Disclaimer: Hawaii, Kestra, Twilight, Kaluk, Victoria, Laurana, and all other unmentioned characters belong to me.  Illinois and his girlfriend Whitney belong to the Maverick and are used with permission.  Special thanks to Evan for his help with the character of Kaluk.

Adam Pierson (Methos) belongs to Rysher Entertainment.  Angel, Cordelia, and Doyle belong to Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt.  Armand belongs to Anne Rice.  Indiana Jones (Hawaii’s great-uncle) belongs to George Lucas.  None are used with permission but all will be returned unharmed.

Author’s Notes: This is best read after my stories “The Quest” and "Elements of Power."  “Souled” vampires are from the show Forever Knight.  “Soulless” are from the Buffy universe.  “Corpses” and the form of werecreatures I use in this story are from Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series.  Those names are made up by me (so I could keep them straight) and are not official in any way.

This is rated PG-13, as usual, but it’s slightly more violent than my usual stories.  Consider yourself warned.

Prologue

Sometimes things don’t work out exactly the way I want them to.  Actually, a lot of things don’t work out the way I plan.

Take last summer, for example.  Only Hawaii Davids and Illinois Smith were supposed to get involved in our little misadventure.  But Illy brought along his girlfriend, and Wai’s friend Victoria ended up getting roped in, too.  Then Victoria had the bright idea to bring along her teacher – the man who happened to be the first Merlin.

And things went downhill from there.

Now Eva “Hawaii” Davids is dead to the world.  And I’m stuck in a hunk of metal.

I think the Lady’s sense of humor needs some work.

~ Kestra, Ocean Spirit for the Lady of the Lake of Avalon

Part 1
October, 1999

My head hurt.  Badly.  Add to that fact that it was really hot, and I was lying in a very uncomfortable position.  Chances were, I had a hangover, but I couldn’t quite remember how I’d gotten one.  And I could count the number of times that had ever happened to me on one hand.

My name is Eva “Hawaii” Davids, and I’m a professor of anthropology at the University of Hawaii.  I’m thirty-two years old, and my best friend in the world is my cousin, the renowned archaeologist Illinois Smith.

Damn, I’m thirsty.  Guess I should make the effort to open my eyes.

I groaned as the blinding sunlight hit me and uttered some highly paint-blistering oaths in three languages.  Then I actually looked at my surroundings.  I was lying in the reclined passenger seat of a sport utility vehicle that I had never seen before.  I was wearing jeans and a white tank top.  A light blue over-shirt lay on the driver’s seat next to me, underneath a shoulder holster and gun.  Also were two unfamiliar knives held in wrist sheathes.

Rubbing my right temple, I sat up and twisted around to peer in the back seat.  A dark blue gym bag, a black trenchcoat…and a sword?  I reached out to grab the broadsword’s hilt and jumped when a mildly annoyed voice sounded in my mind.

:Good.  You’re awake.:

“What the hell?” I asked and immediately drew back my arm.  However, the voice sounded vaguely familiar.

:No, this is not hell.  Just the California desert.  Looks close enough, though.:

But I had stopped listening.  Memories had begun to flicker back.  That same sword held by a tall, dark-haired man.  Riding through England on horseback.  Then I was running towards a stone circle.  And lunging towards that sword as a monster loomed over me.

“Oh my god,” I gasped.  “What happened?  Where’s Illinois?  Where am I?  And what is with this thrice-damned voice in my head?”

:Now is that any way to talk to the one who has been channeled into a sword for your own benefit?  Really, Wai, your manners need some work.:

Needless to say, I was rather stunned.  “Kestra?” I whispered, staring in shock at the sword.

:In the flesh…sort of.:

“So what happened?  I don’t remember anything after England.”  Then it hit me.

:Well, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Hawaii, but-:

“I died!” I said, my eyes growing wide.  “I fucking died!”

:Well, I guess you could put it that way.:

“Then how did I get here?” I asked.  “California, you said?  And am I an Immortal like Victoria and Kronos and Adam?”

:Not exactly.  You did get pretty beat up when that monster imploded after you beheaded it, but I managed to grab some of Victoria’s life essence to save you before the two of us got blasted to kingdom come.  We ended up drifting on the ghost roads for awhile before a friend found me and sent us to Avalon.:

“So I’m not dead,” I said, slumping down in relief.  “That’s always good.  Wouldn’t want some psycho running after me, screaming about the Game.”

:No, you can go after them.:

I stared at the sword.  “I think maybe you should start back at the beginning, Kestra.”  I maneuvered around in the seat until I was leaning against the dashboard.  At least now my face was out of the sun.

:Well, here’s the short version.  Erista brought us back to Avalon, and the Lady of the Lake managed to heal you using Victoria’s power and wake me up, but that’s where things get complicated.  I don’t know how much you’ll like this…:

“No, I get it,” I said slowly.  “Now I’m in debt to the Lady.  For how long, and what do I have to do?”

:That’s what I like about you, Hawaii.  You get right to the point.:

“Answer the question, Kestra,” I growled.  I was hot, my head still hurt, and I desperately wanted to get to a phone.  In other words, I was definitely not in a good mood.

:Well, the wizard Merlin – not the original, as you know – has a vast network throughout the world of people who fight evil.  Knights of the Grail and the Priests of the C’est Die and such.  The Lady has an established force on the British Isles and in most of Western Europe but is now branching overseas.  You’re the first agent for the southwestern United States.  Ever lived in Los Angeles?:

“No, Kestra, can’t say that I have.”  I was back to massaging my temples with my fingertips.  “Just out of curiosity, what day is it?”

:Ah, Wednesday.  October 27th.  1999.:

“Bloody hell!  You mean I’ve been out of it for nearly five months?” I cried.  “I’ve got to call Illy!  I’ve got to call the university!  My god, they must be worried sick about me.  And Adam!”

:Um, yeah.  Look in the glove compartment, Wai.:

With a suspicious look towards the back seat at the unassuming sword, I did as directed and pulled out a sheaf of papers, a wallet, and an American passport.  I flipped open the passport first.  There was my picture, but the name read “Hawaii Evans.”  My real name was Eva Davids; Hawaii was the nickname given to me by my great-uncle “Indiana” Jones when I became a professor for the University of Hawaii.  The wallet had a California driver’s license, a few credit cards, and many bills in various denominations.  The sheaf of papers told me I owned a 1999 Dodge Durango (probably the car I was sitting in now) and that I had an apartment in Los Angeles.  My job was as a manager for a dance club called the Twilight Mists.

“Okay, Kestra,” I said.  “So Hawaii Davids is dead, and I’m heading for LA in the service of the Lady.  I can accept that.  But I’m still calling my cousin when I get to this apartment I’ve so nicely had arranged for me.”  I let the sarcasm drip out of my voice.  I was not a big fan of predetermined destiny.

:Fine with me.  Let’s just get to the city first.  You start your job on Friday, and you have a meeting tomorrow evening with a contact the Lady wants you to hook up with.  I can finish explaining stuff while you drive.:

I got out of the SUV and went over to the driver’s side door.  The car looked nice; it was silver, and I had smelled that new car smell inside.  I opened the other door and picked up the shoulder holster.  After buckling it on, I drew the gun.  It was a Browning 9mm – not my old gun, but the same type I was used to using.  Next I strapped on one of the wrist sheaths, but then decided to leave them off until I had proper time to get used to them.  The knives looked pretty good, though; they were better quality than my old ones, which had been castoffs from my friend Victoria.  Another person to call and let know I was alive.  I knew I would shock my cousin to no end, but not Victoria – she had had friends come back from the dead before.

Buckling my seatbelt and turning the keys that were already in the ignition, I sighed.  Things like this weren’t supposed to happen to me.  To Victoria, yes.  But I was human!

I hated having my life decided for me.  “Kestra?” I asked.

:You know, you can speak to me mind to mind.  Even if the sword’s not around, I can talk to you.  The Lady has assigned me as your guide.  Think *at* me.:

:Okay,: I tried cautiously.  Whoa, that was an interesting sensation.  :Hmm, weird.  Anyway, you do know that I don’t believe in fate, right?:

:Yeah.:

:Well, I really hate the idea that I’m not in control of my life, so I’ll make you a deal.  You never keep secrets from me that I might need to know, and I’ll willingly be the Lady’s agent.  Deal?:

:Deal.:

Part 2

I parked the car at the curb in front of the four-story building and pulled on the blue over-shirt before stepping out of the car.  Grabbing the knives, I opened the back door and placed the two sheaths in the duffel bag.  I also wrapped up the sword – the original Caliburn, I now remembered, kept in perfect condition by the magic of Avalon.  Gathering up the bag, sword, and trenchcoat, I locked the car and headed into the building.

:You’re on the top floor, I think.  The Lady wanted to be able to deliver messages by bird.  Merlin communicates that way, too, sometimes, so it all works out.:

:Thanks, Kestra,: I thought before opening one of the double doors.  The lobby was devoid of life, but it looked clean and well kept.  Always a plus.  The building was obviously old, as evidenced by the elevator with the antique gate.  I pushed the button for the top floor and felt it rumble to a start.

I opened the grate again to find myself in a small hallway with a skylight across from a single door.  “Cool, a penthouse,” I muttered.  Trying one of the unknown three keys on the ring, I was relieved when the first one worked.

The first things in the place I noticed were the windows.  An entire wall of them across from me, they let in massive amounts of sunlight.  Good thing I wasn’t a night person.  The combination living/dining room was large and open, separated from the kitchen by a bar with stools.  “What’d you do, raid an antique store?” I asked, surveying the furniture.

:Hey, some of this stuff is really valuable!:

“No, I like it,” I immediately responded.  “All in my colors, too.”  From the royal blue sofa and loveseat to the green glassware that decorated the many low windowsills, the entire apartment was *me*.  “I’m impressed.”

