“So you’re fine with what he just did?”
“He’s the boss,” Tina said steadily. “I decided not to get involved. And so did you.”
“It wouldn’t have made any difference,” said Daniel.
“Exactly,” said Tina. “Of course, if he ever tries to pull that shit on me, I’ll kill him. And he knows it.”
“But you won’t stand against him.”
“I owe him. Just like you. He made it possible for us to kill monsters.”
“Why is that so important to you?” said Daniel. “You know why I’m doing this. But are you killing monsters to protect the innocent, or just for the thrill of testing yourself against them?”
Tina smiled. “Depends on the mood I’m in.”
Daniel sat back in his chair and regarded her thoughtfully. “What will you do when all the monsters are dead?”
“Take the weekend off. And then . . . make sure Edward gets everything he has coming to him. What will you do? Give up being a Hyde? Drink the potion again, and go back to being a broken man? I don’t think so. I know all there is to know about addictive behavior, and being a Hyde is the biggest rush there is.”
“So what do we do, when all the monster Clans are gone?” said Daniel. “Fight each other?”
Tina laughed softly. “Not a bad idea. But the Clans aren’t responsible for all the evil in the world. There’ll always be someone who needs a good kicking.” She rose abruptly to her feet. “You know what? I feel like dancing. I have energy to burn and the night is young. How about you?”
Daniel didn’t even have to think about it. Destroying the Frankenstein Clan had satisfied his need for revenge, but he still felt a need to be doing something. And since it wasn’t time yet to go off and kill vampires . . .
“Dancing sounds fine,” he said. “I take it you know a good club?”
“I know all kinds of clubs,” said Tina. “Of course, I’ve been thrown out of most of them. Just for exuberance, and general high spirits. Not that any of them could keep me out if I wanted in. I know—the Constantine Club! I haven’t been there since before I was a Hyde.”
“Then let us go there, and dance up a storm,” said Daniel.
One new intimidated taxi driver and a short drive later, they were standing outside an impressive-looking nightclub with rococo neon stylings, oversized bouncers at the door, and a long queue of bright young things waiting to get in, including a number of minor celebrities (the kind famous for being famous). A few of them were haranguing the stone-faced bouncers, shouting, “Don’t you know who I am?,” which Daniel had always considered self-defeating. Some offered bribes and some threatened violence, but the bouncers had heard it all before and hadn’t been impressed the first time.
The Constantine gave every impression of being the kind of club that would normally never admit someone like Daniel, but the bouncers took one look at Tina and just waved her in, either because they saw the Hyde in her face, or because they knew trying to keep her out would be more trouble than their job was worth. They waved Daniel in with her, not even giving him a second glance. He was with Tina, and that was all they cared about. No one in the queue objected; they knew the way the world worked.
Daniel thought he would have preferred it if one of the bouncers had tried to stop him, so he could beat the crap out of them for past refusals. Another part of him was disturbed that he felt that way. It really wasn’t like him. As he strode through the nightclub door, Daniel had to wonder whether the Elixir had changed more than just his body.
The cavernous interior was almost painfully bright and shiny, with flashing lights, revolving patterns on the dance floor, cascading fountains of champagne, and music so loud Daniel couldn’t even tell what kind it was. Not that he gave a damn. For dancing, all you really needed was a beat.
The club was packed with people immersed in the music and the dance. Security guards hovered on the fringes, keeping an eye on things. Daniel couldn’t help noticing the way they all fixed their attention on Tina the moment she stepped out onto the dance floor. And then he felt a little better when some of them decided he needed watching too. Tina found an open space and started to dance; Daniel did his best to keep up with her.
Tina moved like a dream, all elegant grace and animal power, stamping her feet and snapping her head back and forth, so that her great mane of long red hair danced almost as wildly as she did. Daniel had never considered himself much of a dancer, but since he was sure no one would be watching him when they could be looking at Tina, he felt free to do whatever he wanted and just enjoy himself. The beat from the music got into his blood, and without really trying his movements began to echo Tina’s, until it became one dance being performed by two people—a wild and sensuous thing, maddening and exhilarating. Daniel and Tina grinned at each other, lost in the moment and loving it.
They danced for hour after hour without ever pausing, and neither of them ever felt tired. They didn’t even raise a sweat. Everyone else gave them plenty of room. Some applauded, some cheered, and some even tried to copy their movements, but no one could match Daniel and Tina’s incredible grace and energy. People came and went as the evening progressed, but the Hydes danced on. Until one man burst out of the surrounding crowd to confront Tina, his face full of surprise and shock. He ignored Daniel, raising his voice to make himself heard over the din of the music.
“Val? That is you, isn’t it? It’s me—Erik!”
Daniel expected Tina to drive the man away with a look or a harsh word, but she just kept on dancing. Erik moved in closer and Daniel got ready to do something, but the concerned look on the man’s face stopped him. It was obvious he knew Tina, from somewhen in the past. She suddenly stopped dancing, and Daniel stopped too. Erik tried to smile at Tina, but it faltered and fell away in the face of her refusal to acknowledge him.
“What happened to you, Val?” said Erik. He started to reach out a hand to her, and then pulled it back, not sure what to do. He swallowed hard, and tried again. “It’s been such a long time since any of us saw you here. And look at you! You look amazing! What have you done to yourself?”
“I’m not Val,” said Tina. Her voice was flat and empty, but something in it cut through the general din. “I’m someone else.”
“Oh come on, I’d know you anywhere, Val! We were all so worried when you just disappeared . . . ”
“I’m not Val. Now go away, Erik. I don’t want to have to hurt you.”
All the color dropped out of his face, as though he’d just been told someone he knew had died. He tried one last smile, but there was nothing in Tina’s face to encourage it. So the man from her past had no choice but to turn away and disappear back into the crowd. Tina watched him go, and didn’t say anything.
Daniel decided Tina needed a moment to herself. He asked her if she’d like a drink, and she nodded, not looking at him. Daniel made his way through the crush of bodies to the bar. A lot of people smiled at him, complimenting him on his dancing and his choice of partner, but none of them got in his way. They seemed to sense that might be dangerous. He asked the bartender for a bottle of brandy and two glasses, and got served immediately, which was a new experience for Daniel. He didn’t offer to pay, and after a glance at security, the bartender didn’t ask.
Daniel took his time getting back to Tina, so she could recover herself. He glanced at his watch, and was astonished at how long they’d been in the Constantine. It shouldn’t be possible for anyone to dance for hours on end without a break. He wasn’t the least bit tired; he felt like he could dance forever. Perhaps Hydes weren’t just about the violence, after all. But when he finally caught up with Tina again, another man was talking to her. Or rather, talking at her.