slipped in next to her.

She turned to see who it was, and dismay filled her as she realized that Mark Valiente had just joined her.

“Don’t sit there, please!” she said quickly.

“Look, I know you have a thing against vampires—”

“I like vampires just fine. It’s just—”

“Just that you have something against me?”

“No! Please. I’m working on getting a role in Death in the Bowery.”

He sighed, looking down. “Listen, Alessande, that screenplay may have nothing to do with this.”

“Or it may have everything to do with it.”

He winced, gritting his teeth. “Is that the guy—the screenwriter—over there?”

“Yes.”

“All right, give me the brush-off,” he said.

He turned to look at her as if he had just discovered her, a lone woman, sitting where a man could hit on her.

“Um, leave, please?” she asked.

He smiled slightly, and he was suddenly absolutely charming. “You don’t give a brush-off very well.”

She stood, staring down at him. “Get the hell away from me,” she said.

It was perfect. Her voice carried. People turned.

“Fine. Have a nice night!” Mark said, standing. Then he added softly, “I won’t be far. We have to head to the Snake Pit soon.”

Alessande didn’t acknowledge his words as she sat again and turned to the other women. “He said he’d see us at the Snake Pit as soon as Rhiannon finishes.”

“Swayze keeps watching you,” Barrie said.

“He seemed pleased when you blew off Mark,” Sailor commented.

“Let’s hope he’s watching both of us,” Alessande said.

“If he gets a say in casting the leading lady, the part is yours.”

Alessande smiled. “Yes, but if the movie’s legit and the screenplay had nothing to do with the kidnappings, you’re the real actress. It would be a great role for you.”

“I’m a Keeper first,” Sailor said.

“But even Keepers are allowed to dream and have real lives,” Alessande said.

There was a burst of applause as Rhiannon finished her set and announced that they were all invited to move into the next room and watch the magic show.

Alessande felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Brodie.

“Luckily we only have three cars here, so no one will be alone. You’re with Mark and me.”

“But—”

“Swayze just went into the show. He won’t see anything.”

Barrie took her arm, urging her toward the door. “Let’s move fast, just for safety.”

* * *

When Alessande was seated in the back of Brodie’s car—she’d insisted on the backseat; she was tall, but Mark and Brodie were taller—she leaned back, tired and confused. “I’m not sure why we didn’t stay to watch the show. Tonight’s magician is a shifter. And I can tell you this, shapeshifters are involved.”

“We need to find out what’s going on at the Snake Pit,” Mark said.

“Then ask Declan Wainwright. He owns the place!” Alessande snapped.

“I managed to speak with Declan when we arrived,” Brodie said. “He knows we’re on the hunt.”

“What is going on at the Snake Pit? I can’t believe that Declan—”

“No, but I believe someone who hangs out at the Snake Pit is involved. They’re selling a drug called XF, real name Transymil, on the streets,” Mark explained.

“There’s a girl still in the hospital who took some earlier today,” Brodie said.

“And a kid in jail swearing that he thought they were just doing some new form of Ecstasy,” Mark said.

“I can’t believe they’re selling it on the streets now.” Alessande felt cold. The idea of it becoming widely disseminated was really scary.

“Alessande,” Brodie said slowly. “Can you...can you do anything about that?”

“About what?” she asked.

“The poor girl remains unconscious. The hospital is struggling, because they haven’t got the chemical breakdown of the drug, so they don’t know how to counter it. Could you come up with an antidote?”

“I...I don’t know. I’ve never tried to make one. Transymil’s always been kept among Others, and they usually make it back all right from a trip,” she said.

“But you could try, right?” Mark asked.

She nodded. “I’d have to get to my house, though.”

“Tomorrow,” Brodie said.

“I have an audition tomorrow,” she said. Mark was staring at her. “We have to follow the screenplay. I know it’s important. I can feel it in my gut.”

“Right after the audition,” Mark said firmly.

“All right,” she agreed.

They drove up to the sweeping entrance of the Snake Pit. A tall, striking leprechaun named Barney came right over to the car, but he was more than a valet, Alessande knew. He was Declan’s eyes and ears, as well.

“Declan just went in. He got here ahead of you, with Sailor and Rhiannon Gryffald,” the leprechaun said.

“Thanks, Barney.” Brodie tossed him the keys. “Can you keep the car where—”

“You have easy access,” Barney said gravely. “Yes, I’ll put you at the end of the row.”

“Great. I have keyless entry, so just throw the keys under the passenger’s seat, will you?”

Barney nodded. They exited the car and headed for the door, where Mark abruptly turned away. “I’ll take the street,” he told Brodie.

“I’ll get Rhiannon and keep her with me. Whoever’s selling the stuff, he’s going after men who have women with them.”

Mark looked at Alessande skeptically. “She can come with me.”

“I’m not she. You know my name,” Alessande said.

“Sorry,” Mark said, clearly aggravated. “She is better than that vampire cop, though.”