Hanging up my coat in the closet by the door, I saw it stocked with running shoes, black suede boots, simple black pumps, and dark blue evening slippers.  “Wow, the Lady’s certainly thought of everything.”

:Come on, I want to see the rest of the place.:  Another of the things Kestra had explained on the way down was her ability to use my senses.  So while her true essence was trapped in Caliburn, her conscience had its own little nook in the back of my brain.  Something else to get used to.

Still holding the bag, I walked through the archway beside the kitchen.  To my right was a bedroom with a queen-size bed with down comforter, desk with high-tech computer, chest-of-drawers, and cozy-looking armchair.  Placing the bag on the bed, I crossed to the bathroom and glanced in at the shower, tub, and sink decorated with in aqua and green with a water theme.  “Of course,” I muttered.  I also opened the closet to discover it was full.  So what was in the bag?

:The bag has stuff for the other room, I think,: Kestra dutifully answered.  I should have known that part of the deal was her eavesdropping on my surface thoughts.  We would need to have a talk about that later.

“Okay,” I said slowly.  I crossed the hall into the remaining room to discover it was a large training room.  The floor was wooden on one half for sword work, but lightly padded on the other for martial arts.  This room also contained more floor to ceiling windows on one wall, a huge mirror on the second, and a bunch of empty hooks on the third.  I placed the bag on the floor and unzipped it.

First came Caliburn.  That would go on the empty hooks I had noticed above the gas-fireplace in the living room.  :Goody,: I heard Kestra say.  :I get to be part of the décor.:  Shaking my head with a smile, I pulled out more.  Besides the knives in the wrist sheaths, I had four more matching ones, two of which were in ankle sheaths.  Two stilettos.  Four throwing stars.  A *very* long knife with a sheath that I assumed ran down my back.  And three more swords: a rapier, a katana, and a simple fencing sword.  At the bottom were a change of clothes and other necessities – my cousin had explained that one to me once.  This bag was my escape plan.  It most likely had cash and a fake identity in it as well.

“Kestra,” I said in exasperation while looking over the throwing stars.  “I don’t even know how to use half of this stuff.”  Not waiting for an answer, I began to put stuff on the wall.  The hooks were not completely empty.  On the same door as the wall, they contained more guns – everything from a shotgun to three more handguns (another Browning, what I thought was a Glock 9mm, and a small derringer).  “Does Hawaii Evans even have permits for this stuff?”

:Of course.  Hawaii Evans has both licenses as a private investigator and bounty hunter.  But she works well with the police and gives out information that might save lives.:

“Oh, it’s nice to know I have a conscience.”  I stood up and stretched.  “I’m famished.  I’m going to run to that deli I saw down the street for dinner.  Tomorrow I’ll do some shopping and explore the neighborhood.  When do I have to meet that contact?”

:Eight o’clock p.m. at his office.  He’s working as a private investigator, too.  His card with the address should be on the refrigerator.:

“Okay,” I said.  “Thanks.”  Placing the other Browning and an extra knife in the gym bag, I carried it back out to the main room and placed it in the closet by the door.  Probably the best place for it if I had to leave in a hurry.  I’d make up another kit to keep in my car.

“Wow,” I suddenly said.  “I’m really getting into this ‘agent of the Lady’ deal.”

:I’d say it’s the life you were meant to lead.:

That made me stop.  “But I’m an anthropologist.  That’s what I know.”  For once Kestra was silent.  On that note, I left the apartment and headed for dinner.

Part 3

The next morning I woke up and momentarily wondered where I was.  Then it all came crashing back to me.  I groaned and buried myself back beneath the covers.

:Rise and shine, sleepyhead.  It’s almost eleven o’clock in the morning.:

“Goody for you,” I muttered, but reluctantly got out of bed.

An hour later, I was dressed in jeans, a white T-shirt, a brown suede vest, and the black Doc Martens I had woken up in yesterday.  My long brown hair was still wet from my shower, so I had put it in a thick braid.  Shrugging on the black trenchcoat, I discovered that it hung on me perfectly, the hem a few inches above my ankles.  At five and a half feet exactly, but with rather long legs, I was always amazed when long coats actually fit without looking like I was playing dress-up.  And because I was naturally paranoid, besides the fact that I needed to get used to it, I also wore the derringer in an inner-pants holster at the small of my back and one of the knives at my ankle.  I yet to figure out how to carry the throwing stars.

Then I departed for the Italian deli again.  The evening before I had spent an enjoyable hour conversing with the owner’s son, who was also the waiter, about Europe.  I told him about visiting London, Paris, and Cherbourg the past summer – wisely leaving out most of the details about my reasons for being there.  He had invited me back for lunch the next day to meet his wife.  I figured brunch was close enough.

By the end of my meal, I felt like I had been practically adopted into the Di Massimo family.  I had met all of the family members who worked at the deli and received a standing invitation to dinner once I got settled into Los Angeles.  Of course, it helped that I knew Italian.

I picked up my car and headed over to the grocery store Mama Di Massimo had recommended to me that was run by a Greek family.  I had express instructions to say hello to the Aristopoles and let the family know that I had been sent over by the Di Massimos.

After another hour of conversation (in Greek this time) with Mr. Aristopoles, I left with three bags to stock my empty refrigerator with.  Fortunately, the kitchen cupboards had already been filled.

:This is good,: Kestra noted as I drove home.  :You’re making contacts in the neighborhood.  And they look like the type to be able to help you out if you need it and not ask too many questions.  Always a good support network to have.:

:I wholeheartedly agree, but here’s hoping I don’t need them too often,: I replied as I pulled back up in front of my apartment building.

After unloading the groceries, I took the cordless phone over to the couch and dialed my cousin’s office phone number from memory.  It was the middle of fall term, so he had to be back at the University of Illinois.

I heard the phone be picked up and a preoccupied voice say “Dr. Smith.”

“Illy, hi!” I cried.  It felt so good to hear his voice.  “It’s me!  You’ll never guess what happened-“

“Wait a second.  Who is this?” Illinois asked in a distracted tone.

I was momentarily stunned.  “It’s Hawaii.  Eva.”

Next, I heard a sarcastic laugh.  “I have to give you credit, whoever you are.  That’s a hell of a practical joke.  Now run along back to your sorority sisters and have a good laugh and then tell them I have a steady girlfriend.  So you can all stop harassing me.”  Then he hung up.

I was shocked.  After staring at the phone for a moment, I hit the re-dial button.  “Illinois, it’s really me, your-“  This time he hung up without saying anything.

After cursing under my breath in Greek, I tried another number.  “Full Circle Ranch, this is Violet.  How may I help you?”

“Hi, is Victoria Kest there at the moment?”  I knew I was speaking to the current caretaker of the ranch down in Australia.

“I’m sorry, she’s not.  Is there any way I can help you?”

“I’m a friend of hers.  Is Justin Le Faye there, by chance?”  I knew better than to say I was an “old” friend.  That term was reserved for fellow Immortals.

“Sure, let me get him.”

About a minute later, I heard the phone being picked up again.  “Hello?”

“Justin, hi.  It’s Hawaii Davids.  Is there any way I can get hold of Victoria?”

The Immortal, Victoria’s closest friend in the world, was silent for a few seconds.  “I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but don’t think you can impersonate a dead woman to find out where my sister is.”  Then he hung up.

I was left staring at the phone.  This time I cursed in good old English.  “Bloody fucking hell!  Illy and Justin know my voice!  What’s going on?”  I gave an accusing look at the sword hanging above the fireplace.  “I don’t suppose you know anything about this?”

Kestra was silent for a moment.  :The only thing I can think of is that the Lady did something to make all your friends truly believe you are dead.  If so, she didn’t tell me about it.:

“Well, that’s just bleedin’ brilliant,” I said.  I stood up and replaced the phone.  “So I guess there’s no use in calling the University.  They won’t believe me either.”  I opened the closet door and grabbed my coat.

:Where are you going?:

“I need air.  I’m going on a walk to explore the neighborhood.”

:Just remember you have that meeting at eight o’clock.  You’ll need to drive over.:

“I know,” I replied sullenly.  I was pretty certain that Kestra would stay out of my head while I was sulking.  There was an Irish resturant a few blocks away.  I think I needed to make some more contacts while eating dinner.  And have a good, strong brandy while I was at it.

Part 4

I came home at 7:30 and grabbed the business card off the refrigerator.  I studied it as I replaced the fish-shaped magnet.  “Angel Investigations.  And what’s that shape on it?  A bird of some sort?”  Kestra gave me a mental shrug, which was an interesting sensation.  “I remember going through this neighborhood on our way over here yesterday.  It’s not too far away.”

:So let’s go!:  Kestra sounded impatient.  I couldn’t blame her; I was interested in meeting this contact of mine.  On a whim, I took the sword from above the fireplace.  I had noticed earlier that my trenchcoat was modified to hold it.

:I feel like an Immortal-wannabe,: I sent to Kestra as I rode down the elevator.  :But I wouldn’t want you to miss out on all the fun, now would I.:  As I drove towards the address, I again sent, :What’s so special about this private investigator, anyway?:

:I think you may have heard of him already.  But we’ll wait and see.:  I didn’t respond as I pulled up at the curb in front of the building.  I locked the car doors with the remote on my key ring and headed into the building and down the steps toward the basement.  I felt like I was in a bad spy movie.  Kestra merely laughed at that.

Opening the door with the words “Angel Investigations” printed on the glass, I saw a young woman sitting at the desk in the main room.  She looked up at me and smiled, but I knew that look – I was well dressed, and she was on the look out for money.  But at that moment the inner-office door also opened, and out walked two men.  The first had rather worn and tacky clothing and scruffy hair, but he pulled it off in a cute way.  The other was the tall, brooding type.  He reminded me of my cousin Illinois.

