Chapter 14

CHINATOWN, SAN FRANCISCO

(MICK ST. JOHN'S P.O.V.)

I looked at the African-American vampire first.

"So, you're the _real_ Sonny Toussaint, I take it?"

He nodded: "I was just leaving, to keep my appointment with Angel, when I got jumped by this kunoichi..."

"Gesunheit," said Buffy.

Somehow, I managed to refrain from grinning as Toussaint (very patiently!) explained to the Slayer that "kunoichi" was the traditional Japanese term for a female ninja. And, that this particular one evidently belonged to a Japanese sect of the Assamite Clan.

"The Assamites are vampiric assassins-for-hire. And, they specialize in a mystic discipline called Obfuscation. In this case, she made herself appear to be me. After knocking me out and locking me in the trunk of my own car!"

"Evidently, there was a leak in your organization as to the time and place you were to come pick me up," replied Angel. "Could the local Brujah primogen be in league with Prince Cyrus?"

"Why don't we ask her?" suggested Buffy.

She pointed at the kunoichi, whom the Slayer had impaled with her own sword. But without piercing the heart. As a result, she (the Assamite) was painfully hovering between un-death and Final Death. And, she apparently decided the latter was preferable to being questioned.

Because, the next moment, she decapitated herself with an elongated set of left finger nails!

A moment later, the sound of approaching police sirens diverted our attention from the kunoichi's ashes.

"My partner's bound to be with them," declared Toussaint: "We'd better boogie it to the Haven through the sewers."

"Mind if I come with you?" I asked.

"I was going to ask you to tag along anyway. To back up my explanation to the Conclave."

"What about Buffy?" remarked Angel.

"You go," she replied. "It'll be alright. I'm used to being in trouble with the cops."

So, the three of us (me, Angel, and Toussaint) wound up racing through the sewers of Frisco like John Wesley Shipp. You know; the guy who played THE FLASH, on CBS, before hitting it big as "Mr. Leary" on DAWSON'S CREEK? Anyway, within twenty minutes, we were in the secret chambers of Daedalus. The local Nosferatu primogen.

Boy, was he tall!

Like Lurch Addams with anorexia. But, with a frown that I can only call 'scary'. And, he did a _lot_ of frowning at Toussaint's explanation for my unexpected presence.

"Julian is not going to be pleased when he hears this."

"Then, we'd better tell him, right now, and get it over with."

So, we went upstairs.

That's when I realized Daedalus' chambers must be sound-proofed. Because, the second we left them, to enter a wine cellar, I heard all kinds of loud music coming down from its ceiling. Toussaint explained that the Haven was a night club owned by Lily Langtry, the local Toreador primogen.

"It makes a useful front for the stockpiling of emergency blood supplies and the holding of special meetings. Like this one."

Apparently, it wasn't a bad money-maker, in its own right, either. Because, the showroom was packed! Yet, no one looked our way as Daedalus led us to the foot of the stairs to the conference room. I guess it was a combination of his Obfuscation ability and the sounds of the talented Gen-X rock band on the main stage.

I smiled to myself as I read the group's name on their drummer's bass drum: "Dingoes Ate My Baby."

tbc