Chapter 6
WILLY'S BAR, SUNNYDALE
MICK ST. JOHN'S P.O.V.
It was one hour past sundown when I parked my Mercedes Fintail convertible down the block from the bar's entrance. As I walked inside, it was like a scene from a Western movie. Everybody in the place turned to look at me! The only thing missing was the nervous piano player who stops playing in mid-note.
A couple seconds later, they resumed their respective conversations.
The place was like Caritas, only seedier. Only half the customers were human. As was Willy the Bartender, himself. And, I noticed, right away, that he was wearing a black armband on the right sleeve of his shirt.
"My condolences!" I said: "Who died?"
"Our mayor," he replied: "Dick Wilkins. He and several dozen others were killed by a gas leak explosion over at the local high school, during graduation ceremonies."
"Well, hopefully, he didn't suffer," I said, trying to be polite.
"What'll you have, stranger?"
"A Bovine Mary."
He arched his eyebrows: "You a vegetarian?"
I smiled and nodded.
In less than two minutes, I was drinking a "Bloody Mary" made from cow's blood. It wasn't as good as the stuff I got in L.A., of course. But, hey! Beggars can't be choosers.
Then, it happened. The roar of several motorcycle engines. Kawasaki Ninjas, I think. They drowned out all the talking that was going on throughout the bar. Then, it got quiet. Too quiet!
A moment later, they entered. About two dozen or so. Each one wearing a black leather outfit with matching helmet (including tinted glass visor). The apparent leader of the group spotted me, and turned to his followers, indicating me with his head. He turned just enough that I could see the club's emblem on the back of his jacket: a bird, sitting on a branch, above a mouse impaled on another branch.
They were Shrikes! Gangrel bikers from out of Huntington Beach. Rumor had it they preferred to be called "Carpathian-Americans," rather than "vampires" or "Kindred." But, the way I see it? A rose, by any other name, still has thorns sharp enough to draw blood. And, I could tell, from the way they were beginning to surround me in a semi-circle, that they were out for mine.
tbc