Tall, dark, and handsome spoke first.  “Can I help you?” he asked politely.

The girl at the desk spoke up in an overly cheery voice.  “At Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless!”  The other man gave her a pained look, but the first was still staring intently at me.

I held up the business card.  “I recently moved to Los Angeles.  I was given this card by my employer and told to meet you here at eight o’clock this evening.”  I gazed over all three of the people, and they studied me right back.  “Ah, were you aware of this?”  I wouldn’t put it past the Lady to “forget” that detail.

“Yes, I received a letter two days ago requesting a meeting for tonight,” the first man replied.  “I’m Angel.”  We shook hands, and I was momentarily startled by the slight coolness of his hand.  A thought began forming in the back of my mind – I knew about this man somehow.  “These are Cordelia and Doyle.”  Doyle gave me a nod, but Cordelia waved cheerily.  Huh, teenagers.

“I’m Hawaii Evans,” I replied, catching myself before saying "Davids".  Angel gestured to the back room, and I followed him into what I guessed was his office.  He sat behind his desk, and I took that as an invitation to also take a seat.  “So…” I said, trailing off.  “I’m not exactly sure where to start.  I wasn’t given much instruction.”

“Let me ask this, then,” Angel immediately replied.  “You’re not an Immortal, so why are you carrying a sword in your coat?”

I raised my eyebrows a bit, at a momentary loss for what to say.  Then I realized why Angel seemed familiar.  And why his hand had been so cold.  “Oh.  You’re *that* Angel.”  He gave me a slightly suspicious look, so I tried to clarify.  “Victoria’s Angel.  Victoria DiThon Kestral.”

“You know Victoria?” he asked noncommittally.

I nodded.  “I’ve known her since I was in college at Oxford.  And before you ask – I know about Immortals, and vampires, and basically everything else.”  I took a deep breath.  “But you’re right, I’m not an Immortal.  I carry a sword at the Lady of the Lake’s request.  I am her agent for this area of the United States.  She’s…expanding her horizons.”

“I’ve heard of the Lady of the Lake.  Doesn’t she know about the Hellmouth?  It's pretty near here,”  I sent a wordless query to Kestra, who hurriedly replied.

:Why do you think she wanted you to hook up with this guy?:

“She does know about the Hellmouth but believed that if there was anything I couldn’t handle, you would be willing to help me,” I replied smoothly.  My acting skills were really going to pay off this evening.

Angel nodded once.  “What does the Lady expect you to do?”

This was an unexpected one, considering I really had no clue.  “Ah, whatever the Lady asks of me.”

“I see,” Angel replied.  “So you don’t know.”

What could I say?  “Exactly,” I said, with a small smile and shrug.

Angel stood to pace the office.  “So I’m assuming we’ll work together on an as-needed basis.  Feel free to call if you get in over your head; you have our card.  I’ll be able to call you for the same reason?”  It was more of a statement than a question.

“Of course,” I immediately replied, ignoring Kestra’s groan in my head.  “I wouldn’t expect otherwise.”  :Kestra, the guy’s a vampire.  What am I supposed to say?: I mentally admonished her.  :Besides, I’m supposed to be one of the good guys!:

Angel leaned against the wall.  “Good.”  He studied me for a moment.  “Just out of curiosity, how old are you?”

I decided to stick to the truth.  “Thirty-two.  Why?”

“Do you know how to use that sword?”  It was rather blunt, but he had a point.  I wasn’t even an Immortal.

“Actually, yes.  Victoria taught me, but I do need some more practice than I’ve been getting lately.”  And idea began forming in my head.  “I take it you were about to offer to teach me?”

He looked surprised at that, but nodded.  “How did you guess?”

“I used to be a teacher myself,” I said, shying away from the thought of the University.  “Not of weapons, though.  Actually, I do have a favor to ask.  When the Lady sent me here, she provided me with some weapons that I have no idea how to use.  I don’t suppose you could…”

To my surprise, he smiled at me.  “I’d be glad to teach you.  But you’ll probably be better than you think.  Victoria doesn’t just take anybody under her wing, you know.”  From there, the conversation turned to her, and how the two of us had met back in the eighties.

Fifteen minutes later, he mentioned he had some work to do, so I left the room.  Cordelia was still at the desk, but Doyle was sprawled on the couch.  He immediately looked up as I came out, but Cordelia beat him to the punch.  “So, we’ll settle finances after Angel does…whatever you needed doing?”

I smiled kindly at her.  “I’m sorry, but I think you have the wrong idea.  I didn’t hire Angel for anything.  I’m another of the vigilante type, and we were working out an agreement of sorts.  A mutual assistance pact.”

“So what sort of superhero powers do you have?” Doyle asked casually.  I was immediately charmed by his Irish accent.

I shrugged at him.  “None, actually.” Not unless you counted a talking sword.  I felt Kestra repress a snort of derision.  “Which is why I came to see Angel.  Do you work for him?”

Cordelia giggled, but I ignored her.  Doyle shrugged slightly and said, “Well, you know, I help him out whenever he needs it and such.”

I nodded.  “I got ya.”  Then I was inspired.  “Hey, I just moved to town, and I’m not really sure how to get to my new job.”  This time Kestra did snort at me.  “I don’t suppose you know where the Twilight Mists club is?”

He sat up straighter and nodded.  “Sure, I know where it is.  I’d be glad to show you.”

“Great!”  He was certainly a cute one.  Besides the fact that I could pump him for information about what, exactly, Angel did.  “I’ll pick you up here, then?  At about 3:45 tomorrow afternoon?”

He agreed, and so I said goodbye and left.  :Admit it, Kestra.  I’m smart.:

:No.  You just can’t resist a pretty face.  Remember how long it took you to fall in love with Adam?:  I sobered at the thought of Adam Pierson.  He was an Immortal – Victoria’s teacher, in fact.  We had become rather close during our quest for Caliburn in Europe.  :I’m sorry, Wai.  I didn’t realize you still felt that strongly about him.:

I shrugged it off as I started the car. :He’ll think I’m dead, too.  Why bother suffering?:

But it’s not fair, I thought to myself.  That was the second time in my life I had “outlived” an Immortal.  First Kronos, who, I had to admit to myself, I still loved dearly.  And now Adam.  And Adam was still alive.

It just wasn’t fair.

Part 5

The next morning I pulled up in front of the building where Angel Investigations was located.  Doyle was nowhere in sight.  So I got out of the car and headed inside.  I had dressed up slightly for my new job.  I had never worked in any type of club, so I had decided to play it safe and was wearing a silky, flower print skirt, white tank top, and had a blue blazer over it.  The derringer was again in the holster at the small of my back, and I had a dagger sheathed in the coat.

I entered the building and headed down the stairs, tossing my loose hair back over my shoulder.  I loved having long hair, but sometimes it was just a plain hassle.  The door to Angel Investigations was locked, but there was a note taped to the doorknob.  It was addressed to me.  Unless there was another Hawaii they were expecting.  I doubted it, and pulled off the note.

‘Hawaii’, it read.  ‘Sorry I can’t take you to your new job, but something came up.  Doyle’

:Well this is just great,: I thought sarcastically to Kestra.  :Two days in the city and already I’ve been stood up.  How kind of him to write the directions out for me on the back.:

Kestra was silent.  I didn’t exactly blame her.

Two minutes later, I was back in the car and following Doyle’s directions.  Within another ten, I had pulled into a parking space across the street from a refurbished warehouse painted dark blue with white mist on the outside.  A turned-off neon sign advertised it as the “Twilight Mists.”  I opened one of the double doors and walked slowly in, low heels clicking on the floor.

There was a large stage in the back, with an expansive dance floor in the middle of the warehouse.  Surrounding the floor were tables of all sizes and varieties.  Along my left was a bar with numerous bottles on shelves on the wall.  Two opposite corner staircases led up to a balcony that circled the warehouse with more tables.  Nobody seemed to be around.

But then an unassuming door on my right suddenly opened and two figures walked towards me.  One was a tall man with shoulder length brown hair and dressed all in black.  The other was a young Native American woman wearing a long white skirt decorated with black roses and a black silk shirt.

“Hello, you must be Hawaii Evans,” the woman said, reaching out to shake my hand.  I suddenly realized that she looked very young to be the owner of a club.  “My name is Jenna Moonshadow, but I’m usually called Twilight.  I’m the owner of this club, as you can probably now tell by the similarity in names.”  She flashed me a kind smile.  “This is one of the other managers, Evan Kaluk.”

We also shook hands, and he nodded at me.  “Call me Kaluk,” he said, studying me with hypnotizing blue eyes.

“Pleased to meet you,” I replied.

“Why don’t we have a seat?” Twilight asked.  So the three of us sat at the nearest table.  I waited for one of the other two to make the first move.  Twilight obliged.  “The Lady of the Lake has informed us that you do not have any prior experience working in this sort of profession,” she said.  I was momentarily startled that she knew about the Lady, but it made sense.  “But that’s okay, especially since we’re an eighteen and over club.  You’ll just be a manager, so you won’t have to worry about making drinks, and the canned music is really easy to operate.  Basically, you make sure the bands are here when they’re supposed to be and oversee any private parties that take place during the day.  You know, the general management stuff.  I’ll personally show you the ropes tonight.”

A schedule was quickly worked out.  While Kestra had told me I was to be a daytime manager, that was not completely true.  I would work every Monday through Thursday evenings and alternate Fridays and Saturdays from six o’clock to midnight.  The club was closed on Sundays.  Kaluk and another woman not present were the other two managers.  Apparently, two were on duty every evening – the third had had to move recently.  Kaluk assured me that it was very easy to receive evenings off on short notice, and Twilight had only laughed.

