Another advantage of my unique biology is the fact that I don¹t need much sleep. It was still dark when I got up and took a shower after seeing that Doyle was very deeply asleep. Apparently sleeping was something else he hadn't done for a very long time.
After my shower I plugged my lap top in my bedroom. I had decided to send Van Helsing an e-mail. I didn¹t want to try to get hold of him by phone as he hasn't got a cell phone and I didn¹t have time to play phone tag. Van Helsing told me that he will never get a cell phone as he has no desire to be on call all the time. When I pointed out that he could turn it off, he asked what would then be the point of having it at all. You can¹t argue with that logic.
To: helsingsson@leidenuniv.nl
From: truthseeker@earthlink.net
Hey Van Helsing,
I've got a new case. You won't believe this. Remember our little adventure in London last year? Well, it looks like I'm going to visit the same world Buffy and Giles are in. I'd invite you, but I don¹t think it¹s allowed. I don't know how long I'll be gone, but please don¹t worry. I'll contact you as soon as I get back.
Katherine
I could imagine what Van Helsing¹s reaction to this message was going to be. He would be furious. That¹s the other reason I didn't want to try and call him. He'd expect me to find a way to bring him with me. I just had the feeling that these Powers only wanted me, otherwise they would have arranged for Van Helsing to be here as well.
Now that this was done, I gave the Sheraton a call. Then I realized I didn't know Madame Lyanka's first name, or was it her last? There certainly were a lot of people with only one name. It was too late to worry as the desk clerk answered.
"Seatac Sheraton, how may I help you," said the woman.
"I wanted to speak with a guest who goes by Madame Lyanka," I said.
"Of course, I shall ring her room. Who may I say is calling?"
"Katherine Drummond. We met in London some time ago."
"Just a moment."
I was treated to some on hold musak as the clerk paged Lyanka's room. She must go by her stage name all the time. I was curious about what kind of convention was going on.
"Madame Lyanka here, Katherine, it is good to hear from you. I did not realize you were in Seattle," Lyanka said.
"I live here. I'm glad you remember me," I said.
"Of course, I do not often meet people from other worlds. I would guess that this is not simply a personal call."
"No, I need to hire your services. According to my new visitor, the Powers that Be need me to visit Buffy's world. I was hoping you could use his blood as an anchor and send us there."
"I am rather busy here at the convention, but I believe I could find the time. Could you meet me in three hours here at the hotel?"
"No problem, I just have to pack a few things and then we'll be down there."
"Very good. I shall see you then. I'm in room 403."
"Thanks."
I packed a bag with some clothes and toiletries and then went to check on Doyle. His bedding was folded neatly on one end of the couch and I could smell onions in the kitchen. Doyle was cooking an omelet with onions and mushrooms. It smelled delicious.
"You were up early," he said as I came in the kitchen.
"I hope I didn't wake you," I opened the fridge to grab the orange juice.
"No I slept like the dead."
After he stared at me for a moment I groaned and he smiled. I got a glass and poured myself some juice. I poured a glass for Doyle as well and handed it to him.
"Do you like to cook?" I asked.
"Yes, I do. My wife was never much of a cook, so I learned how. We were married very young, so neither of us knew much about real life," Doyle said.
I sat down at the breakfast bar and watched him work. He was really good about cleaning as he went. I always stick the dishes in the sink and usually don't wash them until the next day. He chopped the mushrooms into very fine pieces. I don't have a lot of herbs, but he found some basil in the back of a drawer. I was embarrassed at the state of my kitchen. Since I don't eat after dark, I usually don't make much more than a sandwich.
"Sorry about the lack of ingredients, I mostly eat out," I said.
Doyle smiled and said, "Sometimes it's fun to be creative. Besides I got used to living with Angel who only has one thing he eats. If you think your kitchen is lacking, you should have seen his. Well, actually you will be seeing his soon. Of course Cordelia and the others have been living there as well, so there should be some real food."
"Where is there?"
"The Hyperion Hotel. We took it over after chasing out a few ghosts and a demon."
"So would you suggest I stay there?"
"It would be easier and there's plenty of room."
"How will they feel about me just showing up? I¹m thinking it wouldn't be a good idea to tell them about you."
"I would suggest that you call Buffy when we get there. She can call them and explain that she's asked an old friend to come help them find Angel, Conner, and Cordelia."
"That should work. I'll just be the detective from Seattle she met in London."
Doyle was finished with the omelet so I grabbed a couple of plates. He rather gracefully portioned out two servings. He handed me one plate and sat across from me at the breakfast bar. We were silent for a while as we concentrated on eating. The omelet was one of the best I've had.
It seemed like he must have left something out about his cooking. This didn't taste like food someone had learned to cook themselves. Or maybe he just had natural talent.
Fortunately there wasn't much airport traffic this time of morning, so it didn¹t take long to get to the Sheraton. As I was parking, I realized there was a slight problem. I had brought my bag with me, but I had forgotten to think about what was going to happen to my car while I was gone.
Somehow I didn't think that I would get returned shortly after I left, even though time did seem to run differently in our worlds. At least I couldn't count on time being in my favor. The Sheraton did have long time air port parking. It was rather expensive, but it would be easiest. Doyle waited at the entrance while I charged a week¹s parking to my Visa. Hopefully I wouldn¹t be gone longer than that. Maybe I could get Lyanka to arrange something for me.
As we came out of the revolving doors I saw a large sign "World Convention of Psychic Practionars." That had to be what Lyanka had come for. We headed for the elevators and pushed the button for the fourth floor.
Apparently the psychics were not early risers, as no one had gotten off the elevator and the hallway was empty as we headed for Lyanka's room. I knocked on the door and in a moment Lyanka flung it open.
She smiled at me and cast a strange look at Doyle, "Katherine, it is good to see you again. Please come in, and your friend as well."
We followed her into the room. A black tarp was spread out on the floor between the bed and the small table next to the TV. A pentagram had been drawn on the tarp in white chalk. I guess modern witches make do with what they can. The hotel wouldn't appreciate stains on their carpet.
"Please, sit down and introduce me to your friend," Lyanka said. "I can see that he has some demon blood and that he doesn't belong here, but that is all."
I said, "That's quite a bit more than most people could see. This is Allen Doyle, but he prefers to go by Doyle. He is part Demon and he's from the world where Buffy and Giles came from. He's asked me to come back with him to help find a vampire with a soul called Angel."
"A vampire with a soul, sort of like you."
"Not exactly. At any rate, can you send us there?"
"Of course. And for you, I will not charge. I do owe you something for Antonius's gold. I can tell you it did quite a bit of good."
"I'm glad to hear it. Normally I would insist on paying, but from what Doyle has told me, I doubt I¹m going to get paid for this case."
"Who are the clients, if I may ask."
"Have you ever heard of the Powers that Be?"
"Oh yes, I have. Much worse than the Sorcerer Supreme with the meddling factor. No, they do not deal in monetary rewards. Well, Mr. Doyle, are you ready to donate a bit of your blood to the cause?"
"It is the least I can do," Doyle said and held out his arm.
Lyanka made a shallow cut with her knife and let some blood drip into the cup. I hoped we didn't have to drink it as Spike, Drusilla, and Antonius had. I try not to drink my friends' blood and I don't like to drink any blood during the day. Lyanka mixed the blood with herbs in the cup and then gestured for us to stand on two of the points of the pentagram. She began chanting in Latin and then marked each of us on the forehead with the blood. As she closed her eyes and raised her voice, a golden light appeared in the center of the pentagram. I stepped through and felt Doyle follow behind me.
