Aw, Hell's Bells.

I balked for a moment. There was no way she could be serious. A Jade Court vampire? I barely even knew they existed. Shiro, the knight of the Cross who was the source of the first sword in my popcorn tin, had mentioned them once to me. He'd called them dangerous. Dangerous to a master swordsman like Shiro smelt like pure disaster.

"A Jade Court." I repeated. My voice held a tone of disbelief.

Mary nodded once. "They're usually isolationists, Mister Dresden, but there are exceptions to ever rule." She opened one of her frail hands, tossing a small figurine of Jade onto my desk. It was of a dragon, ready to attack. "It's the calling card of the Lily Dragon."

I made a little noise to laugh. "The Lily Dragon? That sounds a little…B-movieish."

"The worst assassin the vampire courts have to offer, Mister Dresden." She insisted. "She is responsibly for the death of more of the courts' enemies than even the Red King. She is dangerous."

I looked at her across the desk. "And what did you do to piss off the collective vampire courts?" Mary hesitated a moment. "Or am I going to get lied to?"

"I need protection for ten days." She said quickly. "Please, Mister Dresden."

She looked at me, and the look on her face made me more sympathetic. She was desperate, just trying to stay alive. And I was way too nice to turn her down.

"I need some proof that you can pay." I said. I wasn't going to turn her down, but a bit of money right now wouldn't have been too bad.

"I don't have much money, Mister Dresden. But I can offer intelligence on Red Court strongholds, for the Council."

I bit my lip. She had me there. Strike back at the vampires. Win a blow for the living. It was hard to pass up. Something like useful intelligence could turn the war back in the White Council's favor. Nothing I was opposed to at all.

"And I assume that you'll give me this information…"

"Once the Lily Dragon's taken care of and I can be assured of my safety." Mary said.

"Fine." I agreed. "Do you have a place in town?"

Mary nodded her head towards me. "Yes, I do. Paid until the end of the week."

"All right. You're not going back there. Do you need anything from it?" I asked.

Mary nodded. "I need my notebook. It's got all my information, all my notes on the Red Court. It also has some more information that might be useful on the Jade Court. It's in a cipher, however…"

"Great." I murmured. Just lovely. "All right then."

Mary told me about her apartment, and where I would find the notebook. I made a quick call to Thomas so he would take Mary to my place so I could keep an eye on her.

I met my brother in the parking lot of the office building where I rented my office space.

My brother, the Greek god of underwear Thomas Raith, stepped out of his Armored Personnel Carrier he called an SUV. He was dressed in a tight t-shirt, with his long black hair flowing about him with an unfair bounce to it. "So," He drawled. "Who're you dragging back to your cave now?"

"Client." I mumbled. "It's Council business, Thomas. Give me a break."

He gave me a wicked smirk. "Is she cute?"

I looked to him. "What made you even think it was a woman? All I said was that it was someone."

"The fact that you felt a need to be defensive of yourself."

Damn. He had me there. "Just…make sure she doesn't get hurt."

"I'll do that, Harry. And…"

"Yea, I know. I owe you, this is the last one, yadda-yadda."

It was still January, and as such very cold in Chicago. The Blue Beetle, my untrusty car, had barely made it through to the motel that Mary had been staying it. I got out of the car, pulling my leather duster about me. It kept me dry in the weather, by golly, and that was all I could ask for as it snowed.

Mary's room was on the second floor, so I had a little time to think as I trudged up the icy concrete stairs. What was so important about what Mary had done anyway? Who was she even? These were the hundred-dollar questions I'd get answers to later.

I found Mary's room, and pulled out the key from my coat pocket. The door unlocked, and I opened it. But before I could even take a look inside, I was pushed through the doorway by a burst of force. My face scuffed against the carpet as I landed face first. The door swung shut behind me.

I forced myself to turn over so I could take a good look.

"Harry Dresden." A voice said. "Such a pleasure to meet the living legend."

Here I was, Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, staring for the first time in my life into the eyes of a Jade Court vampire.