“We play virtually every type of music,” Twilight informed me.  “From alternative to rock to oldies to jazz to new age.  Celtic and swing have also been pretty popular lately.  But no rap, and country only by request.  We usually have live bands every Friday and Saturday night.”

“Great,” I said.  “I’m exited to work here.”

“There’s, ah, something else you might want to know,” Twilight said, trading glances with Kaluk.  “You know about vampires, right?”  I nodded.  “Well, the Soulless vamps, with the exception of a man named Angel, are absolutely forbidden to enter here, and we’ve got magical wards up to make sure.  Of course, not that Angel has ever actually come here…” She grinned.  “All other vampires are welcome, provided they’re not here to cause trouble.  And they’re not allowed to come here searching for victims.  The same goes for all werecreatures – no fighting allowed.”  This time I nodded more slowly, and Twilight smiled kindly.  “Don’t worry, Hawaii.  Everyone else who works here is either a vampire or werecreature of some sort.  I won’t expect you to wade in to stop the occasional battles that still flare up every once and a while.”

Kaluk nodded.  “I’m a wererat.  The other manager is a Corpse vampire, which is why she couldn’t meet you this afternoon.  It’s her night off tonight, but she said she’d try to come by to meet you.”

“I am a Souled vampire,” Twilight added.  “I live in an apartment in the basement of the club, through those doors.”  She gestured in the direction she and Kaluk had appeared from.  “There are also the offices, one of which is now yours, and a gathering room for the staff down there.”  She studied me for a moment.  “If you want to reconsider working here, I’d understand.”

I immediately shook my head.  “No, I don’t mind at all.  I was just a bit surprised.  Do you know why the Lady of the Lake has sent me here?”

“No, not really,” Twilight replied.

“Well, the Lady is expanding her defensive network, so I’m her agent for the southwest United States,” I explained.  “I’m still not exactly sure what that implies, though.  Last night I met the vampire Angel, actually.  The Lady wanted me to make contact with him.”

Kaluk studied me again with his intense blue eyes.  “All who work here are considered family.  If you ever need any help, you have only to ask.”

I nodded at him in thanks.  “Well, then, when do I start?”

Part 6

Twilight invited us down to her apartment for dinner, and both Kaluk and I accepted.  Though she did not need food to survive, Twilight confessed that she loved to cook and rarely had anyone to feed.  The leftover lasagna she warmed up for us was excellent.  As Kaluk and I ate, they told me more of how to manage the club.  I figured it was nothing I couldn’t handle.

At 5:30 we headed back upstairs and began taking chairs off the tables.  I was introduced to the bouncers: two werepanthers named Jasper and Race (short for Horace).  The three waitresses and single waiter working that evening were another werepanther named Lisa, a Souled vampire named Jaina, and twin werewolves called Christy and Chasm.  The barkeeper was another Souled vampire who called himself Fish, for some strange reason.  Kaluk worked as barkeeper until the other one, a Corpse vampire named Crash, could come on duty when the sun set.  I was there to oversee things and be the official one, as Twilight explained, when the cops were occasionally alerted via concerned citizens with cellular phones about fights.  I would be the one to go to the police station to meet with detectives and give statements if it was still daylight.

Kaluk also pulled me aside and warned me that the Twilight Mists was a place where the different groups of werecreatures could come to talk in a meeting room downstairs.  He said that occasionally someone who was not a preternatural creature was needed to settle debates.  I replied that I would gladly remain neutral in their feuds.

As I took a break at a corner table at eleven o’clock, sipping a cherry coke, I surveyed the crowd absently and gave Kestra a mental call.  :I think I can handle working here.  Is it what the Lady expected me to be doing?:

:The Twilight Mists is one of those places where anything can happen.  I don’t think she expected anything.:

:Either way, I like it.  The people are awesome.:  The other manager, the Corpse vampire Selina, had stopped by an hour ago and introduced herself.  We had hit it off immediately, thank goodness.  While I had met vampires of the Souled and Soulless varieties before, she was the first Corpse vampire I had ever had an opportunity to talk with.

:That other manager, Kaluk, is pretty cute, too.:  I detected a distinct note of slyness in Kestra’s mental voice.  I ignored her.

Three hours later, it was closing time.  To my surprise, it took a mere half an hour to clean up after last call was sounded.  I was helping Jasper and Race put up chairs when we all heard a pounding on the outside doors.  Chasm was closest, so he headed over and opened it a crack.

“I’m sorry, we’re-“ he began, but the door was shoved open and knocked Chasm to the ground.  The two bouncers immediately ran over, and Christy moved to help up her brother.  There was a short scuffle and Jasper and Race quickly had two men pinned against the bar.  Twilight strode over, a stern look on her face.

“What is the meaning of this?” she asked, her accent growing stronger.

“I’m sorry,” one of the men said.  The lights were still dimmed (since all the employees except me had excellent night vision), but I suddenly recognized the voice.  “We’re not here looking for a fight.”

Walking forward, I asked, “Angel?” in a cautious voice.  “Doyle?  What are you doing here?”

Jasper and Race released the two reluctantly at Twilight’s nod and I came closer, aware of Kaluk’s protective presence at my back.  “Something has come up that involves you, Hawaii,” Angel replied.

I immediately felt Kaluk tense behind me.  I glanced at Doyle, but both men had extremely serious looks on their faces.  When Twilight gave me a nod, I asked, “Okay, what is it?”  I was kind of worried, and I felt Kestra silently agree with the sentiment.

“Through a source, I received word of something that will go down on Halloween,” Doyle explained slowly.  “Somehow, you’re involved.  We came to ask if you knew anything.”

I shook my head in confusion.  “I just got here two days ago.  I don’t know anything.”  I shrugged helplessly.

Just then, a cellular phone rang, and Angel answered it after a nod from Twilight.  “Cordelia?  What’s wrong?”  Then he pulled the phone away from his ear and glanced up in shock.  “The line went dead.”

As if in response, the doors again burst open, and in strode Selina.  “I’m sorry to say this, but we have a situation on our hands,” she immediately announced.  Then she noticed the two newcomers and merely nodded.  “Angel.”

“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked in a terse voice.  Having lived in LA for much of her nearly two centuries, she had come to expect the unexpected.  Then she glanced again at Doyle.  “But wait – Halloween?  Nothing ever happens on Halloween.”

“It’s not yet,” Selina replied.  “Not for two more days.  I was at Jake and Mike’s house – they’re the other two waiters, Hawaii – watching a movie like we always do when our nights off are the same, when suddenly they disappeared.  Literally, they were gone from the couch.  Everything electrical in the house went dead at the same time.”

“That might be what happened to Cordelia,” Doyle put in, a worried look on his face.

“Crap,” Fish said.  “I need to call Melody.”  He grabbed the phone behind the bar and started dialing.

“Melody is the other barkeep, a Souled vampire,” Kaluk to me in a soft whisper.  I nodded my thanks.

Everyone was staring at Fish intently, but he shook his head sadly and put down the phone.  “There’s no connection.  This is not good.”

“Okay, then,” Twilight said.  “From now on, we’re on alert.  Angel, I suggest we pool our resources since we seem to have a common enemy.”  He immediately nodded in agreement.

As Jaina moved to lock the main doors, Lisa headed for the back.  A few moments after she disappeared behind the stage curtains, all the power went out.  I froze where I was, as I could only see an inky blackness, but I heard footsteps running towards the stage and knew that the others would find out what was going on.  I jumped when someone grabbed my hands lightly from behind, but Kaluk calmly said, “It’s me.”

Then two flashlights were turned on, produced from behind the bar by Fish and Crash.  They were trained on Twilight, Angel, and Jasper, who had run to check on Lisa.  Twilight was shaking her head.  “No sign of her.  She must have gone outside.”

“Why would that matter?” I asked.

“This place is shielded and warded to a fair-thee-well by a friend who happens to be a mage,” Twilight replied.  “That must be why all of us haven’t disappeared.  Whoever this enemy is must be after all those connected to the club.”

“And I’m invisible to mage-senses,” Selina added in realization.  “That’s why I didn’t disappear when Mike and Jake did.”

“Then why would they have taken Cordelia?” Doyle asked.

“How did you know Hawaii was involved?” Kaluk responded.  I realized then that he was still holding my hands as he stood behind me.  Suddenly, he released them to step forward, but slipped an arm protectively around my waist.  I was glad of it, knowing I was the only one in the room who was a mere mortal besides Doyle.

Doyle leveled his gaze at Kaluk.  “A vision,” he answered carefully.  “I saw two leopards, one of them black, in a barred cage.  Then an elaborate circle surrounded by candles.  Then Hawaii holding glowing sword.”

:Caliburn!: Kestra exclaimed.  She began to send more, but Selina said, “Mike’s a black leopard,” the worry evident in her voice.

“What would a mage have against the Twilight Mists?” Angel asked, staring at Twilight.

“Nothing that I know of,” the vampire replied.  “We’ve been here almost ten years, but to my recent memory, we haven’t done anything to offend any of the mages powerful enough to kidnap five people.”

Then something occurred to me, and Kestra sent a wordless affirmation.  “Oh crap,” I whispered.  All eyes trained on me.  “But we might have,” I explained.  “How do we know that none of them have anything against the Lady of the Lake?  They might not be fond of one of her agents moving in.  I’m the link between the two of you,” I said, glancing at both Angel and Twilight.  “I work here, and I went to Angel’s office last night.”

“But why go after all of us?” Jaina asked.  “I’m not saying this to be mean, but why not just take you out?”

I shrugged helplessly.  “I don’t know.  It would certainly be a lot easier,” I added wryly.

