I followed, but not close. I had to floor it to get through two different intersections, leaving a lot of angry commuters behind us. As we drove, I tried to give Ebenezar the run down on Jade Court vampires. "They eat memories. The strong ones can even eat them as you're forming them. And they can sense thoughts from a hundred feet away, or so. I think."

"I read your report, Hoss."

"I know, Sir. But the report can't really convey the sheer power of these things. One of them ran straight up a sheer rock wall. And the veils – they can't be seen in reflective surfaces because they have natural, inverted veils."

"Which they can reverse, turning themselves invisible at a moment's notice," he recited. Huh. Check that out. When last we spoke, I was but the learner - now I am the master. "And that's why so few people really know anything about them," he continued, "they can disappear, and make you forget you ever saw them."

"Exactly. It makes them the deadliest breed. If you're in the middle of a fight, they can make you forget there's even a fight going on."

McCoy nodded. "I went over Pietrovich's books after you sent in your report. He studied vampires for almost two hundred years, and managed to get exactly four names of Jade Court members in all that time. The only woman on the list was called Sumi Kitoro. And it was mentioned in the same breath as Akira Wei. At the back of the book. In a margin." He shook his head.

"Alright. We keep our minds clear - certainly don't focus on her or her name, or she'll know we're after her."

"Right. So, uh… seen any good movies lately?"

I kept my eyes on the cab as we chatted idly and drove steadily away from downtown. I tried to keep my thoughts limited to strictly commuter-level thinking; traffic, food, people who bothered me, shiny objects. Of course, if she'd detected any of the thoughts we'd already had, particularly the words 'Jade Court', nothing we did now would help. But if she had, she would already have taken those memories, wouldn't she?

I unhooked one of my mental defences, and asked a question.

So, Lash, anything to add about the, uh… lady?

The answer was hesitant. I am afraid not, Harry.

No? What about time travel? Or Outsiders? We were supposed to have a chat about them before your little sabbatical.

Outsiders we can still discuss, but it will be time consuming, even at the speed of thought. As for the others… I am sorry. But my memory seems to be… incomplete.

I blinked, and tripped over an answer I was giving McCoy about why old Star Wars movies were better than new.

You've forgotten things? It seemed a little odd, considering her memory was supposed to be photographic.

As I said before, you recovery has been slow… and I am afraid not all of me has recovered yet. Some of my essence is still contained in the pieces of your mind that are dark.

Well, that's… not terribly helpful.

My current memory is eidetic. More of my memories will return with time, I am sure of it.

She sounded, strange as it seemed, like a puppy seeking approval. And I know from puppies.

Take your time. Don't push it.

I would not. If I had pushed in the last few weeks, I may have caused you much greater damage than you had experienced before.

I swallowed. A brain-damaged wizard would not be a good thing. And for no particular reason, I began to wonder if split personality disorders could start something like this.

You should also know, your memories are not in danger.

What do you mean?

I will not allow another to hurt your mind.

I was actually a little touched, in a disturbed sort of way. I wasn't sure how I felt about the subtle emphasis she put on, 'another'. Thank you.

You are welcome. The automobile is turning.

About two seconds later, the cab pulled into a side street. Oh. Thanks. I closed my mental door again, but I didn't throw the lock on. I guess I'm just a sucker for a woman who sounds a bit down.

I slowed, not wanting to be too obvious. As we came around the corner, we saw the rear door of the cab open… then close. No one got out. No hand touched the door. But there was no longer anyone in the cab's backseat. McCoy and I glanced at each other.

She had veiled herself, and was making a break for it. I silently wished for the sunglasses I had worked to see through veils… unfortunately, only one pair had survived the last ho-down I'd taken them to, and the enchantment had worn off weeks ago.

I pulled the Beetle up on the curb. This far from the heart of the city, the street wasn't very busy. In fact, it was empty. We all got out and I started Feeling my way around, as the cab and its befuddled driver pulled away. I had my blasting rod out and primed, and McCoy held his staff like a shotgun.

