"You mean the ashes are-?" I was horrified.
"That's right, now you're getting it, sweetheart," He said, and his leer was back. He reached out to grab my arm. HIs blackened sticky fingers covered in the ashes of those he'd killed.
"Get away from me," I hissed. I moved my arm swiftly, feeling the power of the wind surging through me. It allowed me to make quick movements. That was new.
"Don't be like that." He whined, towering over me. I pushed myself away quickly, allowing the force of the wind to knock him over as I turned on my heel. I opened the door to the bar. There'd be others in there, witnesses. I could only hope he wouldn't follow me inside. The bar was as dark as the last one, but much cleaner. It was smaller and less crowded just as I had hoped. The decor surprised me. It was sumptuously decorated with heavy velvet couches and Victorian high-backed chairs. Strange herbs were hanging from the walls and skulls of various animals decorating the shelves around. I picked a table in the corner, where I would be alone. As I looked around at the patrons of the bar, I noticed that many were wearing black hoods as I was. But there was something they all had in common. Under the hoods and scarves, they all had glowing red eyes. I was in some kind of demon bar. I pulled my cloak tighter around me. The djinn had said that the servants of Lord Morningstar would not venture to this city, but these were demons. What I knew of demons, told me that they were unscrupulous and would have no problem selling me out if they found out who I was.
A few moments later the guy from before came strutting into the bar. He pinpointed me and came charging over. Before I knew what was going on one of the red-eyed demons came over and stood in front of me. He pulled his hood down. He had messy black hair and a long scar over his eye. I was starting to get nervous. Why was he getting involved?
His voice was dark and cold. "I don't think you want to do that." He said to the man from outside.
"What are you going to do about it?" The man brayed.
The demon's eyes were drawn into thin slits. "I'd be happy to take you outside and show you." He said calmly. It was honestly more frightening than anything the guy had done or tried to do.
"I was just leaving," He grunted. He turned and walked out. This guy was bad news.
The demon turned to me then, with a coy expression on his face. "What is someone like you doing in a vampire bar?"
A vampire bar? Maybe these weren't demons after all. "I was in the area," I said, without humor.
His eyes flicked back to normal, but I didn't like the curiosity that I could see blooming in his face. "What are you?" He tried to guess. "A wraith?"
"Just a traveler." I hesitated. My mysterious act only seemed to make him more curious about me. The plan was backfiring.
"I know you aren't one of the Exus." He said. "You don't smell like them."
"You can smell me?" I asked, feeling horrified.
"Oh yes. You might say I have very discerning tastes." He chuckled grimly. He sat down across from me. He would be very handsome if he wasn't so dangerous. His face was angular and pale. His eyes were bright, the color of polished rubies. His scar cut clean across his eye. I wondered how he had gotten it, perhaps from threatening strangers in bars.
"What do you want?" I asked.
He studied me, his eyes were calculating. "Oh not much, just a bit of conversation in exchange for my services. Though old Bex is really pretty harmless. Still, you don't seem like you know your way around here yet."
I had been right about him he was bad news. "I don't need any help, but thank you." I feigned gratitude hoping he would leave me.
"You still haven' t told me what you are," He bared his teeth. It was probably meant to be a grin, but his teeth were sharp and the warning was clear.
"Well, I'm not one of the exus whatever that is," I said.
"You're not looking to have your spirit consumed?" He asked with a glance that felt like it looked through my soul.
"No," I said, flatly. What was this guy's game?
"Perhaps you're interested in a taste?" He said more to himself than to me. He walked over to the bar and brought back a glass of something. It was so dark that it was almost black, but I could see that it had a red tint.
"Why not," I muttered. I brought the glass to my lips and pretended to drink. There was no telling what was in it, but the metallic smell told that at least one of the ingredients was blood.
He started talking, "No, I really don't think you meant to come here. Especially not right now. So, You must be looking for something." He guessed. Damn. He was good.
"Tell me about vampires," I said, taking another fake sip. "I want to know more."
"Ah yes, we demons have been getting somewhat of a reputation these days. it's harder and harder to find willing partners." He said.
"Is that what vampires are then? Your partners?" I didn't believe a word of it.
"Certainly. We enter into a binding contract. Demons aren't so different from your Gods. Though there are certainly those who do not see it that way." He was articulate and wry as he explained. It was a little too neat and tidy for me.
"So they are bound to you?" I asked.
"Well, not to me per se, but yes. They are bound." He was mocking me. "This town is becoming overcrowded, but not with vampires. They