“It could just be a way to take out all of us in one shot,” Crash said.  “Angel isn’t too popular in the underworld lately.  And with us going on our crusades every once in awhile when things start to get really bad…”

This was news to me.  Giving Kaluk a sideways glance, he nodded with a sly smile.  “Okay, then,” I said.  “Since this guy is obviously bad news, how do we take him out?”

Part 7

The entire group had relocated to the large room in the basement, where we were all sprawled on couches or the floor and surrounded by candles.  The power was still iffy, and Twilight didn’t want to risk an electrical fire.

“First of all, I think we need to find out who this guy is,” Fish volunteered.  “Then we’ll figure out the best way to take him out.  Keep in mind though, it may not be a ‘him.’  It could be a she, or even an it.”

“Well, that one’s fairly easy,” Chasm spoke up from the floor.  “I simply walk out of the club and get captured.”

The look on Doyle’s face was so classic that I couldn’t resist giggling, despite the fact that I was just as confused.  “But that’s insane!” he said.

Twilight and Christy both shook their heads, though for different reasons.  The young-looking vampire said, “No, it makes perfect sense.”

“I think not,” Christy said adamantly.  “There is no way I will let you do that, Chasm.  I’ll go.”

“Come on, big sister, you know it’s the perfect way to gather information,” Chasm said, twisting from where he was lying on his stomach to look up at her.  “You’re better at picking up on my thoughts than I am at getting yours.  Remember Paris last year?”

The club employees all laughed as Christy turned a brilliant shade of red.  “Yeah, yeah, I remember.”  She sighed.  “But how do I know you won’t be hurt, little brother?”

“Doyle saw Mike and Jake.  They were alright, just in leopard form,” Chasm replied calmly.

The female werewolf thought hard for a long moment then appeared to capitulate.  “Okay, fine.  But you’re going out in wolf form.  That way you won’t be vulnerable when you shift.”

Chasm lithely rose to his feet and nodded solemnly.  Reaching out a hand to his sister, she rubbed her cheek against it.  Then he headed for the door.  Christy’s hands instantly sought out the hands of those sitting on either side of her on the couch.  Selina and Fish glanced at each other, but let the werewolf hold onto them for dear life.

Since the power was still off, our only indication that Chasm had been taken was Christy’s gasp.  Her eyes were closed, and then I saw Fish wince.  I noticed blood trailing from between their hands and remembered Christy’s long, carefully manicured nails.

Suddenly her eyes shot open.  “Lenilia!”  Then she fainted dead away.

Twilight sought Kaluk and Selina’s eyes.  They each nodded, but I was hopelessly confused.  :You and me both,: Kestra added.

Fish gazed around the room as he cradled Christy’s limp body.  “I hate to say it, but everyone does realize that this is impossible, right?  In more ways than one?”

“How so?” Doyle asked.  “Who or what is ‘Lenilia?’”

“Who.  She, actually,” Twilight replied carefully.  “And impossible in two ways.  She is immortal-“

I scoffed.  “I’ve had experience with Immortals.  They are not that difficult to take out when you get right down to it.”  I felt Kestra stir, but the ocean spirit was silent.

“Not an Immortal.  Just immortal.  Nobody knows just how old she is,” Crash said.  “I’m almost three hundred.  My sire is a few centuries older than I am.  Her sire would be nearly a thousand if he were still alive.  And even he claimed to be a baby compared to Lenilia.  She’s a legend.”

Kaluk had been rather silent, but finally spoke up from beside me on the couch.  “She is affiliated with the wererats, though.  We are not allies, though she has been known to call upon some of my more amoral kin for certain jobs.  If she’s got werecreatures in her employ, it’ll be the rats.”

“Okay, I get the picture,” I said softly.  :When am I ever going to learn to think before I speak?: I complained to Kestra.  She merely laughed in response.  Kaluk reached his arm around and squeezed my shoulder with a soft smile.  I was rather comforted when he left it there.

“The other problem,” Twilight finally continued, “is that Lenilia is also more powerful that she usually is. I received a call a few months ago.  Every year she takes a victim and tortures him, her, or it to gather an entire year’s worth of power.  This year’s victim was an Immortal, but she got away.”

Angel suddenly inhaled sharply.  He shook his head when everyone glanced at him curiously.  “Never mind, I was just thinking of a friend.  But it can’t have been her.”  It’d better not have been, he thought fervently.  But you never did explain all those new scars to me last summer, Victoria.

Selina had a thoughtful look on her face.  “So Lenilia has more power than usual.  Which might be why she’s decided to attack all of a sudden.  But we’re not going to get anything done tonight until Christy wakes up, which probably won’t be for a while considering the way her heart rate has slowed.  So why don’t we all settle in until tomorrow night?  Especially since Crash and I will be worthless once the sun rises – but we can stand guard until then.”

It was agreed that everyone would be spending the night at the club.  One of the sofas in the room folded out as a bed, and after changing into some old clothes that were produced from an eclectic collection in a trunk in the corner, I curled up under a blanket next to the still unconscious Christy.  Jaina took the other couch, and Fish and Kaluk assured us they would be comfortable in the armchairs.  By silent agreement, all the other werecreatures shifted and bedded down in a nest of blankets between the couches.  Twilight had her own bed, and Angel and Doyle took the couch and armchair in her separate apartment.  Crash and Selina headed upstairs to stand guard until sunrise.

Part 8

I woke up the next morning and blearily glanced at my watch.  It was a bit before noon.  Christy was next to me drinking a mug of coffee, and Kaluk handed me a cup when I sat up.  I smiled at him in thanks, and he perched on the edge of the bed next to me, sipping his own coffee.  Doyle, Angel, and Fish sat on the other couch, and Jasper had claimed an armchair.  Coffee seemed to be the order of the day for all, vampires included, but I smelled eggs and bacon drifting out of Twilight’s apartment.  :The werecreatures are big eaters,: Kestra whispered to me.  :Be sure to grab your food quick.:

:You’ve been awfully quiet lately,: I replied. :What’s up?  And have you ever heard of this Lenilia?  I was too tired to ask last night.:

Kestra was silent for a moment.  :Let’s wait until this evening when the real strategy session will start.  Then I’ll start explaining through you.:

:So I’m assuming that you’ll want me to tell them that you’ve taken up residence in my head?:  A silent affirmation, then suddenly that part of my mind went blank.  Kestra’s attention had been turned elsewhere.

Jaina and Race emerged from Twilight’s apartment loaded down with food.  Everyone still technically alive immediately dug in, and Twilight appeared with green glass bottles filled with a dark liquid for the vampires.  I noticed Angel take a cautious sip as I bit into my bagel and then glance at Twilight in surprise.

She shrugged.  “We know you don’t like human blood.  So don’t complain about what we eat, and I can provide what you will.”  Her voice dared him to contradict.

He nodded slowly.  “Agreed.  Thank you.”

Twilight took her own seat in the empty armchair as Jaina and Race settled on the floor.  “Well, we’re all essentially trapped here until we figure out a plan.  Early this morning, Selina went out since she’s ‘invisible’ and got clothes and personal weapons from everyone’s homes.  Hawaii, I’m not sure what she got from yours, but it’ll have to do until tonight.”  She giggled.  “Since, pardon the pun, she and Crash are dead to the world in my bed at the moment.”  Everyone else attached to the club laughed.  Angel and Doyle merely glanced at each other but did not comment.  “So I recommend that we not plan anything until the two of them are up.  Today we can all spend time working out and brainstorming separately.  With this many minds, I’m sure we can hash out a decent plan of action.”

After I finished my bagel, a small plate of scrambled eggs, and a second cup of coffee, I took my turn in the employee bathroom, which had a shower.  Emerging again into the main room wearing the jeans and gray tank top Selina had picked up for me, I sat on the ground between the armchairs and began brushing out my long hair.  Twilight did not own a hair dryer as her hair was rather short, so Jaina and I shared rueful grins as we each attacked our nearly waist length hair.

I felt gentle hands take the brush from me, and I glanced back to see Kaluk settle on the floor behind me.  I did not resist him – I’m a sucker for having my hair done by others.  After he finished brushing it, Kaluk began to twist it into an intricate French braid.

I had known the man for less than twenty-four hours, but I already felt connected to Kaluk in some way.  He was certainly handsome enough, with his gorgeous blue eyes and wavy brown hair.  :No comments from the peanut gallery,: I warned Kestra.

:Don’t worry, none prepared,: came the immediate reply.  But her mental voice was tinged with amused overtones.  I rolled my eyes, but received only a curious look Jaina.  Then she looked pointedly at Kaluk and raised her eyebrows.  I merely smiled back mischievously, and she grinned.

“Thanks,” I said to Kaluk when he finished and started in on his own damp hair.  “I’m not very good at braids on myself.”

He shrugged.  “I love to play with people’s hair.  I couldn’t resist yours.”

I headed over to my duffel bag.  I hadn’t done more than grab my clothes, and I wondered what Selina had decided I would need.  Before I had gone to sleep, I had given her permission to enter my apartment.  Neither of us had been sure it would be enough of an invitation to get her in, but apparently it had worked.  I still had the derringer and knife I had arrived with yesterday, but she had grabbed my Browning in it’s shoulder holster and extra clips for each gun.  Plus there were three more knives with the two wrist sheaths and one ankle sheath.  At the bottom of the bag was my black duster.

:Oh, thank the Lady,: I heard Kestra mutter.  The duster had been wrapped around a sword, and Selina had had the luck to grab Caliburn.  As I unsheathed it to shake out my coat, Doyle walked out of the bathroom.  He stood stock still at the sight of my sword.

“What?” I asked curiously.  I heard Kestra giggle, but I ignored her.

“That’s the sword you had in my vision!”

