Chapter Four: After Midnight

2 a.m. Tuesday Morning

It was late when I got to the club. There had been massive renovations since the unfortunate exploding gas main that caused the disappearance and presumed death of the owner. His widow, Mrs. Giles, had embarked on a effort to make the new Silver Stake the showplace of the West Coast.

From what I could see beneath the drop cloths and piles of lumber, it was going to be. Massive silver chandeliers, dripping with sparkling crystals, hung from the center of the newly restored ballroom. The stage would be larger than before, with rotating wings and a floating staircase. The dance floor was a jet black lake of polished marble, but the rest of the room was going to be blonde: blonde wood bars and tables, pale gold satin stage curtains and creamy quilted silk wallpaper.
There was even a cozy little cafe section tucked away in a dim corner with a sleek chrome expresso machine for the bohemian crowd. A leather-clad band of vampire security guys were stationed in the new lobby. They were a perilous looking crew, radiating a familar cocky attitude. The out-of-towners had eaten up the decadence and danger of the old Stake. They'd be back in droves as soon as it opened with this chic new atmosphere.

There were a couple of musicians tuning up on the stage. A gawky looking piano player with waist length snow white hair and a long silvery beard was practicing a soft tune on the baby grand. I wasn't entirely sure if there was a human being under all that hair. Sometimes it's a bit hard to tell. His deep-set eyes glittered in the dim lighting and I stopped to listen to his harsh voice grind out a love song. A hipster wearing a pair of dark glasses laid down a wail on his sax that set the hairs on my neck twitching. Yeah, they probably weren't human. But, by damn, they sure could play the blues.

I finally slipped around a big pile of lumber and down the black painted hallway toward the offices. It was easy to find. A oddly matched pair of bodyguards stood stolidly on either side of the doorway like granite bookends.

I cleared my throat. I need to speak to Mrs. Giles. The tall brunette cracked his lips and bared a set of pointed fangs. The pony-tailed blonde stared blankly into space. Look, I'm a friend of hers. I'm sure one of them growled.

I was revving myself up again, when the office door was snatched open and thrown back against the wall with a tremendous thump. The Slayer seemed surprised to see me standing there.

Mr. Harris. What do you want? Her blonde hair was backlit with a blaze of candlelight, and her arms were akimbo, furious at someone I hoped wasn't me.
I need your help.

She took a couple of deep breaths and invited me into the office. Spike was right. She had changed things since she'd taken over the business. Oriental carpets lay thick on the polished wooden floors and heavy gold damask draperies shaded the long french windows. Banks of candles flickered around the room and the scent of old roses delicately fragranced the room. All the family portraits had disappeared, except for the silver-framed photograph of her sister that had the place of honor on her desk. In their place were large painted scenes of far-away places. The Alps or maybe it was the Himalayas . A couple of the canals in Venice and Paris in the 1900's. Very expensive and elegant.

she said impatiently.

What can you tell me about mystical poisons?

Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't that. Not really my field. My... Rupert was the scholar. Rupert Giles, who'd last been seen as the newest pearl on a goddess's necklace. Maybe you should try Spike. He knows more than me about sorcery. Or better yet, Anyanka.

She's not returning my calls. She nodded and gave me a quizzical look. I filled her in briefly on the Larry situation, neglecting to mention the mysterious package and the details of Spike's earlier visit. She wrote down the invocation or curse or whatever it was, but didn't hold out much hope.

If you speak to Spike, give him a message for me. Tell him....tell him I'm not made out of glass.

She turned away and started shuffling some papers on her desk. I decided I'd better do a little research on my own.

tbc

Music: Leon Russell ,Lady Blue