The street was quiet, and after the cab left, unnaturally still. I crossed the pavement, McCoy stood on the sidewalk, and Mouse nosed down the centre lane. All four buildings around us were older apartments, mostly made of brick and mostly tumble-down, separated by narrow alleys. There were six street lights, two of which were working. I looked down the alley on my side of the street, and saw only darkness.

Dammit! I shouted mentally. Where did she go? Did you see her?

No, but she is aware of you, Lash said. Keep in mind what you know of the Jade Court and their secretive nature. She will leave if she believes you to be no threat, or if she believes you know nothing.

I smiled. Of course. I walked down the street, mentally running down everything I knew about Jades, mulling over every fact I had learned before and during the rescue mission last month: Very secretive. Feed on memories. Largely Asian in descent. And in this specific case: her name is Sumi Kitoro, she's trying to bring down the White Council, and knows Akira Wei and Yamohito Hai. Or will, until Kincaid and Ivy kill them.

There was a small scratching noise from behind me, like a shoe on gravel, up the narrow alley between the two tenements on this side of the street. From the middle of the road, Mouse turned and started growling. McCoy noticed, and turned as well. The name dropping must have touched a nerve. Gotcha. Now, keep going wherever you were going. I shook out my shield bracelet and willed a little power into it, just in case.

I approached the alley slowly, making very little sound, keeping my arcane senses tuned. I tried to keep my eyes focussed on nothing in particular, hoping to catch a flicker out of the corner of my eye.

She came at me from above, like a dive-bombing falcon going after a field mouse. I never heard her, but Mouse did. The big lummox charged into me, knocking me flat. I hit the sidewalk hard, but didn't lose my breath.

He took her hit in the hind quarters, and rolled to the ground with a whimper.

McCoy's staff kicked like a firearm, and a blast of force caught Kitoro's arm. She dropped the long piece of steel rebar she'd been holding, then blinked out of sight.

I was angry that Mouse had been hurt, that I hadn't thought she would run up a wall, and that I had been taken by surprise. I don't like to hit girls, but this bitch just hurt my dog. I jumped up, stuck my hand out, and started murmuring in what was almost Latin as I moved to Mouse.

Moisture in the air began to condense. A thin fog quickly formed about a foot off the ground. I kneeled beside Mouse as McCoy moved over to us, hands extended and eyes down, watching for disturbances in the mist.

Mouse tried to stand. He didn't let his back left leg touch the ground. "Goddamn," I cursed. Mouse has been hit by a van and shrugged it off. Hell, he's been shot, and actually had to pretend to be hurt afterward. If she'd hit me, I might have broken something. Like the wall behind me. The anger got bigger.

"Alright, buddy, where is she?"

Mouse hopped and looked around. He focussed about forty feet away, down the street, and started a low growling that I could feel in my feet. McCoy and I pointed pieces of carved, enchanted wood at the spot at the same time. There was a swirling in the mist as he shouted a word couldn't even guess at the spelling of. A small ball of pink light few down the street and hit the pavement, cracking it, from the sound.

Then all was quiet for a moment.

On instinct, I threw up my shield. I managed to keep my feet as she hit it at a speed just this side of 'blurry', and her veil cancelled out for a moment. Her eyes were a shiny white-silver, and her mouth was open in a snarl. She was hitting me feet first, and her dress was torn up one of her legs, revealing far too much thigh. Her grey hair was whipping around her like Medusa had given her styling lessons.

She looked like she was just bouncing off my shield, but then she flipped twice and landed behind us.

Before I could turn, she hit me with her purse. Hard.

I fell, more or less gracefully, in an arc that took me back to that wall Mouse had saved me from earlier. I took the hit on my shoulder, and dropped my blasting rod. Probably shouldn't have left the staff in the car.

As I was flying, Mouse was moving his jaws. He tried to take her ankles, but she jumped. McCoy took the opportunity to make a gesture, mumble something under his breath, and make her stop moving. In mid-air. You don't become Blackstaff by wasting opportunities.