“So?”  I was rather confused about why this would be a shock.  Then I remembered.  “Oh, yeah.  You said it was glowing.”  He nodded slowly, and all eyes in the room were on us.  “Well, to make a long story short, this is the sword known as Caliburn from Arthurian legend,” I explained.  “I ended up with it after a series of misadventures last summer with some friends.”

This seemed to satisfy everyone for the moment, but the curiosity was evident on all faces.  Suddenly Angel stood up and grabbed the sword that Selina had gotten from his apartment.  “You said you wanted me to teach you, Hawaii,” he said.  “How about starting now?”

I nodded and followed him upstairs.  Fish, Christy, Jasper, and Race followed us, and we all gathered on the dance floor, which would easily serve as a sparring ring.  Christy perched on a nearby table to watch, and Fish headed behind the bar and started cleaning.

“After you’re done,” Jasper told us, “Race and I want to spar.”  Then the bouncers sat on the tables on either side of Christy.  Angel nodded, and the two of us dropped into fighting stances.

“Go easy on me,” I said with a grin.  Then I realized that his form nearly matched mine.  “You were telling the truth – you have trained with Victoria.”  Instead of replying, Angel immediately attacked.

I gave a yelp of surprise and jumped back, then lunged forward unexpectedly.  Angel gave me a look of approval, and suddenly I had my hands full deflecting blows.  He was *fast.*

Within five minutes, I was on my knees.  Caliburn had slid across the floor to rest under a table, and Angel had his sword at my neck.  “You’re dead, Hawaii,” he said.  I merely laughed and drew the derringer at my back in one smooth motion to put it to his heart.

“Bang,” I said.  “So are you.”  Fish laughed from by the bar, and Christy applauded.  Angel grinned and helped me up.  “What if these had been wooden or silver bullets?” I continued conversationally.

“Then I would ask why you had gotten into the sword fight in the first place,” he replied dryly.  “You’re very good, though.  I just have the advantage of years of experience and the fact that I know Victoria’s style almost as well as my own.  That’s the one I was using.”

“That’s what I figured,” I replied, retrieving my sword.  “So let’s have at it again, hmm?  With you using your own style.”  Angel nodded and the fight was joined again.

This time I managed to disarm him with a move a friend on the University of Hawaii fencing team had taught me.  But my elation was short lived when I spun around to find a wooden stake at my throat.  “Damn it!” I cried.  “You’re just too fast!”

“So that’s why you need to become an expert in the fine art of firearms,” Fish said, walking around the bar again.  He held out his hand, and I handed him the derringer.  “You know how to take care of this, right?”

I nodded.  “I’ve owned a Browning Hi-Power 9mm for the past five years, and I trained with the Honolulu police department.  I was on special retainer with them while I was at…while I was working as an anthropologist.  I have a degree in forensic pathology, too.”

Fish merely grinned at me and handed back the weapon.  After trading glances with those behind me, he said, “There’s something you should know, Hawaii.  Like vampires, werecreatures can sense lies.  But we all know the need for secrets.”  Giving me an amiable shrug, he wandered back over to the bar.

The rest of the day passed quickly for me.  I sparred with Angel and Twilight with swords, and Jaina taught me how to quick-draw from the knife sheaths.  The two of us were downstairs in the main room where I was practicing with the knives when Selina and Crash wandered out of Twilight’s apartment.  Both looked very pale, and I was struck for the first time by how a vampire *really* looked.

After she quickly downed a bottle of blood, Selina went for a food run, and I helped Twilight make dinner.  Kestra had been right; the werecreatures ate massive amounts of food.  As the entire group settled in the main room with plates and bottles, Twilight cleared her throat.

“Christy,” she began.  “Have you gotten anything from Chasm?”

She nodded and took a sip of her soda.  “Yeah, mainly just what he can see.  He’s locked in a cage with Mike, Jake, and Lisa.  All four are in animal form because some sort of spell is preventing them from changing.  So they can’t go to third form and bust out.”  She paled a little.  “And they’re not letting them eat, at all.”  Jaina reached over and clasped her hand for support.  Christy drew a deep breath and went on.  “There are two more cages in the room.  One has Melody, and she hasn’t fed either.  The other has a teenage girl.  They gave her water and a bowl of stew this afternoon, but that’s it.”

“Cordelia,” Angel stated darkly.  Doyle had a hard look on his face.

“The room is shaped like a triangle with the cages in the corners.  I’m assuming that one is for the werecreatures, one for vampires, and one for humans,” Christy continued.  “In the center of the room is a ritual circle painted in red, black, and white.  There are candles in those same colors all around it.”

“The circle I saw in my vision,” Doyle interrupted.  Twilight had a thoughtful look on her face.

“I made a few phone calls this afternoon,” Twilight said.  “My sire was involved in an incident with Lenilia earlier this year.  She said that while Lenilia did not finish the power-gathering ritual before the victim was rescued, the sorceress still has more than enough power.  According to her, Lenilia is using the opportunity to gather more victims.  It is nearly the end of the millennium, you know.”

“So she’s taking out all of us,” Kaluk stated.  “What did we do to her?  What did Angel do to her?”

“Do you know who her escaped victim was?” Angel suddenly asked.  “I may have an answer.”

“My sire was being very secretive about it,” Twilight replied.  “Apparently this isn’t supposed to be spread around.  But she made a very sarcastic comment about the victim being too tasty to resist, especially since ‘she was virtual soup of energy.’”

Angel nodded slowly.  “Your sire is the vampire SunDescending, right?”  Twilight nodded slowly.  “So you must know the vampire Victory.”

Twilight gasped.  “A soup of energy!  She fits!  Immortal, vampire, demon guardian…”

My eyes widened in shock.  “Victoria DiThon Kestral?” I cried.  “Crap!  When did this happen?”

“Last July,” Twilight replied.

“Yeah, I saw her in August, and Victoria had a bunch of scars on her back that she wouldn’t explain to me,” Angel explained.

“So you know this former victim,” Crash said.  “She’ll want payback.  Let’s call in some more help!”

“No,” I immediately said.  “Victoria’s been tortured before.  Hurt her in any other way, and she’ll be out for your head.  But I know her, and she probably won’t go within a hundred miles of Lenilia now.”  Angel nodded in agreement.

“We need to start making plans,” Jaina interrupted.  “Tomorrow is All Hallow’s Eve.”

:Now,: Kestra whispered to me.  :Explain me.:

I took a deep breath, and suddenly all eyes were on me.  “You all know that I’m in possession of the sword Caliburn,” I began.  I gave a quick rundown of the events last June, ending with our first acquisition of the sword.  Now was definitely not the time to go into any of the events that had followed.  “The Lady of the Lake has given me the honor of carrying it and being her agent for the southwestern United States.  In addition, one of her ocean spirits has taken up residence in the sword.  Kestra can speak to me mentally.  She knows everything I do and has some more information about Lenilia.”

This group of people was used to the unusual.  No one cried for a more detailed explanation, they just accepted it as it was.  I was immediately grateful.  :So, echo what I say,: Kestra said.  I sent a silent affirmative.

“Hi, I’m Kestra, an ocean spirit for the Lady of the Lake.  It’s nice to meet all of you.  Well, the Lady has known Lenilia for about the past three thousand years, when Lenilia first starting operating in the British Isles.  When the Lady started really gathering power a little before the time of King Arthur, she decided that Lenilia was a threat to her domain.  So with the help of some others, Lenilia was banished across the ocean.  I guess she ended up in this hemisphere.”

“So now Hawaii is here as her agent,” Fish said, nodding.  “The perfect excuse to strike.”

“Lenilia must assume that this Victoria will come to the rescue of her sire and her friend Twilight,” Doyle added.  “But she’s wrong.”  Angel nodded.

“Then how do we take her out?” Jasper asked, getting right to the point.  Again, everyone looked at me.

“Kestra says: We have to destroy her power base.  When she was banished, it was a sword similar to Caliburn.  Now it could be anything,” I said.  “But probably still violent in nature.  Lenilia is subtle, but her ambitions are still the same.”

“So we have two goals,” Selina summarized.  “Rescue the others and destroy the power base.  Sounds easy enough.”

“But we have to figure out what the power base is,” Kaluk said.

“And her servants will undoubtedly fight us back,” Twilight added.  “That’s what my sire said.”

“We’ll need to take the fight to her,” I said.  “Easy enough.  We simply let her take us.  Christy, how did Chasm end up after he was taken?”

She shrugged helplessly.  “I don’t know.  The transport was such as shock to both of our systems that I absorbed all his pain.  That’s why I blacked out.”

“We should go now,” Angel said.  “We’re all as rested as we’re going to be.  I can channel the effects of the transportation through my link with Victoria.  I’ll call when everything is over to explain.”

“I can do the same with my sire,” Twilight said.  Jaina nodded in agreement.

“My animal to call is the leopard,” Selina said with sigh.  “And since Crash and I shouldn’t go because we don’t know how long the battle will last, that takes care of Race and Jasper.”  Both wereleopards looked surprised at her offer, but nodded in acceptance.

:I’ll take care of you,: Kestra sent to me.  :I can send the pain into the ocean.  LA will survive being pounded by some unusually strong waves for a few days.:

Meanwhile, Angel and Doyle were staring each other down.  “You’re not going,” Angel stated simply.

“Like hell I’m not!” he replied, his Irish accent growing thicker.

Surprisingly, it was Crash who intervened.  “Sorry, Doyle, but we need you here.  You’ll have to be backup with Selina and I.”  He grinned and winked at the other Corpse vampire.  “Besides, chances are we’ll have to rescue the rescuers tomorrow night anyway.”  Doyle considered this and reluctantly nodded.  “And Kaluk, my rat-friend, I’m covering you while you go in, of course.”

“It’s settled then,” Kaluk said.  He stood up and pulled his black duster from over the couch.  Shrugging it on, he gazed around at everyone else.  “Coming?”

I quickly retied my shoes and got up off the ground.  Doyle handed me my trenchcoat and I pulled it on.  Jasper, Race, and Christy disappeared into one of the offices for a few minutes.  By the time I finished settling Caliburn in my coat, two leopards and a wolf were milling around.

Twilight led the way up the stairs wearing a leather coat that I had seen carried all manner of nasty surprises.  She paused right before unlocking the front doors.  “This is it, guys.  Any of you who want to turn back now are welcome to with no hard feelings, as usual.”  Heads were shaken, and Christy gave a short growl.  Shrugging, the young looking vampire turned and walked out.  There was a popping sound, and she disappeared.

One by one, everyone left the building.  Suddenly it was just Kaluk and I standing alone in the club.  “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked slowly.

I nodded adamantly.  “If it weren’t for me, Lenilia would have left all of you alone.  I’m definitely in on this.”  Grabbing his hand gently, I led him out the door.

Interlude I

Back down in the main room, Doyle watched anxiously as first Selina and then Crash groaned in pain and blacked out.  After making sure they were settled comfortably on the couches, he flipped on the TV and settled in to wait.

In a small town near Seacouver, Washington, Victoria DiThon Kestral suddenly staggered in pain in the middle of the room where she was dancing.  The others at the Halloween party watched in confusion as she hissed one word – “Angel.”  Her student, Kane Nalamas, hastily grabbed for her arm as she collapsed to the ground.

All the way over in Orlando, Florida, Laurana Thompson had been watching a movie with her friend Alexander.  Her Immortal adopted father gasped in shock as she suddenly went rigid and passed out.  He grabbed the phone and hastily dialed Night Island.  Armand would know what to do.

Part 9

The next thing I knew, I was lying flat on my back on a hard surface, and someone was shaking my shoulder.  I groaned and sat up, blinking in the dim light.  Cordelia heaved a sigh of relief.  “Finally!” she muttered.  Then, “Are you alright?”

I nodded and gazed around.  This had to be the room Christy had described to us back at the Twilight Mists.  I could clearly see the other two cages.  There was Kaluk in human form, surrounded by the other werecreatures.  He was staring in concern at the other cage.  I followed his gaze and gasped.  The vampires were all huddled around a body on the ground.  I whirled to face Cordelia.  “What happened?” I demanded.

She raised her hands defensively as we both got to our feet.  “Nothing.  You guys just all started appearing.  What the hell is going on?”

I rubbed my temples.  Kestra had done a good job, but I still had a headache.  “We’re being held captive by a sorceress named Lenilia.  She’s planning on sacrificing all of us to gather power for herself.”

“Then why did you practically walk into her trap?” Cordelia practically shrieked.

I winced as the sound sent a sharp dagger of pain into my brain and looked around again.  Kaluk was digging out the food he had brought in a brought in a bag for the other werecreatures.  The vampires were all standing again, except for Angel, who was sitting with his head between his knees.  Apparently Victoria hadn’t appreciated being blasted and had somehow deflected the power.  One of the wolves, whom I assumed was Chasm, also looked rather shaken.  “This was the easiest way to find her,” I replied absently, checking all of my weapons.  “You know how to use a gun?”  Cordelia stared at the derringer I handed to her.  I sighed and explained the safety and the trigger, mentally wincing at the fact that I was putting a gun into the hands of one so inexperienced.  She gingerly put it in the pocket of her jean jacket.

The only vampire I didn’t recognize was busy picking the lock to that cage, her eyes closed in concentration.  I had seen Jaina slip the lock-pick kit into her pocket, obviously thinking ahead.  When the door swung open, she headed over to the cage containing Cordelia and I.  “Hi,” she said.  “You must be Hawaii.  I’m Melody.”  Within a few minutes, we were freed, and Melody headed over to the last cage.  Meanwhile, the vampires had begun to destroy the candles surrounding the ritual circle in the middle of the room.  Angel tossed me a screwdriver, and together we began disrupting the circles drawn on the floor by scratching up the paint.

A little over five minutes later, we were done.  I stood absently rubbing one of the leopards on the head.  Then something occurred to me.  “That was way too easy,” I announced.  Faces turned towards me, shocked realization evident on all.

As if on cue, the wooden doors on one side of the room banged open.  Weapons were drawn, and the werecreatures all snarled.  I glimpsed Angel shoving Cordelia behind him as I pointed my Browning at the strangers and held Caliburn loosely in my right hand.  Thank the Lady I was ambidextrous when it came to guns.  Four men had come into the room, also carrying weapons of various sorts.

Twilight stepped forward, Jasper and Race on either side of her.  “I am Jenna Moonshadow, the vampire Twilight,” she said formally, a slight sneer on her face.  “Who are you to think that you can attack my people?”

Two of the men moved aside, and a woman appeared.  She was dressed in elegant black slacks with a blood-red silk shirt.  Her curly, light brown hair hung nearly to her waist, and the sneer on her face seemed more comfortable there than Twilight’s did.  “I am the sorceress Lenilia,” she stated harshly.  “That is who I am.”

:No weapons,: Kestra stated the obvious as we both studied her.  But she sounded slightly confused.  :But the Lady said that Lenilia never had her power base too far away.  That’s not good.:

“And you are still my prisoners,” Lenilia continued.  She pointed at us in an imperial gesture, and suddenly I couldn’t move!  Evidently, no one else could either, as the leopard next to me growled low in its throat.  Angel’s vampire face also appeared.

:Her ring!: Kestra exclaimed, and I saw that the large onyx ring on Lenilia’s hand was glowing with a subtle inner light.

:Wait – the Lady was right,: I realized.  :That’s a poison ring.  Kronos bought me one on a whim, once.  That’s got to be her power base.:  I knew that the onyx stone could be slid aside on a hinge to release a powdered poison.  The one Kronos had given me had a sapphire and held crushed rosemary and mint leaves, but the concept was the same.

Kestra thought for a moment.  :I’m going to try something.  Don’t move.:  I bit off my sarcastic reply as I noticed something odd about the sword Kaluk was holding.  The katana was glowing subtly.  He quickly masked the shock on his face after a furtive glance in my direction.  :Very good,: Kestra muttered to herself.

Lenilia gave the entire group a look of triumph as she strode over to Kaluk.  “Very good,” she uncannily echoed Kestra.  “I knew the Lady of the Lake’s minion would not remain hidden for long.”  She reached up a hand to gently caress Kaluk’s cheek.  “And such a handsome minion at that.  I do believe that after I sacrifice your friends for their power, I’ll save you for the millennium.  We can have so much fun in the next two months, don’t you agree?”  The sorceress gently pried the katana out of Kaluk’s unresisting hands.  I saw his fingers lengthen into rat claws after it was removed, and shuddered slightly at the feral look in his eyes.

:Aha!: Kestra cried for some reason completely unknown to me.  :Here, now we can move.:  Before I could reply, my eyes widened as my right arm slowly began to rise.  Apparently while I did not have control over my body as a result of Lenilia’s magic, Kestra did.

As Caliburn, under Kestra’s control, headed for Lenilia’s back, the sorceress instantly whirled and parried with Kaluk’s katana.  “Did you think me an idiot?” she snarled.  “That out of all the swords in the room, a katana held by a wererat would be in the service of that blasted Lady instead of a Celtic broadsword held by a woman?”  She again raised her hand, and I inwardly groaned when I saw the glowing ring.

The next thing I knew, I had hit the wall on the other side of the room and slid down to the floor in a daze.  Then I gratefully blacked out.

Part 10

I seemed to have developed a habit of waking up with a pounding headache over the past few days.  This time the voice urging me to get up was purely mental.  :Wake up, Hawaii!  Come on, I can’t see, I don’t know what’s going on…Hawaii!  Eva, wake up, wake-:

:Yeah, yeah, yeah,: I said, avoiding opening my eyes.  I had been hit by a magic blast like that back in college and had hurt for days.  And I certainly wasn’t as young as I had been.  :Hold on a second, Kestra.:

After slowly opening my eyes, I carefully studied my new surroundings.  I was sprawled against a wall with my wrists bound above me.  The plus was that I was alone, but the bad news was that there was another ritual circle in the center of the floor, similar to the one we had destroyed.  This one was definitely more elaborate.

:Oh, Lady, we were so dense,: Kestra moaned. :To think that she would place her Work Room where we could so easily get at it.  I am such an idiot.:

:No, you’re not,: I automatically replied.  I gingerly tested my legs and twisted my back to see if anything was injured.  No broken ribs, thank god, but I knew that I probably had some nasty bruises on my back.  My arms were numb from being bound above me, so I knew that I had been out awhile.  No way of telling how long, though.

My weapons and coat were across the room on a small table.  :Oh, crap,: Kestra sent when she noticed what I did.  Caliburn was nowhere to be seen.

And neither were any of my allies.

:This is not good,: Kestra and I thought in unison.

Interlude II

After Hawaii’s body was dragged out by two of Lenilia’s henchmen, Kaluk felt his anger grow even stronger.  His hands were beginning to shift into that of a rat, and he knew that his eyes had probably already changed.  A few minutes later, the two humans came back into the room.  Lenilia gazed at her hostages, and her eyes suddenly lit upon Kaluk.

“Excellent,” she muttered.  Turning to her four servants, she ordered, “Put the rest back in the cages after you search them for weapons.  Then join me in the real Work Room.”  She again faced Kaluk, and she smiled.  It was not a nice smile, and Kaluk nearly shuddered at the force of the evil she seemed to emanate.  “But this one comes with me.”