Once she had stopped, he looked over his shoulder. "You alright Hoss?"

"Ow," I said, but I got up. I walked back to him, stretching my arm as I went. "I'll be fine, Sir."

He nodded. "Good, good." Then he paused. He looked a little confused.

Lash shouted at me at the same moment I looked up at Kitoro. Her eyes were wide and pupil-less, her face pulled back in a wide smile. She is taking his mind!

"No!" I shouted, and threw up my hand.

"What was I doing?" McCoy asked.

"Forzare!" I shouted. With Ebenezar distracted, his holding spell broke under pressure from my force spell. Kitoro flew backwards, towards the Beetle, flipping over backwards and landing on all fours in a cat-like manoeuvre. McCoy blinked, shook his head and started to get it together.

I stepped forward protectively, my shield up once again. It sucks up a fair bit of juice, but I had plenty of anger and fear to feed my power at the moment. Now she was focussed on me exclusively. Her eyes narrowed as they bore into me, and she stood. Hope you're holding on tight down there, Lash.

She will try to hurt you, my passenger told me. I will not let her.

I actually got a little chill when she said that.

Got to get her back to doing what she was supposed to be doing. Before I twisted time into a pretzel. "There has been a misunderstanding!" I said. "We mean you no harm!"

Her voice was about what I was expecting; somewhere between a hiss and a growl. "That is not what I saw in your mind!" She stood and walked slowly back towards us. I was reminded uncomfortably of a tiger preparing for the kill.

"Hey, you attacked us!"

"You were hunting me."

Mouse limped up beside me and McCoy stood to the other side. "We were following you. Come on," I said, "a couple wizards find a vampire in their town that they don't know, they're going to keep track of that vampire." I tried a smile. "Wouldn't you do the same?"

She is here, Harry.

Keep an extra-tight clamp on our mode of arrival, partner.

I actually felt the smile light up the back of my mind. Of course.

Kitoro's expression was slowly turning confused. "So many thoughts. Yet… I cannot…"

"Get out of his head, vampire," McCoy said, surprisingly softly. He had his own left hand extended, a multi-coloured ring on his index finger glowing softly.

She turned back to him. "Perhaps you understand why I cannot feed on this wizard, old man?"

Ebenezar's body tensed and his right hand tightened on his staff. "Don't know what you're talking about. But you don't get another warning."

She stopped moving, except for her eyes, which narrowed and went back to me. "What can I say?" I asked. "I took out a little insurance."

"How do you know my name?" she demanded. At least she wasn't moving like a hunter anymore. Her eyes flicked to Mouse. "And where did you get a foo dog?"

"Reliable sources. And… he found me."

"How do you know Akira?"

Before I could stop myself, even before Lash could stop me, I flashed back on an image of Kincaid delivering a neck-breaking death-from-above attack on Akira Wei.

Her eyes sprung open again.

Crap.

"No," she breathed. "He could not…"

McCoy stirred beside me. "What?" he said, confused. "What's going on, Hoss?"

"Shit! Run, Sir!"

I pushed Ebenezar to the side as Kitoro came at us again. Mouse charged straight at her, and made her break stride long enough for me to get my teacher out of harm's way. After a little two-step, she jumped the dog and continued straight at us.

McCoy pulled his head together enough to slap her aside with a small mountain of force. She flew down the road, away from the Beetle and us. She vanished into the thinning mist, which was starting to rise off the ground. She wasn't going to stay down, and she would keep eating Ebenezar's memories if I didn't get him away from her. But we still needed to know where she was going, and who, if anyone, she was going to talk to.

I pulled out my keys and all but pushed McCoy into the Beetle. I barely got Mouse in ahead of him. "Go, Sir!"

"What? And leave you alone with a vampire?"

"She can't eat my mind, but she can take yours. Go, please!"

"Mind? She's Jade Court?" he asked. Got to admit, she was quick, but thorough.