Lenilia sauntered out of the room, and Kaluk suddenly felt the overwhelming desire to follow her.  “No,” Twilight found the power to hiss.  “I order you, Evan Kaluk, do not go with her.”  She winced in inner pain when Lenilia gestured at her.  But it didn’t matter, for Kaluk did not even hear her.  The compulsion was too strong, and he walked towards Lenilia.

He followed her out of the room mindlessly.  After a few twists and turns, they entered another room, which contained more elaborate circles and candles.  There was another cage against one wall.  Kaluk suddenly stopped when he saw Hawaii gracelessly slumped against the wall, chained by her arms.  But when Lenilia snapped her fingers, he obediently walked into the cage and pulled the door closed after him.

When he heard the snick of the lock, the compulsion spell was released.  With a snarl of fury, Kaluk slammed against the bars of the cage and swiped at the sorceress with a clawed hand.  She merely laughed and said, “Yes, I do believe this is one of my better ideas.  You get to watch while I torture the Lady of the Lake’s little minion.  And you’re next.  Perhaps then I’ll bring in…that vampire bitch Twilight to watch helplessly.”  Another cruel laugh.  “The amount of power I could gather between her pain and your emotions might even double.”

“You will never get away with this,” Kaluk snapped harshly, backing away from the bars of the cage and trying to regain his composure in order to hide his fear for Hawaii.  “Our allies will realize we are gone.”

“Not when there is a sign on the door of that pathetic excuse for a dance club saying that the club is closed for a private party,” Lenilia replied smugly.  “That is, is it not, the clue to your allies that you are all out crusading in the underworld of LA?”  Then she tossed her hair back and glanced at the elegant silver watch on her wrist.  “Wait until midnight tonight, little rat.  I’ll be back then to start the festivities.”

Lenilia smiled at Kaluk as he growled softly at her.  “Oh, and by the way.  That cage is shielded.  Your little friend will wake up and believe that she is all alone in the room.”  At that, the sorceress left the room.

Kaluk began pacing the narrow width of the cage.  He didn’t know what time it was, but he only had to wait out the day.  Then Selina, Crash, and Doyle would walk out the doors of the club and come to their rescue.

If only Kaluk could wait that long, as he glanced nervously at the still Hawaii and continued pacing.

Interlude III

Doyle paced the room nervously, continuously glancing at the clock on the wall.  “Come on, come on,” he muttered, glancing at the prone forms on the couches.  “Wake up already, will ye?”

As if in answer to his call, Crash and Selina opened their eyes and groggily stood up.  Doyle fetched the bottles of blood from Twilight’s refrigerator and waited impatiently as the two vampires downed the bottles and strapped on their various weapons.

“Well what are we waiting for?” Selina asked cockily and led the two men up the stairs and out the door, tearing down the unfamiliar sign taped there in disgust.

While Selina and Crash ended up in the vampires cage nearly passed out from the pain, Doyle appeared in the middle of the room, none the worse for wear.  “Guess being half demon is good for somethin' after all,” he muttered as the two servants standing guard immediately attacked him.

Angel took Crash’s sword and hacked at the lock until the door of the cage swung open.  Then he leapt to Doyle’s aid, dispatching one of the lackeys the same instant Doyle managed to take down the other.

Weapons were distributed from where they had been piled by one of the walls after Angel opened the other two cages in the same efficient manner he’d applied to the vampires’.

Doyle looked around.  “Where’re Hawaii and Kaluk?” he asked.

Twilight shrugged with a worried look on her face.  “We don’t know.  Come on.”  She led the way out the door and down the hall, the troupe of warriors behind her.

Part 11

I jerked awake when someone kicked me brutally in the side.  I looked up to see Lenilia leaning over me, a vicious smile on her face.  “Time to wake up, little minion.  I decided midnight was too far away.  But sundown works just as well.”  At her gesture as she backed away, two of her servants unlocked me and hauled me bodily to the center of the circle.  There they chained me facedown to four metal rings sticking out of the floor.

Lenilia walked over and kicked me in the side again.  My poor, abused body finally relented, and I heard a rib snap.  Seemingly for the hell of it, she kicked me again.  In the same spot.

I howled in pain, and my vision began to fade in and out.  The wall I faced seemed to shimmer momentarily, and I almost thought I saw a cage containing Kaluk.  I was obviously hallucinating from the pain.

:Not cool,: I heard Kestra mutter softly.  :This is not good, this is not cool.  I’m getting help.:  Suddenly, I was alone in my head.  After only a few days, I had gotten used to the ocean spirit’s presence.  I began to shiver in panic.

Walking around me, Lenilia dragged Caliburn’s blade lazily around my head.  Sparks flew from the point where it met the floor.  She lifted the sword from the floor and I felt a fiery trail trace it’s way down my back as she used the point of the blade to slit open my shirt.

“Little minion, you remind me of someone,” Lenilia said softly.  “I was trying to think of who, earlier, but now I know.  A girl who I captured a few months ago, and the reason I was forced to go after your group of vigilantes.  Well, not a girl exactly – she was rather old.  I wasn’t able to get much out of her, but I do know she was a vampire who could stand the sun.”

Victoria!  I dimly heard a growl and studied the wall again.  There was the image of the cage again, fading in and out.  “Kaluk?” I whispered faintly.

Or at least, I thought I whispered faintly.  Lenilia tossed her head back and laughed, using Caliburn to begin scratching horizontal lines onto my back.  As she progressively dug deeper into my skin, I could not help but cry out in pain.

As the pain intensified, the image of the cage grew clearer and clearer.  When I began to feel warm blood pour down my back, it suddenly sprung into focus.  There was Kaluk, crouching on the floor and straining one arm through the bars towards me, a look of utter anguish on his face.  I could hear him, too; he was repeating, “Hawaii, hold on, love, I’ll get you out of there, somehow, I swear it, Hawaii…”

Finally, Lenilia tired of playing with Caliburn and tossed it away.  The ancient sword hit the wall and bounced off, falling to the ground with eerily bell-like tones.  The sorceress headed for the back wall, where various instruments were displayed.  I had absolutely no desire to know what they did.

A familiar voice suddenly sounded in my head, and I realized that Kestra was back!  :Yahoo!: she cried in triumph.  I felt a gently breeze begin to whip around the room, a familiar laugh upon it.  This was exactly how Kestra had introduced herself last summer.  Directly behind Lenilia, a figure materialized – the ocean spirit, dressed in her original blue-green silks.  Caliburn leapt from the floor and into her waiting hands and the true minion of the Lady of the Lake swung the sword.

At that moment, the double-doors to the room burst open.  I could see Jasper and Race finishing dispatching two of Lenilia’s servants, and Twilight, Selina, and Angel ran into the room.  Selina ran for Kaluk’s cage and ripped open the door with her vampiric strength.  Angel strode over to me and cut the four chains binding me to the floor with his sword.  I tried to get to my knees, but I felt gentle hands on my shoulders.  Kaluk had immediately headed for me and covered my back with this black coat.  I curled into a ball and shivered in pain, his arms holding me as I gently passed into blissful unconsciousness…

Part 12

:Well it’s about time you woke up.:

I dazedly opened my eyes to find myself looking up into three faces: Twilight and Melody kneeling on the floor beside my bed in my apartment, and Kaluk, whose lap my head was obviously in.  But it was the voice in my head I was more interested in.  :Kestra!  What happened?  What did you do?  Where’s Lenilia?  What-?:

:Silence, Eva!  One question at a time!  First of all, Lenilia is dead.  The Lady noticed what was happening to you and gave me special permission to become solid in order to take her out.  At least when I chopped off her head the place didn’t implode,: she added wryly.  :Talk to Kaluk.  He’s worried.:

I focused in on the head above me and gave the wererat a small smile.  “Hi,” I said.  “What did I miss?”

All three of them breathed a unanimous sigh of relief.  “Not much,” Kaluk replied with a returning smile.  “Just Halloween.  It’s November second.”

“Kestra just told me Lenilia’s dead.  Thank the Lady for small favors,” I said.  “So how did I get back to my apartment?”

Melody gave me an impish grin and brushed a lock of bleach-blonde hair out of her eyes.  “I really like that ocean spirit of yours.  She’s got class.  She took Lenilia’s head right as we burst in to save the day.  She looked around at all of us and pointed at me and said, ‘You’ll do.’  Then you, her, Kaluk, Twilight, and I ended up in your apartment.  Only she’d turned into the sword again.  I guess she knew something you didn’t, because I had the gift of Healing when I was still mortal.  Somehow she gave it back to me.”

“She used it to heal you.  Lenilia had sprinkled some sort of powder on your back to prevent the blood from clotting.  If it weren’t for Kestra’s gift, you would have bled to death,” Twilight added.  “Melody managed to get the blood to slow and we bandaged you up.  Kaluk’s been here watching over you since then.”

“Thank you,” I whispered to him.  He smiled back at me and captured my hands in his own.  I glanced at Twilight and Melody again.  “I seem to have a habit of being knocked unconscious for long periods of time.  Here’s hoping it doesn’t happen again anytime soon.”

Twilight patted my hand.  “I’m giving you the rest of the week off to recover – use it.  Kaluk, you can stay with her tonight again.  It’s almost sunrise, to Melody and I are going to go home.”

We said our good-byes, and I relaxed again.  It certainly was peaceful, knowing he was there for me.  My eyes slowly closed again, and Kaluk began gently stroking my hair.

:I approve,: Kestra suddenly said conversationally.  :Doyle’s obviously after that mortal girl Cordelia anyway.  Kaluk will be good for you.:

:I’m so glad I have your blessing,: I replied sleepily.  :I just hope I don’t outlive him.:

:Sleep, Hawaii.  All will be well when you wake.:

I drifted into a natural sleep, merely hoping that Kestra was right.

~finis~

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