"Yes, Sir. She's taken your memory of her. You have to go, now, before she takes any knowledge of the future, or the White Council."

He blinked, but nodded. Mouse whined. "Sorry, boy, but you, too. Don't worry, I'll kick her in the ass for you." I reached in and grabbed my staff from the back seat. "I'll meet you back at the hotel," I said.

Something unseen slammed into my side as I straightened up.

I heard Ebenezar shout my name, and felt the impact carry me several feet before I went down.

My duster was a work of art. Literally. Over the last few years, I've etched several – okay, dozens – of protective runes and sigils into it with a tattoo needle and ink, granting it greater strength, resistance to wear, immunity to fire, and the ability to stop bullets just as well as Kevlar. Recently, though, what with all the bad guys who seem to like to grab me and throw me to the ground, I'd decided to try something sneaky, and added five small repulsion runes, placed at the neck, waist and hem.

Greatest. Idea. Ever.

She knocked me down, and I felt her arms close around me. As they completed the circle, the spell was triggered. Force, equivalent to what she'd hit me with, pushed back. Her veil flickered, and as I hit the ground, she sailed overhead, limbs splayed.

McCoy was halfway out of the car when I rolled to my feet. "I'm fine! Go! Just go, for the love of God!"

"Murderer!" Ah. She was already back on her feet, then. I turned to see her flicker out of sight again.

McCoy got the Beetle going, finally. He pulled a U-turn. As he pulled down the road, Kitoro appeared again, facing me, not ten feet away. She let McCoy vanish into traffic, ignoring the Beetle completely. She only had eyes for me. The mist I'd called up earlier was now thin, but waist high and slowly vanishing.

We stood there, in the street like two gunslingers staring each other down. Okay, Lash. I need a plan.

One that would allow her to continue unimpeded on her original course, and allow you to survive?

Um… yeah, that would be preferable.

There was a pause.

Can I get back to you?

Double crap.

We stood there another moment. She bared her teeth, and her voice was low and angry. "You will tell me what happened to Akira. And you will tell me why I cannot feed on you."

Then she vanished. "Oh, boy," I muttered. My shield was halfway up before she stopped disappearing. She hit it and it buckled, while she snapped back into the visual spectrum. I slid backwards.

"Answer me!" she shouted. Her voice was higher now. "What happened to him?"

She vanished again before I could draw breath. I rolled over and tried to bring the shield back up, but she was too damn fast. I hadn't realised how much having Kincaid around had helped last time I fought a member of the Jade Court. An unseen hand grabbed my left wrist and another seized my collar. She was stunningly quick, even without any memory whammy. I was hauled up and thrown end over end, dropping my staff in the process.

I really need to tie it to my wrist with a bungee cord, or something.

I landed on my back, but far more softly than I should have. I felt a slight push from beneath me, cushioning the impact. It barely registered. I was back up on my knees as she faded into view, not a yard away, hands grabbing my wrists. She twisted one around behind my back, and pushed my face into the pavement, splitting my lip. Murphy would have been impressed.

"Answer me! What happened? Where did that image come from?"

Ow. Ow-ow. Got to tread carefully. Ow.

She is scared for her beloved, Lash whispered. Reassure her.

Right. Good idea. "He's not dead," I said out half my mouth. "I don't think he is. It's what Kincaid told me!"

"Kincaid will suffer," she said quietly. I believed her. "Now, what is protecting you?"

There was a crash of stone a few yards away. A potted plant had fallen in the street right in front of us. I closed my eyes to avoid losing them to flying shards, and when I opened them again, I got a hell – er, heck – of a sight.

As the last of the mist disappeared, a tall, thickly-built man stepped towards us. In his hands, he held a literally honest-to-goodness broadsword. It was glowing faintly in the light of the two street lamps, and as he stopped moving, the light cast a natural glow, illuminating his features.

His voice was strong, low, and steady, without a trace of fear or anger. "Get back from him, vampire, or I shall end your unnatural existence."

His name was Michael Carpenter, and he was the Fist of God.